Freedom of Speech is a concept that I’m familiar with. Almost every day, you see some manifestation of this principle in our polity and society. But what does the ‘Freedom to Think’ encompass? Susie Alegre educated me on this and had some hooks to anchor my thinking on this topic. Article 18 of The Universal … Continue reading The Freedom to Think
Month: March 2023
The Melancholia of Edward Hopper
I’m someone who has always found train journeys to be magical. It’s not the swanky berths, fancy catering or the air conditioning that draws me in but the melancholy of dark vistas, remote hamlets, headlights of cars on lonely highways and tiny deserted railway stations in the middle of nowhere. Watching these sights appear and … Continue reading The Melancholia of Edward Hopper
On Quitting
Grit is the technical term for persevering and being passionate about a project. Reading Angela Duckworth’s work on this subject a few years back, was my first encounter with ‘quitting’ as a psychological concept. According to Duckworth, every pursuit driven by grit has to be regularly assessed against the rationality of quitting. Annie Duke’s dedicated … Continue reading On Quitting
Falconry and the Arabs
I grew up in the United Arab Emirates where the falcon is the national bird. It’s on the national emblem and hence an ubiquitous sight on stamps, official documents, government buildings etc. If you spend considerable time in the Middle East, it’s not uncommon to come across an Arab with a menacing falcon perched on … Continue reading Falconry and the Arabs
The Nation as an Imagined Community
Today, almost every great power has a monument commemorating the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier - to honor the men and women who laid down their lives in the service of their nation. Ever wondered why you’ve never ever come across the tomb of the unknown Marxist, the unknown Libertarian or the unknown chicken-tikka lover? … Continue reading The Nation as an Imagined Community
