UIDAI announces Virtual ID (VID) for Aadhaar number: Will it address privacy concerns?

January 10, 2018

Looks like UIDAI seems to have taken the concerns of privacy activists seriously, as Supreme Court begins its hearing on whether Aadhaar number should be made mandatory for consumers while acquiring services such as Banking, Financial, Telecom, etc in their day to day lives. There are 2 key concerns when it comes to privacy related … More UIDAI announces Virtual ID (VID) for Aadhaar number: Will it address privacy concerns?

Swachh Parle Abhiyan & Ganesh Festival Nirmalya Composting Project

October 1, 2017

Almost daily we get frustrated and complain about the problems & challenges we face in our day to day lives and blame the government, elected representatives & civic bodies for their corruption, inefficiencies and incompetence. While at a certain level, this anger, frustration & complaints may be justified, can you do something about to change … More Swachh Parle Abhiyan & Ganesh Festival Nirmalya Composting Project

False optimism? Can new technologies really create  jobs for the masses?

July 7, 2017

In his article, “How new technologies can create huge numbers of meaningful jobs” on World Economic Forum website, Pelu Tran, Co-founder and President of Augmedix, shares his view as to how companies such as Augmedix & Upskill shall fuel large number of meaningful jobs in future. Augmedix enables physicians to maintain Electronic Health Records (EHRs) … More False optimism? Can new technologies really create  jobs for the masses?

Bombay Greens Walk, a time travel through Mumbai’s Heritage, Part 4

June 18, 2017

Continued from Part 3 6.Pyau Just on the right hand side of the entrance of the Horniman Circle garden, you will find a well restored Pyau (a place offering drinking water). The pyau was constructed in 1873 by Seth Gangalal V Mulji Nandlal Religious & Charitable Trust. The well serving the Pyau still exists under … More Bombay Greens Walk, a time travel through Mumbai’s Heritage, Part 4

Bombay Greens Walk, a time travel through Mumbai’s Heritage, Part 3

May 14, 2017

Continued from Part 2 5. Horniman Circle Horniman circle was where was Bombay Green was, a large open space within the fort used for trading. When the walls were brought down to construct the business district, the circle was built in 1872. Till the independence circle was named after the 13th Governor of Bombay, Sir … More Bombay Greens Walk, a time travel through Mumbai’s Heritage, Part 3

Seven lessons I learnt from my experience as a Volunteer

April 29, 2017

Over the last 2 years, I volunteered for 2 initiatives, which were essentially people’s movements. Initiatives, with no formal organisation, no legal entity, no formal funding, and so on. Everything about both the initiatives was informal. Now, one of the initiatives is almost dead and 2nd initiative though has met with some success,  has a … More Seven lessons I learnt from my experience as a Volunteer

Bombay Greens Walk, a time travel through Mumbai’s Heritage, Part 2

April 16, 2017

Continued from Part 1. 2. HSBC Building, Brady House and Elphinston House. These buildings were constructed in 19th century and housed many banks and business institutions. The photos below were taken during our walk in Mar 2017.        HSBC Building  Brady House  Elphinstone House This is how the buildings looked in late 1880s. … More Bombay Greens Walk, a time travel through Mumbai’s Heritage, Part 2

Bombay Greens Walk, a time travel through Mumbai’s Heritage, Part 1

March 26, 2017

With nothing to do over the weekend, I decided to join a walk titled “Bombay Greens” organised by Khaki Tours, with not knowing really what to expect. But then having done it, I never thought that a 90 minutes walk just covering about 800 meters around Horniman Circle would be so refreshing. Bombay Green: In … More Bombay Greens Walk, a time travel through Mumbai’s Heritage, Part 1

Does Neil DeGrasse Tyson explain Aham Brahmasmi?

February 19, 2017

Aham Brahmasmi is one of the Mahavakyas (Great Sayings) of Upnishads, the ancient Hindu texts communicated more than 5000 years back. Aham Brahmasmi = Aham Brahma Asmi Aham is I Bramha is Brahman, and Asmi  is Am. Brahman as per Advait Vedanta intepretations is the ultimate reality that is everywhere both at the physical and … More Does Neil DeGrasse Tyson explain Aham Brahmasmi?

Chief Chemist – Shri P N Bhat, Bhat Saheb

January 30, 2017

(Short biography of my grandfather translated from a book by Mr Madhukar Udgavkar) Shri (Mr) Pandurang Narayan Bhat (Babasaheb Bhat / Bhat saheb) was the soul of the Phaltan Sugar Mill, Sakharwadi, Satara, Maharashtra. The factory operated professionally for forty years thanks to the technology expert like him. The factory made profits and earned a … More Chief Chemist – Shri P N Bhat, Bhat Saheb