KarmaDude

Indian Constitution: President vs. Prime Minister

KarmaDude — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 06:16:12 +0000

It all began while staring at a wordle of The Constitution of India. Something was not right. Words I was looking for like: Prime Minister and Chief Minister; did not stand out. Instead words like: Act, Amendment, President, Governor, State, Parliament, Union stood out. Where I was expecting a Parliamentary System of Constitution, with words [...]

Soothsayers of the Indian Constitution – Part I

KarmaDude — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 09:45:44 +0000

Tomorrow is the Republic Day of India, the day (26th Jan, 1950) when the Constitution of India was adopted and India became a Republic. Recently, I have been going over the Constitution of India and the debates that took place in the Constituent Assembly, to learn more about our Constitution and the story behind it. [...]

Power Struggle in the Indian Constitution

KarmaDude — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 06:28:54 +0000

The Constitution of India has many contradictions, attempts to diminish the power of the President and freedoms of the people. Here is a funny example introduced in the FORTY-SECOND AMENDMENT ACT, 1976 during the emergency when Indira Gandhi was Prime Minister: Section (3) of Article 77 in the Constitution of India reads: (3) The President [...]

Response from the Railways on Cleanliness Complaint

KarmaDude — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 06:20:42 +0000

This is a follow up to me earlier post on the state of cleanliness on Indian Railways. I had filed a grievance with http://pgportal.gov.in regarding this matter and here is the response I received: My Complaint: The state of cleanliness on Indian trains is horrible. Even though the railway contracts out cleaning services, the level [...]

Filthy Indian Railways

KarmaDude — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 03:46:41 +0000

The filthy image of India is something we have yet to overcome, and nothing portrays filthiness like the Indian Railways. An Indian’s perception of what is clean is very different and that could be why things are not very clean here. Before my recent train trips, I was given high hopes by many that the [...]

Power of Public Education

KarmaDude — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 05:22:21 +0000

In the past I had a very from-the-outside-looking-in kind of opinion about public education. I used to think that it was all about the quality of education. But, all that changed after I started getting an insiders view of public education in the US through my wife’s experiences as an elementary school teacher. One of [...]

Strange Coincidences: The Inseparable Helmet Shield

KarmaDude — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 07:02:27 +0000

Ordered a white russian. The waitress said, “Its funny you’re drinking those because Jeff Bridges is upstairs eating right now.” The Dude!! - A tweet by @jcroft For those who have watched “The Big Labowski”, the hilarious coincidence by @jcroft is both funny and intriguing. We have all had these kinds of “Strange Coincidences” in [...]

Amartya Sen explores “The Idea of Justice”

the little endian — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 03:49:07 +0000

This post is inspired (and in a way I am inspired to write again on KarmaDude) by an interview I heard of the revered Dr. Amartya Sen, Nobel Laureate and economist. As articulate and lucid as he is in his conversation and as verbosely profound he is in his writing, Dr Sen never fails to [...]

India: To Do List

KarmaDude — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 05:01:06 +0000

As I am moving to India for a year, and will be job less, here are a few things I want to do while I am there: Find a parota chef, become his apprentice and learn the art of making a parota. Learn to climb a coconut tree the traditional way Work in a mallu [...]

Strategic Thinkers vs. Creative Thinkers

KarmaDude — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 06:47:56 +0000

Ancient India had a good balance between Strategic and Creative Thinkers, while modern India, with it’s focus on professionals like engineers, doctors, lawyers, etc., seems to have lost its creative thinkers. Image Credit: The Brand Gap

Moment of Zen

KarmaDude — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 15:25:24 +0000

“once you can see the boundaries of your experience, they are no longer the boundaries of your experience.” - Marshall Mcluhan

India 61

KarmaDude — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 13:56:55 +0000

Happy 61st Independence Day Everyone, and enjoy the wallpaper. Download: 1920×1200 All images used in the wallpaper were found on flickr. Photo Credits: States Andhara Pradesh – Kaleda1, Arunachal Pradesh – Camera School, Assam – Electic.Man, Bihar – C Departure Lounge, Chattigarh – Sathiyan S, Goa – Frederick Noronha, Gujarat – Tetyana Pryymak, Haryana – [...]

Kapalbhati Pranayama

KarmaDude — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 16:43:32 +0000

Kapalbhati Pranayama is a simple breathing exercise, which when practiced regularly can benefit your respiratory system, improve abdominal muscles and digestion, and also lead to weight loss. Here is a demonstration by Anmol Mehta. See more pranayama techniques.

Moment of Zen

KarmaDude — Fri, 23 May 2008 06:44:09 +0000

The earth is but one country and mankind its citizens - Bahá’u'lláh I came across this quote over at PSDTUTS, in a tutorial for creating the above spectacular grass text effect in Photoshop.

Love, Friendship, and Art

KarmaDude — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 05:41:56 +0000

A letter Ansel Adams, an icon of landscape photography, sent to his friend Cedric Wright on June 10, 1937 Dear Cedric, A strange thing happened to me today. I saw a big thundercloud move down over Half Dome, and it was so big and clear and brilliant that it made me see many things that [...]