Author: omroutray

Lot of futurists are discussing how humans can be different from AI. Some others are trying to break down empathy into algorithms. Before every other skill and before teaching it to machines, we must teach empathy to humans. People need to feel more, connect better, value values. Currently, the way we look at solutions and effectiveness is completely devoid of empathy. Be it a small farmer who needs to adopt a new tech; a customer who needs to be upgraded to a new product suite,…Continue Reading “Do we need to be trained in empathy?” →

When the house is on fire, Stare at the moon, The night is young, And the air is cold, The sentries are asleep, The arsonists grow bold. When the house is on fire, Stare at the stars, The sky is a puzzle, And you connect the dots, The neighbor is being dragged out, The wall that connected slowly rots. When the house is on fire, Dance under the rain clouds, The rains come for free, And, you own the puddle, Another one was tied to…Continue Reading “When the house is on fire, stare at the moon” →

The soldier that is caught and is stoic is a hero. The soldier that complained about runny dal is booted out.   The soldier’s wife that stood strongly by the dead body is a hero. The soldier’s daughter that called for peace got rape threats.   The soldiers that are blown up and can never talk are heroes. The soldiers that demanded pension are enemies of the state.   The only ones that make money off soldiers are politicians and ‘defence analysts’.   The only…Continue Reading “Good soldier, Bad soldier” →

Okay, the universe wants me to write this. Second consecutive day that I am part of a conversation about sadhguru. Both the times I am told that he speaks well. I am also told even if he killed his wife, he has inspired so many that his contribution outruns his crime. And, then the person goes on to say it must have been an accident. I asked if the person also supports Asaram Bapu? So I am told rape is a heinous crime. Murder is…Continue Reading “The criminally innocent elitism of Sadhguru fans” →

Woke up to quite a few wishes of happy ratha jatra. I did not even know it was today. Was never a big fan of the god or the ritual. The jatra, specifically, is a terrible reiteration of caste and religious exclusivity that the temple stands for today. I don’t know much about the temple or the rituals as I was never interested. But top of my mind, here are a few things that is wrong with the whole institution: 1. The King is a…Continue Reading “Why ratha yatra is a celebration of caste and religious exclusion” →

Had a debate with a few friends about death and if we can wish it on others, especially parents. I said we can wish it on anyone. When someone is terminally ill, many of us wish death than prolonged suffering. I have so many friends who have been releived when parents passed away. The sort of moral hegemony that nooooo, i will never wish death for anyone is idiotic and very un-Hindu. Of all religions, it is Hinduism that not just tells you to be…Continue Reading “Wishing death” →

You can’t miss Jurassic. I loved it not because I love dinos, I do. I have never missed one. 3 was bad. 4 was ok. But this one is phenomenal. And, it is 2D. You see, 3D is not a technology. It is a tech in transition. Like Bluetooth. Never perfected, never less than a pain. And, given what they have done in this with 2D, I wonder why we need 3D. And, this movie packs so many screams, hugs and high fives, go with…Continue Reading “The latest Jurassic movie in 2D tells us that 3D is shit.” →

I have something against black and white photographs. They are a sinister, emotionally manipulative, seemingly intelligent way of bullying us into liking a photo. As if the absence of color makes them Monks of Arts.