The Buzz & Beyond

  Tulsi: The Eternal Garland of Devotion, Healing, and Sanctity Garlands have long been cherished as symbols of beauty, reverence, love, and purity. In many cultures, especially in the tradition of Sanatan Dharm, the act of offering a garland represents the deepest sentiments of devotion and surrender. While fresh flowers wilt and fade, the garlands woven from sacred words—poetry, prayers, and hymns—live on in the heart, fragrant for generations. When we speak or write in reverence of the Divine, we create spiritual garlands that do not perish, but rather, enrich the soul’s journey eternally. Among the myriad sacred symbols in Sanatan Dharm, few hold as exalted a place as Tulsi , or Holy Basil. More than just a botanical marvel, Tulsi is a living embodiment of sanctity—revered as the divine consort of Bhagwan Shri Vishnu and cherished for her spiritual, medicinal, and environmental virtues. Tulsi in Scriptures and Philosophy In the Bhagavad Gita (Chapter 9, Verse 26), Bhagwa...

🌍 The Age of Transactional Relationships   “No matter how strong your opinions are, unless you use your power for positive change, you’re part of the problem.” — Coretta Scott King As we look around today’s world, one thing becomes clear: the very fabric of human relationships is undergoing a dramatic shift. The age-old values of loyalty, ethics, and selflessness are fading, replaced by a new reality — transactional relationships . Whether it’s personal bonds, professional networks, or diplomatic alliances, one question now dominates every interaction: “What’s in it for me?” 💔 From Bonds of Love to Deals of Convenience Gone are the days when relationships were built on unconditional trust and emotional investment. Today, they’re largely shaped by mutual utility and personal gain . Even within families, where love once transcended logic, emotional support is often replaced by expectations of benefit. Let us consider the decline of the joint family system in India. Once a pi...

  The Hidden Enemy: Lessons from Operation Rising Lion The ancient Indian strategist Chanakya warned of four threats to a nation-state in his seminal treatise, the Arthashastra: Threats supported from within Threats supported from outside Threats originating externally but enabled from within And finally, threats that arise internally but are aided by external forces Of these, he emphasized the last as the most dangerous—an internal enemy supported by outsiders, capable of undermining a nation from its core. This timeless wisdom finds a modern reflection in the remarkable success of Operation Rising Lion, Israel's covert military offensive deep within Iran. While much credit is being given to technological superiority and tactical deception, the operation’s true edge came from what one might term the "Israel within Iran"—a network of internal collaborators disillusioned with the Iranian regime, working in tandem with Mossad, Israel’s intelligence agency. This internal net...

  A Wake-Up Call from the Skies: Rethinking Aviation Safety in India The recent crash of an Air India-operated Boeing Dreamliner in Ahmedabad, which tragically claimed over 250 lives—including passengers and civilians on the ground—is far more than an unfortunate incident. It’s a catastrophic event that underscores critical gaps in India’s civil aviation safety framework—gaps that, perhaps, could have been prevented or at the least minimized. While the technical causes of the crash are best left to aviation experts and investigators, it is important to reflect on the systemic issues that continue to compromise air safety in India. A Grim Reminder of Systemic Flaws India’s aviation sector is expanding rapidly, with over half a million people flying each day. However, this growth highlights the fragility of our safety systems. A single failure exposes deep vulnerabilities in regulation, oversight, and infrastructure. Globally, civil aviation is a booming industry, valued at arou...

  11 Years of Modi Government: Transformation and the Road Ahead Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi (2014–2025), India has witnessed a profound transformation in its economy, infrastructure, and global standing. With a GDP of $4.2 trillion, India is on the cusp of becoming the world’s fourth-largest economy, set to surpass Japan and soon Germany. This growth is backed by a robust 6.4% average annual GDP growth rate since 2014, recently accelerating to 7.4%. Inflation has dropped from 9.4% in 2013-14 to 4.6%, offering stability to households and businesses alike. Unprecedented Infrastructure Expansion India’s infrastructure push has been a cornerstone of its transformation: Highways : National highways grew from 91,287 km (2014) to 1,46,204 km (2024), with construction speed rising from 12 km/day to 34 km/day. Rural Roads : 4 lakh km of roads added, connecting 99% of rural India. Railways : 25,871 RKM of new tracks laid (vs. 14,985 RKM in the prior d...

  Is India Really the World’s 4th Largest Economy? A Deeper Look Recently, the CEO of NITI Aayog stated that India is now the world’s fourth-largest economy. But the pressing question is — are we, really? It’s a projection, not a confirmed fact. While it's a source of national pride, opposition voices rightly argue that despite this claim, India’s per capita income remains among the lowest globally. That’s a far more urgent issue — and it defies a political fix. Even leading economists are struggling to find satisfying answers. To begin with, we must acknowledge that it’s premature to declare India has surpassed Japan. According to IMF’s April projections, India’s economy is estimated at $4187.02 billion, just marginally ahead of Japan’s $4186.43 billion. Both are on track to become $4 trillion economies — but these figures are for 2025–26. As of now, India’s GDP stands around $3.9 trillion, while Japan's is closer to $4 trillion. We’ll have a clearer picture by May 30, once ...