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Showing posts from March, 2023

India's Inclusive Holiday Calendar: Celebrating Our Diversity in Harmony

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Introduction:- India is a land of immense cultural diversity, where people from different religions and communities coexist in harmony. As a secular country, India respects and celebrates the various religious festivals and beliefs that constitute its unique cultural fabric. One aspect that reflects this harmony is the way public holidays are allocated for important religious functions. In this blog, we discuss how the Indian Constitution and the selection of holidays already consider population distribution, global significance, and the provision of Restricted Holidays (RH), fostering inclusivity and understanding across diverse religious communities. Distribution of Holidays Based on Population Distribution and Global Considerations:- The Indian Constitution recognizes the importance of ensuring that each community gets an equitable number of holidays to celebrate their important religious functions. The allocation of religious holidays already takes into account both population prop...

Exploring the Paradox of Achilles and the Tortoise: A Philosophical Puzzle

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In a race, the quickest runner can never over­take the slowest, since the pursuer must first reach the point whence the pursued started, so that the slower must always hold a lead. — as recounted by  Aristotle ,  Physics  VI:9, 239b15 The paradox of Achilles and the Tortoise is one of the most famous philosophical problems in history, and it is still studied today. This paradox was first introduced by the ancient Greek philosopher Zeno of Elea, who was known for his paradoxical arguments. The paradox begins with Achilles, the swift Greek hero, racing against a tortoise. The tortoise is given a head start, and although Achilles is much faster than the tortoise, he can never catch up to it. This is because, by the time Achilles reaches the point where the tortoise started, the tortoise has already moved a little further. And by the time Achilles reaches that point, the tortoise has moved again. This pattern continues, and Achilles can never overtake the tortoise. The parado...

Lessons on Intelligence and Wisdom: Paradoxes of Tortoise and Achilles with Ganesha and Karthikeya

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The paradox of Achilles and the tortoise is a classic philosophical problem that has been puzzling minds for centuries. In this paradox, Achilles, the Greek hero, is racing against a tortoise. However, the tortoise is given a head start. Even though Achilles is much faster than the tortoise, he can never catch up with it. This is because, by the time Achilles reaches the point where the tortoise started, the tortoise has already moved a little further. And by the time Achilles reaches that point, the tortoise has moved again. This pattern continues, and Achilles can never overtake the tortoise. Similarly, in Hindu mythology, Lord Muruga, the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, was once challenged by Lord Ganesha, to a race around the universe. The winner would be declared the most intelligent and powerful of the two brothers. Lord Muruga, being the younger and swifter one, started off on his peacock, confident of winning the race. On the other hand, Lord Ganesha, who is known for hi...

A Journey Through Time, Maths, and the Footsteps of a Genius: Unforgettable Lessons from a Remarkable Teacher

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My School Town Higher Secondary School, Kumbakonam No Ordinary Institution In a quaint Indian town stood my school with a rich history, established as early as the 19th century. This was no ordinary institution, for it was the same school where the great mathematician, Srinivasa Ramanujan, had studied. The school's legacy lived on in its students, who carried the weight of its history and the spark of mathematical brilliance. During my higher secondary years, there was a remarkable math teacher, a man of talent but with no ambition beyond sharing his passion for mathematics with his students. He was one of those rare educators who could make even the most complex concepts come alive through his storytelling. One of the most memorable lessons he taught us was about the ancient paradox of Achilles and the tortoise. As he narrated the story, we could almost see the mighty Achilles and the slow-moving tortoise racing before our eyes. This seemingly simple tale presented a mind-boggling...

Sriram Navami Greetings

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Sriram Pattabhishekam 🌟 Sriram Pattabhishekam pic - very auspicious & significant in Indian culture 👑 Rama crowned king. Good beats evil, justice restored.  🏠 Display at home/temple, brings peace, good fortune.  🙏 Pray/meditate in front for success, spiritual enlightenment.  💫 Symbol of divine grace, worshipped by millions.

The Enchanting Story of How "Minds Wide Open" Blog Came to Be.

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  In Kumbakonam, Ganesh was born,  Where temple bells chimed every morn,  With a hunger for life's thrills,  He set his sights on Coimbatore's hills,  And there he thrived, his passion reborn. He studied hard and made new friends,  In pursuit of knowledge with its many bends,  Coimbatore offered him a new pace,  With a life beyond just a small town's embrace,  And Ganesh knew his journey had just begun, no dead-ends.. But there was more to life, he came to see,  Different cultures and the world's mystery,  So to Bangalore, he set his course,  To pursue a career and life's diverse source,  And travel the world with his own history. Ganesh explored the world, far and wide, Encountering diverse cultures side by side, As he reflected on his own identity, And the purpose of his own destiny, He searched for answers, guided by his own inner guide With folded hands and a prayer so true, Ganesh sought wisdom to pursue, His quest fo...

Minds Wide Open

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GANESH SWAMINATHAN's Blogs MINDS WIDE OPEN WHERE KNOWLEDGE IS FREE Minds Wide Open - Where Knowledge Is Free Where The Mind Is Without Fear Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high Where knowledge is free Where the world has not been broken up into fragments By narrow domestic walls Where words come out from the depth of truth Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way Into the dreary desert sand of dead habit Where the mind is led forward by thee Into ever-widening thought and action Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake. Rabindranath Tagore  

Unlocking the Power of the Happiness Advantage at Work

The happiness advantage is the idea that being happy gives you an edge in nearly every aspect of your life, including work. When you're happy, you're more productive, creative, and engaged. You're also better able to handle stress and setbacks. In his book, "The Happiness Advantage," Shawn shares the results of a study he conducted with a group of salespeople at a real estate company. He divided the sales team into two groups. One group received traditional sales training, while the other group received training that focused on increasing their happiness levels. After just a few weeks, the group that received happiness training outsold the other group by 37%! The happy salespeople were more productive, made more sales, and had happier customers. So, how can you apply the happiness advantage in your own life and work? Here are a few tips: Practice gratitude . Take a few minutes each day to reflect on the things you're grateful for. This can be as simple as thin...

The Pathaan Movie Review: A Disappointing Thriller that Fails to Live Up to the Hype

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I recently watched the much-hyped Indian movie "Pathaan" on Amazon Prime, and I must say, I am glad I didn't waste my time and money on watching it in the theater. The movie stars Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, and John Abraham in lead roles and had been the talk of the town for a while before its release. However, after watching it, I cannot help but criticize the weak and poorly written plot. The story revolves around Kabir Pathaan (Shah Rukh Khan), an intelligence officer who goes rogue after the murder of his wife and son. He then partners with a bar dancer, Naina (Deepika Padukone), to avenge his family's death and take down the mastermind behind it. Enter the villain, Don (John Abraham), who is the head of an international drug cartel and responsible for Kabir's family's tragic fate. The story sounds like a typical Bollywood masala movie with all the ingredients for a blockbuster hit, but the execution was a huge letdown. The biggest problem with the ...

A Serene Saturday at Madhuban Shriram Spandhana Apartments

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Introduction: Today, Saturday the 25th of March 2023, marks a beautiful day at Madhuban Shriram Spandhana Apartments. Waking up early to the golden rays of the sun, I am filled with a sense of gratitude and excitement for the day ahead. With a myriad of activities planned, I am eager to embrace the day and all its simple joys. Morning Bliss: Peering down from my balcony, I watch people stroll along the newly laid grass lawn, enjoying the crisp morning air. The laughter of children fills the atmosphere as they emerge from their homes, ready to play and revel in the warm embrace of the sun. A Spiritual Journey: As is my usual routine, I prepare to visit the Chokkanatha Swamy Temple. The divine aura and the delicious prasad always bring a sense of serenity to my soul. Today, my wife normally gives me flowers from our terrace garden, adding an extra touch of beauty to the temple offerings. A Green Oasis: After the temple visit, I will take a leisurely walk through the serene and lush surr...

Pearl of Wisdom from Shri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham: Narayana Smruthi and its Significance

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During our visit to Kanchi Mutt last Sunday (19th March 2023), we were blessed with witnessing the Pradosham Pooja conducted in front of the Brindavanams (Samadhis) of Periyava and Chinna Periyava. Both Brindavanams were in the form of Tulasi Madam, with Krishna prominently sculpted in the front. Intrigued by this, I enquired about its significance. They explained that all   Sannyasis ultimately attain Krishna/Narayana. When I asked them to clarify further, they took me to the EPIC wall on the side which had a depiction of a few essential messages from the scriptures. They showed me the above specific EPIC prominently on the wall which was self-explanatory. They gave me permission to take a photo too. It was an enlightening experience that deepened my understanding of the importance of Narayana Smaranam as advocated by Adi Shankara himself. I  have re-typed what is in the photo for ease of reading:- Narayana Smruthi " Sri Mukha written from Sri Madam is concluded with the word...

EPICs of South Indian Delicacies on the walls of A2B

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Author: Ganesh Swaminathan Date : Monday, 2Oth March 2023. Time 5:30pm Inspiration : Epics on the walls of A2B in Chennai Bangalore Highway near Vellore. Hey everyone! Did you know that the famous South Indian restaurant food chain A2B (Adyar Ananda Bhavan) has an interesting history? It was founded in 1979 by a humble sweet shop owner named K.S. Thirupathi Raja who started with just one small outlet in Chennai. Today, A2B has over 150 outlets across India and even in other countries! But that's not all, each A2B outlet is adorned with interesting epics on some of the super popular South Indian delicacies written on the wall. For example, did you know that the classic Masala Dosa, which is a staple in every South Indian household, originated in the Udupi town of Karnataka? It was created by the Udupi Krishna Temple cooks who wanted to offer something unique to their devotees. And have you tried the ...

A Celebration + Spiritual + Business trip to Chennai

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In this travelogue, I share our four-day experience in Chennai, exploring its temples, markets, and beaches, and soaking in the city's vibrant culture and spirituality. From the iconic Marina Beach to the serene Sriperumbudur Ramanujam Temple, Chennai left us feeling fulfilled and grateful for the experience. Join us on our journey through the spiritual heart of Chennai. Friday 17th: We woke up early and traveled from Bangalore to Chennai by Car. After 6 hours of travel, we arrived at the Park Avenue hotel, where we checked in and settled into our room. Later in the evening, we attended an engagement function that was hosted by a welcoming and hospitable relative. Saturday 18th: Today was all about exploring the spiritual side of Chennai. We visited the Parthasarathi Temple, which is a beautiful shrine dedicated to Lord Krishna. We also went to the Kabaleeswarar Temple, a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. We also visited South Indian cuisine speciality shop Ambika Appalam...

Even the mighty can collapse

  👀OMG!! The Credit Suisse Group AG collapsed 🏦 and now, bondholders have discovered that $17 billion worth of so-called Additional Tier 1 debt was worthless. 😱 Authorities intervened on very thin ice and it seems like the government's crisis management is carried out in a panicked way that undermines the rule of law and undermines Switzerland. 🤯 Foreign investors are now wondering if Switzerland is a banana republic 🍌 where the rule of law doesn't apply?. Lawsuits might be in order. 🤔 The Ethos Foundation has even threatened legal action over the issue of blocking shareholder votes. ⚖️ #CreditSuisseCollapse   #SwitzerlandInCrisis   #EthosFoundation   #RuleOfLaw   #BananaRepublic ? 🤔 Credit Suisse’s Collapse Reveals Some Ugly Truths About Switzerland for Investors - BNN Bloomberg https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/credit-suisse-s-collapse-reveals-some-ugly-truths-about-switzerland-for-investors-1.1897999

Wedding Memories - North Usman

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As I stand in front of the tree on North Usman Road, memories of my wedding day come flooding back. It was 1990, and my beloved and I got married at the Vijaylakshmi Kalyana Mandapa, which used to be located just across the street. Returning to North Usman Road all these years later, I am struck by how much has changed. The Kalyana Mandapa is no longer there, and the street has undergone significant development and modernization. Yet, despite these changes, I still feel a deep sense of nostalgia as I stand in front of the tree and recall the memories of that special day. North Usman Road is not just a physical location, but a repository of memories and emotions for many people, including myself. My wedding day at the Vijaylakshmi Kalyana Mandapa on this very road will always be a cherished memory that brings me joy and nostalgia, no matter how much time may pass

ChatGPT: The AI Assistant That's Changing MY GAME

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As a businessman, writer, and speaker, I'm always on the lookout for tools and resources that can help me communicate more effectively with my audience. That's why I'm writing this blog today, to express my appreciation for ChatGPT, an AI language model that has been a game-changer for me. For those who may not be familiar with it, ChatGPT is a powerful tool that can understand and respond to natural language input. It's based on the GPT-3.5 architecture, which means that it's been trained on vast amounts of data and can generate human-like responses to a wide range of queries. I first discovered ChatGPT when I was looking for a way to improve my user manuals and policy documents. I was tired of the same old templates and language, and I wanted something that would help me stand out and communicate more clearly with my readers. That's when I came across ChatGPT, and I was immediately impressed by its capabilities. Not only was ChatGPT able to understand and resp...