Pinned Tweet
This will be a pinned thread to capture some of my video and text based outreach on Dharmic topics in recent past (2020 onwards).
Putting this here just for ease of sharing and ready reference.
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Putting this here just for ease of sharing and ready reference.
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Good find 👍
Today it is kosher to criticise EVR.
I hope we get the freedom to freely criticise the bile and poison spewed by two more icons.
Today it is kosher to criticise EVR.
I hope we get the freedom to freely criticise the bile and poison spewed by two more icons.
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Two things interesting though.
That a version of Ramayana got banned in Nehru era isn't known to many people today of my age and below. As a contrast lot of noise is made on Hindutva tyranny against AK Ramanujan 300 Ramayana.
I don't clamour for bans. I rely on Karpatriji's stance on Ramayana diversity. Not going to give a free pass to any and every interpretation. At the same time not going to stick to single bound copy or read only Valmiki Ramayana.pdf. Some room for diversity exists in tradition. But same tradition also asks us to cultivate a sense of judgement and discernment. I shall exercise that.
Will call out trash and disgusting interpretations in as many words. If you adore trash and disgusting interpretations then I will judge your IQ and mental stability basis that.
Thank you!
That a version of Ramayana got banned in Nehru era isn't known to many people today of my age and below. As a contrast lot of noise is made on Hindutva tyranny against AK Ramanujan 300 Ramayana.
I don't clamour for bans. I rely on Karpatriji's stance on Ramayana diversity. Not going to give a free pass to any and every interpretation. At the same time not going to stick to single bound copy or read only Valmiki Ramayana.pdf. Some room for diversity exists in tradition. But same tradition also asks us to cultivate a sense of judgement and discernment. I shall exercise that.
Will call out trash and disgusting interpretations in as many words. If you adore trash and disgusting interpretations then I will judge your IQ and mental stability basis that.
Thank you!
Heard about Aubrey Menen's 1954 book 'Rama Retold' which was banned in Nehru era with C Rajagopalachari dismissing it as "pure nonsense".
Excerpts from an article on the book (link below).
...When Ravana enters the story, Sita is fascinated by the powerful king who treats her well. She goes willingly
...Kidnapping another man’s wife was the big mistake that Ravana had committed in the original epic that led to him being the poster of evil. Menen strips him of that, and leaves us questioning. If Sita went willingly, is Ravana truly pure evil?
...Sita recalls Ravana to have been “gentle with women" and presents him as a consensual love interest
radioazimpremjiuniversity.substack.com/p/unacceptable…
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..OBC associations call for protest at Ramlila Maidan demanding drop-down for all castes in 2027 Census
..The Centre will be enumerating caste through an open column for everyone apart from SCs and STs during the Population Enumeration phase of the 2027 Census, which yielded over 46 lakh caste names during 2011 SECC
..drop-down menu that enumerates all castes was necessary “so that accurate social, educational and economic data” can be gathered “for social justice and proportionate representation”
thehindu.com/news/national/…
..The Centre will be enumerating caste through an open column for everyone apart from SCs and STs during the Population Enumeration phase of the 2027 Census, which yielded over 46 lakh caste names during 2011 SECC
..drop-down menu that enumerates all castes was necessary “so that accurate social, educational and economic data” can be gathered “for social justice and proportionate representation”
thehindu.com/news/national/…
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Heard about Aubrey Menen's 1954 book 'Rama Retold' which was banned in Nehru era with C Rajagopalachari dismissing it as "pure nonsense".
Excerpts from an article on the book (link below).
...When Ravana enters the story, Sita is fascinated by the powerful king who treats her well. She goes willingly
...Kidnapping another man’s wife was the big mistake that Ravana had committed in the original epic that led to him being the poster of evil. Menen strips him of that, and leaves us questioning. If Sita went willingly, is Ravana truly pure evil?
...Sita recalls Ravana to have been “gentle with women" and presents him as a consensual love interest
radioazimpremjiuniversity.substack.com/p/unacceptable…
Excerpts from an article on the book (link below).
...When Ravana enters the story, Sita is fascinated by the powerful king who treats her well. She goes willingly
...Kidnapping another man’s wife was the big mistake that Ravana had committed in the original epic that led to him being the poster of evil. Menen strips him of that, and leaves us questioning. If Sita went willingly, is Ravana truly pure evil?
...Sita recalls Ravana to have been “gentle with women" and presents him as a consensual love interest
radioazimpremjiuniversity.substack.com/p/unacceptable…
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Halley retweeted
"As a dominant caste, brahmin South Asian American woman, from a Hindu background, who is cis-gendered, able-bodied, and an assistant professor at a research institution in the US, I hold several privileges including those of class, caste, and profession"
Pravara (प्रवर)
🫡🙏
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Pravara (प्रवर)
🫡🙏
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Sonia’s Memoir forgets PV Narasimha Rao from the History of Economic Reforms
thehansindia.com/news/cities/ne…
thehansindia.com/news/cities/ne…
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One guy in the comments says Telugu writer feminist progressivist pro max Volga's book Liberation of Sita should be made compulsory reading in colleges. That book has Sita-Surpanakha sisterhood bonhomie conversations btw.
May be makers wanted to appeal to all sorts of people. oda feminism progressivism tadka idhar udhar dal denge. That way we can bait everyone.
Seems to have worked.
May be makers wanted to appeal to all sorts of people. oda feminism progressivism tadka idhar udhar dal denge. That way we can bait everyone.
Seems to have worked.
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"A fresh demand to rename Pune as “Phule Nagar” has been raised by the National OBC Mukti Morcha, also referred to as the Rashtriya OBC Mukti Morcha. The group wants the city named after social reformer Mahatma Jyotirao Phule and has asked Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to take up the proposal before his 200th birth anniversary in 2027"
punemirror.com/news/pune-rena…
"A fresh demand to rename Pune as “Phule Nagar” has been raised by the National OBC Mukti Morcha, also referred to as the Rashtriya OBC Mukti Morcha. The group wants the city named after social reformer Mahatma Jyotirao Phule and has asked Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to take up the proposal before his 200th birth anniversary in 2027"
punemirror.com/news/pune-rena…
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Halley retweeted
"Ranbir had begun to think like Rama".... 😅😂🤣
Okay now I see where this has come from.
That scene of Rama saying "Forgive me" before killing Rakshasi Tataka.
It felt out of place because I had never seen it in any film adaptation nor in any version of Ramayana.
Per this Aug'26 article it is our man Ranbir Kapoor's innovation. Nitesh Tiwari approved ofcourse.
"Ranbir was all set to shoot the scene when a thought struck him. “Before releasing the arrow, shall I just say, kshama?” he asked his director.
“That came from inside him,” noted the contented Nitesh. “Just that one word kshama told me how hard he’d worked on himself.” Nitesh needed no further proof that on set, Ranbir had begun to think like Rama"
telegraphindia.com/entertainment/…
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Good discussion on agriculture
From the video description:
Silicon valley and corporate agritech are pushing a "farm-free" future powered by lab proteins, vertical farming, and energy-hungry tech—but is it a dangerous fantasy? Small-scale farmer and social scientist Chris Smaje (A Small Farm Future, Saying No to a Farm-Free Future) joins Robert Rubinstein to dismantle the high-tech food illusion. In this episode of TBLI Radical Truth, we dive into the broken economics of cheap food, why land financialization is squeezing out young growers, and why smallholder, sun-powered agriculture remains our only viable ecological path
Lab-grown protein promises to take farming out of food. Chris Smaje farms, and argues the maths behind a farm-free future does not work.
In this episode of TBLI Radical Truth, we sit down with Chris Smaje, farmer, social scientist, and author of the controversial book Saying No to a Farm-Free Future.
We live in an era where techno-utopians dream of a world fed by vertical farms and lab-grown meat. But Chris argues that this "farm-free" vision is ecologically naive and socially dangerous. In this conversation, "Farming vs. Fiction," we explore why real agriculture is essential for community, democracy, and our connection to the planet.
What we discuss in this episode:
The "Farm-Free" Myth: Debunking the idea that high-tech food systems can save the planet.
Ecological Reality: Why soil health and traditional farming are irreplaceable for biodiversity.
Techno-Utopianism: A critique of Silicon Valley’s attempt to centralize and automate our food supply.
Food Sovereignty: Why keeping farming local is a matter of democratic control and social resilience.
If you are concerned about the future of food, regenerative agriculture, or the rising influence of big tech on our natural world, this "Radical Truth" from Chris Smaje is a must-watch.
youtu.be/9zx_wTR77vg/
From the video description:
Silicon valley and corporate agritech are pushing a "farm-free" future powered by lab proteins, vertical farming, and energy-hungry tech—but is it a dangerous fantasy? Small-scale farmer and social scientist Chris Smaje (A Small Farm Future, Saying No to a Farm-Free Future) joins Robert Rubinstein to dismantle the high-tech food illusion. In this episode of TBLI Radical Truth, we dive into the broken economics of cheap food, why land financialization is squeezing out young growers, and why smallholder, sun-powered agriculture remains our only viable ecological path
Lab-grown protein promises to take farming out of food. Chris Smaje farms, and argues the maths behind a farm-free future does not work.
In this episode of TBLI Radical Truth, we sit down with Chris Smaje, farmer, social scientist, and author of the controversial book Saying No to a Farm-Free Future.
We live in an era where techno-utopians dream of a world fed by vertical farms and lab-grown meat. But Chris argues that this "farm-free" vision is ecologically naive and socially dangerous. In this conversation, "Farming vs. Fiction," we explore why real agriculture is essential for community, democracy, and our connection to the planet.
What we discuss in this episode:
The "Farm-Free" Myth: Debunking the idea that high-tech food systems can save the planet.
Ecological Reality: Why soil health and traditional farming are irreplaceable for biodiversity.
Techno-Utopianism: A critique of Silicon Valley’s attempt to centralize and automate our food supply.
Food Sovereignty: Why keeping farming local is a matter of democratic control and social resilience.
If you are concerned about the future of food, regenerative agriculture, or the rising influence of big tech on our natural world, this "Radical Truth" from Chris Smaje is a must-watch.
youtu.be/9zx_wTR77vg/
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Halley retweeted
NYC adult day care director pleads guilty in $127 MILLION Medicare, Medicaid fraud scheme
thepostmillennial.com/news/nyc-adult…
thepostmillennial.com/news/nyc-adult…
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Okay now I see where this has come from.
That scene of Rama saying "Forgive me" before killing Rakshasi Tataka.
It felt out of place because I had never seen it in any film adaptation nor in any version of Ramayana.
Per this Aug'26 article it is our man Ranbir Kapoor's innovation. Nitesh Tiwari approved ofcourse.
"Ranbir was all set to shoot the scene when a thought struck him. “Before releasing the arrow, shall I just say, kshama?” he asked his director.
“That came from inside him,” noted the contented Nitesh. “Just that one word kshama told me how hard he’d worked on himself.” Nitesh needed no further proof that on set, Ranbir had begun to think like Rama"
telegraphindia.com/entertainment/…
That scene of Rama saying "Forgive me" before killing Rakshasi Tataka.
It felt out of place because I had never seen it in any film adaptation nor in any version of Ramayana.
Per this Aug'26 article it is our man Ranbir Kapoor's innovation. Nitesh Tiwari approved ofcourse.
"Ranbir was all set to shoot the scene when a thought struck him. “Before releasing the arrow, shall I just say, kshama?” he asked his director.
“That came from inside him,” noted the contented Nitesh. “Just that one word kshama told me how hard he’d worked on himself.” Nitesh needed no further proof that on set, Ranbir had begun to think like Rama"
telegraphindia.com/entertainment/…
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Telugu article on new 'Sannidhi Golla' appointments at Tirumala temple - శ్రీవారి ఆలయంలో మరో ఇద్దరు సన్నిధిగొల్లులు కొలువుదీరనున్నారు.ఇకపై స్వామివారి సేవలో మొత్తం నలుగురు సన్నిధి గొల్లలుండనున్నారు
(andhrajyothy.com/2026/andhra-pr…)
Hereditary lineage based appointments.
June'20 English article
"The Yadava community hailed the State Government’s decision regarding restoration of ‘Golla Mirasi’, the hereditary rights of the community pertaining to certain rituals at Tirumala temple"
"‘Sannidhi Golla’ is a person/family hailing from the community that has the privilege to open and close the door at the main threshold of Sri Venkateswara temple at Tirumala every day at dawn. According to temple scriptures, Sannidhi Sarabhaiah was the person bestowed with the right to have first and final darshan of the Lord every day, and the practice was inherited by members of his lineage"
(thehindu.com/news/national/…)
(andhrajyothy.com/2026/andhra-pr…)
Hereditary lineage based appointments.
June'20 English article
"The Yadava community hailed the State Government’s decision regarding restoration of ‘Golla Mirasi’, the hereditary rights of the community pertaining to certain rituals at Tirumala temple"
"‘Sannidhi Golla’ is a person/family hailing from the community that has the privilege to open and close the door at the main threshold of Sri Venkateswara temple at Tirumala every day at dawn. According to temple scriptures, Sannidhi Sarabhaiah was the person bestowed with the right to have first and final darshan of the Lord every day, and the practice was inherited by members of his lineage"
(thehindu.com/news/national/…)
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Grok gets it (from the replies to the quoted post below)
The 2026 film adds modern politeness: Rama says “Kshama kijiye” to Surpanakha and expresses quiet regret at Tataka. This softens the ideal into a more conflicted human for today’s audience, shifting the emphasis from pure acceptance of apology to frequent self-apology.
The 2026 film adds modern politeness: Rama says “Kshama kijiye” to Surpanakha and expresses quiet regret at Tataka. This softens the ideal into a more conflicted human for today’s audience, shifting the emphasis from pure acceptance of apology to frequent self-apology.
"..Bhagwan Ram says “Kshama” before shooting his arrow at Tadaka.."
This is a good example of diverse perspectives.
I felt this scene was in poor taste i.e. seeking forgiveness from a legit rakshasi. But here someone likes it.
Let diversity thrive 🫰
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