R. Radhakrishnan's Blog, page 5
March 14, 2024
Vedanta, the philosophy of Hinduism.
Vedanta is a term we hear a lot but many of us confuse it with the Vedas.
The Vedas are books, the oldest books on Hinduism and its practices. Vedanta is a philosophy that tries to explain human existence.
There are six schools of philosophy in traditional Hinduism Vedanta is one of the prominent ones.
Vedanta is based on three primary sources, the Upanishads, the Bhagwad Gita and the Brahma Sutras.
Vedanta is derived from Veda and Antha which means end or conclusion. Thus Veda...
February 28, 2024
Unleashing a wave of creativity: Self-Publishing in India.
A revolution of stories is in the making…
In the world’s most populous country, there is a resurgence of stories, powered by the phenomenon of self-publishing. No longer do authors have to seek validation from publishers, they can now have their words reach the masses on their own terms.
Self-publishing in India is dismantling the typical gate-keeping attitudes of traditional publishing houses—it’s a democratic process, giving voice to the unheard and undiscovered. However, it’s not free...
February 17, 2024
Hinduism and its relevance to modern living.
You can read my flip book for free from the link below. It is a small book about the core concepts of Hinduism and its relevance to modern living. Hope you enjoy reading it.
February 12, 2024
The Steel Brothers Saga: IBP Co. Limited
We looked at the story of Sir Karim Jamal, the founder of IBP Co. Limited in an earlier blog.
The Steel Brothers Company Limited is an equally important component of the IBP story.
Much of the history of the company is lost as its headquarters in London were bombed and Rangoon was occupied during WW2.
The story begins with a young Scottish gentleman who went to Burma, in 1857, as a manager for Wyllie and Co., consignment agents who traded in and around Burma
By 1859, this young man, ...
November 27, 2023
The most ancient civilisations in the world
What is Civilisation? I would say they are a set of rules that everyone follows. As humans evolved from being hunter/gatherers to become agriculturists and herders, they stopped being nomadic and settled down in places. These changes required more organisation and so came in more rules of behaviour, more hierarchy, cooperation and sharing of knowledge. Population exploded and new methods and means were found to keep developing, making life more comfort...
November 23, 2023
A Mythological Tale of Revenge and the Cycle of Violence.
In the heart of ancient India, amidst the epic Mahabharata war, a tent stood as the center of attention, surrounded by the formidable Pandava army. Inside, a grim and gruesome scene awaited, shrouded in the themes of revenge and the perpetual cycle of violence. The life-altering war, deeply ingrained in Hindu mythology, was about to reach its fateful climax.
The Cycle of Violence Unleashed.
Inside the tent, five lifeless bodies lay sprawled – the children of Draupadi, sired by the Pandavas...
November 21, 2023
The seeds of a conflict, the birth of sons. Arjuna and the twins.
A hundred stalwart sons! The news bothered Pandu. He had handed over the kingdom to his brother but had not relinquished his or his heir’s rights to rule. The handing over was only a temporary arrangement. Now that Pandu had two sons he worried that Dhritarashtra had an intention to usurp what belonged to his sons.
Dhritarashtra was filled with pride and happiness. The Kingdom was his now. Pandu had been set up as King over him due to his blindness but the kingdom belonged to him rightfully ...
November 17, 2023
A 100 sons and a daughter.
On the same day that Duryodhana was born to Gandhari, her maid Sugudha gave birth to a son who would be called Yuyutsu. This was the son born out of Dhritarashtra’s lust. A half-brother of the same age as Duryodhana. He was named Yuyutsu by Dhritarashtra in the fond hope that he would be a great warrior and support to his royal brother Duryodhana. Yuyutsu means one who is always looking for a fight. But Yuyutsu would be brought up mostly by Vidura who was also a dasi putra. Yuyutsu would becom...
October 29, 2023
Subhadra’s Lament
In the Mahabharata Aswatthamma commits a horrendous crime and is captured by the Pandavas. But he is allowed to live and there is no clear explanation as to why he was allowed to live. But the Mahabharata also teaches that violence begets violence. So here is my take on why Aswatthamma was spared.
The tent was in the center, surrounded by the entire Pandava army. Everyone was alert and on edge.
Inside the tent, a gruesome sight awaited. The five children lay dead, the offspring of Draupa...
October 15, 2023
The Delightful Dhoti: Unravelling the Mystique of India’s Traditional Attire
Me in traditional attire, a Dhoti with pleats. 
Introduction:
The Indian subcontinent is a treasure trove of cultural diversity, and this diversity is brilliantly reflected in its traditional clothing.
We looked at the saree that the Indian women wear in our earlier blog. Now it is the turn of the Dhoti which Indian men wear. It is again an unstitched rectangular piece of cloth. Simple and yet intricate at the same time.
Among the myriad of garments in India or even in the world,...
