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Unity Without Uniformity: Why Diversity Is the Foundation of Peace

If diversity and unity are to guide the future, education must change.Most schools and universities today serve industrial monoculture and economic growth. They train the intellect — the “left brain” — to produce administrators and managers. Rational analysis is important, but it is only half of human potential. We also have a “right brain”: intuitive, holistic, relational. An education that neglects creativity, empathy and ecological awareness produces imbalance. It strengthens uniformity and weakens diversity.

To Become Better AI Designers, Engineers Should Learn Biology

At present all our robots and AI machines, etc. are being designed based upon the human body design.  We are still struggling to design our computers and processors more efficiently, but they can never come any closer to the brain and human thought. The AI priests feel otherwise

Is Cricket and Nepal Premier League Powering a New Sports Economy?

The Nepal Premier League has undeniably changed the atmosphere in this Himalayan nation. It has brought light to Kirtipur nightlife, sponsors to scoreboards, and pride to fans starved of large-scale sporting events. It has also created pockets of income, moments of possibility, and glimpses of what a sports economy could look like.

Romance of Innovation: How to Live a Meaningful Life in Rural India

It is a matter of shame for all of us that 78 years after independence we still have a major portion of our rural population living in primitive conditions. They lack electricity, clean cooking fuel, potable water and toilets in their homes. Somehow modern technology has not touched their lives.

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Gananath Obeyesekere: A scholar who plumbed the depths of the unknown

It is axiomatic that whatever greatness he accomplished would have been highly unlikely if he stayed in the local university system in Sri Lanka, which reached a state of mediocracy after 1956.  Gananath Obeyesekere enters the pantheon of Global Sri Lankans such as CG Weeramantry, CF Amerasinghe and Stanly Tambiah whose greatness is still revered by the world

The rising threat to women journalists in South Asia

With limited data on women journalists pursuing legal action in both India and Pakistan, predatory behaviour continues to escalate. Regional governments must stop using online harassment as a political tool as it not only takes a psychological toll but also makes it difficult for journalists to do their jobs effectively. Taking serious steps to protect them must be treated as an urgent priority.

Value Creation: Path to zero complaints for companies and organizations

The 8th Global Conference on Creating Value will be held in London, UK at the Imperial College in October 2025. The 7th was held in Sao Paulo, Brazil on October 2-4, 2024. The first was in the UK, the second in New York, the third in Paris and the fourth (virtual) from Florida, the fifth in Japan, the sixth in Washington DC.

Building a more emotionally resilient generation: Netflix series on adolescence offers a lesson for every parent, teacher and policymaker

Adolescence is a stark reminder that fostering emotional resilience, rather than repression, is vital for a healthier society. Schools and parents must prioritize social-emotional learning, equipping adolescents with emotional regulation, empathy, and communication skills. Trained teachers and counselors should offer early intervention for emotional distress. 

The timeless legacy of Mansoora Hassan, the Pakistani artist who merged identity and tradition with politics

When many worlds fell apart on September 11, 2001, Mansoora Hassan the artist embraced the pain and ensuing horror across the globe. Like a penitent for all, she donned a burqa (itself a valiant and conspicuous act) and stood in front of emblematic American monuments like the White House, the Lincoln Memorial and Ground Zero, her hand outstretched - as though begging for alms.

Clean drinking water for rural schools: India-developed technology can be scaled up, shared with other countries

To alleviate drinking water woes for rural schools, a unique clean drinking water technology (CDWT) has been developed by  the Nimbkar Agricultural Research Institute (NARI), an NGO, in Phaltan, Maharashtra, India. The clean drinking water technology (CDWT) can provide 100-200 liters of clean water per day to about 200 children in rural schools.

What AI can and cannot do: AI needs hard ground-based data to deliver solutions

e-rickshaws are a very common sight in Indian cities. They clog the roads and in most places create a nuisance. AI can help them to become Uber e-rickshaws. They provide last mile connectivity and Uber or Ola model for these rickshaws can help everybody. However to develop this model good and hard data on their numbers, their characteristics, road topography and conditions are needed. 

Women’s Day: Cause for despondency?

Despite earnest rhetoric about safeguarding women’s rights, the world’s oldest democracy  India remains  indifferent to the safety and welfare of half its population – women and girls. Sexual violence and the incidence of rape is on the increase and what is cause for deep despondency is the manner in which state and society in India are accepting this as a kind of new normal. 

'I would like to see India and Pakistan make peace in my lifetime'

While there are rumours of back-channel dialogue taking place currently, when one of these two nuclear-armed neighbours behaves reasonably, the other one throws a tantrum and vice versa. What will it take to bring them on the same page? What can we, the people, do to move the needle?

The naturopathy way to cure chronic ailments: Can India show the way to the world?

India, with its rich history of natural healing, is uniquely positioned to lead the world in the practice and promotion of naturopathy. As chronic diseases continue to rise globally, naturopathy offers a solution that is affordable, environmentally friendly, and free from harmful side effects. With its focus on prevention and a healthy lifestyle, naturopathy aligns with the needs of both individuals and society at large.

The Dalai Lama and his security; enjoys the 'most protected' status in India and US

The most elaborate and multi-layer security cordon for the Dalai Lama was given when he visited the northeastern border state of Arunachal Pradesh - which is disputed by China - in 2017. His high-profile visit was considered a major risk having global and diplomatic implications due to unresolved and tense border flare-ups between the two neighboring Asian giants.

Amidst a season of ‘litfests’ across South Asia, global dialogue with local flavour in coastal Kerala

The Kerala Festival draws inspiration from the state’s rich literary and historical tradition. This year it hosted more than 500 speakers from 15 countries - although there were few participants from neighbouring countries. With an eclectic mix of literary discussions and cultural performances, the landmark event had a footfall of more than 600,000 visitors over the course of four days, according to the organizer’s estimates.

Solar energy: Supply glut in China is boon for India and Pakistan

While the U.S. and China both suffer from the oversupply of solar panels, it has spurred growth in energy capacity in India and Pakistan. Until China had resolved its production issues in 2022, India’s solar electricity generation had grown at a linear rate. Upon the supply glut, the growth turned exponential. Just this year, 71% of the energy capacity added by India was renewable, thanks in large part to the record low price of polysilicon.

Editorial and algorithmic biases impacting Pakistan's digital landscape

Users in Pakistan who communicate in Urdu, Pashto, Sindhi, or other regional languages frequently experience misunderstandings or incorrect flagging of their posts. This restricts their capacity to articulate their thoughts, particularly regarding local matters openly. Posts that critique societal norms or address regional problems can be flagged as inflammatory because the algorithms may not fully understand the context behind them. 

Tapan K. Bose: He sought a South Asia united by its people, not divided by politics

Besides Sapan, Tapan Bose was instrumental in shaping numerous civil society initiatives, including the Pakistan-India Peoples’ Forum for Peace and Democracy, the South Asia Forum for Human Rights, and the Rohingya Human Rights Initiative. His commitment to defending the rights of refugees, displaced communities, and oppressed nationalities remained steadfast until his final days.