Arts & Aesthetics

The Hidden Path

Get the copy here - The trail climbed steeply through wet pine and stone. Adi’s breath came in sharp pulls as he pushed upward through the mist. The monsoon clouds wrapped the mountain in a gray cocoon.

आँखों से ओझल (Ankhon Se Ojhal) - A Blues Song

What is Art? Is it an expression of the subconscious flowing through on a canvas, through words, music, forms etched out of a slab of wood or rock? Is it therapy for the soul? An avenue of release of unexpressed...

A web of manipulation - The "Caste" Bogey in Modern India

How does a society heal from trauma? Acknowledging a malaise so one can treat it is valuable. In the case of Bharat, there was a social malaise of jati (caste) discrimination.

Sri Venkatesa Suprabhatam

Wake up Lord Srinivasa, who is verily rAmA, rAmA, the son of kausalya, bravest of men, to do divine duty of causing prosperity to 3 worlds.

The Kashmir Files - A Review

The movie, "The Kashmir Files" has been taking India by storm since its release last weekend.

Dholavira, a happy Update

I am copying here a happy announcement by Prof Michel Danino and an equally happy acknowledgement by Dr S Kalyanaraman,both of whom are very well known to Medhavis: Great work, Michel.

maitrim bhajata in tamil

mahAperiyavA's classic 'maitrim bhajata' translated and sung in tamil. It calls for Universal friendship, building human bonds, seeing others as ourselves, giving up war and mindless violence and says that leads to...

How Mouse Live in Holes

How mouse Live in holes by Rishab

Mother is Here!

I can hear the rustling of her saree. I can hear the tinkle of her bangles , the majestic but musical sounds of her silambu ,her voice that calls out to my name and the sweet sound of veena.

Rama Rama Rama Rama

🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺 \Sri Rama Rama Rama Rama\ 🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞 A thousand Suns rose after mid - noon that day. It was the ninth day of Shukla paksha in Meena maasa. The Sun was past the highest point in the sky - dome.

A case for proper rules of discourse

Over a period of time, having participated in discussions at various online venues, it has become clear that discourse is a topic that is much misunderstood by most netizens on the various internet fora.

Medhavi Sessions Episode #2 - With Master Jose Perez, Temple Style Tai Chi

[embed]https://youtu.be/fr9HIf54Xo0[/embed] This is an informal conversation with my master, Sifu Jose Perez. Just calling him a Tai chi master is an understatement.

Ravi ‘Karigar’ Joshi and his Alter Ego, BDB

A comment on your tweet where you had shared the link to our paper presentation at Swadeshi Indology – 3 popped up on my twitter notification.

In memorial- Ravi Joshi, Medhavi

Just found out that Ravi Joshi aka Karigar Medha (on FB), who was a co-founder and crucial member of MedhaJournal, and a dear friend, passed away from a massive cardiac arrest. I’m beyond shocked.

Light of Being

Once in between waking and a dream, The blue one came to me… He showed me the secret play of light, which shines for eternity. The light is knowing, the light is being, the light is pure love...

An African Odyssey

Jambo! That is how they say "Hello" in Kenya and Tanzania. The following video is the confluence of some music that I had composed, inspired by glorious sunrises I witnessed during my travels to Kenya and Tanzania in...

Dr Kalyanaraman's Eureka Moment

Dr S Kalyanaraman, the Director of Sarasvati Research Institute, Chennai has done elaborate work on reading the hypertexts available from a very large number of artifacts found in the Sindhu Sarasvati archaeological...

I am what you are

As the day comes to an end And darkness creeps in When the edges between day and night start to quiver and spin Look up to the horizon see the majestic skies half awake and half asleep a palette of colors before your...

When Sooltan Mahmood Khilji of Malwa made Hindoos eat their gods

Secularists do not want to acknowledge the mayhem caused by Muslim rulers to Hindus and their temples.

You are enough

Humankind has always been obsessed with measuring everything. Everything needs to have a metric and needs to be calculated to the very last detail.

Prabhasa Tirtha

In Bharatiya tradition, when a large river in the course of its flow forks out clearly enough into two streams, either one or both of which being named differently from the mother river, the forking spot is considered a...

Gauging the message by the messenger - are you a hypocrite?

We have this acquired tendency to gauge the value of a message based on the appearance of the person bearing the message. If you (reader) claim that you don't judge the message by its messenger, you are simply lying.

When were you not the Self?

This is nice video by Advaitin James Swartz, titled "Advanced Argument for Enlightened People", as part of a discussion on the Panćadaśi.

Moksha as viewed in Hindu scripture

We know that moksha is the most important of the purusharthas (goals) of life according to Hinduism. Thus it would be nice to know what Hindus scriptures say about it. Here are some passages explaining moksha.

sails at conch

calm day out front running to the bait patch in the heidi baby we caught ballyhoo fast that morning we anchored on a patch and made a few quick throws with the ten foot net me and jose our wells were round live wells...

Bay Jam

hit practice at bay jam practicing my serve to reggae beats tennis landing more and more shots in play went to whale harbor for a pink lemonade and had the cracked conch three cups of pink lemonade and fried conch...

river ducks

early morning in zion grove sipping on coffee gathering our steel shot and decoys in the dark loading our gear into the boston whaler marty "i got the good java!" we each had a thomas thermos to take with us for the...

A Profile of the Background of India’s Young by Raghbendra Jha

When the results of the 2011 Census of India were announced two factors were most noticed: (i) a reduction in the total fertility rate from 2.9 in 2001 to 2.62 in 2011, and (ii) deterioration in the gender balance, i.e.

yes i'm being followed by a moonshadow

i've bee battling scizophrienia for almost 14 years now... my first trip to a psychologist was after an LSD arrest in bloomsburg in '96 before my senior year in high school...

Prominent Academics and Dialogue on Being Different

The book "Being Different - An Indian challenge to Western Universalism" is blazing a trail of sparking interest & discussions across all levels of readers interested in Hinduism and Dhharmic thought.

Romila Thapar on Shakuntala

In a mail group,known as [The Becoming], Sri Venkat (Ah Venkitesh) drew the attention of fellow members to an excellent critique of Romila Thapar's literary efforts, by providing as an attachment, Chapter 15 of Volume...

jim's blog

yin (feminine energy) explodes like a bomb a mans true mastery (yang) is the numbing effect of his (yin) and the wave of energy he is traversing on you know i clasp my hands and pray what drives a man mad is what he...

athene's blog

god is my vehicle yeilds to my rain dance creates the weather god answers my prayers and always watches out for me and yeah she's pretty what yajnas do you perform i know mine i'm not crying i'm loving my deity inti...

a blustery morning

penelope "hold on a minute i'll be right there" jack "hi" penelope "hi" jack "hey is anybody yellowtail fishing at night" penelope "what do you mean" jack "are the boats going commercial fishing at night" penelope "well...

The Little Puddle

The Little Puddle He is coming with us today to the grazing fields. He is barely two; He runs so fast his feet never touch the ground. His high pitched child’s voice babbles about this or that excitedly all the time.

'star queen' part two

...so the first time i was at sweat records was with lizzy pitch first time in lemon city... later on i met kimmy drake my trendi record store friend of beach day... sweat records has the best soy milk coffee in miami...

the owl see's me

> when i see a hawk i see her face > > > when i see her blouse slip off of her shoulder i see her feet in the clouds > > > someone has made a landing > > > there to lift me up > > > to see if i have fallen > > > winged...

Akash's Poems - Robins

A six year old boy composes beautiful poems! The first poem is for the robin bird who has decided to have 3 sets of kids (each time 4 baby robins) on his front door.

athene's bliss

swift feet in battle the echo of kettle drums rising spirit cat on the prowl archer on the point swordsman in the field earthquake of men sea of death pool of blood in the sand full speed ahead the war chant stand tall...

in the radiance of her dancing feet

what wraith is it calling on what did i see? forbidden yajna blanket in the air it wells up out of the earth screeching to the pulse of the drums till a shadow falls over the moon erie apparition cold spell in the night...

gumboots

i caught the metro rail to SOMI, and walked to Sunset Tavern for Cat's acoustic gig Bartender "what can i get ya" Jim "a miller light" it was just Cat, and Mau Jim "Cat, hi" Cat "hey man" Jim "how is it going?" Cat...

A DREAMY TURN

A DREAMY TURN Before the Dream In the long tunnel of dark, I travelled, visibility was zero Couldn’t see where I was going or who’re with me… Sounds, smells, tactility were my guides that led me through What was real...

sequoia

falling leaves in the wind a fox scurries past shooting stars up above into the thicket to where the rabbit led a foot on a tree no earth below the cover of night crows at sun rise fog lifts on the horizon startled to...

indias-conjured-caste-conundrum-by-raghbendra-jha

Original article at: https://medhajournal.com/indology/256-indias-conjured-caste-conundrum-by-raghbendra-jha.html

Evidence for Reincarnation

It is clear that as evidence for reincarnation we can only expect the claimant to reveal certain facts which he has hitherto not known or been exposed to and has no means of inferring it until the examiner allows him to.

Letters: Sri Nagendra2

... I am deliberately writing this message in yellow press, demagogic and repetitive language – Mass Communications 300 at Wharton / Annenberg School of Mass Communications on agitprop tactics.

Hush! Krishna is About to Fall Asleep

Krishna is about to fall asleep, hush! His lotus eyes now opening,now closing Long lashes now meeting ,now parting Rose bud lips now curving in a smile Hush! Hush! Hush! Krishna is about to fall asleep.

The Method of Science

Know ye first these Principles of Science Keep ye them in mind and upon them meditate And by the excellent zeal upon it thy heart set By thy hand do thou build wondrous appliance View, observe, discover, watch thou...

Kavadi Bells - 4

15 Delighted Dakshayani told the king The three eyed Lord of Kailas would come and wed; And Daksha's joy was more than plain to see, And he gave orders for arrangements to speed.

SI Metric Mass and Electrical Unit Converter

SI Metric Mass and Electrical Unit Converter Problems involving an electrical unit convertermay be analyzed by applying the moment-of-momentum principle at convertunitsnow.com .

the Bluewater

Steve on the Linda D IV found me walking along the dock in 2004. He asked if I was the kid looking for a job. I mentioned the boats that I had worked on before to give him an idea of what sort of experience I had.

The Significance of September 5

Yesterday was the 5 th of September and Teachers ‘ Day was celebrated throughout India. This was the day a stalwart Son of India was born many years ago. He was Dr S.

fir trees

the mind is a treasure chest the nerve endings grow like tree branches even sprout leaves or flowers sometimes old trees are removed and new ones grow i fell through a rabbit hole once a vast abstraction i thought i had...

Sierra Nevadas

The bus stopped in Orlando so north bound travelers could get on the next bus. After that we changed over in Savanna Georgia. It went north to Washington DC. I hopped on a bus to Baltimore from there.

Frozen Winter

The rink had its own architectural plan. The roof was slanted. The main beams for the roof were massive wooden planks. The wood had aged from the cold humid atmosphere of the rink. The aura of the rink was like Ontario.

Sui dragons

The Western Jin gained control of the Yangzte with the fleet it had of warships in 279. The Sui founder Yang Jain followed the path of the Jin building a fleet of ships on his own.

jigsaw puzzle

the jigsaw puzzle how did it form now it all fits in place the rainfall the plants of the earth the cold water springs the favoring wind the cosmic mist climbing a ladder each stone overturned in the last chapter we...

Paul S Octopus and some other thoughts

In a few hours from now, my millions of brothers all over the world would sit before the TV to watch the FIFA finals [ while the ladies in their lives would be happy that the season is ending for now] .

the Fog

One morning in October of 2004 while fishing just offshore of Sand Key Light all of the sudden fog began to move in on us. Our GPS was malfunctioning so all we had to use was our compass or our instinct to find our way.

Who was that ?…and who’s this?

Dawn is still an hour away. I look at the lamp- lit street that stretches before me. It seems messier than usual. The street’s surface feels rough against my bare feet.

My Birthday Poem 19-4-2010

My Birthday Poem 19-4-2010 Today (April 19), I am beginning my Sixty Fourth circumambulation about the Sun. When I look around from the 64th story of my life-edifice, I see many changes.

Tamil New year, Vishu , Baisakhi & Poila Baisakh

Tamil new year day was celebrated with the usual fervor on the 14 th of April this year A traditional meal consisting of the sweet [ jaggery] laced with the bitter [ neem flowers] is made on this day to symbolise life...

Cold Water Springs

The Susquehanna Rick made a long cast into the main river current. Rick had gotten out of the boat then waded onto the shallows where there was vegetation full of minnows in the warmer surface column amist the late...

Natives

Scotch Run looking for natives Patrick had a small ultra light spinning rod with a micro shimano reel. Whenever fishing a trout stream he used 2 lb. test. When wading he wore a vest to keep his hooks, jigs or spinners.

Traveling Light

someone asked me what happens to a drop of water when it hits the ocean? i said it becomes a part of the ocean he said right...

Holi 2010 with Asha for Education

Asha Stanford's Holi 2010 When: March 27, 2010, 11 am - 3 pm Where: Sandhill fields, Stanford University Tickets can be bought at: - We'll give you 3000 pounds of color to render your friends completely unrecognizable!...

abstract Capitalism

> If we look to the stratosphere we notice the clouds or the variations of the hue of the horizon above us. If we see where we are standing we get to the realization that we are on a planet.

Breakfast, Penance & The Ecstasy

Breakfast, Penance & The Ecstasy An Exceptional Experience in Guruvayoor First Hurdle -The Jam Night It seems that the traffic peak hours fall on the Bangalore-Salem-Palakkad-Thrissur route during that 12-hour stretch,...

Andree-Marie Dussault on the Cell-phone and the Soul

Partha Desikan Fast food, tobacco and alcohol are pouring into India, promoting a consumer culture. India should beware.

Rajeev Srinivasan on Mr. Singh's Washington Visit

"If India cannot articulate a vision about its being one of the poles in a multipolar world, it does not deserve any respect.

The "-ist"

There is no self, said a Self to itself... that is what the scriptures say, so it must be true From all things interconnected all things rise...

The Island

Somewhere in Northern Russia in a small Russian Orthodox monastery lives a very unusual man. His fellow-monks are confused by his bizarre conduct.

recapturing Crete

recapturing Crete Jim Clark A warrior who lost his men wandered off into a canyon in a foreign land. He traveled there to fight against invading armies who attacked the natives. Several ships went ashore.

Wind Over Water

...saltwater footnotes At lobster walk the dock looked like an aquaculture farm as a result of Dave Curls who became a commercial diver collecting tropical fish.

Beauty

Definition of Beauty as a short story by 1st grader, my son Ishan Beauty is like your positive energy. Beauty comes from your positive energy.

Crabby Old man

This poem by an Old man is doing rounds of Internet Crabby Old Man What do you see nurses? . . What do you see? What are you thinking . . . . . when you're looking at me? A crabby old man, . ... .

Rama meets Sharad in the Woods

Yesterday was a special day. Throughout the world, followers of the Sikh path celebrated the birth anniversary of Sri Guru Nanak Dev.

Cows, Commodities, Greenhouse Gases

Cows, Commodities, Greenhouse Gases Partha Desikan Wild cats hunting for food would have been indeed very happy when man had not yet learnt to tame some ruminants which later became his cattle wealth.

The Suitor-A Micro Story

No suitors for me in sight till now. I ‘d rather be single than marry someone I don’t love. Saw him yesterday from my balcony and did not sleep a wink last night. He is the one. I know for sure.

Happy Diwali, Deepawali, Kali Pujo

Dear Friends, It is soon going to be three years since we started Medha Journal. I know we don't usually celebrate many of our festivals on Medha Journal.

A desire of a 5 year old

Almost a year back Ishan had written a letter to Mr. President on Global Warming issues..:)) It was something that he came up with and I just encouraged him to complete the letter....

Ishmael: An Adventure of Mind and Spirit

Quinn ( Dreamer ) won the Turner Tomorrow Award's half-million-dollar first prize for this fascinating and odd book--not a novel by any conventional definition--which was written 13 years ago but could not find a...

The potent Power of Devotion, a Micro-story

Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa's parables are famous and cherished. Little glimpses from the Master's life often read like parables themselves.

The Mystery of the Noisy Child

I arrived in Saint-Etienne at the beginning of July. The summer months see people moving out of the cities and into the holiday locations for their annual vacations. As a result, the city seems deserted.

The Goddess of Night

The Goddess of Night She descends, in her dark beauty When her fair sister departs To pull a thick veil over men And their actions of that day.

I see Him now

Here is another micro-story, friends. I see Him now. The newborn child opened its eyes looking for Him. The eyes went all around. No, He was not to be found. A charcha ensued between the eyes and the child's soul.

The Ultimate Sacrifice

Shall I try to tell you all a 'micro' story as well? The ultimate Sacrifice. The vulture had casually watched as a fruit from that free fell down. A wild goat ate it and died. Its flesh tasted good.

A Terrifying Existence

Why this silence on organised anti-Hindu violence in Bangladesh? Reports began trickling out of Bangladesh this spring about an anti-Hindu violence in the heart of its capital carried out in three stages: March 30,...

The Musical Way-An Almost Micro Story

This format limits the story to 250 words. I pruned it down to 206 words [ including the title]. Just posted in TMJ. The Musical Way Our hero is a regular guy [so it seemed] with an irregular goal in life.

The Ambush - A Micro Story

I came across the micro story concept in Sulekha blogs a couple of years ago. A story has to be told in limited words , in this case, less than 125 words.

Saving Our Mothers

Introduction Sanskrit has been a link language in India up to about 1100 c.e. Except possibly for Tamil all the other major Indian languages are either derived from Sanskrit or closely linked to it. Since 1100 c.

Eco-City (Junior ID-6)

Eco- City Participant ID - 6 Medhajunior, Grade 5th, USA While I walk down the road to my friend’s house, birds chirp in the oak trees.

Global Warming (Junior ID-13)

Global Warming Participant ID - 13 Medhajunior, Grade, 7th, India Carbon dioxide and other air pollution that is collecting in the atmosphere like a thickening blanket, trapping the sun's heat and causing the planet to...

Global Warming (Junior ID-18)

Global Warming Participant ID - 18 Medhajunior, Grade, 8th, India One night I had dream that took me 2080. In contradiction to my expectation I saw a very horrifying view of the future.

Global Warming (Junior ID-19)

Global Warming Participant ID - 19 Medhajunior, Grade, 6th, India Dear Sir/Madam, I have received information from my school to send a paragraph on global warming to you.

Global Warming (Junior ID-20)

Global Warming Participant ID - 20 Medhajunior, Grade, 8th, India PARAGRAPH ON GLOBAL WARMING At this moment the people on the earth are facing a dire consequence of global warming.

How to Save the Planet (Junior ID-3)

How to Save the Planet Participant ID - 3 MedhaJunior, Grade: 2nd , USA Have you ever wondered how uncomfortable you can feel if someone puts a warm blanket around you on a warm day? Well, planet Earth feels the same...

I am doing my part to save the earth (Junior ID-7)

I am doing my part to save the earth Participant ID - 7 Medhajunior, Grade, Kindergartner, USA We cause global warming. I save water. Don’t waste electricity. Greenhouse ages are causing pollution.

Our Duty towards Our Planet (Junior ID-2)

Our Duty towards Our Planet Participant ID -2 MedhaJunior, Age 12 years, UAE | | | --- | | Environment and ecology | In our school, as part of our Social Studies class, we learn about Environment and ecology.

People are the Key to a Greener Planet (Junior ID1)

People are the Key to a Greener Planet Participant ID -1 Medhajunior, Age: 16 years, USA The majority of the world uses automobiles for transportation, which are powered by fossil fuels.

"Saving our world" (Junior ID-16)

"Saving our world" Participant ID - 16 Medhajunior, Grade, 2nd, USA We live in a great world. We have food and water but we are running out of natural resources like crude oil and facing global warming.

Reusing Plastic Bags (Junior ID-10)

Reusing Plastic Bags Participant ID - 10 Medhajunior, Grade, 3rd, USA I want to reuse plastic bags by making them into backpacks and other things.

Save the Earth (Junior ID-8)

Save the Earth Participant ID - 8 Medhajunior, Grade, Kindergartner, USA We all cause global warming. We all waste paper. All of us pollute.

Sustainable Communities (Junior ID-5)

Sustainable Communities Participant ID - 5 Medhajunior, Grade 8th, USA Sustainable development is an important concern in the upcoming future. Our planet has been ravaged by pollution and global warming.

Sustainable Community (Junior ID-14)

Sustainable Community Participant ID - 14 Medhajunior, Grade, 4th, USA I think a sustainable community is where you don't do things that pollute the earth and have local farms.

Sustainable Community (Junior ID-15)

Sustainable Community Participant ID - 15 Medhajunior, Grade, 4th, USA In case you don't know what a sustainable community is, it is a community that does not waste or pollute.

Sustainable Community (Junior ID-17)

Sustainable Community Participant ID - 17 Medhajunior, Grade, 4th, USA If I could make my own sustainable community, I would do many things such as the following to help save whatever needs to be saved.

Sustainable Community? (Junior ID22)

Sustainable Community? Participant ID -22Medhajunior, Grade 8, USA What is our world turning like now? What has happened to that clean and fresh land our founding fathers once stepped foot on? It has turned into a...

The Windmill (Junior ID-11)

The Windmill Participant ID - 11 Medhajunior, Grade, 3rd, USA My idea is that to make Fremont to put more windmills on more hills to make more electricity. We will put them on biggest hill in Fremont.

Monotheism-The Unsurpassed Scourge And Scandal

Published earlier in the Indian Philosophical Quarterly Vol 34, No. 1 (January - March 2007) The purpose of this brief essay is to show that monotheistic religious traditions, simply by being what they are - based on...

Swades

Set in modern day India, Swades is a film that tackles the issues that development throws up on a grass root level.

A unique way to deal with prejudice

I went through a very interesting HR exercise today on Diversity. As part of our training, we were asked to watch a short film put together by ABC in 1968, in the wake of Dr Martin Luther King's assasination.

Tare Zameen Par

Ishaan is an 8 year old whose world is filled with wonders that no one else seems to appreciate; colors, fish, dogs, and kites are just not important in the world of adults, who are much more interested in things like...

Makarasana... The Yoga Solution For Many Health Problems

Courtesy: Dr. Rita Khanna's Yogashaastra Studio. A popular studio that helps you find natural solutions for complete health and detoxification.

On Peacocks (and peahens?) and dancing

On Peacocks (and peahens?) and dancing Partha Desikan This is a line up of two short stories, both having to do with one or more peacocks or peahens.

How to Unblock the Nose - The Natural Way

After suffering from cold and congestion for months, my five year old had forgotten to breath through the nose.

Betal Aur Betal

Betal Aur Betal Fiction "Hey, Preets, see what I've got for you". "Wow! A new salwar set? Lemme open the pack. Oh-oh , it's a candy pink." "You like it? For our special day , honey". "Shree sweetie pie, I ...

An interview with a Green Thinking Team of India

Mr. Krish Murali Eswar and Anuradha Eswar have been associated with this non-profit organization, for about 7 years and have served it as freelancers, consultants and in the past few years as trustees.

How Green are Green Products?

Earth Day is this Wednesday, and from the celebration of all things “green” in San Francisco, I knew I had arrived at the right place for a week of vacation.

Mother often knows best

Did you know that the world's finest pearls have always been formed under a rainbow? Not just any rainbow, mind my words, but the permanent one.

Chronicles of Tao: The Secret Life of a Taoist Master

This classic contains a collection of three of Deng Ming Dao's books -- The Wandering Taoist, Seven Bamboo Tablets of the Cloudy Satchel and Gateway to a Vast World.

I am my own creation

I feel bright and wonderful as I see myself grow and change. The growth and change is contained in every moment of now and the spontaneity of the self. This moment brings in so much of magic and potential.

Shadowland: Book III of the Brotherhood of the Conch

The hero of the Brotherhood of the Conch series, now fifteen, is settling back into his life as an apprentice in the lush Silver Valley, nestled high in the Himalayas.

This extra-ordinary life

mogambo has many friends who like to living the life of luxury and wealth with their multiple cars and bikes and many with multiple houses that they may or may not call "home". mogambo has been one of these people too.

Confession

This story is true. It is about something I did a long time ago. The bell at 1:15 pm marked the end of the school day. After the prayer, I hastily packed up my books into my bag, and ran out into the courtyard.

The Teachings of Don Juan: A Yaqui way of Knowledge

Ethnography, allegory, anthropology, psychology and a touch of Kafka's Metamorphoses are all components of this unusual case history of one man's hallucinogenic experience.

The Conch Bearer (Brotherhood of the Conch)

{xtypo\quote\right}This is a MUST READ for all lovers of fiction and good prose. Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni is an immensely talented writer and one can only revel in her mastery by diving deep into this magical world...

The Mirror of Fire and Dreaming (Brotherhood of the Conch)

{xtypo\quote\right}Move aside Harry Potter, Anand and his friends are here!{/xtypo\quote\right}This is the sequel to The Conch Bearer and carries Anand's adventure farther than you could imagine! Written in Divakaruni's...

The wild and the wilderness

I run to the wild as I cross the grounds of distractions and prophesies of this world. I embrace all the beauty I see and I walk through my conditioning, erasing myself in bits and pieces.

In search of the Cradle of Civilization

From Library Journal With this work, the authors, all three renowned Yoga and Vedic scholars with multiple publications to their names, set out to challenge the generally held theory that advanced culture began in Sumer...

Hindustani

Circa the British rule in India, a man named Senapathy decides to rebel against the British in a violent way, learns a rare martial art that enables him to kill with his bare hands, and travels to Singapore, joins the...

Ran

As critic Roger Ebert observed in his original review of Ran, this epic tragedy might have been attempted by a younger director, but only the Japanese master Akira Kurosawa, who made the film at age 75, could bring the...

Agantuk

A Satyajit Ray classic -- this movie showcases some stellar performances by Uptal Dutta, Mamata Shankar and the rest of the cast.

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star Re-written

Ishan Bhattacharjee who is studying in Kindergarten in Gomes Elementary School, Fremont California, re-wrote the nursery rhyme.

Neko no Sara (Cat's Plate)

This is another Japanese folk tale called Neko no Sara (Cat's Plate). In the era when Tokyo was known as Edo, there was an antique shop owner, who would scout the city for antiques that the owners would have without any...

Shibahama

I am not the author of this story. I heard it from a friend, and would like to share it with you. It is an old Japanese tale, called Shibahama.

The Ant that went round the World

A little over a year ago, in appreciation of little Ishan's blog on cow trouble, I wrote a story explaining the nursery rhyme ‘Hey diddle diddle', entitled ‘This is how it happened, Ishan'.

Go Green this Valentine's Day

Red and pink are synonymous with Valentine's Day but instead of sending "pink chaddis" to Mutalik’s Sri Rama Sena, how about going green this ‘V’ day? That is going environmentally green rather than green with envy.

Tambhram and Nadar Christian! a 1930 love story

A love story of 1930. The small town of Palayamkottai (called oxford of south now)in Tirunelvelli district did not have a ladies college like the Sarah tucker college of today. So when Mr.

The Stalker -Betal Tales I

The Stalker-Betal tales I There he was. Shwetha froze when she saw him up close. She was walking towards the lift when she saw him standing inside the lift with a raised hand, presumably to press the buttons.

The Night Visitor (an excerpt from The Conch Bearer by Chitra Divakaruni)

Dear Readers, seeing the interest that Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's books on The Conch Bearer series has generated, we are presenting an excerpt from the book that was provided to us by the author including a letter to...

Move over Crude Oil .. Oilgae here I come!!

Imagine a biofuel feedstock that saves the world without raising food prices, a vacuum that sucks up globe-warming carbon dioxide, and even a material that makes bioplastics, which disintegrate easily into compost.

Just wishing

Partha wishes today to hope that there can be fewer negatives, less evil, less malice, no despair, no frustration to hope that all will learn poise, balance, moderation to wish away the option of violence in a solution...

Medha Journal 2.0

We keep hearing about Web 2.0 and how it is changing the way the internet operates. Well, Medha Journal has been a web 2.0 site since inception, but we've also received plenty of requests to make it more 2.

A million reasons to thank you all!

{xtypo\dropcap}D{/xtypo\dropcap}ear Medhavis... Sometime between yesterday and today, we have found a Million Reasons to thank you all.

Rudra to Jesus..

The Lord of Lords never takes birth On the day of 'Arudra\', he appeared first The cosmic dance of Rudra began thus On our Mother Earth, on this day of Winter Solstice! The force of Rudra blew off the Sun The Third of...

Ishan Thakurda (Ishan Grandfather)

{xtypo\dropcap}T{/xtypo\dropcap}his is an old story my Dadabhai (Grandfather) used to tell us...he was a master story-teller.

My Mother weeps

{xtypo\dropcap}M{/xtypo\dropcap}y mother, many millennia old, bleeds and weeps in silence. She feels lonely, alone among her billion children.

Vigilance, Community Style, not Vigilantism

Vigilance, Community Style, not Vigilantism Partha Desikan The Hindu has published a feature article today by Professor Sreeram Chaulia of International Affairs Department, Maxwell Center, Syracuse University, USA, on...

Classical Language Studies

{xtypo\dropcap}S{/xtypo\dropcap}heldon Pollock, Ransford Professor of Sanskrit and Indian studies, Columbia University, New York, writing in The Hindu today (Nov 27, 2008), confesses to have been bemused by the debates...

A Primer on Climate Change and Global Warming - Part I

The climate is changing. The earth is warming up, and there is now overwhelming scientific consensus that it is happening, and human-induced.

George Bush, Promoter of Stem Cell Research

Partha Desikan The title of this blog means exactly what I intended it to mean. I do not propose to go into the ethical questions stirred up by the dawn of this discipline towards the end of the twentieth century and...

What is Sustainable Development?

Sustainable development means different things to different people. It has become the buzz word of our generation without a clear definition for many.

Dr Balaubramanian

Dr Balasubramanian Partha Desikan I invite you to look at the biodata of a highly respected scientist engaged in very active research at an ophtalmic hospital and research centre in Hyderabad, India. http://www.drdo.

Why does one blog?

Why does one blog? Partha Desikan Today's Hindu, MetroPlus supplement features this take by Neeti sarkar, following a rather high power research on the motivation for blogging from a hewlett-Packard, Palo Alto based...

Magical Realism

Magical realism Partha Desikan This is what Wikipedia has to say about the accomplished octogenarian Colombian Nobel Laureate in Literature, Gabriel José de la Concordia García Márquez.

My Adventure with Skydiving

It was time to let go of the butterflies in my stomach. Time to let go of obsessive thoughts and fears. It was not the time to mull over the fact that I was probably doing something very foolish and terrifying.

I am blank

A fact that I recently discovered that I have no feeling left in myself. I am a blank person. No anger, No joy, no sadness and no sense of usual triumph; meaningless triumph.

The Temple at Thanjavur

Iam pasting the article at this link here. Imminent Danger to Thanjavur Big Temple 21/08/2008 18:49:44 G P Srinivasan | | | --- | | ASI (Archelogical Survey of India), department under Government of India | , has been...

To Mother, On Her Special Day

Dear Mother, I know I don't write to you very often and I would be lying if I say I think of you all the time... I don't ,and I think of you only when I am down or upset.

Adventures with Food

Adventures with Food Fish Steak in Lemon Almond Sauce with Sautéed Vegetables It was a Thursday evening, and as commonplace as a Thursday evening can be.

OBAMA is a Muslim?

OBAMA IS A MUSLIM ? First the NEW YORKER cartoon and now subtle emails,blogs making him out to be a Muslim. This has actually raised the fears of White Americans which was lying dormant to the fore front again.

Oil Crisis and the Media

A couple of weeks ago when oil was hitting record $140 per barrel, I over-heard a comment, which stopped me right in my tracks as I was hiking the mountains of Santa Cruz in California.

The famous last Lecture

The famous last Lecture Partha Desikan Just want to join a large number of Americans in saluting a charming Professor who was also a different man, who gave a much publicized last lecture on Sept 18, 2007, the videotape...

The Impending Nuclear Deal (Indian Politics)

Perusing the Indian News site RSS feeds, I found headlines such as "UPA wins 275 for, 256 against".

Uighurs

Uighurs Partha Desikan Uighurs of Xinchiang in western china were in the news recently. Here is an account of their enviable cultural past from a book published seventeen years ago, as reproduced in apopular website.

Against Corruption

Against Corruption Partha Desikan The United Nations Organization against Drugs and Crime (UNODC), had the nucleus of an idea for a convention aginst corruption all over the worldd, in 2000.

Chamomilla: A Wonderful “Anger Remedy”

Very often I come across kids who require this wonderful remedy Chamomilla. Occasionally I have to keep reminding myself not be prejudiced while doing a case perceiving.

What more can one pray for?

One of the most wonderful services on the Internet is [[StumbleUpon]] ( ). There is a nice little toolbar you can set up if you are a [[Firefox]] user (I am).

Crucifixion or CruciFICTION?

Introduction Higher criticism of the Bible is a huge area to cover. I decided to show how the crucifixion of Jesus Christ has been studied from the historical point of view as an example of higher criticism.

Why does it happen over and over in America?

June 26, 2008: The Supreme Court has ruled today that Americans have a constitutional right to keep guns in their homes for self-defense, the justices' first major pronouncement on gun control in U.S. history.

GLOBAL WARMING is beneficial to India But Not pollution!

GLOBAL WARMING is beneficial to India!!! Global warming has become the Buzz word in Social science forums across the world.

Urmy Palchaudhury of Astha

Medha Face of the month features individuals who strive to achieve a balance in their lives while at the same time, making a difference in that of others....

Bamboo Palya on a rainy Day

Vaidehi's short story in Kannada Bamboo Palya on a rainy Day Reproduced here by Partha Desikan I am happy to give below this lovely piece on the monsoon trail , a short story published in the magazine section of the...

Some More Lower Criticisms of the Bible

Introduction The ancient world had no access to printing press. Consequently it depended on scribes to copy a book by hand.

I Think I'm Lost

I started this, Just as a plain loop. I was really bored and my brother had my music keyboard so I couldn't do much. The title comes from a certain instrument that sounds like the LOST soundtrack. you know...

Weighing the Choice between Taxable and Tax-Free Bonds

If you're considering the purchase of an individual bond or even a bond mutual fund, one of your first concerns = will be its yield.

The fruit of a tree

A story about a tree, a boy and their destiny... www.igallopon.com There was once a tree Long had it stood Through snow, storm and hail Bearing the test of time and ravages of seasons To make perfect its art Of stealing...

Lower criticism of the Christian Bible

The Bible has been the most influential text of the western world for nearly 1700 years ever since Christianity was legalized by the Roman Emperor Constantine in the fourth century.

Pope and Jehadies

Pope Bendict is the head of catholic church. Is he spreading the message of love or is he a politician playing the neocon agenda is the question .

Fifteen Minutes

Vincent always wished he had more time. He needed more time to finish his homework, he needed more time to sleep and he needed more time to play. Vincent was neither lazy nor stupid.

The Water Bearer

The inspiration to this poem is a discussion we had been having on 'Set Sail', chiefly between me and Partha on Authorship.

I let go

I find myself again In yet another square one The miles I've traveled Are all undone... I find myself again In yet another square one The miles I've traveled Are all undone...

Krishnagi Wari

Krishnagi Wari (Stories of Krishna) Manipuri dance is one of the many classical dances of the Indian sub-continent.

Set Sail - Let Go in another perspective

She had been made with love and care Timber, the best brought from distant woods Nails and bolts wrought by many a smithy Many a looms had sat spinning her canvas...

Let go - A winter's Tale

Stay yet a while’ Begged the tree of the leaf, ‘For this is but, time in transit Just a season, meant to pass The bite of cold Will release its hold Then again will there be The season of plenty Stay yet a while’ ‘Nay,...

Constructing the Space of Possibility

Constructing the Space of Possibility Partha Desikan Have you had a hand at designing games? If you have, or even if you have now developed an itch to try your hand, the following sensitive and insightful analysis by...

Digital Art -- An experiment

Doctorate in Family Arts

Doctorate In Family Arts "One more chocolate? Your quota is over!" "Amma, I am not asking. Grand ma is." The youngster looks like a lamb but one can make out that glint in his eyes.

Promote your favorite articles

Dear Friends, We are on the cusp of a revolution (ahem...at least that's what us Medhavi-types like to think) here. Medha Journal is a unique place on the internet...

How we are still here

How we are still here Partha Desikan All of us have heard the old biblical story of Cain killing Abel when humanity was said to have consisted only of four people, namely these two brothers and their parents.

It's a feeling, not so well defined

First, let me start off by greeting you -- the reader who will make it (or not) worth the effort I shall spend here, writing (or not), reading (or not) and sharing (or not).

Panchatantra

The Story of Four Friends - by ZMAYORAZ

Zugzwuang

Continous Search: While moving pieces over a chess board I find similarities between the movements in life and concepts of chess. These are real experiences I undergo both in life and over chessboard.

WAR

Father passed away Flame of liberty went out. There was blood shed On the icy white sari of mother. Bloodshed was there On the sacred shrine of her god.

Broken Rules

Here's an ode to all Soumi's unsung Sitas!! Enjoy!!! Mita. Broken Rules I write words I barely comprehend, in tenets you do not grasp. Yet I continue to write for you.

Earth Day 2008

Today is Earth Day. To honor this planet that we call home and tackle the environmental problems that we face today, we can all pitch in by going green in our own little ways.

F Scale

F Scale Partha Desikan A wellacclaimed personality scale with the designation California F Scale was published in 1950 by psychologists in the US and has since been used literally in hundreds of publications.

The Economic Stimulus Act of 2008

The Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 was signed into law on February 13, 2008. The Act is intended to stimulate consumer spending in 2008, and features taxpayer rebate checks for more than 130 million individuals, as well...

The End of the White Witch

Jessa sighed happily as she stretched out her legs in front of the fire, listening to the rain hitting hard on her roof. She was in a position that she had wished to be in for years.

Philately as a Hobby

President Franklin D Roosevelt was a philatelist. He said, "The best thing about stamp collecting is that the enthusiasm which it arouses in youth increases as the years pass.

Rose

This is an excellent work of art by a little artist living in Mysore, India with her Grandmother/GrandAunt and Aunt. Meheka is a Seventh (7th) grade student and loves to draw.

Charitable Giving

Prepared for: Medha Journal Readers Charitable giving can play an important role in many estate plans.

Gopal Bhar

Medha family shares with you series of illustrative read of folk tales from the world. Gopal Bhar - The Star Counter is a popular folk tale from West Bengal, India.

On the Nature and Utility of Debate

I hit upon the idea of writing this article when I saw the huge list of comments on a recent article on the Medhajournal.

The Insight on Eyesight

For my 40th birthday, I decided to treat myself to Lasik surgery. I had been wearing glasses since my 8th grade and still have very painful memories of being called four-eyed among other things at that very sensitive...

Information Credo

Wikipedia has this telling info on an outstanding and much awarded CIO in the United Kingdom Mr. J P Rangaswami.

Book : The Worship of Mahaganapati According to Nityotsava

The Worship of Mahaganapati According to Nityotsava by Buhnemann, Gudrun 29 cm., pp. xlii+156, col. pl. 18, b/w 22, US$ 32.05 or Rs.

The Magic Mortar

Ever wonder why the sea is so salty? Here's a Japanese folk tale with the answer. Enjoy! The Magic Mortar Once upon a time two brothers lived in a little village in Japan.

Should You Pay Off Your Mortgage or Invest?

Prepared for: Medha Journal Readers Owning a home outright is a dream that many Americans share. Having a mortgage can be a huge burden, and paying it off may be the first item on your financial to-do list.

Many Moons Ago ...

Once upon a time, many many moons ago, Great One sat with his vast potter wheel shaping the animals and birds who were to live and play on the newly created Earth.

They want to find out why

Roger Trigg, acting Director of the Ian Ramsey Centre for Science at the University of Oxford, is understandably very happy.

Desi ingenuity -- A Farmer's Way

For those who aren't aware (not that they should be), my other wordly profession is that of a System Engineer with a Communications company and I have the habit of surfing the blogosphere to read the tech (and also some...

Tipu Sultan’s Revenge

Arthur Pakenham has been angry ever since his Manager in Calcutta, Hay-Smith informed him that he should delay his arrival by a fortnight as the Head Office will be closing for a week in October for a big religious...

Stop that leak!

For the seventh time in my brief blogging innings at Medha, let me draw the attention of my friends to a link, this time to a news item, which I consider of great moment, in research related to cardiovascular patients.

Nathan's favorite characters

Nathan spends time creating his favorite characters everyday as he loves drawing and painting. He is sharing his favorite pictures with his Medha friends........ Cars...... Dinosaur.........

L’Expo de Cons

A humorous French play written by a group who are passionate about learning other languages. Translation in English will follow soon...

How can someone Mis-interpret Jallianwallah Bagh?!?

Read this piece on the Times Of India (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Jallianwala\Bagh\massacre\stirs\Britain/articleshow/954296.cms ) and couldn't help but opine.

Tears of Tired Eyes and Set me Free

Tears of Tired Eyes The whole world watches aghast, As the barbarians march onward and fast... Annihilating that last shred of humanity, That is left remaining in this society.

Geometry

Here is something I created for my little sister who is fond of geometrical shapes and good music. Geometry Enjoy and let me know what you think of my music. Cal Calixte is a Freshman at Cupertino High School.

Tat Tvam Asi

When time stops and the world fades away The senses collapse and the ropes begin to fray The heat of knowing gradually growing burns through the bonds that lead me astray As the waves flow through me one after one Even...

About Medha Junior

After one year working on Medha Journal, TMJ team is proud to launch the Medha Junior section for the younger generation.

Roll, Roll, Down the Hill

Here's our very first game ... for toddlers!! Click on the link below to start the game!!! car game Enjoy! -m.

Home Equity Loans and Lines of Credit

Introduction Are you interested in remodeling your outdated kitchen? Perhaps you're drowning in a sea of high-interest credit card debt, or need to find the money to send your child to college.

KITTU'S TREE FRIEND

KITTU’S TREE FRIEND Kittu kitten wanted to play. It was morning. It was also summer vacation time. “Shivani’s holidays have started!” Kittu happily thought and ran into Shivani’s room. “Hi, Kittu!” Shivani called out.

Refinancing

What is it? Mortgage refinancing generally refers to the process of taking out a new home mortgage loan and using some or all of the proceeds to pay off an existing mortgage (or mortgages) on the property.

Refinancing and Home Equity Loans: Tax Considerations

What are the tax considerations associated with refinancing and home equity loans? Generally, interest paid on loans to acquire an existing home or to construct a new home is tax deductible (with certain limitations;...

Anjeli's Art - An Experiment

Here's an experiment - give some colors and a brush to a child and see what comes of it.

Kites

Introduction A kite needs no introduction. Many of us have enjoyed flying a kite on a beautiful clear day, seeing the kite gently rise and soar high above us, up in the sky.

This is what happened, Ishan.

This is what happened, Ishan. Partha Desikan This is what prompted the cow, Ishan. MsoNormal"> It was another peaceful morning at Ivan the fiddler’s.

King's Mystery Disease

- Translated by Esha Data from Sukumar Roy's Rajar Ashukh (Bengali Children story) Once there was a king who had a serious illness. Many doctors came every day to try and figure out what was wrong with the king.

The Impression of Art

It all started, they say, by a journalist of Charivari in 1874. But the picture that suggested the name, Monet's portrayal of the harbor at Le Havre, christened by the artist "Impression Rising Sun" was painted in...

Environmental Pollution and Refugee

Words environmental pollution, chlorofluorocarbon, green house effect and global warming and so on are known to a large number of people and I will not go deep into these discussions.

Bull Baiting

Bull Baiting Partha Desikan Popular sentiment in some segments of Tamil society is now pitted against a judicial decision seeking to ban the annual bull-baiting sport named jallikkattu conducted during Pongal...

Two Similes

1. About the effect of worship of Bhagavan/Sadguru Worship is just a means of educating the emotions. Human impulses and emotions have to be guided and controlled.

Happy Birthday Medha Journal!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MEDHA JOURNAL! And Many more to come... We launched the Medha Journal on the 10th of January, 2007. It has been exactly one year since the launch.

The Impossible Choice

Peter opened his eyes slowly, and let the cool morning light flow in. As he looked out the window, he saw the blue autumn sky, providing the background for leaves drifting down to the earth after having lived out their...

Jhumpa Lahiri's new fiction short story called

Jhumpa Lahiri's new fiction short story called "Hell-Heaven" on The New Yorker times. Her writing is very simple but yet interesting to read.

The Origin of Languages?

Does anyone in the Medha group have any clue as to what the contents of the Stonybrook Doctoral thesis referred to in the following link are? http://www.babelguides.com/view/person/13316 Thank you. Regards. Partha.

Shaman Medicine making news on NY times

An article on NY times dated January 1, 2008 caught my attention, an herbal medicinal approach in Shaman medicine.

Happy New Year -- 2008

Dear Friends, The Year 2007 has been a meaningful and fruitful year for us at The Medha Journal. This would not have been possible without your participation and viewership.

New Book : TIBETAN MAHAYOGA TANTRA

">Tibetan Mahayoga Tantra (An Ethno-Historical Study of Skulls, Bones and Relics) by Andrea Loseries-Leick2008, 23 cm., pp. xxviii+226, US$ 38.33 or Rs.

The River of Life -- Jai ho Ganga Maiyya Ki

I came across this interesting article on NPR while scanning my RSS feeds real quick today. Thought I'd share (didn't actually catch the program on Radio, but I will be listening to the complete article shortly).

The Flow of Life and getting centered

Between 2003 and 2006 I practiced a gentle martial art called [[Aikido]], which is also referred to as the "Art of Peace", as described by it's founder, the late [[Morihei Ueshiba]].

Full of Life, Dying

MARY JO MURPHY, writing in the Weekly Review of New York Times, dated September 23, 2007 talks about the etymology of a few significant words in some of the world's vanishing languages in a charming though brief sample...

New Book : RELIANCE - THE REAL NATWAR

Reliance - The Real Natwar by Arun K. Agrawal2008, 23 cm., pp. 282, Rs. 495.00 or US$ 12.

Looking for Alternative treatment to bypass surgery

This question is directed to any person who visits medhaJ and knowledgeable about alternative medicines. Recently a friend asked me for alternative treatment to bypass surgery.

Fate sealed?

Please go through this article which has appeared in the issue of New Scientist dated 24th November 2007, already out. You will find out what you and I are capable of achieving by just observing. http://www.eurekalert.

For Young Mothers

Young mothers who may chance on this article dated 14th November, http://uk.reuters.

Economic Maladies (When 1 Indian Rupee = 45 US Dollars)

This work is not my original. This was shared by a friend. And I found it hilarious and I like to share with Medha family unknown work of a creative mind.

Love is an Illness

Love is one of the oldest and deadliest diseases which has affected the highest form of biological species on the spaceship called Earth.

The nautical sense of the Sethusamudram project

Friends, The article provided by the link below made absorbing reading. I am sure you know a lot of it already, but would still be interested in a mariner's professional view. http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/oct/01inter.

Rama Sethu-Musings Of A Construction Worker

Rama Sethu-Musings Of A Construction Worker The golden disc above Is beating down in his fury The blue sea looks menacing The task seems impossible The path insurmountable Would we be able to Build a bridge to reach The...

Of Masters, Disciples and 'Apostles'

Of Masters, Disciples and ‘Apostles’ ParthaDesikan If at all you are involved with this business of learning, study, enquiry, or more generally with acquisition of knowledge of any kind, you are bound to encounter three...

Who is a real Yogi?

A few years ago, my Sister-in-law (wife's sister) subscribed us to "The Yoga Journal", an american magazine (in print) that covers the enormous topic of Yoga and caters to what is claimed to be a huge market for Yoga...

Need for crosscultural empathy in scientific endeavour

Here is a French scientist's account of the high handedness with which an outstanding Japanese primatologist was treated by his western counterparts. http://www.emory.edu/LIVING\LINKS/OurInnerApe/pdfs/WithoutWalls.

Dr. Venter's genome

Here is a link http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2007/sep/04/ethicsofscience.internationalnews which is making, quite appropriately, ripples in the field of genomic research Dr.

That night, in Mathura

And Joy-filled, Flows the Yamuna Slowly, I am flowing, Carrying my fond hope That the promise will come true After all these years.

Why I Don't Want to Buy Life Insurance

If you're like most people, it's not that you don't appreciate the value of life insurance. In fact, many people believe they need more coverage. You probably wouldn't mind owning additional life insurance.

Thought as therapy

We know that humanity evolved from primordial apes without the aid of human knowledge as we know it.

We Just Had a Baby

Congratulations! Children are special. There's nothing like them. They can be our sweetest blessing, as well as our biggest frustration.

Valuing the Feminine

News: Sex ratio drops in many parts of India due to female foeticide/infanticide Woman burnt alive due to dowry Infant girl abandoned next to a dust bin Educated professional women finding it difficult to find husbands...

Science or Art?

After reading the article titled "Alternative medicine- A faith based cure or science?" Sreeparna, I was inspired to throw in my two cents on the topic.

Shiva-ji

After having seen Sivaji in the evening show and hearing 'Thiruvilayadal' in Audio during the night, I went to sleep and this is what I dreamt. Act -1 The King of Madurai is sitting in his throne with a long face.

Four-year old girl in India claims to be Kalpana Chawla

"Yet Upasana's proclamation led us all to believe that she was actually talking about her previous birth," he said. "She claims that the spacecraft was hit by a huge ball of ice that sent it crashing and ended her life.

Introducing Blogs on The Medha Journal

Dear Friends, Due to popular demand, we have decided to bring Blogging capabilities to The Medha Journal.

2063 AD

On October 21, 2063, as the maglev train shot silently through the tunnel connecting the cities on opposite sides of the chain of hills, there was just a single sound that rang out feebly.

A donation for your own good

I am quite unsure about whether the Bangalore Municipal department has gone completely mad, or become extremely creative. Both causes have the same effect, I know.

The Medha Journal invites you!

Dear Readers, The Medha Journal editorial and management invites you (all readers) to register and share your thoughts and ideas with each other.

How the West defines India - 1

Creeping Awareness “What's wrong with us Indians? Why don't we even flinch when a hundred of our countrymen get mowed down like grass in a terror attack? When thousands of our brethren lose their entire lives' worth in...

CLEANING HOUSE

CLEANING HOUSE It was a brutal exercise training my young will to taste the intimacy of the gods by degrees and not all at once, to go beyond the immediate sensation of the fever burning my skin to those other fields...

The Question Mark Man

> > "In Reading gaol in Reading town, > > There is this pit of shame, > > And in it lies a wretched man, > > Eaten by teeth of flame" > > -{Oscar Wilde, The Ballad of Reading Gaol} > > > > > > PRELUDE > > ======== > > >...

Terms and Conditions of Use

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF USE The Medha Journal (TMJ) is an online portal where like-minded people can interact and share knowledge, ideas and information. TYPES OF USERS There are three types of users on TMJ.

Lord Ganesha

A homage to a Grandfather This is the photograph of a painting by my grandfather Late Sri Abani Kanta Lahiri.

Ma Kali

This is a painting of Ma Kali. Artist is Sri Abani Kanta Lahiri.

In quest of our roots

Have you ever felt the need to reach out to your roots? Are we all in search of our roots? What drives us to know our roots? I grew up hearing stories that our (my family) roots are not in West Bengal, India but from a...

The Fatuous Light

From Moksha Smith: Agni's Warrior-Sage by Antonio de Nicolas The full moon marked the paths of gravel and grass in the cemetery as I came upon this mysterious light, it sat with green light on the high edge of a...

By the Bend of the River

From Moksha Smith: Agni's Warrior-Sage by Antonio de Nicolas --- I left the burning forest looking for waters to wash away the varnish people had laid on the cells of my timid soul: the rainbow of orthodoxy, the mauve...

Extra Sensory Perception -- Precognitive dreaming

I am scared of my dreams! As a child, I dreamt a lot. Almost every night. Mostly I dreamt beautiful things about my friends and family.

Presence of Mind

This is a song titled "Presence of Mind", composed during the heydays of my college music scene. Our own tech-guru Vivek S was the tabla player. Here's the break-down of the band (gosh, has it been 14 years already?).