Orphic Exposure

"Shiva The Adiyogi" It was one of those mornings where everything seems to go wrong, when for some reason you don’t wake after your alarm buzzes, or when your heater doesn’t work. Later, you go and somehow get ready just to find there’s no rickshaw around you and the quickest Uber is 17 mins away. And then, this divine comedy keeps on escalating as your metro stops for more than 5 mins at Vishwavidyalaya for no apparent reason, but you persevere through and still show up, just to find out that you forgot your membership card and now have to quarrel to enter the facility. This does only happen when you are in hurry and makes me always remember Kunal Kamra who jokingly says “Agar kahi kabhi samay se pohochna ho toh jaldi mein matt rehna, because jo bhi banda maine late aate hue dekha hain wo hamesha jaldi mein raha hain!” I often find myself cursing the universe for what seemed like a series of unfortunate events or do dwell on finding solutions that do not exist. But the thing...

Are the Scales Really at Par? India, a nation of paradoxes. A land where goddesses are worshipped, yet women have long been oppressed, A society that birthed pioneers of equality but struggles to shed the chains of patriarchy. In this backdrop, laws were crafted—laws that sought to protect the vulnerable, laws that aimed to correct historical wrongs. And yet, as noble as their intent may be, some of these laws have turned into weapons, wielded unfairly and indiscriminately. Mind you, I raise this issue, not with the intent of dismantling the progress we have made as a society, but with a hope of addressing an imbalance that demands our immediate attention. India’s legal framework, while comprehensive and well-intentioned, has over the time revealed its shortcomings. Among them is the issue of gender-biased laws, which have, in their current form, inadvertently created victims where none were intended. These laws were designed to correct historical injustices, to shield women from oppre...

Thinkers of Nihilism visualized.. What is it, I wonder, that keeps us moving through a world that has neither asked for us nor noticed our arrival? Is it stubbornness? Habit? Or perhaps the most tragic irony of all —hope? Because when we peel back the comforting illusions we’ve constructed for ourselves, what do we find? NOTHING. Not the nothing of peace and tranquility, but the nothing of absence—a void, vast and indifferent, staring back at us as if to mock our attempts to find in its depths. It is exactly as Nietzsche said, “… for if you stare long enough into the Abyss, the Abyss stares back into you.” That’s nihilism, in its purest form; the absence of meaning, purpose, or inherent value in anything. Not in your birth, not in your death, not in the spaces in between. It’s stark, unflinching confrontation with the void, the silent acknowledgement that the universe is a cold, indifferent machine, spinning on for billions of years before you and billions after, oblivious to the fleet...

आसिंधु सिंधु पर्यन्ता यस्य भारतभूमिका। पितृभू: पुण्यभूश्चैव स वै हिंदुरिति स्मृत:॥ “Akhand Bharat”, once a reality, now a mere concept, reflects to the idea of a Unified India, which includes the contemporary states of Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Tibet and India. Among the most controversial aspects of Veer Savarkar’s thought is his vision of “Akhand Bharat”, which calls for a political and cultural reunification of the Indian subcontinent, which was divided in 1947.  For many, this dream is not just a nostalgic yearning but a vision of geopolitical power. A united South Asia, they argue, could emerge as a formidable force on the world stage, combining resources, talent, and potential to rival global powers. In this vision, Akhand Bharat is framed not merely as a historical idea, but as a pragmatic response to the challenges of the modern world. But what does this vision entail, and is this even a desirable path for India and its...

Capitol Hills, Washington D.C. The United States, long heralded as the “Land of Opportunities” and the beacon of the “American Dream”, has been a model for developing countries. The United States of America has long been seen as a beacon of hope, opportunity, and freedom; a place where hard work and ambition could turn dreams into reality. John O’Sullivan coined American continent as “Land of Manifest Destiny”, the assumption that the US was morally superior and had a mission to spread republican government and the “American way of life”. For much of the 20 th  century, the United States stood as undisputed global leader, wielding unparallel influence in politics, economics, culture, and technology. The post-World War II period solidified its position as superpower, and the collapse of Soviet Union left the USA as the lone hegemon. The USA’s rise to superpower was not accidental, its foundation lies in a combination of various factors. The geographical location could have not been ...

India Gate, New Delhi Delhi has been nothing short of a rollercoaster—a mix of exhilarating highs, unpredictable twists, and moments of calm. As someone who calls this bustling metropolis home, my life in this city is a blend of the city’s vibrant culture, unrelenting pace, and deeply personal experiences. When I first arrived in Delhi, I was struck by its sheer enormity. The city seemed to have a personality of its own—one that was loud, unapologetic, and full of contrasts. The city felt overwhelming yet inviting, chaotic yet strangely comforting.  Being from Maharashtra, living in the vicinity of Mumbai, I was quite adapted to a fast-paced life. Yet, I realised I was so far off from the mark of being “ Mumbaiker ” who are like the epitome of quick-natured lifestyles. There is a catchy saying that goes like “ Alibaug se aaya hain kya? ” to mock a person who is relatively slow. Historically, it was because people from nearby towns and cities could not catch up with the lifestyle in...