Category: Spotlight

Chameleon Kamala will not change colors

Spotlight, Partha Chakraborty August 30, 2024 indica

Kamala Harris is on a sugar high in her honeymoon period after a stage-managed reintroduction before the US electorate. Her complete command over the Democratic Party in a little more than four weeks has exceeded expectations of her supporters, and impressed even her most ardent critics. “We are not going back,” she proclaimed last week at the Democratic convention, before an audience big on “vibe” and “joy”, but little else.

Now that the party is over, will the real Kamala Harris please stand up and be counted?

Repeated Faux pas by PM Modi

Spotlight August 29, 2024August 30, 2024 indica

I have said and written in the past and I will not tire saying it again: Narendra Modi is one of the tallest leaders that the country has produced. Even his detractors will agree that he is decisive and effective. Then why does he make incorrect statements, some of which are even politically incorrect, repeatedly, I say what I say on the basis of my personal experience, some of which get outlined in my recently released book, “Encounters with Politicians”.

Harnessing Generative AI: Preparing the Next Generation for a Transformative Future

Spotlight August 23, 2024August 23, 2024 indica

Generative AI is not just a tool for automation; it’s a revolutionary force that, much like electricity, is set to illuminate a future brimming with possibilities. Just as electricity powered the innovations of the 20th century, Generative AI will drive creativity, innovation, and growth in the 21st century. It offers students the chance to collaborate with AI in creating art, composing music, or developing groundbreaking treatments in medicine. For future business leaders, AI will enable them to personalize experiences and optimize operations with unprecedented precision.

Suo motu proceedings by the Supreme Court in the Kolkata murder-cum-rape case

Spotlight August 23, 2024August 23, 2024 indica

I have already written an article on the subject, in which I have said that with great respect to the Supreme Court these proceedings were uncalled for.

With respect to the Hon’ble Judges, the questions they have asked in Court, and the observations they have made, give an impression as if they are conducting an investigation or holding a trial, e.g. asking what time was the postmortem done, or UD or FIR lodged. Surely these are questions to be asked in a trial.

Justice Markandey Katju: India’s finest hour in hockey

Spotlight, Justice Markandey Katju August 18, 2024 indica

Indian hockey’s day of glory was 15th August 1936, when our hockey team defeated Germany in the Berlin Olympics finals 8-1. The team was captained by the hockey wizard Dhyan Chand.

Soon after our hockey team landed in Germany, and before the regular Olympic tournament began, our team played a friendly match against Germany. The field was wet that day as it had rained earlier, and our players were not accustomed to playing on a wet field, and often slipped. They were beaten by the Germans 4-1 in that friendly match.

Google’s Real Googly. No Not The Anti-Trust! 

Spotlight, Om Malik August 10, 2024August 10, 2024 indica

Rashid Khan is not a name known to many Americans. But any cricket fan — which includes the heads of Microsoft and Google — knows exactly who he is: a famous Afghan cricket bowler with a devastating version of a pitch known worldwide as a googly. It’s a pitch that every batter thinks they know how to hit. Yet time and again it fools them, and they are out. I wonder if Khan’s bowling comes to Sundar Pichai’s mind as Google grapples with the sudden but all-too-predictable shift to the new “AI” era. Google’s search engine revolutionized the internet. But in the face of Microsoft-backed OpenAI, Perplexity, and a slew of other new AI companies, Google search is starting to look old, tired, and less and less useful. 

Justice Markandey Katju: Independence Day

Spotlight, Justice Markandey Katju August 10, 2024 indica

In a few days from now, Pakistan will have its Independence Day on 14th August, and India on 15th August. In my opinion there was no genuine Independence on those days, but instead a colossal and monstrous hoax and swindle by our British rulers, so I appeal to Indians and Pakistanis not to celebrate them. Let me explain.

Firstly, real independence is freedom from poverty, unemployment, hunger, skyrocketing prices of essential commodities, lack of healthcare and good education, oppression of minorities, etc. Without these freedoms, the formal civil rights e.g. liberty, freedom of speech and expression, equality, freedom of religion, etc. are illusory and meaningless. Does a poor, unemployed or hungry man want freedom of speech and liberty, or food and a job?

NRIs will not benefit from India’s proposed Capital Gains Tax relief option

Spotlight August 7, 2024August 7, 2024 indica

By Neeraj Bhatia- Neeraj Bhatia, based in Silicon Valley is an accomplished Attorney, CPA and CA (India) with 30 plus years of expertise in international and domestic tax planning, compliance for startups, and multinational entities. India’s 2024 Budget had proposed to bring parity in capital gains taxation between resident and non-resident assesses. The amendment to […]

The Rise of AI-Generated Data

iStory, Spotlight August 6, 2024August 6, 2024 indica

It is hard to believe that our world is running out of data. Ironically, when we are all unequivocally aware that we are generating more data than ever. The Generative AI (GenAI) revolution has made companies building foundation models use up literally every ounce of publicly available data to train their data-hungry models.

Justice Markandey Katju: The tragedy of Sheikh Hasina

Spotlight, Justice Markandey Katju August 5, 2024 indica

There is a Sanskrit shloka which says :

“जानामि नागेश तव प्रभावम्
कण्ठस्थितः गर्जसि शंकरस्य
स्थानम् प्रधानम् न च बलम प्रधानम्
द्वारस्थितः कोअपि न सिंघः

“Jaanami Nagesh tava prabhaavam
Kanthasthitah garjasi Shankarasya
Sthaanam pradhanam na cha balam pradhanam
Dwarasthitah ko api na Singhah?”

Translation:

“O King of the Serpents, I know your powers
You are hissing at me because you are on the neck of Lord Shiva
The position one occupies is important, not one’s own strength
At one’s own door, who is not a Lion?”