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  Legendary SL Bhyrappa. T he passing of legendary Kannada writer S. L. Bhyrappa in Mysuru at a venerable age is profoundly saddening. Even in his nineties, he remained intellectually vibrant and deeply engaged with literature—a testament to his unwavering passion for the written word. Among his many celebrated works, I have read only one: Parva, a monumental novel spanning nearly six hundred pages. It is a masterful retelling of the Mahabharata, stripped of divine interventions and reimagined through a sociological and anthropological lens. Widely regarded as one of his most acclaimed and debated creations, Parva stands as a towering achievement in Indian literature. Bhyrappa situates the narrative in the 12th century BCE, grounding it in meticulous research across disciplines—anthropology, geography, and socio-politics. His commitment to authenticity led him on pilgrimages to sites like Kurukshetra, Dwaraka, and Lothal, breathing life into the epic’s historical and cultural backd...
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    Mocking of a Vishnu Bhakt was in Bad Taste An obiter dicta remark by the Chief Justice of India, while dismissing the Public Interest Petition of a devotee of Lord Vishnu, was entirely unnecessary, although it was exaggerated beyond proportion. This highlights the importance of carefully considering every statement made by those in power or authority, as damage is often done before clarifications are issued. It is worth noting that the Chief Justice quickly expressed respect for all religions. Recently, a bench comprising the CJI and Justice K Vinod Chandran dismissed a plea seeking orders to reconstruct and reinstall a seven-foot idol of Lord Vishnu at the Javari Temple, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Khajuraho temple complex in Madhya Pradesh. Describing the plea as a Publicity Interest Litigation, the CJI advised the petitioner to ask the deity directly for assistance. If you claim to be a devout follower of Lord Vishnu, then you should straightaway pray and medi...
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   Judiciary Must Embrace Technology  A struggle is ongoing among lawyers in Delhi regarding the virtual recording of statements and evidence, especially concerning police personnel, in court. Remarkably, neither the Delhi High Court nor the Bar Council of India has clarified the factual position. The facts are that the three laws replacing the IPC, Cr. P C, and the Indian Evidence Act were passed by the Lok Sabha on 21st December 2023 and the following day by the Rajya Sabha. These laws received Presidential assent on 25th December and came into force as Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and Bhartiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) from July 1, 2024. The strike by lawyers in Delhi began in response to a notification issued on August 13, 2025, by Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena, permitting police personnel to testify via video conferencing from police stations. On September 8, 2025, Delhi Police issued a revised circular directing all police pe...
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Peter Navarro's Misuse of 'Brahmin': A Case of Cultural Ignorance and Hostile Rhetoric

During his tenure as a trade adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump, Peter Navarro made several controversial remarks, but few revealed his superficial understanding of India as clearly as his use of the word "Brahmins." In a Fox News interview defending U.S. tariffs, Navarro claimed that “Brahmins were profiteering at the expense of Indian people.” This statement was not just a political jab; it was a culturally ignorant and offensive mischaracterisation that drew widespread condemnation, including a demand for his dismissal from American Hindus Against Defamation (AHAD). Navarro's remark appears to stem from a flawed comparison with the American term ‘Boston Brahmins,’ used to describe a historical, elite class in the United States. This analogy fails in the Indian context. In India, ‘Brahmin’ refers to a large and diverse community defined by caste, not by a monolithic economic status. The reality is that the vast majority of Brahmins today belong to the middle or ...
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  Don’t Throw Out the Baby with the Bathwater  Several friends have voiced concerns about my recent post advocating for the integration of technology into the justice system. Their primary worry is that increased reliance on digital tools might embolden law enforcement to act without sufficient oversight, potentially worsening the handling of criminal cases. But let’s take a step back. Even with traditional methods—where evidence is physically presented—the conviction rate remains below 50%. It’s difficult to argue that introducing technology would somehow erode this further. In fact, the opposite may be true. At the heart of criminal law lies a fundamental principle: no innocent person should be punished , even if that means some guilty individuals go free. This principle should guide our approach to innovation. Yes, technology has its flaws. But rejecting it outright because of imperfections ignores its potential to streamline procedures, enhance transparency, and reduce...
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  Embracing Technology in Justice:  Online Hearings and Evidence Recording Deserve Support With the enactment of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) in 2023, India has taken a decisive step toward modernizing its criminal justice system. Replacing the outdated Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) , the BNSS introduces provisions that embrace digital tools to streamline legal processes and reduce unnecessary burdens on all stakeholders. Yet, it is perplexing that a section of the legal fraternity in Delhi opposes the recent notification issu Embracing Technology in Justice:  Online Hearings and Evidence Recording Deserve Support ed by the Lieutenant Governor, which permits police personnel to record evidence and statements from designated locations within their respective police stations. This move aligns perfectly with the spirit and letter of the BNSS, which applies uniformly across the country—not just to Delhi. Let us examine key provisions of the BNSS that unde...
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Leadership is Beyond Formal Degrees

  The recent political uproar surrounding the Prime Minister's educational degree is a misguided distraction that amounts to little more than foolishness. This emphasis on academic credentials over proven ability reveals a superficial understanding of what truly qualifies someone for high office. This isn't a new political tactic. Decades ago, when Rajiv Gandhi was poised to become Prime Minister, the formidable Sharad Pawar of Maharashtra was also a contender. V. N. Gadgil, then a General Secretary of the AICC, tried to dismiss Pawar’s candidacy by questioning his proficiency in English. Unfazed, Mr. Pawar responded to journalists that if English proficiency was the main requirement, then a university professor would be the most logical choice for Prime Minister. Pawar’s clever and sharp reply remains relevant today. It is the perfect rebuttal to the modern antics of demanding academic certificates from elected leaders. To do so is to ignore the democratic mandate of millions ...
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