Discussion on an innovation policy paper by Dr Mashelkar, Dr Ajay Shah, Susan Thomas Link to the paper : https://xkdr.org/paper/rethinking-innovation-policy-in-india-amplifying-spillovers-through-contracting-out

On the eve of Buddha Purnima, we try to understand why the claim - Buddhism is a subset of part of Hinduism - is made so assertively or with a sense of finality by many, who ironically never bother to read neither of them. We do this by understanding the basic tenet of Buddhism and hinduism respectively. Why rules or an organised religion/sect evolves in the name of an enlightened master after his/her death? Surely Gautam Buddha won't have dictated which flavored cake should be cut on his birthday known as Buddha Purnima?

Are we biologically programmed to be selfish? Why would your prospective girl behave evasively for long? If selfishness is inbuilt, how do we explain the altruistic behaviour in living creatures? Are humans special or are they just another 'survival machine' for the 'immortal replicator' better known as genes? We discuss the fascinating bestseller since late 70s, the book selfish gene by Richard Dawkins.

Who is a public intellectual? Does he necessarily have to be an academic? How do we identify him/her? What does our mythology teaches us about intellect and its aim? Also, what did irrfan's two sons write in their tribute to their father?

Recourse to legal remedies is severely restricted which leads to erosion of civil liberties. Similarly privacy is destroyed in the argument of fighting crisis. We understand this using the latest viral video from Indore and a scene from the movie three idiots. Also, consider poor and destitute to be equal humans and not subhumans below you.

Mythology of parashuram and it's contemporary visual imagery. Are China and USA again making modern world's Vishnu's dhanush or Sudarshan chakra? Should I say "Ramadan Kareem" or " "Ramzaan mubarak"?

S1 E6 Is South Asia an exception to Covid 19? Is BCG vaccine instrumental in boosting immunity for this virus? Should you and nations keep flexing your muscles? Or a healthy body and an open mind would do?

What's a cognisable offence? Does modernity means inevitable doom of villages? Why shouldn't you be 'nominated' to Rajya sabha when the chief justice can?

Can your states CM borrow funds from China? What do the IIM Ahmedabad logo has to do with migration? What would be your preferred mode of death - bomb, virus or hunger? You have all in conflict zone such as Syria.

Would 'state' transform because of Covid? Is aarogya app itself free of 'rog'? Why women helpline numbers be managed by men? What's a C 130 J super Hercules ??

Discussing the Hindu, 20 April, Monday. Evolution of belief systems in the context of Tablighi jamaat. Intellectual humility. Openess to differing perspective.

In this introductory episode, i discuss the the 19 Apr, Sunday edition of the Hindu for the benefit of the students. How news is different from opinions? How to eat an elephant*? A simple conceptual framework to analyse an article or a book. Strategies for reading and understanding new subject. Ok so we understood how to read but the larger question is why we should read at all?