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Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
The Weekly Vine Edition 45: DRONE-ACHARYA, Royal Challenge Completed, and Manufacturing Consent
Nirmalya Dutta's political and economic views vacillate from woke Leninist to Rand-Marxist to Keynesian-Friedmanite. He doesn't know what any of those terms mean. Hello and welcome to this week's edition of The Weekly Vine. In this week's edition, we look at Ukraine's Drone-acharya–inspired tactical move, celebrate Virat Kohli finally breaking his IPL duck, discuss the art of manufacturing consent, explain why Magnus Carlsen lost his cool against Gukesh, and finally take a look at Trump's 'mad philosopher'. DRONE-ACHARYA 2.0 In Keerthik Sasidharan's The Dharma Forest, a fabulously loquacious retelling of the Mahabharata, Drona tells Bhisma: 'It's only the grammar of violence that allows for the pretence that this is war for the sake of a civilisation. Without it, war would be just mass murder.' When Bhisma chides him for laughing about it, Drona replies: 'Grandfather, as a penniless Brahmin who built his own life thanks to arms, war and violence—and after a lifetime of doing this, I can only laugh at the world.' For those who missed out on the greatest story ever told, Drona – a true Master of War – was a penniless Brahmin who sought revenge by training the Kuru princes against an old friend who had belittled him. Over the years, the Master of War – one who hides in his mansion after building the death planes (to borrow a line from Bob Dylan) – has taken many avatars. The last was Barack Obama, whose deep baritone made you forget his drone-strike rate. And now we have the former stand-up comic who refuses to say, 'thank you.' The new Drone-Acharya in town is Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Reports – hopefully real and not another Ghost of Kyiv propaganda piece – claim that Ukraine launched an audacious drone attack involving 117 drones, each costing less than $500. These drones struck Russian war machines across five regions, spanning 6,000 kilometres and three time zones (or roughly the time it takes to get from Noida to Gurugram after 6 PM). In sheer breadth and depth, it even outdoes the audacious pager attack on Hezbollah launched by Israel's Mossad. This low-budget, independent assault didn't use any NATO weapons or Western intelligence. The drones were ostensibly launched from modified shipping containers, smuggled into Russia aboard civilian trucks, bypassing multi-billion-dollar air defence systems entirely. The attack was also carried out remotely – much like the Sovereign's fleet of drones in Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2 – with no Ukrainian personnel captured. What makes this a game changer is its replicability and scalability at minimal cost. It heralds the age of drones as the new instrument of warfare. As analysts like Mike Ryan argue, supremacy in modern war is no longer about airfields, but Wi-Fi. Time will tell how Russia responds to this 'Pearl Harbor–style attack.' But the world must now live with the knowledge that $500 drones can disable billion-dollar fleets. Where we go from here, even the bard – Dylan or Valmiki – doesn't know. Royal Challenge Completed (With apologies to legendary football commentator Peter Drury, but read in his voice) It is done. After 18 years of endless sprints, narrow misses and heartbreak… Virat Kohli is the IPL Champion. He arrived a round-faced, wide-eyed youth, fresh off the Under-19 crown, arriving with swagger and intent: the next big thing in Indian cricket. And over the years, the boy became myth, the prototype of the modern Indian cricketer. Arrogant, confident, bearded, and with a love for sororal greetings. He shed his baby fat, he carved sinew from sacrifice. He took every challenge head-on, becoming a modern cricketing great— leading the Indian team to new frontiers as he unleashed the dogs of war. He made fitness a faith, and his beard a banner— emulated on every gully, every Instagram post, every generation that saw in him not just a cricketer, but a creed. He fought with fire. He bared his soul at deep midwicket, at Lord's, at the Wanderers, at the MCG. He took on SENA giants not with politeness, but with pupils dilated in combat, his rage not a flaw but a fuel—dragging India and RCB through trenches and tempests. But for all the fables, all the hundreds, this trophy—this wretched, elusive, shiny little grail— mocked him every April and May. And still, he stayed. He stayed with RCB. No glamour transfers. No shortcuts. He chose heartbreak on home soil over triumph elsewhere. He gave them his youth, his prime, his decline—and his resurrection. And so tonight, when the sky cracked open and the last ball disappeared, he didn't leap. He sank. To his knees, hands to face, fingers trembling. Not in shock—but in stillness. The silence of a man who gave everything… and finally received. And how fitting—Bengaluru, his karmabhoomi. The city of lakes, of monsoon evenings and overflowing dreams. The Silicon Valley of India, where code meets coffee, and cricket conquers all. Where strangers speak ten tongues but cheer in one voice. Where IT parks and idli stalls erupt in chorus when RCB walks out. A city that gave him a home, and tonight, he gave it a reason to roar. Eighteen years. One franchise. One man. And now the elusive title. At long last… it is challenge completed. Like, Share, Collapse The following excerpt is from my fellow cartoonist Prasad Sanyal's excellent blog. There's something perversely elegant about a society that can manufacture both iPhones and ideologies with the same ruthless efficiency. Yanis Varoufakis [a Greek politician and economist], riffing off Chomsky's Manufacturing Consent, tosses us a neat little paradox wrapped in economic angst: that the more financialised our lives become, the more agreeable we get—and the more spectacular our breakdowns. Consent, it seems, isn't what it used to be. Once upon a time, it had to be extracted—with religion, kings, or gulags. These days, it's delivered via push notification and monetised outrage. Capitalism doesn't just want your labour; it wants your belief system bundled in prime-time infotainment and Facebook Lives. Read more. Losing His Cool On a chilly Stavanger evening, the unthinkable happened. The great Magnus Carlsen—the Viking overlord of modern chess—slammed his fist on the board as his pieces scattered like confetti. Across the table, D Gukesh, all of 19, calmly watched history unfold. He'd just become the first reigning world champion to beat the world No. 1 in classical chess since Kasparov terrorised the board. This wasn't just a win—it was a psychological decapitation. Carlsen had dominated for 50-odd moves. The engine showed +4 in his favour. But chess doesn't award runs for style. One blunder under time pressure (52…Ne2+) and the predator turned prey. Gukesh, who had already sensed blood, picked up his queen with the swagger of a man who knew the match was over. The Norwegian, suddenly mortal, banged the table, sending pawns flying and egos bruised. He extended a sheepish hand, then patted the teen on the back, half in apology, half in awe. Gukesh had done what Anand, Kramnik, and Karpov never could—beat the reigning world No. 1 while holding the crown. This wasn't just about the win. It was about grit, patience, and playing the long con in a brutal 62-move Ruy Lopez Berlin slugfest. Carlsen, ironically, played with his king like a warrior—marching him to the first rank. But Gukesh wasn't buying the intimidation. He met fire with ice. Trump's Mad Philosopher Before Trump made democracy optional and Elon turned government into a venture-backed LARP, there was Curtis Yarvin—part-time monarchist, full-time troll, and Silicon Valley's in-house necromancer. Back in 2008, while liberals were still drunk on hope and change, Yarvin—then known as Mencius Moldbug—was quietly uploading 120,000-word blogposts that read like a cross between Machiavelli and a Reddit meltdown. His central thesis? Democracy is a bug, not a feature. Harvard is the Vatican of Woke. And America would be better run by a startup CEO with nukes and Marc Andreessen on speed dial. You may scoff—but Peter Thiel didn't. J.D. Vance didn't. Trump definitely didn't. Yarvin is not your usual right-wing grunt. He's the Dark Elf of the dissident right, whispering digital manifestos in faux-Elizabethan prose. He cries during lunch and dreams of putting San Francisco's homeless in VR exile. He builds political theology disguised as software. Urbit, his failed feudal internet project, raised millions—proof that in America, bad ideas just need a charismatic front-end. But what makes Yarvin dangerous isn't his ideology. It's his aesthetic. He doesn't write policy; he performs it. His blog is cosplay for crypto kings. His politics? Brutalism meets biodynamic wine. And while liberals hold book clubs about authoritarianism, Yarvin's drinking biodiesel with the guy rewriting immigration law. In 2025, the joke's over. The man who called elections a mistake is now shaping what comes after them. He's not storming the castle. He's redecorating it. And if you squint, you'll see the future peeking out from under his high-collared Substack. It's not democratic. It's draped in velvet and lit by vibes. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.
Deccan Herald
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Deccan Herald
Deepfakes of Digital Kurukshetra
In a telling moment from a few weeks ago, US President Donald Trump, when challenged in a televised interview, insisted that a digitally augmented photograph showed gang tattoos on the hands of a deported asylum seeker. When journalist Terry Moran objected, Trump snapped: 'Why don't you just say yes?'.That question – equal parts demand and deflection – reveals the deeper malaise of our time. Misinformation is no longer accidental. It is strategic. It is not just the domain of trolls and fringe conspiracists. It now emanates from the highest governance offices, dressed in certainty and powered by all of us, there is an ongoing battle with misinformation. In this environment, it is essential to understand that information is different from data. Information is data with context. Strip data of context or place it in the wrong one, and it becomes something else altogether – misinformation. This distinction can be understood through a simple framework: right data + right context = information; right data + wrong context = misinformation; wrong data = falsehood – whether due to misinformation (ignorance or error) or disinformation (intentional deceit)..This distinction is often blurred, even by respected thinkers. Yuval Harari, for instance, refers to myths, narratives, and fabricated content under the term 'information'. But without context, we erase the line between knowing and believing when categorising everything as information. This conflation of truth and narrative is not new. It echoes across civilisations, as in epics like Gilgamesh and the Mahabharata. The context is that these are epics that must be studied as such. They tell us how civilisations grappled with questions of duty, power, mortality, and meaning. Some events or characters may have a historical basis. But to present them wholesale as history, without critical examination or supporting primary sources, is to misinform. The mistake is not in the data but in its category. Presenting myth as myth is a cultural understanding. Presenting it as an empirical truth is a Mahabharata itself contains an example of misinformation. On the battlefield of Kurukshetra, the aged warrior Drona could not be defeated in combat. Krishna advised the Pandavas that Drona's spirit would break only if he believed his son Ashwatthama was dead. Bhima kills an elephant named Ashwatthama, and Yudhishthira, known for his unwavering commitment to truth, is responsible for delivering the message – 'Ashwatthama is dead,' and then he adds under his breath, '...the elephant.' Drona hears only the first part. Dejected, he lays down his weapons and is subsequently the data is correct. An Ashwatthama has indeed died. But the context is withheld deliberately. The result: misinformation. And the consequences are is one of the earliest and most profound illustrations of truth used deceptively (an ancient deepfake) – not by falsifying the fact, but by manipulating the listener's interpretation. In a way, it is the prototype of today's misinformation, where half-truths circulate with powerful effect, often amplified by the Ashwatthamas take the form of deepfakes – real people, convincingly mimicked; of phishing emails, eerily tailored by AI to your tone; of voice-cloned calls and videos, shared without verification. Human malice scripts them. AI amplifies them. Even sharp, technically sound individuals fall prey, not because of ignorance but because of misplaced trust in what looks and sounds guard against this epidemic, we need to nurture two capabilities: triangulation and intuition. Triangulate everything. Use multiple primary sources; look for assumptions – clarify what a belief is versus what is verified; read beyond headlines, seek nuance; build cognitive resilience, the truth is rarely a single are no longer passive recipients of information – we are participants in its creation and curation. Our responsibility, therefore, is not to be Drona, accepting statements without probing their context, or to be Yudhishthira, letting the pressure of outcome dilute our commitment to truth. Let us counter misinformation by developing a deep understanding of data and context.
Syyaha
30-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Syyaha
Jaipur Rugs Introduces the Jaanwar Collection: A Bold Tribute to India's Tribal Art
Dubai, United Arab Emirates – 29 January 2025. Jaipur Rugs, the leading manufacturer of handmade designer rugs, proudly introduces its latest collection, 'Jaanwar,' in collaboration with designer Kunaal Kyhaan Seolekar. Departing from conventional rectangular forms, this collection celebrates the untamed beauty of ancient Indian culture, tribal communities, and wild animals. Aptly named 'Jaanwar,' meaning 'creature' in Hindi, it offers a vibrant expression of mythical tigers, snakes, and more, depicted in contemporary graphic colours and strokes. Inspired by tribal art, especially Central India's Gond Art, these rugs weave tales within intricate patterns, incorporating illusions and movement. The palette features deep blues, fiery reds, lush greens, and radiant yellows, celebrating the tropical landscapes inhabited by these wild creatures. Breathing life into mythical tigers and snakes, each design is rendered with contemporary graphic flair. Semi-precious stone embellishments and yarn fringes add a talismanic quality to each carpet. Auspicious shapes inspired by lingams, along with motifs of evil eyes and organic lines, create an ensemble that exudes a protective, lively spirit. Meticulously crafted in wool and silk, the Jaanwar collection offers a narrative that transcends time, inviting you to immerse yourself in the wild elegance of ancient cultures and untamed landscapes. These rugs transport you to an unknown era, evoking an air of exoticism that captivates the senses. Each rug stands as a piece of art, showcasing the fusion of creativity and craftsmanship. 'I believe the Jaanwar collection embodies not just rugs but stories, tales of untamed beauty and ancient cultures woven into every thread. It's a celebration of the vibrant spirit of India's wildlife and tribal heritage, intricately crafted to captivate hearts and homes alike', said Yogesh Chaudhary, Director, Jaipur Rugs. Photographed in Pushkar, Rajasthan, the campaign features indigenous tribes like the Sahariyas and Bhil communities, adding an authentic touch to the collection's exotic imagery. Kaali – Embodying Generations of Protection 'Kaali' represents the protective gaze of generations, with a central eye symbolizing well-being, healing, and protection. Meticulously hand-knotted, the rug boasts a nuanced colour field with variations in pile height. Some variants feature layered woollen fringes, adding a distinctive three-dimensional character. Drona – A Playful Dance of Mythical Forms 'Drona' unfolds as a playful dance of mythical forms and vibrant hues inspired by Gond art. The rug pays homage to tribal culture, featuring a meticulous rendering process, interplay of patterns, and vibrant colours. Alternating stripes and varying pile heights create a mesmerizing three-dimensional effect. Yantra – Sacred Geometric Patterns Inspired by spiritual patterns, 'Yantra' features dashes and stripes in varying shades, contoured with different pile heights, creating illusionary three-dimensionality. The rug is an ode to tradition contemporized, with shapes echoing mythical beings in a mesmerizing display. Ling – Vibrant Heartbeat of Tribal Culture The 'Ling' rug mirrors the vibrant heartbeat of tribal culture, featuring bold hues and lively patterns. Dot and dash patterns in contrasting shades animate the brick walled pattern, creating a sense of movement. Subtle variations in pile height enhance the interactive journey through the rug. Shera – The Mythical Tiger 'Shera,' the Mythical Tiger, seamlessly fuses tradition, innovation, and mystique. The silhouette captures the essence of tigers from Gond tribal folklore, with clever use of pile height differences and delicate tassels depicting the majestic stripes. Semi-precious gems and woollen trims add a distinctive character to the rug. Naag – Mysterious Serpent-inspired Form 'Naag' is a mythical serpent-inspired form crafted with a luxurious blend of wool and bamboo silk. The rug transcends conventional boundaries, featuring a fascinating illusion created by varying dots of colour. Some variants are bordered with captivating semi-precious gems, while others feature layered woollen fringes. Naaga – Shed Serpent Skins for Outdoor Elegance 'Naaga' outdoor rugs, like shed serpent skins, are handwoven in PET yarns, designed for both outdoor and indoor spaces. The modular form allows for vibrant, individual expression. These rugs bring design drama to external spaces while ensuring durability and resilience. Immerse yourself in the wild elegance of ancient cultures and untamed landscapes with Kunaal Kyhaan Seolekar's Jaanwar collection, where the extraordinary becomes an everyday experience. Immerse yourself in the wild elegance of ancient cultures and untamed landscapes with Kunaal Kyhaan Seolekar's Jaanwar collection, where the extraordinary becomes an everyday experience. The Jaanwar Collection is now on display at Jaipur Rugs at Alserkal Avenue, Dubai. Visit Jaipur Rugs and explore this extraordinary collection in person, where each rug tells a story waiting to unfold in your home. For more information about the Jaanwar Collection and Jaipur Rugs, visit
