Readers Republic

Nagaland is trying to turn coffee into a serious rural economy. Today, coffee is grown in 16 districts, with around 9,500 farmers involved. Annual production is reported at around 120 tonnes, and the state now has several emerging specialty coffee brands.

🚨#BREAKING | An Indian-flagged mechanised sailing vessel, Virat 1, was involved in an incident off the coast of Oman. The vessel had 14 Indian crew members on board. Swipe 👈to read! To read the full story 🔗 https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/indian-vessel-with-14-crew-members-involved-in-incident-off-oman-coast-search-ops-underway-101781428518094.html

If you only study what happened, you learn very little. If you study what could have happened but didn’t, you learn how the world actually works. (reality is surrounded by invisible alternatives)

We all know why the Mahabharata happened. But a more fascinating question is: What could have happened, but didn’t?

The Narcissism of Small Differences One of the most fascinating ideas proposed by Sigmund Freud is the “narcissism of small differences.” Freud observed that groups which are very similar to one another often develop stronger hostility than groups that are completely different. Instead of focusing on what they share, they become obsessed with the few things that separate them. At first glance this seems irrational. Why would two groups that share the same culture, language, history, or beliefs fight over minor distinctions? Freud’s answer was that human beings derive a sense of identity from being different. When another group is almost identical to us, those small differences become psychologically important because they help define who we are. This idea is increasingly visible in the modern world. On social media, some of the fiercest arguments occur not between people with completely opposite views, but between those who agree on most issues. Two commentators may share 90 percent of their beliefs, yet spend enormous energy attacking one another over the remaining 10 percent. The disagreement becomes a way of establishing identity and status. Politics provides another example. Rival factions within the same political movement often appear more hostile to one another than to their actual opponents. Because they compete for the same supporters and occupy similar intellectual territory, even minor differences become magnified. The dispute is no longer only about policy; it becomes a struggle over who represents the “true” version of the group. Freud’s insight also helps explain why online platforms seem so conflict-driven. Social media rewards attention, and conflict attracts attention. Small disagreements are amplified into moral battles because outrage generates engagement. What might once have been a minor difference in opinion is transformed into a marker of identity, loyalty, and belonging. The tragedy of the narcissism of small differences is that similarity, which could be a source of cooperation, often becomes a source of division. People who have much in common end up focusing on the few things that separate them. Freud’s idea reminds us that many conflicts are not driven by vast differences in values or beliefs, but by the human desire to feel distinct. In an age of social media, political polarization, and constant identity signaling, his observation may be more relevant than ever.

Two types of criticism: 1 (good faith) You don't like someone's specific arguments or behavior, hence produce directed criticism related to the initial trigger. 2 (bad faith) You dislike someone, so keep looking at stuff to criticize *unrelated* to the original reason. In case 2, ask yourself whether you also produce criticism of other persons who share these traits. Your criticism is only valid if you act as a judge, not an advocate.

Finding a companion in Oxford with whom life felt “complete” opens a new chapter in Thapar’s life, a leaf which is perfectly wedged between the pages of a favourite book. When this person exits from her life, she writes, “Perhaps the presence of someone close gives courage to the person facing the closure of life. A segment in the life of the other also departs and never returns. Only memories return, initially embedded in grief.” Beethoven’s piano sonatas rendered by Artur Schnabel gave her the feeling that “I had life to live.” https://scroll.in/article/1093274/romila-thapars-memoir-just-being-a-fearless-journey-of-an-autonomous-woman

What modern medicine defines as Generalized Anxiety Disorder/chronic worry, Ayurvedic texts explicitly call Chittodvega (Chitta = mind, Udvega = agitation/anxiety). The Charaka Samhita states that Chittodvega is driven by a vitiation (imbalance) of Rajas (the mental attribute of hyper-activity, passion, and restlessness) & Vata (the bodily humor that governs all movement, including the nervous system). Just as Vata imbalance causes a state of rapid, ungrounded, chaotic movement in the body, chronic worry keeps the sympathetic nervous system permanently firing, mirroring the constant state of fight/flight. In fact, Ayurveda tracks exactly how mental worry damages physical organs through the channels of circulation (Srotas). The texts state that Atichintana (excessive & repetitive thinking/worrying) directly injures the Rasavaha Srotas, the channels carrying plasma, primary nutrients & lymph fluid. When we ruin our Rasa Dhatu through non-stop worry, the symptoms documented 1000s of yrs ago are uncanny: Ojo-bhramsa (loss of immunity), Sosha (wasting/tissue degeneration), Mukha shosha (dryness of mouth) & Hridayoparodha (oppression/tightness in the heart area). This aligns perfectly with modern day terms: high blood pressure, suppressed immune function & digestive chaos. These days people cope with anxiety by overeating/smoking/drinking. Ancient texts call this behavior Pragyaaparadha (literally, an insult to intellect/crimes against wisdom). It is defined as a failure of Dhi (judgment), Dhriti (willpower) & Smriti (memory). When anxiety clouds the mind, the intellect breaks down, leading a person to knowingly choose habits that destroy their own physical body (Sharirika). So, what is the solution???? Let us look at the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali (Sutra 2.33): वितर्कबाधने प्रतिपक्षभावनम् vitarka-bādhane pratipakṣa-bhāvanam When disturbed by negative, cyclical thoughts (Vitarka), deliberately cultivate the opposite, neutralizing thought. It is the ancient precursor to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Cultivating the conscious willpower to pull the senses back (Pratyahara) from what is causing the panic loop. Do not let our mind issue silent, destructive orders to our cells. Reclaim our panoramic awareness, cultivate Dhriti (mental resilience) & actively protect the intricate, beautifully engineered system that is our body. 🙏🙏 -Parimal

मैं इससे इनकार नहीं कर सकता कि कभी कभी मुझे उसकी याद आती है। जैसे सूरदास का बालक चन्द्र खिलौने के लिए मचल उठता था। वैसे ही मेरे हृदय का एक कोना भी उन पलों को वापस पाने को मचल उठता है। नींद में ख़लल पड़ती है और मैं तख्त पर पुश्त टिकाये यहीं सोचता हूँ कि जो हमारे बीच था, क्या वो सच में प्रेम था। क्या अवयस्क प्रेम भी, अवयस्क बच्चे की भाँति बीमार जन्म लेता है। क्या थक जाने तक चिल्लाना , रोना और फिर उन्हीं थकी हुई आँखों से, कोई अनाम फ़िल्म देखते हुए ,एक दूसरे में समा कर सो जाना प्रेम होता है। अगर ये प्रेम नहीं है तो क्या लड़ते हुए शाम को सुबह कर देना प्रेम होता है। परेशानियाँ बढ़ती हैं। सीलिंग से लटके पंखे का घर्षण दुख का चक्र प्रतीत होता है। एहसास होता है, बालपन में हम दोनों ने एक दूसरे के ह्रदय में चोट किये। गो हम मिले तो निर्दोष मासूम जैसे थे। पर अलग हुए तो एक दूसरे की मासूमियत छीन ले गये। -Malal

# Saturday रात 🍿

bad choice.

This piece reviews Theo Baker’s How to Rule the World, a book about Stanford University’s extraordinary role in producing Silicon Valley power, money, ambition, and moral compromise.

It may be dangerous to be America's enemy,but to be America’s friend is fatal -H.Kissinger

Will hold bilateral talks on June 17 on the sidelines of the G7 Summit