Author: Prof Shandar Ahmad

What makes us who we are? A psychologist would say it’s our personality, shaped by our thoughts and experiences. A philosopher might point toward our consciousness and choices, while a sociologist would argue it’s our environment and social interactions that define us. An anthropologist, on the other hand, might suggest it’s influenced by cultural norms and traditions. But if you ask a geneticist they would say: It’s all in the genes. For years, scientists have pondered over this question, to find the enigma of life, through the genetic makeup of individuals. A major step in this direction was the Human…

In the novel ‘The Vendor of Sweets’ by RK Narayan, later adapted into the beloved Malgudi Days TV series, we are introduced to Jagan, a traditional sweets vendor whose son Mali has returned from the USA with a novel-writing machine. This machine can create stories based on the user’s input, allowing them to choose the plot, the characters, and the emotions they want to convey, essentially making the creative process simple. However, Jagan, a strong follower of Gandhian principles and a believer in the sanctity of traditional storytelling, is not impressed by the machine at all. He thinks that it is a useless and expensive gadget that destroys the true essence…