AI-A Boon or a Bane

 Part 1-AI in education: 

      Mobile phones  are handy. Every Tom,dick and harry has one with a good 4G internet  connectivity.Which is not a bad thing at all. Along with keeping in touch with our loved ones ,It helps in building relationships and also gaining knowledge. The internet is also available at a very reasonable price with good connectivity.

        Like any other individual,when it comes to mobile ,students are also privileged  and use mobile phones in their day to day activities. Due to easy accessibility and internet connectivity, any information verified or not is available at the tip of the fingers. E.g if any one ,in this context a student has doubts or they are seeking answers or knowledge ,then they will just use an  AI app. In the process,probably thinking that it provides the correct and accurate information. But most of the times they might be wrong. Cause in the AI app there is a disclosure that AI might not give the correct answers and other sources also should be checked.Along with hoarding  wrong knowledge we are also making our brain redundant. I had recently attended  a lecture of Dr Bhushan Patvardhan sir . In  his lecture he had explained 'how f MRI studies have proven that parts of the brain are less functioning in today's generation due to the massive use of AI'. If this continues and we use AI for generating each and every information then major part of a brain will not work. 

       And this dysfunctional redundant brain, we will be passing on to the next generations. Ten and thousands of years ago, the Homo Neanderthalinsis man had a small brain because he only used to hunt . This man just knew to satiate his hunger and survive .Slowly humans evolved ,learned ,started to think and make decisions and hence the brain volume increased . If we are not using our brain to think, decide, learn and judge then majority of the frontal part of the brain will degenerate. Brain is said to be plastic . As we learn and acquire new skills, new neuronal connections will be formed in the brain and this is called plasticity.Therefore in order to prevent dementia,old age people are advised to learn something new or atleast acquire a new skill post the age of 60 years.Opposite of plasticity can occur when we are not using our brain for the things it is good at. 

     Easy availability of mobile phones and internet access as made us a pawn to the digital world. We are so addicted to a mobile phone and its applications that even though when it is unnecessary we end up using it.

      I am not a Gen Z. Hence I had to learn to use AI at my workplace. Still even for me using mobile phones is an addiction .The notification which pops up every other second makes us look at the mobile every now and then .This interrupts with the regular work and obstructs the flow.This is a problem which everyone faces.  There are many successful  books and best sellers which have explained how to get rid of mobiles and prevent it  from distracting us at work. 

      By using AI ,some of us might show or express that they are smarter than the others but ultimately to succeed -true knowledge is essential. This can be gained by accessing the right knowledge which are available in books, good magazines, or published journal articles ,either hard copies or e copies. For doctors knowledge is gained  from theory and  practice. So there are different ways how one can acquire knowledge .

      As a teacher where we are the custodians of knowledge , it is our duty to guide students in the right way. The question which perturbs me every time is ' what can we do to make the students knowledgeable and efficient?' 

Some answers which I have got are as follows:

1.During lectures and discussion mobiles should not be permissible.Use of intuition and judgement by the student is of paramount importance.

2.As educators we have to take more efforts and come up with creative ways to keep the students engaged. At the same time we have to be disciplined about the knowledge they acquire and how they acquire it.

3.AI can be used to make the work easier. E g create table, flow chart, create word doc etc. But the content should be solely created by the student.

Perils of AI

It has been only a couple of years of using AI. Only in the coming years we will be able to know how badly we are affected. Already we have become slaves to chatGpt, deep seek like AI. Before the advent of  AI we would atleast search for information on Google, wikipedia, read up on it and then use it. Now, the information is readily served on a platter and students are using it eagerly without checking the authenticity. Hope it doesn't reach a stage where we forget to do things and  make judgements on our own. Let us take preventive steps before AI takes precedence in our life. Hence reading is very essential .Either a hard copy or an e -copy .

Love letter to London

London is a city which welcomes everyone with open arms. I too had a lovely time when I visited this wondrous city. So this love letter encompasses the endearing time I had when I last visited. Do post in your comments the city which you love the most and why.

Dear LONDON, 

Pune 

23.08.25 

What is it about you that allures everyone? Is it the sky touching skyscrapers/ underground tube/beautiful gardens/ people from different races/ art scene? I don't know about others. I can share my feelings about you. I can express what I love about you.

I want to be with you again. I miss being in you. I miss the unpredictable weather. There were times when I got drenched because of your unpredictable cool self. Still, I didn't loathe you. I fell in love with you more.

The cool, light-headed people who reside in you want me to come back and settle for good.

I want to bathe in the warm, beautiful afternoon sunshine while lying splayed on the grass in Regent’s Park.

I want to take countless trips on the tube with no destination in mind.

I want to wander in your art galleries, both contemporary and modern and drown in the artwork as if there is no tomorrow.

I want to study Sargent's paintings. Let me forget about time for once and get lost in his brilliant master strokes.

I want to watch plays at the theatre and get mesmerised by actors, their dialogues, raw talent and their English vocabulary.

I want to learn your accent and show it off to my friends back home. we Indians were ruled by your country, yet there is something about you which attracts us to you.

I want to visit Kensington Palace, wander in the garden, and watch Princess Diana's statue from different angles of the ‘cradle walk' at the Sunken Garden.

I want to watch the ducks swim at the palace lake, and then I will walk slowly back to the tube station to come again another day.

I want to eat a bagel with clotted cream from GAIL 's bakery near Wimbledon and nowhere else.

I want to dine at the Wahaca restaurant at Paddington station and collect the chilli seeds proudly while paying the exorbitant bill.

I want to drink English breakfast tea in the cosy cafes while waiting to watch a play at West End.

I want to do all the things which I did when I visited you last time.

I want to do it the same way as I experienced it last time.

I want to do it all without missing a beat. 

I want to feel the same love for you as I did last time.

Love you, London🥰 bye! C you soon.      

Of temple,Tailors and Timeless Ties

 

‘A gentle meditation on the sacred bond between a person and their hometown. Where rituals ,memories and belonging interwine to create a sense of wholeness’

Hometown has a special place in everyone’s heart. It is the place where we were born, spent most of our childhood, and perhaps received our education too. It is a place that has nurtured and shaped us as children. Unknown to us, it nourishes our soul as well. A major part of who we are today is because of the environment and surroundings in which we grew up. Therefore, my hometown in Karnataka holds a very special place in my heart.

What is it about our hometown—apart from our parents, siblings, and cousins—that attracts us to it ? Each of us, whenever we visit our hometown, have a list of must-do activities that we simply have to follow. This list of “must-do’s” and “must-have’s” generally originates from what we miss the most about our native place in our day-to-day life. Since a significant part of our lives was spent there, I believe we always want to carry a piece of it with us, wherever we are living now. Therefore, according to me, this must-do and must-have list is nothing but our craving for a part of our home and hometown which is missing in our present life.

For example, whenever I visit my beautiful, serene hometown, I have a set of routines that I must follow, come what may. My visit always begins with a stop at my dad’s and uncle’s textile stores, followed by visits to the pilgrimage places—the Krishna Temple nestled in this small, quaint town, and right opposite it, the Anantheshwar Temple. Both temples are ancient and sacred, showcasing beautiful stone-carved architecture. It gives me immense peace and solitude when I fold my hands in prayer and perform the pradakshina. I still remember my childhood days when I used to run while doing pradakshina to escape from the heat scorching my feet on a hot sunny afternoon.

Between the Krishna Temple and my dad’s store, it is customary for me to stop by a few local shops and vendors. One of them is a small supermarket called Sampoorna, located near the Krishna Temple. The local delicacies I miss and cherish are usually found here are of good quality and is value for money. From local sweets to savouries and snacks, everything can be found here.

My next stop is the local vegetable vendor. I love hounding his small shack for turmeric leaves, colocasia leaves, ready-made moodo (hand-woven cups made from special leaves ,used to steam idlis), maddi (an underground tuber belonging to the colocasia family), and much more. Only when I have bought everything to my heart’s content do I return home—my dad’s house.

A couple of days later, when I find time, it is customary and almost mandatory to visit the tailor. Sometimes I feel it’s more for the heart’s satisfaction than necessity. It is said that a good tailor is a lifelong companion—and it’s true in my case. Even after living away from home for over two decades, I still get my salwar suits stitched by him. I never had the heart or courage to look for a new tailor in my current city.

This way, I have my own list of things that I must do and adhere to during my yearly visits. Only when I have checked off each and every item from my list and filled my heart with contentment am I able to return to my own current house in peace.

The above-mentioned routine is something I have followed every single year. It is a discipline that I have adhered to during all my visits. But this year, I found myself wondering—why do I visit the same shops for the same things and follow the same routine each and every year?

Since childhood, we follow a certain lifestyle, have a particular diet pattern, and are surrounded by familiar sights and sounds. All these become ingrained in our lives without our conscious awareness. These daily activities unknowingly become a part of who we are. Therefore, whenever we settle in a new place for good, time and again we seek the same environment, food, and activities that once nourished us. Indulging in these soul-fulfilling activities, even for a few days, rejuvenates us deeply. And then we go back to our new lives feeling fulfilled and satisfied—carrying a small part of our dear home and hometown with us.

Each time, we eagerly wait for the next visit—to relive those same moments and follow the same comforting routine again.

I hope this post has nourished the reader’s soul and brought back fond memories of your own hometown. Do write in the comments what you love and miss the most about your hometown.

Growing fondness towards the unknown-cont. . ..

 It is  wonderful how the heart grows fonder towards the unknown. Great respect is given to established universities , teachers and well known doctors from afar. Somehow the respect diminishes as we make acquaintances with them. We as human beings are at fault for this behaviour. Many of the times the individual whom we respect and admire are not at fault. Once we get to know this revered and very accomplished person we try to think about them as of our equal. This humane quality is intended solely so that we don't look down upon us nor demean us. But in the process we are looking down on the achievements of respectable human beings.Of course it wouldn't affect them nor they would recognise such bad behaviour. The most accomplished and knowledgeable people are grounded,down to earth and very welcoming towards people. But it doesn't give us the right to strip them of their accomplishments.

In line with the saying- the heart grows fonder towards the unknown I would like to dwelve a little into PG training.

 When I was a PG student, my guide and guru Dr SK Ramachandran sir compelled all of  us PG students to present in State and National seminars. Even though we had not presented papers before we were not given any leeway. Any kind of coaxing or sympathy wouldn't work.

Hence presenting papers at conferences became a habit and I became efficient at it. As a became a PG teacher and gradually upgraded to PG incharge, I realised that PG teaching involves many aspects. Along with theoretical and clinical knowledge a PG student should be able to know the difference between physiological and pathological changes in a child . The diseases are unique in children. So, a Balrog tajna should be confident in treating the common diseases first such as cold, cough,fever,worm infestations, anaemia,growth failure to name a few. Then with few years of experience the less common diseases can be treated effectively and with ease. The other areas to gain expertise are to be confident in  presenting papers, be a fearless orator, possess good language skills and be well equipped with research knowledge. There are some other skills which are given less importance but are very significant  such as  patient counselling, team work with fellow batchmates and juniors, leadership skills etc.

Therefore the attempt in PG studies is to give complete knowledge to the students. 

Along with this it is also important for a PG student to visit other colleges and universities to observe skills and the knowledge of students studying over there. This will guide the student to improve and hone new skills. And as the title says ' growing fonder towards the unknown ' , we look up to other universities with appreciation and glee. It's only when we get an opportunity to interact we realise the worth of our parent institute and teachers.

        Attending conferences helps in networking and building connections. Skills such as oration,building connections ,networking were not given much importance during my PG days. May be it was thought that these skills are to be honed at a later stage in life ,when we are academicians.

In today's era it is better to be equipped with as much knowledge as possible. Then there is AI. With the advent of ChatGPT and other tools , not knowing them will hinder one's career growth. For my generation and the previous ones, we gained knowledge from books. Internet came much later and was costly. Hence knowledge was gained through traditional means such as visiting libraries, reading books,collecting notes from seniors, asking doubts to teachers. One to one interaction with teachers and seniors was the norm. This fostered healthy relations and networking. 

Hence in today's age even though knowledge is gained easily through AI , it is important to check its validity. Gaining true knowledge is possible by reading good books either hard copy or e copy. Interacting with peers and teachers to clear doubts helps in enhancing one's knowledge. Senior Doctors have vast experience in treating patients. Visiting their clinics or hospitals, observing their clinical acumen and again interacting with them will open the pandora's box of clinical knowledge. By accumulating such knowledge there will be less room for mistakes and more room for perfection.

Ayurinformatics :New tool in research & medicine

              Capacity building not just involves industry training or clinical training. It also refers to upgrading our knowledge to recent updates available in the respective field. It also applies to knowledge about AI and it's application in teaching, career development, drug development,patient treatment etc.

It was an eye opener for me when I visited the Ayurinformatics lab at AIIA,Delhi headed by Dr Prashant Gupta, Associate professor,AIIA. I was like a kid in a candy store. There was so much information about personalized treatment, drug development, data mining etc. All this was done using a software. Though I had some knowledge about Ayurinformatics, I was still spell bound by the information provided by Dr Karthik ,Asst professor,AIIA.

After all what is Ayurinformatics?

🌿 Ayurinformatics: Literally as the name suggests means blending Ayurveda with Data Science.Ayurinformatics is an emerging interdisciplinary field that integrates Ayurveda with modern informatics, bioinformatics, and data science. Its goal is to enhance healthcare through personalized, data-driven insights while preserving the wisdom of traditional medicine.

Principles of Bioinformatics:

🔹 Merging Tradition & Technology

Ayurinformatics bridges classical Ayurvedic knowledge with modern computational tools to support research, education, and clinical practice.

🔹 Bioinformatics in Ayurveda

It helps analyze ancient texts, decode medicinal plant properties, and study the efficacy of Ayurvedic formulations using advanced computational methods.

🔹 Personalized Medicine with Data Science

By applying machine learning and data mining, Ayurinformatics enables tailored treatment strategies based on an individual’s unique Ayurvedic constitution.since each individual has a unique genetic makeup, personalized treatment will yield better results.

🔹 Applications in Research & Healthcare are as follows:

Drug discovery & phytoconstituent analysis

Disease prediction & diagnosis

Clustering of Ayurvedic medicines

Computational modeling of formulations

🔹 Training & Education

Institutions like the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) are setting up Ayurinformatics labs and training researchers to advance this field.

✨ In short, Ayurinformatics is creating a new frontier in personalized healthcare by blending ancient wisdom with modern technology

Tips for balanced and nutritious home cooked meal for children.

 What is it about the lovely aroma of sambar and craving for idlis and dosas for early morning breakfast. Being a south indian- idli, dosas,upma, chitranna( type of kichdi) etc have been my breakfast foods. Growing up I would eat all these while cursing under my breath .Now as I have grown up and surviving the inane middle age I cook the same South Indian breakfast for my family. Somehow avenging for the childhood trauma of breakfast food.

Jokes apart, I look forward to cook the same food items and dishes which I used to despise as a child. Coz,I relish them now and crave for it every single day. The preparation of breakfast itself brings tumultuous joy in me. As an Ayurvedic doctor, iam well versed with the fact that Indian home cooked meal is packed with nutrients and provides the carbohydrates, proteins and fat in the right proportions .Hence,for the last few weeks I have been waiting to prepare sambar powder. This is a key masala to cook sambar. The sambar contains vegetables ,lentils, tamarind, and sambar masala. Some kids are picky eaters but I have been lucky with my child who loves to eat dosas and idli with sambar. Hence I put in extra effort to cook delicious, nutritious and healthy food.

In Indian cooking lentils and cereals are used in various combinations.In doing so they complement each other by providing the nutrient which is lacking in the other food item. Thus providing a complete and nutritious food.

Benefits of Lentils and Rice in Children’s Nutrition

Nowadays more focus is given to super foods, trendy diets and supplements with respect to children’s diet and nutrition. What we forget is that our Indian food traditions are richly packed with nutrition. They had also thought about providing complete nutrition rich diet for vegetarians. Hence, some of the most powerful foods for growth and health are simple, affordable, and time-tested. A perfect example is the humble combination of lentils and rice — a staple in many cultures and a nutritional powerhouse, especially for growing children.

🌾 What Makes Lentils and Rice a Winning Combination?

Lentils (also called dal) and rice complement each other both nutritionally and culinarily. Together, they form a complete protein, rice provides the essential amino acid methionine which is lacking in lentils. Thus,they provide all nine essential amino acids that the body cannot produce on its own. This is especially important for vegetarian and vegan children, whose diets may lack animal-based proteins.

Various Indian food combinations such as idli and sambar, rice and dal, roti and dal are designed in such a way so that the child gets carbohydrates and all the essential amino acids( protein).

🧒 Key Benefits of Lentils and Rice for Children

1. Provides High-Quality Plant-Based Protein

Children need adequate protein for muscle development, immune function, and overall growth. Lentils are rich in lysine, while rice contains methionine. When eaten together, they offer a complete protein profile, equivalent in quality to meat or dairy but without the saturated fats.

2. Rich in Iron for Brain Development

Iron is essential for cognitive development and preventing anemia in children. Lentils, especially when paired with vitamin C-rich foods (like tomatoes or lemon), offer a highly bioavailable source of iron. This shows the importance of traditional foods like sambar and dal preparations. In these preparations tamarind, tomatoes were added to give the sour taste. The presence of vitamin c in these vegetables help in the absorption of iron of lentils.

3. Loaded with Dietary Fiber

The combination is rich in soluble and insoluble fiber, which supports healthy digestion, prevents constipation, and may help maintain a healthy weight. Good gut health is directly linked to better immunity.

4. Promotes Healthy Growth

Besides protein and iron, lentils contain important micronutrients like folate, zinc, and magnesium, all of which play roles in cellular growth, bone development, and immunity.

5. Easy to Digest and Allergen-Friendly

Lentils and rice are generally easy on the stomach and free from common allergens like gluten, dairy, and nuts. This makes them ideal for children with sensitive digestive systems or food allergies.

🥣 How to Serve Lentils and Rice to Children

• Khichdi: A gentle, easily digestible dish often prepared with mild spices and ghee, ideal for toddlers and infants. This is prepared using rice and moong dal and tempered with mild spices and ghee.

• Dal-Chawal: Classic preparation served with vegetables or curd, suitable for daily meals.

• Lentil Soups or Stews: Smoothened versions for picky eaters. Again this is tempered with mild spices and ghee to provide taste, immunity and calories for the baby.

• Idli and sambar . The sambar is prepared with chosen vegetables and lentils. And it is eaten with idli which is prepared from rice and udid dal.

• Rice and sambar.The same sambar can be made spicier and had it with rice.

• Rice-Lentil Pancakes (like dosa or adai): A fun and crispy way to include proteins in breakfast or snacks. Various preparations of dosa consisting of rice, wheat, various dals are available. Different varieties have to be introduced so that the child enjoys the breakfast and lunch time.

💡 Tips for Parents

• Add a dash of lemon or tomato to improve iron absorption.

• Include vegetables like carrots,beans, yam, spinach, or pumpkin for added vitamins and antioxidants.

• Use whole lentils and brown rice for added fiber and nutrients.

• Encourage children to eat these foods regularly — it builds lifelong healthy eating habits.

🧘 A Tradition Backed by Science

In Ayurvedic and traditional Indian medicine, lentils and rice have long been recommended for children due to their balancing effect on digestion (Agni) and sattvic nature — meaning they promote clarity and vitality. Modern nutrition science confirms their health benefits, reinforcing the value of age-old wisdom.

🌟 Conclusion

Lentils and rice are more than just simple foods — they are nutritional heroes that support your child’s growth, development, and long-term health. Affordable, versatile, and deeply nourishing, this duo deserves a place on every child's plate.

Hence to build a healthy dietary practice in your child, introduce indian traditional home cooked meal at a younger age. This exposes the child to different taste and textures and hence the child will fall into a habit of eating healthy food.

So, the next time you’re planning a meal for your child, remember that the best choices are often the simplest.

Does familiarity indeed breed contempt ? A food for thought.

We as humans are creatures of habit who desire familiarity . So I would say familiarity breeds contempt doesn't hold true in this situation.

As we grow older, we are used to a certain lifestyle, a certain comfort,  habits, routines  etc. Hence we crave and desire familiarity at home and work place.

Atomic habits is a book which explains rules for forming good habits. With growing age I have noticed that it is not difficult to develop a habit. My daily routine becomes a habit if iam following it for ten years or more. Hence accumulating good habit is very crucial. It is well known that good habits die hard.

If iam habituated to a routine at my work place then I crave for it every single day.

E.g my routine starts with checking my msgs and replying to them once I reach office. After that my work starts.

At home I have an habit of watching tv for some time and then reading a book. So, come what may I need to follow this every day . And it gives me satisfaction and peace.

How to generate a good habit and be  productive at work place?

1. Check your msgs and mails first thing in the morning or in the evening before going home

2. Once you start working make sure not to check emails, msgs, social media etc

3. Take a break of 10 -15 min after 90 mins of work. 

4. Resume work. Keeps the breaks minimal.

So, if one wants a productive routine at work place ,then make a time table which you will follow daily . And years of this routine will just make you productive and successful.Work time should be devoted only for work. Meeting s with colleagues should be arranged in such a way that along with catching up it should be work related . 

Since many of us like to meet and catch up with friends at work place, my above advice may seem harsh.

Following a strict routine is only for those who have an aim and want to achieve it. These are only some short tips . For detailed explanation and methods to form good habits and build good relationships one can read the books mentioned below.

I had found these books profoundly helpful

Atomic habits by James clear

Ikigai by Hector Garcia, Francesc miralles

Surrounded by idiots by Thomas Erickson

Human nature.by Robert Green.