What is or who is a Linchpin?

 Linchpin is a small piece of hardware which attaches the wheel to the wagon This term is also used for people with specific skills such as being Humane, well connected and empathetic in organisations and work places. Recently I came across this word in a book by the same name authored by Seth Godin. 

      Naming a book is also a marketing strategy. The name of a book attracts us to read it. From the piles of books at a book store,we pick those books which have interesting names or titles.The same happened with this book too. The  title 'linchpin' plus the author favoured my choice.

      The interesting question which came  to my mind while I was reading this book is whether we are indispensable at our work place or not? My simple answer is No. Of course all of us would want the answer to be a Yes.

     Being indispensable means we are irreplaceable at any given point. This is utterly nonsense and impossible too. In today's era when knowledge is available at the fingertips it is almost impossible to be the only person who is good and also a master at his job.

    We can of course try to be close to being indispensable by being a master at our craft. Updating our knowledge and staying relevant will help us to achieve this feat. Any individual who has got the job has secured the post because of his qualifications. But time and again we need to keep abreast with upcoming knowledge. Especially in the field of science and medicine when everyday new inventions are coming up, if we are not updated then we will perish.

We should achieve excellence in our craft.A mediocre level of efficiency won't suffice. Or we will be very easily replaced by more smarter individuals.

      Being only a  linchpin i.e the individual who holds the organization together because of his knowledge,being well connected,maturity, sympathy and art will not cut it. It is true that we will find many people who are experts at a particular job. Value can be added to our job when we are able to connect with our fellow employees humanely and look beyond the current job. Empathy is very important at work place. Going an extra mile to take responsibility, challenge the status quo and changing people will definitely strengthen our place at the workforce.

        It is my personal experience and observation that hard work pays off when one works smartly. By putting in the years at our job,we  gain experience. And all of this with the right qualifications ( which also should be updated time to time) and an eagerness to learn with every advancing age is a recipe for success. In addition to all of this being a linchpin is like a feather on the cap. A linchpin goes a step further ,thinks about the future of the company, takes risks,cares about his colleagues and takes smart decisions which no one would have thought. All these qualities secure his job. But rest assured we are still indispensable.

 That is why we see the experts and successful people putting a lot of time and effort at their job even after they have achieved success in their careers.

So, despite your able qualifications go a step further and see how you can make a difference at your workplace. It is the survival of the fittest and in today's workplace I would say it is the survival of the wittiest.

Brain food recipes

 

In my previous post , I had explained the benefits of brain foods. Fruits and vegetables which are anti-inflammatory, rich in antioxidants, and Omega 3 fatty acids are nourishing to the brain.These are explained in detail below:

1.Cereals such as wheat germ,brown rice and oats are packed with the necessary vitamin B and antioxidants.

2 . All the vegetables especially cabbage are rich in antioxidants.

3.Fruits- blue berries,citrus fruits are rich in antioxidants.

Avacado- is rich in folate and Omega 3 fatty acids 

4.Nuts-almonds and walnuts are rich in Omega 3 fatty acids and protein.

5.fish-salmon rich in Omega 3 fatty acids.chicken is rich in protein.

6.Dark chocolate rich in antioxidants.

7. Coffee in moderation . Rich in antioxidants.

8. Soyabean is rich in protein s and anti oxidants.

9. Probiotic like yogurt,fermented food are anti inflammatory.andbrich in Vitamin B 12 and anti oxidants.

10.Prebiotic like banana, onion and garlic are rich in antioxidants.

11.water- since 80%of the brain is made of water, it is important to keep it well hydrated.

When we advice brain nourishing food to a child , it should be healthy and tasty so that the child will readily accept it. Hence it is challenging to advise proper diet which a child will happily indulge in. For this reason , I had a discussion with my PG students. And I took inputs from them regarding the brain nourishing recipes. Our PG students came up with some innovative interesting recipes which the children will eat. They are as follows.

 Brain food recipes:

1. Fruits juices using blue berries / citrus fruits without adding sugar or minimal sugars

2. Dr Chhavi Rosha:Pancakes using oats, almonds, walnuts ,banana and jaggery.

3. Dr Chhavi Rosha:Brownies using whole wheat flour or oats, banana,walnuts and dark chocolate.

4. Avacado Salsa: Avacado, tomato, onion, olive oil or any vegetable oil, lemon juice,salt and pepper.

5. Dr Vrushali Hake:Soya Dosa:Rice – 1 cup,Soybeans (soaked overnight) – ¼ cup,Udad dal – ¼ cup,and salt.Grind all into batter, ferment it. And prepare soft dosas.

6. Oats Rice Water Soup :1 tablespoon oats powder,1 cup rice water( supernatant liquid got after cooking rice),pinch of salt . Boil them together (optional, only for >1 year)

7. Dr Pratidyna Khade: soya cutlet: using soya chunks, potato, grated carrot, salt, pepper, onion and garlic.

8. Dr Pratidyna and Dr Saurabh:Moringa soup: pulp of boiled drumsticks ,water, salt and tempering with jeera, mustard, turmeric, onion and garlic.

9. Dr Saurabh Bagal: boiled chicken omlet.Ingredients -boiled chicken, 2 eggs,tomato, onion, salt and black pepper.

10. Flavoured lassi: curd, jaggery or sugar, strawberry/mango etc.

11. Dr Vrushali Hake:Dry fruit Lassi. Using curd, sugar/ jaggery, almond powder/ dates paste.

Don't s: 

Processed food, junk foods, canned fruits, added sugars. High calories food.

Sitting idle without any exercise.

Brain foods-a fact or a myth?

 

   Brain is a vital organ,one amongst many organs in our body .Just like different parts of a body need specific nutritious diet for its nourishment ,growth and repair e.g muscle growth requires high protein diet .Similarly, brain also requires certain specific foods to function at its best.

   What are brain foods?These are special foods rich in PROTEINS( essential amino acids), FATS especially omega 3 fatty acids and essential VITAMINS.By indulging in these brain foods the brain will function optimally.

      Are these brain foods different to what we eat in a regular diet ? The answer is yes and no. Many of the cereals, vegetables and fruits which we eat regularly ,also boost the brain functioning. But there are certain specific cereals, vegetables which are packed with some or all of the essential amino acids . These essential amino acids,fats and vitamins are very important for the superior functioning of the brain. Fruits which are rich in antioxidants reduce oxidative stress in the brain and hence prevent neuronal damage or death of neuronal cells.some of the nuts are rich in Omega 3 fatty acids, vitamin E and antioxidants. Fish such as salmon are rich in Omega 3 fatty acids. All these foods are very nourishing for the brain and help in the better functioning of the brain.  

   Essential amino acids are crucial for the synthesis of neurotransmitters, which facilitate communication between neurons. Healthy fats, particularly omega-3 fatty acids, are integral components of neuronal cell membranes and play a key role in maintaining neuronal integrity and synaptic plasticity. Vitamins such as B-complex vitamins, vitamin E, and vitamin D support energy metabolism, neuroprotection, and cognitive function.

    Fruits rich in antioxidants help reduce oxidative stress in the brain, thereby preventing neuronal damage and death of nerve cells. Oxidative stress is a major contributing factor in neurodegenerative processes, and antioxidant-rich foods play a protective role in preserving brain health.

    Nuts and seeds are excellent sources of omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin E, and antioxidants, all of which are beneficial for brain nourishment. Similarly, fatty fish  are rich in omega-3 fatty acids and are known to support memory, concentration, and overall cognitive function.

   In summary, a healthy brain-supportive diet should include a balanced combination of cereals, green leafy vegetables, lean meats, fruits, and probiotics. In addition, the regular inclusion of nuts, and prebiotic foods a few times a week helps promote a healthy gut-brain axis, thereby contributing improved cognitive and neurological functioning. Adopting such a nutrient-rich and balanced dietary pattern supports the brighter and more efficient functioning of the brain throughout our life.

So, it is not a myth. Brain needs to be taken care of like any other organ of our body.

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.