By Shashi Bellamkonda ·
The Handshake That Broke the Internet: Why Civility is a Power MoveWe are often told that in conflict, there is no room for pleasantries. Yet, the image of India's External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar, shaking hands with Pakistan’s National Assembly Speaker, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, in Dhaka has captivated the internet. The immediate reaction from the public was predictable: Is this a thaw? …
Read Strategic Brief
By Shashi Bellamkonda
The last day of the year usually triggers a panic to plan. We look at the calendar flip to 2026 and feel the pressure to reinvent ourselves. We worry about what surprises are comi…
Read More
By Shashi Bellamkonda
The Bus Stop and the Bathroom: The Dual Legacy of Thomas ParryBy Shashi Bellamkonda | ReadyThoughts For anyone who grew up in Madras (now Chennai), the phrase "Parry's Cor…
Read More
By Shashi Bellamkonda
I remember carrying a spare battery for my Samsung phone in my pocket. It was light, it was small, and it gave me instant 100% capacity in ten seconds.On my recent trip, the fligh…
Read More
By Shashi Bellamkonda
I Just Time-Traveled to the Year 1201 (And Why Your Calendar is Just an App)By Shashi Bellamkonda I am currently writing this from Kumarakom, Kerala, where I glanced at a blackboar…
Read More
By Shashi Bellamkonda
I am currently writing this from Kumarakom, Kerala, not far from where the history of modern India took a sharp turn over 500 years ago.Growing up in India, our history lessons we…
Read More
By Shashi Bellamkonda
The Newsreel War: When Tanks Were More Than Just Steel If you grew up in India in the 60s or 70s, you didn’t just go to the cinema for the movie. You went for the window to the wor…
Read More
By Shashi Bellamkonda
I was reading the news on my tablet this morning, and it occurred to me: you can’t line a shelf with an iPad. You certainly can't wrap a textbook in a Kindle.We mourn the decl…
Read More
By Shashi Bellamkonda
Dhurandhar: Why We're Obsessed With Stories We Haven't Actually QuestionedDhurandhar: Why We're Obsessed With Stories We Haven't Actually QuestionedReadyThoughts |…
Read More
By Shashi Bellamkonda
Fresh off my thoughts on the Priyadarshi starrer
Mithra, I found myself clicking play on
Premante on Netflix the very next day. Maybe it was the algorithm, or maybe it was just go…
By Shashi Bellamkonda
There is a profound, quiet thrill in sitting in your living room and seeing a friend’s soul projected onto the screen. In the latest Malayalam cinematic offering,
Dominic and the …
By Shashi Bellamkonda
The Ink Stained Memories of a Magazine ChildhoodFor many of us who grew up in India, the arrival of a favorite magazine was a weekly or monthly highlight. These publications, such…
Read More
By Shashi Bellamkonda
Overlooking the Reviews: Why I Loved "Mithra Mandali"I recently watched the Telugu film "Mithra Mandali" on Amazon Prime, and despite what the critics say, I l…
Read More
By Shashi Bellamkonda
Sounds of LifeI am currently in Hyderabad, India. My journey has been split between two worlds: the United States and India. This balance has given me a unique perspective on how …
Read More
By Shashi Bellamkonda
The Canvas of Gold: When a Nation Finally Buys Its Own SoulThere is a famous hierarchy of needs. First, you buy food. Then, you buy a roof (Real Estate). Then, you buy safety (Gol…
Read More
By Shashi Bellamkonda
In the clamor of the professional world, I have always harbored a persistent question: Is the quiet listener ultimately more successful than the loudest voice in the room?We often…
Read More
By Shashi Bellamkonda
We think of it as ancient culture. The data says it is a modern economic multiplier.The Sanskrit phrase "Atithi Devo Bhava" (The Guest is God) is often dismissed as just…
Read More