I remember the waveswhen I first saw the sea-not at all what Iimagined them to be. As I walked into water,into waves full of deceit-noisy, salty, angry, stuffy,moved sand beneath my feet. The sand stuck to my soles,clothes wet, clingy and cold.Somehow, I cut my toe and eachnew wave rifled through my soul. I took … Continue reading The sea and me
Author: Dhruv Somayajula
Life 3.0- Book Review | A Must-Read!
Life 3.0: Being Human in the Age of Artificial Intelligence by Max TegmarkMy rating: 5 of 5 starsA speculative but realistically framed look at life in the age of AI. More specifically, this book contemplates advances in AI that result in human-level 'artificial general intelligence' and above- that an AI would be 'capable' to do … Continue reading Life 3.0- Book Review | A Must-Read!
Controlling life- living for, or living within?
I ask you this question,are you living for something?Or are you merely living within,letting the world pass you by as youwatch and barely feel your own presence? Is this a false illusion?Are you seeing the world pass you by,as you sit still, discontent with sitting,not realizing that you are on a moving trainand what you … Continue reading Controlling life- living for, or living within?
Sounds Like A Good Time
It sounds like a good time- whenyou tell me you are taking the train andlove dancing in the rain, and I see you blushagain when I say next time, we’ll take thetrain and we’ll be dancing in the rain. It sounds like a good time- whenI see your eyes shine at the corn cobs whenthey … Continue reading Sounds Like A Good Time
Tears for You, Eddie
It starts with a stupid lump in my throat- "Why does my face feel so hot?" Tears.Tears brim and flow from helpless eyelids,trickle down my cheeks and wet my lips.I hastily wipe them away. Is today the day? For a moment I held it in, shook my head,exhaled and thought “Be ashamed!A tear is a … Continue reading Tears for You, Eddie
Mornings in my neighborhood
My neighborhood has a very predictable morning. Flowers bloom in March. It rains in July. It's hot in May and cold in December. Regardless, the municipality cleaning ladies roll their cleaning trolleys up the streets every day, parking it from time-to-time as they sweep up plastic and other garbage from the streets and fling it … Continue reading Mornings in my neighborhood
Morning Madness
(A Dhruv Somayajula hyperventilation based on absolutely true events) I woke up to a harrowing experience, no less a battle than Cannae, Panipat and Plassey, though the numerical odds between the combatants were quite level. The following is my mission report: "0900 hrs - June 11, 2021 - The Battle of the Almirah This huge, … Continue reading Morning Madness
Reviewing ‘Treasure Island’ by RL Stevenson
(SPOILERS AHEAD) I am a big fan of Disney's Pirates of the Carribean franchise, and the history of pirates and their depiction in general. Which is why I jumped at the chance to read this book and pen some thoughts to spread some love for the piracy trope. The novel Treasure Island by RL Stevenson … Continue reading Reviewing ‘Treasure Island’ by RL Stevenson
Are you even there?
(Trigger Warning: I have jotted down some reflections on the pandemic in India, about the "system" and the response to devastation by the powers that be. I acknowledge that it is an achingly draining topic for many of us, with the tragic losses we see all around. I also wondered if it is right to write anything negative on the epic mishandling we have witnessed. I have chosen to share this poem despite these thoughts, because I believe that recording one's thoughts in these times (a) serves as a bookmark for the future, and (b) censoring oneself to avoid asking questions and remaining positive is toxic positivity and absolves those who deserve these questions. Please read this only if you are comfortable with broaching this topic. You can always drop me a text to discuss this poem, or anything at all, any time. In these times, solidarity and time with friends and family, and engagement with each other will see us through.)
Kindness
(An ode to the millions of kind souls and their life-saving work during these troubling times.) Kindness breeds with contact,passed down from a kind soulto another, an ever-sharing cycleof care, empathy and tenderness. Kindness grows not on the wallsin our hearts but in its cracks,and fills up the spaces- lookinggood while doing so too. I … Continue reading Kindness