The Emperor’s New Mind

Author: Roger Penrose | 640 Pages | Genre: Non-Fiction | Publisher: Oxford University Press | Year: 1989 | My Rating: 10/10

I argue that the phenomenon of consciousness cannot be accommodated within the framework of present-day physical theory.”
― Roger Penrose, The Emperor’s New Mind

Sir Roger Penrose’s “The Emperor’s New Mind” is a captivating exploration of the intersection between mathematics, physics, consciousness, and the cognitive mind. Renowned for his contributions to theoretical physics and cosmology, Penrose brings his deep understanding of complex scientific concepts to the realm of cognition and artificial intelligence in this thought-provoking work. He covers a wide range of topics, from classical physics and Gödel’s incompleteness theorem to the puzzles of quantum mechanics and the philosophy of mind. He explains complex scientific ideas with remarkable clarity and delves into the question of what constitutes consciousness and the nature of human thought. He critiques the current state of artificial intelligence and posits that human understanding and awareness transcend mere computation. Through a blend of philosophical inquiry and scientific analysis, he argues against the idea that machines can fully replicate human cognitive processes. The book highlights the unique qualities of human thought, suggesting that there are aspects of consciousness that remain elusive to mechanistic interpretations.

Penrose also explores the implications of his theories for fields such as neuroscience and philosophy, offering insights into the workings of the human brain and the potential limitations of current scientific understanding. He integrates ideas from his previous works, such as the concept of objective reality and the nature of mathematical truths, providing a cohesive framework for his arguments.

The book is also notable for its engagement with the nature of mathematics and reality. Penrose argues that mathematics has an existence independent of the human mind, a stance known as mathematical Platonism. This perspective is central to his critique of artificial intelligence and his belief that the brain’s functioning may be linked to quantum processes. It truly is a profound and insightful exploration of consciousness and the nature of thought, bridging the gap between science and philosophy. It makes one ponder the complexities of the mind and the potential for understanding what makes us human in an age increasingly dominated by artificial intelligence.

This book is a must-read for anyone with a scientific temper, a love for complex and abstract ideas, and a deep interest in the fundamental questions of consciousness, cognitive science, and the philosophy of mind, offering an enriching perspective on the enduring mysteries of human existence.

Revenge of the Planet

In a twist of fate that seems like it was ripped straight from the pages of a dystopian novel, Planet Earth has decided it’s time for a little payback. And who can blame it? After decades of exploitation, pollution, and blatant disregard for its well-being, the Earth is ready to reclaim its throne. So, buckle up and prepare for the “Revenge of the Planet,” a wild ride through the hilarious and dramatic consequences of our environmental neglect.

The year was 2030, and Earth had been dealing with humanity’s nonsense for centuries: automobile humming, factories puffing, and smartphones buzzing, plastic in the oceans, air full of smog and pollutants, and forests reduced to sad little patches that looked like Mother Nature’s receding hairline. While we humans went about our business, basking in the glow of smartphones and conveniently ignoring every climate report ever written, the planet finally had enough. It was time for some cosmic payback.

First came the heatwaves. When the sun started sizzling eggs on car hoods and air conditioners were breaking down in sheer exhaustion, we should’ve known something was up. Earth wasn’t playing anymore. Then came the incessant rain, cyclones and Hurricanes. Thousands of cities and villages got flooded killing all in their wake: humans, animals, trees, cars, houses, all were game for the planet’s rage. As glaciers melted at a pace faster than your average deadline in an office setting, and wildfires spread like trending tweets, humans start to notice. Our beloved beaches? Now more like lava zones.

As Earth’s revenge gained momentum, the animals began organizing. Rats—usually content with minor mischief like digging up flower beds—became stealth operatives, chewing through power lines and cutting off electricity to entire neighbourhoods. Birds, tired of dodging skyscrapers, formed tactical squadrons to stage mass air raids on unsuspecting pedestrians. Pigeons, already seasoned in the art of airborne attacks and eating through aircon units, took their missions to new heights, dive-bombing with precision accuracy.

Mother Earth had one last ace up her sleeve: technology. Since humans had become so dependent on gadgets, she decided to hit us where it hurt. Phones suddenly started overheating for no reason, GPS systems began suggesting scenic routes through uncharted forests, and voice assistants became strangely passive-aggressive.

Hey, Siri, what’s the weather today?”

Why don’t you go outside and find out for yourself, you lazy carbon footprint.”

By the time forests started sprouting overnight and the Arctic ice declared “We’re back!” humanity finally took notice. Governments convened emergency meetings to address the phenomenon, though the politicians were quick to blame each other.

“We need to plant more trees!” one leader shouted.

“But the trees are literally attacking us,” another replied.

Meanwhile, while we sat glued to our screens, watching the chaos unfold, the bees are buzzing in the background. That’s right, our fuzzy little friends are holding clandestine meetings, plotting a revolt. “We’ll stop pollinating crops if they don’t start recycling!” one bee declares, and with that, the price of avocados skyrockets, pushing millennials to the edge of madness. Who knew that eco-awareness could double as a financial crisis?

After a series of failed peace talks with the ocean (which responded with a tsunami every time someone brought up offshore drilling), humans collectively realized: we were in deep compost!

Just as it seemed like Earth would forever reign supreme, a surprising thing happened. Humans finally got their act together. It’s time for a Renaissance! Countries began cooperating—trading carbon offsets instead of insults. Renewable energy became the norm. Plastic was replaced by biodegradable alternatives, and landfills shrank faster than your favourite sweater. People rally together armed with reusable bags and solar panels. Urban gardens sprout up like mushrooms after a rain, while communities bond over composting workshops. It’s a revolution of education, where every child learns how to plant a tree faster than their parents can say, “Remember when we just used to throw things in the landfill?” In the end, Earth called off her revenge, not because she couldn’t win, but because she wanted to see what we’d do next. As for humanity, we learned the hard way that Earth isn’t just a rock floating in space—it’s a vengeful force of nature with a wicked sense of humour. And if we want to stay on its good side, we’d better treat it right.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the views or opinions of any organization, foundation, CSR, non-profit or others

Joker: Folie à Deux

Genre: Psychological Thriller | Year: 2024 | Duration: 138 mins | Director: Todd Phillips | Medium: Theatre (PVR-INOX) in 2024 | Trailer: HERE | Language: English | My rating: 5/5

Favorite Dialogue: I HOPE YOU GET CANCER (autograph to a prison guard), signed with a sad smiley.

Joker: Folie à Deux is a bold, unsettling, dark, and subversive sequel that dares to explore madness as both a personal and shared experience. While it may not resonate with everyone (as was evident with nearly empty theatre), the film is an ambitious character study, elevated by outstanding performances from Joaquin Phoenix as the Joker. This film is one of the most unique interpretations of the Joker mythos, weaving together psychological drama, abstraction, romance, and musical surrealism into an unforgettable cinematic experience.

Picking up where the first film (2019) left off, Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) Gotham’s Clown Prince of Crime, is confined in Arkham Asylum in Gotham City, where he meets Harley Quin (Lady Gaga). Arthur Fleck as Joker is nothing less than brilliant, haunting, and unforgettable. He is as disturbing and tragic as ever, but this time with a quieter menace that builds alongside his relationship with Harley. Their twisted relationship serves as the film’s emotional and narrative core. The chemistry between Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga is one of the film’s strengths, with their performances drawing both fascination and discomfort as they navigate a romance defined by shared trauma and chaos. 

Director Todd Phillips shifts away from the gritty realism of the original, blending genres and taking inspiration from Hollywood musicals. The visuals are striking, often juxtaposing Gotham’s decaying, grimy backdrop with the characters’ vibrant fantasies.

Needless to say, Joker has been (and will always be) my most favorite comic book character, the most kickass supervillain ever created.

Binny and Family

Genre: Drama | Year: 2024 | Duration: 139 mins | Director: Ssanjay Tripaathy | Medium: Theater (PVR-INOX) in 2024 | Trailer: HERE | Language: Hindi | My rating: 3/5

Favorite Dialogue: Zindagi ki expiry date toh hoti hai par zindagi jeene ki nahin

Binny and Family is an emotional (and often melodramatic) roller coaster family drama depicting teenage angst, the thought divide across three generations, and shifting values of a nuclear non-resident Indian family. The film is mostly set in London and partly in a small town of Bihar, depicting different lifestyles and local flavors of people, cultures, and confused desis overseas, which also gets very well portrayed through the tug of war and conflicted relationship between a teenager and her parents and grandparents.

As a non-resident Bihari hailing from a middle class family, I could relate to several scenes like the makeover of the house prior to visiting parents, temporary changes in day-to-day life, familiar conversations, the subtle difference between ‘lihaaj’ and ‘unexpressed love’ that many like me have with their parents.

For a small size family, the film seemed a bit stretched at times! Some portions could have been edited, especially the school and romance routines, which didn’t fit in with the narrative. There was no chemistry between Binny and her crush, Dhruv (played by Tai Khan). In fact, the friend-zoned BP (played so well by Naman Tripathy) and Binny had better chemistry and could have been explored further in the story. From “Ladki jaat ho. Kuch anhoni ho gaya to kisko muh dikhange hum log” to sporting hat and being a cool grandfather seemed unrealistic within a short span of time.

Pankaj Kapoor, Rajesh Kumar and confident debutantes’ Anjini Dhawan and Naman Tripathi are a delight to watch. Even with ‘all that could have been better and viewing fatigue at times’, it’s still worth watching.

Importance of family counseling in entrepreneur selection

A person requires to possess both ‘can do’ attitude and aptitude for business to start on an entrepreneurial journey. But is that enough? Often an entrepreneur’s success is celebrated as an individual, but seldom the support system in the form of family and friends are discussed due to which the entrepreneur has achieved success. This is irrespective of the nature and size of business, geography, gender and backgrounds of the entrepreneur, and investment that goes in the venture.

While there’s no age to starting a business, the development programs I am working with focuses on women and girls in the age group of 18-50 years from poor and low-income households in the rural areas, with a desire to be self-employed and in future create employment for the youth in their respective villages. Selection processes of such aspiring entrepreneurial women vary depending on the model and approach of the programs. For the conventional businesses existing vocational skills and basic business acumen is analyzed, for others apart from these qualities, level of confidence, ability to invest their time, efforts, and money, general awareness, and other aptitude tests are conducted to measure the eligibility. What remains common across, and I believe is one of the most crucial factors for them to succeed from the word go is the support of their families, which remains the backbone of their ventures during and after the programmatic support. Therefore, post shortlisting of a potential entrepreneurial candidate, family counselling becomes the ultimate decider for her to join the program. And no, it has nothing to do with patriarchy. It’s same for any gender, and I think anywhere in the world. I have been a serial entrepreneur in my past, and have experienced in firsthand that without family support, I could have only done so much.

Family background including the size, type, and economic status can influence entrepreneurs’ and, therefore, entrepreneurship development. Even if the entrepreneurial spirit doesn’t necessarily run in the family, their support plays a vital role in an entrepreneur’s journey. Through their belief, encouragement, constant motivation, and involvement, families provide a nurturing environment for entrepreneurial growth.

In the process of meeting the family at their house in the village and discussing about their current livelihood and income sources, level of education in the household, aspirations and future plans, nature of relationship with the potential entrepreneurial candidate, sharing about the program, and earning their commitment of being the wind  beneath the wings of their daughters, daughters-in-law, wife, and in turn building trust is the main agenda of the family counselling. This support is the most important step and measure for induction of an aspiring candidate in our entrepreneurship program. Garnering this support is half the battle won for the aspiring entrepreneur.

The hard work has to be of the entrepreneur, but families give financial assistance and provides the seed capital for the start-up, provides emotional assistance keeping the morale high during those challenging and difficult times that every entrepreneur undergoes, promote the venture in their long curated networks both within and outside their villages through word-of-mouth, volunteer their time at the business to attend to customers and promotion, and more importantly celebrate even the small moments of joy together.

Apart from money and market, family support is the third pillar of the tripod, which drives entrepreneurial success.

If you want to know more about designing rural women entrepreneurship projects and/or learn about family-counselling for rural entrepreneurship, feel free to connect.

(First published on LinkedIn on 6th March 2024)

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