Thoughts | Shreyas Bapat

Left or Right?

Fri, 14 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Are you left-leaning or right-leaning? Is it important to answer this question?

Before going any further, let’s see where you stand. Take this test and create a graph of where you stand : Political Leaning Test.

Based on these questions, you might think that this is not what you understand by left or right. Isn’t the BJP considered right-wing? Isn’t Congress considered left-wing? And if you think deeply based on the questions you answered, if their election manifesto took the same test - both would stand at the left of the center.

Now we have 2 left.

...

Recovery of a Lost Civilization

Sat, 27 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Who are you?

When you are asked this question, what will you answer? Perhaps you will tell them your name? Maybe you will tell them about your family, your birthplace, your parents, etc. Pretty easy right? Now answer this question:

Where are you from?

What do you think? Will you say you are from India? Why?

Let’s try to list down possible explanations :

1) Perhaps you were born in India?

2) Maybe your ancestors were born in India?

But is that enough? By that logic, all presidents of India up until Smt. Droupadi...

Objective Truth

Wed, 29 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000

What is objectivity? At this point I am pretty sure a lot of us do not know that. We are anything but objective. Selectivity runs in our veins. I was not planning on writing this, or even saying anything on the topic. But I think, as a citizen of this country, a citizen who pays their fair share of Income tax, contributes to the society by participating in the day to day trade, abiding by laws and standing up for this country not just superficially but in every aspect, advocating and defending the flaws behind the few good things that...

Will travel ever bounce back?

Sun, 23 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Did you see this news?

The tourism industry is in shatters. With different nations having different quarantine mandates, COVID19 cases peaking in some countries, and varying vaccination requirements, it is next to impossible to travel currently.

Adding to this mess, I am glad to share that we have set an example for our future generations. We have demonstrated how selfish and how illogical one can become. We have shown that the world indeed is not a family and how “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” is nothing but a gimmick.

New “variants” or as WHO puts...

Mid Pandemic Realisations: Living a better life

Thu, 06 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0000

This pandemic has been a catalyst for change in my life. I started this as a completely different individual and now, looking back at what I was - I realize I have evolved a lot.

Consider this as a journal entry, or consider this as my story through this pandemic. Last few months, I did not write anything. This was because I realized a few things. I went through some to-be-traumatic experiences through which I sailed perfectly and without harm. If you feel like knowing what happened to me in the last 6 months and how having a good set...

Personal Account: What it takes to be a good bureaucrat in India?

Mon, 24 May 2021 00:00:00 +0000

I was reading my daily dose of news yesterday and saw a video of a IAS officer from a district in Chhattisgarh. See the video in the tweet:

This is the complete video first collector slapped him and broke his mobile. pic.twitter.com/suzy1RImDg
— KUNAL (@Kkunal_The) May 22, 2021

This happens because we celebrate IAS officers much more than what is needed. We have over time made them responsible for much more than what the term “collector” stands for (which essentially is collecting revenue and keeping revenue records). But we have to...

Per cent GDP? Are our metrics showing us the truth?

Tue, 18 May 2021 00:00:00 +0000

I wrote an article investigating how much our government earns and how much it spends on essentials. And as any other person would do, I turned into the most obvious metrics.

Although I understood that the net revenue of our government was far less than what the nation needs. Which is partly because 99% Indians aren’t paying taxes. While 45% Americans aren’t paying taxes. Staggering difference.

But today, I want to highlight another fact. I think the metric I used: % GDP spend, is rather wrong. Think about it this way, you are a stock market trader, an underperforming one....

Do we pay fewer taxes? - An Analysis

Sat, 08 May 2021 00:00:00 +0000

I was pondering on this question for a long time as to why is it the case that we as a country do not have enough facilities? Why do we have just 1 doctor per 1445 people (1 govt. doctor per 11000 people), why do we have just 20 judges per MILLION people? Why is it that arranging everything is difficult for 1.4 Billion people when the government is getting that much revenue too (maybe, a big maybe)? Let’s begin with a question.

Have you filed your ITR yet? Do you pay your income tax? Because as we speak, around...

Who are we?

Wed, 28 Apr 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Who are we? Really, who are we?

In what way have we shaped the society?

We keep crying that the government doesn’t do this and doesn’t do that, what do we do?

Sell fake Remdesivir to distressed families who bind their final hopes with a bottle of saline you sold at 50 thousand rupees for which they invested their hard earned savings?
Sell oxygen cylinders worth absolutely nothing in usual days for 25k, 40k, 1Lakh? Are you freaking serious?

You may choose to hold someone else accountable for what happened. Let me open your...

Vasudhaiva Kutubmakam! Or not?

Sat, 24 Apr 2021 00:00:00 +0000

3-4 days back, I was just casually browsing LinkedIn when I saw this post: