Autopilot

जहां सच न चले वहां झूठ सही,
जहां हक न मिले वहां लूट सही. lifelong student .

[Kamlesh Singh / Tau @kkstau]

Resignation Is Dead.

Stop demanding resignation. Resignation is a voluntary act, and voluntary acts require shame. Shame took voluntary retirement from Indian politics several elections ago. Expecting today's politician to resign is like expecting a politician to not divide the people. She/he won't, least of all Dharmendra Pradhan.

Demand REMOVAL. A minister serves actually at the pleasure of the Prime Minister, and displeasure is strictly the PM's department. Address your demand to the boss. And the boss serves at the pleasure of you, the voter, renewable every 5 years. That is the chain of command. Pull it. So what to do before the term's end?

Between you and the boss stands your own employee: the MP you directly elected. Make that employee work. March to their office, it will be more effective. Because it will be all over the country, not limited to Delhi's version of the Hyde Park. Your agitation will earn the adjective, nationwide. Force them to place your demand on record in the Lok Sabha. A slogan evaporates after the heat of the moment; a demand recorded in Parliament sits in the proceedings forever, waiting to embarrass someone at the right moment. The Member of Parliament cannot claim to have represented you. Formal language is required because democracy is a system, and systems are inherently formal.

Protest, absolutely. But protest with paperwork. Submit a written demand along with your placards. A protest without a document is just decibels, and decibels can be declared illegal by the nearest police station and dismissed by the party. Without paper, "the youth demand" shrinks into "a bunch of youth demanding". Lung power fades. Paper, in this kaagaz-obsessed system, survives.

And remember what the word democracy comes with: representative. In a representative democracy, you must represent, through the representative you elected, not through a self-declared spokesperson of "the people". Self-appointed voices of the nation carry the same official weight as self-appointed godmen. They have followers who will die for them, but to The benefit of the godmen. There will be some selfish tent-present populist poop who will get their moment of relevance riding on your back. You will go home. They will go home. The system won't change, unless you know the real levers. The system only hears you when you speak through the microphone it gave you: your elected representative, your vote.

The minister you cannot remove today, file him away for the queue where you hold absolute power: the polling booth queue. His resignation is his choice. His removal is yours. If you can't wait, demand accountability from the fellow, you elected. He/she is having fun standing, unseen in plain sight. Don't speak into the vacuum.

Speak to someone specific. Place specific demands. Your general dissent will be treated as general dissent. So, kudos for your passion and drive. It has happened before. It will happen again. A resignation, even if the despicable disaster does tender his, wouldn't solve anything, except calm your nerves. Ganja does the same. At the venue itself. The red flags have used the green stuff to enhance their delulu. So, go on. Hope something comes out of it. Hope is not a strategy though. Just a small reminder.

Now, you have two options: dismiss the above as quote unquote justification. WhatsApp uncle rant, boring Sanghi trope, use some expletives, and feel good OR think and support the cause you want to, oppose the government you want to, but give it what it takes. Value your emotions and give it all it takes. It will take a lot, so be ready to give it all. If you are looking for a leader, you aren't ready to be one. So, be led to wherever the leader takes you for a ride. Be happy. More in Part II.

[Kamlesh Singh / Tau @kkstau]

If the claims about Toyota filing an FIR against Manish Kashyap are true, this will be a first!

A car manufacturer suing a consumer for blaming adulterated fuel for damaging his car. Usually, consumers sue!

If this case goes to court, Toyota will lose face, and the case.

[The Seeker @TheSeeker268]

It's a shame no major film has been made about Biju Patnaik. He lived a life that sounds almost fictional:

In 1938, he flew his entire wedding procession by aircraft to Rawalpindi for his marriage to Gyanwati Sethi (who became the first Indian woman to hold a commercial pilot’s license, and the couple later flew daring missions together.)

While serving in the Royal Indian Air Force (including as head of Air Transport Command), he secretly ferried freedom fighters like Jayaprakash Narayan, Ram Manohar Lohia, and Aruna Asaf Ali to their hideouts. He also airdropped 'Quit India' leaflets to Indian troops while evacuating British families.

The British once jailed him for transporting nationalist leaders and distributing anti-British literature but also honored him for bravery in evacuating civilians from Japanese-occupied Burma.

During WWII, he flew daring missions delivering arms and supplies to Soviet forces in Stalingrad, and over the treacherous 'Hump' route to China in
support of Chinese Nationalist forces against the Japanese.

In July 1947, he and his wife flew a Dakota into Indonesia, landed on an improvised airstrip while evading Dutch anti-aircraft fire, rescued Prime Minister Sutan Sjahrir, refuelled using abandoned Japanese fuel, and flew him safely to India via Singapore.

A couple of months later, during the Pakistani invasion of Kashmir, he airlifted one of the first Indian troops into Srinagar.

The same year he founded Kalinga Airlines, one of India's earliest private airlines.

As Odisha CM post-1962 India-China war, he secretly visited CIA headquarters at Langley to forge a covert India-US partnership against China, which led to the Aviation Research Centre (ARC) at Charbatia, which supported U-2 recon missions over Tibet.

He was also a legendary administrator and statesman, laying much of the foundation of Odisha's industrial empire (mines, ports, heavy industries etc).

When he passed away, Indonesia observed 7 days of state mourning. Russia observed 1 day. He remains the only person in Indian history whose body was draped in the national flags of 3 nations - India, Indonesia, and Russia.

Few public figures have left such a footprint.

His extraordinary life needs to be brought to the big screen.

[Rakesh Krishnan Simha @ByRakeshSimha]

"I would tear down the Narendra Modi Stadium." Why Lalit Modi said that and why he is absolutely right.

When the Narendra Modi Stadium hosted the ODI World Cup in 2025, it was touted as India's answer to the MCG and SCG. But cricket fans who have seen those iconic Australian stadiums would disagree. India's newest and largest cricket stadium is nowhere in the same league. The BCCI has billions of dollars in its war chest and yet it couldn't deliver a stadium to beat the MCG.

The Stadium definitely looks grand in drone shots, but up close it lacks finesse. During the 2025 ODI World Cup, close-up shots of the interior showed wires running haphazardly and switchboards not perfectly aligned with the horizontal.

An $83 million stadium should be perfect and work like clockwork from day one. There should not be traffic jams in the parking area. There should have been a hundred toilets, instead of just 11 as reported, for a capacity of 130,000 people.

But that's not all - the stadium could have been a community hub and cash machine. Instead, the stadium - like all cricket stadiums - is empty 90% of the year. That's the missed opportunity, Lalit Modi is referring to.

"It's the best stadium in India today. But it's not good enough. That's what I said. I said I'd tear it. I said that if I were to tear it down, obviously, all the others have to be torn down too. I said it's the best stadium in India today. If it were me, and I had to give a fan experience of international quality, I would tear that one down too," he said.

Given the financial strength and global influence enjoyed by the BCCI, Indian cricket should aspire to create stadiums that match the standards of the world's most iconic sporting venues. "Because today, you look at Wembley Stadium, you look at Lords, you look at any stadium around the world, the Barcelona Stadium (Camp Nou), the Manchester United Stadium (Old Trafford), the Man City Stadium (Etihad Stadium), they are far greater than any stadium that we have ever had. And today we have more money in the BCCI," said Modi.

Modi said stadium complexes should be transformed into integrated entertainment and commercial destinations that offer a more modern and immersive experience for fans. "Why would you put 10,000 cars underground? coming from all sides. Why don't you put modern escalators going up, food courts in there? If you want to make it, we don't need the money. The money will come automatically. You make it 365 days, put shopping underground. When on match day it's closed, you make it completely air-conditioned. You make restaurants in there and make it really world-class."

The real problem in India is lack of vision. Despite the organisers flying all over the world and having seen the world's greatest stadiums, they still could not deliver a world class experience at Narendra Modi Stadium. It points to two things:
1. Third Worldism: The inability of people to rise above their conditioning. Used to shoddy construction and bad roads, they simply accept poor workmanship as the norm.
2. Corruption: Cutting corners allows builders, subcontractors and officials to skim off the top. Corruption exists in the West too but they don't take their cut and then build shoddy structures or roads. Kickbacks don't have to mean poor workmanship. But unfortunately in India, it does.

[Hindinama @Hindinama2]

अबकी घर लौटा तो देखा वह नहीं था—
वही बूढ़ा चौकीदार वृक्ष
जो हमेशा मिलता था घर के दरवाज़े पर तैनात।

पुराने चमड़े का बना उसका शरीर
वही सख़्त जान
झुर्रियोंदार खुरदुरा तना मैला-कुचैला,
राइफ़िल-सी एक सूखी डाल,
एक पगड़ी फूल पत्तीदार,
पाँवों में फटा-पुराना जूता
चरमराता लेकिन अक्खड़ बल-बूता

धूप में बारिश में
गर्मी में सर्दी में
हमेशा चौकन्ना
अपनी ख़ाकी वर्दी में

दूर से ही ललकारता, “कौन?”
मैं जवाब देता, “दोस्त!”
और पल भर को बैठ जाता
उसकी ठंडी छाँव में

दरअसल, शुरू से ही था हमारे अंदेशों में
कहीं एक जानी दुश्मन
कि घर को बचाना है लुटेरों से
शहर को बचाना है नादिरों से
देश को बचाना है देश के दुश्मनों से
बचाना है—
नदियों को नाला हो जाने से
हवा को धुआँ हो जाने से
खाने को ज़हर हो जाने से :
बचाना है—जंगल को मरुस्थल हो जाने से,
बचाना है—मनुष्य को जंगल हो जाने से।

कुँवर नारायण

[Gabbar @GabbbarSingh]

Now that Dhurandhar theatrical run is over. They should package a concert.

1) All songs being performed live on stage
2) Get Rakesh Bedi & Sara Arjun to host.
3) Insert some commentary about the making of the movie, some jokes, and the subsequent reception. How it changed lives for the cast.
4) Play some iconic scenes.

This could be a blockbuster event just for the songs.

[Massimo @Rainmaker1973]

For decades, many scientists assumed that serial cloning — the repeated cloning of clones — could theoretically continue indefinitely. A landmark 20-year experiment has now demonstrated that this is not the case. Researchers found that successive rounds of somatic cell nuclear transfer lead to the progressive accumulation of genetic mutations, eventually creating insurmountable barriers to further cloning.

The study, conducted by Teruhiko Wakayama and colleagues at the University of Yamanashi in Japan, began in 2005 using cells from a single female mouse. Over nearly two decades, the team produced more than 1,200 cloned mice across 58 generations. Early generations appeared healthy, with cloning success rates even improving slightly in the first 25–26 rounds. However, from around the 27th generation onward, success rates began to decline steadily. By the 57th generation, the average success rate had fallen to just 0.6%. All mice from the 58th generation died within a day of birth due to severe genomic instability.

Whole-genome sequencing revealed that each round of cloning introduced new mutations at a rate approximately three times higher than in naturally mated mice. These included an accumulation of single-nucleotide variants and large structural abnormalities, such as chromosomal losses and translocations. Unlike sexual reproduction, which benefits from natural DNA repair and recombination mechanisms during meiosis, cloning bypasses these processes, allowing deleterious mutations to build up unchecked — akin to the progressive degradation seen in repeated photocopying.

Importantly, while the late-generation cloned mice still appeared phenotypically normal and had typical lifespans up to the 57th generation, the accumulated genetic load proved fatal when attempting the 58th round. The study underscores that, without the introduction of genetic diversity through sexual reproduction, long-term serial cloning in mammals is ultimately unsustainable.

These findings have significant implications for biotechnology. They highlight fundamental limits for applications such as de-extinction efforts, long-term agricultural cloning, and conservation breeding programs. While cloning remains a powerful tool for producing genetically identical animals, the research serves as a clear reminder that current techniques cannot indefinitely replace the evolutionary safeguards provided by sexual reproduction.

[Wakayama, S. et al. (2026). Limitations of serial cloning in mammals. Nature Communications. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-69765-7]

[Fascinating @fasc1nate]

In 1962, a 37-year-old man from England named Brendon Grimshaw suddenly quit his job and bought a small island in the Seychelles for about $10,000.

The island was called Moyenne and, at the time of purchase, had been abandoned for 50 years.

Everyone thought the man was crazy. Brendon eventually moved to the island permanently as its sole inhabitant.

While most people tend to buy islands for luxury, Brendon had a broader vision. He wanted to restore the island to its raw beauty, creating a natural paradise completely uncontaminated by man and tourism.

For the next 40 years, Brendon lived alone on the island; he managed to plant 16,000 trees by hand, built 5 km of nature trails and attracted around 2,000 new birds to the island.

Brendon had transformed a desert land into an island of incredible beauty, Moyenne was so beautiful that Brendon was offered 50 million dollars by a Saudi prince, but he turned it down.

Since Brendon died in 2012, the island has been owned by the Moyenne Island Foundation and is now a national park available to all thanks to his efforts.

Photos that will restore your faith in humanity: https://t.co/60XnAFPt3Y

[मुसाफिर🇮🇳 @musafir_vj]

मर्द का दर्द एक मर्द ही समझ सकता है >>

[THE SKIN DOCTOR @theskindoctor13]

The heart holds on longer than life understands.

Sanjeev Kumar loved Hema Malini, but she refused his proposal and married Dharmendra. The rejection broke him so deeply that he never married and remained alone until his death in 1985.

Sulakshana Pandit, who worked with Sanjeev Kumar in films, was in love with him. She proposed to him, but he told her he could never move on from Hema. So she too remained unmarried all her life. In her own words, she could never get over her feelings for Sanjeev Kumar.

Sulakshana Pandit passed away yesterday, on the same date Sanjeev Kumar had died in 1985. Two lives, connected by love that was never returned. A quiet, lifelong tragedy.

Om Shanti.

[Kamlesh Singh / Tau @kkstau]

प्याला उसके हाथ से नहीं लेने से कुछ नहीं होगा, अगर तुम मैक़दे में थे तो वाइज़ नहीं रहे। तुमको हम रिंदों में गिनेंगे। इस करतूत के कमज़र्फ कारिंदों में गिनेंगे। हाथ न मिलाने, बेतबाज़ी जीत जाने से दामन का दाग नहीं मिटता, शेख़ जी। तुम्हारी लानती लत लहू सूखने के पहले तुम्हें महफ़िल में ले गई। ये कैसे भूल पाओगे। सिंदूर के सिपाही नहीं हो तुम। तुम्हारा नाम उसके गुनाहगारों में गिनेंगे। बिन प्याले का जश्न मुबारक बिन पेंदे के लोटों को। गिनते रहिए रुपए डॉलर दिरहम वाले नोटों को।

[Vineeth K @DealsDhamaka]

THE COBRA EFFECT

During the British Raj, officials grew concerned about the rising number of venomous cobras in Delhi. To tackle the issue, they introduced a bounty for every dead snake.

At first, the policy seemed successful, many cobras were killed.

But soon, an unintended consequence appeared. Enterprising locals began breeding cobras to claim the reward. Once the government realised this loophole and scrapped the bounty programme, the breeders released their now-worthless snakes.

The result? The cobra population surged to even higher levels than before.

This episode is remembered as the Cobra Effect, a classic example of how well-meaning incentives can backfire, producing the exact opposite of the intended outcome

[Bhulla Smith @MrrrrSingh]

@ravish_journo 3 साल से प्रशांत किशोर पदयात्रा पर हैं, लेकिन तुमने आजतक एक वीडियो नहीं बनाया उस आदमी की मेहनत और लगन पर क्योंकि तुम्हें डर था कि वो तुम्हारे मालिक (कांग्रेस) को हराकर मुख्यमंत्री न बन जाए और आज तुम इमानदार होने का ढोंग कर रहे हो l

[Woke Eminent @WokePandemic]

"American" explains why Indian IT professionals are taking over Jobs in US

He says Indians work hard, they have multiple skillset, They do not complain, and ready to work and help everyone around.

He says if US tries to ban them then every IT company in US will come down....

Tag your IT friend on H1B visa working in US :)

#h1bvisa

[Prof.Sarita Sidh @profsaritasidh]

कुदरत के क़ानून मे राम न आड़े आए 🚩

[Abhijit Majumder @abhijitmajumder]

Who paid for Nepal’s ‘revolution’?
Amazing insight👇🏼

[Naresh Nambisan I ValuationMantra I SEBI Reg RA @nareshbahrain]

@IndianTechGuide Link to the above News.

https://t.co/FiyrG7mBJ1

[Autopilot @offfduty]

@theskindoctor13 Blending of sugar syrup in honey was the first achievement.

[Ajeet Bharti @ajeetbharti]

ऑटो लॉबी की गोद में बैठी दिल्ली सरकार जो कर रही है, वह सबको दिख रहा है। प्रदूषण का कोई उचित समाधान न मिलने पर, 10 वर्ष से अधिक के डीजल और 15 से अधिक के पेट्रोल वाहनों को प्रतिबंधित किया जा रहा है।

इसके पीछे कोई तर्क नहीं है। वही पुरानी वामपंथियों वाली नीति कि किसी एनजीओ की कोई रिपोर्ट है, जिसे आधार बनाया जा रहा है। कन्स्ट्रक्शन डस्ट और पराली, दिल्ली में सर्दियों में होते प्रदूषण के सबसे बड़े कारण हैं।

उन कारणों पर @gupta_rekha संभवतः कुछ भी न कर पाए, क्योंकि इनके वश का लगता नहीं कि ये पंजाब-हरियाणा के किसानों को समझा सकें। कन्स्ट्रक्शन तो चलता ही रहेगा। फिर, यहाँ ऑटो लॉबी को 7% गिरावट के साथ धीमे पड़ते सेल्स के समय एक दरार दिखती है।

एक कार की किस्तें चुकाने में लोगों के सालों निकल जाते हैं, वो कार की देखभाल करता है, PUC सर्टिफिकेट बनवाता है और एक दिन आपको कहा जाता है कि फलाँ तारीख से आपकी कार सड़क पर नहीं दिखनी चाहिए।

चाहे यह नियम दस साल पुराना हो या कल बना हो, है तो कुतर्क ही। नियम तो और भी बहुत हैं, क्या सरकार नियम से चल रही है? वोटबैंक के लिए हर नियम मोड़े जाते हैं।

कार वाला कभी वोटबैंक नहीं होता, वो मिडिल क्लास होता है। उसके टैक्स से ‘झुग्गी-मकान’ स्कीम बना कर दिल्ली में मकान बनाए जाते हैं, जबकि वो स्वयं पाँच-दस लाख टैक्स दे कर रेंट पर रहने को विवश है।

यहाँ कॉम्प्रोमाइज्ड नेता कभी ई-व्हीकल को ले कर बकलोली करते हैं, कभी कारों को स्क्रैप करने की योजना ले कर आते हैं। इनके पास अपनी कोई नीति नहीं है, कोई शोध नहीं। फोटो खिंचाने और ‘कुछ करते हुए’ दिखने की लालसा इनके हर निर्णय को धुँधला करती है।

मेरे पास कोई कार नहीं, परंतु ये ऑड-ईवन टाइप की बकलोली का बाप है। यदि मेरी गाड़ी प्रदूषण नहीं फैला रही, तो सरकार उसे प्रदूषण कम करने के नाम पर क्यों प्रतिबंधित करेगी? फिर मैं हर तीन महीने पर प्रदूषण सर्टिफिकेट क्यों बनवाता फिरूँ?

रबड़ स्टैम्प लोगों को पद देने पर ऐसी ही बकलोलियाँ देखने को मिलती हैं। बधाई हो दिल्ली!

[Hindinama @Hindinama2]

बचाना है—
नदियों को नाला हो जाने से
हवा को धुआँ हो जाने से
खाने को ज़हर हो जाने से :

बचाना है—जंगल को मरुस्थल हो जाने से,
बचाना है—मनुष्य को जंगल हो जाने से।

कुँवर नारायण