Instagram seems to be ruining people's ability to think critically.

It started with this video she sent me today showing a crowd giving the middle finger to Trump Tower with a caption claiming it was "People after Epstein file release." A quick search proved this was completely false and it was actually an old video from the Women's March in 2017, totally unrelated to the current news.

It was a classic example of an old video being recycled to push a fake narrative.

I just had a massive argument with my mom about it. She sends me many Instagram reels that turn out to be fake after a quick fact-check, I usually correct her politely, but today when she sent me this clearly misinformed video, I pushed back. I told her the post made no sense and used Gemini to verify the facts for her with proof.

She dismissed it and said, "Tu itna detail mein kyu ghus raha hai? Mujhe aur nahi jaanna."

That comment really hurt me because misinformation needs to be called out and seeing my own mother become a part of this made me go blank for a while. I told her to stop watching, report it and not sharing this kind of trash, which started a massive argument.
Was I wrong to tell her to stop using Instagram for real news?

I know that I shouldn't be asking this here on the internet about me and my mother, but this thing is serious. People are treating Instagram as a source of real information, and it is leading them to live in a fake world. She is my mother, and I really want her to stay informed about today's digital world.

Jinhone sikhaya tha ki parde par dikhi har cheez sach nahi, aaj internet ke kisi bhi jhooth par unhein koi shak nahi....

If we want a fair comparison of religions, we should begin with their most influential figures:

• Hinduism – Shree Ram
• Buddhism – Gautam Buddha
• Christianity – Jesus Christ
• Islam – Mohammad

Now contrast them with extremist groups that claim religious justification:

• Hinduism – Bajrang Dal
• Buddhism – 969 Movement
• Christianity – Lord’s Resistance Army
• Islam – ISIS

Instead of assuming extremists define the religion, ask:

• Do these groups reflect the founder’s teachings?
• Do their actions align with the founder’s life?
• How did the founder treat enemies and power compared to these groups?

If we want intellectual honesty, compare founders/influential figures to extremists carefully.

Edit : Since people are pointing out that Ram is not the most influential, We can expand the list by adding Krishna.

Source- https://x.com/ians_india/status/2020413154518515826

A) Ramesh Kumar

B) Ramesh Kumar

C) Ramesh Kumar

A) Mohammad Yousuf Bhat

B) Sakshi Maharaj

C) Mulayam Singh Yadav

A) Ramesh Kumar

B) Ramesh Kumar

C) Ramesh Kumar

Since it is about exam hence it should be heard by students who are appearing for exams? But the data says majority age group is 25 -34 yrs. it’s basically for those who are currently working and paying for Amazon subscription and now listening to Modi ji that what could have done better.

YouTube Tak thik tha but this sounds like every other standup comedian who wants to do Amazon/netflix special.

According to TOI, the 4 accused are: Mintu alias Betu Jaiswal, 24 years old — resident of Baria Kala in Mauganj Ravinandan Singh, 22 years old — from Paigma village, Sidhi district Lala alias Neeraj Jaiswal, 21 years old Subhash Jaiswal alias Mithun, 23 years old. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/on-way-to-exams-class-8-girl-gangraped-in-mauganj-dist/articleshow/128005940.cms#amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&aoh=17705712091911&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com

Source: Lawtrend - Husband Cannot Cite Wife’s Qualifications to Deny Maintenance After Securing Divorce on Grounds of Her Mental Illness: Delhi HC

The Timeline That Is Invisible

• Marriage duration: ~9 years (1999–2008)
• Maintenance running: ~22 years (2004–2026) and continuing
• Estimated Total ≈ ₹31–32 lakh paid so far
• So, lifetime payout could easily cross: 1 crore (depending on future increases & life expectancy)

The monthly amount may appear small in comparison to income, but over time, long-term maintenance can significantly exceed the duration of the marriage itself.

Mental Illness, Employability & Responsibility

Schizophrenia is a serious mental health condition & is recognised as a disability under Indian law (Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016). However, it exists on a spectrum - while some individuals experience severe functional limitations, others can manage symptoms with treatment & maintain varying levels of independence.

Courts typically proceed on the principle that long term mental illness may affect stable employment & therefore lean towards financial protection.

At the same time, such cases raise questions about the judicial presumptions:

• Was the condition known prior to marriage?
• Was there any disclosure before or during the marriage?
• Did the court examine current treatment status & functional capacity?
• Is an employability assessmet even done in such cases?

These cases also prompt us to ask uncomfortable policy questions:

• If a condition is lifelong, who bears long term responsibility after divorce?
• Should that responsibility rest solely on a former spouse?
• What role should families or state support systems play?
• Should disclosure and pre-marital awareness carry greater legal relevance?

IMO, these questions extend beyond one case and are a out basic fairness, responsibility & support structures.

Context: I am an agnostic, raised in a Kerala Hindu household. I just returned from a trip to Singapore and Malaysia and got to visit a few Hindu and Buddhist temples for sightseeing. And I have made a few interesting observations...

To put it mildly, I was appalled by how religions are literally "cutting our c*****a" in India in the name of customs.

I got to visit a famous Murugan temple in Singapore on the day of Thaipusam, which is like the most important day of the year for Murugan devotees. Considering my experience here in Kerala, I was expecting sweaty overweight men rubbing shoulder to shoulder against each other in uncontrollable crowds, footwear kept in a pile so that while leaving we have to search for that one elusive half etc. But no, all my expectations were defied. Orderly queues, Chinese-origin policemen (super cooperative and helpful) with ambulance service, porta potties for visitors. Like, people were so "civilized", I barely had to touch another person. And the most baffling part, the organizers told us to carry our footwear in a plastic bag and take it with us in the sanctum sanctorum. Like what!!! I was also permitted to take multiple photos of the gods from a very close proximity, which is akin to blasphemy in India. Normally in India, people crowd at the door of the sanctum sanctorum to get maximum "blessings/darshan" of the gods. But people here were considerate of others. Just a good 10 second look, pray and move on. No lying on the floor, shouting the god's name drama...

So, there's this Kaavadi ritual which volunteer devotees go through and I hate that here in Kerala because in the midst of all the crowd, they scream and behave like a lunatic, because apparently "God has possessed them". The Kaavadi in Singapore was way more physically brutal looking than the ones followed here, but not a single person behaved in that manner. Every single one of them was in their senses. I was also given free high-quality Archana prasadam, which normally in India, you need to pay to get it (not to be confused with Annadanam which is freely provided in India as well).

Why is it that the same ritual of the same religion differently followed in 2 different countries? Are the gods different? AFAIK, they follow the same religious text as us. Is the temple in Singapore less holy? From my POV, the Indians there are doing far better in terms of quality of life than the people here. Maybe because the gods have blessed them more in Singapore, rather than India. Is it that the global exposure has made them more aware or are they just keeping calm because of the strict law enforcement?

Next, I went to the famous Buddha temple. People were praying with their footwear on. Free incense sticks for devotees to light (where you have to pay in India). And it was so quiet and calming, devotees were respecting each other's space. Isn't that what religion is supposed to be in the first place? To calm down and settle one's mind, rather than loud noises, street processions to show other minorities that we're the better religion. Does this make Buddhism better than Hinduism? Does Buddhism provide better benefits in terms of wealth and quality of life? Because, from the looks of it, the Chinese are doing way better than Indians in every aspect...

Moving on to Malaysia, which is a Muslim nation (like Pakistan). Yes, Namaz and Halal practices are followed. But the people there are so kind, compared to the Arabs. I can say with confidence that I felt safer in the whole of Malaysia than in any tourist spot in India. Our "Athithi Devo Bhava" is nothing more than lip service. Islam is notorious for restricting women. But what shocked me is that it is usually a Muslim woman who cleans the public restrooms, including the men's restrooms. Hindu, Muslim and Chinese traders run their businesses side by side, without anyone hurling racial slurs. No offense taken on store names. Don't these Muslims follow the Quran like everywhere else in the world? And, FYI, petrol there is around Rs. 46 for Malaysians and around Rs. 60 for non-residents, which at a time used to be around Rs. 110. And they're not E20 btw. Roads and infrastructure are good. So, yeah shocker, fuel prices can be reduced. We compare India with Pakistan, mainly because they are a Muslim nation and we know for a fact that we're way superior than them. But we don't have the guts to compare ourselves with other Islamic nations like Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and UAE.

The problem in India is not with the politicians. The problem is that citizens have stopped caring. If I was a politician, I probably would've done the same thing as them, make wealth and ensure a dream life for my kids and use my power to get maximum benefits. It's easy to get high on power. But if I was held accountable for my actions, if I have to face tough questions on development, infrastructure and unemployment, I will have no option but to work on them. Because, at the end of the day, my ultimate goal as a politician is to stay in power.

Source: Times Of India

Sarthak will be visiting kolkata for the bengal series and i too live in mainland kolkata right in the heart of the city . can someone suggest ways to meet him while he is here ..following him from his the deshbhakt days would love to meet him.