Devadiya Jee

As India prepares to commemorate the 500th birth anniversary (1525 to 2025) of a legendary warrior queen, it’s time we shine a light on a name too often missing from the pages of popular history: Rani Abbakka Chowta. She wasn’t just a ruler of Ullal, a small coastal town in South India. She was India’s first female freedom fighter, a fearless Jain queen who repeatedly repelled Portuguese invaders in the 16th century and upheld the sovereignty of her kingdom. Rani Abbakka hailed from the Chowta dynasty of Karnataka, a royal family that followed Jainism and embraced a matrilineal system where succession passed through the female line. When the time came, Abbakka was entrusted with power not as a token, but as a true sovereign. What set her reign apart wasn’t just her lineage, but the Jain principles that guided her governance: ahimsa (nonviolence), aparigraha (nonpossessiveness), satya (truthfulness), and sahishnuta (tolerance). But when these values were challenged by foreign aggression...

Superstitions have been deeply rooted in cultures across the world and India is no exception. From hanging lemons and chilies at the door to fearing a sneeze before leaving the house, many of us have grown up around these beliefs. But how often do we stop and question them? Here are 9 common superstitions explained logically with examples so we can move toward a more rational and scientific way of thinking. Always Remember This.  1. Lemons and Chilies Are Meant to Be Eaten Not Hung at the Door. Have you ever seen lemons and green chilies hanging from shop entrances or vehicles to ward off evil? Reality check: Lemons and chilies are food items rich in vitamin C and antioxidants. Their purpose is nutrition, not protection from imaginary forces. Example: If these items truly absorbed negative energy, wouldn’t they need to be disposed of safely like hazardous waste?  2. A Cat Crossing Your Path Isn’t Bad Luck It’s Just a Cat. Many people stop or turn back when a cat crosses their ...

Why does a driving license have an expiry date? It is a question many of us have asked, especially when we know how well we can drive. Driving is not like solving math problems or memorizing facts that fade with time. It is a practical life skill, like swimming or riding a bicycle. Once you learn it and practice it regularly, you usually do not forget it. So why should a person, who has been driving safely for 10, 20, or even 40 years, suddenly be treated as unfit or unauthorized just because a certain date printed on his license has passed? Let us take a simple example. Imagine Ramesh, a man in his late 40s, who has been driving since he was 18. He knows every corner of his city’s roads and follows all the traffic rules. One morning, while driving to work, he gets stopped at a traffic checkpoint. Everything is fine, his car is insured, he is wearing a seatbelt, not using his phone. But his driving license expired a week ago. The officer tells him he is technically breaking the law. Ra...