With the sale of the 200th book on Notionpress, we have joined the 200 authors club!
The Notionpress trophy cabinet link is here.
Author of books on Indian laws
With the sale of the 200th book on Notionpress, we have joined the 200 authors club!
The Notionpress trophy cabinet link is here.
My new book titled “Introduction to Ethical Investing in India” is now live on Amazon kindle.
The amazon.in URL is https://www.amazon.in/dp/B0BVJCCVS6
The amazon.com URL is https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BVJCCVS6
Ethical investing, also called Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) or sustainability investing, is growing recently. Investors, particularly younger investors, are getting more concerned over the wider social and other impact of their investments and wish to contribute to positive changes in the world, rather than contribute towards increasing suffering. The highs and lows of the stock markets in different countries further give a push towards ethical investing as a way to locate more stable companies that believe in ethical values and are more likely to be profitable in the long term.
In this book, we introduce the concept of ethical investing and consider the avenues by which investors can invest ethically within India today. We discuss green energy, various ESG and ethical mutual funds and social investing avenues. It is hoped that this book will raise awareness towards ethical investing and inspire existing and prospective investors to invest in a way that uses their money towards the wider good in this world.
My new Hindi book titled “भारतीय स्मारकों का संरक्षण” is now live on Amazon Kindle.
The amazon.in URL is https://www.amazon.in/dp/B0BVGR7579
The amazon.com URL is https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BVGR7579
इस पुस्तक में हम पाठकों को प्राचीन इमारतों और स्मारकों के संरक्षण से संबंधित कुछ अवधारणाओं से परिचित कराते हैं। हम भारत के पुरातत्व सर्वेक्षण, उसके इतिहास और उद्देश्यों के बारे में चर्चा करते हैं। हम वेनिस चार्टर और बुर्रा चार्टर जैसे विश्व समझौते पेश करते हैं जो विरासत के संरक्षण के सिद्धांतों से संबंधित हैं। फिर हम कुछ प्रसिद्ध प्राचीन और मध्ययुगीन स्मारकों के संरक्षण और जीर्णोद्धार में उनके उपयोग को दिखाते हुए कुछ वास्तविक संरक्षण और बहाली तकनीकों पर चर्चा करते हैं।
आशा है कि यह पुस्तक रुचि रखने वाले पाठकों को संरक्षण की अवधारणाओं और तकनीकों के बारे में उपयोगी जानकारी प्रदान करेगी।
Below are some ChatGPT generated poems about Indian courts
Long running Court Cases
In India’s courtrooms, justice takes its time,
With cases that stretch on for years, and no end in sight.
The wheels of justice grind so slow, and the wait is long,
Leaving those in need, with a feeling of being wronged.
The poor and the oppressed, who need help the most,
Are left in a limbo, with their hopes almost lost.
For justice delayed, is justice denied,
And the struggle for fair treatment, is a battle that’s never tied.
The endless red tape, and endless appeals,
Make the road to justice, a journey full of trials.
And while the rich can afford, the best of the best,
The poor are left to suffer, with no one to protest.
The courts are crowded, with cases beyond count,
And the wait for justice, is a toll that wears us down.
The judges are overworked, and the system is strained,
Leaving those who need help, with little hope of being gained.
In this land of so much promise, it’s a sad state of affairs,
When justice is hindered, by endless red tape and repair.
For access to justice, is a right for all to share,
And it’s time for India, to fix a system beyond repair.
Fate of undertrials
In India’s jails they wait, the undertrials so poor,
Trapped in a system, that seems to ignore.
Years go by, with no trial in sight,
Leaving their futures, shrouded in endless night.
They’re forgotten souls, with no voice to be heard,
Left in a purgatory, with no justice to be earned.
They’ve lost their freedom, without a fair trial,
Trapped in a system, that’s so full of denial.
Their families suffer, and their futures fade,
While they spend their days, in a jail-made shade.
Their innocence presumed, but the proof’s yet to come,
As they waste away, in a cell, their only home.
Their lives are on hold, with no end in sight,
Leaving them hopeless, with no chance to fight.
For justice delayed, is justice denied,
And their fate is sealed, by a broken system inside.
So let us not forget, the undertrials who wait,
In India’s jails, in a state of such great.
For every one of them, is a life worth saving,
And it’s time for change, in the way justice is given.
Property Dispute
A family torn apart, by a property dispute so old,
In India’s courts they fight, with tales untold.
Years go by, and still they bicker and feud,
Leaving wounds that run deep, with no love left to be renewed.
They were once united, with bonds that couldn’t break,
But now they’re strangers, with no agreement in sight, for heaven’s sake!
The land that once brought them joy, now tears them apart,
And the courtrooms are filled, with anger and broken hearts.
They argue and fight, over every square inch,
And the love that once flourished, is now just a distant pinch.
Their legacy stained, by a battle so absurd,
And the future of their family, forever blurred.
The judge listens on, with a sigh and a frown,
Wishing they could settle, and put this dispute down.
For the sake of their family, and the love they once shared,
He hopes they’ll find a way, to repair what once was fair.
So let this be a lesson, to all who seek to fight,
That family is precious, and disputes can lead to endless night.
For the love that once was, is worth so much more,
Than any piece of land, or any court case that’s in store.
A child custody dispute
A child’s future, hangs in the balance, in an Indian court today,
Where a husband and wife, both seek to have their way.
They once loved each other, but now they’re worlds apart,
And their child is caught in the middle, with a broken heart.
They stand before the judge, with tales of love and pain,
Each trying to prove, that they’re the one to gain.
The custody of their child, and the right to guide their way,
In a battle that’s tearing them apart, every single day.
The husband speaks of love, and a life that’s now apart,
The wife of pain and hurt, from a broken heart.
The judge listens on, with a heavy heart,
Wishing for a resolution, before the trial must depart.
For the child’s future, is what’s at stake,
And the decision made, could be a costly mistake.
The love they once shared, is now just a distant memory,
And the child is caught in the middle, of a dispute so eerie.
So let this be a lesson, to all who seek to fight,
That a child’s love and well-being, should always be in sight.
For what’s at stake, is a future so bright,
And the love that’s lost, can never be regained, with all one’s might.
A divorce case
A tale of love and heartache, in an Indian court’s halls,
Where a husband and wife, are battling it all.
Years go by, and still they fight,
With appeals and motions, making it a never-ending sight.
They once were in love, with a bond so strong and true,
But now they’re strangers, in a battle over what to do.
The district court heard, and then the high court too,
But still their dispute, was far from over, it was true.
And so they took it to the highest court of all,
The Supreme Court of India, where justice shall befall.
But even there, their battle raged on,
With lawyers and judges, and a case that went so wrong.
They fought over money, and property and such,
And the love that once was, was now just a distant touch.
Their future uncertain, as the years went by,
And the divorce that once seemed simple, was now a battle that would not die.
The rich Indian lawyer
An Indian lawyer, with a heart of gold,
With a gift for words, and a mind so bold.
He took on cases, with a fire in his soul,
And fought for justice, for his clients whole.
With each case he won, his wealth did grow,
And soon he was known, as the one to go.
For those in need, of a voice in court,
He was their champion, who fought with resort.
His clients were rich, and his fees were high,
But he never lost sight, of the reason why.
He fought for justice, and the truth to be told,
And his reputation, as a lawyer so bold.
So he built a legacy, of wealth and fame,
And the courtrooms echoed, with his name.
For he was a lawyer, like none before,
Who fought for what’s right, and opened doors.
A cross examination session
In the courtrooms of India, a drama unfolds,
A cross-examination, where truth is told.
A witness on the stand, with a tale to say,
And a lawyer’s questions, that will pave the way.
The lawyer is confident, with a voice so sure,
And the witness is nervous, with a heart that’s pure.
The judge observes, with a watchful eye,
And the jury takes note, as the truth begins to vie.
The lawyer asks questions, with a tone so strong,
And the witness responds, with a voice that’s long.
They dance a delicate dance, of words and thought,
With each question answered, the truth is brought.
And as the session ends, and the court adjourns,
The judge must decide, on the lessons learned.
For the cross-examination, was just a start,
In a court of justice, where truth is an art.
So let this be a lesson, to all who seek the truth,
That in the courtrooms of India, justice will always rule.
For a cross-examination, is a dance of sorts,
And the truth shall always, be the final resort.
Ethical investing refers to the idea of investing in causes and organizations that are least ethically harmful, and most beneficial, to individuals and society as a whole, as well as generating a decent financial return for the investors. This may include investing to the cause of education, environmental sustainability, tackling inequality, tackling discrimination and other social evils and so on. Alternative terms that may refer to ethical investing include sustainable investing and social investing. Such investments may be in various forms of investing such as stocks and bonds or other investment types such as real estate, as long as they are related to companies that meet the ethical standards and guidelines.
The management of such companies that are chosen for ethical investments should follow ethical practices generally as well as demonstrate a good standard of corporate governance. They also refer to investing in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) funds, which are defined as investments that consider environmental, social, and governance factors while investing.
Ethical investing may also refer to any investment that helps in one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), which include No Poverty, Zero Hunger, Good Health and Well-being, Quality Education, Gender Equality, Clean Water and Sanitation, Affordable and Clean Energy, Decent Work and Economic Growth, Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, Reduced Inequalities, Sustainable Cities and Communities, Responsible Consumption and Production, Climate Action, Life Below Water, Life On Land, Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, and Partnerships for the Goals.
Other definitions of ethical investing include investing in companies that are compliant to religious and ethical codes such as the Islamic Shariah. Some of the criteria for being compliant to shariah Islamic law include: Shariah prohibits income from alcohol, abusive drugs, pork products, gambling, weapons, etc. Shariah also forbids investment in companies that earn most of their income from interest or Riba.
Advantages of ethical investing
One of the advantages of ethical investing is that companies that follow good ethical standards are more likely to be stable companies that produce good value for their shareholders and wider stakeholders, and thus are worthy of investing in the long run. These tend to be more stable and have lower risk.
Also, some investors may prefer to invest mainly in companies that align with their ethical values.
Guidelines from different religions on Ethical Investing
We can leverage the wisdom from different religions in building an ethical approach to investing.
Jewish guidelines (taken from here): Tzedakah or righteousness: charity, preferably in places where donor helps the recipient to become self-supporting. Tikkun olam or repair the world: invest in social / environment friendly companies or orgs. Tzedek or justice and fairness: invest in companies with a commitment to social impact, combating inequality etc. G’milut chasadim or lovingkindness, caring and compassion: invest in places which support the needy, sick and elderly. Tikya or hope: invest in places that inspire people and give hope to the world.
Catholic guidelines (taken from here): Avoid evil, meaning do not invest in places that promote morally questionable actions such as pornography, racial and gender discrimination, arms production, stem cell research, abortion, slave labor, child labor, predatory lending and so on. Do good, meaning to invest in places that work towards protecting human life and dignity, economic justice, environment and encourage corporate responsibility. Also, be active shareholders and take an interest in the policies of the companies where you invest, and work to improving them.
Islamic guidelines for Shariah compliant investing (taken from here and others): Some shariah financial principles include Ijarah, meaning giving an asset on rent or lease for the use of it, at a specific future period of time, Sukuk Bond which is an Islamic bond that can generate returns to investors without being involved with riba or interest. One important idea is that the funds invested are deployed in carefully managed finance schemes and the profit earned is very close to the market rather than from speculation. It also involves avoiding investing in companies that make their money from the sale of alcohol, abusive drugs, pork products, gambling, weapons, and other such products.
Buddhist guidelines (taken from here from Sigalovada sutta and others): Be mindful of your money, since it is a type of energy which can be both good or bad. Save aside money for times of need as well as invest in growing your business and career, avoid vices that dissipate your wealth such as gambling and excessive greed, avoid cheating and lying and follow the precepts and moderation, do not be too attached to anything including money and profits.
Hinduism guidelines (taken from here from Bhagavad Gita and others): Become a nishkaama karma yogi, invest well after good research, work hard and honestly and get wealth but do not be attached too much to the fruits of work and the returns from your investments.
Ethical mutual funds in India
Ethical funds can be searched in websites such as moneycontrol, search engines such as google or broker websites such as zerodha, indmoney or grow, by searching for keywords such as “esg”, “shariah” or “ethical”
In India, some of the ethical funds include the following:
Green funds
Green stocks and funds avoid companies that are related to pollution and include those companies that invest in green energy, clean water and other environmental causes.
Example: Adani Green Energy, https://www.adanigreenenergy.com/ which is a company focused on renewable green energy.
The Government of India’s Sovereign Green Bonds is another good way to invest in environment friendly initiatives by the government of India.
Another example is Green Energy SmallCase, which includes a basket of companies that are related to Green Energy. This is a portfolio of stocks, which will get benefit from the energy transition. Energy transition refers to the global energy sector’s shift from fossil-based systems of energy production and consumption — including oil, natural gas, and coal — to renewable energy sources like wind and solar, as well as other sources like biofuels. https://www.smallcase.com/smallcase/green-energy-portfolio-NIVTR_0001
Another option is fractional ownership of Green assets. Companies like Sustvest https://www.sustvest.com/ and Growpital https://growpital.com/ can help in this.
Social Investing
Social investing is involved in empowering communities, such as Rang De https://rangde.in/ Rangde lends affordable loans to farmers, artisans and entrepreneurs, and in investing in it one can enable progress as well as earn returns.
ESG Funds include the following:
Shariah compliant funds include the following:
Conclusion
In this article we have briefly discussed the meaning of ethical investing and explored some of the investment avenues in India where one can invest ethically.
There are a few organizations in India that are devoted to the preservation of culture and heritage buildings.
Some of these include the following:
Sometimes we may be living in an apartment complex or group of flats or independent house where the utility bills such as electricity or water are shared with the neighbors. Occasionally we may be unlucky to have a neighbor who refuse to pay their fair share of the water bill or electricity bill despite using it. In such cases, we may feel stuck because filing court cases for such tiny matters could be expensive and troublesome and simply not worth it.
Below are some actions we can take to get the neighbor to pay their share of the bill:
My new book titled “Introduction to Conservation of Indian Monuments” is now live in the Amazon Kindle store. It is an introductory book about principles, treaties and organizations related to conservation of heritage monuments in India.
The amazon.in URL is https://www.amazon.in/dp/B0BSCJB3RH
The amazon.com URL is https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BSCJB3RH
India has a rich history worthy of preservation. The number of temples, mosques, tombs, ancient city ruins, palaces and other monuments, is staggering in India. Even today, archeologists are finding ruins of great monuments in remote and not so remote locations.
Sadly, various factors such as development, erosion etc. have caused and are causing damage to our ancient heritage. Unplanned expansions of cities, building of new roads and shopping malls and residential areas, unrestricted tourism, all often end up eroding what is left of our archeological heritage.
In this book we introduce to the reader some concepts related to preservation of ancient buildings and monuments. We discuss about the archeological survey of India, its history and objectives. We introduce world agreements such as the Venice Charter and Burra charter that relate to the principles for preservation of heritage. Then we go through some of the actual preservation and restoration techniques, showing their application in preserving and restoring some famous monuments and not so famous monuments.
It is hoped that this book will provide the interested reader with useful information about the concepts and techniques of preservation.
Delhi is a collection of not one but many historical cities. In the medieval ages, as different kings, sultans, and emperors ascended to the throne of Delhi, they often sought fit to establish a new capital city for themselves and their dynasty. As a result, Delhi is a place where we can have upscale residential colonies for miles and then all of a sudden we find a 1400 AD historical structure coming up from nowhere.
Sometimes the cities of Delhi are called the seven cities and sometimes the eight cities of Delhi, depending on how we count them and what is included in each city.
The historical cities of Delhi, named in chronological order, are as follows:
Figure: The Seven Cities of Delhi. Gordon Risley Hearn, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
My Hindi book on Delhi titled दिल्ली के ऐतिहासिक शहर: दिल्ली मेट्रो के ज़रिये पैदल यात्राएं is live on Amazon Kindle
The amazon.in URL is https://www.amazon.in/dp/B0BNH512DL
The amazon.com URL is https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BNH512DL
दिल्ली भारत की राजधानी से कहीं अधिक है। यह एक अद्भुत इतिहास वाला शहर है। कई बार, यह महाभारत के शुरुआती दिनों से लेकर राजपूतों से लेकर दिल्ली सल्तनत तक, मुगलों से लेकर अंग्रेजों तक, भारत का प्रमुख शहर या राजधानी रहा है। हर बार नए शासकों ने शहर पर अपनी छाप छोड़ी। नतीजतन, अब हमारे पास एक ऐसी दिल्ली है जिसमें अधिक नहीं तो कम से कम सात या आठ अलग-अलग ऐतिहासिक शहरों की छाप है।
इस पुस्तक में हम दिल्ली के विभिन्न ऐतिहासिक नगरों की समीक्षा करते हैं। हम दिल्ली मेट्रो का उपयोग करते हैं, जो वर्तमान में भारत में शायद सबसे विकसित मेट्रो है, दिल्ली के सात शहरों के स्थलों को देखने के लिए परिवहन के पसंदीदा साधन के रूप में। हम आशा करते हैं कि यह संक्षिप्त मार्गदर्शिका पाठक को दिल्ली, उसके लोगों और उसके इतिहास के बारे में थोड़ा सा अनुभव करने में मदद करेगी।
इस पुस्तक में, हम दिल्ली के सभी ऐतिहासिक स्थलों या आकर्षणों जैसे कई आधुनिक संग्रहालयों, बाजारों और अन्य आकर्षणों को शामिल नहीं करते हैं। बल्कि, हम उन स्थलों पर ध्यान केंद्रित करते हैं जो दिल्ली के ऐतिहासिक शहरों का हिस्सा हैं और जो उन शहरों की ऐतिहासिक सीमाओं के भीतर स्थित हैं।
यह पुस्तक लेखकों द्वारा दिल्ली में की गई कई खोजपूर्ण यात्राओं से निकली है, जहाँ वे रहते हैं।