Geopolitics and Economics:

Why We Go to War? Discussed During Dinner in a Chinese Hot Pot Joint in NYC
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (September, 2026)

Nepal Floods: Another Natural Event that Mankind Made Into A Human Calamity
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (September, 2026)

Boom-Bust Cycles Are Typical in the US Economy
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (2023)

The IT Layoffs Hit Indians Hard, But Was Inevitable, Even Predictable
By Kollengode S Venkataraman, (2023)

Putin Shows EU Leaders Their Place in the Ukraine War 
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2023)

Provoking Russian Invasion of Ukraine
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2022)

In the Globalized World, Even Internationally, All Politics is Local & Personal
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2022)

The War Many Almost Forgot (the US War in Afghanistan), Finally Ends!
By Kollengode S. Venkataraman (written in 2021)

Covid-19’s Second Wave in India
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2021)

The Pandemic Reveals India’s Softer Belly 
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2021)

Pittsburgh Airport Breaks Ground for $1.4 Billion New Airport Terminal
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2021)

All Elections — Even Presidential Ones — Are Local
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2020)

The Business End of The Pittsburgh Patrika
By Kollengode and Premlata Venkataraman (written in 2020)

The Pittsburgh Patrika’s 25-year Trajectory
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2020)

Modi Victory — The Best Sweet Revenge
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2019)

The New York Times and Narendra Modi
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2019)

Dunkin Donuts Gets Drowned in India
By Premlata Venkataraman (written in 2019)

Indians Caught in the Transition of Persian Gulf Countries and the Arabian Peninsula
By Kollengode S Venkataraman, (written in 2019)

Amazon’s Arrogance
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2019)

Qingdao — A Chinese Gem Along the Yelllow Sea
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2019)

US Economy: President Trump’s First Year after Eight Years of the Obama Presidency
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2018)

Not War, but Internal Strife Threatens Global Peace
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2017)

On Hate Crimes Against Indian Americans
By Kollengode S Venkataraman, (Written in 2017)

Britannia, You’ve Come A Long Way, Baby!
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2016)

The Chennai Floods: How A Natural Event Became A Man-Made Disaster 
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2016)

In Memoriam — Points to Ponder: Muhammad Ali (January 17, 1942 to June 3, 2016)
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2016)

Asianization of America is Real — Follow up for the above article
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2015)

Monopoly in Healthcare Industry not Good for Consumers or for Our Region’s Vitality
By Kollengode S Venkataraman, (written in 2015)

The High-Stakes Poker Game at the World Trade Center Talks
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in October 2014)

Obama’s Presidency in Two Trendlines
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2014)

Pope Benedict Leaves a Scandal-Ridded Vatican
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2013)

Is the World Flat or the World is Getting Flattened?
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2012)

Trump’s Bravado is Counterproductive 
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2012)

Hillary Clinton’s Challenges in Her Presidential Ambitions
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2012)

The Nation’s Fiscal Crisis: The Future is Here
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2012)

Campaign Rhetoric in Kentucky — A Rite of Passage for American Hindus on Universal Brotherhood
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2011)

Bridle the Free Market — Never It Was Really “Free” in the First Place        Written in
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2010)

India Inc? It Is More Like India Feudal — The Ambani Brothers’ Fight Over Reliance
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2005)

Portends for the American Future?
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2005)

When Milagu-Tanni is Milaughutawney, Chocolate Mousse can be Chocolate Mouse 
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2005)

Nippon Nuggets 
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2004)

Democracy in Iraq? American Style?
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in October 2004)

Name Calling in Classifying World Economies
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2004)

Booming China (written in 2004)
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2004)

Celebrity News You Don’t Read in Indian Media
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2004)

A Worm’s Eye View of A Vibrant India
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in January 2004)

Abhay Shukla: A Very Different Kind of Doctor from India Brings Healthcare to the Rural Poor
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2004)

Gyrations in the American Free Market System
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in January 2003)

The REAL Reality Show — The Scary US Face-off with UN/Iraq
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2003)

Chudiyan (Bangles) in the Charged South Asian Political Rhetoric
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2002)

No Tears of Grief on US Airways Chapter-11 Woes
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2002)

US Preaches Free Trade to the World, but is Protectionist on Home Turf
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2002)

The Darker Underbelly of the IT Boom
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2001)

Want a Good Indicator for Progress? See How Much An Average Family Spends on Food
By Kollengode S Venkataraman, (written in 2001)

Watch Out: Problems May fester in Indo-Pak Relations Even Beyond Kashmir
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2001)

The Fallout of US’s Global War on Terrorism: Repressive Regimes Down the Road
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2001)

The Futility and Irony of Wars (Not to Speak of Quarrels and Petty Fights) 
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 1999)

The Dark Side of Religious Faith
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 1999)

Dual Citizenship for NRIs: Is this Good for Desi Indians?
By Kollengode S Venkataraman, (written in 1999)

The Vatican Goes to Confession… … Sort of
By Kollengode S Venkataraman, (written in 1999)

War Averted… But the Killing Continues (On Kargil)
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 1999)

On Golf Courses and Land Mines 
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 1998)

Globally, the Haves and Have-Nots Are Growing Further Apart 
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 1998)

Hopeful Signs: Five Decades of India’s Political Freedom 
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (1997)

Missed Opportunities During India’s Fifty Years After 1947
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (1997)

Musings on Mother Teresa (1997 and 2001) 
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 1997 and 2001)

Today’s A panchatantra Story in Realpolitik
Retold By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 1995)

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Indian and American National Elections:

The Way We Elect Our Leaders Is Not Reassuring
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2023)

Obituary: Emeritus Pope Benedict (April 16, 1927 – December 31, 2022)
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2023)

The Crazy National Elections of the First World
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2020)

Court-Ordered Redistricting Maps Make Our Congressional Delegation Equitable        
by Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2019)

The Jammu-Kashmir-Ladakh Conundrum Straightened Out and Yet Not  
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2019)

A Level Playing Field for Electing Pennsylvania’s US House of Representatives 
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2018)

Trump vs Clinton in the Race to the White House
by Kollengode S Venkataraman (in October 2016)

Red States and Blue States paint a Starker Picture
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2016)

A Jain Sannyasi’s Radical Advice for Addressing the Gender Ratio in Northern India
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2016)

Interpersonal Interactions. In the globalised economy
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (2015)

Bobby Jindal’s Madcap Pursuit for the White House
By Kollengode S Venkataraman, (written in 2015)

The Most Populous and the Most Powerful Democracies
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2014)

Only in the USofA, the Affluent Are Called Middle Class! 
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2013)

Manmohan Singh: Sonia’s Prime Minister — The Indian Democracy is Good Entertainment         Written in
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2012)

Obama’s Inaugural Address        Written in
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2012)

West Bengal’s Jyoti Basu (1914 – 2010): In His Long Marxist Rule, Parts of the State Withered Away, Literally
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2010)

“Hello, Krish, Hillary Here.” Imaginary conversation between Hillary Clinton, and S M Krishna
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2010)

Are We All Middle Class? The 2008 Presidential Campaign Rhetoric?
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in October 2008)

What We Do Not Hear in the Intra-Party Presidential Debates?
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2007)

The Religious Right Is Wrong on Women’s Reproductive Rights
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (2006)

Politics and Minimum Wage Increases
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (2006)

A Mandate for Republicans in the 2004 Elections
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in January 2005)

On the Hindu Assertiveness in India
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in July 2003)

India Tries to Weather Islamist Militancy
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2002)

Despicable Hate Crimes in Pittsburgh
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2000)

Sonia, At Long Last Becomes a True Indian
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 1998)

Indian Elections: Assessing from the Internet
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 1998)

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Personal:

On Finding A Small Ozymandias In Myself
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (2026)

Cycle of Life — Photos of Five Trees through the Four Seasons
By K S Venkataraman

High-Protein Low-Carb Idlies
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2019)

A Memorable and Nostalgic Train Journey in Kerala
By Premlata Venkataraman

Further Along the Kerala Coast… …
By Premlata Venkataraman (written in 2018)

On the Lighter Side : AAE! AAE! Acronyms, Acronyms Everywhere
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (2015)

The Pittsburgh Patrika’s Twenty Years
By Premlata Venkataraman (written in October 2015)

My Peeve with Bollywood Shows
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2013)

The Colonial Holdover Lingers On In India
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2012)

Desi Misbehavior Redux — Now Artistes Too Are Now Mad
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2012)

The Brown, the Beige and the Black in India
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2012)

My Embarrassment With My English in My College Days in India
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (2010)

Reflections on the Anglicized Indians’ Colonial Hangovers
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2007)

An Ode to My Favorite Auntie
By Nitya Venkataraman (written in 2007)

My Not-So Favorite Auntie
By Nitya Venkataraman (written in 2007)

Thailand Vignette: A Week in Phuket
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (2006)

An Acharya Under Arrest — Lessons to Hindu Temples Here
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in January 2005)

Hindu Religious Organizations Need Reform
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in January 2005)

Desis Wealth and Social Obligations
By Kollengode S Venkataraman, (written in 2003)

Sri Venkateswara Temple’s 25th Anniversary)
By Premlata Venkataraman (written in 2001)

Inequities in University Education
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2000)

Ethnic Humor and Stereotyping 
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (1996)

My Indo-American Odyssey
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (1996)

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Miscellaneous:

Antimoicrobial Properties of Copper Alloys and Silver
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2021)

Desi’s New/Naya/Puthu Mile High Club
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (2021)

Obituary: Bhanumati Pandalai — Friendly, Gracious, Elegant, Enterprising
By Premalata Venkataraman, (written in 2021)

In Temple Architecture, Form Needs to Follow Function, but Also Weather Patterns
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2018)

And Now, the Turkey Weekend in India, as Covered in The Indian Express
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2018)

India’s One Quintessential Salesman
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2018)

On Frenemies and Frenemities
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (Written in 2017)

Desi Transitions: Insider Trader Rajat Gupta
Kollengode S Venkataraman, (written in 2017)

International Air Travel: US & Persian Gulf Air Carriers Compete — Travelers Stand to Gain
By Kollengode S Venkataraman, (2015)

India in Transition: Trying to Initiate A Radical Arranged Marriage:
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2015)

Making Authentic Tayir, Dahi, Mosaru, or Perugu
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2015)

Pure Fiction: Gobi Manchurian
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2015

Miss America Pageant American Identity — Always A Work in Progress
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in October 2013)

Absurd Ways We Use English Phrases
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2013)

Indian Women and Managing Assets
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2012)

Something to Ponder Over When You Leave for Colleges
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2012)

Time to Reform Cremation/Death Rites for Hindus in the US
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2012)

My Experiments with Cold Showers
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2012)

Alberto Pinto Kyoon Hasta Hai? Aur London Gora Kyoon Rota Hai? * The Blowback for the Colonial Occupation
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2012)

Long Live Desi
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2011)

Mercury Poisoning in Making Gold Kavachams
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2009)

Asians Prosperity Stats Hides the poor Among Them
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2009)

“Vernacular” Educated? You’re Out of Luck in India
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2006)

The Patrika — Ten Years Old and Going Strong
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in January 2005)

On Marketing… … With Apologies to Golfers
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in January 2005)

The Bill in Bharat Show
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2003)

Obituary: Raj Gopal (1933 to March 16, 2009) — Entrepreneur & Pioneer for Hindu Places of Worship in the US
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2003)

Organizers of Indian Cultural Programs, Spare Us This Verbal Abuse, Please
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2001)

Gender Imbalance in India Shows A Grim Picture
By Premlata Venkataraman (2001)

Arangetram, Rangaprasham or Rangapravesha… …?)
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2001)

British Study: Indian Food is Good for Your “Mood”!
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2001)

Book Publishing and Best Sellers in India
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 1999)

Perspectives on the Way We Look at Outside World
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 1999)

60-Plus ways to Drape Saris: Book Review
By Usha Chandrasekaran (written in 1999)

What US Ranchers Feed Their Cattle
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 1998)

Book Review: Indian Food — A Historical Companion
Review by Premlata Venkataraman (written in 1998)

Education and Enterprise in the US — Some Observations
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 1997)

Responding to An Anonymous Letter
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 1997)

On Sever-Year-Olds Flying Planes — Not So Random Thoughts
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 1995)

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Indian Literature’s Enduring Relevance:

Greek and Indian Mythologies, Mankind’s Hubris and the Mythology of AI
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (September, 2026)

Arunagirinaathar’s Life and Contribution to The Tamil Bhakti Literature
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2023)

Book Review: Dhananjay Joshi’s No Effort Required
Reviewer: Kollengode Venkataraman (2022)

Cynically Sublime — The Power of Wealth From Sanskrit Poetry
By Kollengode S. Venkataraman (written in 2021)

On Human Predilections As Seen by the Tamil Savant Ouvaiyyaar
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2021)

Aksharaabhyasam in Pittsburgh on Vijayadasami Day in Fall 2021
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (2021)

Human Instincts to Display One’s Prowess — An Old Man Recalls his Youth – From Tamil Classic Puranaanooru
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2021)

Indian Thoughts Against Religious Exclusivity Through the Centuries
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2021)

A Fascinating Scene at the Kollur Mookambika Temple
By Kollengode S Venkataraman

A Pearl Wisdom on Interpersonal Relationships by the Tamil Doyen Ouvaiyaares
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2019)

On the Impoverishment of Servitude
by Kollengode S Venkataraman, (written in 2017)

Veerashaivas: 12th Century Rebels Against Religious Orthodoxy
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2017)

Today’s Religion is Tomorrow’s Orthodoxy
— Examples from Hinduism, Christianity, Islam and Indian Communism
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2017)

Fortune Hinting in Far-off Lands is Nothing New
by Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2016)

Nine Fears of Mankind — A Verse of Bhartrhari
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2016)

On Intellectual Arrogance Borne Out of Supreme Self Confidence
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2015)

Who Said Our Ancestors Had It Easy?
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2013)

India’s Bhakti Movement: Its Impact on Performing Arts, Literature, and the Indian Psyche
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2012)

Continuing Education. An Old Indian idea, Widely Practiced Only in the West
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2012)

Sarcasm and Humor in Sanskrit Literature
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2012)

Literary Vignette: Men and Women Picking Their Mates on Their Own is Not Rare
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2012)

A Couplet of Learning from the Tamil Classic TirukkuraL
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2012)

The Challenges in Trying to be Mindful — A Verse from Pattinattaar
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2012)

Subramanya Bharati on the Illusions and Transience of Life
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2012)

Universal Ideas on Universal Brotherhood in the 1800-year old Aganaanooru Anthology
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2010)

A Pandya Tamil King (2000 before our time) on the Importance of Education
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2008)

Vignettes from Indian Literature: A Profound from Sivavakkiyar
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2007)

The Refined Minds of Avadhootas, the Indian Spiritual Masters
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2006)

The Ongoing Debate on Tradition vs. Change in Religion: A Story from Ramanuja’s Life
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2003)

South Indian Performing Arts:Whence? Where Now? Whither?
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2003)

Vignettes from Indian Spiritual Teachings: Bulleh Shah and Shivavakkiyar
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2001)

Minds of Poets
By Kollengode S Venkataraman, (written in 2001)

Want a Good Indicator for Progress? See How Much An Average Family Spends on Food
By Kollengode S Venkataraman, (written in 2001)

Vignettes of Indian Philosophical Traditions — Jainism: Don’t Mistake the Part for the Whole
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2001)

Vignette from Indian Literature: A 14th Century Tamil Poet & 15th Century’s Nanak on How to Live Our Life
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2000)

Vignette from Indian Literature:  A Sensuous Scene in Kaliththogai (~ 1st century CE)
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2000)

Freewill Is Rooted in Indian Thoughts
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 2000)

Veda Vyasa Anticipated Monica Lewinsky’s Travails
By Kollengode S Venkataraman (written in 1999)

The Idea of God in the Bhakti Tradition
By Kollengode S Venkataraman, (1998)

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