"Education or Transaction?"

“Education has become a business these days,” sighed my friend over coffee. “Did you know that some private medical colleges are charging over ₹1 crore for a seat?”

That number jolted me. But the comment lingered longer than the shock. Has education really turned into a business?

I let the question marinate.

What fuels any business, after all? Demand. And who’s creating this demand in the education system?

Let’s rewind a bit. How many 17-year-olds truly know what kind of knowledge they want from college? Forget the students for a moment—how many parents or teachers take the time to genuinely observe a young mind, to understand what sparks their curiosity, or to guide them based on that?

Instead, the spotlight is on campus placements. The prestige of recruiters. The size of the salary package. But here's the uncomfortable question: does that pay package align with the student’s passions or curiosity? Or have we quietly taught them to chase a lifestyle instead of learning?

As a parent myself, I’ve attended numerous parent-teacher meetings. They’re all about marks, ranks, and academic targets. Never once has anyone asked: “Does your child enjoy sports?” “Do they light up at the sound of music?” “Are they happiest buried in books or creating something with their hands?” We say education is about shaping individuals, but are schools even giving kids the space to explore who they are?

Here’s the hard truth: when we create a demand for shallow outcomes, that’s what the system delivers. So before we blame colleges or call education a business, we need to ask—did we, somewhere along the way, become the customers of this very model?

If we want change, it begins with a new kind of demand. One that values curiosity over credentials, and exploration over exam scores. Only then can we reshape education into something that inspires rather than merely transacts.

Thermodynamics of Gold: Understanding Hidden Costs in Jewellery

Gold prices are soaring—again! Headlines scream predictions of gold touching $4000 per ounce (that’s around ₹12,000 per gram!). But is this just a spike, or is gold destined to rise forever like the entropy of the universe? Let’s break it down.

A Shiny Analogy: Steel vs Gold

Imagine this: you spot a sleek, stainless steel hanging shelf for your kitchen. It’s shiny, sturdy, and costs ₹5000 for 10 kg—₹500 per kg. You buy it, love it, and use it for three years. But now, you're done with it. Maybe it’s lost its shine, or you just need more space.

You return to the shop. Steel prices have gone up to ₹550 per kg. That means your 10 kg shelf should be worth ₹5500, right? You eye a new, bigger 20 kg shelf priced at ₹11,000. Simple math: trade in the old shelf, pay the ₹5500 difference, and you’re good.

Well… not so fast.

The shopkeeper isn’t offering ₹5500. You’d be lucky if he gives you half of what you paid! Why? Two reasons:

1. Stainless ≠ Timeless – That shiny finish dulls over time.
   
   

2. Style is fleeting – Your old shelf design may no longer be in demand.
   
   

To reuse the steel, the shopkeeper must either find a buyer who wants exactly that shelf, or melt it down and reshape it—a costly process unless done on a massive scale.

Now Enter Gold: The Timeless Metal

Gold, however, plays by different rules. Don’t like your old jewellery design? Want to upgrade to something heavier or trendier? Walk into a jewellery shop and they’ll melt your old gold and reshape it into whatever you want. Simple. Efficient.

Why? Because:

• Gold doesn’t lose its shine or value easily.
  
  

• It’s much easier to recycle and reuse—even on a small scale.
  
  

• Jewellers are equipped to remold gold quickly without major industrial processes.
  
  

From a thermodynamics point of view, gold is beautifully reversible—ornaments can become bars, and bars can become new ornaments, without much loss in value.

So, Why Is Gold So Expensive?

Gold prices are driven, like any commodity, by demand and supply. But gold is special. It's seen as a universal currency. No matter where you are on the planet, gold retains its value. That makes it a favorite—not just for families or collectors, but for big investors too.

The “Safe Haven” Factor

When times get tough—wars, pandemics, economic uncertainty—fund houses and large investors rush toward gold. Why? Because when businesses become risky, gold remains safe. It's the equivalent of curling up with a warm blanket during a thunderstorm.

So the more chaos in the world, the more demand for gold—and up goes the price.

But Will It Ever Come Down?

Now that’s a tricky one.

Even if global peace returns and markets stabilize, gold prices might not crash. Why? Because the price you paid for gold includes more than just the raw material.

Take jewellery for example—you’re not just paying for the gold itself, but also for making charges, design fees, and taxes. These are non-refundable and represent irreversible costs, much like energy lost in an irreversible thermodynamic process. Once paid, they cannot be recovered. So, when you return the gold, the merchant only values the pure gold content, not the craftsmanship or other add-ons. Even if the market price dips or rises, you’ll never fully recover what you originally paid—because part of that value has already been "dissipated" into the system, never to return.

Final Thoughts: Is Gold Still Worth It?

Absolutely. Despite the charges and market quirks, gold remains one of the few materials that you can sell almost anywhere in the world and still fetch close to its current market price.

Whether it hits ₹12,000 per gram or not, gold will always glitter—for those who know how to value it right.

So, the next time you buy or sell gold, think beyond the glitter. Consider the irreversible costs, the thermodynamic parallels, and the real value you retain.

But what do you think?

• Do you see gold as a smart investment or just a cultural tradition?

• Have you ever tried selling old jewellery—were you surprised by how little you got back?

• Should jewellers make making charges more transparent, or even refundable?

• And finally, can understanding concepts like irreversibility help us make better financial decisions?

I'd love to hear your thoughts!

"One Nation, One Temperature" – A Cool Idea or a Hot Mess?

 "One Nation, One Temperature" — the headline caught everyone’s attention like a splash of cold water on a summer afternoon. The Union Power Minister had just announced a bold plan: regulate the default setting of air conditioners across India. Whether you’re in the humid coast of Chennai, the dry heat of Delhi, or the breezy hills of Bengaluru — your AC would be set to the same temperature.

The internet, unsurprisingly, had a meltdown.

Many weren’t ready to surrender their right to the remote just yet. Some raised a different concern altogether: If air conditioners are considered a luxury — attracting a hefty 28% GST — then why are they slowly becoming essential in most homes? With heatwaves no longer confined to a few regions and the entire country sweltering under record temperatures, is an AC really a luxury anymore?

So, what’s behind this government idea?

The minister clarified that it wasn’t about discomfort — it was about energy. India’s energy demand is exploding. As a young, rapidly developing nation, our appetite for electricity is only growing. From UPI-enabled digital payments to rising electric vehicle sales, tech-driven growth is everywhere — and it’s powered by energy.

More gadgets, more appliances, more chargers — all adding to the burden on our power grids. And while green energy is part of the solution, it isn’t always reliable. The sun doesn’t always shine. The wind doesn’t always blow. And hydropower depends on the rains. So fossil fuels continue to play a big role in keeping our lights — and fans — running.

That’s why the government is pushing for energy efficiency. Rooftop solar subsidies, electric vehicle incentives, even this “AC temperature cap” — all part of a bigger picture.

But here's the irony: Even traditionally cooler cities like Bengaluru, once famous for its breezy weather, have started seeing soaring temperatures. Last year, AC sales in the city hit a new high. Places once seen as summer escapes are now heating up — literally and figuratively.

So, is the AC a luxury? Or a necessity?

It depends on how you define luxury. If we define it as something expensive, foreign-made, or heavily taxed, then yes — ACs qualify. Most air conditioning technologies are not indigenous. Even if they're assembled in India, royalties and patents mean we’re paying foreign companies every time we turn one on.

That’s one reason the government imposes a high tax — to reduce dependency on imported tech and encourage local innovation. But there’s a catch. For many Indians, ACs are no longer a status symbol. They’re survival tools.

So what’s the middle path?

One option is to build better — not just more. Our homes and cities need smarter design: better ventilation, natural lighting, shaded streets, reflective roofs, and green spaces. Old Indian architecture knew this well — just visit the Hawa Mahal in Jaipur or any centuries-old temple and you’ll see passive cooling done right.

We don’t have to choose between sweltering heat and power-guzzling ACs. We can design buildings that stay cool naturally. But until we get there, a higher tax on energy-hungry gadgets might just be the nudge we need to think greener.

In the end, the real question isn’t "One Nation, One Temperature" — it’s whether we want comfort at the cost of the planet, or are ready to rethink how we stay cool in a warming world.

“Pay Crores, Live in Cubes”

“Luxury apartments for sale,” announced the caller with the enthusiasm of someone who’d just discovered gold in their backyard. Apparently, he was the sales manager for some upcoming real estate project—one with a modest goal of selling 1,000 units.

“2 BHK starts from ₹1 crore onwards, 3 BHK from ₹1.5 crore,” he added, like he was announcing a festive discount on mangoes. “Just pay ₹10,000 to book, and the rest as construction progresses. We have tie-ups with major banks—you know, in case you don’t have a crore lying around in your sock drawer.”

Curious to see what magic lay in a 2 BHK that cost over a crore, I visited the gated community project somewhere south of Bhubaneswar. A sharply dressed agent welcomed me with the line, “This is our model apartment. It gives you the feel of the real one you’ll own.”

Looking around, I had a different feel: the bathroom in my current government quarters was bigger than the so-called master bedroom. I asked the agent about the carpet area.

“850 square feet,” he said, with the pride of someone revealing the surface area of the Taj Mahal.

I quickly did the math. That’s over ₹11,000 per square foot. My curiosity shifted gears. I glanced at the decor and asked, “Do you handle interior design too?”

“Oh yes, we’re partnered with world-class designers. They’ll do it for just ₹5 lakhs extra,” he replied with the casualness of someone asking for a tip.

So... that’s a no. Not included.

Now I was genuinely intrigued. What does come with ₹11,000 per square foot?

“World-class amenities!” he declared. “Swimming pool, kids’ play area, community hall for functions, elevators with power backup, and an indoor games area.”

“Ah, so those are included in the ₹11,000 rate?” I asked hopefully.

“Oh no, Sir! Those are extra. You’ll need to pay a deposit and monthly maintenance fees.”

Of course.

“What about parking?” I asked, clinging to a final shred of optimism.

“Yes, each apartment comes with one dedicated parking spot.”

“Great! That’s included?”

“You’re hilarious, Sir,” he said, laughing. “That’s ₹2 lakhs extra. But wait! If you book today, your second parking spot is at 50% discount!”

Wow. Generosity clearly lives here.

Still baffled, I asked about the materials used for construction. He proudly mentioned good old concrete and brick—known for generating and trapping heat like a solar oven. I asked if the walls had insulation. He looked at me like I’d asked if the building could fly.

“And each apartment comes with a balcony!” he added brightly.

After looking at the master plan, I realized the balconies could double as express routes to your neighbor’s house—just one jump across the railing, and you’re there. Very community friendly.

So, here’s the deal: you pay ₹11,000 per square foot to live in a shoebox, extra for “community” features so you can feel like you belong, extra to park your car, extra to decorate the box, and then even more to cool it down because it’s built like a tandoor oven.

Suddenly, from the office microphone, a voice shouted, “Congratulations to our new owner—flat number 317!”

The buyer beamed like he’d just booked a one-way trip to the moon. And honestly, at these prices, lunar property might be the more affordable option someday.