For anyone who hasn't seen the video yet, this actually happened at Bharat Mandapam. They created a generative Al "holobot" of Swami Chinmayananda (who passed away 33 years ago in 1993 btw) to have a staged, live interaction with Modi on stage.

But if you actually watch the exchange, it feels incredibly dystopian. Instead of using technology to accurately preserve the Swami's teachings or philosophical ideas, the Al was specifically programmed to shower Modi with political praise, congratulate him on his leadership, and hand out convenient blessings.

It completely distorts the sanctity of a deceased spiritual leader just to use them as a high-tech prop for a political PR stunt.

Since when is it acceptable to program the dead to read off a script that elevates a living politician?

How are people around him-and the event organizers-totally okay with reducing Indian spiritual culture to an Al-generated praise machine?

I’m a 30-year-old Indian man living with roommates who are around 25. They compare me to Gaitonde from Drishyam because I have darker brown skin than they do.

It hurts. It makes me feel like people can say whatever they want about my appearance without considering how I might feel.

I already overthink before speaking to people, and comments like these make me even more self-conscious. I find myself worrying about how people will judge me instead of feeling comfortable having a conversation.

I’m frustrated by how normalised colourism is among Indians. Why is having darker skin something to mock? Being made to feel inferior because of your skin colour is painful, especially when it comes from people you live with.