AI for Real Change: Why We Must Shift from Vanity to Vitality in Artificial Intelligence Use

In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has become an astonishingly powerful tool. It writes emails, generates hyper-realistic images, answers questions, and churns out articles at the click of a button. These tasks, while impressive, represent a shallow fraction of what AI is capable of. Unfortunately, the current mainstream application of AI is overwhelmingly centered around convenience, vanity, and entertainment, rather than addressing the core socio-economic and environmental challenges that deeply affect billions of people—especially in countries like India.

This obsession with using AI for cosmetic tasks is not just a missed opportunity; it’s a societal misalignment of priorities.

---

The Disconnect: Artificial Intelligence vs. Real-World Problems

India, with its vast diversity and complexities, is a prime candidate for AI-led transformation. Yet, we continue to direct AI’s formidable power toward tasks that, while commercially attractive, are trivial in comparison to the real crises at hand.

Consider agriculture—still the backbone of India’s rural economy. A staggering portion of Indian farmers remain dependent on unpredictable monsoons. Crops fail when rains fail. Prices crash when yields are too high. Despite this volatility, AI has not been robustly directed toward optimizing crop cycles, building predictive models for rainfall, or designing real-time advisory systems for small farmers. These are solvable problems with the right AI applications.

Similarly, a lack of data-driven governance continues to impede India’s social welfare schemes. We have the technology to map economically backward populations and ensure targeted delivery of government benefits, but this remains underdeveloped. AI could create a real-time, adaptive system that identifies people in need, reduces leakage in funds, and improves transparency—yet it's largely unused in this domain.

---

Wasting Potential on Digital Mirrors

Instead, the most widely celebrated use cases for AI include:

• Writing emails and essays for professionals who are often already well-off.

• Generating portraits and fake photography to fuel social media likes and virtual influencers.

• Composing product descriptions for e-commerce platforms selling to the urban elite.

This isn’t innovation—it’s digital indulgence. We are training powerful minds and building revolutionary technology only to help CEOs avoid typing emails and influencers craft better captions.

---

The Real Mandates for AI in India

Let’s talk about what AI should be doing:

1. Rainfall Prediction and Smart Irrigation
   Using satellite data and historical weather patterns, AI can help predict rainfall and optimize irrigation schedules. This would make agriculture more resilient and reduce dependency on monsoons.

2. Efficient Disbursal of Welfare Schemes
   By analyzing census data, mobile usage, bank records, and other socio-economic indicators, AI can help identify beneficiaries for welfare programs, ensuring that no one is left behind.

3. Sustainable Infrastructure Planning
   AI can be used to map traffic flows, optimize road networks, and propose environmentally sustainable transport solutions, especially in densely populated urban and semi-urban areas.

4. Tracking Marine Ecosystems
   With India’s vast coastline, AI can track migratory fish patterns, prevent overfishing, and recommend sustainable fishing practices—balancing economy with ecology.

5. Food Safety Monitoring
   From analyzing supply chains to detecting banned additives in packaged food, AI can ensure safer food reaches Indian households. This is crucial in a country plagued by under-regulation and health crises.

---

A Call to Redirect the Narrative

AI doesn’t need to be flashy—it needs to be effective. It’s time Indian policymakers, tech entrepreneurs, and researchers redirected their focus. The goal should be impact, not impression. India has the talent and the technological base to lead in AI-for-good, but not if we continue to feed the demand for automation of luxury.

If we want AI to be a tool of empowerment, it must be grounded in the lives of those who need it most—not just those who can afford to play with it.

It is time to demand a shift—from aesthetic AI to actionable AI. Because in the battle between likes and lives, the choice should be obvious.

---

Let us not build intelligence that looks good. Let us build intelligence that does good.

Emotions and Shit

I dread feeling happy now 

because happiness is very shallow 

like the calm before the storm

the silence before the outburst

the purring before the growl

Don't take me wrong

don't call me a pessimist

I cannot help feeling sad when I am happy

because it is only sadness that I have ever known

Hurt has been my constant companion

Distress has been one of the mistresses

And worry has been the dog that snipes at my ankle

I dread feeling happy 

because I know it is not for real

When I am happy, I wait

for the axe to fall and cut it to pieces

That is when I am really happy

looking down upon the sorry bits 

What had been a beautiful cloth

is lying now in tatters

I clap my hands in glee and laugh

because i have been proven true 

For I knew it was not permanent

now that it has died, I rejoice

I dread looking back

I know what I would find

In the pond of self pity

am dancing in glee

slowly sinking into despair

but then I don't think I can be saved

because I dread feeling happy

Bundle of Joy

So here I am, standing at the cusp of fatherhood feeling like a fisherman's wife standing on the beach waiting for the boat to come in.  I really cannot believe how much I am looking forward to be a father, to hold the bundle of joy in my arms, to look into the baby's eyes and realize that this is what I have waited for all these years, to believe in the God in whose existence I have doubted in moments of despair. 

Let me confess, I love babies. I love their wrinkled skin. I love those teeny weeny fingers and toes. I love the almost bald head and beady eyes. I love the toothless mouth and the button noses. I love the twinkle in their eyes when they smile. I love the sound of their laughter.  I love to see them drool. I love to see them explore their environs. I love to see how they turn their heads towards sound. I love how they latch on to your face and then watch your every move.  I love the little noises they make to communicate. I love the powdery smell. I love when they hold your hands with those tiny fingers. I love to hear the giggle when they are tickled. I love everything about babies. God knows I cant wait to hold my own.

We are waiting for the stork now.  My wife is anxious and deliriously happy.  I am worried and intoxicating happy.  We hope everything goes well. We know everything would. I would have loved my father-in-law to be there along my baby's other grandparents to shower his blessings, but fates decided otherwise. I am sure he is watching.  I sure hope the Gods that we pray to and the people whom we might have done good deeds for would bless us and our baby.  Looking forward to our little bundle of joy, the sleepless nights, the vomit and poop on our clothes, the untimely feedings, the midnight calls to the pediatrician over trivial concerns, the milky smell that will be party of our lives for the next one year, the worries and the anxieties, the stress and the happiness.  Let me tell you, you yet unborn baby, we love you with all our heart, the sort of unconditional love that we have reserved for you as we await your arrival.

Harijans - The Forgotten People of God

Gandhi called them Harijans - People of Hari, the supreme lord.  Now in this era, they are ashamed of that name.  Why would anyone be ashamed of calling themselves Harijan you may ask?  That's because this is the Indian Society.

The Constitution states that all Indians are equal, but the architects of the Constitution forgot that in a feudalistic society, some are more equal than others.  The caste system that is so deeply ingrained in us Indians, almost like one of the strands of our DNA, cannot be washed away so easily.

 So who is responsible for this? We all are, individually and collectively.  How?  Let us look at things from an individual perspective.

Hypothetically let us assume that I am from the upper caste.  If my parents are ardent believers in caste system, I can expect to be indoctrinated in all aspects of caste system and socially acceptable behavior towards the "lower castes."  If I do not question this age-old beliefs and tradition and believe in them blindly, it is a given that I will pass on these beliefs to my kids too.  That creates a whole new generation that believes in caste system and doesn't see anything wrong in the injustice being meted out to a section of people just on the basis of their birth.

From a group perspective, if being part of the society that hands out such injustice to others, I do not raise my voice against this nor try to mobilize people against it, then I am inadvertently contributing to this evil.  The casteist society pollutes its kids from a very young age with caste stratification. In a society that prides itself on maintaining age-old demeaning customs and traditions, justice and equality for all can never be expected.

This is what is happening in India.  This is India's shame, Its hidden apartheid.

You say, we agree that citizens and society are contributing to it, but what is the Government doing about it?  What are the politicians doing about it?  Can't the Government rectify this situation?

The Government, well let us see what the Government actually did to worsen the situation.  The Government officially identifies discriminated lowest castes under Scheduled Castes. Yes, the Government made it official.  Instead of identifying the historically discriminated and downtrodden people as economically backward and then initiating reforms for them, the Government classified the same group as Scheduled Castes opening them to more discrimination from hitherto unknown quarters.  You ask, what about the schemes that the Government undertook for the Scheduled Castes, I tell you they met the same fate as the scheduled castes themselves.

Are politicians contributors to it? Yes, they are. They work more towards keeping the caste-divide line visible than rubbing it off because poverty and untouchability sells in politics.  So when Rahul eats at a Dalit's house, it makes news.  A corrupt lady can become the CM of the biggest state in India on the foundation of caste politics. Untouchability sells in Indian politics.

So how do we rectify this situation?

Let us start with scriptures. They are always held as the culprits in promoting the caste system and every feudal lord hides behind the lines of the scripture.  The quotes from scriptures are spouted by one and all for every demeaning practice that is prevalent in the name of the caste.

Go back and read the scriptures again.  Interpret them for what they mean and not for what they seem to mean.  Identify what they proposed.  You may quote Manu in support of the caste system, but I will quote Sage Bhardwaja who said that when everyone is governed by the senses, emotions, hunger, lust, then why do we have caste differences?

If you tell me that Varanas in caste system are based on the differences in skin color and the resultant caste stratification according to it, I will call you racist and present before you a black Brahmin.

Bhavishya puran rightly says that when all four classes were made by God and that God is our father, how can we as his children have different castes.

Coming to individuals,  we should identify the caste system as evil and a detriment to democracy.  We should be careful as to not pass this legacy to our kids.  We should ingrain in them a love for all and a strong belief in justice and equality for all. 

As a part of the society, we should raise our collective voice against this system and take an oath to eradicate it.  Support intercaste marriages. They will dilute the differences and eradicate the system.

What the Government can do?  How about reforms for the economically downtrodden and not based on caste classifications?  How about never asking me for my caste on any of the official forms?  How about doing away with usage of surnames on official documents and just identifying an individual by their father's or their mother's name?  How about doing away with reservations?  How about a strong anti-discrimination law?  How about classifying untouchability as apartheid and racism?  How about banning caste-based political parties?  How about banning khaps?

The revolution will come. It will come one day.  The oppressed will rise one day to wash away the injustice, but what about the destruction it will leave in its wake. Let us not wait for such a day. Let us not stoke the fire.  Let us act now.

Let us wish for an India where politicians don't go to the press when they eat at a dalit's house, where a president is not hailed or written about just because he is from a lower caste, where news headlines do not highlight the caste of the victim, where a student with good marks is always given first preference.

When God does not discriminate between a flower offered by a Dalit and a Brahmin, who are we to discriminate?

To round up things, a doha from Sant Kabir:

Pothi Padh Padh Kar Jag Mua, Pandit Bhayo Na Koye
Dhai Aakhar Prem Ke, Jo Padhe so Pandit Hoye

Loneliness

My heart, my fellow traveler
It has been decreed again
That you and I be exiled,
go calling out in every street,
turn to every town.
To search for a clue
of a messenger from our Beloved.
To ask every stranger
the way back to our home.

In this town of unfamiliar folk
we drudge the day into the night
Talk to this stranger at times,
to that one at others.

How can I convey to you, my friend
how horrible is a night of loneliness
 It would suffice to me
if there were just some count
I would gladly welcome death
if it were to come but once.

Happiness

Why is the heart so unhappy?
I have nothing to complain
Things I have lost, i have gained
Things I have gained, I have lost
Again
So, Why is the heart so unhappy?

Events in my life
Both pleasant and unpleasant
have balanced out each other
Always
Then, Why is the heart so unhappy?

Found love
Lost it
Found it again
In a lovely wife
Who loves me like crazy
The fact that I do the same
Makes it more beautiful
But
Why is the heart so unhappy?

Never had much money to start with
Made some, got foolish with it
Lost a lot, got some back
Never cared much about money
Still
Why is the heart so unhappy?

The question I ask myself
Dont you have enough
to be happy
Then why are you not
I search for the answer
in the myriad thoughts
in my head
Could not come up with
Answer to
Why is my heart so unhappy?

I guess it is my mind
that is playing games
Shows me only the thorns
in the garden of flowers
Negativity and cynicism creeps in
I try to fight
I want to be happy
if not for me
but for her
to see the smile on her face
every morning and night
I have to be happy
I decide to be happy

Imperfections of a Judiciary System

Let me start this with a story. 

I was once a  teenager.  To say that my teen life was fun would be an understatement.  It was really over the top at times. We had lot of fun.  Our idea of fun usually involved some gray "fun" which did not seem gray at that time.  Let us visit some of the gray fun.  One of the oldest tricks ( I would call it fun) was looking at someone's dingdong when they were peeing and then describing it to others much to the chagrin of the victim.  Also at times, the inherent curiosity prevalent amongst Homo sapiens about genitalia during those growing-up years would lead to instances of kids checking out each other's dingdongs. No! homosexuality was not involved; just plain curiosity. Those caught "checking out" would automatically become the object of "soft ridicule" and the "butt" of jokes that summer.  The brave took it on with a smile. The weak kept quiet. The sensitive complained to parents. The extra-sensitive did not come out to play for a day or two. But no one ever went beyond this. Everything would be back to normal in a short time.  Everyone would be friends again. It was just a prank, a mischief and nothing more, but then it was a time where there was no Facebook or Twitter.

Wondering why I recounted the whole shit about my growing up years ?  Well, I came across a recent incident which at best can be compared to those long forgotten years, but in this era this had taken monstrous proportions, and both the victim and the perpetrator were punished to an extent where it outweighs everything - the guilt and the crime. 

I am talking about Dharun Ravi. 

For the uninitiated, Clementi, who was gay, asked for privacy to use the room he shared with Dharun Ravi for an encounter with a 32-year-old non-student with whom he had connected on the Internet. Ravi met his roommate’s date briefly and sent text messages to friends describing the man as “creepy” and expressing worries about theft. Ravi said he deliberately left his webcam on to monitor the visitor because he was worried about the security of his property. With another student, he watched Clementi embracing the other man and then sent out derisive Twitter and text messages about his roommate “kissing a dude.”

Ravi invited other friends to join him in watching the next scheduled visit, two days later. But the webcam did not work on that occasion, perhaps because a guilt-stricken Ravi dismantled it, as he later claimed, or because it malfunctioned, or because Clementi discovered the intrusion and disconnected the equipment himself. The next day, Clementi complained to the dormitory’s resident assistant and to two other officials, and said he no longer wanted to share his room with Ravi. A day after this, Clementi committed suicide by jumping off George Washington Bridge.

Dharun Ravin was charged with invasion of privacy, witness tampering and the more serious charge of bias intimidation and on March 16, a jury sentenced him to 10 years in prison with possible deportation to India.

So was the verdict harsh ? Ohh yes, it surely was.  Not to diminish the crimes that were committed in any way, but how does throwing Dharun Ravi in jail solve anything?  It's tragic that a young man took his own life and Ravi should bear some responsibility, but are we becoming a society of victims?  The crime was harsh, but the sentence was harsher.  Everyone forgot that it was a foolish stupid prank gone wrong.  Everyone forgot that the perpetrator was a teen.  It doesn't make the crime small, but the criminal deserves the benefit of doubt.  He did not harass any gays or cyber bully anyone. People just want to feel like something is being done about these situations that are in the spotlight now, and Ravi happens to be the lightening rod for the blame.  It is not cool but it is not a major felony crime either.  Going by his final words to Clementi, "I've known you were gay and I have no problem with it. In fact one of my closest friends is gay and he and I have a very open relationship. I just suspected you were shy about it which is why I never broached the topic. I don't want your freshman year to be ruined because of a petty misunderstanding, it's adding to my guilt. You have a right to move if you wish but I don't want you to feel pressured to without fully understanding the situation.", Dharun Ravi seems much less of a villain than he is made out to be.  I wonder if everyone is out to prove a point and this everyone includes the liberals, conservatives and the gay agenda too.  Without a doubt, Dharun Ravi behaved despicably to his Rutgers roommate. But had Tyler Clementi been straight, no one would have claimed Ravi’s webcam spying constituted a major offense. Had it been a female companion, everything would have boiled down to a teenage prank. 

Dharun did not take up the plea bargain because he sincerely believed that he did not commit any hate crimes. Though the jury agreed at some point with defense, he was sentenced.  Did they want to make an example of him?  This is outrageous.  I personally think that this case reveals a "lynch mob mentality" of the populace that has led to this overkill.  A justice system which has let O.J Simpson roam around freely convicts a boy of doing something which he thought was a practical joke and never realized it had such criminal consequences.  Was the jury impartial?

Anybody give a thought to what would happen to Dharun Ravi in jail? An Indian in an American maximum security jail populated by a very dangerous crowd. His chances of getting out from there without being battered and raped would be one in a million.  He is just 20 years old.  I just hope he does not become a hardened criminal in those years.

In retrospect, Dharun Ravi should have taken up the plea bargain, but then his attorneys are to be blamed for that.  In retrospect, he shouldn't have spied on his roommate, but then he did.  In retrospect, he should have opened up properly to his roommate when he first heard of the room-change requests. 

All said and done, it is up to the justice system to introspect whether it is making an example of Dharun Ravi and is it not a too-high price to pay?