Prakash Shenoy's Diary

  India, the birthplace of Buddhism, witnessed a remarkable transformation over the course of centuries, leading to the gradual decline and near disappearance of this influential faith. This evolution was shaped by a complex interplay of historical, sociopolitical, and cultural factors, ultimately reshaping the religious landscape of the region. The journey of Buddhism in India began with a profound shift in royal patronage. Initially, Buddhism thrived under the auspices of the Mauryan Empire, particularly during Emperor Ashoka's reign. Ashoka's fervent promotion of Buddhism within India and beyond propelled its expansion. However, as the Mauryan Empire crumbled, a void emerged, and subsequent empires like the Sunga and the Gupta chose to extend their support to Brahmanism, the precursor to Hinduism. This shift in imperial patronage dealt a significant blow to Buddhism's growth. The resurgence of Brahmanism during this period was fueled by the influential Hindu philosopher ...

Moby Dick is one of the most celebrated works of American literature, written by Herman Melville in 1851. The novel tells the story of Captain Ahab's obsessive quest to hunt down the white whale Moby Dick, who has maimed and eluded him for years. Along the way, the reader encounters a rich and diverse cast of characters, including Ishmael, the narrator and protagonist, Queequeg, a Polynesian harpooner and Ishmael's friend, Starbuck, the first mate and a voice of reason, and many others. The novel explores themes such as fate, free will, revenge, religion, madness, and the nature of evil. Moby Dick is not a conventional novel, but rather a complex and ambitious work that combines elements of different genres, such as adventure, romance, satire, allegory, and symbolism. The novel is also famous for its extensive use of metaphors, allusions, and references to various fields of knowledge, such as whaling, history, philosophy, mythology, and science. The novel is full of digressions...