shobhit mathur

On Diwali, we celebrate Sri Ram, whose unconditional fidelity conquered hearts for millenia. Today, Nvidia's CEO has all the chips on earth, yet couldn't manage basic fidelity at home, risking national security over a spy. Real power isn’t silicon, it’s character.

Here is a fascinating story connected to this sight, and how Mt Everest had nothing to do with Mr. Everest. In the late 1840s, British surveyors observed a cluster of Himalayan peaks from multiple stations in the plains of India (perhaps the same location as below. Nepal was closed to foreigners) A peak that appeared taller than Kangchenjunga (then thought to be the highest) was simply cataloged as Peak XV. At the same time, Radhanath Sikdar was a brilliant mathematician and student of Hindu College (Presidency University) who joined the Survey of India in 1831 as a "computer" (a person responsible for complex mathematical computations). In 1852, working as Chief Computer under Surveyor General Andrew Scott Waugh, Sikdar analyzed trigonometric data, angles, distances, and atmospheric refraction corrections gathered from over 100 miles away. His calculations proved that Peak XV stood at 29,000 feet (8,839 meters), making it the highest mountain on Earth. In 1856, Waugh announced the discovery. Instead of preserving local names (such as the Tibetan Chomolungma or local designations) or crediting Sikdar, Waugh proposed naming it Mount Everest after his predecessor, Sir George Everest. Everest had nothing to do with this discovery which in fact had an Indian achievement behind it.

"Build Build Build" thanks for saying this @svembu Build DeepTech Companies Build Hard Infrastructure Build product startups Build proprietary AI models Built next-gen energy grid Build advanced material patents Build digital public infrastructure Build institutions for expanding human capability ....

Deeply privileged to present my views before the Joint Parliamentary Committee on the FCRA Amendment Bill 2026. What struck me most was the sheer depth and genuineness of the discussion. This is far from a mere procedural exercise. The Committee is grappling with a crucial balance: strengthening national security and financial oversight while preserving civil society autonomy. Thoughtful parliamentary scrutiny like this gives me real confidence in our legislative process.

Understanding China requires looking beyond headlines, military capabilities and geopolitical competition. It requires an appreciation of the institutions, administrative practices and everyday decisions that have shaped the country's development. With this in mind, we called on Amb. @SujanChinoy yesterday, to learn from his decades of first-hand experience with China. At @RishihoodUni, we are keen to build a deeper understanding of China, particularly its governance and development experience, and the lessons India might draw from it. Amb Chinoy brings an exceptional depth of knowledge to this subject. A career diplomat who served in Beijing, Shanghai and other important diplomatic postings, he has engaged with China over decades. His understanding goes well beyond what an outside observer might glean from reports, statistics or brief visits. He brings an appreciation of the nuances, institutional context and fine details that only sustained engagement with a country can offer. Our conversation ranged from the role of provincial and municipal governments in China's development to the everyday practices of local governance. We explored subjects such as urban forestry, an important aspect of building liveable cities that rarely features in India's mainstream discourse on China. I came away with a renewed appreciation for the importance of deep country expertise. At Rishihood, we hope to build this capability among our faculty and learners, extending our understanding of China beyond strategic competition to the institutions and practices that have shaped its development. My thanks to Amb Chinoy for a rich and illuminating conversation.

When Amazon hired me on an H-1B visa, Amazon was making losses for 10 straight years. It was operating out of a rented building where we worked on door desks in small cabins. I was in the initial team that built AWS. Today AWS contributes more than 60% to Amazon's profit. The stock price has gone 300x. Amazon's buildings have changed the skyline of downtown Seattle. Jeff Bezos went on to become the world's richest man. There were about a hundred H1B visa holders like me in the initial team of Amazon. Good luck building companies and wealth without these 'indentured servants'

Remembering Nana Patekar's legendary dialogue. Could not be more prescient in the context of what is happening in Central Delhi today. Om Shanti 🙏