Friends, through the last few days I have tried to spread the word on donations without specifically responding to any of the political points or quite blatant falsehoods that have sadly become part of any social media mobilization. For a number of reasons. 1. The victims need help. And I don't care where it comes from. 2. The entire point of such falsehoods is to mire good people in the pointless act of fact-checking bullshit 3. Loyalty-signalling + performative platforms = people become assholes.

Pulling together all #KeralaSOS donation links here. (Will try to update through the day) Firstly there is the CM's Relief Fund website: donation.cmdrf.kerala.gov.in/#donation Link also features UPI QR codes. Alternately you can use the Kerala Government Portal route to also donate to the CM Disaster Relief Fund: kerala.gov.in/web/guest/CMDR…

One very quick I-day thread with some constitution-media-citizenship thoughts. Noob disclaimers apply of course. So I encourage people who know better to chip in. Also I am an NRI and it is easy for me to say etc arm chair etc. I know. Still... So for some years I have been working on a podcast history of the Indian constitution. It went on abrupt hiatus in 2015 after 14 episodes. (I went to do a Masters.) But it will resume this year with production help from an Indian media company. Details soon.

Good morning my friends. Let me start the day by sharing a small story from my academic work in medieval numismatics. For your enjoyment. Kindly peruse this coin. (Those in the know kindly do not spoil for others. Non-expert-so-far disclaimers apply.) 1/n At first glance this is a Persian coin. A ‘Sassanian’ Persian coin to be more precise. There are numerous signature features. On the obverse (the front) you can see the king with his bearded face and winged headgear, ornaments around the neck. All standard Sassanian features.