Hektoen International

A Journal of Medical Humanities

Tag: Rao M. Uppu

  • Dronacharya: A father, a teacher, and a human

    Rao UppuBaton Rouge, Louisiana, United States The epics of ancient India, particularly the Mahabharata, one of the two major Sanskrit epics, offer enduring insights into human nature. Among them, Dronacharya, a revered teacher of warfare and royal preceptor to the Kuru princes, stands out as reflecting both the strengths and limits of a teacher. Dronacharya’s…

  • A second mind in scientific writing

    Rao UppuBaton Rouge, Louisiana, United States Clarity in scientific writing is a rare achievement. As Margaret Thatcher would have said in a different context, it does not fall from Heaven but needs work, often a lot of it. I learned this years ago, not in a laboratory or a seminar, but in my living room,…

  • The chemistry of coffee and the paradox of balance

    Rao UppuBaton Rouge, Louisiana, United States Coffee is more than a daily stimulant; it is a quiet lesson in biological balance. The long-running debate over whether coffee is “good” or “bad” increasingly shows that, for most people, moderate intake—about one to three cups a day—sits comfortably within that balance. Coffee also carries cultural meaning, reminding…