Science
Can jamun trees foretell a drought?
This year, many parts of India are witnessing an unusually abundant crop of jamun (Syzygium cumini). As photos of heavily
Murali Duggineni
June 22, 2026
Murali Duggineni
Storyteller, Quizzer, Marcom Pro.
Murali Duggineni
Storyteller, Quizzer, Marcom Pro.
My Blogs
My Stories
- Accidental Discoveries (16)
- Art & Culture (163)
- BackStory (392)
- Blog (38)
- Branding (56)
- Business (83)
- Career Development (9)
- Design (5)
- Education (33)
- Entrepreneurship (43)
- Etymology (141)
- Food (34)
- Geographical Indications (16)
- Heritage (96)
- History (160)
- India (163)
- Initiatives (29)
- Innovation (13)
- Marcom (41)
- Medicine (4)
- Miscellaneous (93)
- Mythology (34)
- Reflections (2)
- Science (2)
- Social Impact (28)
- Sports (3)
- Technology (53)
- Travel & Tourism (53)
- Wildlife (9)
Art & Culture
Decoding “Sanata Dharma” for the modern world
These days, we hear the term Sanatana Dharma in political speeches, primetime debates, and conversations about Indian culture, spirituality, and
Murali Duggineni
June 20, 2026
Business
Why a backlog is good news for business
Today, the word backlog often brings to mind unfinished exam papers, pending tasks, or work piling up. Yet its origin
Murali Duggineni
June 18, 2026
BackStory
Why are distractions called red herrings?
A red herring is a misleading clue, argument, or piece of information that distracts people from the real issue. The
Murali Duggineni
June 17, 2026
BackStory
The story of Amrutanjan and its visionary founder
Long before television commercials, social media campaigns, and celebrity endorsements, a small yellow balm won the trust of millions through
Murali Duggineni
June 16, 2026
BackStory
How “brownie points” earned their name
Brownie points are imaginary credits earned for helpful or commendable acts, often to gain approval or favor rather than a
Murali Duggineni
June 15, 2026
Reflections
Why we become strangers to ourselves
Why do so many people remain unhappy despite living in an age of unprecedented comfort, convenience, and opportunity? This question
Murali Duggineni
June 14, 2026
Branding
How a ball bearing brand became Volvo
Volvo is known for building some of the world’s safest and most respected cars. But have you ever wondered what
Murali Duggineni
June 13, 2026
Technology
What a 200-year-old illustration reveals about AI agents
Recently, I was flipping through AI Agents in Action by Michael Lanham. Inside the book, there’s an interesting detail about
Murali Duggineni
June 12, 2026
Food
What does TDS in water really mean?
If you’ve ever checked a water purifier or water quality report, you’ve probably come across the term TDS, which stands
Murali Duggineni
June 11, 2026
Science
Understanding the language of rain
When the monsoon arrives, we often hear terms such as drizzle, showers, rain, downpour, and cloudburst. Meteorologists use these words
Murali Duggineni
June 10, 2026
Travel & Tourism
The rare flower that gave the Nilgiris their name
The Neelakurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana) is one of India’s most extraordinary flowering plants, found mainly in the high-altitude shola grasslands of
Murali Duggineni
June 9, 2026
BackStory
What is a data center and why is everyone talking about water?
When companies such as Google, Microsoft, or Amazon build a data center, they are creating the physical backbone of the
Murali Duggineni
June 8, 2026
Geographical Indications
The princely town that gave India one of its finest mangoes
For many people across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, the first sign of summer is the appearance of Banganapalli mangoes in
Murali Duggineni
June 7, 2026
Reflections
There’s an artist in every profession
This month, we are leaving the house we lived in for nearly six years. During all these years, we managed
Murali Duggineni
June 6, 2026
Design
Why does the recycling symbol have three arrows?
Three simple arrows chasing one another in a triangle have become one of the most recognized symbols in the world.
Murali Duggineni
June 5, 2026
Design
Why Arial, Helvetica, and Roboto are called “sans-serif”
Check your smartphone, laptop, or favorite website, and chances are you are reading a sans-serif font. The term sans-serif comes
Murali Duggineni
June 4, 2026
BackStory
Why traffic lights use red, yellow, and green
Before traffic lights existed, city streets were crowded with pedestrians, horse-drawn carriages, bicycles, streetcars, and an increasing number of automobiles.
Murali Duggineni
June 3, 2026
Technology
Why every device uses the same power button icon
Look closely at the power button on your laptop, phone, TV, or microwave. You will find a vertical line enclosed
Murali Duggineni
June 2, 2026
Design
The tearful origins of “maudlin”
Ever wondered how the name of a revered biblical figure came to describe someone who is overly emotional? The story
Murali Duggineni
June 1, 2026
Wildlife
Chippiparai: the royal dog breed of Tamil Nadu
Fast enough to chase deer across open plains and fearless enough to confront wild boar, the Chippiparai was once the
Murali Duggineni
May 31, 2026
BackStory
Why sophomores are called “wise fools”
What do a second-year student, a struggling athlete in their second season, and a musician wrestling with a difficult second
Murali Duggineni
May 30, 2026
BackStory
How hay bales gave us the phrase “gone haywire”
What do malfunctioning computers and nineteenth-century hay bales have in common? More than you might think. Before hydraulic balers and
Murali Duggineni
May 29, 2026
Art & Culture
The lesser-known story behind Tirumala’s Munro Gangalam
If you visit the Sri Venkateswara Temple in Tirumala, you will notice that the sacred prasadam is prepared and served
Murali Duggineni
May 28, 2026
BackStory
Why some people wear their hearts on their sleeves
You have probably met someone whose face gives everything away, someone who cannot hide excitement, heartbreak, or love even if
Murali Duggineni
May 27, 2026
Etymology
How a London fish market became a byword for foul language
Billingsgate (noun) means vulgar, coarse, and violently abusive language — the kind laced with insults and harsh words, typically hurled
Murali Duggineni
May 26, 2026
Etymology
Limousine: the shepherd’s cloak that became a status symbol
Long before limousines meant red carpets and celebrity arrivals, the word belonged to shepherds! In the Limousin region of central
Murali Duggineni
May 25, 2026
Etymology
Why is a sedan car called a sedan?
Did you know before horsepower, luxury moved at walking pace? The wealthy traveled in sedan chairs, enclosed carriers borne by
Murali Duggineni
May 24, 2026
Etymology
From Plato to PowerPoint: the story of “symposium”
A symposium today conjures images of suited professionals in auditoriums, exchanging ideas over slides. But the word has traveled a
Murali Duggineni
May 23, 2026
Etymology
When one word won the war!
Some words carry entire civilizations inside them. Laconic is one of them. Laconia was a province of ancient Greece. Its
Murali Duggineni
May 22, 2026
Mythology
Why many Hindus skip important decisions during “Rahu Kaal”
If you have ever heard someone postpone a journey, delay signing a contract, or avoid beginning an important task because
Murali Duggineni
May 21, 2026
Travel & Tourism
The devil in details at Salar Jung Museum
One of the most intriguing masterpieces at Hyderabad’s Salar Jung Museum is the double statue Mephistopheles and Margaretta. Carved from
Murali Duggineni
May 20, 2026
BackStory
Why “Hobson’s Choice” means no real choice
Have you ever been offered a choice that wasn’t actually a choice at all? That is a Hobson’s choice—a situation
Murali Duggineni
May 19, 2026
Food
How an English Earl gave the sandwich its name
Did you know one of the world’s most popular quick meals owes its name to an English aristocrat multitasking through
Murali Duggineni
May 18, 2026
Mythology
Why is extraordinary effort called “Bhagiratha Prayatnam”?
Some names outgrow the people who bore them and become symbols of an idea. Bhagiratha is one such name. In
Murali Duggineni
May 17, 2026
BackStory
What happens when someone steals your thunder?
Some idioms have surprisingly literal beginnings, and “to steal someone’s thunder” is one of them. Today, it means overshadowing someone
Murali Duggineni
May 16, 2026
Social Impact
Why Caesar’s wife had to be above suspicion
Can a person be completely innocent and still lose public trust? Ancient Rome answered that question! The expression “Caesar’s wife
Murali Duggineni
May 15, 2026
Etymology
How a rose became a symbol of secrecy
What if a single flower could symbolize secrecy for centuries? That is the story behind sub rosa, a Latin phrase
Murali Duggineni
May 14, 2026
BackStory
The long-wait behind “until the cows come home”
The expression “until the cows come home” refers to an indefinite, very long period of time. When someone says they
Murali Duggineni
May 13, 2026
BackStory
How “down to the wire” entered everyday English
When something “goes down to the wire,” it means the outcome remains uncertain until the very last possible moment. Today,
Murali Duggineni
May 12, 2026