Are we getting smarter - or Just Faster? Intelligence in Transition

Dear Friends,

My paternal grandfather and the previous two generations before him were Ghanapatis in the Yajurveda. However, my father was introduced to it to some extent but was not able to master it. Of course, I am a totally lost kid in our generation. I realized that I am absolutely unfit in both recitation and memory!

I did a little research on how much memory and dedication are required to become a Ghanapati. Among the four Vedas (Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda, Atharvaveda), the Yajurveda contains approximately 1,97,000 words, whereas Rigveda has ~153,000 words, Samaveda (~1,875 verses), and Atharvaveda (~120,000 words).

How big is the Yajurveda for comparison? It is approximately 650 pages of recitation. If I roughly calculate, it amounts to 22 hours of nonstop speaking (at an average speaking speed of 150 words per minute). Having said that, it is not just memorization — Ghana Patha is the highest and most complex method of chanting. It is a verbal permutation algorithm. They should be able to pick up from anywhere and recite in any combination!

It is unimaginable and inconceivable for me! I don’t even remember the names of 60 students in my class after teaching them for a full semester!! This is my current state of remembrance! You must be wondering why I am referring to my memory degradation here.
In 1984, political scientist James R. Flynn analyzed historical IQ data and discovered something surprising. Between 1932 and 1978, average IQ scores had increased by about 13–14 points, roughly 3 points per decade in many countries. On a lighter note, of course, I am an exception, as my IQ seems to have decreased! Or perhaps the test process covers different aspects that I am not aware of. I don’t have sufficient process knowledge; hence, I cannot comment further.

However, recently, Kiran Shah (Founder – Market Fit) posted an interesting note. The post argues that Gen Z is the first generation in over 100 years to show declining IQ, memory, attention, literacy, and numeracy scores compared to their parents, reversing the long-standing Flynn Effect.

It links this shift to the widespread adoption of smartphones around 2010 and increased screen time dominated by short-form, fast-scrolling content. The claim is that constant digital stimulation has weakened sustained attention and deep processing, leading to reduced cognitive endurance despite high confidence levels among Gen Z. That said, this trend could have serious implications for workplaces and future decision-making.

I am also experiencing this phenomenon among Gen Z students. As teachers, if we seize mobiles or ask students to stay away from them for a while, we experience different reactions. They are unable to sit for long hours. I still remember that during my college days, I used to prepare physical notes for myself and my friends. Sometimes, to make notes for one subject on A4 paper, I used to sit for 10–12 hours at a stretch. It was a strenuous process! We had to understand the textbook, translate it into our own notes, and write them on paper. Today, I do not see many students giving such deep attention to thinking and writing, especially in note-making.

Finally, whether IQ levels increased or decreased, the rate of behavioral change and decision-making has been hugely impacted between two technological transitions — Radio to Television vs. Television to Smartphone.

Now we are entering a new phase — intelligence supplied to smartphones by humans vs. smartphones driven by machine intelligence. Let us wait and witness the consequences.

Ravi Saripalle

Living Below Your Means is Living Above Your Risk: A Behavioural and Economic Inquiry

Dear Friends,

During my schooling, I owed 25 paise (1/4 of a rupee, as they are no longer in circulation) to one of my friends. I did not know Anas (1/16 of a rupee). My parents were using it. Now, our next generation is not aware of 5 paise, 10 paise, 25 paise, 50 paise, etc. However, the debt I owed constantly haunted me until I repaid him. In similar incidents, if someone owed me any paise, I used to constantly remind them until they repaid me.

I am not a financial expert or planner. I did not anchor for the best opportunities to earn during the peak of my career either. I restarted from scratch in my mid-30s, experimenting with new skills, a new profession, and a new place.

When I resigned from my job, I did not have a good bank balance, but I ensured I cleared all my loans in full. I ensured that no new loans were taken; even when taken, they were limited to my small earnings. Thanks to my mother’s childhood training, psychologically, I am scared of EMIs.

You might be wondering about the context of my story here. Recently, I was buying some items in a shop. I overheard a conversation between two salesgirls. They were discussing EMIs. One of them took a mobile on EMI without telling her parents. Now, the loan app agents were psychologically blackmailing her. It is not one single story. Many Gen Z kids are on the same EMI path — some for mobiles, some for flats, some for luxurious villas, some for international trips, some for posh furniture — and the laundry list goes on.

A few days back, there was an issue in Bengaluru. I was reading about this incident on Facebook. A Bengaluru professional lost his job and missed three EMIs on his home loan. Under the SARFAESI Act, the bank auctioned his ₹1.2 crore flat at a distress price of ₹95 lakh, recovering ₹80 lakh and leaving him with just ₹15 lakh. Beyond the direct capital loss, he also lost eight years of EMIs, interest paid, registration costs, and the opportunity his invested money could have earned elsewhere. What vanished was not just a house, but accumulated equity, financial stability, and future wealth potential. In my view, a rough estimate of the loss could be more than ₹1 crore.

Here are my assumptions — Direct equity loss ₹25 lakh, Interest paid ₹50 lakh, Registration & miscellaneous ₹15 lakh, Opportunity cost gap ₹60 lakh. Total economic impact (broad view): ₹1.2 – ₹1.4 crore equivalent impact.

In my view, parents need to teach children not about how much more can be earned, but how much less they can live on. Frugality is real savings. Even if someone earns ₹50 lakh and the lifestyle cost is ₹60 lakh, the psychological cost is higher, often leading to health issues. AI is unpredictable. Many jobs are shaky. Do not take major buying decisions based on future money; rather, base them on past accumulation.

The former President, Abdul Kalam, left behind no personal wealth or property — only his personal belongings, including books, clothes, a veena, and a laptop. When I met him in person, I was truly inspired by his words and warmth. Why am I truly inspired in the first place? Because of his frugal lifestyle. Unfortunately, I am still struggling to live like that.

Frugality is not just personal finance — it is behavioral economics, resilience theory, sustainability, and intergenerational wealth strategy combined.

Ravi Saripalle

Preparing Together: The Parent–Child Entrance Story

Dear Friends,

Nowadays, we see many students opting for long-term coaching for IIT-JEE. In our days, however, long-term coaching was mainly for the EAMCET entrance examination. I still remember that right after my 10th standard, I ordered IIT study material from Brilliant Tutorials, Chennai. I realized I was “not IIT material” only after reading that material. The material used to come in a series - and the realization that I was not IIT material also happened in a series!

Thanks to the depth and difficulty of that material, I gradually lost confidence in my regular +2 Mathematics and Physics as well. After some time, I decided to focus only on my +2 syllabus and managed to scrape through with a simple first class - though I had been a school topper in 10th standard. As a result, I did not qualify for EAMCET on my first attempt.

Since we were not in a position to pay donations to private engineering colleges, I decided to pursue AMIE and moved to Chennai. Within six months, I realized it was impractical to study mechanical engineering subjects without practical exposure. So, I returned to my hometown.

I then joined long-term coaching for EAMCET, located 60 km away from my home. I used to wake up at 4 AM, catch a train at 6 AM to Vizag, return home by bus at 5 PM, and practice late into the night. I followed this routine for six months — but again, no luck.

Eventually, I had to settle for a Bachelor of Science. But I continued preparing for another three years and finally secured Rank 32 in my Master’s entrance examination. If I count the years before witnessing success, it took exactly six years!

Sometimes, I share this story with my children and students as a proud moment -like Muhammad Ghori, who attacked 17 times before succeeding!

You might be wondering why I am boring you with my story. But if you read the following story, my effort seems minuscule. I was deeply inspired by the story of Amuthavalli Manivannan.

At 49, Amuthavalli from Tenkasi, Tamil Nadu, revived her long-paused dream of becoming a doctor. A former physiotherapist whose medical studies were halted due to financial constraints, she rediscovered her passion while helping her 18-year-old daughter, Samyuktha, prepare for the NEET examination.

Mother and daughter bonded over late-night study sessions, sharing textbooks and explanations. Late nights turned into shared nights. Both cleared NEET this year: Amuthavalli scored 147 marks, securing a seat at a nearby government medical college, and Samyuktha scored an impressive 450 marks and is awaiting her preferred seat.

Their story proves that some dreams do not die; they simply pause until the right moment to reignite. Hats off to Amuthavalli!

We often see parents moving to Kota or other coaching hubs, staying with their children for two years, investing money and time. But rarely do we see parents studying alongside their children. In a way, my mother also belongs to this rare category — she pursued her second bachelor’s degree just to motivate us to study.

Sometimes, in the evenings, I walk through slums and semi-middle-class lanes just to observe life. These days, I often see mothers watching reels on their phones while their children sit with books in hand, occasionally glancing at the television.

It makes me wonder: Will you prepare for the entrance examination along with your children?

Ravi Saripalle

Parenting: The Toughest Exam of All

Dear Friends,

This week, I heard many incidents and stories related to parenting decisions. In fact, it is easy to clear the UPSC exam or the CAT exam, but raising kids is a tough job! No parenting counselling session can teach this skill. No degree can supplement this knowledge.

When you are rich, parenting revolves around what luxuries you can provide or limit, which courses would help them maintain their privileged position, and how they can avoid any negative associations, etc. When we are in the middle class, parenting revolves around how we can provide a good education and how they can settle well in their jobs, marriages, etc. When we are in poor conditions, parenting revolves around how we can provide basic food, shelter, and other psychological needs.

Recently, I read about an incident in which a mother took a bold decision. A 13-year-old boy named Austin became a hero after swimming four hours through rough Australian seas—first with a life jacket, then without—to reach shore and alert rescuers, saving his mother and two younger siblings. The family had been kayaking (like a boat in which the paddler sits facing forward, legs in front) and paddle boarding when sudden weather changes swept them 4 km offshore; they drifted up to 14 km total over 8-10 hours as darkness fell. His mother made the tough call asking him to swim for help, and he focused on positive thoughts like "just keep swimming" amid massive waves before collapsing on the beach at 6 p.m. He finally flagged the team, and a rescue helicopter located the others clinging to a paddleboard just in time.

There was a shocking incident in which three daughters took an extreme step after being denied access to their mobile phones. In fact, they were addicted to mobile games. When parents made decisions for their own good, it was not well received by their children. A similar incident happened in AP, where a daughter was scolded for watching continuous reels; she took an extreme step as a protest against her parents. In another incident, a son was addicted to games and a few apps, and when the mother stopped funding them as a protest, the son killed the mother. Likewise, the number of such incidents is growing. In fact, this was the case during our times as well, but media reporting was weak. In every generation, parenting is tough.

The other day, we were visiting Araku Valley and driving through a few hamlets. It was almost dark. A few families were living in bamboo-supported shelters. Kids were playing outside, and parents were not nearby. Snakes and other wild insects could be common visitors. However, if we reflect on their parenting decisions, I am sure they were not worried about safety gadgets, but rather about how they would feed their children tomorrow. In a similar scenario, in the case of rich kids, parents would panic if Odomos gel (mosquito repellent) were unavailable!

After observing these cases, I feel parenting becomes tougher as we earn more. The more we have, the more we try to build sophistication. Once kids become comfortable with that level of sophistication, they cannot adapt to a lower one. If it is denied or unavailable, they may become arbitrary in their decisions.

Having said that, finally, in my view, it all depends on God’s mercy, no matter how much you plan, prepare, and practice!!

Do you agree?

Ravi Saripalle