V.H. Belvadi

Venkatram Harish Belvadi

Pronouns: He/Him

Writer and photographer studying the history and philosophy of science.

Chat Nickname: vhbelvadi

Contact: hello@vhbelvadi.com

V.H. Belvadi studies the history and philosophy of science and the interconnections between science, technology and society. He has been running his personal website VHBelvadi.com since 2007. My sparkline—which looks like this: V.H. Belvadi—on IndieWeb camp is {{vhbelvadi}}.

Websites

I used to run a multi-site set-up split by content but since 2024 have combined everything into my main website. The website is powered by Statamic and includes the following:

Essays
Book reviews (with a separate Reading list)
Photography
Marginalia
Short films

Newsletter

First edition

Since 2009 to 2022 I ran my newsletter, untitled, which recommended interesting things to read, listen to and watch every week. It grew pretty popular and had no niche but by 2023 I retired it in favour of curating a new newsletter based on a different concept and a well-defined niche. This newsletter used to run on MailChimp.

Second edition: Confluence

Briefly known as Dispatch from Rhûn, Confluence focuses on my primary interests, allowing me to be more productive with my writing each issue and benefitting me in multiple ways as part of my primary work studying the history and philosophy of science.

Confluence focusses on the interconnections between science, technology and society drawing from historic and philosophical perspectives while also addressing current and developing issues in our everyday use of science and technology—the same issues that form the focus of my essays. Since the two editions of the newsletter have varied themes, the readership of the first edition was not carried forward and subscribers were given the opportunity to remain subscribed if they chose to, respecting their time and allowing them to reconsider their subscription under newer terms. This newsletter runs on Buttondown.

IndieWeb manifesto

Ever since I first came across the IndieWeb movement I have wanted to be convinced of it and implement it thereafter. In my attempts to fully appreciate what the IndieWeb is all about and to ensure I understand what I back, I maintain a manifesto on my website which serves as a work-in-progress exposition of my beliefs and principles as someone who runs their personal website.

The manifesto reflects how I am mostly convinced by the IndieWeb movement and the direction in which it is currently headed. And it builds on top of this by outlining my own beliefs and practices seen across my website itself and, for example, my interactions on social media.

Works in progress

I have been trying to “IndieWebify” my site since over a year now. While progress has been slow, at least it has been steady. Rel=me links exist, web sign-in exists through Rel=me as well as PGP. Also, valid h-card and h-entry micro-formats exist.

To be done: Webmentions. I did try out an implementation long back but that relied on a third-party plugin that has since been abandoned. I am in the process of working on a first-party implementation but no deadline is in sight because I am still in the process of wrapping my head around how Webmentions even work.