Category: India of our dreams
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Violence- weapon of the morally weak!
Gandhiji used to say that “Non-violence (ahimsa) is not a weapon of the weak”. I am pretty much astonished to realize how true he was! And this thing among his many other things is so much relevant in the present era as it was back then during our freedom struggle. At the first instance, it…
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Policy-making- is this an exercise for organized anarchy!
If you happen to visit a rural area or an unplanned city, you see that the development (or underdevelopment) happens on its own pace even if there is no planned policy guiding the development of that area. For example, if there is no proper road, then the local government or even the locals residing in…
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The debilitating effect of technological advancement- tearing our health into pieces!
You must have commonly observed that the generations in older times like in 1950s to 1970s were physically more fit and active than the generations that came later. They had better immunity, better physical fitness and they were more close to the “natural way of doing things” as they were less dependent on technology. The…
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Good planners, but bad executioners- the missing link?
Since independence, there is one area where we have done great job! It is in planning things for welfare programmes, developmental initiatives, law & order, administrative reforms etc. For example, “Gareebi Hatao” as a policy goal was expounded in 1970s. When it was announced, there was much fanfare around it, elaborate planning would have been…
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Everything in the name of God, but who cares about the substance?
In this period of Ghor Kalyug, the alacrity and frequency with which the names of Gods are used, misused and abused has risen manifold and to alarming proportions! In a way, one can be optimist that atleast the names are being used in everyday life, so that people would be “closer to God”. Now-a-days infact,…
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The missing “safety culture” in our society- Who is to blame?
The recent tragic cruise capsizing incident in Bargi dam, Jabalpur, again raises some very pertinent questions about the safety culture in our society. We cannot control the vagaries of the nature like storms, cyclones etc., but certainly we can be better prepared to face such incidents in case they happen. In this particular incident, from…
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Do we need reverse urbanisation- movement from the fragile urban ecosystem towards the resilient rural ecosystem?
If you would recall the times of COVID-19, you would remember one thing clearly- the massive movement on foot/buses/railways towards the villages by the migrant workers! In the times of distress, millions moved back from the cities and towns towards their villages, the place where they could feel safe, get some food to eat and…
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Time to graduate from begging to earning!
Recently, I was reading a news item where a person was crying profusely for his “mai-baap” (a political leader) remembering that it was his “neta” who got him the job! Apparently, this may look fine as someone needy got a job, so what’s the big deal about it. But, there is a huge problem in…
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India- a beacon of hope in the tumultuous global landscape!
In the fractured, fragmented and fragile geopolitical situation that exists in the world today, the trade agreement between India and the European Union gives a glimmer of hope amidst the gloomy situation all around. And what stood out for me was the statement by the President of the European Commission, Ms. Ursula von der Leyen…