The Wordsmith

The news hit Mark like a rogue wave. His father, the anchor of their family, was gone. But amidst the grief, a new responsibility surfaced, heavy and insistent: care for his ailing mother. At 31, with a wife and a future painted in vibrant hues of travel and exploration, Mark found himself tethered to a life he hadn't planned, the weight of filial obligation pressing down on him. His love for his mother was undeniable, a deep-rooted affection that bloomed from childhood memories and years of shared laughter. Yet, it now came laced with a bitter aftertaste of sacrifice. Every stolen glance at travel brochures felt like a betrayal, every whispered conversation with his wife, a clandestine affair. The world beyond their doorstep, once brimming with possibility, now seemed a distant mirage. Mark's story isn't unique. It's a familiar echo in societies where the elderly traditionally rely on their children for care, a narrative etched in the lines of countless young adults wh...

The teenage years are the formative period for an y human being. A child experiences an introductory understanding of physical, mental, and social growth. During this phase, a teenager is vulnerable to mental health issues due to various factors like: ·      High family expectations in Academics ·      Strict parenting ·      Societal peer pressure ·      Body shaming ·      Exposure to violence ·      Bullying ·      Sexual Abuse ·      Poverty- family financial problems ·      Puberty- changes in their body and not feeling good about themselves ·      Discrimination in gender behavior and habits- this is a common practice in Indian households and society. Girls and boys are differentiated for their regular lifestyles. ·     ...

18th March, 2023  8:45 AM, IGI-T2 Airport, Delhi. Waiting in the lounge for a Patna bound Indigo flight 6E 2954. Fearful what if the flight gets delayed due to bad weather? And my fear turns out real. It was delayed by 1:30 hr. Every passing minute was like hours. The fellow passengers started yelling at the Indigo staff after it stopped raining. Hopeful to board soon, i stood in the queue, impatient to land at JPN Patna and reach home, but delayed by half an hour again.  I cursed my fate, resentment took over and tears rolled down. Went to the staff and pleaded him to clear the air about the boarding. When you are in grief, you become more humble and polite. He honestly briefed me on the situation and advised me to rush to Gate no. 22 for another Indigo flight ready to take off in next 5 mins. I ran towards gate No.22.  That 2 mins sprint pinned all the memories of my deceased father in a flashback. That run for flight was a triangular fight. Fight ...

On a glittering ceremony, Ninteen year old Yashika Dudeja from Uttar Pradesh bags Third Runner-Up Title at India Teen 2022. Whereas Sahara Hangma Subba from Sikkim, was crowned Teen India 2022. Yashika is ninteen year old who is pursuing her graduation.  Sara Naikwadi from Maharashtra, Aastha Kashyap from Delhi were the respective first and second runner-ups. The main winners were crowned by out going queens, Mannat Kaur (Teen Universe Asia 2020) and Anjani Sharma (Teen India Runner Up 2020). Jasmeet Kaur, CEO of Teen India and National Director of India for many prestigious international pageants, led a spectacular event along with her daughter Srishti Kaur, who is India and Asia's first Teen Universe winner. The event was graced by the honourable presence of Mr. K.L  Ganju (Consul General, Republic of Union of Comoros ) was the Chief Guest ; the valuable presence of Chandra Rekha Gulabani, Ms. Ratan Kaul, Ms. Asma Gulzar, Mr. Om Praakash, Mr. Piyush Chaturvedi, C...

The ace social-scientist and champion of Bihar’s policymaking Dr. Shaibal Gupta's demise has left a void among a large section of intelligentsia. S haibal Gupta was Bihar’s foremost economic think-tank and political commentator immersed deeply in drafting public policies for the state, designing economic reforms on behalf of Nitish Kumar’s government for more than a decade. Like a trusted bureaucrat and aid, CM Nitish always relied on Shaibal’s expertise and intellect on Bihar’s socio-economic conditions and his understanding of historical significance and evolution of state’s politics. His useful knowledge and repository of research and economic policies at Asian Development Research Institute (ADRI), helped Bihar grow at the rate of 11% between 2004 and 2009, doubling the GDP growth from 58,000 crores to nearly 1 lakh crore in five years. Shaibal believed that this substantial change was due to quality in governance.   ADRI Had it not been the efforts of economi...

Speculations are rife post-JNU violence on Monday that Shaheen Bagh may fall into hands of miscreants waiting to sabotage the protest site that has been peacefully demanding rollback of Citizenship Amendment Act, CAA and the proposed National Register of Citizens, NRC. There was a clarion call by civil society, celebrities and students to reach Shaheen Bagh in large numbers after masked goons went on rampage and wrecked the campus of Jawaharlal Nehru University and its hostels, leaving more than 20 students critically injured. Their names are Sarthak, Kamlesh Mandrijo, Soori Krishnan, Gaurav, Shambhavi, Velentina, Shivam Chaurasia, Manish Jangid, Sheshmanee Sahu, Aishe Ghosh, Ameet Parmeswaran, Sucharita Sen, Nikhil Mathew, Ayush Singh, Ashwarya Pratap, Shokat, Ujjwal, Deepshikha, Kamran and Sbimit. It is to be noted that Sucharita Sen is a faculty who teaches rural development, natural resources and rural livelihood at JNU. Aishe Ghosh is the JNUSU President. The Chronology The ...