India at 79: Economic strides vs social realities

Image source: Pixabay

On the 15th of August, India will enter the 80th year of its Independence. As every year, the air will be rent with patriotic songs; there will be the nation's Tricolour aflutter almost everywhere, and there will be lofty speeches that ooze nationalistic fervour. Everyone gets involuntarily drawn into the celebratory atmosphere.

No doubt, during the past 79 years, we have made tremendous progress in almost all walks of life. India is today a self-reliant nation, almost on a par with any developed nation. That's something to be really proud of.

IT'S A DIFFERENT INDIA TODAY

Be that as it may, all is not very well. India today is not the same India as it was many years ago. While a lot of good things have happened and are happening, as if to counter them, in many ways we are sliding back in some aspects. The entire socio-political-economic landscape has undergone a huge change. The extent of this change has only accentuated in the past two decades, which is worrying.

My anecdotal experiences tell me that Indians by and large have become prosperous. The newer generations, be it in cities or villages, are far better off economically than the previous ones. There is a lot of economic prosperity, which is a really good thing.

FREEDOM TO QUESTION

What is worrying are the changes in the socio-political space. More and more people have become less and less accommodative and inclusive. Their tolerance levels have dropped, and they are unable to see a point of view that is different from theirs. Worse, a person with a different opinion is harshly and unfairly judged and condemned.

Take for example, if one criticises the policies of the Union government, there are a large number of people willing to brand you as anti-national. This was never the case earlier, say when Indira Gandhi was the Prime Minister. She too was nationalistic and authoritarian. Not even during the time of Atal Behari Vajpayee (who headed a right-wing BJP-led coalition government).

ENFORCED NATIONALISM

Today, for some inexplicable reason, after 79 years of steady progress as a nation, an inferiority complex is being injected into the social fabric; so much so that thrusting nationalism on people has almost become a state policy.

I don't understand where this sense of insecurity is coming from. If our country is more developed and stronger, as the government claims and to which I do agree, the government should actually be more confident and accommodative.

FREEDOM WITHOUT RESPONSIBILITY

While on one side we have freedom of expression against ruling parties being limited, on the other side, a lack of strong enforcement of rules has given people the freedom to do anything and get away with it.

Freedom comes with a lot of responsibility; on the part of the government functionaries as well as citizens. One area where India really lags behind is in civic sense. The sense of discipline, societal well-being, social responsibility, civic duty, and a concern for other people, are very much in short supply. Examples are aplenty all around us, like the way motorists drive, the way garbage is disposed of, the way we behave in public spaces, etc.

As we enter the 80th year of Independence, there is of course a lot to celebrate. But there is just as much to introspect on, and plenty of scope to make course corrections as well -- for the government, the politicians, the public servants and the citizens.

(This post is a part the Blogchatter Blog Hop)

Being NBN

Most of this month was taken up by a trip down memory lane.

First was the fruition of my book project — a compilation of reminiscences about my father, N Balakrishnan Nair, a Chemistry teacher at my school, written by some of his students and colleagues.

NBN, as he was popularly known, was much more than a Chemistry teacher at Sainik School Kazhakootam, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. Besides chemical equations and theories, he spoke in class about Indian and world history and the lives of great people, which he learned about from the innumerable books he read. Biographies and history were his favourites.

He had such an unwavering commitment to his students that he went out of his way to help them. At the same time, he was a strict disciplinarian too. There was a line he didn't want anyone to cross, and if someone did, obtaining a pardon was extremely difficult.

The idea for the book — Being NBN — came about a few years after my father passed away on 29th November 2016. There were so many anecdotes, both serious and funny, that people who knew NBN recalled. I thought they should all be put together so that they were not lost in mere memories, but chronicled and archived.

Over forty articles, with authors ranging from the first to the last batch he taught (1965 to 1995), along with vintage photographs, portray the multifaceted personality that NBN was. One common thread running through them is the profound influence my father had on his students' lives.

OLD BOYS ASSOCIATION

The book was released on Old Boys Day, on the 18th of July. Incidentally, my father played a key role in founding the Old Boys Association way back in 1969. He nurtured it painstakingly, replying to letters he received from the alumni. The OBA Day has been held in school every year since then.

The whole month was spent giving the final touches to the contents of the book, proofreading, and keeping tabs on orders for the book.

While the book connects easily with my father's students, it could also be fascinating reading for others as a biographical sketch of a teacher and the unique way he bonded with his students. 

The book is not on any online platform as of now; copies are being dispatched based on orders received. A Kindle version will be made available by the publisher soon.

FUN-FILLED, FULFILLING

As always, a visit to our alma mater, Sainik School, is like a pilgrimage. It wasn't just a place where we studied; academics was just one part of a wholesome learning process. The school moulded us in every way. With a strict regimental daily routine, we learned to be disciplined and organised. We also learned how to face and resolve problems rather than run away from them.

Old Boys Day is the day we get recharged. This year, on the 18th of July, was no different. Going back to the very same place that shaped our formative years (and later years too), meeting classmates, seniors, and juniors, reviving memories, and making connections; it was all fun-filled and fulfilling.

From Thiruvananthapuram, on the 20th, we went to Tiruvalla and then to Ernakulam, before returning to Bengaluru.

From August, I hope to be more regular on the blogosphere.

Back to busy days

A representative AI-generated image.

When I haven’t been in the blogosphere for a while, I can feel it; a sense of missing something. I just realised that it’s exactly four weeks since I wrote anything here.

One major reason for this long absence is that my afternoons and evenings are no longer my own. I am back in the office.

HOW IT UNFOLDED

Just when I had comfortably settled down into a retired life (when all the 24 hours in a day were for me), I got a call from a former colleague. We chatted for about fifteen minutes, and then he asked me if I was keen on getting back to work.

Actually, I wasn’t keen. So, I told him I hadn’t really thought about it.

But more than that, I was puzzled as to why he had asked me, and what job he had in mind.

He said he was associated with a small newspaper, just about four years old, and they were looking for someone at a senior level.

I was very particular that even if I took up an assignment during my retirement phase, I shouldn’t get caught in the endless loop of official emails and messages.

I am happy to work, but not to take on too many responsibilities. Having been in that zone for a long time, I was now out of that phase.

Taking responsibility for other people’s work is the toughest job. As someone once said:

Being at the lowest level of the career ladder might not be highly paying, but it offers the highest level of peace of mind.

Another concern for me was that news desk hours for morning newspapers run from evening to late into the night. I was very particular that I would not get back to that schedule again, because of health reasons. At a younger age, I could adjust to a disrupted circadian rhythm. But that was no longer the case after I crossed 55.

WISE COUNSEL

Still, I was in two minds and asked my friend for some time to decide. Then, my wife came up with a suggestion: “The job came in search of you. Don’t reject it outright. Give it a chance. Go for a few days and see whether you can manage. You can always quit if it isn’t working out.”

That ended my indecision. I called my friend and accepted the offer, but I set my boundaries. I was assured that the workload would be light and that I would be able to leave the office by 10:30 pm at the latest.

I reach the office around 4:45 pm. It’s altogether about five to six hours of work, and it is not always very hectic. I am back home by around 11:00 pm, which is not too late.

In Bengaluru, having both your office and residence not too far away from a metro station is a blessing. That way, I have been lucky. Commute is not an issue.

But setting off to work, back again, every afternoon wasn't so easy. I found it difficult to adjust, initially. It took about a month for me settle into the new routine.

NEWS CYCLE

The biggest satisfaction is being back in the newsroom, in the midst of news. It can be addictive. In the year following my retirement, I had stopped keeping track of news on a regular basis; just the headlines, and I wasn’t much bothered about getting into the details. Now that has changed, and I am back in the news cycle.

BOOK PROJECT

Besides this work schedule, I am also working on a book project. That is taking up some time. More about that some other time.

CHUNMUN

Thirdly, our family has a new addition: Chunmun. The kitten is now six months old. He was a surprise gift to us from my brother-in-law. The last time we had a cat at home was eight years ago. Chunmun is quite clingy, and I end up spending some time playing with him.

And, there are household chores that quietly consume a lot of time.

A NEW CHALLENGE

So, suddenly, there are a lot of things to take care of. In a way, it is good. Better than not having anything to do!

I just have to figure out a way to find time to blog as well as blog-hop!

Free social media coming to an end?

Meta is rolling out globally paid subscription plans for Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. From anonymous Story viewing and custom chat themes to next-generation AI "thinking modes," the social media giant is majorly shaking up its business model.

But don't panic just yet; the free versions aren't going anywhere, at least for now.

The video below gives a breakdown of what these new 'Plus' and 'Meta One' plans will mean for the users.

Hospital reviews are not like movie reviews

Seema had a health issue. Since her condition did not improve even after a few days, she thought about consulting a doctor and went ahead and booked an appointment with Dr A at hospital B.

When her friends got to know about her plan to visit the hospital, they dissuaded her from going to that particular place.

"Why do you want to go to a hospital you have never been to?" her friends asked her. "Moreover, hospital B looks good and posh because they fleece their patients."

"Why go there when you have good doctors in hospital C? Go there and meet Dr D. He is really good. They don't unnecessarily prescribe medicines and tests," Seema's friends suggested.

Seema had opted for hospital B, a relatively new one, mainly because it was easier for her to reach.

Earlier, she had always gone to more well-known hospitals, like C which her friends suggested, that were far away; and the commute was difficult due to heavy traffic.

Hospital B is closer to Seema's home, so she thought of giving it a try, even though she hadn't heard great reviews about it.

Her friends' counsel confused her, but she decided to stick to her choice.

On the scheduled day, she went to hospital B and met doctor A.

Everything went off smoothly.

She found the doctor very receptive. He explained to her the underlying medical reasons for her condition, and why she should undergo a couple of blood tests. He came up with a diagnosis and prescribed a few medicines. 

She returned home in a cheerful frame of mind. In fact, she felt okay even before taking the medicines!

MORAL OF THE STORY

• Never be influenced by others' views about hospitals and doctors.
  
  
• Take your own decision and stick to it.
  
  
• Have trust and faith in hospitals and doctors. If you don't have trust, don't go.

A hospital review is not like a movie review, because going to a hospital is not like going for a movie. One is about health and life; the other is about entertainment.

IT'S ALL ABOUT FAITH 

An experience with doctors is as much about trust in them as it is about their professional qualifications and skills.

Each person's experience with a hospital or a doctor is unique. Just because you did not like a particular hospital or doctor, it does not mean that will be the experience for everyone else too.

So, do not dissuade or discourage another person from visiting any hospital or meeting any doctor. You might unwittingly end up preventing them from getting their illness cured.

Conversely, if you had a good experience with a hospital or a doctor, be cautious when you make a recommendation. Others shouldn't end up having a bad experience and blaming it on you.

YOUR VIEWS

If someone asks your opinion about a hospital or doctor:

• Make it very clear that it is your personal opinion and warn them not to be influenced by your views.
  
  
• Don't make judgements on medical matters. We are no one to determine if a blood test or an x-ray was required or not. That is the job of a medical professional.

FINALLY

• When it comes to health, always look for factual information rather than opinions. Listen to others' views, but take your own decision.
  
  
• Approach health professionals with an open mind. If you trust and believe in a doctor, treatment becomes that much easier.

Reflections - A to Z Challenge 2026

This year's A to Z Blogging Challenge was easily the one I enjoyed the most. 

Sometime in the second week of March, I came across a mention on the web or social media (I can't quite remember which) of Dhinga Gavar, a festival unique to the city of Jodhpur in Rajasthan, which is celebrated around that time. I found it quite strange and funny, and that instantly gave me the theme for this year's challenge. 

When I did the "Theme Reveal" post on 13 March, I wasn't actually sure I could pull it off. I was even getting ready to change the topic either before the challenge started or midway through it.

The second half of March was spent in extensive web searches to find various "strange and unusual customs, traditions, and phenomena in India". It was by no means easy finding one for each letter of the alphabet.

The second challenge was finding authentic information about each of them. I was very particular that I would only write those that had been covered by well-known media organisations or had an entry in Wikipedia with credible sources.

I am glad I could find 26 of them; in fact, for a few letters, I even had options. With most of April spent writing the posts, there was little time or energy to visit or read all the posts of other bloggers who had taken part in the challenge or who had dropped by my blog to leave comments. That did make me feel guilty.

The least I could do was read the comments, note down the names so I can return the visit as soon as possible. Fifty-six readers shared their thoughts on at least one of my posts. Plus, there were a few friends who sent messages on WhatsApp.

Every year, through the A to Z Challenge, I meet new bloggers, and this year was no exception. Among the 56 are many of my good old blog pals as well as a few new ones. I was surprised and happy to find comments from a few bloggers whom I had known before but who had dropped off my radar.

There were many anonymous comments too. If it was a login problem that made them comment anonymously, they could have written their names at the end of the comment. I hope they were not from someone I know!

Here is a big thank you to everyone, including the names mentioned below, who read my posts and jotted down their thoughts.

Yamini (who ensured that her comments too conformed to the A to Z pattern. Bravo!), Liz, Tomichan,  Andrew, Lisa, Leanne, David, Marietta, Suchita, Josna, Sundar, Ashok, Viyoma, Vallypee, Darla, SG, KP, Rajesh, Jo-Anne, Chris, Katie, Rudraprayaga, Arti, Frewin, Jabblog.

These are bloggers whom I got introduced to via this year's Challenge.

Little Princess, Karen, Ratna, Linda, Paula, Balaka Basu, Tanvi, A Tarkabarka Hölgy, Al Penwasser, Jean, Crackerberries, Anne, Anuradha, Durga, Pandian, Natasha. Sowmya, Srivalli, Melody, Sintra, Lenni, Ronel, Jemima, Fab, CRD, Idea-ist, Sumeet.

I don't have the links to the blogs of Pinkii Bakshi, Nnenna, Erin Penn, and Kristin.

Blogs are about information, ideas, thoughts, and connections. 

Keep blogging!

Zanskar: The river of two lives

Day 26 and last day of the "virtual (digital) tour" of places known for unusual customs, practices, mysterious phenomena. This post is part of the A to Z Challenge and Blogchatter A2Z 2026 

Thank you to everyone who dropped by, read my posts, and keyed in comments. Though I haven't replied to them all, I have made a note of them. In the coming days, I shall visit your blogs and catch up on the posts that I have missed. A 'Reflections' post will come up next week.

If you missed some of my earlier posts, you can find the links at the end of this post.  

In the high-altitude desert of Ladakh in the northern border of India, is a waterway that defies the conventional definition of a river. 

The Zanskar River, the first major tributary of the Indus, is a raging white-water torrent in the summer and a silent, frozen highway in the winter. 

This dramatic seasonal shift is just one of the many unusual aspects of a river that has kept the Zanskar valley isolated for centuries.

GRAND CANYON COMPARISON

During the warmer months, the Zanskar is a destination for the world’s daring adventurers. It is home to world-class white-water rafting. The river passes by a landscape so dramatic it is often compared to the Grand Canyon, with soaring walls, rock spires, and a stunning palette of natural colours. 

Image courtesy: Neelima Vallangi / BBC

THE 'CHADAR'

The most unusual characteristic of the Zanskar River is its winter metamorphosis. As temperatures plummet to as low as -40°C, a 100-km-long "blanket" of ice known locally as the Chadar is created. 

For the inhabitants of "road-less" villages on the river’s fringes, this frozen surface becomes their only escape and lifeline to the outside world. While during the summer road is buried under snow, the river provides an alternative ice passage to reach schools in larger towns like Leh or Kargil.

WALKING ON ICE

Traversing the Chadar is not simple; it is a high-stakes skill. The ice is ever-changing, constantly breaking, toppling, and resettling due to the pressure of fast-flowing water beneath the surface. 

Zanskaris have mastered the "art of reading the ice," allowing them to glide across the surface with agility.

AN ERA COMING TO AN END

The unique nature of the Zanskar River is currently under threat from two major forces. 

Climate change is causing rising temperatures that prevent the ice from fully forming, sometimes forcing villagers to wade through freezing water instead of walking on solid ice. 

Furthermore, a new all-weather road is being blasted into the heart of the canyon. While this will provide much-needed modern connectivity, it will eventually render the legendary Chadar trek obsolete. 

As commercialisation and mass tourism also begin to impact the sensitive ecosystem, the centuries-old tradition of the frozen highway may soon live on only as the stuff of legends.

(Information sources: BBC, Outlook Traveller, Wikipedia)

Links to all the posts in the A to Z Blogging Challenge:

Asur	Bhangarh	Channapatna
Dhinga Gavar	Edakkal caves	Floating stones
Ghost lights	Hakki Pikki	Idu Mishmi
Jatinga	Kodinhi	Living root bridges
Malana	Nidhivan	Om Banna Temple
Piplantri	Qila Raipur	Roopkund
Sati handprints	Thimithi	Umngot River
Vettuvan Koil	Whistling village	Xenoglossy
Yana ‘Caves’	Zanskar River

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Yana 'caves'

Day 25 of the "virtual (digital) tour" of places known for unusual customs, practices, mysterious phenomena. This post is part of the A to Z Challenge and Blogchatter A2Z 2026

Yana lies within the forests of the Sahyadri mountain range in the Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka.

While most caves are underground, the "caves" of Yana are actually two massive, needle-sharp black limestone monoliths that tower over the jungle floor. 

They are the 390-foot (120-metre) Bhairaveshwara Shikhara and the 300-foot (90-metre) Mohini Shikhara. 

They are composed of solid black, crystalline Karst limestone. Geologists attribute their dark colour to the presence of iron, manganese, and silica.

The rock formations.
Image courtesy: The News Minute

According to legend, the demon Bhasmasura obtained a boon from Lord Shiva that allowed him to turn anyone into ashes by placing his hand on their head. When he tried to use this power on Shiva himself, Lord Vishnu intervened by transforming into the seductive dancer, Mohini. 

She challenged Bhasmasura to a dance and tricked him into placing his hand on his own head, reducing him to a heap of ashes. Devotees believe the heat from this event was so intense it blackened the limestone formations, and they point to the loose black soil scattered around the area as the actual remains of the demon. 

Nearby, the Vibhooti Waterfalls is also named after these "sacred ashes".

Adding to the mystery are the innumerable beehives that cling to the overhanging rocks. Temple authorities and locals believe these wild bees act as guardians of the cave’s sanctity, reportedly attacking only those who disturb the serenity of the site.

(Information sources: Karnataka Tourism, Deccan Herald, The News Minute)

Previous posts in the series:

Asur	Bhangarh	Channapatna
Dhinga Gavar	Edakkal caves	Floating stones
Ghost lights	Hakki Pikki	Idu Mishmi
Jatinga	Kodinhi	Living root bridges
Malana	Nidhivan	Om Banna Temple
Piplantri	Qila Raipur	Roopkund
Sati handprints	Thimithi	Umngot River
Vettuvan Koil	Whistling village	Xenoglossy
Y	Z

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Xenoglossy, when past speaks through present

Day 24 of the "virtual (digital) tour" of places known for unusual customs, practices, mysterious phenomena. This post is part of the A to Z Challenge and Blogchatter A2Z 2026

Imagine waking up one day and speaking a language you have never learned. 

This rare and startling phenomenon is known as xenoglossy, the ability to speak or write a real language that is entirely unknown to the individual in their ordinary state of consciousness. 

While it is often confused with glossolalia (the "speaking in tongues" common in religious practices, which typically consists of meaningless but phonologically structured utterances), xenoglossy involves the use of a natural, identifiable language.

Among the most meticulously documented cases in the history of parapsychology is that of Uttara Huddar, a woman whose life became a living laboratory for the study of consciousness.

EMERGENCE OF SHARADA

Uttara Huddar was born on 14 March 1941, in Nagpur, India, into a Marathi-speaking family. She was a highly educated woman, with a double M.A. degree. 

In 1974, at the age of 32, her personality underwent a radical shift. Following a period of intense meditation and breathing exercises, a new personality calling herself Sharada suddenly emerged.

When Sharada took control, Uttara’s normal personality disappeared. Sharada could not speak or understand Marathi, Uttara's native tongue; instead, she spoke fluent Bengali. 

Even more striking was Sharada's behaviour. Though Uttara was unmarried, Sharada behaved like a shy, married Bengali woman of the early 19th century. She did not recognise Uttara’s parents or friends and viewed them as strangers.

The personality known as Sharada claimed to have lived in Bengal between 1810 and 1830.

A representative AI image

HISTORICAL TIME CAPSULE

What makes the case of Uttara Huddar so compelling to researchers like Ian Stevenson and Satwant Pasricha is the specific nature of the language used. 

Sharada’s Bengali was not the modern version taught in schools during Uttara's time. Instead, it was an archaic form of Bengali that was free of the English loanwords common in the 20th century. Her vocabulary contained a higher percentage of Sanskrit-derived words, consistent with the speech patterns of the early 1800s.

Sharada provided extensive details about a life in Bengal between 1810 and 1830. She named obscure villages, described specific temples like the Hansheshwari Temple at Bansberia, and provided a detailed genealogy of a family named Chattopadhaya. 

When researchers travelled to West Bengal to verify these claims, they discovered a real genealogy that matched Sharada’s descriptions almost perfectly, a family tree that Uttara, living hundreds of miles away in Nagpur, could not have realistically accessed.

SEEKING EXPLANATION

The case of Uttara-Sharada presents a real challenge to our understanding of the mind. Researchers have proposed some theories:

• The data suggests the possibility that Sharada was a previous incarnation of Uttara, with memories and linguistic skills lying dormant until triggered in adulthood.
  
  
• Some researchers considered the case as a form of possession, where a discarnate entity (Sharada) temporarily dominated Uttara’s body.
  
  
• Skeptics often point to cryptomnesia, suggesting the subject may have picked up the language through forgotten childhood exposure. However, in Uttara's case, her "responsive xenoglossy", the ability to carry on complex, spontaneous conversations, far exceeded what could be explained by merely reciting forgotten fragments of speech.

INEXPLICABLE CONNECTIONS

The Sharada phases continued intermittently at least until 1979, lasting anywhere from a single day to several weeks. 

While science continues to debate the origins of xenoglossy, the case of Uttara Huddar remains a landmark because of its linguistic depth and verified historical accuracy. 

Uttara-Sharada's case shows that everything that one experiences can't be fully, conclusively and scientifically proved. And, secondly, it's quite possible that our inner consciousness might have connections with time, people and places far beyond our immediate and current experiences. Not easy to define or explain.

(Information sources: University of Virgnia, Institute of Noetic Sciences, Encyclopedia.com, The Hindustan Times)

Previous posts in the series:

Asur	Bhangarh	Channapatna
Dhinga Gavar	Edakkal caves	Floating stones
Ghost lights	Hakki Pikki	Idu Mishmi
Jatinga	Kodinhi	Living root bridges
Malana	Nidhivan	Om Banna Temple
Piplantri	Qila Raipur	Roopkund
Sati handprints	Thimithi	Umngot River
Vettuvan Koil	Whistling village	X
Y	Z

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