जागतिक महिला दिन!

हा केवळ उत्सव नाही, तर इतिहासाच्या पानांवर ठसठशीत उमटलेली एक खूण आहे—स्त्रियांनी मिळवलेल्या यशाची, स्वातंत्र्याची, आत्मसन्मानाची आणि अजूनही चालू असलेल्या संघर्षाची! या उत्सवाची सुरुवात रंजक आणि महत्त्वपूर्ण आहे. ८ मार्च ही तारीख निवडण्यामागे खास कारण आहे. १९०८ मध्ये १५०० महिलांनी न्यूयॉर्कमध्ये रस्त्यावर उतरून मोर्चा काढला होता. रशियातील महिलांनी ‘महिला दिवस’ साजरा करत पहिल्या विश्वयुद्धाचा विरोध केला होता. तर युरोपमध्येही महिलांनी ८ मार्च रोजी शांतीच्या समर्थनार्थ रॅली काढली होती.

महिलांनी आपल्या हक्कांसाठी दिलेल्या लढ्याच्या स्मरणार्थ दरवर्षी ८ मार्च हा दिवस जागतिक महिला दिन म्हणून साजरा केला जातो. २८ फेब्रुवारी १९०९ रोजी न्यूयॉर्क येथे पहिला महिला दिन साजरा करण्यात आला, परंतु १९१० च्या आंतरराष्ट्रीय महिला परिषदेत मांडलेल्या सूचनेनुसार ८ मार्च हा दिवस आंतरराष्ट्रीय महिला दिन म्हणून निश्चित करण्यात आला. भारतात, मुंबई येथे पहिला महिला दिन ८ मार्च १९४३ रोजी साजरा झाला. २०२५ सालच्या जागतिक महिला दिनाची संकल्पना आहे – ‘सर्व महिलांसाठी आणि मुलींसाठी : हक्क, समानता, सक्षमीकरण.’

परंतु ही केवळ घोषणा नसून स्त्रीत्वाने संपूर्ण जगाला घातलेली साद आहे—एक परिवर्तनाची मागणी. स्त्री शक्तीच्या सन्मानासोबत त्या शक्तीच्या न्यायाची हाक. इतिहासाच्या कपाटात अनेक कथा दडल्या आहेत. काही स्त्रियांनी क्रांती घडवली, काहींनी विद्रोह केला, तर काहींनी सहनशीलतेच्या कडेलोटावरही आत्मसन्मान जपला. ऋग्वेदातील गार्गी, मैत्रेयी, राणी लक्ष्मीबाई, रोजा पार्क्स, मदर तेरेसा, कल्पना चावला, सिंधुताई सपकाळ, मारिया क्युरी—अशा अनेक स्त्रिया जागतिक, राष्ट्रीय, शहरी, ग्रामीण स्तरावर आदर्श ठरल्या.

पण ८ मार्च हा दिवस फक्त या महान स्त्रियांना स्मरण्याचा आहे का? की नवीन उदाहरण घडवण्याची प्रेरणा घेण्याचा?

मला वाटते—दोन्हीही नाही.

या ओळखींच्या पलीकडे असलेल्या प्रत्येक स्त्रीला तिचे स्त्रीत्व मुक्तपणे जगता यावे, हाच या दिवसाचा खरा अर्थ. नेहमीप्रमाणे यावर्षीही ८ मार्च हा दिवस उत्सवाप्रमाणे साजरा केला जाईल, पण या आनंदाच्या पलिकडेही एक कटू वास्तव आहे. आजही अनेक स्त्रिया अन्याय सहन करत आहेत, आत्मसन्मानाच्या आणि स्वातंत्र्याच्या एका खोल दीर्घ श्वासाची याचना करत आहेत. हे चित्र बदलायला किती काळ लागेल, हे काळच ठरवेल.

परंतु मला ठाऊक आहे की, काही पुरुषी क्रौर्याच्या पलीकडेही एक पुरुषी करुणेचा उजेड आहे. त्या पुरुषी ममत्त्वासाठी माझा हा लेख. स्त्रीत्वाच्या जाणिवेच्या शब्दांत अरुणा ढेरे म्हणतात—

"की हिला मातीचं बळ मिळो,

लहरी वादळाचं पिसाटपण

समजून रानावनात तगण्यासाठी...

की हिला पाखरांच्या संवादाचं सुख कळो...

वाढण्याच्या कळा सोसत पानांत येण्यासाठी...

ही होईल जर स्वतःच्या ओळखीइतकी खोल,

तर टिकवील आपोआपच स्वप्नांच्या शिरेशिरेतली ओल....”

एकीकडे मातीचं बळ आणि वादळाचं पिसाटपण अंगी रुजवणाऱ्या स्त्रीला, पाखरांच्या संवादाचं सुख कळण्याइतकी शांतीही मिळो. तिच्या स्वप्नाइतकीच तिला तिची खरी ओळखही कळो.

उत्सव होवो तिच्या आत्मसन्मानाचा, तिच्या कसोटीचाही—

ती स्त्री आहे म्हणून भोगाव्या लागणाऱ्या वेदनेचाही,

आणि ती स्त्री आहे म्हणूनच अनुभवता येणाऱ्या सर्जनत्वाचाही.

-प्रतीक्षा ओंबळे

भारतीया वैज्ञानिकाः।

          लीलावती भास्कराचार्यं पृच्छति, यदि कमपि वस्तु वयम् उत्क्षिपामः, तर्हि तद् वस्तु पुनः अधः पतति। एतस्याः क्रियायाः कारणं पृथ्व्याः आकृष्टिशक्तिः अस्ति। पृथ्वी शेषनागे, कूर्मे, तथा च मेरुपर्वते अवलम्बिता नास्ति, एतदपि भवानेव अवदत्। तर्हि गुरुत्वम् इति कारणात् पृथ्व्याः तथा च अन्यानां खगोलपिण्डानाम् अधःपतनं किमर्थं न भवेत्? भास्कराचार्यः ताम् उत्तरं ददति, 

          आकृष्टिशक्तिश्च मही तया यत्, खस्तं गुरुः स्वाभिमुखं स्वशक्त्या ।

          आकृष्यते तत्पततीव भाति, समेसमन्तात् क्व पतत्वियं खे ।।

वयं वदामः, न्यूटनमहोदयेन गुरुत्वाकर्षणसिद्धान्तः कथितः। परन्तु तस्य शून्यपञ्चपञ्चशतकात् पूर्वं सम्पूर्णब्रह्माण्डस्य गुरुत्वाकर्षणविषये भास्कराचार्यमहोदयः उक्तवान्।ये मनुष्याः प्राचीनकाले फलानि खादित्वा, एतद् फलं मधुरम् उत्तमं च अस्ति, परन्तु तद् फलं विषयुक्तं अस्ति, एतद् ज्ञातवन्तः, ते अपि वैज्ञानिकाः आसन्, एतद् वक्तुं शक्नुमः। कोऽपि विषयुक्तं फलं खादित्वा मृत्युम् अपि प्राप्तवान्, कोऽपि अश्मान् घर्षयित्वा अग्निम् अपि निर्मितवान्। एताः सर्वे वैज्ञानिकाः एव आसन्। तत् कारणात्, ये ये कानपि वैज्ञानिकप्रयोगां कृत्वा तस्मात् किमपि  नूतनं ज्ञानं प्राप्नुवन्तः, ते ते वैज्ञानिकाः एव सन्ति, एतद् अहम् मन्ये।

विज्ञानं नाम विशेष-ज्ञानम्। अतः यैः यैः किञ्चिदपि विशेषं ज्ञानं प्राप्तं, ते ते सर्वे वैज्ञानिकाः एव सन्ति, इति अहं मन्ये। तस्मात्, येन पाणिनिमहोदयेन, संस्कृतम् इति समृद्धायाः भाषायाः सूक्ष्मनिरीक्षणेन, प्रत्येक-शब्दस्य कृते चिन्तनं कृत्वा विस्तृतं व्याकरणं लिखितं, सः पाणिनिमहोदयः अपि वैज्ञानिकः अस्ति, इति अहं मन्ये। अद्य सङ्गणकशास्त्रस्य यत्समानम् कठिनतमं व्याकरणमावश्यकं, तत्समानम् व्याकरणं सः कैककालात् पूर्वम् एव रचितवान्। न केवलं पूर्वकाले, अपि तु अद्यसमये अपि विज्ञाने एव संपूर्णाः मग्नाः वैज्ञानिकाः सन्ति। यदि वयं पश्यामः, पोखरण इत्यत्र भारतस्य परमाणुस्फोटप्रदर्शनं जातम्। तत्र काकोडकर अनिलमहोदयस्य बहु महत्वपूर्णम् उत्तरदायित्वम् आसीत्। परन्तु यत्र एव सः तस्य तातस्य मृत्युवार्तां प्राप्तवान्। सः सत्वरं गृहं गत्वा, तातस्य अन्तिमदर्शनं गृहीत्वा, पुनः सत्वरं पोखरण इत्यत्र आगतवान्। कौटुम्बिक उत्तरदायित्वाद् अपि देशकार्यं परम् अस्ति, इति तस्य निष्ठा। देशस्य कृते यद् उत्तरदायित्वम् अस्ति, तस्य प्रथमतः विचारः करणीयः, इति महती भावना तस्य हृदये अस्ति।

माशेलकरमहोदयेन भारतस्य पुरातनग्रन्थां पठित्वा, तत्र ये ये सिद्धान्ताः दत्ताः सन्ति, तेषां सर्वेषां 'पेटण्ट' इत्युक्ते स्वाम्यं तेन भारतस्य कृते प्राप्तम्। हल्दी तथा बासुमती तण्डुलस्य स्वाम्ये अमेरिका देशः प्राप्तुम् इच्छितवान्। परन्तु महा-प्रयासेन माशेलकरमहोदयेन ते स्वाम्ये भारतस्य कृते प्राप्ते। अहम् एकं साक्षात्कारम् अपश्यम्। तत्र साक्षात्कारकर्तारः वैज्ञानिकाय पृष्टवान्, यत् "वैज्ञानिकक्षेत्रे भारतस्य किं योगदानम् अस्ति?" सः वैज्ञानिकः अकथयत्, "विज्ञानक्षेत्रे भारतस्य योगदानं शून्यम् अस्ति।" यदि वयं एतस्य उत्तरस्य विषये चिन्तयामः, तर्हि एकः निष्कर्षः जातः, यत् "शून्यः" एषः सर्वेषां वैज्ञानिकसिद्धन्तानां मूलम् अस्ति। अतः सर्वसिद्धन्तानां मूलम् एव अस्माकं भारतदेशेन विज्ञानक्षेत्राय दत्तम् अस्ति। तस्मात्, अद्य ये ये देशाः अवकाशे उड्डयनं कुर्वन्ति, ते ते सर्वे भारतस्य आर्यभट्टः नाम वैज्ञानिकस्य ऋण्यः सन्ति। 

शून्येन विना काचिद् अपि सङ्ख्यायाः मूल्यं न वर्धते। तत् समानं, वैज्ञानिकैः विना वैज्ञानिकक्षेत्रस्य वर्धनम् अपि न भविष्यति, एतद् वयं सदैव संस्मराम इति अहं मन्ये।

- मुक्ताई देसाई

स्नेहेन सर्वे वशाः।

मध्यायुगीनकाले मुघलः तथा हिन्दुराष्ट्राणाम्मध्ये  किञ्चिदपि स्नेहसम्बन्धाः नासन् । आक्रमणं युद्धं च एतासां सर्वासां परिस्थितौ  सामान्यजनानां जीवनम् अत्यधिकं कठिनं जातम्। कर्णावती सङ्ग्रामस्य मृत्योः पश्चात् राज्यपदे नियुक्ता। स्वराज्यं सङ्कटे दृष्ट्वा सहाय्यस्य अपेक्षया सा हुमायवे रक्षासूत्रं प्रेषितवती। अतः अन्ते रक्षासूत्रस्य कारणात् हुमायुः तस्यै सहाय्यं कृतवान्। द्वाभ्यां मुघलसम्राटाभ्यां सह युद्धं जातम्। तत्कारणात् हिन्दु -  मुघलसम्बन्धः दृढः जातः। अतः 'स्नेहेन सर्वे वशाः' एतदेव सत्यम्। ' स्नेह ' शब्दः नाम न केवलं प्रेम , आकर्षणम् अपि तु आत्मीयता, संवेदनशीलता तथा च बन्धुभावः। अग्रे ' सर्वे वशाः ' अत्र सूचितस्य सम्बन्धस्य अर्थः न केवलम् आकर्षणम् अपि तु उन्मुखता, वात्सल्यम्, आत्मीयतायाः सम्बन्धाः। सिन्धूताई- सपकाल-महोदया एव तस्य  समर्पकम् उदाहरणम् । रक्षणार्थं नैके बालकाः आक्रन्दन्ति, ते शिक्षणात् वञ्चिताः आसन्। एतेषां कृते सा मातृसमम् उत्तरदायित्वं निर्वहति। तान् आकाशे विहारार्थं प्रेरिता । तेषां बालकानां वशीकरणम् अपि सा स्नेहेन कृतवती। 

यस्याः कारणेन समाजस्य निम्नघटकाः आकाशे उड्डयनं कर्तुं शक्नुवन्ति तथा च साने गुरुजी नाम्ना ख्यातः महोदयः उक्तवान्,  स:एक एव सत्यधर्मः, विश्वाय स्नेहाभावः अर्पणीयः। तत्समानं व्यक्तिमत्वम् अस्ति आमटे - प्रकाशमहोदयस्य । समाजात् बहिष्कृतानाम् आदिवासिबान्धवानां कृते सः दीपस्तम्भः अभवत्। आदिवासिबान्धवानां कृते तस्य कार्यं अतुलनीयम्। तेषां कृते सः करनिर्मुक्तं शिक्षणम्, आरोग्यसुविधाः , व्यापारज्ञानम्, कृषिकार्यं, व्यवहारज्ञानं च स्नेहेन एव आरभत्। आदिवासी प्रभागतः आगता द्रौपदी मुर्मू यदा राष्ट्रपतिपदे नियुक्ता भवति, तदा आमटे -महोदयस्य कार्यपूर्तिः अभवत्, इति अहं मन्ये। तत् कारणात् भारतीयाः तथा आदिवासिबान्धवाः च वशाः।

यदा वयं ' सर्वे ' इति वदामः, तदा तस्य अर्थः मनुष्याः इति एव नास्ति, अपि तु पशवः, प्रकृतिः अपि अस्ति। एतान् सर्वान् अपि स्नेहेन वशीकर्तुं शक्यते। पशवः स्पन्दनं, स्पर्शं च अनुभवितुं समर्थाः। स्नेहपूर्णवर्तनस्य कारणात् ते अपि एकानिष्ठाः अभवन्। तेषां भूतदयां दर्शयित्वा ,  पालनपोषणेन आमटे महोदयः तान् आप्तान् कृतवान्। न केवलं आमटे महोदयः अपि तु महाडतः मेस्त्री  प्रेमसागर- महोदयः। तेषां गरुडसंवर्धनस्य कार्येण न केवलं गरुडान् अपि तु पयर्यावरणस्नेहिनः सः वशं कृतवान् ।

कम् अपि भारतीयं पश्यतु। सः ' वसुधैव कुटुम्बकम् ' इति धारणां मन्यते।  अतो भारतः रशियातः तैलं स्वीकरोति। चीनदेशः, यः रशियादेशस्य शत्रुपक्षः। तेन सह सामञ्जस्य विधेयकं करोति सःभारतः । रशिया - यूक्रेन युद्धे मध्यस्थः भवति। एतद् कारणात् भारतेन सम्पूर्णविश्वं वशीकृत्य सः शान्तिदूतस्य भूमिकां निर्वहति। अतः अहं मन्ये, स्नेहेन सर्वे वशाः। परन्तु  अहं विषयस्य द्वितीयं पक्षम् अपि वक्तुम् इच्छामि। यदि 'स्नेहेन सर्वे वशाः ' इति शक्यं तर्हि कुरुक्षेत्रे युद्धं न जातम् स्यात्। रावणवधस्य कर्तव्यम् एव पुरा न भूतं , कस्या अपि स्त्रीणां शोषणं न जातं स्यात्। न्यायालयं गत्वा  न्यायभिक्षायाः आवश्यकता न समुद्भूता। कौटिल्यः अपि उक्तवान् 'शत्रोः मित्रम्, शत्रुः एव ज्ञातव्यम्, तस्य नाशः करणीयः' । अतः एव अपि सत्यं स्नेहेन सर्वे वशाः?

          यथा संस्कृतसुभाषिते उक्तम् , 

बन्धनानि किल सन्ति बहूनि प्रेमरज्जुमयबन्धनमाहुः । दारुभेदनिपुणोऽपि षडङ्घ्रिः निष्क्रियो भवति पङ्कजकोशे ।।

एतस्य सुभाषितस्याधारेण चिन्त्यते, तर्हि  'स्नेहेन सर्वे वाशाः ' एतद् सत्यमेव।

-तन्वी चितळे

ज्ञानगंगा, क्रांतीज्योती सावित्रीबाई फुले

भारतातील स्त्रिया आंतरराष्ट्रीय पातळीवर देशाला अभिमान वाटावा अशी कामगिरी पार पाडत आल्या आहेत. रसायनशास्त्राच्या औषधीविषयक, विश्लेषणात्मक व सेंद्रीय अशा तिन्ही शाखांमध्ये मोठे योगदान देणाऱ्या असीमा चॅटर्जी असोत किंवा लढाऊ विमान एकट्याने चालवणाऱ्या अवनी चतुर्वेदी असोत, आता असे एकही क्षेत्र उरलेले नाही जिथे महिलांनी आपल्या कामगिरीची छाप पाडलेली नाही. महिलांना यशस्वी होण्यासाठी आणि पंख पसरून उडण्यासाठी आभाळ खुले करून देणारी महत्त्वाची व्यक्ती म्हणजे माता सावित्रीबाई फुले. क्रांतीज्योती सावित्रीबाई फुले यांनी १ जानेवारी १८४८ रोजी पुण्यातील भिडे वाड्यात स्त्री शिक्षणाची मुहूर्तमेढ रोवली आणि भारतातील स्त्रियांच्या आयुष्यात शिक्षणाची ज्योत पेटवली.

माणूस हा जगातील एकमेव विचार करणारा प्राणी आहे. परंतु माणसाच्या बुद्धीला ज्ञानाची सांगड नसेल तर तो माणूस म्हणून ओळखला जाऊ शकतो का? असा प्रश्न सावित्रीबाई फुले आपल्या "त्यास मानव म्हणावे का?" या कवितेतून विचारतात. त्या म्हणतात:

ज्ञान नाही, विद्या नाही  

ते घेण्याची गोडी नाही  

बुद्धी असूनही चालत नाही  

त्यास मानव म्हणावे का?

या ओळींतून स्पष्ट होते की माणसाच्या सर्वांगीण विकासासाठी जर काही उपयोगी असेल, तर तो विद्या-धर्म आहे. विद्या देणारा आणि विद्या घेणारा यांच्या एकत्रिकरणातूनच एक चांगला माणूस घडतो. विद्या देणारा हा धैर्यशील असतो, तर विद्या घेणारा शक्तिशाली व शहाणा बनतो. हा विचार समाजाला पटवून देणाऱ्या माता सावित्रीबाई फुले यांचा जन्म शिक्षणाच्या अभावाच्या काळात ३ जानेवारी १८३१ रोजी महाराष्ट्रातील सातारा जिल्ह्यातील नायगाव येथे झाला. शिक्षणाच्या प्रकाशाचा अभाव असलेल्या त्या काळात सावित्रीबाईंनी भारतात स्त्री शिक्षणाचा पाया रचला. आपण बऱ्याचदा म्हणतो, "आम्ही सावित्रीच्या लेकी, सावित्रीची मुलं," परंतु खरोखरच आपण सावित्रीबाईंच्या विचारांवर चालतो का? आजच्या युवा पिढीतील प्रयत्नांची आणि संयमाची कमतरता पाहता असे वाटते की संघर्षाच्या भीतीने जर सावित्रीबाईंनी त्यांचे ध्येय अर्धवट सोडले असते, तर आज आपल्या घरात शिक्षणाची गंगा वाहिलीच नसती. त्या काळात मुलींचा जन्म नकोसा वाटत असताना सावित्रीबाईंनी प्रवाहाच्या विरुद्ध जाऊन स्त्रियांना सक्षम आणि स्वावलंबी बनवले. पण आजही काही लोक शिक्षणाप्रती असलेल्या बेजबाबदारपणामुळे आणि समाजातील समस्यांकडे दुर्लक्ष करत असल्यामुळे वाटते की सावित्रीबाईंच्या कष्टांची आणि त्यागाची आपल्याला खरोखर जाणीव आहे का?

तरीही, सावित्रीबाईंच्या विचारांचा वारसा पुढे नेणाऱ्या कमलादेवी चट्टोपाध्याय, मेधा पाटकर, चित्रा नाईक, शाहीन मिस्त्री यांसारख्या अनेक प्रेरणादायी व्यक्तींनी समाजातील दुष्ट रूढी-परंपरांना नाकारले आणि ज्ञानाचा मार्ग दाखवला. त्यांच्या प्रयत्नांमुळे भारतातील अनेकांना स्वतःची क्षमता सिद्ध करण्याची संधी मिळाली. त्यामुळेच द्रौपदी मुर्मू राष्ट्रपतीपदावर पोहोचल्या आणि गीता गोपीनाथ आंतरराष्ट्रीय नाणेनिधीच्या (IMF) पहिल्या उपव्यवस्थापकीय संचालक झाल्या, तसेच मुख्य अर्थशास्त्रज्ञ म्हणूनही कार्यरत राहिल्या. सावित्रीबाईंच्या विचारांनीच आज मी माझे विचार लेखणीद्वारे मुक्तपणे मांडू शकते. त्यामुळे असं वाटतं:

सावित्रीचा घेऊनी वसा, गाठतो आम्ही उंच शिखरे  

दुष्ट परंपरेचा पिंजरा तोडूनी, मुक्त झाली पाखरे

ज्ञानगंगा, क्रांतीज्योती सावित्रीबाई फुले यांच्या जयंतीनिमित्त त्यांच्या कार्याला वंदन आणि शतकोटी प्रणाम!

- श्रुती शिंदे

Stories, Statistics and People

Indubitably, data is the most valuable thing in the world. It can establish or demolish economies, flourish or cause catastrophes, as it's ubiquitous around us, from testing vaccines to funding political campaigns. Undeniably, information accompanies misinformation, and with insights comes distortions. Each data point is a part of statistics, which is just a mere number. Statistics are just raw facts, which are uninteresting until storytelling and visualization bring life into those raw statistical facts. This enhances the message that the statistics try to convey. If the context and crux of the matter are provided pellucidly to society and are received very well by the common people, it proves to be a game changer for society. 

I wonder, if stories, statistics, and society are interconnected.Stories are the things we listen to and visualize; statistics is the collection, analysis, and interpretation of factual data; and society is the community of the people around us. These three things are pivotal when we see changes that have taken place from the previous period to the current era. All we need to do is think and wonder why and what these things actually are and how they influence the overall structure of our outlook towards various things around us. 

Today, data and society are like a double-edged sword. We have seen multiple times that a certain advertisement of a particular brand claims that its product is preferable so much so that 90% of people prefer their brand to that of others. Some toothpaste brands state that 8/10 people prefer their brand. But how many of us have asked what the sample of the people was—was it 100 or 10,000? When we consider these numbers, the story changes significantly. Same goes for political campaigns where cherry-picked statistics are shown with some pedantic data to deceive people and obscure the reality. It's then we realize that we're in jeopardy because of the lack of transparency in those campaigns, which will affect our daily lives from buying groceries to commute expenses. Therefore, it's high time to recognize the importance of data literacy. In his TED talk, Hans Rosling explains how the data is just raw facts, but when statistics, content, context, and appropriate data visualization are applied, it tells a story and gives clarity about the society. When data enters, it's not just numbers; it's also about correct explanation with appropriate interpretation, keeping in mind the full picture. We are human beings, social creatures, and throughout history we have found mediums to convey our thoughts and express ourselves. Stories are one of those mediums. We tend to remember the stories more than the statistics because it's entertaining, but what about facts? When we talk about data and reliability, we trust the statistics and not the stories because statistics are factual and stories are not. Surveys provide facts, but they are a result of societal input, and it's the people who share their opinions and views, which then leads to the realistic crux of the matter and conclusion. 

Stories and statistics are in a symbiotic relationship; both are interdependent for mutual benefit. There are misleading statistics used by the media, like a poverty line may look like there has been a significant decline in poverty, but there are many factors to keep in mind like inflation, recession, bank crisis, etc. Certain media companies only show selective data, which is misleading. So, to detect those misleading graphs, we must see the full picture, look at the labels, scale, and context. It's essential to be data literate, as it affects everything around us, from our personal choices to government policies. If we understand data and can correctly understand its message, only then will we be a data-literate society.

-Yajurved Patil

How do Psychological and Economic Factors Influence Consumption and Affect Saving Habits?

Keynes's psychological law of consumption states that "the income increase into the economy definitely increases consumption, which is why consumption is a function of income, but the law also says that as income increases, consumption increases, but at a slower rate than income", It means our consumption is influenced by our income, but do you know that other things also influence our consumption?

As we know,  For driving economic growth,consumption is a fundamental aspect of human life. Consumption refers to the use or expenditure of goods and services by households, individuals, and organizations to satisfy their economic, social, and psychological needs and wants. But have you ever wondered why we consume the things we do? Consumption is based on need or is influenced by other factors like psychology, marketing, policy, etc.? Can consumption affect saving habits?

Let's explore the answers to such questions.

The most important factor behind consumption is psychological factors . Consumer's psychology prominently influences their consumption. Psychological factors such as addiction, habit, social norms, peer pressure, mood, emotions, social environment and self-esteem etc. For incidence, diamonds are not essential for life but to enhance self-image or to maintain social identity or status, consumers may purchase the product.  When we see a shopping mall, we do some shopping  it means our physical and social surroundings influence consumption. Social media is influencing our consumption patterns nowadays. Also positive or negative feelings towards the product or service. Framing effects means presentation of economic information (e.g., prices, discounts) can influence consumer perceptions. The economic aspect is a key factor in consumption. Limitation of resources or products can increase desire and perceived value. The price of a product affects the consumption of consumers; price changes affect consumer behavior, including substitution and demand elasticity; switching to an alternative due to a price change. Tactics is market strategy which significantly influences consumption is, Advertising- shapes perceptions, attitudes, and beliefs about products. Branding- creates emotional connections and loyalty. Visual marketing- uses images and videos to evoke emotions and attention. Customer reviews- leveraging social proof and credibility. Free Trial: offering a free trial or sample.

Companies are leveraging this psychology to increase consumption, using various tactics to encourage consumption such as scarcity tactics: create a sense of urgency by offering limited-time offers, exclusive deals, and countdown timers. Creates artificial needs and desires. Companies giving convenience to consumers by offering easy payment options, subscription services, and one-click purchases lead to an increase in consumption. An increase in consumption is significantly affecting saving habits. Reduction in savings rates, less money being saved due to impulse purchases and overspending. Unnecessary consumption focuses on immediate gratification and neglects the  long-term savings goals. Inadequate savings lead to reduced retirement funds and financial insecurity. Overspending and debt leads to financial stress, making it harder to save.

Combination of psychological and economic factors, consumption behavior is influenced  and  unnecessary consumption which affects saving habits. Prioritizing expenditure and avoiding unnecessary consumption leads to an increase in savings habits. Individuals, businesses, and society as a whole can make informed decisions by knowing the psychological and economic tactics behind consumption.

-Shruti Shinde

Union Budget 2024: Navigating India's Path to Development Through Fiscal Discipline and Strategic Investments

The annual budget, which has been referred to as the financial plan of a country in many instances, is actually about social welfare, economic policy, and political desires. The budget is more arithmetical concerning revenues and expenditure; also, it is a story that shows the government’s priorities. As a result, this has become an economic powerhouse on a global scale, with Union Budget 2024 planning for “Viksit Bharat” touching on these areas: agricultural reforms, manufacturing impetus, job creation initiatives, youth skills development programs, support for MSMEs as well as urban infrastructure development.

Its fiscal discipline makes the budget stand out most prominently. Though the current fiscal deficit stands at 4.9%, there are plans to bring it down further to 4.5% next year. In order to ensure balanced fiscal policy and target resources effectively into the preferred sectors while still maintaining fiscal stability. There have been no details regarding how the budgetary approach has been planned, but it can be categorized into four main sets: Garib’, meaning poor people; 'Mahilayen', meaning women; ‘Yuva’, meaning young people; and ‘Annadata’, meaning farmers.

A massive allocation of Rs 1.48 lakh crore towards development is being contemplated. A number of key initiatives include pro-growth fiscal policy, stability in the process of securing India's energy supply as well as its sustainability, which includes a roadmap for energy transition, augmenting electricity storage capacities, the development of nuclear and thermal power technologies, and the introduction of carbon market regulations for heavy industries. Spending on social sector programs such as MGNRGEA, Samagra Shiksha, Ayushman Bharat, old age pension, widow pension, Swasthya Suraksha—all have gone down over the past few years. This is why India’s inequality is notably worse: India is always caught up in abysmal health; poor teaching and learning; living in bad housing without plumbing; malnutrition; high child mortality rates. The middle class, however, remains at the same point of hope and desire for another year. One-third of our population lives less than 100 rupees every day. They are paying for this through regular purchases, thereby subsidizing government through “Aam aadmi,” who pays GST and heavy taxation while only favored ones under the scheme get subsidized. Although it has been widely lauded by many for its simplicity, including a uniform long-term capital gains tax rate of 12.5% on almost all asset classes except unlisted debentures after indexation removal, it has been criticized in some quarters that now seems like an inheritance tax on property transactions.

The portion of the budget that goes to agriculture has remained unchanged at about 3.1 percent of the total budget. From September, the general prices rise by no more than 6%, but food prices in India by June 2024 increase up to 9.4%. According to the World Hunger Index (WHI), which ranks among 125 countries, India still occupies the 111th position. Thus, there is an overall increase in prices of many goods due to rising food inflation. The percentages for flagship programs like Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi have shrunk as a fraction of the total budget through FY25. At the same time, other measures to boost agricultural productivity and efficiency in supply chains are being contemplated. Allocation as targeted under Rs 1.52 lakh crore towards agriculture will be given, while doing away with this program will result in the demarcation of these resources for unproductive use only. To increase yields and fortify resilience to climate vagaries To attain the above objectives entails promotion of new crop varieties, natural farming, and digitization tools for farming, among others. These have played significant roles in safeguarding stable prices and economic welfare.

Indian job creation remains a top priority as the all-India unemployment rate stands at 9.2% in June 2024. The government aims to simplify incentive schemes and strengthen labor-intensive sectors through strategic investments that will enhance employment generation in these areas. A skilled workforce is instrumental in India's leap to a developed economy, and it has provided 2 lakh crore rupees for generating employment to boost employment and skilling through three new schemes, namely, incentives for first-time job seekers, job creation in manufacturing, and employer support. This large investment of Rs. 3 lakh crore being made by the government in women and girls testifies to its concerns toward social welfare. These have been campaigns for increasing female labor force participation, empowering women with relevant skills and opportunities, and thus helping drive economic growth. Infrastructure is a prime driver of growth, and major investments are marked for creating more transportation networks, mainly rural connectivity, enhancement of water resources management, and disaster mitigation.

It's pretty evident that India really stands at the crossroads.It is the leveraging of this demographic dividend that shall surely set India firmly on the global scene. Union Budget 2024 would present a roadmap for India's march to a developed nation. The fiscal and enterprise commitment goes very well with the vision of Amrit Kaal.

-Harshata Gotephode

From A Seed To A Dandelion : How a student's personality is shaped by staying away from home!

Students' lives are like the seeds of a dandelion, released from the flower head and carried away by the wind, where they leave their comfort zone and, by fighting various difficulties, create their colony in an unknown area. Unfortunately, everyone praises the beauty, but no one points out the struggle the seeds have faced to be pretty. Likewise, the success of the students is seen, but not their struggle during their studies. The students adapt to various changes in the new place; they also adopt different habits during their whole journey as students, which ultimately influence their personalities. Students leave their homes for new, well-educational opportunities. Here the phase arises where either the Dandelion seeds turn out into a beautiful plant or fail to germinate. 

As students shift to new places, they learn to break their comfort zone and to balance their budget with the allocated money. They learn how to maintain cleanliness and how to cook. Thus, the development of the trait of conscientiousness takes place. They learn how to deal with this huge crowd. Leading to an increase in the traits called openness to experience, agreeableness, and extraversion. Here, not only girls but boys too learn the things that they have never done in their home, like cleaning, cooking, etc. The development of these traits enhances the personalities of students. Which further helps them have a better future. To get well-adjusted in the crowd, the students develop adaptability and resilience. Further, they study hard by creating a favorable atmosphere to study in, like by joining a reading room, studying in fresh air in gardens, group study, etc. Thus, the dandelion seeds are successfully converted into dandelion plants.

Due to various problems like predation, herbivory, and human activities, the dandelion plant fails to germinate. Likewise, there are different problems faced by students as they shift to new places. Mostly, the problem of inferiority is seen because now they have to stay around those students who have obtained more achievements; some of them have achievements at state, national, and international levels. They have to face native students who have proper exposure to this big city crowd. Another major problem is nutrition. Such as weight loss, poor dietary choices, food insecurity, obesity, overweight, etc. Problems like lack of emotional support, homesickness, the burden of financial problems, loneliness, and feeling the pressure of a career are very prominent. Additionally, students living abroad for studies face problems like discrimination and racism. It has been seen that students who experience discrimination exhibit system justification theory. For example, here he or she rationalizes the reason for discrimination, like the student will believe that he or she faces racism because of the ugly black tone. Housing and living arrangements abroad, social integration, financial planning, academic pressure, language barriers, cultural adjustment, etc. are some other problems. Some students tackle this problem in different ways, and ideas, on the other hand, fail to germinate.

A survey conducted between February and April 2021, published by NCBI (National Center for Biotechnology Information), to investigate the challenges faced by university students studying away from their hometowns ( It was conducted in Saudi Arabia and Ethically approved by Majmaah University’s ethics committee.) shows different aspects affecting students living outside their hometowns, especially those involving financial, nutritional, social, and psychological aspects. Financially, it showed that 124 (57.9%) of participants were negatively affected. In the case of nutrition, it was found that 85 (39.7%) increased in weight and 70 (32.7%) decreased, whereas 59 (27.6%) did not notice any change. The effect of financial concerns was found to be prominent among students living in single apartments alone (73, 70.9%) and along with friends (30, 69.8%), but not as much among those living with their family. However, there was no prominent difference between weight and academic performance. The majority of those who lived alone or with friends noticed a decrease in weight. (42.7% and 48.8%, respectively). Those who lived further away from college significantly experienced a decrease in weight as compared to those who lived closer to college. 58.7% of those living more than 300 km experienced a decrease in weight.

Students living alone or further away are experiencing higher levels of homesickness. However, there was no significant relationship between homesickness and academic performance. The survey highlights the intensity of various problems and the need to find ways to fix them. There are different ways to tackle such problems, and one of them is self-care. Here, self-care activities are prioritized, such as getting adequate sleep, eating nutritious food, and practicing relaxation techniques, which can build resilience and help cope with stressors. Relaxation techniques include deep breathing, which involves techniques like diaphragmatic breathing. Another relaxation technique is progressive muscle relaxation, which involves tensing and relaxing different muscle groups in the body, moving from one group to another. Guided imagery, yoga and Tai Chi, and mindfulness meditation are some effective techniques. Another effective way is acceptance. It allows individuals to stop being useless and try to control or avoid the stressor. Cognitive reframing is also a way to gain resilience. This involves challenging negative thinking or focusing on personal strengths and resources. Distraction is when engaging in activities or one's hobbies diverts attention away from the stressor. This may help individuals temporarily reduce their distress. 

Problem-solving, seeking social support, exercising, going to the gym, etc. are some other ways. These contribute to resilience, gaining confidence, and improving adaptability. Engagement in such different techniques contributes to the reduction of stress, enhancing various positive traits while reducing the negative ones. It is not necessary that the students living away from home only follow these practices; one can simply perform them to have good physical and mental health. Thus, staying away from home can influence the personality both positively and negatively. We just have to work through various practices to tackle these negative impacts and convert ourselves from a seed to a dandelion.

- Shravani Surve