To Always Be; An Ode To Shakespeare

My friend complains about this summer day. Too hot, too still. She says, “I don’t know how I’m supposed to like any of this.” I tell her, “Then don’t. But let me be here while you hate it.” We sit on the steps, and I recite, half-laughing, “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate.” The line lingers. Shakespeare’s summer was eternal; this one rather insufferable. But something shifts as we begin to talk about him—the ghost of a man who still lives in books and classrooms. 

A professor once said that Shakespeare  took the roots of all we feel, like envy, fear, and love beyond happiness and that is why he still feels relevant. He crossed the bridge of time and knew us deeply the way he understood the anatomy of emotions and bending words to fit this musing right. Musings that even if in his world took place in fantasy spaces, splurge and spill out of today’s small bits of life too, so much so that when I- tell my sister love is not for the faint-hearted or later say, “Good riddance,” after her heartbreak, I’m quoting him without realizing it. Shakespeare gave us the words for joy, grief, and all that lies between which is why his plays weren’t meant to be read; they were meant to be felt by being spoken about. Every word, every silence, every goosebump.

It’s been 461 years since his birth on April 23, 1564. Still, he endures, because he wrote what we couldn’t say. He asked, “To be or not to be,” and left us an answer in his legacy which is to say, to in a way, always be.

-Urvi Patil

जगणं, जपणं आणि जिणं-कला

मानवाला खरं तर जिवंत राहण्यासाठी अन्न, पाणी आणि प्राणवायू एवढ्याच गोष्टी पुरेशा होत्या; पण तरीही प्राचीन गुहाचित्रांचे अवशेष आणि शिल्पकलेचे नमुने आजही सापडतात. म्हणजेच प्राचीन काळात ‘कला’ ही विरंगुळा होती. मानवाच्या उत्क्रांतीसोबत कलेचं महत्त्व वाढत गेलं. मनातील गुंतागुंतीच्या आणि उत्कट भावनांना दिलेलं मूर्त स्वरूप म्हणजे ‘कला’. ही कला त्याच्या जगण्याला अर्थ देऊ लागली, आणि पुढे ती त्याच्या अर्थार्जनाचं साधनदेखील बनली. पण इतक्या बदलांनंतरही कलेचा आत्मा तसाच राहिला — त्याच उत्कट भावना, तेच कौशल्य, निर्मितीतून मिळणारा आनंद आणि समाधानही तेच. आणि हा आनंद केवळ कलाकारापुरताच मर्यादित राहत नाही; तर त्या कलेची अनुभूती घेणाऱ्या प्रत्येकापर्यंत पोहोचतो. चित्रकलेपासून ते शिल्पकलेपर्यंत आणि संगीतापासून ते नृत्यकलेपर्यंत — प्रत्येक कलेचं एक शास्त्र आहे; पण त्या शास्त्राची चौकट होत नाही. प्रत्येक कलेचे काही नियम आहेत; पण त्या नियमांची बंधनं होत नाहीत. कारण, कला स्वच्छंद असते!

कला माणसाला व्यक्त व्हायला मदत करते, माणसातलं माणूसपण जपते, पर्यायाने माणसालाच जपते. कला ही कलाकारांची ओळख बनते आणि कलाकृतींमध्ये कलाकाराच्या भावनांची, माणूसपणाची, अस्तित्वाची, झलक दिसत राहते.  मनापासून कलेची साधना करणाऱ्या कलाकाराला जसं समाधान मिळतं, तसंच कलेचा मनापासून आदर करणाऱ्या कलासक्तालाही मिळतं. प्रेक्षक किंवा श्रोते होणं तसं सोपं; पण खऱ्या अर्थाने कलासक्त होणं कठीण. कोणत्याही कलेबद्दल आत्मीयता बाळगणं, त्यामागच्या कष्टांची जाण असणं, कलाकाराचा आणि त्याच्या कलाकृतीचा मनापासून आदर करणं' म्हणजे कलासक्त होणं.

अलीकडचीच एक घटना — सोशल मीडियावर Studio Ghibli स्टाईल AI-Generated Imagesना अचानक पेव फुटलं. Ghibli या जपानी ॲनिमेशन स्टुडिओचं मूळ वैशिष्ट्य म्हणजे – प्रत्येक फ्रेम ही कलाकारांनी तासनतास घेतलेल्या मेहनतीतून साकारलेली असते आणि त्यातील बारकाव्यांमुळे प्रत्येक पात्राचं भावविश्व जिवंत झाल्याचं भासतं.

पण जिथे AIकडे भावना नाहीत, तिथे ह्या कृत्रिमतेला ‘कला’ म्हणावं का? ती केवळ नक्कल ठरते — आणि कलाकारांच्या कष्टांचा अपमानदेखील. अनेकांनी हा ट्रेंड फॉलो केला; पण खरे कलासक्त रसिक मात्र याला विरोध करत उभे राहिले. यामुळे सिद्ध झालं की कलेतील कृत्रिमता ही कलाकारालाही खटकते आणि कलासक्तालाही. कलाकार कलेला जिवंत ठेवतो, कला कलाकाराला जगवते, आणि कला माणसांच्या जगण्याला अर्थ देते.

ही जगण्या-जगवण्याची कला म्हणजे – मन रिझवणारा आणि कलासक्त रसिकांना थिजवणारा कौशल्यपूर्ण आविष्कार! म्हणूनच कलेमुळे जगणाऱ्या, कलेसाठी जगणाऱ्या आणि कलेला जीवन मानणाऱ्या, अशा सर्वांना — जागतिक कला दिनाच्या मनःपूर्वक शुभेच्छा! 

-अनुष्का बिराजदार.

Verses of Eternity: Cherishing the Soul of Poetry

“That you are here, that life exists and identity; That the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse”   -Walt Whitman 

Whitman expresses in the aforementioned lines his appreciation of mere existence and the idiosyncrasy of an individual. With a heart set to inspire future generations, he urges each individual to have complete freedom in selecting their "verse" and carve their name upon the echoes of eternity. March 21st is celebrated as World Poetry Day to honor the diversity in poetry from multiple angles, be it in preserving linguistic diversity and cultural heritage or how it acts as an artist’s voice in dynamic social changes, like Sylvia Plath who used poetry as a medium to challenge patriarchy and oppression. In order to harmonize the spirit’s rhythm, UNESCO declared World Poetry Day in 1999. Through dawns and dusks, the world has beheld those who spun words into eternity’s tapestry. Specifically William Shakespeare, Rumi, Robert Frost, Emily Dickinson, Sylvia Plath, Pablo Neruda, Homer, Rabindranath Tagore and countless voices that are immortal in the ink of history. 

“Where the mind is led forward by thee 

 Into ever-widening thought and action 

 Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake” 

-Rabindranath Tagore 

The cited text is the closing lines of Tagore’s poem “Where the Mind is Without Fear”. The poet sketches echoes of a society where the young minds are progressive, with a flame that hungers for the oil of understanding. He prays to God to cultivate a nation where the seeds of freedom grow with the zeal of a rising sun. Now allow me to ask you this, when was the last time you read a poem? Not for school, not for a quick Instagram post, but to truly feel its essence, its depth, its soul? Let me guess, probably in the distant yesterdays. Poetry, an art that was once the lifeline of human expression, is being reduced to mere captions and hashtags in an era of short attention spans and viral content. Have we lost sight of its depth? Poetry serves as a gentle reminder to slow down, feel, and connect in a world that often walks over feelings, because every poem is like a lantern in the dark, guiding us back to ourselves. On this World Poetry Day let's celebrate the ability of words to inspire, heal, and remind us that poetry can speak even when all else is silent. 

 "We don’t read and write poetry because it’s cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion." -Prof. John Keating from The Dead Poets Society

-Arushi Yadav

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

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

Plugged into Socials, what's next?

Let’s picture this: you wake up and the first thing you do in the morning isn’t getting out of bed; instead, you start your day by checking your phone and then spend the entire day glued to it. Sounds a little too relatable? Even if we like it or not, we're all guilty of being addicted to our devices. We’re so hooked that our lives revolve around all these screens, scrolling, swiping, and liking. Now, social media, invented originally as a tool to reach out to friends, has turned into a tremendous ecosystem. This means that Instagram, Facebook, and so on are no longer mere apps; they take over our real, everyday lives. Nevertheless, have you ever thought about where this whole social media mania is headed? Let us take a look into the future. First things first, we will start by talking about how platforms have evolved. We all used to know Facebook as the platform where we shared birthday posts and random updates. 

Nowadays, it is a giant marketplace, news source, or even a battleground for politics. Instagram was just for sharing pictures, and now it has become a platform with an entire influencer culture. Although tik-tok is banned in our country, it has completely changed how we consume content. 30-second videos on Youtube and Instagram now rule our attention spans! All our social handles are now powerful tools for business, activism, and self-expression. Yet the thing is, we are about to move into something much bigger. Social media is not just about scrolling through posts like it was before. Now the future belongs to hyperpersonalization. Algorithms would know you better than you know yourself. Scary? Maybe. Nevertheless, the reality is that platforms will start to predict our every need. You won't have to find content; it will find you. The change that will really put artificial intelligence and machine learning into practice is the one that changes our experience of social media. In no time, our social media experiences are going to be more tailored and customised than ever before.

Another interesting thing emerging is the metaverse. I know, it sounds like it is right out of a sci-fi movie, right? It is indeed. Popular companies such as Meta (i.e., Facebook) are investing in virtual reality spaces where people can interact as avatars. Imagine attending a concert or a class in the virtual scenario while actually feeling like you are there, crazy, right? What once only existed in our phones will soon become our living space.

Next comes the shift towards decentralisation. What does it mean? Mainstream platforms such as Meta, Instagram, Twitter, etc. are owned and controlled by big companies as of now. However, with this incoming blockchain technology and Web 3.0, we are headed towards a model that puts more control of one's data and content into the hands of the users themselves instead of the companies. It is like taking power away from the big companies and giving it back to the users. This is already being experimented upon on platforms like Mastodon. So, social media will evolve not only in terms of experience but ownership as well.

Moreover, there are NFTs, meaning non-fungible tokens. NFTs represent ownership over any form of digital assets—from art to music or even memes! Tokens make it possible for people to buy, sell, and trade digital content across multiple platforms. Instead of just "liking" a post, you might really own a piece of digital culture.

In this fast-changing world, it's fascinating to think about where we might be in five years from now. I have to admit I find it really exciting to consider what's coming; however, we also need to address the elephant in the room. Social media has already been criticised for being so full of information that it hinders our ability to function, also triggering anxiety, addiction, and many more. This will blur the lines between the digital and real worlds even further. There is a possibility that social media will become more invasive in our lives. So users need to establish healthy boundaries. Regulations around data privacy and digital well-being will become important as we enter this new landscape.

With all these new technologies that continue to emerge, we still have much hope for very real, positive change. The challenge with these platforms will be in making sure that they continue to be spaces of genuine connection and not isolation, creativity and not conformity. Social media will do wonders for us if used mindfully. We just need to figure out how to balance things out. After all, just like any tool, it’s how we use it that ultimately defines its value.

-Chaitralee Indore

It is said, "When a person departs, they take pieces of the souls of all their loved ones.."

Last month, Vaadasabha lost one of its dearest members, Chaitralee Indore. She was a tranquil person, an exceptional writer, and an extraordinary speaker. A benevolent soul, her absence has deeply impacted every member of our family and will continue to do so forever. As a poignant accolade, I present the blog she wrote a month before her demise.

Om Shanti🙏🏻

राष्ट्रीय क्रीडा दिवस

 

नमस्कार! 

आजच्या राष्ट्रीय क्रीडा दिनाच्या तुम्हाला सर्वांना खूप खूप शुभेच्छा !

खरंतर खेळ आणि आपलं अगदी लहानपणापासूनच घट्ट जोडलेलं असतं. आपण सगळेचजण लहानपणापासूनच वेगवेगळे खेळ खेळत असतो पण असे ही काही जण असतात ज्यांच्यासाठी खेळ हा फक्त  स्वतःच्या आनंदासाठी खेळण्याचं साधन नसून तो खेळ ही त्यांची करिअरची वाट बनून जाते. आणि त्यातूनच नवनवीन खेळाडू तयार होत असतात जे क्रीडाक्षेत्रात स्वतःचं मोलाचं योगदान देतात. हरिवंशराय बच्चन यांच्या काही ओळी मला आठवतात,

कुछ किये बिना ही जय जयकार नहीं होती,

कोशिश करने वालों की हार नहीं होती! 

आणि ह्या ओळींना सार्थ ठरवणारी कामगिरी भारताच्या क्रीडापटूंनी करून दाखवली. ह्यावर्षीच्या म्हणजेच २०२४ ऑलिंपिक्स मध्ये आत्तापर्यंत भारतीय क्रिडापटूंनी आपले सर्वस्व पणाला लावून ६ पदकं आपल्या नावावर केली आहेत.  आणि म्हणूनच आजचा दिवस हा 'ऑलिंपिकवीरांची' म्हणजेच अशा क्रीडापटूंची आठवण काढल्याशिवाय पूर्णच होऊ शकत नाही ज्यांनी भारताचे नाव जगभरात उंचावले आणि म्हणूनच त्यांच्याप्रतीची कृतज्ञता व्यक्त करण्याचा हा छोटासा प्रयत्न!

राष्ट्रीय क्रीडा दिवस हा दरवर्षी  २९ ऑगस्ट रोजी  हॉकीपटू मेजर ध्यानचंद यांच्या जयंती दिवशी  भारतामध्ये साजरा केला जातो. हा दिवस १९२८, १९३२ आणि १९३६ मध्ये भारतासाठी ऑलिम्पिकमध्ये सुवर्णपदक जिंकणारे हॉकीपटू मेजर ध्यानचंद सिंग यांचा वाढदिवस आहे. त्यांच्या ह्या अलौकिक कार्यासाठी त्यांना येणाऱ्या पिढ्यांनी ही कायम लक्षात ठेवावे आणि त्यांच्याकडून प्रेरणा घेऊन भविष्यात ही अनेक क्रीडापटू असे घडावेत असा ह्या मागचा उद्देश आहे. आता ऑलिंपिक स्पर्धा आणि भारत यांचं नेहमीच एकमेकांशी गहिरं नातं राहिलेलं आहे. भारतात अनेकांच्या डोळ्यांत ऑलिंपिक्स च्या सुवर्णपदकाला गवसणी घालण्याचं स्वप्न आजही दिसतं. भारताला ऑलिंपिक्स मध्ये सर्वात पहिल्यांदा म्हणजेच १९५२ साली कुस्तीपटू खाशाबा दादासाहेब जाधव ह्यांनी पुरुषांच्या फ्रीस्टाइल बँटमवेट प्रकारात कांस्य पदक मिळवून दिले. तसंच २००० साल च्या ऑलिंपिक खेळांमध्ये, कर्णम मल्लेश्वरी ही ऑलिम्पिक पदक जिंकणारी भारताची पहिली महिला ठरली. तेव्हापासून जी परंपरा सुरू ती अगदी आजतागायत टिकली आहे. नीरज चोप्रा, मीराबाई चानू, पि.व्ही. सिंधू ते अगदी आत्ता याच वर्षी पार पडलेल्या पॅरिस ऑलिंपिक मध्ये मनू भाकर, सरबजोत सिंग, स्वप्नील कुसळे, इत्यादी क्रीडापटूंनी हा समृद्ध वारसा सुरू ठेवल्याचे पहायला मिळते. 

भारतामध्ये खेळासाठीची जिद्द आपल्याला अनेकांमध्ये पाहायला मिळते आणि त्यामुळेच पॅरालिम्पिक स्पर्धेतही भारतातील विविध खेळाडू आपल्याला उमेदीने सहभागी होताना दिसतात. मुरलीकांत पेटकर यांनी १९७२ मध्ये पुरुषांच्या 50 मीटर फ्रीस्टाइल प्रकारात भारताला पहिले सुवर्णपदक मिळवून दिले. २०२४ हे वर्ष तर क्रीडाप्रेमींसाठी पर्वणीच ठरलेली आहे. ऑलिंपिक्स मधील कामगिरी सोबतच भारताने क्रिकेटच्या दुनियेतला एक महत्वपूर्ण किताब म्हणजे ' टी-ट्वेंटी विश्वकप' देखील आपल्या नावे केला आणि हे सुवर्णक्षण आजही प्रत्येकाला आनंदून टाकतात. 

आज क्रीडा दिनाच्या दिवशी ह्या साऱ्याचा आढावा घेताना असं लक्षात येतं की भारताला खेळाची एक समृद्ध पार्श्वभूमी लाभलेली आहे. इथे लहानांपासून मोठ्यांपर्यंत सगळ्यांनाच खेळ खेळायला, पहायला, त्याचा आनंद लुटायला आवडतो आणि हेच येणाऱ्या पिढ्यांना खेळांची गोडी लावतोय. इथे सचिन तेंडुलकर , विराट कोहली , महेंद्र सिंह धोनी, पी.व्ही.सिंधू, सायना नेहवाल हे भारतीय खेळाडूच नाहीत तर मेस्सी, रोनाल्डो, गेल असे अनेक भारताबाहेरील खेळाडू देखील त्यांच्या खेळातील प्राविण्याने भुरळ पाडतात. इथे खेळाच्या दुनियेतल्या अनेक उच्च किताबांना गवसणी घालण्याचं स्वप्नं, ध्येय अनेकांच्या मनात आहे फक्त त्यांना गरज आहे प्रोत्साहनाची‌. प्रत्येक खेळाडूला त्याचा विश्वास वाढवणारा एक प्रोत्साहनाचा हात त्यांच्या पाठीवर हवा असतो आणि तोच विश्वास आपण आपल्या भारत देशासाठी खेळणाऱ्या प्रत्येक खेळाडूवर दाखवला तर येणाऱ्या काळात असे अनेकानेक खेळाडू घडतील. यशस्वी खेळाडू जे मेडल प्राप्त करतात अशांची आपण दखल घेतोच पण त्यापलीकडे जाऊन इच्छा, चिकाटी आणि परिश्रमाच्या जोरावर ऑलिंपिक सारख्या मोठ्या प्लॅटफाॅर्मवर जाऊन भारताचं प्रतिनिधित्व करणाऱ्या पण काही कारणाने मेडल हुकलेल्या ही प्रत्येक खेळाडूचं कौतुक आपण करू शकलो तर यश आणि अपयशाच्या चौकटीपलीकडे जाऊन आपण खेळणाऱ्या प्रत्येक खेळाडू ला मान प्राप्त होईल‌. ज्याने त्यांना धीर मिळेल, त्यांची उमेद वाढेल, आत्मविश्वास वाढेल आणि येणाऱ्या काळात क्रीडाक्षेत्र उत्तरोत्तर समृध्द होत जाईल. त्यामुळे आपल्यातल्या ही खेळाडू ला नेहमी जीवंत ठेऊयात आणि आपल्या आजूबाजूच्या प्रत्येक खेळाडूला प्रोत्साहन देऊन आपलं क्रीडाक्षेत्र प्रतीचं महत्वाचे योगदान नोंदवूयात ! 

-Manali Deshpande

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

Juggling between Practicality and Imagination

Steve Jobs says, “With your imagination, you can change the world.” Psychology divides the mind into two areas: the conscious and subconscious mind. The conscious mind is responsible for analyzing, thinking, making plans, and short-term memory. Whereas the subconscious mind goes beyond learning new skills, It involves processing information and affects our every thought. We make decisions based on our learning from past experiences. Our opinions are influenced by biases, emotions, reasons, and memories. We measure the benefits and costs of our choices and cope with the consequences. Thus, decision-making involves a mix of intuition and rational thinking.

We humans keep juggling between the worlds of practicality and imagination. Our imaginative abilities underpin our creative ideas. Rarely, does the world within us align with the outer world. Whenever struck with a problem, we tend to analyze it at our level. Practicality is largely in the domain of decisions and behavior. In contrast, imagination is in the domain of thought and speculation. When we think of creativity, we seek ideas that are outside the box, but at times it is beneficial to have practical solutions that can be efficiently implemented. Doesn’t it limit the range within which we function? 

Must we think that an artist has to rely only on imagination? Can it be said that when you look at an investor, all she needs are theories and data? These two things will not take them anywhere. Consequently, artists should perceive their work practically, just as investors may act on hunches at times. Hence, these two forces are not necessarily at odds. When balanced correctly, they can complement each other.

Creativity is to find unique solutions to our problems and break the conventional outlook. Today’s fast-paced world needs creative minds to run it. As it drives innovation and progress. But without practicality, these creative ideas would remain mere concepts. We need practical approaches to execute them at ground level. The struggle lies in finding the perfect balance between the two, with them being the two sides of the same coin. The challenge comes in trying to combine these two, which are synonymous terms. Entirely focusing on creativity can lead to unrealistic and unattainable goals, subsequently wasting resources and time. Conversely, an overemphasis on practicality can limit potential breakthroughs that drive progress.

Consider, for example, the process of scientific discovery. Practicality guides researchers to carefully design experiments, collect data, and draw conclusions based on empirical evidence. Yet, it is imagination that sparks the initial hypothesis, that dares to question the status quo, and that leads scientists down uncharted paths of exploration. In this way, practicality and imagination work hand in hand, each lending its strengths to the pursuit of knowledge and understanding.

Rather than trying to make a business idea fit the market, it should leave room for innovation by considering the needs of the market. Profitability can be achieved while ensuring that the industry is influenced in a sustainable manner. So, let your imagination run wild, anchored within realism. Practicality and imagination are connected by a fine line. One boosts the progress of another or halts the growth entirely. A person should recognize that reality is the foremost truth and that it is essential to live actively in today's world. It helps you make planned decisions and saves you from regretful decisions. However, a touch of imagination in making your decision a success is important.

The dynamic balance between practicality and imagination is a key part of being human. It helps us navigate life's challenges, chase our dreams, and influence the world. Embracing both practicality and imagination allows us to overcome obstacles, tap into our creativity, and move towards a better tomorrow.

- Dipti Rathod