Press: Safeguarding the Truth

 

On January 2nd, 1881, a brave freedom fighter in Pune took a bold step in undermining the British authority in India. This freedom fighter recognised the power of the press and launched a weekly English newspaper called ‘The Mahratta’. This freedom fighter was none other than Bal Gangadhar Tilak. He launched The Mahratta to reach a wider, English-speaking audience to propagate his nationalist ideas, critique British policies, and advocate for swaraj. The Mahratta was established with his widely known newspaper ‘Kesari’, which was printed in Marathi, as a platform for radical ideas and bold calls for change. At around the same time, on the other side of the country in Chennai, another influential newspaper was launched by a group referred to as the "Triplicane Six," which included four law students and two teachers. This newspaper was ‘The Hindu’, which was established to protest British policies and promote a voice for Indian public opinion during a time of colonial rule. This is the proud legacy of the Indian press, which has always striven to serve the public.

To enable the press to serve public interests and be free from outside interference, the Press Council of India was established. The council has been a valuable moderator, protecting the press from intimidation, surveillance attempts and any outside dangers that threaten its integrity. On the other hand, the council has also taken significant steps to ensure that the press remains within ethical and legal thresholds. The council regularly hosts seminars and events on subjects like media ethics, the role of the media in a democracy, etc. The wide array of its functions enables the PCI to regulate and protect one of the most ferocious, dedicated and one of the oldest press in the world- The Indian press.

The Indian Press has been in danger many times throughout its long history. Right from its establishment, the press was persecuted by the British, who viewed it as a dangerous platform for anti-colonial and independent ideas. The Vernacular Press Act of 1878 introduced by the Viceroy Lord Lytton was a tyrannical law which enabled the British to ruthlessly censor the press. The persecution of the press continued to the very end of British rule in India. An era of welcome development and co-operation was ushered in after the Independence and the establishment of the Indian constitution, which guaranteed all citizens the right to freedom of speech and expression that included the press. As a result, the Press in India experienced a rapid expansion of print media in the early years after independence. Several prominent newspapers, including The Times of India, The Hindu, Hindustan Times, and The Indian Express, were established and became influential voices in the nation’s political discourse. 

However, the darkest time in the history of the press was yet to come. On June 25th, 1975, the government announced a state of emergency, and overnight, the freedom of speech was suspended and the press was heavily censored. The Press Council of India was abolished. Under the Emergency, the government imposed strict control over the press through censorship, and to highlight this, some newspapers published blank pages in protest. The state of emergency was lifted in 1977, and the PCI was re-established in 1979. While the Emergency was lifted and the Indian press began rebuilding itself, the challenges were far from over. 

Today, India ranks 159th in the 2024 World Press Freedom Index. The present administration has been a recipient of global criticism regarding the routine silencing of journalists and the press. A dangerous and hostile atmosphere has prevailed, with an average of two to three journalists allegedly killed due to their work every year. Journalists who are critical of the government sometimes fall prey to online harassment, intimidation, threats and physical attacks, as well as criminal prosecutions and arrests. The circulation of fake news, particularly those generated with the help of AI erode public trust, hence more and more people turn to streaming platforms for news. A combination of these factors undermine the core functions of the press, which are to educate the public as an informed and objective entity.

The National Press day is not a mere commemoration of the establishment of the Press Council of India, it's a reminder of the unforgiving origins of the Indian press, and the importance of preserving its Independence and Integrity. In the words of the French philosopher Albert Camus, “A free press can be good or bad, but, most certainly, without freedom, the press will never be anything but bad.”

-Yogiraj Kolhatkar

The Storyteller Who Listened First- Piyush Pandey

 

In the time when ads couldn’t be skipped, not because of the absence of that option, but because of the quality of the ads. There was this Adman behind such ads, making advertisements, thinking not just what his clients would want, but what the audience would connect to. This Adman was none other than Piyush Pandey, the man who played on the front foot to give an Indian touch to the advertisement industry, which was back then just mimicking the western style, with a distant appeal. He connected advertisements to every Indian, by showcasing the creativity and the unfiltered beauty of the basic Indian lifestyle and culture! His notable advertisements for the brands like Fevicol, Cadbury, Asian Paints, Vodafone, Luna and many more made these brands popular in every Indian household, because of the way it was represented! 

Piyush Pandey transformed advertising from merely selling a product to creating a bond, where every ad spoke not to the mind, but to the heart, connecting people through stories. His taglines for products like Cadbury “Kuch Khaas hai Zindagi Mein”, gave the message to celebrate the little and simple joys of our life, and thus made Cadbury Dairy Milk the sweet symbol of joy! The tagline for Asian Paints “Har Ghar Kuch Kehta Hai”, easily turned houses to homes and the paints to stories! His Fevicol ad with the tagline “Yeh Fevicol ka jod hai, tutega nahi”, gave Fevicol the ability to glue together the trust of the people with that product! His ads were not just filled with persuasive marketing, but were filled with the stories and the emotions of Indians. And these relatable stories and emotions were then followed by persuasion. This man did not just bring logic to the ads but added magic to it! That was what he believed in. He spread his magic beyond the commercials. He helped bring social change through his advertisement for India’s Pulse Polio Programme, with the tagline “Do Boond Zindagi Ke”, starring Amitabh Bachchan. The polio-awareness campaigns turned public-health into a national conversation. This ad drove millions to vaccination booths and played a meaningful part in India’s march to polio-free status. He is also the writer of the song “Mile Sur Mera Tumhara”, the iconic 1988 song that we’ve all heard was a near-anthem for our nation that promoted national integration! This song repeated the main phrase in about 14 languages, “Where my musical note and your musical note merge, it becomes OUR musical note!” This symbolized the beauty of unity in diversity that India is known for! 

Piyush Pandey has done so much for the advertisement industry, for the brands, for the nation, for the Indian audience! His work had earned him a lot of notable awards including The Padma Shri, and other international creative laurels. He also contributed to Ogilvy India’s achievements, making it the most awarded and respected creative agency in India, under his leadership. But all of this did not change his learner and humble attitude. He was a great and inspiring leader to the new creative minds, and helped them play on the front foot and voice their ideas with confidence. That was his motto! He poured a part of his spirit, his vision, and his creative fire, empowering a new generation to dream bigger. From starting his career in this field at the age of 27, as a trainee account executive in Ogilvy to becoming a Global Chief Creative Officer and Executive Chairman India of Ogilvy. He grew the agency, the other creative souls, the advertising field, the brands and the Indian minds with himself, by his evergreen advertisements and his evergreen ideas.

If creativity is the art of making strangers feel known, then Piyush Pandey made the whole country feel recognized. Though we lost this gem on October 24th, he did leave his shine and beauty behind! He will be remembered for his humorous ads with the thoughtful stories, his emotional connecting taglines, his inspiring thoughts and his wide bright smile!

-Shravani Rajguru 

A Language With No Words, Still Heard

 

Listening with your eyes, a phrase which beautifully encapsulates the idea of listening not being confined to only hearing words, but understanding them through sight. This might sound unusual to us but, this has been a way of life for the millions of deaf people around the world, for whom words can't be heard, but seen. Seen through human expressions, actions, and especially sign languages. Sign language, being their superpower, is the unique linguistic identity of the deaf and hard-of-hearing community. What's fascinating is that these sign languages are not mere hand gestures, or 'English on hands' as often misunderstood, but are independent languages with their own grammar, sentence structures, vocabulary, and culture which is passed on from generations. With millions of users worldwide and over 300 different sign languages, including ISL (Indian Sign Language), which not only opens doors for communication with the nearby, but connects all over the globe.

In 2017, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 23rd September as the 'International Day of Sign Languages', a day for awareness towards the human rights of the deaf, such as equal access to public services, education, and employment. A global celebration which encourages inclusion of sign languages in all areas of life, and ensures that they get the same opportunities as everyone, and can participate fully in the society. I believe, examples like cafés in India such as Echoes, employ only deaf staff, where customers place orders using sign language and placards, shows that such inclusive spaces break communication barriers leading to their empowerment, and of the society.

Across the globe, International Day of Sign Languages is celebrated through cultural programmes and awareness campaigns. Each year a new theme is announced, and the theme for this year, 2025 is “No Human Rights Without Sign Language Rights”. Which for me highlights something very powerful, the foundation of equality for the deaf lies in ensuring their right to communicate in sign language and their human right towards inclusion and participation in all aspects of life. 

We can recognize its significance clearly as 90% of the deaf children are born to hearing parents, creating communication barriers between the child and their parents. In such cases, sign languages become a bridge between the both of them, which makes the children feel understood and included. I think here we, the hearing community, can play a role too. Organizations like the National Association of the Deaf (India) and the World Federation of the Deaf host campaigns to narrow these gaps by promoting inclusive policies and interpreter training. There are also several community events held which invite both the deaf and hearing community to come together and join hands. Personally, this day is a reminder that we all can contribute by learning a few basic hand signs, supporting the deaf-inclusive policies, promoting inclusivity in schools, workplaces, and treating them as equals. It is only then we could build a world where everybody can express and connect, be it with hearing or with sight.

-Radhika Bhonsle

Because Every Life Is Precious...

I still remember that day and it shakes me to my core till date. That evening felt heavier than usual. That day when nothing made sense. I hadn’t eaten, not even spoken to anyone. I had failed UPSC, the exam I had prepared for day and night, the exam that carried not just my dreams, but the expectations of my parents too, their disappointment cut deeper than any wound. I felt like a failure. A thought kept haunting me until it consumed me completely, "Am I not good enough?”. That evening, I went up to the terrace. I felt numb as I stood there, looking down, thinking to myself that ending it all would be easier than carrying this pain, the pain of expectations. All that was left was just one step further and it’ll all be over. 

But just as I was about to, I heard a voice. My friend had followed me upstairs, he looked at me with pure concern, pulled me back, and said, “You don’t have to do this. You’re not alone.” I started sobbing uncontrollably. Just hearing those words saved my life. My friend didn’t stop there, he recommended me a psychologist, and I began therapy. Slowly, I began to understand myself better. I realized that what I wanted wasn’t death, but an escape from the heavy burden I was carrying. Suicide was a mere step to run away from all my problems. I understood that failing an exam didn't mean life was over, rather it was an opening to a new way of how I looked at my own life. But sadly I chose the wrong path back then, but not anymore! With the right support, I began to heal.

This is where I understood something important: people who attempt suicide don’t always want to die. They are crushed by their pain, whether it’s academic failure like mine, family pressure, financial struggles, society's impossible expectations or their own. The mind gets so trapped in darkness that ending life feels like the only way out.

Today is 10th September, World Suicide Prevention Day, and it makes me remind that not everyone is as fortunate as I was. I had a friend who saved me, but many others stand on the same edge, and there is no one to stop them, no one to say “Everything will be alright”. Every person in this society, may it be a farmer or a student like me should know that failure is not the end of life. They should get proper assistance, from a psychologist, a friend or even a family member. 

It's not just about them, but also about us, just being there for someone who is screaming but no one can hear. Sometimes, a kind word, attentive listening, or reminding them that they matter can change everything for a person. So if you ever come across someone who looks disheartened, even if it's your enemy, don’t just pass by. A small 'Are you okay?' or just spending a little time with them can mean a lot more than we realize. As someone who has been on the other end, take it from me that the tiniest effort we show today could be the reason someone decides to hold on for tomorrow.

-Mrunmayee Pataskar 

दृष्टी

 

कविता ही अशी देणगी आहे जी कधी कधी काही प्रसंगांना सहजच शब्दबध्द करून जाते, तशीच ही माझी कविता! आपण कधीकधी आपल्या दुःखांना मोठं समजतो पण कधी असं झालंय तुमच्यासोबत की कुणीतरी नकळत तुम्हाला हसत हसत संकटांना सामोरं जायला शिकवून गेलंय ? माझ्यासोबत एकदा असं झालं आणि त्या प्रसंगाने मला जीवनाकडे सकारात्मकपणे बघण्याची एक नवीन 'दृष्टी' दिली.

ते स्तब्ध होते; माझ्या मनात मात्र विचारांचे वादळ होते.

त्यांच्या चेहऱ्यावर शांती आणि निरागसतेचा संगम;

माझ्या मनात मात्र कोलाहल, प्रश्न, संभ्रम होते.

माझ्याकडे सगळं असूनही मी अतृप्त होतो;

त्यांच्याकडल्या उणीवाही त्यांना जगण्याचं बळ देत होत्या.

मला चिंता होती भविष्यातल्या 'जर-तर'ची;

ते वर्तमानातील चिंतांशीही मैत्री करून जगत होते.

ते एकमेकांचा हात घट्ट धरून उभे होते;

मी तर हेव्यादाव्यांच्या जगात कधीच एकटा पडलो होतो.

ते एक एक पाऊल सावकाश टाकत होते,

आणि मी पुढे जायच्या घाईत काही पाऊलं कधीच गाळली होती.

ते जात होते पुढे चाचपडत, पण योग्य दिशेने;

मात्र मी निवडलेली दिशा योग्य आहे का नाही, हे कधी पडताळून पाहिले नव्हते.

त्यांच्या चेहऱ्यावर आशावाद स्पष्ट दिसत होता;

त्यांच्याकडे उमेद होती,

मी मात्र उसनं अवसान आणून, एकेक दिवस पुढे ढकलत होतो.

त्यांच्यातल्या कमींसाठी ते कधी मागत नव्हते सहानुभूती;

ना देवाला दोष, ना ग्रह-ताऱ्यांची भिती त्यांना होती.

त्यांना बघून जणू माझं भावविश्वच ढवळून निघालं;

विचारांचा वेग वाढला,

आणि मी स्वतःलाच कोड्यात पाडलं.

तेव्हा कळून आलं — माझ्याकडे नजर होती,

पण त्यांच्याकडे दृष्टी होती.

ते दृष्टीहीन नव्हतेच; मुळी मीच स्वार्थांध होतो.

ते जगण्यासाठी धडपडत होते,

मी धडपडत जगत होतो.

तेवढ्यात सिग्नल हिरवा झाला;

गाडी सुसाट सुटली,

आणि या अल्पशा वेळात जणू जीवनाची नवी वाट गवसली.

नेहमीप्रमाणे मी कॉलेजला जाण्यासाठी बसने प्रवास करत होते. एका लाल सिग्नलवर थांबले असताना खिडकीतून बाहेर पाहताना मला असे काही दिसले की त्या पाच मिनिटांतच आयुष्याचा एक मोठा धडा शिकायला मिळाला. त्या अनुभवातून उमटलेली ही कविता — माझ्या भावविश्वाचा तो दृष्टांत तुमच्यापर्यंत पोहोचवण्याचा प्रयत्न आहे. ही कविता तुम्हालाही माझ्यासारखंच जीवनाचं बळ देऊन जावो!

-मनाली देशपांडे

Bharat: A Civilizational Identity, Not a Colonial Construct

 

From the past 104 years, on 1st August, Vaadasabha, which is the official debating union of S. P. College, has been organizing Lokmanya Tilak Punyatithi programme in the remembrance of Lokmanya Tilak. This year Vaadasabha had the honour of hosting Hon. Sanjeev Sanyal, who is a celebrated economist, historian, and thinker. His address was a powerful blend of history, geopolitics, and civilizational introspection, focused on a theme both ancient and urgent: the origins of our national identity as Bharat.

In a world where national identities are often defined by colonial timelines, India, or more accurately, Bharat stands out as an ancient civilization whose continuity predates modern statehood by millennia.

Yet ironically, even in 2025, it becomes necessary to reassert this civilizational truth. As Hon. Sanjeev Sanyal pointed out in his lecture and presentation, the colonial attempt to erase the idea of India wasn’t some historical misstep, it was a deliberate strategy of domination. Calling India “no more a nation than the equator” wasn’t just Churchill’s rhetoric but civilizational gaslighting.

The roots of Bharat go far deeper than modern maps or Mughal chronicles. The term Bharata first appears in the Rigveda, tied to a small tribe — the Bharata-Trutsu, who lived along the once-mighty Saraswati River, lauded as Sindhu-mata, the mother of rivers. This river, dismissed for years as mythical, is now visible through satellite imagery and archaeological evidence, flowing from the Himalayas to the Rann of Kutch, supporting a flourishing Saraswati-Harappan civilization that collapsed not by war, but by climate.

But here's the kicker: India didn’t become a civilization despite its diversity, it became one because it assimilated it. The Battle of Ten Kings, often treated as a mere military episode, laid the foundation of something deeper. After victory, King Sudasa didn't impose, he assimilated. The Vedas emerged not as sectarian texts, but as a Samhita — a compilation of shared wisdom across tribes. This principle ‘unity without uniformity’ became the operating system of Indic civilization.

The Rigveda even ends with a civilizational compact: “Common be your assembly, common your thought.” This idea would echo for centuries, from the scattered Shakti Peethas to Shankaracharya’s pan-India yatras, from Tolkappiyam (the oldest Tamil grammar) rooted in Vedic wisdom to the sacred geography described in the Puranas — rivers, mountain ranges, and even people like the Kiratas and Yavanas are mapped into a cohesive whole.

Even when colonial powers tried to fracture this identity, the internal memory of Jambudwipa (the sacred land of the rose apple) held, from Kashmir’s sages to Kerala’s Mahabali. And nothing symbolizes this better than the Ashoka Chakra on our national flag. It is not merely a wheel, it is the ancient emblem of the Chakravartin — the universal sovereign. King Sudasa once wielded this very symbol, not to dominate, but to unify. Today, it stands not for empire, but for democratic dharma, the wheel that turns not by force, but by consensus.

This blog isn’t a nostalgic ode. It’s a civilizational reminder, that in the face of fractured narratives, we must remember we are not fragments. We are the fire. We shall speak together, let our minds be one, Samgacchadhvam samvadadhvam.

-Aditya Phad

Anti-Terrorism Day

What a coincidence, right? When our country is doing everything in order to fight terrorism, we are setting an example of what 21st May Anti-Terrorism Day is commemorated for. This day in history was chosen in remembrance of our former Prime Minister Shri Rajiv Gandhi. He was assassinated with 14 other people on a plane by a suicide bomber who allegedly belonged to Srilanka based Terror organization in Sriperumbudur, near Chennai, on 21st May 1991. This day thereafter serves the purpose to raise awareness about the evils of terrorism and violence and promote peace and unity.

History is the witness to the catastrophic and morbid loss of lives of innocent people and, not to be forgotten, lives of our unsung brave soldiers. Terrorism isn’t a new chapter in the lives of people; it thrived through time. Nevertheless of advanced tech, advanced communication, or the internet, it thrived nevertheless. The history of terrorism in India dates back to 8 June 1980, with the Mandai Massacre in Tripura, which resulted in the killing of around 500 people. More recently, the Pahalgam Attack on 22nd April 2025 claimed 26 lives. Its consequences were visible to all. Terrorism has never done any good for a nation. A country’s strength lies in its ability to resolve conflicts through peace and integrity. Terrorism divides people; it takes away the most precious treasure of the country, which is “its youth”. In most cases the people involved in terrorism are young people, who are brainwashed by a few masterminds sitting at the top of the hierarchical pyramid. These leaders rarely sacrifice themselves; instead, they manipulate the naive to carry out their plans. The masterminds behind these heinous crimes have only one propaganda, and that is to influence the government or an international governmental organisation or to intimidate the public. Their only goal is manipulation, and in order to do so, they need manpower, and hence, they target the youth and convince them into committing crimes in the name of religion or duty.

Terrorism happens due to very minute things but results in devastating aftereffects. To begin with, the very cause of it is religious ideologies where one community thinks it is superior to the other. Social or economic inequalities, such as poverty , unemployment or lack of education, can push people to take extreme steps; Past psychological trauma in a person’s life, where a person thinks of taking revenge, to state an example from the past – the Pulwama attack, the perpetrator Adil Ahmad Dar joined the terrorist group to take revenge on the Indian Army because of an incident that took place in his life; State-sponsored terrorism also results in terrorism, where the government itself supports the terrorist groups and funds them to accomplish their strategic or geopolitical goals.

Regardless of how big the problem is, it can be solved. The first and foremost step towards cutting the roots of terrorism is by finding the roots and not clinging on to the branches of the tree. Addressing the root causes will help eradicate the problem; spreading awareness by strengthening education will help fight radical ideologies; improving economic opportunities so that nobody has to turn towards malpractices in lack of money and other resources; and strengthening the security and intelligence of the nation to prevent and respond to possible attacks.Concluding with what former President of the US, Mr Barack Obama, and spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism Dalai Lama, stated,

“Terrorism is a global problem that requires a global solution, and it is not a fight between religions or cultures. It is a fight between humanity and inhumanity."

For the sake of mankind, this evil has to be eradicated from its roots, or else the holy motherland will turn red.

-Nandini Dirsinala

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

डॉ. आनंदीबाई जोशी: भारताच्या पहिल्या महिला डॉक्टरांचा प्रेरणादायी प्रवास

डॉ. आनंदीबाई गोपाळराव जोशी या केवळ भारतातील पहिल्या महिला डॉक्टर नव्हत्या, तर त्या शिक्षण, धैर्य आणि समाजसुधारणेच्या दिशेने घडलेल्या महत्त्वाच्या प्रवासाचे प्रतीक होत्या. 31 मार्च 1865 रोजी पुण्यात जन्मलेल्या आनंदीबाईंच्या जीवनप्रवासाने अनेक महिलांसाठी प्रेरणादायी उदाहरण निर्माण केले. त्या यमुना या नावाने जन्मल्या, मात्र विवाहानंतर त्यांचे नाव आनंदीबाई झाले. केवळ स्वतःसाठी नव्हे, तर संपूर्ण भारतीय स्त्री समाजाच्या उज्ज्वल भविष्यासाठी त्यांनी मार्ग निर्माण केला.

त्यांच्या जीवनाची सुरुवात एका पारंपरिक कुटुंबात झाली, जिथे स्त्रियांनी शिक्षण घेणे दुर्मिळ होते. नऊव्या वर्षीच त्यांचा विवाह गोपाळराव जोशी यांच्याशी झाला, जे स्वतः एक प्रगतिशील विचारांचे होते. त्यांनी आनंदीबाईंना शिक्षण घेण्यासाठी प्रोत्साहन दिले. चौदाव्या वर्षी मातृत्वसुख लाभले, मात्र मुलाच्या आजारपणात योग्य वैद्यकीय उपचार न मिळाल्यामुळे त्याचा मृत्यू झाला. हा धक्का त्यांच्या आयुष्याला कलाटणी देणारा ठरला. त्यांनी ठरवले की अशा परिस्थितीत अन्य कोणत्याही आईला जावे लागू नये, आणि त्यामुळेच त्यांनी डॉक्टर होण्याचा निर्धार केला. त्या काळात स्त्रियांनी शिक्षण घेणेच कठीण होते, आणि डॉक्टर होणे तर कल्पनेपलीकडचे होते. मात्र, गोपाळरावांनी आनंदीबाईंना शिकण्यासाठी पूर्ण पाठिंबा दिला. त्यांनी अमेरिकेतील पेनसिल्व्हानिया विद्यापीठात वैद्यकीय शिक्षण घेण्याचा निर्णय घेतला. त्याकाळच्या मानसिकतेनुसार एका हिंदू स्त्रीने परदेशात जाऊन शिकणे हे समाजाला अजिबात मान्य नव्हते. लोकांनी टीका केली, विरोध केला, पण आनंदीबाईंनी निश्चय सोडला नाही. समाजाच्या विरोधाला न जुमानता त्या बोटीने एकट्याच अमेरिकेला रवाना झाल्या आणि सात समुद्र पार करत आपले शिक्षण पूर्ण केले. त्या भारताच्या पहिल्या महिला डॉक्टर झाल्या आणि त्यांनी देशातील महिलांसाठी शिक्षण व आरोग्याच्या नव्या संधी निर्माण केल्या.

शिक्षणाच्या प्रवासात त्यांना अनेक अडथळे आले. अमेरिकेतील हवामानामुळे त्यांचे आरोग्य खालावत गेले. त्यांना क्षय झाला, पण तरीही त्या थांबल्या नाहीत. शिक्षण पूर्ण करून त्या भारतात परतल्या आणि आपल्या देशातील स्त्रियांसाठी वैद्यकीय सेवा देण्याचे स्वप्न पाहू लागल्या. दुर्दैवाने, त्यांच्या शरीराने साथ दिली नाही आणि अवघ्या 22व्या वर्षीच त्यांचे निधन झाले. मात्र, त्यांनी उभारलेला मार्ग पुढील पिढ्यांसाठी दीपस्तंभ ठरला. त्यांचे जीवन आपल्याला शिकवते की, स्वप्नं पाहणं सोपं असतं, पण ती पूर्ण करण्यासाठी संघर्ष करावा लागतो. त्यांनी सामाजिक बंधनांना झुगारले, शिक्षणासाठी कठीण परिस्थितीतही प्रयत्न सुरू ठेवले आणि अपयश आलं तरी मागे हटल्या नाहीत. त्यांची कथा हे दर्शवते की शिक्षण हीच खरी शक्ती आहे आणि कोणत्याही परिस्थितीत आपल्याला आपले ध्येय गाठण्यासाठी झगडावे लागते.

आज, त्यांच्या जयंती निमित्त आपण त्यांच्या कार्याची आठवण ठेवून त्यांच्या धैर्याचा, मेहनतीचा आणि चिकाटीचा आदर्श घ्यायला हवा. त्यांनी निर्माण केलेला मार्ग आपण पुढे चालत राहिलो, तर भारतात आणखी असंख्य आनंदीबाई घडतील. त्यांच्या स्मृतींना विनम्र अभिवादन!

-मृण्मयी पाटस्कर

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

रंगभान

मला मोहित करतात रंग, त्यांच्या छटा, त्यांचं दिसणं, त्यांचं असणं, सारंकाही. जगातले आणि आयुष्यातले रंग सारखेच असं वाटलं तेव्हा कळलं की एकेका आयुष्यानेच जग रंगीत होत राहातं, कधी प्रेमाने लाल, दुःखाने काळं किंवा स्थैऱ्याने पांढरंही. कोणताच रंग नसलेला 'ना'रंगी रंग जसा पाण्याला असतो तसा तुम्हां-आम्हालाही तो निसर्गदत्त असतो. जिथे जन्मावं, ज्या स्थितीत राहावं, वाढावं तिथला रंग पांघरत राहतो आपण. तो रंग नक्की ल्यावा मात्र ल्यावा तो विवेकाच्या गाळण्यातून गाळून. असा विचार केला तर किती सहज वितळून जातो पदराखाली जपलेला खोटा अभिमान, माणसातली आणि खरंतर मनातली दरी लीलया भरून काढतात हे रंग... मात्र पूर्वसुरींच्या अनुभवातून एक गोष्ट नक्की कळते की ह्या रंगांचं प्रयोजन फार व्यापक आहे, बघावा तसा पर्वत दिसावा तसेच हे रंगदेखील आहेत. सृष्टीच्या व्यापकतेचं वैभव हे रंगच तर दाखवतात. समुद्र आणि वाळवंटाचा रंग एक नाही म्हणूनच दोघांना त्यांचं-त्यांचं महत्त्व आहे, माहात्म्य आहे. ह्या रंगांकडे जेव्हा भौतिकदृष्ट्या बघतो तेव्हा खरंच अवाक् होऊन जातो. शरीरातल्या विशिष्ट पेशी दृष्याच्या रंगभानासाठी कारणीभूत ठरतात असं शास्त्र सांगतं. माणसा-माणसात त्यातले पुसटसे भेद आणि त्याचे आजारही सांगतं, ते खरं देखील आहे पण यावरून काही अंशांनी तरी माणसांची दृष्टी वेगळी असते हेच स्पष्ट होतं. हे कळल्यावर दृष्टी वेगळी असल्याने माणसांचा दृष्टिकोन वेगळा असणारच हे मनाला इतकं पटतं की मतभेदाची कित्येक कारणं समूळ मावळून जातात.

कोट्यावधी लोकांचं जीवन युगांपासून व्यापून राहिलेले धर्म म्हणे एका रंगाने दर्शविता येतात, हे रंगांचं केवढी माहात्म्य म्हणावं ! इथे आठवतो तो शाळेतला प्रयोग, प्रिझम मधून गेलेले सगळे रंग शेवटी पांढर्या रंगामधे परिणत होतात, तेचा वाटतं की शेवटी शुद्ध श्रद्धेच्या चौकटीतून गेलेले सगळेच रंग एकाच चैतन्यात मिसळणार आहेत. तेव्हा माझ्या रंगाचा मला अभिमान असला तरी दुसऱ्याच्या द्वेषाचं कारणच उरत नाही. म्हणून महत्व द्यायचं ते प्रत्येकाच्या स्वतंत्र असण्याला, दिसणं हे काळाच्या ओघात बदलत राहणारच असतं. शेवटी सगळे सारखाच श्वास घेतात, कुणाचा श्वास भगवा नसतो किंवा हिरवाही... जसा शब्दांसाठी अर्थ तसा रंगांसाठी भाव असतो. जे शब्दांतून सांगता येत नाही, अभिनयातून दाखवता येत नाही ते रंग दर्शवतात. कलाकाराच्या भावावस्थेपर्यंत नेणारी शिडी म्हणजे रंग. भान हरपून टाकणारे तसं भानावर आणणारेही रंगच. प्रत्येकाला आपलं आयुष्य बसवता येतं एखाद्या रंगामध्ये किंवा दोन-चार रंग मिसळून साकारलेल्या एखाद्या रंगामध्ये, मात्र त्याला धाडस हवं हे नक्की. नाही म्हटलं तरी आजच्या काळात प्रत्येकाच्या विचारांना एखादा रंग लागलेलाच असतो. अशा रंगांच्या छटा फार बोलक्या असतात. माणसाला अगदी सुरुवातीला चित्र काढता येत होतं पण तो तिथे थांबला नाही, पाना-फुलांच्या रसाने तो त्यामधे रंग भरू लागला, स्वतःचे क्षितिज स्वतः विस्तारू लागला. आजची परिस्थिती तशी फार वेगळी, पण हृदयाची तहान अगदी तिच. आयुष्यात रंग भरण्याची, आयुष्य रंगीत करण्याची. प्रत्येकाच्या मनातल्या रंगांना कर्माची जोड मिळतेच असं नाही, पण रंगांची ओढ मात्र कायम राहते, जशी मनात तशी इतिहासाच्या पानांवरही. कधी हातात नसलेले अनपेक्षित रंग उधळले जातात आणि नव्हत्याचं होतंदेखील होतं.

रस्त्याच्या कडेला फुलं विकून पोट भरण्याची ईच्छा उरात बाळगणाऱ्या मुलाच्या निरागस डोळ्यांत मला हेच रंग दिसतात किंवा त्याच्यासमोरून गाडीच्या खिडकीतून हात दाखवत जाणाऱ्या एखाद्या सोनूच्या डोळ्यातही अगदी तेचं रंग असतात. ए.सी.मधे बसलेल्या आणि रस्त्यावर झोपलेल्या माणसांच्या स्वप्नातही हेच रंग जाणवतात, खरंच माणसाचं अंतरंग इतकं रंगीत असतं का ? 

 -अनीश जोशी

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

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

करुणापुरुष बाबा आमटे

हरवले आभाळ ज्यांचे हो तयांचा सोबती, सापडेना वाट ज्यांना हो तयांचा सारथी

हरवले आभाळ ज्यांचे हो तयांचा सोबती!

गुरू ठाकूर यांच्या या उक्तीप्रमाणे, ज्यांनी आपले तन, मन, धन आणि संपूर्ण जीवन निराधारांसाठी, उपेक्षितांसाठी अर्पण केले, ते थोर मानवतावादी व परिवर्तनवादी समाजसेवक, ऋषितुल्य बाबा आमटे. त्यांच्या पुण्यतिथीनिमित्त त्यांच्या कार्यकर्तृत्वावर दृष्टिक्षेप टाकण्याचा एक छोटासा प्रयत्न म्हणजे हा लेख. खांडववनाचे रूपांतर नंदनवनात करणारे उतुंग व्यक्तिमत्त्व म्हणजेच मुरलीधर देवीदास आमटे उर्फ बाबा आमटे! त्यांचा जन्म २६ डिसेंबर १९१४ रोजी महाराष्ट्रातील वर्धा जिल्ह्यातील हिंगणघाट येथील एका समृद्ध घरात झाला. दारात सर्व सुखे हात जोडून उभी असतानाही, त्यांना अगदी लहानपणापासून गरीब आणि उपेक्षितांच्या परिस्थितीची जाणीव होती.

१९३४ मध्ये त्यांनी बी.ए. पदवी मिळवल्यानंतर, १९३६ मध्ये ते एल.एल.बी. झाले. त्यानंतर खऱ्या अर्थाने त्यांनी समाजकार्यास सुरुवात केली. एका पावसाळी रात्री घरी परतत असताना, त्यांना कुष्ठरोगाच्या शेवटच्या टप्प्यात असलेला एक रुग्ण दिसतो आणि हा ध्येयवेडा तरुण कुष्ठरोग्यांच्या सेवेसाठी आयुष्य वेचण्याचा निर्धार करतो. आपल्या पत्नीला आपल्या ध्येयाविषयी कल्पना देतो आणि कुष्ठरोगासंदर्भात विविध पुस्तके वाचतो, सखोल अभ्यास करतो, कुष्ठरोग्यांच्या रुग्णालयात विनोबा भावे यांच्या साहाय्याने प्रवेश मिळवतो आणि त्यांच्यावर उपचार करतो. काही दिवसांनी त्यांना असे लक्षात येते की, आपण कुष्ठरोग्यांच्या उपचारासाठी स्वतः वैद्यकीय प्रशिक्षण घेणे गरजेचे आहे. त्यानंतर कलकत्ता स्कूल ऑफ ट्रॉपिकल मेडिसिन येथील अभ्यास वर्गात पंडित नेहरूंच्या शिफारशीवर प्रवेश घेतात आणि कुष्ठरोगी रुग्णांवर उपचार करण्याचे वैद्यकीय प्रशिक्षण पूर्ण करतात.

कुष्ठरोगासंबंधित लसीची स्वतःच्या शरीरावर चाचणी करून घेतात. केवळ असामान्य माणूसच असे धाडस करू शकतो. आज विज्ञानाने एवढी प्रगती केली असून समाजात अजूनही कुष्ठरोगाबाबत गैरसमज आहेत, परंतू बाबा आमटे यांची ही जिद्द आणि सेवा आजही मार्गदर्शक ठरते. पुढे जाऊन त्यांनी १९५० मध्ये वरोडा आणि भोवतालच्या ६० गावांमध्ये ४,००० रुग्णांवर उपचार केले. केवळ उपचार करणे हे पुरेसे नाही, ही जाणीव त्यांना झाली आणि त्यातूनच आनंदवन उभारण्याची प्रेरणा मिळाली. राज्य सरकारकडून वरोडा जवळील भागात ५० एकर पडीक जमीन त्यांना मिळाली. अतिशय अडचणीची, किचकट जागा. पाण्याचा अभाव. अशातच दोन मुले, पत्नी साधनाताई, एक लंगडी गाय, एक कुत्रा, १४ रुपये रोख आणि ५० एकर नापिक जमीन असा त्यांचा संसार सुरू झाला.

ते दिवस अतिशय भयानक होते. जंगलातील पशूंचा त्रास, अन्नधान्याचा तुटवडा या सर्व संकटांवर मात करत बाबा आमटे आणि त्यांच्या पत्नी साधनाताई आमटे यांनी सहा कुष्ठरोग्यांना सोबत घेऊन एक विहीर खोदली आणि १९५१ मध्ये विनोबा भावे यांच्या शुभहस्ते आनंदवनाचे औपचारिक उद्घाटन झाले. विविध आव्हाने पेलत बाबांनी कालांतराने कुष्ठरोग्यांच्या मदतीने सहा विहिरी खोदल्या, जमीन साफ केली, पिकांची लागवड केली आणि आनंदवनाचे रूपच पालटले. आनंदवन हे नुसते उपचार केंद्रच नव्हते, तर ते आत्मनिर्भर व मानवतावादी माणूस घडवण्याचे पवित्र तीर्थक्षेत्र होते. माझ्या मते ते केवळ एक संस्थान नसून बाबांनी तयार केलेले आत्मनिर्भरतेचे एक मॉडेल आहे, जे भारतातील अन्य ठिकाणीही वापरले जाऊ शकते! आनंदवनासोबतच, कुष्ठरोग निर्मूलन अभियान, नर्मदा बचाव आंदोलन, पर्यावरण, आदिवासी हक्क इत्यादी असंख्य सामाजिक चळवळींमध्ये त्यांनी सक्रिय सहभाग घेतला. या कामात पत्नी साधनाताई यांची अनमोल साथ त्यांना मिळाली. कुष्ठरोग्यांच्या सेवेसोबतच, त्यांच्या पुनर्वसन आणि स्वयंपूर्णतेकडेही त्यांनी विशेष लक्ष दिले.

सामाजिक कार्यासोबतच, त्यांनी त्यांच्या अनुभवांवर आधारित कसदार, प्रेरणादायी व वास्तववादी साहित्यनिर्मिती केली. 'ज्वाला आणि फुले' हा त्यांचा काव्यसंग्रह याचे उत्तम उदाहरण. बाबा आमटे यांनी आपल्या पुढच्या पिढीला नि:स्वार्थ समाजकार्याचा वारसा दिला. डॉ. प्रकाश व मंदाकिनी आमटे यांनी आदिवासींसाठी लोकबिरादरी प्रकल्प, वन्यजीव संरक्षण आणि आरोग्य सेवा यामध्ये मोलाचे योगदान दिले. तर डॉ. विकास व भारती आमटे यांनी आनंदवनाचा विस्तार करण्यात भरीव कामगिरी केली. बाबांना रॅमन मॅगसेसे, पद्मविभूषण, महाराष्ट्र भूषण यांसारखे विविध प्रतिष्ठित पुरस्कार देऊन सन्मानित करण्यात आले.

तसं पाहिलं, तर क्षणभरच असतं माणसाचं आयुष्य. त्यातही बहुतेक जण स्वतःपुरतेच जगत असतात; पण बाबा आमटे यांसारखी काही थोर माणसं एका आयुष्यातच हजारो जिवांना एक नवीन जीवन देऊन जातात. खरंच, आधार नसलेल्यांचे आभाळ बनण्यासाठी मन आकाशाएवढे विशाल असावे लागते. ९ फेब्रुवारी २००८ रोजी या महात्म्याने जगाचा निरोप घेतला. माझ्या मते, बाबा आमटे यांचा संपूर्ण जीवनप्रवास दररोज हजारो लोकांना लाखोवेळा प्रेरणा देतो. आयुष्यात सर्वोत्तम आनंद म्हणजे स्वतःच्या हितासाठी नाही, तर इतरांच्या भल्यासाठी कृत्यं करणे आणि समाजाच्या कल्याणासाठी योगदान देणे हे बाबांचं जीवन खूप प्रभावीपणे शिकवून जातं! 

"कोंडलेल्या वादळांच्या

ह्या पहा अनिवार लाटा

माणसांसाठी उद्याच्या

येथूनी निघतील वाटा...!"

विनम्र अभिवादन.

-आर्य सोनवणे

नवे वर्ष, नवा संकल्प

वर्ष सरत आहे... अनेक सण-समारंभ, अनेक चित्रपट, काही सुखद, काही दुःखद अशा आठवणी; अनेक किस्से, नवीन धडे, आणि दरवर्षीप्रमाणे भरपूर उन्हाचे, पावसाचे, आणि थंडीचे दिवस अनुभवत अनुभवत २०२४ वर्षाचा शेवट जवळ आला आहे. आता आपण सर्वजण नवीन वर्षाच्या स्वागतासाठी सज्ज आहोत. आपल्यापैकी अनेकांनी नवीन वर्षासाठी संकल्प ठरवले असतील. कदाचित २०२४ साली राहून गेलेल्या गोष्टींचाही समावेश या संकल्पांमध्ये असेल. नवीन वर्ष नेहमीच ३६५ दिवसांची भेट घेऊन येतं, पण जसं नवीन फुलं ओंजळीत घ्यायची असतील, तर जुनी कोमेजलेली फुलं ओंजळीतून सोडावी लागतात, तसंच आपल्या मनाचंही आहे. जुन्या आणि कटू आठवणींना निरोप दिल्याशिवाय नवीन वर्षातील संधींना, क्षणांना, आठवणींना साठवण्यासाठी जागा मिळणार नाही.

अनेकदा आपण नवीन वर्षाचं स्वागत आनंदाने, उत्साहाने करतो, पण मागील कटू आठवणींना कायमचा निरोप देऊन नवीन सुरुवात करायचं विसरतो. मग त्या आठवणींचं ओझं आपल्या मनावर राहतं. लांबच्या प्रवासाला निघायचंय, तर जड ओझं घेऊन कसं चालेल? आपल्याला तर पुढील ३६५ दिवसांसाठी सज्ज व्हायचं आहे!

जेव्हा आपण सगळी नकारात्मकता आपल्या मनातून काढून टाकतो, तेव्हाच सकारात्मकतेने, आनंदाने, आणि उमेदीने नववर्षाचं स्वागत करता येतं. कोणतंही वर्ष लक्षात राहतं ते त्या वर्षभरात जोडलेल्या नात्यांमुळे, नवीन मित्र-मैत्रिणींमुळे, अनुभवांमुळे, शिकलेल्या गोष्टींमुळे, चाखलेल्या नवीन पदार्थांमुळे, पाहिलेल्या प्रदेशांमुळे, वाचलेल्या पुस्तकांमुळे, ऐकलेल्या गाण्यांमुळे, केलेल्या प्रयोगांमुळे, मिळालेल्या यशामुळे, आणि प्रसंगी केलेल्या संघर्षांमुळे. या सगळ्यातून मिळालेल्या अनुभवांमुळेच आपण घडतो आणि समृद्ध होतो. म्हणूनच ‘अनुभवाचे बोल’ महत्त्वाचे मानले जातात.त्या वर्षातील चांगल्या-वाईट सर्व अनुभवांमधून मिळालेल्या शिकवणीची शिदोरी घेऊन नवीन वर्ष प्रसन्न मनाने सुरू करूया!

नवीन वर्ष आलं की आपण अनेक संकल्प करतो. त्यातला एक संकल्प असा असावा की नकारात्मक आणि त्रासदायक गोष्टींना फार काळ मनात साठवून न ठेवता त्यांना अलवार सोडून देऊ. त्यामुळे नववर्षात चांगल्या आठवणी, किस्से, प्रसंग, आणि अनुभव साठवता येतील. असं केल्यास येणारं वर्ष आपल्या आयुष्यात आनंदाची भर घालेल.

माझ्याकडून तुम्हा सर्वांना येणाऱ्या नववर्षाच्या खूप खूप शुभेच्छा!

-मनाली देशपांडे

Free Rider’s Problem and the Tragedy of Commons

Imagine, you are sitting on a train, getting a ticket worth Rs. 120. Beside you is a man sitting with the same level of comfort without paying a penny… how fair is it? Should we allow such things in the economy? If not, how can we stop it? How can we identify thousands of such passengers in the Mumbai local daily? How will you punish so many of them?  This isn’t the problem just with trains or buses but this is also the same with natural resources. We all hear about the environmental summits carried out at global levels, be it in COP or Paris Agreement or anything else, the once paying high are not the developed nations but the developing ones because they are supposed to grow by paying for the tickets of these developed countries to the environment for decades. They have been using all the resources for free and when it's our turn to use them, suddenly everything has a price tag now.  These free riders in the internal economy not only disregard the laws and discourage the ones paying for them but also increase the burden on the government. Now they need to take measures like tax increases on public goods to fill that gap and cure the losses. Again, it leads to the loss of the one who is paying for it twice. Isn’t it some sort of inequality towards the others?

These negative effects arising due to the shared resources lead to another economic dilemma, that is the ‘Tragedy of Commons’. When an individual acts for his self-interest which ultimately leads to depletion of public resources, it creates problems. Over-fishing is the most popular example used to show the tragedy of commons. In a selective area, the fish population cannot be increased at the same pace at which it is used. But for individual profits, the fishermen choose to continue fishing in the same area till it’s all vanished and the habitat is dead for the next few weeks as there won’t be any fish in the area. This not only causes discomfort to the occupation but also to the environment, the same is seen in terms of deforestation.

If we think about this problem with a selfless view, today if I have the option to travel without getting a ticket, why would I buy one? If I had the choice to earn more, why would I not? Here comes the answer! Farsightedness. I am thinking about it now. About my current benefits but I must also think about my future. If I am aware enough of its ill effects and future consequences, I might think once before traveling without a ticket. If I know that today’s extra piece of bread will keep me hungry tomorrow, I might not eat it now. 

Of course, these are just assumptions, but the individual incentives will eventually lead to the solution to such problems. No government scheme forcing you to pay extra tax is making you come out of this cycle. Thus, all we need today is a rational consumer!

-Aditi Bhavsar

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