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Harinath Story Teller EI Outlook Editor, Linkedin Profile, Blog The Journey Begins The trek started from Gangotri — a place as mystical as it is majestic. Over four days, we trekked a rugged Himalayan terrain, slowly inching toward our goal: the sacred Siva Kund. Note "We began our Kedartal trek from the sacred town of Gangotri, navigating through dense alpine forests and rugged terrains, ascending to the glacial lake nestled at 4,750 meters(15000 ft). Surrounded by towering peaks like Thalay Sagar and Bhrigupanth, the lake's pristine waters not only offered a visual feast but also resonated with deep mythological significance, believed to be the very spot where Lord Shiva meditated." Kedartal is believed to be the origin of the Kedar Ganga River, considered Lord Shiva's contribution to the Bhagirathi River, a primary tributary of the Ganges. Local legends suggest that Lord Shiva meditated near this lake, enhancing its spiritual allure Kedartal Lake We had heard stories. Locals believed that Lord Shiva himself bathed in this hidden, high-altitude pond. That was enough to spark curiosity. I half-jokingly hoped to catch him mid-bath. But when we arrived, the scene was far from what I had imagined. Frozen in Time We finally reached Kedartal. After hours of slipping on loose rocks, running out of breath, and telling myself things like “This is amazing!” and “Why am I doing this again?”, the lake showed up — like a quiet surprise at the end of a tough day. Everything around was white and silent — the snow, the rocks, the mountains. The lake itself was just… still. Calm. Like someone had hit pause on the world. It didn’t feel real. It was magical or shiny, and everything seems to be stopped — the noise, the thoughts, even time. My wife sat in a corner, arms wrapped tightly around herself. "Let’s get the hell out of this place," she muttered. She wasn't just cold. She looked like her spirit had shut down. She didn’t speak. Didn’t take pictures. Didn’t move. It was as if the mountain air had put her in a trance. Around us, 10-14 people stood silently, absorbing the eerie calm. A few decided to venture further. I turned to her: “Want to join?” No response. So we stayed Damn Cold Manikchand & Madness at 15,000 ft Just when the moment had maxed out its poetic potential — when I was nearly convinced we’d discovered heaven tucked away in the Himalayas — I spotted it. A gutka packet. That’s right. Manikchand. At 15,000 feet. Even oxygen had trouble getting there, but gutka made it just fine. No sign of life. No sound. That crumpled packet screamed louder than the silence around us. "How did this even get here?" Humans are impossible. Even where life struggles to exist, we leave trash behind. I was still mourning the sanctity of the setting when… SMACK. Something hit the back of my head. I turned around. A madman stood there. Wild eyes. Rough hands. Dressed like a Naga Sadhu. And he started yelling. Ae pagal... satyanash! Yahan kya karne aaye ho? Bhagwan tumhe swarg bhejte hain karm karne ke liye... Aur tum yahan aaye ho marne ke liye? Bhago yahan se, isse pehle ki main tumhari chutney bana doon! "Tum bewakoof ho! Jaao apne ghar." Translation:- “Hey stupid...Why are you wasting your time here?! God sent you to this heaven do your Karma — and you’re busy looking for Him instead. Go back before I beat you into pulp!” Real or Hallucination I froze. My breath caught. Was I hallucinating? Oxygen deprivation? Or something else? I didn’t ask the others if they saw him. Maybe I didn’t want to know. Trying to Decode the Feeling I bent down, touched the water, and even drank a sip — it was freezing cold. Tamasha Recreation Tamasha Scene All through the journey, I had imagined it differently. I thought there’d be something magical. Something mystical. Something… life-changing. But as we started walking back, something felt different. I couldn’t point to what had shifted — but I felt lighter. Happier. Calmer than I’d expected. Things still weren’t clear — but strangely, I wasn’t worried. Some quiet voice in my head kept asking: Did something really change? Was I any wiser now? Did I feel the sacredness everyone talks about? No big answers. Just soft questions floating around. But one thing I knew for sure — that moment had stayed with me. And maybe, just maybe… the magic had already happened. I just hadn’t noticed it yet. What That Madman Meant Back then, I thought: What nonsense! What a crazy man! But that encounter stuck with me. What if this whole journey — this world — is already heaven? A place meant to be lived, loved, and enjoyed? We humans complicate things. We search for meaning, for purpose, for God — in caves, temples, frozen lakes. Some even fight in His name. Others try to protect Him — as if God needs guarding. Over time, I’ve done more treks. Climbed more mountains. But this one… kept resurfacing. That madman’s words haunted me for years: “God sent you to live your karma. Not to go looking for Him.” Back then, I dismissed him as a lunatic. But now… I’m slowly beginning to get it. Maybe he wasn’t being rude. Maybe he was trying to wake me up. The Real Realization All that effort — the planning, the trekking, the mental build-up — Maybe it wasn’t about the Lake. It was about realizing this: You can do everything right… and still miss the point. Maybe it's about living a little lighter. Smiling a little more. Being kind. Being silly. Letting life feel like a bit of a party. And after the party — well, we’re all heading to the same place anyway. Live. Breathe. Laugh. Let go. Don’t overthink it. Just be. And maybe, that’s where the magic really is. So… Was That the Real Pilgrimage? Are we overusing our brains to complicate a life that’s supposed to be simple? Are we building invisible walls and then wasting energy guarding them? Maybe it all boils down to this: We’re not here to solve puzzles or find God in remote corners. We’re here to live fully, do some good, and hurt as few as possible along the way. Maybe God isn’t hiding in the mountains. Maybe He’s in the everyday kindness we ignore. Maybe that’s all that’s expected of us. Maybe that is the real pilgrimage. Is that too much to ask? What do you think? Am I onto something? Or completely off the mark? Group Pic

Dr. Devyani Rozario Website “I have told him a thousand times to put his dirty clothes in the basket, but he won’t!” Meena vented, her voice weary with frustration. “I do everything for him, yet he doesn’t even look at me; he stares at his phone when I’m speaking. It’s like he doesn’t respect me. Why can’t he just listen?” Meena is a devoted mother, but she is also exhausted. She is trapped in a cycle of frustration because she believes a clean house is the only path to a happy home. She thinks that if she can just control her teenage son’s habits, everything will be fine. Unfortunately, reality doesn’t match her mental script, and she sinks into negativity. Most of us are “Meena” in one way or another. We carry heavy bags of “shoulds” and “musts” that leave us burnt out. Happiness is not about what you are able to acquire, but what you are willing to let go. Reclaim your peace and find happiness Here are five heavy burdens to drop today to reclaim your peace and find happiness: 1. The Need for Control We spend our lives striving to control our surroundings and other people. We convince ourselves that if we can just get everything “perfect,” we’ll finally be happy. The Reality: The world does not operate at our command. When we try to manage a spouse’s health habits or a coworker’s workflow, we are met with resistance and rising blood pressure. Ultimately, we become the irritant that no one wants around. Action to Change: Trust the process. Remind yourself: “I cannot control this, but I can control my response.” Take a deep breath, and continue to breathe deeply until you feel yourself calm down. Over time, you will find that being at peace allows you to see the situation through a much clearer lens. The very same situation will begin to feel much lighter. 2. Chronic Complaining Complaining is the outward expression of an internal struggle for control. While venting feels productive, it actually chains us to the problem and drains the energy of those around us. The Reality: Meena’s daily venting didn’t change the laundry situation; it only cast her as an unwanted intrusion in her son’s life, creating distance where she wanted connection. Action to Change: Use the “Silence Rule.” Before speaking, ask: “Is there an action I can take to fix this?” If yes, do it. If no (like the weather or a past event), practice silence. Try writing your complaints on paper, then tear it up and throw it in the bin. Look for positives in every situation, and your response and the way others react to you – will change. 3. Rigid Expectations Expectations are a major contributor to our discontentment. When we live in anticipation of a specific outcome – from people as well as situations – we stop living in the moment and start judging it. The Reality: If you expect a promotion and don’t get it, you may feel like a failure, blinding yourself to the skills you gained regardless of the title. Similarly, if you expect a specific gift for your birthday and receive something else, you have effectively killed the joy of the surprise. Action to Change: Shift to curiosity. Replace “I expect this to happen” with “I am curious to see what will happen.” This mental shift creates the resilience you need to adapt when life takes an unexpected turn, rather than feeling cheated by it. 4. Lingering Negativity We have the power to create peace or negativity by the thoughts we choose to fuel. If we dwell on what makes us unhappy, those thoughts will eventually pull us under. The Reality: Waking up and thinking, “Today is going to be a disaster,” paints your canvas in grey before you’ve even had your coffee. Action to Change: Acknowledge and Surrender. When a negative thought arises, try a moment of prayer or meditation. Say, “I am feeling anxious today, but I wish to feel peaceful instead.” Change your self-talk to: “Today is a gift from God, let me make it a beautiful day!” This acknowledges the emotion without letting it steer the day. 5. People-Pleasing We are often taught that success requires pleasing others – acting the way they want and agreeing with their views. This is the fastest route to chronic stress and anxiety. The Reality: Saying “Yes” to a last-minute weekend work request when you have a significant family event leaves you physically present at the party but mentally tethered to your laptop, feeling guilty and resentful toward both your boss and your family. Action to Change: Reclaim your “No.” Practice saying no to small things without offering a long list of excuses. Instead of over-explaining, try: “I have a prior commitment this weekend and won’t be available, but I can look at this first thing Monday.” When you stop trying to be everything to everyone, you finally have the space to be yourself. The Bottom Line – By letting go of these five burdens, you aren’t becoming “weak” or “passive.” You are becoming free. Meena may not get her son to do his laundry tomorrow, but by letting go of her need to control him, she can finally enjoy his company. Letting go is an act of courage. It is the realization that while you can’t change the world, you can change how you move through it. Put the burden down. You’ve carried it long enough. Step forward – be the architect of your own peace.

Arvind Pawar Co-founder of Hyperlink Health Linkedin Why "Eat Less, Move More" Keeps Failing You Three cousins. Same dal-chawal dinner table growing up. Same Sunday parathas, same evening chai. At 32, one's pre-diabetic. One runs half marathons. One has been on "the same weight loss plan" for a decade and can't understand why nothing moves. Same food. Radically different bodies. Nobody talks about this. Here's what nobody's saying out loud: the plan you're on might not be broken in the first place, it might just be someone else's plan, built for someone else's biology. and you've been blaming your discipline for a genetic mismatch. Mainstream Indian weight-loss content almost exclusively defaults to willpower framing. The "wrong plan for your body, not lack of discipline" angle, anchored in the relatable joint-family food environment, is rarely the entry point. The global obesity problem isn't just a calorie problem. It's a personalization problem. Standard advice like cutting carbs, walking daily, and skipping sugar works beautifully for some people and does almost nothing for others. That isn't failure. That's biology doing exactly what it was designed to do. GLP1 Drugs: The Injection Everyone's Whispering About You've probably heard the name Ozempic. Maybe Wegovy or Mounjaro. These are GLP1 receptor agonists, medications that mimic a gut hormone to suppress appetite and slow digestion. Clinically validated. Increasingly available in India. Real results for real people. GLP1 drugs work. That's the uncomfortable truth. but "works" is doing a lot of heavy lifting in that sentence, because it works the way renting solves a housing problem. You stop paying, you're back outside. Most people regain significant weight within a year of stopping. Pro-GLP1 content oversells outcomes. Anti-GLP1 content moralizes. The renting metaphor, especially resonant for an Indian audience, where homeownership carries deep psychological weight, reframes the short-term vs long-term trade-off without passing judgment. For people dealing with severe metabolic dysfunction or high BMI-related health risks, GLP1 medications can be genuinely life-changing. They reduce appetite, improve insulin sensitivity, and give the body a window to reset. The quieter side of the story: they don't address why your body was storing fat in the first place. The underlying hormonal patterns, the metabolic tendencies, the genetic predispositions, they're still there the moment you stop. Not wrong. Just incomplete. Your Genes Already Filed the Complaint. Nobody Read It. Enter the nutrigenomists. Consumer DNA panels aren't astrology with a lab coat. Your PPARG gene variant literally determines whether a low-fat or low-carb diet will fight your biology or work with it. Most people spend 5 years figuring this out by accident, through trial, failure, shame, what a single test could have told them in a week. Indian audiences associate genetic testing almost exclusively with ancestry or serious disease screening, rarely with weight management. Naming a specific gene (PPARG) makes this concrete, not sci-fi, a genuinely low-probability entry angle. Consumer DNA health panels , similar to what Hyperlink Health offers, with India-specific options emerging, analyze variants that influence how your body processes fats versus carbohydrates, your predisposition to insulin resistance, how efficiently you burn fat during different types of exercise, and whether stress hormones or caffeine metabolism are silently working against you. This isn't about genetics as destiny. It's genetics as context. Knowing your context means you stop guessing and start targeting. Instead of "cutting carbs because someone on YouTube lost 12 kilos," you're deciding your specific biology will actually respond to. No Pain, No Gain: But First, Know Which Pain The phrase that has been weaponized for a long time: run more, starve more, suffer more. If you're not exhausted, you're not trying. That framing has sent a lot of people down the wrong road, harder. People who beat obesity long-term don't always outwork everyone else. They stop fighting their own biology and start fighting the right thing. The real discipline isn't in the punishment. It's in the patience to understand your body before you start. "No pain, no gain" is almost universally invoked to motivate more physical effort. Inverting it to mean diagnostic patience, resisting the quick fix long enough to do the foundational work, is a rare and genuinely uncomfortable reframe. Whether the path forward is a GLP1 medication, a nutrigenomics-guided lifestyle plan, or eventually a combination of both, the smartest starting point is the same: understand your specific body first. Everything else is just noise. Learn more at: https://www.hyperlink.health/ or reach us on arvind.pawar@hyperlink.health

Kaalika-The Rise of Raktbeej Poonam Desai Author In the previous chapters, we saw Hiranya Kashyap and his aide Swarbhanu discover the resurrection stone at Kalimath and manage resurrect demon Raktbeej while Sharvari, Dhaigham, Kasar and Dilan fail to stop them. As Raktbeej comes to power, chaos reigns in the entire country. Mr. Raghav Sinha from the disaster management office is contacted by Hiranya under guise of Bija financials. The PM asks Mr. Sinha to contact DIG Pandey. Sharvari and Kasar brief Mr. Sinha and DIG Pandey about their discoveries and the duo is shocked to learn about Raktbeej. They are now banking on Dilan and Dhaigham to find a solution. Meanwhile Hiranya and the demon Raktbeej have raised the bar. Dilan finds Durga’s lost weapons. Chapter 16 Days passed. Chaos reigned in the country. Sharvari and Kasar had received an urgent call from Dhaigham, asking them to visit Mahuli. They were now driving in silence on the last leg of their journey. “You think the grandfather- grandson duo could have chanced upon a solution?” Kasar shrugged as he turned left onto a mud road leading into the Nandadevi forest. They parked the jeep after a while and trekked to the Mahuli village. They both stood at the door of Dhaigham’s house. “Let’s hope for the best,” Kasar said, let out a breath and knocked on the door. Dilan opened the door and greeted them. Handing them glasses of water he asked, “Hope you had no difficulty finding the place.” Kasar half smiled. “Surprisingly not.” Dhaigham who had been silent till now, rolled out a clothe which had a trisul, a parasu and a scroll. “This is what Dilan found a week ago. We weren’t sure what to make of it till we interpreted the scroll. These are Devi Durga’s weapons which she had once used to slay Raktbeej. Their divine appearance indicates we are closer to a war sooner than expected. At this point Raktbeej will reach his full power. Devi Durga will again descend to defeat him and return the balance of prakriti.” Sharvari got up and paced. “Who may we know is the avatar of Durga in this century?” Dhaigham stared at her and asked, “Have you had any dreams about Raktbeej.” Sharvari stilled and sat back on the couch. “Yes, vague dreams. I had dreamt of Hiranya raising him from the dead; also when he devoured the animals.” She rubbed her hand to keep down the goosebumps. Kasar moved closer and placed his palm on hers. She looked at him pained. “Sharvari, this is going to difficult to fathom, but from our deliberations we have reached a conclusion that you are the Avatar of Durga.” “What?!” She sprang to her feet. “Don’t be ridiculous. I neither possess divine powers nor can I swallow blood or devour demons.” Dhaigham scratched his beard. “While I don’t have answers to the scheme of things, your connection to him and your premonitions are the closest links.” “No, no, no; don’t you dare bank the fate of the world on me. I am a simple police officer. I was to investigate a theft and a murder. I am not fated to become a Devi who saves the world.” Dilan walked to her and held her hands. “Sharvari, I know firsthand what carrying the weight of the world means. I did not ask to be a Mahasimha, but that is my destiny. If I resist it, it isn’t going to change. It will simply delay the circumstances. No one can force you. But you need to think about it and come to terms with it. Rest leave it to the Navdurga, they will guide you.” His presence, his touch, his words grounded her. The anxious knot in her gut unfurled. “You choose your path. The destiny you were born into? Not much of choice there. I, the heir of Mahasimha, guardians of Mahuli am your humble servant. You won’t be alone in this fight. I will stand by you till the last breath and the last ounce of energy in me.” Tears rolled down her cheeks. This young man was braver than her. He was embracing what he didn’t fully understand because that was the duty he was called to. If he dillydallied, the world would succumb to Raktbeej and Hiranya’s wrath. “Okay,” she took in a shaky breath, “what do we do next?” Dhaigham smiled. “We have the weapons, we have the wielder,” he looked at her with pride, “now we need to figure out what and where the war is.” Kasar scrolled the news on his phone. “On 25th March 7th Ratri of the Navratri, the Prime Minister is doing a Havan on the banks of the Saraswati River at Kalimath to ward off evil and negativity from the nation. It will be displayed on all major tv channels in India and abroad. This sounds like the moment as per the scroll.” Sharvari glanced at her calendar, “Today is the 13rd of March. Chaitri Navratri begins on the 19th. Are you saying things will get worse than they already are?” Dhaigham gave her a solemn nod.

Harish Dixit Senior Infrastructure Manager – APAC Linkedin Heart-spotted woodpecker (Top), Brown-capped Pygmy Woodpecker (Left) and Rufous woodpecker (Right) Birdwatching has a curious way of blurring the line between preparation and providence. This truth felt especially real during our monthly bird survey at Sanjay Gandhi National Park on Sunday, 26 April 2026. It was a day that blended effort and chance into one lasting memory. My group consisted of Hansel, Sunil, Rahul and myself. As we rode the bus from the SGNP gate to Phansacha Paani drop point, someone mentioned that a Heart-spotted Woodpecker had been seen along the trail. Instantly, the bus came alive with stories of missed chances, fleeting glimpses, and triumphant encounters. I quietly admitted that I had never managed to photograph this species, despite trying for years. Half in hope and half in jest, I also shared a personal dream of photographing a Rufous Woodpecker perched on a pagoda ant’s nest. We started the survey at 7:30 in the morning, already aware that the heatwave would test our resolve. The first hour, however, was alive with activity. Forty five minutes into the walk, luck finally found us. A Heart-spotted Woodpecker perched calmly on a tree, offering generous views and beautiful photographic opportunities. After countless failed attempts in the past, the feeling was pure joy, the kind that makes every hour spent in the sun feel worthwhile. Barely fifteen minutes later, the day tipped into the surreal. Two Rufous Woodpeckers came into view, and in a moment that felt almost scripted, one landed squarely on a pagoda ant’s nest. My dream shot unfolded before my eyes. In that instant, belief in the quiet power of manifestation felt entirely justified. As we continued, we joked about how bird surveys never seem to gift us a leopard sighting, even though we secretly hope for one. Laughter helped us push through the intense heat. By the end of the survey, our hard work had paid off. We spotted four woodpecker species and photographed three of them, the Rufous Woodpecker, the Heart-spotted Woodpecker, and the Brown-capped Pygmy Woodpecker. The Black-rumped Flameback remained elusive, reminding us that nature decides what it gives. Birdwatching and bird photography feel meditative to me. They bring calm, focus, and joy, and they keep giving back. I am deeply grateful for the forest, for my companions, and for days when luck gently rewards patience. Moments like these are why I return, month after month, believing that something wonderful might appear around the next bend. @chalatmusafir (HD) P.S. Other birds we spotted at SGNP: Purple Sunbird Red-whiskered Bulbul Common Iora Black Kite Crested Serpent-Eagle Pale-billed Flowerpecker Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher Puff-throated Babbler Common Tailorbird Black-naped Monarch Common Woodshrike Brown-headed Barbet Banded Bay Cuckoo Large-billed Crow Greater Coucal Tawny-bellied Babbler Gray-breasted Prinia House Crow White-rumped Shama Greater Racket-tailed Drongo Black-hooded Oriole Red Spurfowl Yellow-throated Sparrow Thick-billed Flowerpecker Oriental Magpie-Robin Rufous Woodpecker Brown-capped Pygmy Woodpecker Indian Cuckoo Golden-fronted Leafbird Black-rumped Flameback Heart-spotted Woodpecker Bronzed Drongo Indian Golden Oriole Rose-ringed Parakeet White-throated Kingfisher Red-vented Bulbul Spot-breasted Fantail Indian Gray Hornbill Jungle Owlet Asian Koel End of List

Varun Goel 9769117718 Registration Link: The Road of thorns In a quiet desert village, a narrow road connected people to nearby towns - bringing trade, stories, and life itself. One day, a bitter man named Raghav decided to change that road. Raghav was known for his anger. He distrusted others and found strange satisfaction in their discomfort. Every morning, he planted tiny thorny shrubs along the path. At first, they seemed harmless. But as weeks passed, the shrubs grew stronger, their sharp edges tearing into the feet of travelers. Villagers pleaded with him to stop. The headman warned him. Children cried after being hurt. Yet Raghav ignored them all. In his mind, the world had wronged him and this was his way of evening the score. Seasons changed, and the once-busy road turned silent. Traders stopped coming. Neighbors avoided the path. The village began to suffer not just physically, but socially and economically. One day, Raghav himself needed help. He fell ill and tried to walk the same road he had filled with thorns. With every painful step, he realized what he had created. The journey that once connected him to others had now become his own punishment. Exhausted and bleeding, he finally broke down. The next morning, for the first time, Raghav did something different - he began pulling out the thorny shrubs. It took days. Then weeks. His hands were cut, his back ached, but slowly, the road cleared. Some villagers noticed. A few stepped forward to help. Not because they had forgotten his actions - but because they believed in change. Over time, Raghav replaced the thorns with flowering plants. The same road that once caused pain now brought beauty and connection again. And Raghav? He walked it every day - not as its master, but as its caretaker. THE END Discussion Points Small harmful actions grow over time – What seems minor at first can become deeply damaging if ignored. You eventually face your own actions – The harm you create for others often comes back to you. Change is possible, but difficult – Correcting mistakes takes effort, time, and humility. Kindness rebuilds what harm destroys – Even after damage, positive actions can restore trust and community. STORY CREDIT: This story has been adapted from a story in the six volumes of Masnavi by Jalalu'din Rumi, translated by Maryam Mafi

Seerat Tiwari Loves singing, dancing and Writing THANK YOU, MY FRIENDS OF EMERALD ISLE! My friends and I always play, But sometimes we forget what to say... My friends and I always fight, But if someone quarrels, We become loyal. We will always be together, Like a piece of a feather. We go to each other’s house, And act like a mouse. We try to pack the same, And our efforts do not end up in vain. But it is not the end and I will never forget you, my friends. I thank my friends for what they do, And hope all their dreams come true...

Ananya Nair, Grade 9 Ananya is a travel enthusiast who likes to read, sing, and do Bharatnatyam. She also loves to bake and write stories or poems. When not found doing any, she can likely be found burrowed in bed watching a K-drama. She hopes to have the privilege of writing pretty words for the rest of her life :) In my backyard, a titan stood tall, Casting its shadow against the wall. Every summer, the branches would bend, With gold-heavy gifts that it leaned down to lend. From the grass, we gathered the fallen prize, To watch it transform before our eyes. Chilled into sweets or simmered in space, A tang on the tongue, a summer’s slice. The flavor would shift with every bite, Making our happy eyes squeeze tight. Then came the day of the metal and roar, A machine that pushed through the garden door. The giant that weathered the wind and the years, Was suddenly met with the grind of the gears. With a heavy haul and a final sound, They pulled the heart right out of the ground. Now the sun hits the stones of a barren wall, Where the mangoes used to ripen and fall. No fruit to gather, no juice to swig— Just the ghost of a ghost in a broken twig.

Priya Chaturvedi Global Markets Professional, avid reader, finding rhythm in semi-classical dance and expression in Hindi verse. LinkedIn The recent defeat of the 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha has not silenced the debate on delimitation; rather, it has intensified age-old anxieties over federalism and equitable voting rights. The current political mood of the country demands a deeper understanding of this exercise. Article 82 of the Indian Constitution, mandates that Parliament enact a Delimitation Act after every Census to redraw the territorial constituencies. This task is assigned to the Delimitation Commission, a powerful statutory body. However, the Commission cannot act outside prescribed rules; it cannot alter the number of seats or change a state's share without a constitutional amendment passed by a special majority in both Houses and ratified by half the states. The defeated amendment bill sought to address three major areas: lifting the current cap of 550 seats in the Lok Sabha, enabling the Commission to use 2011 Census data (circumventing the 84th Amendment’s requirement to wait for post-2026 data), and introducing a 33% quota for women in direct elections. The seat count, frozen since 1976 to incentivize population control, is now at crossroads. The Bill was a mathematical paradox which exploded the absolute seat counts of the north but the pro-rata design (50% increase for all states) ensured that the relative power balance remains frozen in 1971 amber. The critics note that 1971 data is undoubtedly a relic to the evolved demographic but 2011 isn’t contemporary either. The voter count in urban India has increased multifold in these 15 years of migration, urbanisation led by technological advancements and a global pandemic. There might be some gravity to the fact that 2011 data is newer but to redraw the territorial map today based on 15 years aged data is nothing short of democratic injustice. In a perfect democracy, every vote should have equal value, but the current statistics suggest a major inconsistency. In densely populated constituencies of Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal or Bihar, one MP represents 2.5 to 3 million voters while in states like Tamil Nadu and Kerala, one MP represents around 1.2 to 1.5 million voters. Though the argument of electoral parity was at the heart of this debate, the pro rata distribution fails to achieve the original objective of ‘One Vote, One Value’. This scaled delimitation continues the inequitable distribution of development funds like MPLADs where the grants are per constituency and not per capita. This demographic shift makes the south anxious. As C. Rangarajan noted: "Political representation is the currency of federalism. If you devalue that currency for one region, the entire federal contract is brought into question." The proposed bill maintains the share of the south in the Lok Sabha, however, the relative vote value of an MLA in presidential elections changes in the favor of the north. After 50 years of successful implementation of the national policy, even marginal reduction in legislative power of peninsular region, is deemed a step against the spirit of federalism and a penalty for performance. Some states like Rajasthan and Bihar see an increase of about 1.5% in the relative vote share while the northeast barring Assam loses 1/3rd share as their seats remains fixed. Northeast and the Himalayan belt, could take the hit from the revision, as they risk drowning of unique border, environment and development concerns in a house dominated by the heartland. The north south debate made headlines, but the erosion of federal balance is most visible in the shift of legislative weight in Rajya Sabha. Currently, the ratio of Lok Sabha to Rajya Sabha seats is about 2.2:1 which would rise to 3.4:1, as no provisions were made for the Upper House. It could effectively nullify the Rajya Sabha’s role in joint sessions, allowing a majority in the lower house to steamroll national legislation. A "ripple effect" is inevitable in certain matters as the strength of lower house is a yardstick for numerous metrics. This imbalance transcends to the quality of debate in the house. A productive discussion forum cannot be achieved as time allotted per MP is to be reduced thus increasing the number of issues raised but diluting the deliberation needed over key concerns. The impact would also be seen on the strength of council of ministers which is capped at 15% of the total Lok Sabha seats. The southern states are major GDP contributors, housing three of India’s four megacities, pioneering innovation and early adapters to the national policies. Conversely, the North faces an uphill developmental climb, with an agrarian economy in the Ganga plains that requires higher per capita fund allocations and subsidies to boost its share in the growth of the country. The government thus brought the bill to pre empt the chaos that is inevitable after latest census data is published and delimitation deadline of 2026 is crossed. Interestingly, an attempt to conduct delimitation with post 2026 census data, while simultaneously guarding the relative share of states would need the house to balloon to 1200 seats. Delimitation, therefore, is a dilemma between two democratic ideals: the arithmetic of population and the sanctity of the federal contract. Ours is neither a rigid federation nor a homogenous democracy; therefore, the rules of unitary or federal nations cannot govern us. We require visionary thinking that moves beyond regional and communal argument. The inspiration to move forward can be found in the words of Sardar Patel: "The safety and preservation of the Union is the first and the last duty of every Indian, but the Union can only be strong if its parts feel they have a stake in its future." References: 1.) The PRS Legislative Research, The Delimitation bill 2026 2.) The election commission, electoral data Lok Sabha 2024

Sandeep Mishra Electrical Engineer, Gold Medalist, Senior Executive, Poet, Tabla Enthusiast. युरोप का सफर था एक सुहाना सफर देखा प्रकृति का का खुबसूरत नजारा और ऐतिहासिक धरोहर। जिन्हें पढ़ा था किताबों में कभी उन्हें देखने का मिला एक अवसर। जिधर भी डालो अपनी निगाहें हरियाली ही आती थी नज़र। प्रकृति की गोद में हम घूमें साफ सुथरे थे सब डगर देखे फूलों के बाग और बर्फ से ढके शिखर। रोम लंदन और पेरिस की बात है निराली भव्य इमारतों के हैं ये अदभुत शहर कलोन फ्लोरेंस व वेटिकन सिटी को मिले विरासत में विशाल गिरजाघर। इंसान को जब भी मिले अवसर वह जरूर करे युरोप का सफर कुदरत का नजारा और ऐतिहासिक नगर हर जगह उसे आयेंगे नजर । संदीप मिश्रा

Parv Dasani 9 years It’s a long vacation for young students Full of joy, without any dents Every day, there’s an innovative activity But these times, staying at home is a boring pity I read, draw or play in the day Those are my hobbies, so I do always say It’s a hot and monotonous period of time But if you enjoy a warm climate, for you it’s a dime Interesting books make a day feel like an hour Or else for me the day is sour Drink higher volumes of water Or else the heat gives you tiredness and fear Don’t worry, this vacation is the best But stay healthy and fit, along with a lot of rest Enjoy life out of your wildest fantasies Practice your skills, improve your studies and then you are free This is all I know about summer vacations May it take sweat, blood or tears, do work hard in all seasons Take safety precautions to a great extent If you are out, testing all your potent

Harish Dixit Senior Infrastructure Manager – APAC Linkedin Earlier this month, I received an email that many healthcare consumers now recognize all too well. It informed me that Sutter Health, a California-based healthcare provider with 24 hospitals and more than 200 clinics, had reached a $21.5 million settlement related to a privacy class action lawsuit. The notice explained that California residents who logged into Sutter Health’s MyHealthOnline portal between June 10, 2015, and March 20, 2020 may receive up to $90. I had used Sutter Health almost a decade ago while staying in San Jose, and the message was a reminder of how long personal data can persist in corporate systems. For me, the notice was more than a financial footnote. It prompted a familiar concern in the data security world and brought to mind the HealthReach Community Health Centers incident in Maine, where sensitive patient data was exposed due to improperly disposed hard drives. When most people think about data breaches, they imagine hackers, ransomware, or sophisticated cyberattacks. In reality, a substantial portion of breaches stem from something far more mundane and preventable: improper disposal of hard drives. This is commonly referred to as improper IT Asset Disposition, or ITAD, and it remains one of the most underestimated risks in data security. Hard drives that are sent for recycling, resale, or scrapping often leave an organization’s direct control. If those drives are not properly wiped or physically destroyed, the data stored on them remains recoverable. Formatting a drive or deleting files does not remove the underlying information. Specialized recovery tools, which are widely available, can reconstruct sensitive records with little effort. As a result, discarded hardware becomes a quiet but powerful attack surface. The healthcare sector is particularly vulnerable because of the sheer volume and sensitivity of data it handles. The HealthReach case illustrates this clearly. In 2021, the organization notified more than 100,000 Maine residents that patient information may have been exposed after several hard drives were improperly disposed of by a third party. The data included names, Social Security numbers, dates of birth, financial and insurance details, lab results, and security credentials. No network intrusion occurred. The breach was driven entirely by negligence and weak disposal controls. These incidents continue to happen for several reasons. Organizations often assume that contracting an electronics recycler automatically ensures data destruction. In reality, non certified vendors frequently fail to follow recognized standards such as NIST 800 88 or Department of Defense sanitization protocols. During transport and storage, drives may be lost, stolen, or resold intact. The risk increases further in regions with large informal ewaste sectors, where discarded devices are commonly resold rather than destroyed. Another factor is misplaced confidence in surface level data removal. Formatting is not wiping, and wiping is not always destruction. Without verified sanitization methods or physical shredding, data can persist in accessible form. These failures often go unnoticed for years and are rarely reported as classic cyber incidents, making them a silent source of long term exposure. Preventing these breaches requires discipline, not novel technology. Organizations should encrypt sensitive data, maintain accurate asset inventories, and apply strict end of life controls to all data bearing equipment, including copiers and medical devices. Most importantly, they must work only with certified ITAD providers that offer documented chains of custody and proof of destruction. I have personally used DBAN for erasing traditional HDDs, as it securely overwrites magnetic disks using multiple data wiping passes, and BitRazer Drive Erasure for SSDs, which uses manufacturer supported sanitize and secure erase commands to ensure data is irrecoverable. Based on my experience, I highly recommend using these tools before scrapping or recycling any drives, as they provide a reliable and practical way to prevent sensitive data from being recovered after disposal. Data security does not end when systems are decommissioned and improper hard drive disposal is not a minor operational oversight. It is a direct and recurring pathway to data breaches, regulatory scrutiny, and lasting loss of trust. Footnote: The most reliable and my favorite way to prevent data recovery from hard disk drives is physical destruction. Drilling multiple holes through the drive platters or using certified industrial shredding renders the media permanently unreadable and eliminates the risk of forensic recovery. -chalatmusafir (HD)