An Indecisive Indian

There are some institutions whose greatness is so well-established that speaking of them feels almost presumptuous—like carving initials on a mountain that has stood for centuries.  Shakespeare’s words through Antonio in The Tempest ring true when one steps into a place shaped by momentous history yet vibrant with purpose: “...what’s past is prologue, what to come In yours and my discharge” .  And yet, reverence and futility notwithstanding, some experiences demand to be shared, if only to express heartfelt gratitude. My visit to the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) at Anand, Gujarat, on 24th April was one such experience—a humbling and inspiring journey through the corridors of excellence, innovation, and ethical nation-building. I must, therefore, pay my respects to the timelessness and majesty of the institution. NDDB was set up under the visionary leadership of Dr. Verghese Kurien and its committed team continues the great work. Mr. SS Gill from their HR wing had ki...

  The romance, the recalls: Indian Railways (IR) is not just a mode of transport—it is the thumping heart of a nation, a steel serpent that has wound its way through the Indian psyche for nearly 175 years. Every Indian holds in their heart a reel of train memories: a childhood scramble for the coveted window seat, where the fenestra framed the nation like a grand, unending documentary. Stations and trains become bustling microcosms of India, where the great Indian tamasha (spectacle) plays out in all its vivid hues—humour and heartbreak, lull and hustle, joy and jostle, in a kaleidoscope of humanity. A train journey on IR is no mere means to an end—it often is the end. With rhythmic clatters and poetic whistles, IR offers snapshots of life both moving and mundane, from dusty hamlets to throbbing towns, all stitched together on silver tracks. It is India’s longest-running show, where love stories bloomed in sleeper coaches and suspense thrillers unfurled at dimly lit stations. IR i...

Ta-da! And now, for the next act in the theatre of the absurd. Indian Railways (IR) is now galloping boldly into the brave new world of Hydrogen and Hyperloop—a world where physics bows to press releases and engineering is powered by emojis. The media, true to form, has inflated these nascent initiatives to Himalayan proportions, as if Hydrogen will waft us to net-zero overnight and Hyperloop will have us zipping from Dadar to Dhanbad in ten minutes flat. My venerable great-uncle Shakespeare and my ever-acerbic chachā (uncle) Ghālib, nestled in their celestial lounge (complete with shisha bar and poetic banter), looked upon this spectacle with bemused disdain. Unexpectedly, they did not argue. They merely sipped their ambrosial cocktails and watched silently, minds aflutter with verse and vinegar. But worry not, dear reader. Thanks to my inter-dimensional, divine WiFi, their mental murmurings pinged directly into my brain—a cosmic WhatsApp chat, if you will. And so, I present to you t...