APRIL EDITION
Guardians of Democracy
India earned her freedom in 1947 after a long period of struggle. One must remember the colonial rule which India endured for centuries. In 1950, India announced itself as a republic. A republic refers to a nation where the people hold the supreme power. In India, we always see the dance of democracy; some vote their caste, some cast their vote, but everyone exercises the right to vote. The Indian democracy is far from perfect; it went through a 22-month-long emergency, but it came out of it, which shows that it is a constantly evolving system. This system has alleviated poverty, built world-class infrastructure, sent Indians to space, sent Indians to lead the world’s biggest companies, and more.
The price of freedom is eternal vigilance, and being politically aware is an essential aspect of it. One in four Indians is under 35; we have a huge young population. The next 25 years are crucial for India, this period is going to be the time when India grows and asserts and reaffirms her presence on a global stage. And we, as young children of mother India, should make sure we take our nation on the right course and exercise our franchise wisely. Voting is crucial for three reasons: past, present, and future. Our forefathers endured various hardships and made several sacrifices to empower us with the privilege of choosing our leader and making us the ultimate custodians of our nation. We need to honor them. We must select the right people to represent us and make laws for us. The future is that the laws made today will have implications tomorrow; hence, by voting, we are deciding our future. India is in the year of Lok Sabha elections; on April 26th, Bengaluru goes to vote. On behalf of our TEDx team, we urge everyone to vote and have a say in our democracy.
Jai Hind.
Embracing Earth Month
In the heart of India’s Silicon Valley, Bangaloreans anxiously scan the skies, hoping for a merciful downpour. It’s a scene repeating itself across the globe, representative of the environmental problems we deal with.
Bangalore, once famed for its refreshing climate and verdant landscapes, now finds itself in the grip of a water crisis. The city’s reservoirs are dwindling and its lakes are parched, owing to climate change and unchecked urbanization, and the failure of monsoons compounds these woes.
But Bangalore’s plight is not an isolated incident, it’s a symptom of a planet in distress. From melting ice caps to raging wildfires, the signs of environmental degradation are evident.
April marks the beginning of Earth Month, a time when individuals, communities, and nations come together to celebrate and reflect on the beauty and fragility of our planet. It serves as a reminder of our shared responsibility to safeguard the environment for future generations. April being Earth Month isn’t just a coincidence. With Earth Day falling on April 22nd, it’s a prime time for us to come together and speak up for the environment. Plus, as spring blooms with new life, it’s like nature’s way of urging us to act and make our planet thrive again. From community clean-up drives to educational workshops, Earth Month initiatives empower people to make a tangible difference in their local environments.
This April (and every month following), let’s work even harder to tackle environmental problems and create a better future. When we unite as a global community, we have the strength to protect our planet and make sure all life can thrive.
Forgotten Days of Summer
In April and May, when different parts of the country were all enveloped in scorching heat, we were busy having a fiesta of fun with no homework, exams, thoughts, or worries. Be it engrossing ourselves in activities at summer camps or those swimming lessons, we left no stone unturned to nurture the living soul within us. Endless hours of playing cricket and badminton on the streets, with the stray dogs joining in as well because we are invading their territory doing so, Ice cream carts making their appearances only for us to spend our entire pocket money on all of them, grumpy uncles complaining about “too much noise” in the neighborhood, conversations at the terrace with loved ones, specials snacks for tea every evening etc. were all such beautiful ways we would indulge in the vibrancy and carefree-ness of the season.
Summers in India are also a season of celebrations, with many festivals and events bringing the whole family together. Grandparents setting up a feast for every meal of the day that we would gobble up and practically inhale, dragging ourselves out of beds early in the morning to attend temple festivities, only to end up inhaling all the prasad dripping scrumptiously of ghee, were all considered to be just another average day during vacations.
Somewhere between all this, time flew, and we grew up. The idea of summer vacations and bliss gradually turned into summer internships and hassle. Families moved to different parts of the world, and conversations gradually ceased. Heat waves and the summer breeze made their visits, but they were unwelcoming to our obscure and stressed selves this time.
Our grandparents, with their childlike enthusiasm, have now turned frail, with all of their smile lines and wrinkles and the long life they lived becoming more apparent. They offer us priceless wisdom, spoken unspoken.
Somewhere, someday, the child within us grew up.
IPL matches broadcasted back in the day, and the hopes of RCB winning a cup are constant. We have now entered a phase of life where every day brings something new or someone new. So, let this summer rejuvenate the inner child in all of us. Let’s share those embarrassing vacation stories under the shade of the 210 umbrellas on our campus with the new college folks in your lives.
And maybe you should sit by your balcony with a plate of mangoes and embrace that summer breeze because a bit of nostalgia never hurts anyone, right?
