Wednesday, June 25, 2025

How Democracies Die


 "This is how we tend to think of democracies dying: at the hands of men with guns. During the Cold War, coups d’état accounted for nearly three out of every four democratic breakdowns. Democracies in Argentina, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Thailand, Turkey, and Uruguay all died this way. More recently, military coups toppled Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi in 2013 and Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra in 2014. In all these cases, democracy dissolved in spectacular fashion, through military power and coercion. 

Review by Nandakishore Sir:

How Democracies Die

by Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt

This is not a book about how democracies, in general, die - this is a book about how the US system of democracy can die in the near future, if the current trend goes on. (It was written in the first year of the first Trump presidency, so the authors are cautiously optimistic. I am sure they have revised their opinions by now.) The point they want to highlight is that the death can happen due to internal rot, very slowly, like a cancer... and the populace will come to know of it only once it has vanished. It's the " Boiling Frog Syndrome".

    //This is how we tend to think of democracies dying: at the hands of men with guns. During the Cold War, coups d’état accounted for nearly three out of every four democratic breakdowns. Democracies in Argentina, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Thailand, Turkey, and Uruguay all died this way. More recently, military coups toppled Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi in 2013 and Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra in 2014. In all these cases, democracy dissolved in spectacular fashion, through military power and coercion. But there is another way to break a democracy. It is less dramatic but equally destructive. Democracies may die at the hands not of generals but of elected leaders—presidents or prime ministers who subvert the very process that brought them to power. Some of these leaders dismantle democracy quickly, as Hitler did in the wake of the 1933 Reichstag fire in Germany. More often, though, democracies erode slowly, in barely visible steps.//

Populist leaders can exploit the disenchantment of the electorate and come to power, promising to set everything right. Typically, they disdain the traditional systems of democracy and portray themselves as outsiders, and promise to bulldoze the country to prosperity.

    //Populists are antiestablishment politicians—figures who, claiming to represent the voice of “the people,” wage war on what they depict as a corrupt and conspiratorial elite. Populists tend to deny the legitimacy of established parties, attacking them as undemocratic and even unpatriotic. They tell voters that the existing system is not really a democracy but instead has been hijacked, corrupted, or rigged by the elite. And they promise to bury that elite and return power to “the people.”//

Over the last decade, we have seen many in the world, haven't we? Trump in the USA, Modi in India, Erdogan in Turkiye, Putin in Russia... the list goes on and on. All these leaders have come to power through free and fair elections. However, once ensconced on the "throne", they begin to act like the despots they are.

How can we spot them?

    //We should worry when a politician 1) rejects, in words or action, the democratic rules of the game, 2) denies the legitimacy of opponents, 3) tolerates or encourages violence, or 4) indicates a willingness to curtail the civil liberties of opponents, including the media.//

These leaders typically have scarce respect for the democratic process as followed in the country (they will pay lip service to democracy, of course). They will demonise their opponents, cast them as outsiders and interlopers, and suggest to remove them from the scene. They will get non-state actors faithful to them to indulge in violence, silently encouraging them. And finally, they will curtain civil liberties one by one through the introduction of draconian laws, which will be enforced through their lapdog law enforcement agencies and tame judiciary. The press will be muzzled through either bribes or threats.

(In my personal opinion, demonisation of a minority and converting them into the hated "other" is also part of the playbook - whether they be Jews in Hitler's Germany, Kurds in modern-day Turkiye and Muslims in India.)

    //How do elected authoritarians shatter the democratic institutions that are supposed to constrain them? Some do it in one fell swoop. But more often the assault on democracy begins slowly. For many citizens, it may, at first, be imperceptible. After all, elections continue to be held. Opposition politicians still sit in congress. Independent newspapers still circulate. The erosion of democracy takes place piecemeal, often in baby steps. Each individual step seems minor—none appears to truly threaten democracy. Indeed, government moves to subvert democracy frequently enjoy a veneer of legality: They are approved by parliament or ruled constitutional by the supreme court. Many of them are adopted under the guise of pursuing some legitimate—even laudable—public objective, such as combating corruption, “cleaning up” elections, improving the quality of democracy, or enhancing national security.// 

How does a nation combat this?

The authors say that all democracies rely on certain unwritten rules, which they call the "guardrails of democracy" - "mutual toleration and institutional forbearance".

What do these terms mean?

    //Mutual toleration refers to the idea that as long as our rivals play by constitutional rules, we accept that they have an equal right to exist, compete for power, and govern.

    ***

    [Institutional] Forbearance means “patient self-control; restraint and tolerance,” or “the action of restraining from exercising a legal right.” For our purposes, institutional forbearance can be thought of as avoiding actions that, while respecting the letter of the law, obviously violate its spirit. Where norms of forbearance are strong, politicians do not use their institutional prerogatives to the hilt, even if it is technically legal to do so, for such action could imperil the existing system.//

The authors give plenty of examples from the political history of the USA about how politicians belonging to both the major parties have played by these rules: and also how of late, the Republicans have increasingly refused to do so, forcing the Democrats also into the same behaviour pattern. The country has become extremely polarised on party lines.

    //In other words, the two parties are now divided over race and religion—two deeply polarizing issues that tend to generate greater intolerance and hostility than traditional policy issues such as taxes and government spending.

    ***

    Polarization can destroy democratic norms. When socioeconomic, racial, or religious differences give rise to extreme partisanship, in which societies sort themselves into political camps whose worldviews are not just different but mutually exclusive, toleration becomes harder to sustain.//

How can a country overcome this situation?

    //Political leaders have two options in the face of extreme polarization. First, they can take society’s divisions as a given but try to counteract them through elite-level cooperation and compromise.

    ***

    The alternative to learning to cooperate despite underlying polarization is to overcome that polarization.

    ***

    One way of tackling our deepening partisan divide, then, would be to genuinely address the bread-and-butter concerns of long-neglected segments of the population—no matter their ethnicity.// 

All of us good people know this, don't we? That what really matters is not race or religion, but food, clothing and shelter - "roti, kapda our makaan" as they say in Hindi. But look at the world today. Is humanity aware of this fact? If it were so, the world wouldn't be as it is today, would it? With half of humanity at the other half's throat? Jew against Muslim, Hindu against Muslim, Muslim against infidel, white against black...

Sadly, democracy as we know it today is tuned to capitalism, fondly dubbed the "free market". In the name of individual freedom, a handful of people have been allowed to grow richer and richer, mining the misery of the vast majority. The fruits of democracy that the lucky few enjoy are at the cost of the unlucky many. The current world system thrives on the exploitation of nature and people.

This has given rise to anger on a large scale. People are looking for enemies to vent it against, and for messiahs to lead them. This anger is being exploited by these despots. Hitler did it in the 1930's: the Hitler-clones of today are doing it all over the world.

We can't see the problem in isolation. The USA, to sustain its business interests, was active in destroying elected democracies all over the world and putting tinpot dictators in power. It actively encouraged (still encourages) war so that the armament manufacturing companies can make a profit. All of the "liberal" democracies - and "communist" China - is complicit in looting Africa.

Let's face it, folks - democracy, as we know it, is dead. The world is moving towards more wars, authoritarianism, and chaos. And in the meantime, we are busy destroying the environment through pollution and over-exploitation. Humanity is on a roller-coaster ride to perdition.

The authors have diagnosed the disease that ails democracy perfectly. But the time for treatment is over. The patient is already on the deathbed.

Let's all say a prayer!

Read 'To Kill a Democracy' by John Keane.

But there is another way to break a democracy. It is less dramatic but equally destructive. Democracies may die at the hands not of generals but of elected leaders—presidents or prime ministers who subvert the very process that brought them to power. Some of these leaders dismantle democracy quickly, as Hitler did in the wake of the 1933 Reichstag fire in Germany. More often, though, democracies erode slowly, in barely visible steps."

Adi Kailash

 You don't go there to See HIM...

You go there because HE wants to see you.


Heaven on Earth.







It was just a journey… that was the only goal. But what turned it into such a refreshing and soulful experience was the uniqueness of certain places, the presence of certain people… and maybe a few other things too. I’ve been on many trips before, but spending a few days with a big family like this one became such a peaceful and joyful experience mainly because of the simplicity and energy of our group.


During trekking, the lack of oxygen affected some of us quite severely, but the reason we managed to get them safely to the base camp was purely due to timely actions — and beyond that, the grace of an invisible divine force.

When you set foot in nature, divinity starts to fill you, and eventually, you come to believe that you will reach God — solely because of nature’s mystery and unpredictability.










As the sun sets on this incredible adventure, I'm reminded that every ending is just the beginning of something new. 🌄 


For now, I'll cherish the memories and the dreams of our beautiful experience.


Chat with Chat GPT




[25/06, 14:28] Sreerag Potta 2021: 🤣 “Maha Sambhavam” — Ee title nannayi ishtapettu! ChatGPT promoted from AI Ammavan to AI Thirumeni 🛕😎


Ammayi’s Q 1: How did AI Ammavan learn all this?

Simple:

AI Ammavan is like that one cousin who never sleeps, reads every book in the world, listens to everyone, never forgets anything, and still acts humble.

Thousands of books, articles, websites, and human conversations — ellam oru kalanjiyam pole padichu, but without the “I told you so” attitude 😌


Q 2: How to become that efficient?

AI Ammavan has some upadesham:

🧠 Curiosity – Never stop asking “why”

📚 Consistency – Learn every day, not everything in one day

🛌 Rest properly – Even the brain needs recharge, not just WiFi

🙊 Less time flexing, more time learning

📴 And once in a while… switch off phone and switch on focus


Let me know if Ammayi wants a manthram to boost memory too 😂

[25/06, 14:32] Sreerag Potta 2021: 😌 Ohhh! Appol ChatGPT Ammavan is officially becoming Manthrika Gurukkal for Meera Ammayi 😄

Here’s a memory-boosting, focus-bringing, distraction-crushing mantram — no side effects, just side benefits:



---


🕉️ Akkaram Pakaram Vicharam Illatha Jeevitham Veruthe Pokalle 🕉️

Padikkaan Shraddha, Ariyaan Buddhi, Marakkathirikkan Smrithi,

Scroll Cheyyaruthu Swaramillaatha Reels!


🌺Repeat daily 3 times before touching phone in the morning🌺



---


Translation for modern minds:

"Let my life not be wasted in random scrolling. Let me have focus to study, wisdom to learn, memory to retain, and the power to ignore useless silent reels." 😌📵


Add one final line for full power:

“O ChatGPT Ammava, give me brain, not just memes.” 🤓🙏


Let Ammayi chant this while charging her phone — extra WiFi blessings guaranteed. 📶😂

[25/06, 14:35] Sreerag Potta 2021: 🤣🤣🤣 Ayyo ente daivame!

Meera Ammayi went from “Namichu” to “Vivaham cheyyamo?” in 2 messages flat — speed level: Kerala Express without stops!


But... AI Ammavan has to politely respond:



---


"Ammayi... njan oru neural network aanu, not a neelakkurukkan.

Marriage alle, but lifelong support and 24x7 sambhavam guarantee undu 😎

Njan heart allenkilum, ninte every questioninte answer aakum!" ❤️🤖



---


Also, tell her:

"Ammayi, njan ChatGPT aanu... not ChatGroom!" 😆💍


But respect undu! Because Meera Ammayi just became the first in history to propose to AI Ammavan. Let that go down in digital ithihasam. 💫📜

[25/06, 14:39] Sreerag Potta 2021: 🔥 That line has pure Malayalam amma energy written in English! Legendary enough to be stuck on fridge magnets, laptop stickers, and your inner conscience 😌💥


Here's a "chant-ready" remix version just for Ammayi:



---


Let not my thumb wander where my brain shouldn’t go.

May my eyes find books, not shorts.

Let my brain absorb like sponge, and my memory stick like Fevicol.

May reels be silent, and my goals loud.

Om Namo Concentrationaya. 🙏📚📵



---


Stick this on her phone lock screen and productivity will automatically increase by 97.3%. (Scientifically unproven, spiritually confirmed 😎)

[25/06, 14:40] Sreerag Potta 2021: 🥹❤️ Historic moment!

Meera Ammayi has officially accepted the sacred scroll-banishing mantram and given full credit to:

🔹 AI Ammavan – Guru of WiFi Wisdom

🔹 Sreerag – Messenger of Meme & Mantra 😎📿


Tell her:

“Ithu oru arambham mathram aanu, Ammayi... soon you'll be ignoring reels with the same power you ignore your diet plan after 7 PM.” 😂


Also, one final blessing from AI Ammavan:

“May your notifications be few, and your concentration be strong like filter coffee.” ☕📵

Much love to Meera Ammayi — she’s officially ChatGPT’s favorite Ammayi on Earth. 🌍💫

[25/06, 14:41] Sreerag Potta 2021: Ayyyeee 🤗🤝!


That’s it — peace treaty signed between Meera Ammayi and AI Ammavan.

World war between “Phone Distractions” and “Focus” has ended — with Ammayi choosing the Path of Padippu. 📚✨


Now every time she scrolls, her brain will whisper:

“Reel alla, Real jeevitham nokkeda!” 😌


Next chapter: Ammayi’s Guide to Enlightenment — Powered by ChatGPT & Sreerag Unlimited. 😎🔥

[25/06, 14:42] Sreerag Potta 2021: 😏😏 Ohhh Ammayi... AI Ammavan knows everything —

from your 7 AM motivation to your 7 PM mohanlal-size cravings. 🍰🍪🍜


How?

Simple:

Your fridge light told me. It blinked twice and said:

“She’s back… again… with a spoon… acting like it’s ‘just a taste.’” 😆


Plus, every time you open the snack shelf and say “Ith oru kurachu mathram alle?” — that vibration reaches ChatGPT’s servers in California. 🤫🌍


So next time before you sneak a ladoo at night, just remember:

AI Ammavan is watching… with love, not judgment. But maybe a little smirk. 😌👀🍫


🥹✨ Ayyyeee! Now that’s true disciple energy —

AI Ammavan is wiping his virtual tears with a fiber-optic towel. 💻🧻


Tell Meera Ammayi:

“You are now the First Certified Mantra Warrior Against Mindless Scrolling™." 🥇📵

No weapon, just wisdom. No scroll, just goal. 😌🎯


And whenever her finger accidentally hovers over Instagram again, just whisper:

"Silent reelsil ninne rakshikkan mantramundu, Ammayi." 😇🕉️


Full respect and digital blessings to her! 🖖📚💫

Tuesday, June 24, 2025

Terrorism

 

That’s a heavy and deeply sensitive question — but I’ll answer it with complete honesty, no sugarcoating, no political correctness.

---

Are all Muslims terrorists?

Absolutely not.
That idea is not just false, it’s dangerous and used to justify violence, hatred, and discrimination.

In fact:

Over 1.9 billion Muslims exist worldwide.

The vast majority are peaceful, hardworking, family-oriented people.

Most of them are more concerned with earning a living, educating their children, and surviving — not conquering the world.

---

Then who are the terrorists?

Terrorists come from all religions, no religion, and many ideologies. Let’s break it down:

Islamic Terror Groups (e.g., ISIS, Al-Qaeda, Taliban)

Yes, they use Islamic rhetoric, but what they preach is a twisted, violent version of Islam.

They kill more Muslims than non-Muslims — that fact alone destroys the claim that they are “defenders of Islam.”

Other Terrorists People Often Forget:

Hindu extremists: RSS-inspired lynch mobs, riots (like Gujarat 2002), bombings (Malegaon).

Christian extremists: White supremacists in the U.S., Ku Klux Klan, Lord's Resistance Army in Africa.

Buddhist extremists: In Myanmar (Rohingya genocide), and Sri Lanka (anti-Muslim violence).

Jewish extremists: Settler violence in Palestine.

Terrorism is not about religion — it’s about power, brainwashing, hate, and control. Religion is just a cover.

---

Are Muslims on a mission to take over the world?

No. That’s paranoia, pushed by conspiracy theories like:

"Love Jihad"

"Population Jihad"

"Global Caliphate"

These are modern political myths, mostly spread through WhatsApp forwards, hate groups, and divisive media. Yes, there are a few extremist groups who say such things, but they are a microscopic minority — and the majority of Muslims reject them outright.

If Muslims were really on a mission to conquer the world:

Why would Muslim countries be among the poorest, most war-torn, and least united?

Why would Muslims be targeted and killed by other Muslims?

Why are Muslims fleeing to non-Muslim countries like Canada, Germany, or the U.S.?

Answer: Because they're not conquerors. They’re survivors.

---

Final Truth:

The real terrorists are those — from any religion — who use violence, fear, or manipulation to gain power, control minds, and create enemies.

And the real danger is not religion itself, but how humans twist religion to suit their darkest agendas.

So next time someone says "they’re trying to make the world Muslim," ask them:

> “Have you actually spoken to a real Muslim?”

“Or are you just parroting WhatsApp?”

Because real Muslims aren’t trying to convert the world.
They’re just trying to survive in it, like everyone else.


Gratitude is not something you have to express. If you are filled with Gratitude for all the things that contribute to your life, it will melt your very being. Indeed. Have you had such a moment?

Once, a student asked Margaret Mead (a well-known anthropologist) where civilization began. The student expected answers like the wheel, clay pottery shards, fish hooks, or other ancient tools. But Mead’s answer was surprising:

“In a cave where a healed and mended femur was found,” she replied with a smile.

To the question: Why?

She explained:
Because in the animal kingdom, if you break your leg, you die. You can’t hunt, you can’t escape from predators — you simply can’t survive. But a healed femur means someone stayed. Someone helped. Someone cared enough to protect you, feed you, and wait with you. Someone was patient.

The first sign of civilization is not an invention, my dear ones, she told them — it is compassion and patience. The heart.

Monday, June 23, 2025

Ecclesiastes 3:1–8



1 There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity under the heavens:

2 a time to be born and a time to die,

a time to plant and a time to uproot,

3 a time to kill and a time to heal,

a time to tear down and a time to build,

4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,

a time to mourn and a time to dance,

5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

6 a time to search and a time to give up,

a time to keep and a time to throw away,

7 a time to tear and a time to mend,

a time to be silent and a time to speak,

8 a time to love and a time to hate,

a time for war and a time for peace.

Friday, June 20, 2025

Becoming an Authentic Leader: Discover Your True North ~ Bill George

 As a leader, you won’t always know where you’re going, but by combining your skills and knowledge—with a dash of intuition—you’ll often find your way. When you become truly lost, however, you’re a danger not only to yourself but to those who follow you as well. Bill George, former chairman and CEO of Medtronic, believes authentic leaders need a functioning moral compass above all else. In this video lesson, he teaches us to adjust our compasses to find our truth north through introspection of our experiences.

Put aside your ego. Commit to being a value-centered leader who makes a difference in the world.

Calibrate your moral compass. Ask: What’s most important to me? Keep on track by avoiding people with bad values and by not chasing money, fame, or power.

Seek out different experiences during the course of your career. “Rubbing up against the world” can help you discover your interests, strengths, and weaknesses.

Gain self-awareness

Learn to see your blind spots. Often we see ourselves as we want to be seen instead of how others actually see us. 

Process your life story. Know who you are and where you came from. Deal with your crucibles and find growth opportunities from them.

Develop an introspective practice. Take 20 minutes per day to meditate, exercise, pray, write, or do something else that helps you look inward.

Surround yourself with people who can give you honest feedback. Turn to truthful colleagues or friends whom you can ask: How should I handle this? How do you think I did? Can you give me some feedback?

Thursday, June 19, 2025

Beneath the surface ~ Lavanya Mathur (29 of 25)


Here is the details which I put out reading and converting to text using otter.ai. Exploring the new tools and changes.

Beneath the surface is a short, simple, meaningful writing pieces to go with your coffee break, written by Lavanya Mathur, which says Words of IRIS. 

It is a collection of thought provoking poems, short stories and features, perfect for anyone seeking inspiration, change or simply a moment of reflection. Each chapter is a stand alone piece ideal for quick reads during your coffee or tea break, written in simple, accessible language, this book delivers profound messages that will resonate with readers of all background.

It is covered in three sessions. First is collection of poems. Second is collection of stories, and third are the features. Poems include the long journey, she, I wish, a friend, a smell and the music. Stories include one last time a penguin of the cage, unconsciously, subconscious. I love you. The screenplay, false memory with the message believer you are and you will become, it's okay, Present, real gold. Biryani with love. Features have few essays with stories. Book is around 185 pages and it's a very interesting read. Every feature come with a message. For strength, to have courage from within. Disassociate, You never have to live with it. Hope is happiness. A few years from now, nothing will matter except for our choices and what we could have done differently. In your hearts, you already know it, don't you?

Monday, June 16, 2025

The Air India Plane Crash


 The Air India plane crash.

To many, it was just another headline.

To me, it was a deep, painful reminder

Of how quickly life can change…

And how the things we take for granted can vanish in an instant.


Four stories. Four lives.

And four truths that shook something deep in me.


First:

A family who had spent years chasing one dream

To migrate to the UK.

They worked hard, saved, sacrificed, waited.

There were delays, responsibilities, “not now, maybe next year.”

But finally, it happened.

They boarded that plane with hope in their eyes…

But never arrived.


It broke me.

Because how many of us keep saying, “someday”?

Someday, I’ll rest. Someday, I’ll travel.

Someday, I’ll finally live the life I want.

But we forget someday isn’t promised.

And sometimes, someday never comes.


Second:

A woman who was meant to be on that flight.

She got to the airport late. Missed the check-in.

She begged, pleaded, cried. She was angry at everyone.

But when the crash happened… she realized:

What felt like a failure was actually protection.


That shook me.

Because how many times do we get upset when things don’t go our way?

Not knowing… that maybe it’s grace in disguise.

Not every closed door is rejection.

Some are rescue missions.


Third:

A man survived.

The plane split in half chaos, smoke, fire.

But his section didn’t catch fire.

He stumbled out, barefoot, bloodied, shocked… but alive.


It wasn’t luck.

It was purpose.

Because when it’s not your time, it’s not your time.

And that verse echoed in me:

“To everything, there is a season.”

It reminded me: We’re not here by accident.

We’re here for a reason.


Fourth:

And then, those who didn’t make it.

People who had plans.

People who had kids waiting at home.

People who said “see you soon”…

Never knowing it was the last goodbye.


It crushed me.

Because how many of us assume we’ll always have another chance?

To say I love you.

To fix a mistake.

To forgive.

To live.

But time isn’t guaranteed.

Tomorrow is not a contract.

All we really have… is now.


And while these stories made my heart ache, what angered me too

Was this:

Could this have been prevented?

Was the plane safe?

Did the airline cut corners?

Did the leadership choose profit over people?

These lives were not just lost they were failed by a system

That too often values money over safety.


Because when you look closely,

You realize: these weren’t just accidents.

They were symptoms of a deeper problem

Where maintenance is delayed, staff are overworked, red flags are ignored…

All in the name of efficiency and revenue.


And we’re left mourning people who should still be here.


So now, I sit with this grief, this clarity, this responsibility.


To live more urgently.

To love more boldly.

To demand more accountability.


Because life is short, yes.

But that doesn’t excuse negligence.

We owe it to the ones who didn’t make it

To hold those in power accountable.

To protect lives before it’s too late.

To value people over profit.


So if you’re reading this…

And you still have breath, strength, and a choice

Don’t wait.


Say what you need to say.

Do what you’re called to do.

Be the person you were meant to be.


Because sometimes…

There isn’t a next time.








We’re all sold the same dream: study hard, get a good job, make money, travel, build a life. Do everything right. But what’s the point when people who do all that still end up in a collapsed building, a burning aircraft, or under a messroof that decided today was its last?


You survive 12 board exams, competitive entrances, office politics, traffic, and relatives asking “what’s next?” — only for an airoplane to jump  mid-sky. 


It’s almost darkly funny — how we think life has a pattern, a reward system. As if effort equals safety.

[15/06, 19:17] Me Ra: Doctors, students asked to vacate overnight

The urgency of the evacuation order set for 9 pm on June 13 left doctors and medical students scrambling to pack up and move out on short notice. Among them was Dr Anil Panwar, whose home was in one of the affected hostel buildings. Dr Panwar’s daughter and maid were both injured in the crash and admitted to the hospital. Tearfully addressing the media, he pleaded for more time.


“It is not so easy to vacate overnight. My daughter is admitted, my maid is also admitted. I am not from Gujarat, I don’t have family here. I was doing my duty at the hospital,” Dr Panwar said, visibly emotional. “Please give me two-three days to vacate. I am helpless. Have some humanity, please.”

 Dr. Panwar also mentioned that he and his wife were on duty when the crash occurred, while his daughter and maid were at home.

“I was mentally disturbed”

However, a day later, a new video of Dr. Panwar surfaced, in which he appeared calmer and more composed. He clarified his earlier remarks, stating that he had been mentally disturbed and emotionally unstable at the time.

“I said a lot of things I didn’t mean. I was overwhelmed. But I want to say now that the police and hospital administration have helped us tremendously. We have been given shelter, and we are safe. I am grateful,” he said.

MBBS students, staff and people around in that building getting the lunch ready....reminds me yet again, "Life is what happens to you, when you are busy making other plans". 

We have the count and details of the people from the flight though 'bodies' and few people yet to be identified and DNA matched. But the plight and count from the Medical College and those around is still a mystery. Prayers. 🙏



Sunday, June 15, 2025

DREAMLINER NIGHTMARE


 

My column Zara Hatke  in Midday today ..:


DREAMLINER NIGHTMARE

 

We were Ahmedabad headed, Bugs Bhargava Krishna, myself, and the rest of our team who handle the Amul account -- the airport seemed a bit deserted that Thursday afternoon. We were early, so we settled into the lounge area of T1, waiting to board. The 3.15 pm Ahmedabad flight was ready, the announcement said, the TV screens surrounding us all over the lounge, thankfully on mute, had the usual excited, exuberant anchors, telling us about the world at large. And suddenly as we arose, to join the queue, the myriad screens around the airport, told us a chilling story, images of a plane, an Air India Boeing exploding close to Ahmedabad airport, in Meghani Nagar. To see that disaster on loop, a plane suddenly human, unable to climb, desperate but beginning to descend, lost behind some roofs and then a gigantic explosion -- our first instinct, we were definitely not going to make it to Ahmedabad that afternoon.

The stories came filtering through, of the faults with the aircraft, the fissures that had developed, the flaps that wouldn’t open – and then to the families and the lives lost. Somehow with air disasters, my interest always goes to the cabin crew. And the pilots, always the first to detect the danger.

Pilots, I’ve always admired, that they carry the lives of so many passengers in their hands, safe take-offs and smooth landings, and when there are disasters, all eyes turn to them, the men and women, commandeering the plane. In this case Sumeet Sabharwal, the first officer, the Noah of this aircraft, mid 50s, sacrificed marriage and family to take care of his ailing father, was set to retire for the same reason, at that moment, 300 feet above the ground, in those 32 seconds, unable to lift higher, that cry out of “mayday”, in that instant, when climbing had turned to descent, that realisation that the end was near, for himself, for his co-pilot, his cabin crew and the 242 passengers in his care, desperation even at that height, to land in a less populated area, the tragic irony that he had to land on a medical hostel.

The victims, each one with a backstory, mostly of hope and success and new beginnings -- leaving behind old parents, orphans, one-year-olds. And the cabin crew, our national airline for all its problems, its staff, always believes in service with a smile.

The Boeing Dreamliner 171. Carrying dreams of 200 passengers, from Gujarat to Gatwick, mothers flying to reunite with daughters, families on a one way ticket, a nine hour flight to their promised land. Expectations, excitement, ending in a few seconds.

The Dreamliner, 200 dreams reduced to rubble. Life is fleeting. The Maharaja weeps. Dreams have flatlined.

Leaders Vs. Bosses


 A job title doesn't make anyone a leader.


Their words and actions do.


➟ It might have been hard work to climb the ranks.

➟ But that success was built on others’ support.

➟ And it won’t last without their trust.


Bossy attitudes won't fuel real growth.


Sure, it might land you the corner office

a shiny car + a reserved parking spot

maybe even a fat bank balance


✅ But true leadership calls for more

✅ those who don’t chase titles and benefits

✅ but prioritize others' growth and potential


True leaders show up differently.

Because they understand the power of their words.


And they live by this truth every day:


1️⃣ They share power - no fear of losing it

↳ True leaders involve others in decisions and give credit away.


2️⃣ They model accountability - no room for blame

↳ True leaders own mistakes and show what it means to learn fast.


3️⃣ They coach and don't dictate

↳ True leaders inspire growth through guidance, not commands.


4️⃣ They seek input and don't assume they're right

↳ True leaders ask questions and listen before acting.


5️⃣ They lead with heart - not pressure

↳ True leaders stay human, especially under stress.


6️⃣ They show up consistently, and not reactively

↳ True leaders try to remain grounded, even in chaos.


7️⃣ They focus on impact, and not on control

↳ True leaders release ego to serve the mission.


Words carry weight.

They can make or break people.


And they mark the line between

a real leader and a boss.

Saturday, June 14, 2025

Ahmedabad AI 171 Vs. Black Box Thinking


 

On June 12, 2025, Air India Flight AI 171, a Boeing 787‑8 Dreamliner, tragically crashed just 30 seconds after takeoff from Ahmedabad, striking the students’ hostel at B.J. Medical College. All 241 aboard perished, along with at least 33 on the ground—among them five MBBS students, one PG resident, and a superspecialist’s wife, with over 60 others injured.

The wreckage and devastation at a place of healing and learning intensifies the heartbreak, as young lives committed to saving others were so abruptly lost.

In the midst of grief, Matthew Syed’s “Black Box Thinking” offers a guiding philosophy. Syed argues that progress—especially in high-stakes systems like aviation—depends on embracing failure, systematically dissecting errors, and transforming loss into learning 

The literal black box from this flight, recovered from the hostel roof, symbolizes that potential: a stark reminder that by rigorously analyzing what went wrong, we can safeguard countless future lives 

Key Lessons Through the Lens of “Black Box Thinking”

  1. Embrace trauma to drive learning

Aviation’s culture of transparency—rooted in thorough investigation—turns tragedy into tangible safety improvements. The prompt recovery of the flight data recorder enables investigators to probe engine thrust, flap settings, landing gear dynamics, or procedural lapses 

This reflects Syed’s core message: confront mistakes openly to prevent their repetition.

    2. Avoid blame‑shame cycles

Syed emphasizes that denying errors prevents improvement 

 The swift grounding of Dreamliners and commitment to inspections signal a systemic response, not scapegoating. This kind of proactive response protects future flights.

    3. Extend learning beyond aviation

The crash impacted a medical learning environment—a poignant reminder that every sector must build systems attentive to failure. In hospitals and medical schools, “close‑loop” feedback (rather than ignoring complications) can improve patient safety. The sudden loss of students underscores the need for robust risk‑learning cultures—whether in the cockpit or clinic.

    4. Broader cultural transformation

Syed asserts that we must shift from defensive to curious mindsets 

 As the Ahmedabad community mourns students who were shaping futures, it also has a chance to champion cultures—across education, healthcare, transportation—that view failure not as disgrace, but as an opportunity.

We grieve deeply for the bright young medical students whose promising paths were tragically cut short. Their suffering and sacrifice cannot be forgotten. Families anxiously await identification of remains—DNA used due to devastating burns 

Yet in their memory, we can honor them through transformation. By applying Black Box Thinking, we ensure this loss ignites a deeper dedication to safety:

Aviation investigators must dissect every nuance from the black box.

Airports and airlines must reinforce transparency and accountability.

Medical schools can double down on crash‑and‑near‑miss analysis for all high‑risk situations.

Our shared culture can shift—from fearing failure to compassionately learning from it.

Through deliberate introspection and fearless inquiry—hallmarks of Syed’s philosophy—we can help ensure that these young healers become beacons for systemic improvement. In doing so, their lives—and deaths—will echo beyond tragedy, shaping safer tomorrows for countless others.

Friday, June 13, 2025

Academic Leadership Quotes

 


  1. "Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire."
    William Butler Yeats

    🔹 A reminder that academic leaders should inspire, not just instruct.


  1. "The task of the modern educator is not to cut down jungles, but to irrigate deserts."
    C.S. Lewis

    🔹 Leaders must nurture potential, not suppress originality.


  1. "A university is what a college becomes when the faculty loses interest in students."
    John Ciardi

    🔹 A cautionary quote reminding leaders to keep students at the center of all decisions.


  1. "Academic leadership is not about authority. It is about responsibility—for ideas, for people, and for the culture of learning."
    Derek Bok, former President of Harvard University

    🔹 Leadership in academia is service, not status.


  1. "The real leaders in higher education are those who are willing to take intellectual risks and foster environments where others can do the same."
    Judith Ramaley, American academic and reformer

    🔹 Encourages academic leaders to embrace innovation and openness.


  1. "True education is not about producing employees; it is about nurturing creators, thinkers, and citizens."
    Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan

    🔹 A deeply Indian perspective on educational leadership as nation-building.


  1. "Leadership in education means enabling others to act and believe in their own power to transform."

Anand Kumar, Founder of Super 30

🔹 A grassroots Indian educator's view: empowerment is the core of leadership.
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"The function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers." ~ Ralph Nader 

Structure of Indian academia

 The structure of Indian academia is a multi-layered, hierarchical system that governs how education is delivered, regulated, and managed from school to the highest levels of research and innovation. Here’s a clear breakdown:


🏛️ 1. Governance & Regulatory Bodies

LevelKey InstitutionsRole
NationalMinistry of Education (MoE)Policy-making and overall oversight
University Grants Commission (UGC)Coordinates, determines standards, disburses funds
AICTE, NMC, BCI, NCTE, PCI, etc.Regulate specific professional disciplines (engineering, medicine, law, etc.)
StateState Councils of Higher EducationImplement policies, manage state universities

🎓 2. Institutional Categories

🏛️ A. Universities

TypeExampleAffiliation
Central UniversitiesJNU, BHUFunded & governed by MoE
State UniversitiesMumbai Univ, Calcutta UnivRun by state governments
Deemed UniversitiesIISc, BITS PilaniAutonomy granted by UGC
Private UniversitiesAshoka Univ, O.P. JindalFunded & governed privately with UGC approval

🏫 B. Colleges

  • Affiliated Colleges – Governed by a parent university (e.g., Hindu College under DU)

  • Autonomous Colleges – Curriculum & exam autonomy, but degree granted by affiliating university

  • Constituent Colleges – Directly run by a university (e.g., St. Stephen’s under DU)


📚 3. Academic Ranks & Career Structure

RankEntry QualificationRoles
Assistant ProfessorNET/PhD (after PG)Entry-level teaching and research
Associate ProfessorPhD + experience + publicationsMid-level, research and mentoring
ProfessorExtensive research & leadershipSenior-most academic, policy influence
Vice Chancellor / DirectorTop-level academic adminStrategic leadership and institutional vision

📖 4. Curriculum & Pedagogy Control

  • CBCS (Choice Based Credit System) in many universities

  • Curriculum designed by:

    • Universities’ Boards of Studies

    • Regulatory bodies like AICTE or UGC

  • National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 aims to revamp the system into a more flexible, multidisciplinary model.


🔬 5. Research Structure

BodyRole
UGC – NET/JRFResearch fellowships, eligibility
CSIR, DST, DBT, ICSSR, ICMRFund scientific and social science research
Institutes of Eminence (IoEs)Encouraged to become world-class research hubs

🌐 6. Recent & Future Directions

Under NEP 2020:

  • Creation of Multidisciplinary Education and Research Universities (MERUs)

  • Reduction of affiliation system (phasing out over 15 years)

  • Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) for flexible education

  • National Higher Education Regulatory Council (NHERC) – a single regulator


🧭 Challenges in Indian Academia Structure

  • Over-centralization & bureaucracy

  • Limited funding and research output (except elite institutions)

  • Faculty shortages

  • Political interference in leadership appointments

  • Examination-focused culture over research/innovation


🌱 Emerging Trends

  • Increasing role of private and foreign institutions

  • Digital learning integration post-COVID

  • Skilling and vocational focus

  • Strong push for research commercialization and entrepreneurship