Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi : A Journey Through Incredible India at the India International Trade Fare, IITF 2026, Delhi

Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi : A Journey Through Incredible India at the India International Trade Fare, IITF 2026, Delhi 

(An afternoon of discovery, nostalgia and immense pride in being Indian )

Some experiences in life leave you with a smile long after they are over. My visit to the India International Trade Fair (IITF) 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, was one among such experiences.  IITF has been an important event in my life and I go there year after year because it makes me feel one with India each time. This year too, I returned feeling nostalgic and my heart swelled with pride and a renewed admiration for this extraordinary country of ours.

This year’s theme of, "Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi", could not have been more appropriate. It aptly reflected India celebrating its centuries-old traditions as well as embracing the future confidentally. As I wandered through the colourful pavilions, I felt I was travelling across India without leaving Delhi. It was a fascinating lesson in history, geography, art, culture and enterprise, all rolled into one!

Where else could one travel from Kashmir to Puducherry, Gujarat to Arunachal Pradesh, and Rajasthan to the Northeast in a matter of hours?  Every pavilion beckoned with its colours, textures, aromas and stories. Gujarat's vibrant textiles, Rajasthan's handicrafts, Kashmir's exquisite shawls, Tamil Nadu's weaving traditions, Andhra Pradesh’s handlooms, Maharashtra's crafts, Odisha's artistic heritage and West Bengal's traditional products were a feast for the senses.

Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Telangana added their distinctive flavours to this magnificent tapestry.

The Northeast was especially captivating. Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura  with their beautiful textiles, bamboo crafts and indigenous designs, reminded me how much of our country remains to be discovered. Ladakh brought its unique Himalayan heritage, while Goa, Andaman and Nicobar Islands added further dimensions to India's diversity.

I found myself stopping repeatedly to admire a craft, examine a fabric or simply wonder about the skilled hands behind these creations.

What an extraordinary country we belong to! So many languages, traditions and identities, yet one unmistakable Indian spirit.

Of course, I was particularly excited to visit the Maharashtra Pavilion. Having spent so many years working across the state, Maharashtra occupies a special place in my heart.

And what a delight it was! The gorgeous Paithani sarees, beautiful Warli paintings, intricate Gond art, rugged kolhapuri chappals and traditional copper crafts reflected Maharashtra's remarkable artistic wealth. The familiar aromas of masalas and chutneys brought back memories of journeys through its villages and towns. But the happiest moments were spent meeting the women of Self-Help Groups displaying their products. Their smiles, enthusiasm and confidence were heartwarming!

During my years with the Maharashtra State Rural Livelihoods Mission (MSRLM), I had the privilege of working closely with lakhs of women striving to build better lives through collective enterprise. Meeting many of those SHG women at IITF brought back cherished memories and renewed my admiration for their determination.

Having worked with these institutions over the years, it was equally satisfying to see authentic Madhuban honey from MSKVIB, SHG products from MSRLM, Khadi from KVIC, ODOP products from the Directorate of Industries and small-scale enterprises supported by MSSIDC. Each display reminded me of the dedicated teams, artisans and entrepreneurs behind these initiatives. These were not merely products on shelves. They represented years of effort, enterprise and the aspirations of countless families.

For me, the Maharashtra Pavilion was truly a homecoming!

And then came the food! How could anyone resist India's culinary treasures gathered in one place? Kulcha or chole from Punjab and creamy rabdi from Uttar Pradesh were particularly tempting, delicious pedas and golden imartis seemed to call out to every visitor. Rajasthan's traditional gajak and mouth-watering pickles were equally irresistible. Everywhere, regional sweets, savouries, spices and delicacies invited exploration. It was a wonderful culinary journey through India, without packing a suitcase!

What pleased me more was that IITF was not confined to shopping and handicrafts.

At the Health Department pavilion, visitors received guidance on preventive healthcare, with free blood tests and blood pressure checks. The Postal Department explained savings schemes, while the Energy Department encouraged responsible energy use,  non-conventional energy and conservation. Having spent many years in public administration, I found it heartening to see government departments reaching out to citizens directly through such accessible initiatives. This is development in its most meaningful form when information, awareness and public services reach ordinary people.

As I walked through the fair, one thought kept returning to me: What a wonderful classroom this would be for our children! We teach them about India's geography, history, costumes and cultures through textbooks. But imagine their excitement at seeing Assam's handlooms, Rajasthan's handicrafts, Maharashtra's Paithani, Kashmir's shawls and Ladakh's traditional products! They could discover how food, clothing and customs change across regions, yet remain part of one national identity. A few hours at IITF offer a whirlwind tour of India that no textbook can recreate.

More importantly, children may return with curiosity, respect for artisans and a deeper appreciation of our unity in diversity. I strongly urge every parent in Delhi and the NCR to bring their children here. Let them see, taste and experience India!

Perhaps my years of working with rural communities have made me particularly sensitive to the stories behind handmade products. Whenever I see a beautifully woven fabric, painting or jar of honey, I think of the artisan, farmer or woman entrepreneur whose labour created it. Their skills deserve appreciation, but more importantly, their products deserve markets. Trade fairs like IITF provide small producers opportunities to reach new customers. When we purchase their products, we support livelihoods and preserve traditional knowledge. Vocal for Local must therefore become more than a slogan. It should become a habit.

As I walked out of Bharat Mandapam, I realised why the experience had touched me so deeply. The colours reminded me of festivals. The aromas evoked memories of home. The handicrafts recalled journeys through villages, while conversations with exhibitors reminded me of the warmth I have encountered throughout my career.

It felt like coming home to India not one particular state, but the entire country in all its glorious diversity. Alongside this timeless heritage stood the confidence of a nation embracing innovation, enterprise and progress.

IITF 2026 continues from 14 to 27 November 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. My appeal is simple: Please visit! Take your children, parents and friends. Explore the pavilions, savour regional delicacies, speak to artisans and support their enterprises. Go with curiosity. Return with pride.

IITF is more than a trade fair. It is a celebration of India's soul, its creativity, resilience, diversity and aspirations. It will renew your  pride in being Indian also. This year's “Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi” left me with something deeper , a sense of belonging to a civilisation whose heritage is timeless and whose aspirations know no bounds.

Rooted in centuries of wisdom, rising with the dreams of a billion hearts  that is the India we must cherish and believe in and IITF 2026 bring out that very India which fills me with hope! 

Jai Hind ! 

R. Vimala, IAS (Retd.)

Former Secretary & Resident Commissioner, Maharashtra, 

Founder, AnirvedShakti Foundation

PhD Scholar at IIT Bombay 

Diwali : Celebrating Life, Health, Relationships and the Joy of Togetherness

Diwali : Celebrating Life, Health, Relationships and the Joy of Togetherness

Diwali always feels magical and never fails to bring a smile on our faces and a sparkle in our eyes. And why not? Which other festival is loaded with such delightful celebrations? Homes get spring cleaned and become beautiful with colourful rangolis, glowing diyas, fragrant flowers and the irresistible aroma of festive delicacies. New clothes, sweets, gifts, laughter and family gatherings add to the excitement.

But why is Diwali special and why does it stand out?  Is it the lights, the decorations, the food or the festivities? Certainly yes, because it is all that and more. It is a celebration of life, love and togetherness.

It reminds us that our greatest treasures are not merely what we possess, but the relationships we cherish, the health we enjoy and the happiness we share.

Personally, some of my happiest childhood memories are woven around Diwali. Preparations began days in advance. Our home would be filled with the aroma of freshly prepared ''bakshanam" , the traditional sweets and savouries lovingly made by our mother. New clothes were carefully folded and placed in the family puja room, waiting to be worn on the auspicious morning. Yet the animated negotiations for a relevant share in crackers were more enjoyable than bursting the crackers themselves. 

Diwali mornings began before sunrise. My father would wake us up for the traditional Ganga Snanam. Still sleepy, we would sit,  while our mother applied warm oil to our heads. The earthy fragrance of shikakai powder brought from Chennai, the excitement of new clothes, prayers and festive sweets made those mornings unforgettable.Those rituals were never merely rituals. They were occasions to laugh, tease, share and celebrate together.

Today, I remember my parents with immense affection and gratitude for the beautiful childhood they gave us. They taught us that happiness could be found in the simplest things.

Today, shikakai may have given way to fancy shampoos but Diwali gets reflected in little ways which add to the warmth of those memories.

India celebrates Diwali in wonderfully diverse ways. In Tamil Nadu, Naraka Chaturdashi, commemorating Lord Krishna's victory over Narakasura, brings the excitement of early morning oil baths, new clothes, crackers and traditional delicacies.

In Maharashtra, celebrations begin with Vasu Baras and continue through Dhanteras, Naraka Chaturdashi, Lakshmi Pujan and Bhau Beej. Festive faraal, beautiful rangolis and affectionate exchanges between siblings give Diwali its distinctive charm. In North India, Lord Rama's joyous return to Ayodhya after his exile is celebrated with illuminated homes, family gatherings and prayers.

Customs and stories maybe different yet the happiness is remarkably similar. Everywhere, Diwali brings people together. The ancient Upanishadic prayer, “तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय”

Lead me from darkness to light, beautifully captures its spiritual essence. The light of goodness, wisdom, love and hope must always prevail. As we grow older, the meaning of celebrations becomes even more beautiful. The excitement of childhood gradually gives way to the pleasure of welcoming family, hosting friends and creating memories with those we love.

There is something immensely satisfying about a house full of people, the cheerful noise of conversations, children running around, familiar voices calling out from different rooms, and laughter over stories narrated a hundred times before!

And what about friends? Those who have known us through different phases of life, shared our adventures, celebrated our achievements and stood beside us over the years.

Festivals offer wonderful opportunities to renew these friendships. In our busy lives, personal meetings are increasingly replaced by WhatsApp greetings and hurried telephone calls. Technology certainly keeps us connected, but nothing can replace the warmth of a personal visit, a shared meal or an unhurried conversation.

This Diwali, let us make time to meet, greet and reconnect.

Visit an old friend. Invite relatives home. Bring generations together. Share memories, laughter and affection. A festival without people to celebrate it with is incomplete. 

Diwali is also a celebration of prosperity and Dhanteras carries a beautiful reminder that wealth is not measured by gold alone. Dhanteras also includes another Hindu tradition, of Lord Dhanvantari, the divine physician and deity of Ayurveda, emerging during the Samudra Manthan, carrying a pot of Amrit, the nectar of immortality.

What a profound message! Even as we welcome Goddess Lakshmi and pray for prosperity, we are reminded that good health is among life's greatest treasures. Yet, in today's fast-paced world, health is often the first casualty of our lifestyles.

We rush through meals, increasingly depend on junk food, stay awake late into the night and spend endless hours scrolling through social media. Children and adults alike spend more time looking at screens than enjoying sunshine. Walking has given way to sitting, outdoor play to digital entertainment, and peaceful evenings to constant notifications.We have more conveniences than ever before, yet often find ourselves with less time to rest, exercise, enjoy nature or simply be still. Perhaps this Diwali is an opportunity to rediscover the joy of healthy living.

A morning walk in gentle sunlight, a nutritious home-cooked meal, restful sleep, regular physical activity and a calm mind are blessings that no amount of gold can replace.

And healthy living need not be a solemn pursuit. It can be a joyful family experience, walking together, cooking traditional meals, playing outdoors, practising yoga or enjoying an evening without mobile phones constantly interrupting us.

Our parents and grandparents understood the value of simple routines, seasonal food and family time. As we light our lamps, let us make a small commitment to care for our bodies and minds.For what is the joy of prosperity if we do not have the health to enjoy it, the energy to celebrate it and the peace of mind to appreciate it?

One of the loveliest aspects of Diwali is the happiness of giving. Choosing gifts for loved ones, preparing delicacies for neighbours or surprising someone with a thoughtful gesture brings its own special joy.The value of a gift is rarely measured by its price. What makes it memorable is the affection. 

As I look forward to Diwali this year, I find myself cherishing the simple pleasures of life more than ever, the excitement of preparations, the fragrance of festive food, the warmth of family, the laughter of friends and the delight of being together. Life becomes richer through these moments, and happiness grows when shared.

So, this Diwali, let us decorate our homes with lights and flowers, fill our kitchens with delicious and healthy food, open our doors to friends and family and fill our hearts with gratitude.

Let us laugh a little louder, meet a little more often, live a little more healthily and share a little more generously.

For the true wealth of life lies in good health, loving relationships, peace of mind and the joy of being together. So Meet. Greet. Reconnect. Celebrate. Spread Joy.

May every diya celebrate a cherished relationship, every sweet strengthen a bond, and every greeting carry genuine affection.

May our homes be blessed with Dhan (wealth), Arogya (health), Ananda (joy) and Sneha (love).

Wishing everyone a beautiful Diwali filled with good health, love, laughter, togetherness and prosperity!

R. Vimala, IAS Retired, MH 2009

Subject Matter Expert, CBC & YASHADA

Former Resident Commissioner, Maharashtra Sadan & Secretary, GoM,

Founder AnirvedShakti Foundation,

PhD Scholar at IIT Bombay 

From Self-Help to Self-Reliance: Rethinking Rural Transformation : CSR Box and One Purpos India Forum, Delhi 2026

From Self-Help to Self-Reliance: Rethinking Rural Transformation :  CSR Box and One Purpos India Forum, Delhi 2026

Self-help groups are often spoken of as one of the biggest success stories of rural India and the description is well-deserved.  Deendatyal Antyoday Yojana, National Rural Livelihoods Mission, DAY-NRLM's proactive programme for women empowerment has enabled coming together of over ten crore rural women into about 90.9 lakh SHGs. Of these  almost two crores have become Lakhpati Didis. After three decades in public administration, including leading the Maharashtra State Rural Livelihoods Mission (Umed) and MAVIM in Maharashtra, I have seen the  efforts and transformation of these groups closely. I have also seen and understood where they falter. 

CSR box recently organised the One Purpos India Forum in New Delhi wherein I was a part of a panel discussion titled "From Self-Help to Self-Reliance: SHGs, FPOs and Rural Transformation". 

I have spent almost a decade studying the subject and am now working on it  through the Anirvedshakti Foundation. Women have proven their organisational skills. What remains unsettled is whether the market will let them in, on what terms, and which women will get through the door.

For decades, rural development was designed around the idea of a beneficiary, a person who receives a loan, a subsidy, a training certificate or a kit. That model benefitted individuals but Day NRLM's capacity building programme shaped community initiatives which made possible the overall development of the woman, her family and the community. 

Rural transformation required a different starting point. The woman, the farmer and the community institution became decision-makers and began to decide what the enterprise does, how surplus is shared, who is hired and when to expand. 

The first generation of SHGs was built on thrift and credit and that was the right foundation. Regular savings, internal lending, prompt repayment, maintaining accounts gave poor women financial discipline and more importantly, a seat at a table and recognition from banks. But a group that only saves and lends has a ceiling.

The next step was to treat the group as a platform for enterprise. Members can run individual ventures, form collective units for processing or retail or work as service providers and aggregators. Production is seldom the real difficulty. A group can make excellent millet products, pickles or garments and still earn little, because the product never reaches a paying customer at a fair price. The social barriers behind the market gap still exist. 

When we discuss market linkage, we usually discuss packaging, logistics and price. These matter, but the deeper obstacles are social. Only about 38 per cent of rural women aged 15 and above were in the labour force in 2025, according to the PLFS monthly bulletin, and much of that work is unpaid or poorly paid. Women also operate only around 14 per cent of agricultural holdings, according to the 2015-16 Agriculture Census, which means little land, little collateral and little access to working capital.

Mobility of a woman is also restricted, so a woman who can produce at home often cannot sell outside it. Her time is consumed by household work and care that is not shared. Transport, wholesale buying and stall allotment are frequently controlled by men and the intermediary keeps most of the margin. Her earnings are treated as supplementary income, so the family hesitates to invest in her business. Buyers often purchase SHG products out of sympathy rather than as a consumer choice, which does not build repeat sales. In some places caste hierarchies also decide who may sell what and to whom. A value chain does not exclude these women by rule. It excludes them through who owns the assets, who holds the contacts and who controls the vehicle.

Farmer Producer Organisations, FPOs answer a problem that individual SHGs cannot solve alone by giving it scale. A single small producer can only be a  price-taker. A collective that aggregates, grades, processes and sells in volume can negotiate and can also afford technology and storage that a individual member cannot. 

The promise depends on governance and business capacity, not on registration. At times  FPOs exist on paper, with a board that does not meet, with no working capital, helping nobody. SHGs and FPOs are best seen as complementary : SHGs build the social and financial base among women and FPOs add commercial scale in agriculture and allied sectors. A rural value chain works only when producers are connected to finance, infrastructure, technology and demand at the same time. That means collateral-free working capital through bank linkage and revolving funds, shared processing and storage facilities, and assured demand through government procurement, institutional buyers and urban channels. It also means digital and financial skills for women themselves.

The same chain must be designed to reach the most marginalised. The widow, the deserted woman, the landless Dalit or Adivasi woman and the woman with a disability are usually the last to join a group and the first to be edged out by better-off members. Inclusion has to be built in deliberately by identifying them through Antyodaya scheme, SECC data and community resource persons and giving them entry-level roles as collectors, graders or packers, and create a path upward. 

We should also measure honestly, disaggregating our data by caste, widowhood, disability and income and verifying whether the poorest are moving up or being crowded out.

CSR has become a major source of support for rural livelihoods and it can be a powerful catalyst. But a standalone project with a fixed term rarely leaves behind an institution that can stand on its own.

The more durable approach is to treat CSR as seed capital for institutions rather than as a substitute for them. Funders and implementers could invest in leadership, governance, bookkeeping and business skills, and could facilitate planning from the beginning for the day when the support tapers off. That is also where credible impact measurement and clean compliance matter. Organisations that can show clear outcomes, transparent accounts and a fundable project design will find it easier to attract patient capital, whether from corporates, government schemes or newer instruments such as the Social Stock Exchange and volunteering. Partnerships between corporates, government and community institutions can then move from isolated pilots to programmes that are scalable and lasting.

The larger aim is not to add another livelihood activity to a village. It is to build a local economy in which production, processing, trade and services support one another and where employment and income stay within the community. When a woman earns and decides, the benefits spread to her children’s schooling and her family’s nutrition.

This is why I believe that self-help must lead to self-reliance. Self-help is the start, the point at which people organise themselves. Self-reliance is the destination, where their institutions, enterprises and markets are strong enough to carry on without being held up. We will get there if we begin small, test honestly, measure who actually benefits and keep the most vulnerable in view from the first day.

Inclusion is not charity. It is good economics, and it is justice, because a rural economy that leaves out its poorest  cannot be considered "inclusive".

The future of rural transformation lies in moving from subsidies to sustainability, from training to trading and from beneficiaries to entrepreneurs.

Rural women have already demonstrated their courage, capability and enterprise. What they need is not sympathy, but opportunity; not temporary support, but lasting access to markets.

Self-help brought women together. Self-reliance must empower them to lead. True transformation will happen when women are not just part of the economy, but help shape its future completely. 

R. Vimala, IAS Retired, MH 2009

Subject Matter Expert, CBC & YASHADA

Former Resident Commissioner, Maharashtra Sadan & Secretary, GoM,

Founder AnirvedShakti Foundation,

PhD Scholar at IIT Bombay 

True Wealth : Happiness & The Joy of Relationships

True Wealth : Happiness & The Joy of Relationships

We celebrated my sixtieth birthday recently. For years that number seemed to belong to someone else, to people from another generation. Yet when that day came in my life, it did not feel heavy but warm with the love of family, friends who had gathered in an auditorium for an evening of celebration with poetry,  music and dance. 

In the middle of that evening I understood something I had known only in theory. What we own matters far less than who are standing with us. I came away from my birthday thinking less about my own years and more about how easily we forget to be grateful for what is already ours.

In the Hindu tradition, Shashtiabdapoorthi marks the completion of sixty years. It is usually connected with men, with renewed wedding vows and prayers for a long life. I did not want to argue with the tradition. I only wondered why it should belong to men alone.

A woman who reaches sixty has been daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother. She has met expectations, swallowed disappointments, celebrated small victories and very often put other people's happiness ahead of her own. Through all of it she has also tried to hold on to her own identity and dreams. That journey deserves a celebration. So with gratitude for life and respect for relationships at the centre I celebrated in my own way.

What moved me most was seeing friends from every stage of my life at the celebration. Childhood friends who knew me long before any title, who remembered the girl with her dreams and mischief. Batchmates from the Sales Tax Department, colleagues from my Deputy Collector years and later postings, people I had worked beside through hard decisions and long days. Many had travelled far just to be there. Neighbours, well-wishers and relatives sat among them, each a different chapter of my life.

Some friendships had crossed great distances, some had gone years without a meeting, some were very new and yet they had all come. There was no protocol, no obligation, no post to acknowledge. Nobody was there for the chair I once occupied. They were there for the bond we shared. I have always said that designations are temporary and relationships last. That night I saw it happen in front of me.

I have loved poetry all my life. Words have kept me company in joy, doubt, longing and faith. Music and dance have always been close to my heart. Vikas Relhan, VK has set my poems to soul stirring music. My friend of many years, the Sangeet Natak Akademi danseuse Rajashri Shirke was benevolent to bless me by interpreting my verses through her dance performance. When the music began and the ghungroos sounded, I felt my words had been given wings. It was a personal offering, made beautiful by the talent of wonderful artists.

 Vikas Relhan, a gifted singer and composer who teaches music at a DAV school in Kurukshetra had composed many of poems years ago and sung them along with the melodiius Akshi Goyal.  But Aniruddha Shirke added the magical lilt of his drums and music to some more. I felt deeply thankful to Vikas, Akshi, Aniruddha, Rajashri tai and her troupe. Poetry, music and dance along with love became Spandan, a celebration of  rhythm in the hearts that had come together. 

Over six decades we meet thousands of people. Most remain  acquaintances, a few become friends for life, at times someone passes through briefly and leaves a mark that never fades. While we are busy living, we seldom notice what these people are worth to us. Years go by without seeing a dear friend. And then one embrace closes decades.

Our lives are not just a list of achievements. They are made by the people who touched them: those who encouraged us when we doubted ourselves, who stood by us in bad times, who cheered our successes without envy, who corrected us lovingly, or who were simply there, quietly and steadily. Unlike money or property, this kind of wealth tends to grow with time.

Retirement has given me room to think about what really matters. For decades my days were measured in files, deadlines and decisions. No doubts, I am grateful for all of it. But my sixtieth birthday offered another measure: not the posts held or the awards received, but the number of hearts that still keep a place for us. What counts is not how far we have come but who walked beside us and has stayed.

Also it is a time to think, did we offer kindness when someone needed it? Did we make time for a friend? Did we keep a relationship alive despite a disagreement? Did we say thank you often enough? The affection we receive today is the harvest of what we planted years ago. 

This is the only lesson I would like to pass on, to every one. We spend years worrying about what we lack and forget to look at what already surrounds us. A loving family. A childhood friend. A colleague who stays close long after retirement. A neighbour who cares. Acquaintances who become an inseparable part of our lives. These are treasures, which we hold now, not in future.

Gratitude does not need a birthday party. Call the friend you have been meaning to call. Write to the teacher who believed in you. Thank the colleague who covered for you. Tell your parents, while they can hear it, what they mean to you. Do not wait for a milestone, because people drift, circumstances change, and silence grows heavier the longer it lasts. A word of thanks costs nothing and can mean everything to the person who receives it.

One more thought, especially for women. We are taught to link growing older with withdrawal. At sixty we are expected to slow down and step aside. Why? Age may change our pace, but it need not dim our enthusiasm. Experience deepens understanding and feeds creativity and purpose.

At sixty I still have dreams to chase, poems to write, people to meet and causes to work for. My commitment to women's empowerment goes on through the Anirvedshakti Foundation. I do not see sixty as an ending. I see it as a new chapter, with more freedom to do what truly matters.

When the evening ended I could not find words enough to thank. How do you thank friends who stayed connected across decades, or artists who turned a personal dream into reality? Some feelings are too deep for speech. I could only fold my hands and thank the Almighty for such abundance.

Sixty years have taught me that plans seldom unfold as we expect and that success and disappointment both come and go. But there is also much beauty, kindness and grace. If we have tended our relationships with sincerity and affection, we will never be truly poor.

The music has faded and the ghungroos are quiet. But the warmth of those embraces stays with me. True wealth is not counted in what we own but in the love we give and receive. Also happiness is found in moments just waiting to unfold. After all "Pal pal khushiyon se bhara jeevan." 

R. Vimala, IAS Retired, MH 2009

Subject Matter Expert, CBC & YASHADA

Former Resident Commissioner, Maharashtra Sadan & Secretary, GoM,

Founder AnirvedShakti Foundation,

PhD Scholar at IIT Bombay 

Navaratri: Nine Nights of Devotion, a Lifetime of Learning

Navaratri: Nine Nights of Devotion, a Lifetime of Learning

सर्वमङ्गलमाङ्गल्ये शिवे सर्वार्थसाधिके ।

शरण्ये त्र्यम्बके गौरि नारायणी नमोऽस्तु ते ॥

Salutations to Goddess Narayani, the most auspicious among the auspicious, the fulfiller of all aspirations, the divine mother who offers refuge to all.

Festivals are a part of India's heritage with each one having it's own beauty, traditions and spiritual significance. Among them is Navaratri,  nine nights dedicated to Maa Shakti, the divine  energy, celebrated as Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ambe Mata and in countless other forms. Beginning with Ghatasthapana and ending with Vijaya Dashami, Navaratri is a celebration of faith, culture, community and the eternal triumph of good over evil.

For me, Navaratri, is a journey through childhood memories, family traditions, the joy of learning, the comforting presence of the divine and a promise of a new beginning.

The beauty of India lies in the diversity of its celebrations. Bengal comes alive with magnificent Durga Puja pandals, Gujarat dances to the rhythms of Garba and Dandiya, the South celebrates Bommai Golu and Bathukamma, while the North reverberates with Ram Lila and the festivities of Dussehra.

Different traditions, different expressions, yet one underlying message: the victory of light over darkness, wisdom over ignorance and good over evil.

My earliest memories of Navaratri are of the  Durga Pooja at the railway colony in Bhusawal, organised by the Bengali Association. I eagerly awaited the festivities, the beautiful idols, the cultural programmes and of course, the delicious bhog of Begoon bhaja, payesh and other delicacies.  

At home, Navaratri meant Bommai Golu, the delightful South Indian tradition of arranging dolls and deities on steps. Setting up the Golu was an event in itself. My siblings and I would enthusiastically set up the steps, arrange the dolls, create little scenes, decorate them and admire our handiwork. Evenings brought neighbours and friends, devotional songs, exchanges of haldi-kumkum and the inevitable sundal, prepared differently each day. Those days celebrations were less about grandeur and more about togetherness.

After marriage, I continued the tradition with my mother-in-law. Her passing in 2001 left a deep void and for a few years, the Golu remained absent from our home. Eventually, an inner calling prompted me to revive it. That was twenty-two years ago and since then, Golu has once again become an inseparable part of our lives. Every year, the familiar dolls emerging from their boxes, carry stories of the years gone by. Some have been with us for decades, silent witnesses to changing homes, growing children, cherished relationships and the passage of time.

Perhaps that is the true charm of tradition which connects generations and keeps memories alive while we move forward in life.

Saraswati Pooja is a beautiful part of Navaratri. In the north, Saraswati Puja is celebrated on Vasant Panchami, while in Tamil Nadu and much of southern India, Saraswati Poojai is observed during Navaratri, traditionally alongside Ayudha Poojai and Vidyarambham, the initiation of young children into the world of learning. 

Saraswati Poojai invites us to reflect upon the meaning of knowledge in today's rapidly changing world where information is available at the click of a button. Artificial intelligence, ChatGPT and other technological innovations can answer questions, generate ideas and simplify tasks in seconds. Yet, is access to information the same as acquiring knowledge? And is knowledge necessarily wisdom? Technology can provide answers, but it cannot replace our responsibility to think critically, question intelligently, read deeply and develop independent judgement. Saraswati Poojai offers us a timely opportunity to renew these habits by encouraging every child and also every adult, to read for at least ten minutes and write one page every day.  Ten minutes of reading can open a new world. A page of writing can help organise thoughts, strengthen expression and encourage reflection.

Navaratri is also a celebration of the dignity of work. During Ayudha Poojai, artisans worship their tools, musicians their instruments, students their books, and workers the equipment that sustains their livelihoods acknowledging the dignity of every occupation and respect to every instrument we use for work. 

This message has particular relevance today, when we speak of dignity of labour, women's empowerment, skill development and inclusive growth. Maa Shakti is not confined to temples and beautifully decorated idols. Her strength is reflected in the countless women who nurture families, sustain livelihoods, overcome adversity and contribute silently to society. The woman running a small enterprise, the artisan preserving a traditional craft, the farmer working tirelessly in the fields and the young girl determined to pursue her education are all expressions of Shakti. To truly honour the Goddess, we must also honour and strengthen the women around us.

 The culmination of Navaratri in Vijaya Dashami celebrates Goddess Durga's victory over Mahishasura and Lord Rama's triumph over Ravana. But perhaps the greatest battles are not those fought in mythology but those within ourselves.

Anger, jealousy, prejudice, greed, arrogance and resentment are the demons that often disturb our inner peace. Just as Ravana's effigy is consigned to flames on Dussehra, let us resolve to let go of at least one negative habit or lingering grudge. Let us replace criticism with kindness, indifference with compassion and despair with hope. Let us extend our sense of reverence to Mother Earth, our Matrubhumi, by reducing waste, planting trees, protecting nature and embracing more sustainable ways of living. For ultimately, the triumph of good over evil is not merely a story to be remembered. It is a principle to be practised in everyday life.

Navaratri teaches us courage through Durga, prosperity with purpose through Lakshmi, and wisdom through Saraswati. Together, they remind us that a fulfilling life requires strength, compassion, knowledge and the willingness to act. The real celebration of Navaratri lies not only in the nine nights of worship, but in carrying their light into the remaining days of our lives.

ॐ सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः सर्वे सन्तु निरामयाः ।

सर्वे भद्राणि पश्यन्तु मा कश्चिद्दुःखभाग्भवेत् ॥

May all be happy, may all be free from illness, may all experience goodness, and may none suffer or live in sorrow.

R. Vimala, IAS Retired, MH 2009

Subject Matter Expert, CBC & YASHADA

Former Resident Commissioner, Maharashtra Sadan & Secretary, GoM,

Founder AnirvedShakti Foundation,

PhD Scholar at IIT Bombay 

Navaratri Reflections: From Hope to Gratitude

Navaratri Reflections: From Hope to Gratitude

Some dreams take a long time to come true. Some prayers are answered late, but faith keeps us going until they are answered. 

Last Navaratri, I wrote about hope in the middle of a struggle. I was in Delhi then, serving as Resident Commissioner and Secretary, Government of Maharashtra and I kept the festival away from home with a small Bommai Golu. I prayed quietly for a dream that felt very far away.

This Navaratri, I am writing from our new home  and my heart is full of gratitude. To the Devi, the Devatas and the Almighty, who held my hand through every twist and turn of my life. For the strength to keep going, the patience to wait and the faith that told me better days would come. Above all, I am grateful for a home I had dreamed of, where I can once again celebrate Navaratri with my family, my friends and the traditions I grew up with.

Bommai Golu is more than nine days of worship. It brings together devotion, memory, creativity and continuity. Every doll has a story, and every year the familiar faces bring back a flood of memories of people and places that shaped me. The steps hold a whole world of faith and imagination: gods and goddesses in places of honour and around them saints, musicians, dancers, village scenes and ordinary people, reminding us of the beauty and variety of creation.

As a little girl, I looked forward to these nine days: visiting homes, making sundal, singing songs. Arranging the Golu is now a cherished tradition in many Tamilian homes, mine included. The dolls come out of their boxes, each carrying memories of earlier celebrations. I love arranging them, lighting the lamps, offering prayers and welcoming friends and neighbours for haldi-kumkum.

Last year's little Golu in Delhi showed me that devotion does not depend on grandeur. A few dolls arranged with love are enough to make a sacred space.

While I waited for this home, I learnt that patience is not just waiting. It is to keep believing, keep working and keep smiling. We want immediate answers and sometimes without working very hard for them. But the Divine keeps a different calendar.

Looking back, the lessons that mattered most came in the gap between a prayer and its answer. Patience taught me humility that, I cannot control everything, however capable or experienced I feel I am. Perseverance taught me that surrendering to God does not mean giving up my own effort.

We must do our karma with sincerity and courage and leave the fruits to Him, as rightly said in the Gita " Karmanye vadhikaraste ma phaleshu kadachana". We have the right to our duty, but not to its results. Perhaps that is the whole lesson : work with determination, wait with patience, receive with gratitude.

Navaratri celebrates the nine forms of Maa Durga, each a different aspect of feminine strength and grace. Strength is not always loud. Sometimes it is just the quiet decision to carry on. Courage is not always found in great battles; sometimes it is the simple act of beginning again. And sometimes victory is a peaceful heart, a grateful mind and the ability to look ahead with joy.

As we settle in, I am reminded that walls and furnishings do not make a home. Love, respect, prayers and values do. A home is where we return when the world has worn us out. Laughter echoes there, ordinary moments become precious, a lamp is lit before the Gods, the family eats together, friends are always welcome and every festival adds to our happiness.

This Navaratri, I pray that every home is blessed with peace, good health, harmony and warm relationships. And let us remember that the bigger blessing is not getting what we asked for, but being thankful for what we have been given.

As I grow older, I feel gratitude is one of the purest prayers. We remember God readily when we need something, and our prayers grow intense when we seek solutions, protection or relief. But how often do we sit quietly and simply say thank you? For the unseen protection, for the people who stood by us, for the strength we found within ourselves, for the doors that opened at the right time. I want to be thankful even for the waiting, because it taught me patience.

With a new chapter beginning after retirement, I think of how kind God has been to me: a fulfilling career in public service, the chance to keep working for women's empowerment, the love of family and friends and now a new home.

This year's Golu will be special to me. Every doll I place will carry a silent prayer of thanks and every lamp will remind me of the grace that lights our lives. Each visitor will add a blessing to our home, along with the familiar pleasure of a tradition that has travelled with me through different cities and phases of life.

Last year I prayed with hope. This year I bow with gratitude. The journey asks for patience, perseverance and courage, but it is divine grace that gives us the strength to walk it. That, to me, is the message of Navaratri : Shakti is not only  the power to conquer but also the strength to endure, the wisdom to accept, the courage to begin again and the grace to stay grateful.

May Maa Durga bless every home with peace, every heart with courage and every life with hope. May we have the strength to persevere, the patience to trust divine timing, and the humility to see the blessings around us. From hope to gratitude, from prayer to thanksgiving, this Navaratri is my humble offering at the feet of the Divine Mother.

Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah, Sarve Santu Niramayah. May all be happy. May all be free from illness.

Shubh Navaratri. Jai Mata Di.

R. Vimala, IAS Retired, MH 2009

Subject Matter Expert, CBC & YASHADA

Former Resident Commissioner, Maharashtra Sadan & Secretary, GoM,

Founder AnirvedShakti Foundation,

PhD Scholar at IIT Bombay 

Dhan Foundation : Building Communities, Nurturing Leaders

Dhan Foundation : Building Communities, Nurturing Leaders 

Some journeys leave us with more than memories. They reaffirm why we chose a particular path in the first place.

Attending the Foundation Day of DHAN Foundation in Madurai was one such experience for me. It was an opportunity to see, once again, what patient, sustained community work can achieve and to reflect on how much more remains to be done, particularly for women.

For nearly three decades, DHAN Foundation has worked with communities across India, building institutions around livelihoods, financial inclusion, agriculture, water, health and grassroots development. It's work through women's collectives and community institutions demonstrates an important truth that development becomes sustainable when people are not merely recipients of programmes but participants in shaping their own future. That distinction matters.

My own years in public service, particularly my work with women's Self-Help Groups in MSRLM and MAVIM, have convinced me that women do not lack ability, courage or willingness to work. They often lack opportunity, access and markets.

Across India, lakhs of women are saving together, borrowing together, farming, processing food, making handicrafts and running tiny enterprises. Government programmes, banks, NGOs and community organisations have helped create an extraordinary institutional base. But we need to explore whether such  participation translates into a continuos flow of income?

A woman may belong to an SHG. She may have received training and credit. She may even be producing something of excellent quality but if her product remains confined to her village, an occasional exhibition or a small local market, her economic potential remains limited. The next stage of women's empowerment must therefore go beyond mobilisation and limited markets. It must connect skills to enterprise, production to markets, and hard work to sustainable income.

As I said during my interaction during the Foundation Day celebrations at Dhan , Women are half the nation so half the power is not enough. They also need full power and economic power is the most essential part of that power. 

DHAN Foundation's journey also reinforces something we sometimes forget in our enthusiasm for schemes and targets, that transformation cannot always be delivered from above. It has to grow from within communities. When women save together, they do more than create a bank balance. They create trust. When farmers organise, they gain a collective voice. When communities manage water, livelihoods or local resources together, ownership replaces dependence. And when a woman begins earning, the impact rarely stops with her. It enters the household, into children's education, nutrition, health and aspirations.

Empowering a woman steadily widens the circle of change from woman to family, from family to community and from community to society. This is why women's empowerment and community development cannot be separated.

There is another frontier we now need to cross. Our women can produce excellent products. Can we help them sell? Can a packet of millet produced by women in a village in Tamil Nadu find a consumer in Mumbai? Can food products made by a Maharashtra SHG reach Chennai? Can technology, branding, packaging and logistics erase the distance between a rural producer and an urban consumer?

This is where I see possibilities for organisations such as DHAN and our new born Anirvedshakti Foundation to complement each other. DHAN brings decades of experience, strong community institutions and deep grassroots relationships. Anirvedshakti is still taking its first steps, but through Shakti on Wheels, we are experimenting with taking products made by SHG women directly to consumers. Instead of always asking women to search for markets, perhaps we can begin taking markets to women.

Millets could be a wonderful beginning. Ragi, saamai, thinai, jowar and bajra are not merely traditional grains. Behind them can be women farmers, processors, packers and entrepreneurs. Imagine a product whose packet does not merely carry a brand name, but also tells us who made it, where she comes from and the story behind her enterprise.Such purchase  becomes more than a transaction. It becomes a connection between two lives.

There is a beautiful line from Subramania Bharati about women stepping forward to govern and make laws. His vision was of women participating fully and equally in society. That journey continues.

Today, I would add another aspiration: let women not only participate, let them produce, own, brand, market and earn. Let them become entrepreneurs. Let them become employers.

Let them become leaders in their communities. And most importantly, let the income from their labour reach their own hands. Because empowerment cannot forever remain a promise made on behalf of women. Eventually, it must become power exercised by women themselves. 

Another inspiring moment of the Foundation Day was the graduation ceremony of DHAN Academy, where 80 young scholars graduated, ready to take their learning into the larger world. Watching these young minds step forward was a reminder that sustainable development is not only about programmes but also about preparing people who can lead change.

DHAN Foundation’s contribution therefore goes far beyond strengthening women’s collectives, promoting livelihoods, encouraging millets and building resilient communities. Through DHAN Academy, it is also nurturing young professionals with a sensitivity towards rural realities and a commitment to serve society. Institutions become truly transformative when they build communities today while simultaneously preparing leaders for tomorrow.

The eighty graduates represented exactly that hope, the possibility of a new generation that will combine knowledge with empathy, professional skills with social purpose, and ambition with responsibility. In many ways, this investment in young minds may prove to be one of DHAN Foundation’s most enduring contributions.

After conversations about communities, livelihoods, women and the road ahead, the day found its most beautiful conclusion in Madurai,  at the feet of Meenakshi Amman and Sundareswarar Swami. Amidst the magnificent gopurams, the lamps, the ancient stone corridors and generations of faith embedded in those walls, there was a sense of stillness.

Some journeys need both,  purpose and prayer. We can make plans. We can build institutions. We can create markets and partnerships. We can work with all the energy and conviction we possess but there are moments when we also bow our heads and seek the grace to remain on the right path.

Standing before Meenakshi Amman, herself such a powerful embodiment of feminine strength felt especially meaningful after a day devoted to conversations about women's empowerment. And before Sundareswarar Swami, there was gratitude for the journey so far and a quiet prayer for what lies ahead.

May the strength of Meenakshi Amman give us courage.

 May the grace of Sundareswarar Swami give us wisdom.

 And may both bless the path ahead where women stand not at the margins of development, but at its very centre.

Perhaps that is the larger message I carried away from DHAN Foundation Day. Empower a woman, strengthen a community. Prepare a young mind and you prepare a leader. Give people opportunity, knowledge and confidence and they will find their own way forward.

My visit to Madurai could not have ended more meaningfully than at the feet of Meenakshi Amman and Lord Sundareswarar. Standing there in prayer, amidst centuries of faith and devotion, I sought no elaborate blessing only the strength to continue doing whatever little I can for women and communities, and for many more hands and hearts to join this journey. For when purpose becomes collective, change no longer remains a dream. It becomes a movement.

R. Vimala, IAS Retired, MH 2009

Subject Matter Expert, CBC & YASHADA

Former Resident Commissioner, Maharashtra Sadan & Secretary, GoM,

Founder AnirvedShakti Foundation,

PhD Scholar at IIT Bombay