मराठी माझी माय माऊली : Reflections on Marathi Bhasha Gaurav Diwas : My Journey, My Pride

मराठी माझी माय माऊली : Reflections on Marathi Bhasha Gaurav Diwas : My Journey,My Pride
"लाभले आम्हास भाग्य बोलतो मराठी
जाहलो खरेच धन्य ऐकतो मराठी
धर्म, पंथ, जात एक जाणतो मराठी
एवढ्या जगात माय मानतो मराठी
आमुच्या मनामनात दंगते मराठी
आमुच्या रगारगात रंगते मराठी
आमुच्या उरात उरात स्पंदते मराठी
आमुच्या नसानसात नाचते मराठी ..."
                           -Kavivarya Suresh Bhat

Yesterday was Marathi Bhasha Gaurav Diwas and I found myself looking back on my life's journey with a language that greatly transformed my life.
Years ago, I earnestly prepared for the UPSC examination, dreaming of entering the Civil Services. I was deeply disheartened and full of self-doubt when success did not come. At that fragile moment, someone suggested that I appear for the MPSC examination.
The only hitch was my limited knowledge of Marathi which I felt could be my greatest stumbling block. I did not know the language well and its grammar was definitely daunting. Yet at times life’s biggest obstacles become its most meaningful teachers. I decided that if Maharashtra was offering me an opportunity, I would honour it by embracing its language wholeheartedly. With the support of my professor, Dr.Rekha Ranade, I learnt Marathi seriously, especially its grammar. I read, listened, practiced, and immersed myself in it. Slowly, what was once scary became comforting and a language that had once seemed like a barrier became a bridge. 

I cleared the MPSC examination in flying colours with excellent marks in Marathi and was appointed as Deputy Collector. Marathi ceased to be merely a language I had learnt. It became the language I lived in, the language in which I listened to the grievances of the people, the language in which Maharashtra spoke to me.
Eighteen years as a Deputy Collector taught me something no textbook could,  that language is not just words and grammar. It is a worldview. It is the way a self help group member describes her journey, the way a Vidarbha woman sings while winnowing grain, the way a Konkan grandmother narrates the exploits of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the way a project affected person seeks justice in rehabilitation. 'मराठी माझी माय माऊली' Marathi is my mother goddess. I had adopted her willingly, and she had embraced me completely.
February 27 is celebrated as Marathi Bhasha Gaurav Diwas , the Day of Pride for the Marathi Language  in honour of the birth anniversary of the legendary poet Shri.Vishnu Vaman Shirwadkar, lovingly known as Kusumagraj. It is a day when Maharashtra pauses to celebrate not just a language, but a civilisation.
Marathi is one of the oldest and richest languages of India, with a literary tradition stretching back to the 13th century. The saint-poets of the Varkari tradition Sant Dnyaneshwar, Sant Namdev, Sant Eknath, Sant Tukaram  turned Marathi into the language of the common people's spiritual yearning. Sant Tukaram's abhangas did not merely praise the divine, they spoke truth to empower, gave voice to the voiceless, and wove philosophy into everyday life. This is the heritage that every Marathi speaker carries  not as a burden, but as a blessing.
Conferring of Abhijaat (Classical) status upon Marathi is a recognition long overdue and deeply deserved. A language that produced the Dnyaneshwari, that nurtured the Maratha Empire's administrative genius, that gave the world Lokmanya Tilak's fiery journalism and Bharat Ratna Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar's revolutionary thought is not merely classical in age, but classical and human in spirit.
Among the many privileges of public service are moments when one stands at the intersection of the past and the present. I was deeply honoured to attend the inauguration of the Granth Kutir at Rashtrapati Bhavan by the Hon'ble President of India, Smt.Droupadi Murmu, a sacred space where literature meets the highest office of the land.
The Granth Kutir houses several literary treasures, approximately 2300 in number, including Marathi.The presence of such literature within Rashtrapati Bhavan is not merely symbolic. It is an affirmation that Maharashtra's voice , its joys, its struggles, its philosophy are a part of India's national story.
Literature lifts the mind. A sensitive administrator who reads has empathy to understand others pain and imagine solutions beyond the boundaries of circulars and notifications. This belief drives our upcoming Maharani Tararani Mahila Adhikari Sahitya Sammelan, to be held on 11th  and 12th April  2026 at New Maharashtra Sadan, Delhi in collaboration with Sarhad, Pune.
Named after the valiant Maharani Tararani ,the Maratha queen who defied the Mughal Empire with extraordinary courage after the death of Chhatrapati Rajaram and kept the spirit of Swarajya alive this first-of-its-kind literary conference brings together women administrators and literature in a powerful conversation. It honours the tradition of Maratha women who have never been passive witnesses to history, but its active shapers.
Maharani Tararani ruled not merely as a regent, but as a strategist, a motivator, and a protector of her people's dignity. Today, women administrators across Maharashtra carry forward that legacy  in offices, in tehsil courts, in field visits to drought-affected villages. The Sammelan will celebrate this continuity, the unbroken thread between Tararani's sword and the modern woman officer's pen.
To live in Maharashtra is to live in a land where history breathes through every fort, every river, every name on every village well. It is to stand in Pune and feel Lokmanya Tilak's call to national awakening still echoing in the air. It is to walk through Nagpur and sense Bharat Ratna Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar's constitution taking shape in those historic deliberations. It is to drive through the ghats of Raigad and see the vision of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj  a just, inclusive, people-centric state , made real in stone.
Maharashtra is a land of glory  reconciling ancient with modern,  agrarian with industrial, deeply spiritual yet fiercely progressive. It is a land where the abhangas of Sant Tukaram are sung at the same sunrise where a young girl in Ahilyanagar prepares for her engineering entrance examination. It is a land where MSRLM's rural women's Self-Help Groups transform household economies  channelling the same quiet power that Savitribai Phule embodied when she picked up her slate and walked to school.
And at the heart of it all is Marathi not merely as a medium of communication, but as the soul of this civilisation. When Marathi gushes through its people's veins as Suresh Bhat so magnificently expressed  आमुच्या नसानसात नाचते मराठी  it is not poetic hyperbole. It is a lived truth.
While it must be said with the utmost respect that language preferences can sometimes become a matter of unnecessary contention, we would do well to remember that language is, at its very core, a bridge of human communication and must always be honoured in all its diversity.  Towering leaders such as the late Shri P.V. Narasimha Rao are a embodiment of  this spirit as he had a command over thirteen languages. Encouraging our  children to learn as many languages as possible is therefore important as it not only opens doors to the world but also enriches their cognitive development and brain health.
I came to Marathi as a stranger and became its daughter. The language gave me a second chance at my dream of serving the people. It gave me 18 years as a Deputy Collector and eventually the path to the IAS.
On this Marathi Bhasha Gaurav Diwas, my gratitude to this great language is boundless. It was my bridge over the darkest waters of failure. It is now my home.
जय महाराष्ट्र। जय मराठी।

R.Vimala, IAS, 

Resident Commissioner & Secretary, 

Government of Maharashtra & 

PhD Scholar at IIT Bombay 

When Systems Fail, Humanity Steps In : Rachana & A Flight I Won’t Forget

When Systems Fail, Humanity Steps In :  Rachana & A Flight I Won’t Forget

Recently, I had an experience that left me reflecting deeply not just about administrative lapses, but about the quiet goodness that still lives among strangers.

I had carefully booked my ticket through the official Air India website. I have been having severe pain in the right knee over the last few days so I chose seat 3C, an aisle seat that would allow my right leg,  some ease of movement. At no point during the booking process was I asked to pay extra for this seat. The booking went through smoothly. I felt reassured.

My staff normally helps me with the check in so as usual I  informed them that my seat was blocked and they had to just check in without making any seat change. I was totally shocked when I received the boarding pass with a middle seat and conveyed this to my staff immediately . They gave many excuses for this , some as weird as stating that due to change in aircraft there was no premium economy and so my seat had changed. Not one to give up easily,  I pursued and they finally seem to have blocked 6 A stating that 3 C would be given to me at the airport in Mumbai. 

On arrival at the airport there was a system breakdown already  and the queue was becoming longer. It was over thirty minutes before the system was restored and the check in began. 

On reaching the counter I stated that I needed to be given back my blocked seat 3 C since it had been changed without prior notice. 

The staff's immediate reaction was that it is not available. This was followed by a casual remarkable that  “The seat was not paid for.”

I was stunned.

I had not been asked to make any payment for the seat at the time of booking. The computer had asked me make a choice and it was blocked as usual. There had been no warning, no prompt, no indication that the seat selection required an additional fee. Yet at the airport while cheking in  multiple staff members kept mentioning about paid and unpaid seats. Some  offered varying and somewhat irrelevant explanations. They  spoke about their policy. When asked for the rules , they were unwilling to show them.  There was no clarity , only confusion.

For a passenger with a medical concern, this was not a small inconvenience after standing for about one hour.  It was physical discomfort layered with emotional anguish. Administrative errors are not just clerical oversights; they affect real people with real needs.

What hurt more was the indifference. The ground staff kept discussing again and again amongst themselves and came to no conclusion. As time for boarding was coming near I kept getting more and more restless. The supervisor finally called the passenger on seat 3 D who gave her kind consent for exchange of  her seat with me.

When I entered the aircraft subsequently , the passenger who had been assigned seat 3C despite my blocking of seat appeared perfectly healthy. When I mentioned that I had booked that seat specifically due to my knee problem, he casually replied that nobody had informed him of anything. Neither did he make any effort to let me sit in seat C instead of D.  Perhaps he was unaware but in that moment, it felt like the system had failed to consider basic sensitivity.

Though the lady had been gracious and had  exchanged her seat, 3D, with me. It was not ideal, as my right knee gives me trouble, but it was still a significant relief. She did not debate policy. She did not question rules. She simply saw another human being in discomfort and responded with kindness.

That simple gesture restored something that the system had momentarily shaken , my faith.

In large organisations, procedures, algorithms, and automated systems often override human context. “Suo moto changes,” policy adjustments, aircraft swaps are explained as routine. But for the person affected, they are anything but routine. They become personal difficulties. 

This experience made me aware of two parallel truths again that systems can make mistakes but kind hearted people can make life easy. 

Administrative efficiency is definitely important but transparency is more essential. If a seat requires payment, the passenger must be clearly informed at the time of booking. If any changes are made by airlines or in the aircraft, then  vulnerable passengers should be prioritised. Policies can neither be declared to cover up mistakes nor must they operate in a vacuum devoid of empathy.

Ultimately what eases discomfort beyond policy manuals and booking engines, are human beings and humanity.

I boarded that Air India flight feeling wronged and unheard. I landed feeling grateful not to the system, but to a stranger whose quiet generosity made my journey possible. 

Institutions may falter at times just as individuals can rise to make the difference. Rachana was one among them and I was fortunate to get her support. 

R.Vimala,  IAS, 

Resident Commissioner  & Secretary, 

Government of Maharashtra & 

PhD Scholar at IIT Bombay 

The Glory of Hindavi Swarajya and Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti...

The Glory of Hindavi Swarajya and Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti...

Some days are not planned. They simply unfold like blessings.

As a postgraduate in History, I have spent years reading about empires, policies, war and peace and revolutions. Books in the libraries made me  walk through centuries, at times turning fragile pages in books from archives into vivid stories. But sometimes, history does not remain in books. It steps out and stands beside you.

That is what happened to me when I found myself celebrating the 396th Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti in Delhi on 19th February as well celebrating the same in the majestic fort at Agra. 

The morning began with praising his glories in Maharashtra Sadan at Delhi. As people gathered to honour him, I felt a quiet pride rising once again within me. Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj has always been held in very high in reverence by me and I could see his greatness unfold itself once again. What made the moment even more special was the presence of a living descendant of his royal lineage, Hon’ble ex Member of Parliament, Shrimant Sambhajiraje Maharaj, a bridge between the 17th century and today. In that gathering, Shivaji Maharaj did not feel like a distant historical figure, more so since I got an opportunity to  rock the symbolic cradle, 'paalna' with Baal Shivaji. Later as we garlanded his statue, he felt alive, relevant, and inspiring.

I have always felt that our textbooks never did justice to many great kings and kingdoms who are a great part of Indian  history. The Cholas, Pandyas,  Marathas, Rajputs, Ahoms  were mentioned but not celebrated with the depth they truly deserved. 

Shivaji Maharaj was often described as a regional warrior even though he was far more than that. In fact, he was the first visionary who propounded the idea of Hindavi Swarajya, self-rule rooted in justice, dignity, and pride. We celebrated the day in enthusiasm with powadas, dhol, tashe, lezim and the twenty one gun salute. 

Afternoon unfolded itself beautifully too as destiny took me to Agra, known for the Tajmahal and other forts.  As I walked into the fort, I felt that not many may really comprehend that it was the silent witness to a rare kind of courage. It was here that a young Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj only approximately thirty-six in age ,stood up strongly in the court of the powerful and mighty  emperor, Aurangazeb and refused to bow in spirit. Insulted, kept under watch, surrounded by the might of an empire  he remained unbroken and planned his escpae. 

As I walked those streets and on the ramparts of the fort in Agra, I did not just see stone walls, I saw great self-belief and determination. I imagined the planning, the patience and the unimaginable intelligence behind his legendary escape. The famous fruit baskets were not merely a clever trick. They were a statement  that self-respect cannot be imprisoned, that great leaders have intellect beyond imagination and that Swarajya is an idea too powerful to be caged. 

As I was thinking of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's greatness, my thoughts also went to Pratapgad and the encounter with Afzal Khan. That time too , Shivaji Maharaj did not panic at the thought of facing a massive army and a burly general known for his brutality. He prepared himself and his team thoroughly. Wearing armour beneath his clothes and carrying the famous 'wagh nakh' , the tiger’s claw , he walked into a meeting that could have ended his life. And all this when he was just twenty-nine, and was mourning the death of his wife,Rani Saibai and needed to be with his small son the young Sambhaji. Yet he kept his personal life and kingly duties separate like a true king and resorted to "mantra yuddha", war of nerves. 

When Afzal Khan attacked him, Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj responded with courage and great presence of mind. What could have destroyed Swarajya became one of its defining victories.

This was not just bravery. It was strategy, intelligence, and faith in his mission. Both these milestones in history will remain unparalleled in brilliant strategy.

For me , that day felt extraordinary. In the morning, I celebrated his birth. By afternoon, I stood in the city where his courage had stunned an empire. It was not nostalgia it was something deeper. A quiet gratitude that life had unfolded  this moment of reliving history and destiny without me even asking for it. 

Shivaji Maharaj was not great only because he won battles. He was great because he restored confidence in the people. He showed that governance can be just, that women must be respected, that culture is a source of strength, and that dignity is non-negotiable. His vision of administration, his naval foresight, his moral courage, all of it continues to guide us even today.

Some opportunities are organised by institutions. Some are arranged by destiny.

That day, it felt as though history placed a gentle hand on my shoulder and made me relive glory.

For a student of History, it was meaningful.

For a daughter of this soil, it was sacred. 

Jai Bhawani , Jai Shivaji.  Har Har Mahadev...

R.Vimala,  lAS,

Resident Commissioner & Secretary, 

Government of Maharashtra & 

PhD Scholar at IIT Bombay 

The Importance of Love in the Age of AI...

The Importance of Love in the Age of AI...
Delhi is all set to host the AI Summit even as Artificial Intelligence is becoming an inseparable part of our lives. Maharashtra, one of India’s most forward-looking states, will be presenting it's roadmap for leveraging AI in agriculture, climate resilience and inclusivity. The vision is ambitious with smarter farming, climate adaptation, equitable growth, responsive governance.
Without any doubt, at the centre of all these grand designs are not machines  but individuals. Beyond doubts, rainfall predictions will be useful to farmers, adaptive learning platforms will be accessed by students, data dashboards will be used by administrators and new tools and innovations will be led by entrepreneurs. Behind each of interfaces are human beings with aspirations, anxieties, relationships, and responsibilities.
And above all this is love which is the foundation of every human life. 
For all the criticism which is directed at the commercialisation of Valentine’s Day, its perceived westernness, its week-long celebrations of roses, chocolates, bears and gifts, it continues to exist. Whether observed quietly or celebrated exuberantly by young hearts, it refuses to disappear just like AI.
As a student of a convent school, I remember Valentine’s Day not as a spectacle but as a gentle celebration of affection and goodwill. We talked about Saint Valentine and the idea of commitment, sacrifice, and the sanctity of relationships. It was less about display and more about meaning, a reminder that love is steadfast, not seasonal.
In truth, love can never be confined to that one day.
We experienced love long before we understood the word, in the safety of our mother’s womb, in the warmth of parents and grandparents, in the laughter of siblings and friends. As we grew up, love guided us even when we were corrected.  That  occasional reprimand at school, a stern word at home was often love disguised as discipline.
Back then love was more subdued perhaps not always publicly displayed but certainly existed and was deep.
Today too, we are surrounded by love but this time it is tied with Artificial Intelligence. From our phones predicting preferences or guiding and goading us to buy roses and gifts to governance systems analysing vast datasets, AI is  omnipresent and we are engulfed in it. 
And yet, just as love cannot be reduced to a single romantic relationship, AI cannot be reduced to mere automation and technology.  
When we look at Maharashtra’s plans for AI in agriculture the intentions are not limited to technological advancement but focus on providing support to individuals. It is about protecting farmers from unpredictable climate patterns, increasing productivity, ensuring food security, and preserving ecological balance. Behind every algorithm lies concern for human beings and livelihoods.
AI for climate resilience is not just modelling temperatures but safeguarding future generations. AI for inclusivity is not just digital platforms but about ensuring that no citizen is left behind due to geography, disability, or economic status.
When guided by empathy, AI becomes an extension of collective care and ensures that the delicate balance between scientific development and human emotions is maintained. 
As much as we get engulfed in love, we are also being enveloped by AI. One nourishes the heart while the other augments the mind. One binds communities while the other connects systems. One is ancient, instinctive, heartfelt and the other is a part of our intellect , modern and engineered.
The danger is not in AI itself, but in allowing intelligence to function without humanness.
Machines can calculate risk, but they cannot feel compassion. They can optimise systems, but they cannot experience moral responsibility. They can generate responses, but they cannot love which is an emotion uniquely human.
The passion that drives a scientist, the dedication that sustains a civil servant, the perseverance of a farmer, the creativity of an artist are forms of love expressed through work. Our commitment to building ethical AI frameworks is also based on our love for society and the future generations.
Perhaps Valentine’s Day, despite its evolution and excesses, serves as a symbolic reminder that love must be nurtured intentionally. It must be expressed, protected, and practised  not confined to one day.
Similarly, Artificial Intelligence must be shaped intentionally. In the words of our Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri. Narendra Modi it must be governed ethically, deployed responsibly  and remain anchored in human values.
Both love and AI are here to stay and the question is not whether AI will dominate our lives, nor whether Valentine’s Day should be celebrated. The real question is whether how will we preserve the tenderness that defines us in an age of accelerating artificial intelligence.
Our success in this will ensure that the future will not be a cold world of algorithms but a humane society where intelligence expands possibility and love uplifts everyone.

R.Vimala,  IAS, 

Resident Commissioner & Secretary, 

Government of Maharashtra & 

PhD Scholar at IIT Bombay 

पियूष बन जाए विष फिर भी रचूँगी कमाल...

पियूष बन जाए विष फिर भी रचूँगी कमाल...

कवी हूँ मैं
AI से परे
भावनाओं से घिरे
कभी उल्लास से भरे
कभी उलझनों से डरे
कभी आंसुओं के भंवर में
कभी मुस्कानों से सजे
कभी दर्द में कराहते
कभी सिसकियों में बहे
यंत्र नहीं हूँ
ना यंत्रों से रची
शायद इस लिए कुछ घबराती
तकनीकी जादू जब देखती
पल में रचे जाते शब्दों के महल
पर मेरी कलम में कहाँ वो पहल
जो संघर्ष, पीड़ा से उथल-पुथल
जीते जी धड़कता हर पल
अनुभव के रस शब्दों में घोल
भटकती, सोचती, उलझती रहती
शायद यही मेरी कमज़ोरी
या मेरी सब से बड़ी ताकत
धीमी हूँ, अधूरी हूँ,
पर सच्ची हूँ—
मानवी हूँ…
और यही मेरी खासियत
यंत्र नहीं हूँ मैं।
मेरे शब्द बेजान नहीं,
मेरे घावों की रौशनी हैं।
मेरी हर पंक्ति में
एक अधूरा दिन सोता है,
एक टूटी शाम जगती है,
एक दबी हुई चीख...
धीरे-धीरे जो भाषा बनती है।
यंत्र तुरंत उत्तर दे देता ,
पर मैं…
मैं उत्तर कहाँ दे पाती ?
इस लिए शायद उलझती
कभी भटकती ,कभी गिरती
कभी संभलती और रुकती
पर कभी ना हारती
मानव हूं...मानवी..
हृदय और बुद्धि की बेजोड़ मिसाल,
पियूष बन जाए विष फिर भी रचूँगी कमाल।

मन विमल 

This Too Shall Pass , A note for Young Minds...

This Too Shall Pass , A note for Young Minds...

Last week, my son called from Goa. There was a slight urgency in his voice,  the kind that makes a parent instinctively pause.

We have always shared a warm friendship alongside our mother–son bond. We speak openly. We laugh easily. We disagree and return to conversation without hesitation. So when he told me about yet another suicide in his college, my heart sank.

Sadly, this was not the first such incident.

The institution has been reaching out. Counselling support, mental health initiatives, faculty interventions, the efforts are visible and definitely sincere. And yet, the question lingers in the quiet spaces :  What is still going wrong?

Perhaps it is not one reason. Perhaps it is a quiet accumulation of many small burdens.

Why are some young minds still feeling so alone?

Is it the absence of deep companionship?

Is technology creating connection without closeness? Is it pressure , academic, social, internal?

Is it confusion about purpose? Or is it simply the exhaustion of trying to be strong all the time?

Perhaps it is not one reason. Perhaps it is a silent accumulation.

Today, students live in a world of constant comparison, very different from what their parents knew. Opportunities are wider  but so are expectations. Exposure is global  but so is comparison. Technology connects but it also amplifies inadequacy. Success is visible. Achievement is glorified. Struggles are hidden. Failures looked down upon. 

A single scroll can make an ordinary day feel like a personal failure. Add to that academic stress as marks become measures of worth, careers uncertain when  placements become identity. Added to this maybe relationship struggles and the silent fear of disappointing loved ones. All this can become overwhelming. 

No doubts, these can be difficult moments, and feel like end of the world. But emotions move and circumstances change.

The Gita reminds us:

“मात्रास्पर्शास्तु कौन्तेय शीतोष्णसुखदुःखदाः

आगमापायिनोऽनित्यास्तांस्तितिक्षस्व भारत”

Pleasure and pain, heat and cold , they come and go. They are temporary. Endure them patiently. (Gita 2.14)

This is not a dismissal of suffering. It is reassurance. What you feel right now can be real but it is not permanent.

A failed exam is not a failed life.

A rejection is not the end of possibility.

A dark phase is not the final chapter.

We often misunderstand courage. We imagine it as silent endurance but true strength is reaching out.

It is saying, “I need help.” It is walking into a counselling room. It is calling a friend at midnight and if one friend is busy reaching out to another.  

And of course communicating with your parents who have moved heaven and earth to ensure you get admitted into a renowned college and receive the best education.  Surely,  our parents who have never hesitated to soil their hands to remove us from any dirt can never be our enemies.

Actually silence without communication leads to  suffocation.

Even Arjuna, the warrior, felt overwhelmed on the battlefield. He did not suppress his confusion,  he expressed it. He asked. He listened. He sought clarity. Every confusion has value. It means you are thinking, searching, engaging. If Arjuna could pause and question, so can we.

Another verse from the Gita offers a quiet reassurance:

“उद्धरेदात्मनाऽत्मानं नात्मानमवसादयेत्”

Lift yourself by yourself; do not let yourself sink. (Gita 6.5)

Courage is not the absence of fear but staying, holding on to one more day. Asking for help. Calling a friend. Walking into a counselling room. Admitting, “I am not okay.” Strength is not silent suffering. Strength is connection.

If you feel alone, please know  your absence would create a silence far heavier than the struggle you are currently facing.

There are people who care. Sometimes they may not express it perfectly. Sometimes they may not understand immediately. But that does not mean they are not willing.

Reach once. If that door does not open, reach again. Try another. Keep knocking.

Your life is not defined by one semester, one decision, one setback.There is more waiting for you than you can currently see.

Perhaps philosophy maybe less useful than small anchors in difficult times. In such moments, a walk by the sea, coffee or a shared meal with a friend, gentle music may provide relief. 

The sunrise arrives regardless of any dark yesterday to brighten your day. 

To the students navigating pressure, confusion, comparison, please remember, your presence matters more than your performance.

Your struggles are chapters, not conclusions.

And when the weight feels unbearable, reach out. Your institution, your friends, your family  someone is willing to listen, even if imperfectly.

Neither your marks nor your setbacks and confusion define you.

You are more than a semester or an exam, more than a comparison chart.

Life will test you just as it tests everyone. But it also surprises, heals and opens doors you cannot yet see.

Please give yourself the time to reach those doors.

And if you are reading this while struggling, pause. Breathe. Call me or someone. Seek support within your institution. Professional help is not weakness; it is wisdom.

The world needs your presence not your perfection.

As a parent, I do not have all the answers. But I have hope. And definitely is enough to carry us through the darkest hours. Above all , the most important reminder is that no storm or dark night is bigger than the sun which will surely rise. 

R.Vimala, IAS, 

Resident Commissioner & Secretary, 

Government of Maharashtra, 

PhD Scholar at IIT Bombay 

vimshine@gmail.com 

Velvet for the ears with Pankaj Tripathi...Ab Cinema Suno...

Velvet for the ears with Pankaj Tripathi...Ab Cinema Suno...

There was a time when stories didn’t need screens. They lived in voices, in the warmth of grandparents and parents saying “Ek tha Raja…”, in bedtime tales, in long train journeys where imagination did the work which endless reels are doing today. Those stories didn’t come with visuals, yet they created vivid worlds in our imagination livelier than any display today.
But somewhere down the line, life changed !
Families became nuclear with busy schedules , fragmented attention and very few having time to sit, listen or read. And storytelling once a shared as a family ritual slowly shifted to watching videos or short clips and scrolling. Yet one thing remained constant, our craving for  stories which fit into our lives. That’s where Velvet comes in, not as just an app but as a cultural return to listening. Having discovered it accidentally while scrolling, I am now hooked on to listening to stories. 

Velvet is India’s First Cinematic Audio Storytelling Platform. It describes itself with a simple but powerful thought: “Ab Cinema Suno.”  And this is not just a tagline but a creative philosophy.
Velvet is built on the belief that cinematic storytelling does not need a screen. It can exist purely through sound, through performance, music, silence, rhythm and emotion the same way cinema makes you feel, but with the intimacy of audio.
In an age where visuals dominate everything, Velvet is doing something quite revolutionary by making listening cool again.Yet Velvet is different from audiobooks. It’s an immersive experience of a story, like you are inside it.
Velvet is definitely for the youth and Gen Z whose lives are fast paced. They want to read but are caught up college, exams, internships, commute, gym and so reading gets postponed forever.
Velvet fixes that because you can listen while  travelling, working out, cooking, before sleeping and in between study breaks. Basically it turns your dead time into story time. The the best part is that it brings back that storytelling culture we’re losing. Being cinematic it is unlike regular audiobooks. It is designed to feel like a film in your ears.
What is most attractive is that it has Pankaj Tripathi’s voice behind it. A voice with magical depth and calm, emotional as well as comforting.
Pankaj, a respected actor and performer,  is also  Velvet’s Creative Partner and Co-Founder shaping the storytelling tone of the platform by making it more  grounded, authentic and  culturally rooted.
He sums it up beautifully : “What interested me in Velvet was the possibility of approaching sound with the seriousness usually reserved for cinema.” And so his voice carries the magic that makes you want to pause everything and just listen.
Also ,Velvet isn’t a random content platform. It’s being built by people who understand performance and narrative deeply. So Vikas Kumar, a well known actor and dialogue coach in Indian cinema is it's content lead.  Akshat Saxena designs growth and partnerships to scale Velvet nationally. Varad Bhatnagar is developing multi-season IPs and narrative worlds
This reflects that Velvet is not just another audio app but trying to create an ecosystem.
India has always been a storytelling nation with folk tales, epics, oral traditions, theatre and cinema. Cinematic audio is the next phase and Velvet is leading it.
Velvet’s upcoming direction includes celebrity-led flagship programmes, live audio storytelling experiences, regional expansions (Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, Marathi), collaborations with radio networks and content platforms, automobile integrations including stories in cars !
In fact, being reasonably priced has already shown strong traction with 75+ hours of original content, 15,000+ subscribers, 200,000+ app installs.
This is not a small experiment but a growing movement.
The biggest emotional win of Velvet is that it brings back the lost experience of oral storytelling.
So if you miss stories, want meaningful content, want to read but don’t get time, want something calming but powerful then Velvet is for you. Put on your headphones,  stop scrolling, Ab Cinema Suno...

R.Vimala,  IAS,  

Resident Commissioner & Secretary, 

Government of Maharashtra & 

PhD Scholar at IIT Bombay