Daring and Doing: A Walk for a Cause

Daring and Doing: A Walk for a Cause
We had never walked the ramp before.
No training, no experience, no idea of  what to expect.
And yet, we said yes.
Because sometimes, a cause is bigger than fear.
It was also the first time we were organising a saree exhibition. And despite the challenges, it turned out to be an experience so deeply fulfilling that every moment felt worthwhile.
The Maharashtra Saree Festival in Delhi is not just an exhibition. It is a celebration of identity, tradition, and the countless hands that keep our heritage alive. While many know the beauty of Paithani, we wanted to go beyond and bring forward the richness of Irkal, Khann, Himroo, Karvat Kathi, Maheshwari and handloom sarees from Solapur. More importantly, we wanted the real stars, the weavers ,to be seen and heard.
That is how the idea of a ramp walk was born.
If these sarees had stories, then the ramp would be their voice.
And if this was about belief, then we had to be part of it ourselves.
A small group of officers and spouses came together, not as professionals, but as people who cared. What followed was a journey filled with  laughter, hesitation and excitement and lots of gushing. The rehearsal, a day before was like stepping into a new world. We had to choose our sarees, match it with  accessories. We also had to understand how to walk, because the concept was new, yet deeply meaningful.
Then came the moment.
The gentle rustle of silk or the smoothness of cotton, the drape of each saree, the final touch of makeup and suddenly, we were no longer just individuals. We were carrying a story, a tradition, a purpose.
As we stepped onto the ramp, something changed and the sarees came alive. 
Two segments were presented by Shikha's Kariigarii with professional models who brought grace and finesse to the ramp. The opening segment, featuring hand-painted handlooms with Warli, Madhubani, Pichwai and other art forms, was a beautiful reminder that when art meets textile, magic happens.
The last professional segment continued that elegance, setting the stage perfectly.
Our turn came in between both and included officers or their spouses. Daughters of two of our officers represented Gen Z, reminding us that even the younger generation is rediscovering and embracing the beauty and enduring value of sarees and our traditions.

It was an occassion filled with emotion perhaps not perfect in technique, but overflowing with pride and sincerity. It was not just a walk; it was a statement of belief in the weavers, in Maharashtra’s rich heritage and in the need to preserve it.
The finale was the most powerful moment of all.
The models completed the walk and stood on stage. The weavers walked in and joined them side by side. It was a sight that stayed with everyone. Their smiles, their quiet pride and the recognition which they truly deserved was the crowning glory of the evening.
A word of thanks to the choreographer and director, who instilled confidence in all of us and made the process possible for novices like us. And above all, gratitude to God, our guiding force  behind every step.
Seeing people carrying shopping bags filled with sarees from the stalls at the exhibition made us think about the weavers with joy in their eyes.  We knew this was more than just a show. It was connection, conviction and  impact which had begun with hope.
This ramp walk was not about glamour.
It was a walk for sustainability.
A walk to preserve our culture,  to honour the hands that weave stories into every thread.
And as we look ahead, there is only one wish, may the weaves and textiles of Maharashtra travel far and wide. May they find their way into wardrobes and hearts across the world.
Today is the last day of the festival. If you are in Delhi, this is something you should not miss. Let's come together to experience the beauty of Textiles, meet the weavers, and take home not just a saree, but a story.
Because when you walk for a cause, every step matters.

R.Vimala, IAS,
Resident Commissioner & Secretary,
Government of Maharashtra &
PhD Scholar at IIT Bombay 

A Festival of Threads: Maharashtra’s Saree Utsav at Delhi's New Maharashtra Sadan

A Festival of Threads: Maharashtra’s Saree Utsav at Delhi's New Maharashtra Sadan

There is a quiet grace in a saree that I can only feel and never be able to fully explain.
I have worn sarees to village meetings, in collector's offices and the state headquarters, Mantralay. I have also worn it to ceremonies and celebrations across the length and breadth of Maharashtra and our country. And in each one of those moments, the saree has made me belong to the place, to the people, to something larger than myself.
That is the unique and beautiful power of this six yards of cloth.
What strikes me most is that the saree never goes out of fashion because it was never simply fashion to begin with. Every generation discovers it on its own terms. Young women today drape it with imagination and ease, belted, styled, reinvented for boardrooms and runway alike. They are preserving a tradition and taking it forward. And yet, beneath every modern drape lies a deeper story. The story of the weaver.
For those of us who have spent years travelling through the districts of Maharashtra in public service, the saree is not just a garment. It is a map of the soil, the community and centuries of craft. Every region has its weave, every weave its people, every thread its memory.
It is this living map that will come alive at the Maharashtra Saree Utsav, to be held from 19th to 22nd March 2026, at New Maharashtra Sadan, Kasturba Gandhi Marg, New Delhi.
Among all sarees , if there is one saree that fascinates any woman the most, it is the Paithani.
I remember the first time I saw a Paithani being woven in intricate patterns at Paithan, the weaver's fingers moving with extraordinary deliberateness with warp and weft, creating a durable and luxurious fabric where motifs are visible on both sides,
A single saree took months in the making , sometimes a full year.The peacock motifs on the pallu, the blooming lotuses, the beloved bangdi-mor design, these are not decorations. They are signatures of a craft tradition that has adorned Maharashtrian brides for generations. In many families, a Paithani is not purchased ; it is inherited. Passed from mother to daughter along with stories of the occasion when it was first worn. So wearing a Paithani is, quite literally, like carrying a legacy on your shoulders.
Yet the soul of Maharashtra's textile is not only found in grandeur but also in textiles of everyday life.
The Khann fabric from Kolhapur is always charming with bold checks, geometric patterns, colours that catch the sun. It is a fabric that working women across western Maharashtra have trusted for generations. Sturdy, beautiful, unpretentious.
Then there is the Karvat Kathi,  distinguished by that signature saw-toothed border. It does not announce itself loudly. But once you notice it, you cannot stop noticing it. A quiet, graceful presence, much like the women who have worn it through decades of daily life.
These sarees remind me that true elegance rarely demands extravagance. At time , just simplicity, worn with dignity, has its own eloquence.
The Deccan plateau has a particular quality of light earthy, ancient, rugged. And its textiles carry exactly that character.
The Irkal saree, with its bold striped pallu and distinctive body-to-silk joining technique, has the rhythm of temple architecture in its patterns. The Narayanpeth, with its rich contrasting borders in deep reds, greens, and blacks, speaks in the quiet, assured language of the plateau itself.
These are sarees worn at rituals, family celebrations, harvests, and prayers. They carry not just colour, but continuity.
Few cities carry as many layers as Chatrapati Sambhaji Nagar in art, faith, and craftsmanship. The Himroo fabric is one of those layers. Born during the Deccan Sultanate period, Himroo combines cotton and silk to produce intricate brocade patterns of vines, flowers, and geometry. It looks regal, yet it remains accessible. It is, in many ways, a perfect textile reflection of what the Deccan has always been, a place where cultures met, exchanged, and created something new. Every Himroo weave carries a whisper of that confluence.
In Bhandara, the silk story is different from anything else you will encounter.Here, Tussar and Kosa silks are produced from silkworms that feed on forest trees ,wild, natural, seasonal. The resulting fibre has a golden warmth and a texture that no machine can replicate. You feel it the moment you touch it.
These textiles are sustainable not as a marketing gimmick, but as a lived reality. They are the product of forest ecosystems, traditional knowledge and communities that have practised this craft across generations.
The Maheshwari saree carries a name Ahilyadevi we all hold with reverence, as  Maharani Holkar.
She was a ruler who understood that governance is incomplete without culture. She invited weavers to Maheshwar, gave them patronage and purpose and what emerged was a textile of rare refinement, silk-cotton, reversible borders, a drape that is effortless and elegant in equal measure.
The Maheshwari saree is a reminder that good leadership does not only build roads and collect taxes. It also nurtures the crafts that give a people their identity.
When my hand touches a handloom saree, I always feel something that I cannot quite name. Perhaps, a rhythm. The memory of the loom in the thread. The patience of a craftsperson who sat for days to create what we hold in a moment.
Each slight irregularity in a handwoven saree is not a flaw. It is a signature. Proof that a its created by a human being not made by a machine.
These sarees are not relics. They are worn every day at weddings, offices, festivals, and quiet Sunday mornings. They evolve with every woman who adopts them and makes them her own.
The Maharashtra Saree Utsav at Maharashtra Sadan is an invitation  not just to buy a saree, but to understand it.
Understand the story about the motif on the pallu. Touch the difference between Tussar and Paithani silk. Listen to the stories that no label or price tag will ever tell you.
In a city that celebrates the finest traditions of India, this is four days of something rare, a chance to encounter craft that is still alive, still evolving, still being made by human hands for the women who will carry it forward.
Bring curiosity and appreciation. Bring your daughter or daughter-in-law, your mother or sister, your colleague or your friend who has never quite understood why sarees matter.
And perhaps take home not just a weave, but a world woven with patience, heritage, and quiet, enduring pride.
Because every time we choose a handloom saree, we do more than support a craftsperson.
We keep a civilisation alive ,one thread at a time.

R.Vimala,  IAS,
Resident Commissioner &
Secretary,  Government of Maharashtra & 

PhD Scholar at IIT Bombay 
Mumbai

अंधेरे के पार उजाला बड़ा हैं...

अंधेरे के पार उजाला बड़ा है...

आज क्यों दिल धड़कता है खामोशी में,
जैसे सवाल कोई, दिल की गहराइयों में।
भले ही धड़कन हमारे दिल की पहचान है,
कभी धुन खुशी की ,कभी दर्द की उड़ान है।
कभी बन कर के गीत जीवन को सजाती है,
कभी अनजाने डर की आहट सुनाती है।
कभी उम्मीद की लौ बन दिल को जलाती है,
कभी चिंताओं की रातों में चुपचाप समाती है।
कुछ धड़कनें हँसी की तरह हल्की लगती है,
कुछ धड़कनें ख़ामोशी से भारी बनतीं है।
कभी लगता है थम जाए धड़कन इसी पल,
और रुक जाये बेचैनी की यह कलकल
फिर उसी से मिल जाता जीने का संबल।
पलता उसी में ही उम्मीदों का एक पल
दिल है तो धड़कन है, रीत उसकी यही है
और रुक जाये गर तो दुनिया नहीं है
सच हर धड़कन में छुपा संदेश यही है
अँधेरा चाहे जितना हो, सवेरा दूर नहीं है।
तो मुस्कराकर के जियो,  ग़म में क्या रखा हैं
क्योंकि अंधेरे के पार उजाला बड़ा हैं...

मन विमल

Women’s Day : From Pedestal to Partnerships...

Women’s Day : From Pedestal to Partnerships...

Every year on 8th March, the world celebrates International Women’s Day. Phones begin to buzz with greetings from morning. Social media is full of messages praising women. Institutions organise special events. Suddenly, women are celebrated as mothers, sisters, daughters and wives. Words like Devi, Shakti and superwoman are generously used. It is a day when womanhood is celebrated and women are placed on a pedestal.
Yet behind these celebrations lies a quieter reality. Women constitute nearly half of India’s population. The country’s sex ratio has improved in recent years, with surveys indicating around 1020 women for every 1000 men. And yet, in many spheres of life, education, employment, safety and leadership  equality still remains a work in progress.
This contrast raises a simple question: is Women’s Day merely a celebration, or is it also a reminder?
Does society recognise the place of women in society, or are they simply rituals that last for a day before life quietly returns to normal?
Some women appreciate the celebration even if for a day because it highlights the issue of gender justice. Others feel that celebrating one day in the name of women sometimes creates an illusion that disappears the moment the day is over. The truth perhaps lies somewhere in between. If the day encourages us to reflect honestly on the position of women in society, it certainly serves a purpose.
Personally, I consider myself fortunate. I was born into a family where boys and girls were treated equally. We were four siblings, two boys and two girls. Times were not easy, but our parents ensured that all of us received the best education they could provide. They never stopped us from speaking our minds or pursuing our interests.
As a child, I was often outspoken and outgoing but that never became an issue at home. Each of us was allowed to grow with our own personality. That upbringing gave me the confidence to face life and shaped the person I eventually became.
But I am also aware that not every woman grows up in such an environment.
Even today, many women live within invisible boundaries. Some do not have access to education. Some lack financial independence. Many remain confined within the expectations of family and society. Sometimes it is fear, sometimes lack of resources, and sometimes simply years of conditioning that prevent them from stepping out of those boundaries.
Education levels highlight progress and inequality of a society. India’s literacy rate has improved significantly over the decades and is almost 80 percent today Yet a gender gap still exists. Male literacy is around 87 percent, while female literacy remains about 74–75 percent.
On paper, the difference may appear modest. In reality, it represents millions of girls whose education stops too early.
Even women who appear successful often reach that position after making many sacrifices that remain unseen. For women, the path to progress has rarely been easy.
It is also important to understand that equality does not mean sameness. Men and women are biologically different and that is natural. Gender equality does not mean women must become like men or compete with them. It does not mean giving up femininity or entering into a constant battle between genders.
Equality simply means dignity and opportunity. It means that women should have the same chance to study, to work, to participate in decisions and to lead.
In many ways, society has progressed. Women today are visible in almost every profession. The glass ceiling has certainly cracked. But it has not completely disappeared. Women often have to prove themselves again and again in situations where men are accepted more easily.
One clear indicator is economic participation. Women’s participation in the workforce in India is still far lower than that of men. Estimates suggest that only about one-third of women are part of the labour force, compared to more than two-thirds of men.
This gap cannot be explained by lack of ability or education alone. Social norms, safety concerns, lack of childcare support and the burden of unpaid domestic work continue to limit many women’s opportunities.
Biases also continue to exist quietly in people’s minds. We can see this in the low number of women in positions of political leadership. Even in local governance where reservations exist for women, it is not uncommon to see male relatives exercising real power behind the scenes.
Education shows a similar picture. While more girls are going to school today, dropout rates remain high in many places. Professional choices are still influenced by stereotypes.
Another disturbing reality is the continued violence and harassment faced by women. Official crime statistics record over four lakh cases of crimes against women in India each year. These numbers represent only reported cases. The true scale may be far larger.
News reports frequently remind us that respect for women is still far from guaranteed. In many spaces, women are still judged more for their appearance than their ability.
But beyond all these structural challenges, there is another burden that many women carry silently, the burden of guilt.
A woman’s day rarely belongs to just one role. She may be a mother, a daughter, a wife, a professional, a caregiver and a leader, all at the same time. While society talks about equality, the expectation that she must perform every role perfectly often falls heavily on her.
If she spends more time at work, she worries about neglecting her family. If she prioritises her home, she worries about falling behind professionally. Many women constantly feel that they are not doing enough in one role or the other.
Interestingly, men are rarely expected to experience this kind of guilt. Even today, the emotional wellbeing of children and the overall functioning of the family are seen mainly as the responsibility of women. Time-use surveys show that women in India spend three to four times more hours on unpaid household and caregiving work than men.
Perhaps true equality will begin when these responsibilities are seen as shared responsibilities.
Our own culture actually offers a beautiful way of looking at this balance. In many Indian traditions, a wife is called Ardhaangini, literally meaning “half of the whole.” The word itself suggests that a man and a woman together form a complete unit.
If that idea had truly guided society, the question of inequality may never have arisen.
An even more powerful symbol exists in the concept of Ardhanareeshwar, the divine form that represents Shiva and Shakti together in one body. Half masculine, half feminine, yet completely balanced.
The message is simple. Creation itself depends on the harmony between these two energies. Neither is superior. Neither is inferior. Both are necessary.
Unfortunately, somewhere between philosophy and everyday life, this balance has often been lost.
During my years of working with rural communities through the Maharashtra State Rural Livelihood Mission, I have seen both the struggles and the strength of women very closely. Women who used to hesitate to speak in weekly meetings of the self-help groups are managing the groups, their savings, negotiating with banks and running small enterprises.
Many of them had nothing to invest but with the support of the SHGs could build something meaningful for themselves and their families and communities.
They may not be making news or appear in headlines, but they represent the true spirit of empowerment.
My academic work on the multi-dimensional socio-economic and legal impact of desertion on deserted women reflects their hardship and social stigma. But their resilience even in those difficult situations, is remarkable.
Women do not seek sympathy but an opportunity to stand on their own feet with dignity.
My experiences over the years have convinced me that empowerment is not about glorifying women or placing them on a pedestal. It is about restoring balance.
Perhaps that is the real purpose of Women’s Day.
Not to worship women as goddesses for a day, but to recognise them as equal partners in the journey of life.
A healthy society cannot be built when one gender tries to dominate the other. It can only be built when men and women walk together with mutual respect and understanding.
If the spirit of Ardhangini and the philosophy of Ardhanareeshwar truly guide us, the path forward becomes clear.
And perhaps one day we will reach a stage where such reminders are no longer needed.
Until then, Women’s Day remains a moment to pause and reflect not on how extraordinary women are, but on something much simpler and far more important. That women, like men, are human beings with dreams, abilities and the right to live with dignity.

R.Vimala, IAS, 

Resident Commissioner  & Secretary, 

 Government of Maharashtra & 

PhD Scholar at IIT Bombay 

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