Akshaya Tritiya: Not Just Glitter

Akshaya Tritiya:  Not Just Glitter
It's Akshaya Tritiya today, one among the three auspicious Muhurtas, an important day to start something new. Of course, missing it would be impossible because of the  bombardment of various ads about buying gold, silver, cars, homes etc in all  newspapers, television and on social media. And frankly aren't we all made to think  that's what it's all about? 
Well, Akshay Tritiya marks the benevolence of Krishna Bhagawan on Draupadi and the Pandavas when they were in a tight corner with the tall order of feeding many sages along with Sage Durvasa after evening when their kitchen was closed. Three grains stuck to the Akshay Patra of Draupadi saved them even as Krishna Bhagawan savoured those three grains leading to the satiety of the sages and their subsequent departure saving the Pandavas of their wrath. 
So in reality there's a whole lot more to this day than just splurging on shiny stuff.
Akshaya Tritiya must be a day to appreciate and celebrate satisfaction in all its forms. 

No doubts, it is one of those very auspicious times of the year, but  it's not just about money or gold. It's about richness in our whole life.
What could that mean? Well, to begin with, it could be about your health which is your real wealth. Are you taking care of yourself? Eating right, getting enough sleep, moving your body?
And it must also be about your habits. Are you cultivating good ones that make you feel good, or are you stuck in a rut of stuff that drags you down? Akshaya Tritiya is a great time to ditch the bad habits and embrace the good.
It's also about how you are living  your life. Are you enjoying it? Are you taking the time to appreciate the little things, like a beautiful sunset or a good cup of coffee? Are you surrounded by people you love and who love you back?
And finally, it's about accepting life for what it is. Not everything is going to be perfect and we must learn to accept imperfections. We must learn to roll with the punches, find the good in every situation, and be grateful for what we have. It can also be about sharing and caring.
Despite all this,  I know on this Akshaya Tritiya too, many may not skip the gold rush. Even if you do that, don't forget to take a look around and appreciate all the abundance that is already there in your life. Be more compassionate and focus on your health, your habits, your relationships, and your connection to nature. That's where the real treasure lies, isn't it?

Shubh Akshay Tritiya...

R. Vimala, IAS,
Compassionate Civil Servant &
PhD Scholar at IIT Bombay

A Journey of Grit, Grace, and Service – Reflections on Civil Services Day

A Journey of Grit, Grace, and Service – Reflections on Civil Services Day

Each year, on Civil Services Day, I find myself pausing to reflect on my fulfilling journey as a civil servant that began with a spark lit in a little girl's heart. I vividly remember, I was in the fifth standard when a senior, freshly selected into the Indian Administrative Service, visited our school to share his experience. His words reflecting the aura of service, the pride of purpose and the opportunity for making a difference in society ignited my imagination. The seed for my desire to become a civil servant were sown there.

The encouragement from my father and the subtle nudges of providence carried me through years of relentless preparation. I faced failures with two unsuccessful attempts at the UPSC which ended with interviews, and another shadowed by an accident just a day before the Main examination. I still remember the hospital ceiling, my  pain and frustration of watching my final chance at the UPSC slip away. But in the quiet moments that followed, I also discovered resilience. Providence, in its mysterious ways, led me to the State Civil Services and it was there that my real journey as a civil servant began.
At that time I was unfamiliar with Marathi as a language which was counted for final ranking in MPSC and that posed the biggest challenge. Adversity is often know as the best teacher but  with teachers and friends willing to support me  overcoming the language barrier also became possible and I found my path through the State Civil Services.

The early years as a Deputy Collector were my real classrooms. After a grueling training of two years my career as a civil servant began as a Tahsildar before I went on to become a Sub-Divisional Officer.  There were very few women in the state services during that time and I was therefore looked at with awe.
I learnt the ropes of revenue administration in the Tahsil which included an array of responsibilities. Subsequently I worked for land acquisition of several important projects including CIDCO or the  Mumbai-Pune Express Highway. Our duties are always interspersed with other responsibilities like election, managing natural calamities etc and these gave me great perspectives. I also got the opportunity to work for several social welfare schemes, administer Film City and also undertake the complex yet fulfilling task of rehabilitating project-affected persons. Each responsibility was a step forward, grounding me deeply in the ethos of public service.
Years passed, and responsibilities grew. I served in diverse departments, eventually becoming the Collector of Nagpur, and today, I stand as the Resident Commissioner in Delhi, also serving as Secretary, Government of Maharashtra with the huge responsibility of representing our state in our Country's Capital. But titles have never mattered to me as much as the impact since I could be a part of policies and programs that touched lives across the spectrum.

Social welfare has been a constant in my career  whether through schemes like  MGNREGA, NRLM,  DDUGKY, Jal Jeevan Mission, PMEGP, CMEGP or Bee--keeping.  

However it was during my tenure as Chief Executive Officer of the Maharashtra State Rural Livelihoods Mission that my passion for women's empowerment found full expression. We created nearly five lakh self-help groups and community organizations, connecting over 50 lakh families. These collectives enabled sustainable livelihoods for over 18 lakh households  including 14 lakh women farmers practicing climate-resilient agriculture with a turnover that then exceeded Rs.1100 crore.

I also had the distinct honour of organising a Mahila Melawa that brought together an inspiring gathering of one lakh women in the presence of the Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. Held at Chatrapati Sambhaji Nagar under the dynamic leadership of the then Rural Development Minister, Smt. Pankaja Munde, this event stood out as a landmark moment. Among the many firsts, it was one of the earliest and most ambitious congregations of its kind, conceptualised, planned, and executed within just one week. The energy, unity, and collective spirit of the women present made it a truly unforgettable experience and a great learning. 

Representing India internationally  in the United States of America, Japan, Germany, Mauritius, and South Korea has been an enriching extension of this journey. Leading delegations of empowered rural women reminded me how local change can create a global impact.
Yet, no matter where I go, my heart remains in the villages, amidst the fields, the smiles, and the silent revolutions.

It was during this phase that I met many deserted women, married women abandoned by their spouses, often left invisible to society. Their pain haunted me. Their resilience astonished me. I realized they deserved more than sympathy, they deserved dignity, opportunities, and economic independence. That’s what led me to IIT Bombay, where I am now pursuing a PhD on the socio-economic transformation of deserted women, exploring how social entrepreneurship can be their bridge to a new life.
Civil services, for me, has never been about power or prestige but about people. Whether promoting pure, chemical-free honey and village-made products as Chief Executive Officer of the Maharashtra Khadi and Village Industries Board, or working for the universalisation of quality education as the State Project Director under Samagra Shiksha , each role has been an opportunity to serve and to innovate.

Poetry, blogging, and public speaking  including my TEDx talks have allowed me to share these stories of change beyond the files and reports. Receiving the Arun Bongirwar Public Service Excellence Award was a moment of validation not just for me, but for every woman, every child, every marginalised individual whose story has intersected with mine.
Civil services gave me more than a career, it gave me a life of meaning. It gave me an opportunity of walking with the downtrodden, listening to voices often unheard, and helping light a path where there was once darkness. Doing so, not only shaped me as a public servant, but as a better human being.
On this Civil Services Day, I bow to the spirit of service : a spirit that lit a flame in a schoolgirl’s heart and continues to guide her across borders, maybe through ups and downs and challenges, but nevertheless towards endless hope...

"शीलम् परम भूषणम्"...

Jai Hind...

R. Vimala, IAS  
Compassionate Civil Servant & PhD Scholar at IIT Bombay 

A Light in the Darkness: Remembering Mahatma Jyotirao Phule, the Father of Female Education in India

A Light in the Darkness: Remembering Mahatma Jyotirao Phule, the Father of Female Education in India

Yesterday did not begin with the usual rhythm of routine. It began with a moment of deep reverence and reflection. It was the birth anniversary of Krantijyoti Mahatma Jyotirao Phule, a visionary whose courage and conviction laid the foundation for female education in India. My team and I gathered to honour his memory. I garlanded his photograph with quiet hands and a heart filled with gratitude. Later, under the gentle morning sun at the New Maharashtra Sadan, we offered floral tributes at his statue, a symbolic gesture to his wonderful glory.
As our Manager read aloud a brief account of his life, I was reminded once again of the sheer magnitude of his contributions. If not for his extraordinary foresight, Maharashtra’s journey toward gender equality and inclusive education would have never have taken off.
Born in 1827, at a time when society was deeply shackled by caste and gender-based oppression,Mahatma  Jyotirao Phule envisioned an India where education was not a privilege reserved for a few, but a fundamental right for all. He did not wait for approval or recognition. He began at home, by educating his wife, Savitribai Phule. With his support, she went on to become India’s first female teacher, a milestone that redefined the possibilities for women in our country.
In 1848, they opened the first school for girls in Pune. It was a quiet revolution. Their courage was met with fierce resistance, social boycott, verbal abuse, even stones hurled as they walked to school yet, they carried on in their mission with unwavering faith.
In an era engulfed in orthodoxy, superstition, and injustice, Mahatma Phule lit the flame of reform. He believed that knowledge is the ultimate form of liberation, and that without the education of women, society could never claim to be free.
He expanded his efforts beyond gender and opened schools for Dalits and widows. In 1873, founded the Satyashodhak Samaj,  a Society of Truth Seekers to challenge caste hierarchies, fight social evils, and promote equality. His vision was not merely about resisting oppression; it was about building a just and inclusive India.
Today, when young girls access digital classrooms, when women confidently walk into universities and boardrooms, they are treading the path he carved. Every girl who learns to read, every woman who finds her voice, every daughter who dares to dream is part of the story Mahatma Phule began.
Maharashtra now stands tall as a leader in literacy and gender equality. The female literacy rate of 75%  here surpasses the national average of about 70 %.
Digital education under Samagra Shiksha are reaching even the most remote villages. These achievements are the fruits of the seeds Mahatma Phule planted nearly two centuries ago.
Government initiatives, awareness campaigns, and innovative public-private partnerships in education continue to echo his ideals. The state’s progressive approach to inclusive schooling reflects the enduring power of his philosophy.
As we mark his birth anniversary, let it not be a mere ritual. Let it be a moment of renewal. Let us honour his memory not just with flowers, but with action by educating the next generation, by empowering women in our homes and communities, and by remembering that one courageous soul truly can awaken a nation.
At a time when history silenced women, Phule not only dared to educate his wife but inspired her to teach others. Today, the most meaningful tribute we can offer him is to emulate that spirit by ensuring that no child, especially no girl, is denied education, and by actively supporting the careers and aspirations of women in our families.

R. Vimala, IAS
Compassionate Bureaucrat & PhD Scholar, IIT Bombay

Manoj Kumar: The Man Who Made Bharat His Hero & Viksit Bharat

Manoj Kumar: The Man Who Made Bharat His Hero & Viksit Bharat 

Every Independence Day or Republic Day, our mornings begin the same way whether in schools or offices, on television, across gatherings with playing of the iconic song "Mere Desh Ki Dharti". Our hearts stir with pride as we listen to its timeless lyrics. Yet, not many from today’s generation may know the man behind that immortal tune.
That man was Manoj Kumar, an actor, director whose name became synonymous with patriotism in Indian cinema. While he did act in several romantic and commercial hits, it was his deep love for the nation that brought him true glory and an unshakeable place in the hearts of Indians.
In the aftermath of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, our then honourable Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri gave India an inspiring slogan "Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan". Moved by its spirit, Shastriji personally requested Manoj Kumar to bring this vision to the silver screen.
The result was Upkar, a film that wasn’t just a story, but a movement. With its unforgettable music, emotional depth, and powerful message, Upkar became a national phenomenon. The song Mere Desh Ki Dharti became an anthem of patriotism, and Manoj Kumar became ‘Bharat Kumar’, the face of national pride in cinema.
Following Upkar, Manoj Kumar continued to use cinema as a medium to awaken the nation. In Roti Kapda Aur Makaan, he tackled the tough questions of poverty, unemployment, and dignity questioning,' What good is freedom if a man still struggles for food, clothing, and shelter?'
With Kranti, he brought to life India’s freedom struggle, re-igniting the spirit of independence among viewers, especially during a time when the memories of colonial rule were beginning to fade.
And most importantly there was Purab Aur Paschim, a bold assertion of Indian values and cultural pride in the face of westernization. It reminded us that while India not only gave the digit Zero to the world but also held infinite wisdom and rich culture.
"Hai preet jahaan ki reet sada
Main geet wahaan ke gaata hoon
Bharat ka rehne waala hoon
Bharat ki baat sunata hoon".
India was once known as the sone ki chidiya, the golden bird, not just for its material wealth, but for its spiritual, cultural, and intellectual richness. While colonizers plundered and tried to  divide us, they couldn’t break our spirit.
Today, a new Bharat is rising rooted in tradition, yet forward-looking. We have the gold. We have the brains. And most importantly, we have the will.
From space technology to sustainable farming, from classical music to cutting-edge innovation as seen in start ups, India is reclaiming her glory, not just in history books, but in real-time.
Manoj Kumar’s legacy is not just about films, it is about values. He showed us that love for the nation is not outdated, and that pride in one’s culture is not regressive. His cinema didn’t preach, it inspired.
As we build the new Viksit Bharat, vibrant, inclusive, and self-reliant, let us carry his torch forward into Amrit Kaal as envisioned by our Honourable Prime Minister, Shri. Narendra Modi. Let us honour not just his memory, but his mission.
Bharat has always been more than a name, it is a feeling in many ways similar to how Manoj Kumar made us feel it. 
He may have left us for his heavenly abode, but he will forever shine like a star, one that continuously inspires patriotism in every generation.