Unfurling the Tricolour at Maharashtra Sadan – A Journey Comes to a Full Circle

Unfurling the Tricolour at Maharashtra Sadan – A Journey Comes to a Full Circle

This Independence Day morning in Delhi was unlike any other for me. Standing in the heart of the nation’s capital, at Maharashtra Sadan, I had the privilege of unfurling the Tricolour  representing my beloved state on this national stage.
The colours of saffron, white, and green shimmered softly in the August light and
I felt my own life unfurl before me. I felt a deep, almost overwhelming sense of pride, gratitude, and fulfilment.
It has been over three decades since I began my journey in public service. Along the way, I have had the honour of hoisting the flag in  bustling talukas, in district headquarters where monsoon winds carried the anthem over green fields, in the proud heart of the state capital. But today, doing so in Delhi as the Resident Commissioner with the Parliament’s dome not far away, carried a special significance.
It felt as if all the paths I had walked, all the roles I had played, all those journeys I undertook had found their summit.
I am among the blessed few who have had the opportunity to serve both my state and my country in diverse capacities from the coastal charm of Sindhudurg to the tribal heartland of Jawhar; from complex land acquisition for CIDCO to  the quiet resilience and rehabilitation of project affected families in Konkan, from conducting elections in Thane to managing Mumbai’s complex administration; from ensuring employment gurantee under MGNREGA to managing lands and estate of MMRDA in BKC & Wadala, from the glamour of Film City to the quiet dignity of rural livelihoods of women in self help groups and skilling of rural youth ; from ensuring drinking water in parched villages to strengthening school education and nurturing the light of learning in young eyes ; from empowering village industries to promoting Khadi and Madhuban Honey, from being Collector and District Magistrate at Nagpur to  representing Maharashtra in Delhi now, every posting, every challenge, every cause has added an interesting  chapter to my story, each with its own demands, lessons, and rewards.

And today, as the national anthem played, followed by the soul-stirring Maharashtra Geet, I felt all those chapters turning in my mind’s eye.
The sky above was radiant and blue, a rare sight in the errant monsoon of Delhi this year. It has been raining heavily for days, but this morning, even the Rain Gods seemed to pause as if to let us celebrate our independence without interruption.
What more could I ask for? Nothing. Only bow my head in gratitude to the Tricolour,
to my state, to my country,
and to the countless faces and places that have shaped my journey. Also for the privilege of getting an opportunity to serve, for the trust reposed in me, and for this life that has allowed me to be part of India’s story in my own little way.
Jai Hind. Jai Maharashtra.

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

Swadeshi Then, Swadeshi Now: A Call to Our Conscience on Handloom Day

Swadeshi Then, Swadeshi Now: A Call to Our Conscience on Handloom Day

It’s been three days since Handloom Day was celebrated and I wonder how many of us even noticed it.  Unlike the huge  fanfare around Valentine’s Day or Mother’s and Father's Day, it slipped by quietly, save for a few newspaper ads and discounts from government emporiums. 
At the Bharat Mandapam, in Delhi, the Hon’ble Textiles Minister honoured several handloom artists, among them was Shri Rajendra Ankam from Solapur, Maharashtra, renowned for his exquisite threadwork wall hangings. Yet, beyond these ceremonies, their names will probably fade from public memory. And that is the tragedy,  that the very keepers of our heritage remain unsung.
Handloom Day is not just about fabric; it’s about the fabric of our identity.
The roots go back to 1906, when leaders like Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Bipin Chandra Pal, and Mahatma Gandhi called for Swadeshi and Boycott, a movement for self-reliance and national dignity. Swadeshi was never merely about rejecting British goods, it was about becoming self- reliant,  reclaiming faith in Bharat.
A century later, Swadeshi is even more relevant. Today we flaunt wardrobes full of foreign brands, feast on fast food, and dream of foreign degrees. We hesitate to pay for a handwoven saree or kurta but don’t blink at spending several times more on a branded pair of jeans or imported shoes. We dismiss millets and khadi as “old-fashioned,” yet proudly consume colas, pizzas, burgers, and polyester blends saturated with chemicals.
Why have we developed such double standards? The reasons are not entirely unfounded, fast food is cheaper and more visible, foreign brands are marketed as aspirational, and overseas universities offer superior infrastructure and labs. But this is exactly where we must introspect.
• Are we investing enough in local innovation, design, and branding?
• Are we making Indian goods aspirational?
• Are we strengthening our universities so our best minds don’t feel compelled to leave?
It’s worth remembering that many global brands quietly source their products from India only to add a foreign label and sell them back to us at premium prices. This proves that capacity is not our challenge, perception is.
I admire my nephew Ananth, educated at Boston and Princeton, who chose to return to India. Today he works at the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, contributing to research and innovation. This, to me, is patriotism in action. But why should anyone have to choose between opportunity and duty? We need systems that reward and retain talent right here at home.
As a former CEO of the Maharashtra State Khadi Village and Industries Board, I have often urged: “Wear Khadi once a week, or at least use a Khadi towel or handkerchief.” Today, I extend this appeal again especially to the youth:
• Wear handloom once a week.
• Wear khadi once a week.
Not out of compulsion, but as a conscious celebration of who we are. Khadi is stylish, breathable, eco-friendly. Handloom is timeless and priceless.
With America imposing tariffs, perhaps it’s also time to question our uncritical love for McDonald’s, KFC, Nike, Coca-Cola, and other imports. Shouldn’t we, instead, take delight in healthier idli-vada, vada paav, sherbets, and khadi?
If you’re a young Indian who wants to make a difference:
• Swap fast fashion for conscious fashion.
• Eat food that nourishes, not just tempts.
• Support Indian artisans and businesses.
• Before every purchase, ask: “Can I choose local?”
Swadeshi isn’t just a sentiment, it must be a strategy. That means:
• Investing in better product design and marketing.
• Making Indian fashion and lifestyle aspirational.
• Strengthening infrastructure in education.
• Encouraging our students to study in India through supportive policies.
People will not be willing to wear Indian unless we make our clothes trendy, aspirational, and easily accessible. 

Loving our country must not be limited to waving the national flag on  occassions but must be woven into our daily choices. It can certainly not be limited to forwarding WhatsApp messages like a poster advocating Indian alternatives which I too received. Frankly that is what made me sit up to write this blog. Yet, this Handloom Day, let’s dedicate ourselves to rebuilding India with our hands, our hearts, and our heads. Let’s become more vocal for local  not just in words, but in the way we live.

R. Vimala, IAS,

Resident Commissioner, Maharashtra,

Compassionate Civil Servant & PhD Scholar at IIT Bombay 

Live life : Your strength is greater than any storm : Recognise your potential

Live life : Your strength is greater than any storm : Recognise your potential

Today, the news of a teenager ending his life simply because his parent denied him a mobile phone flashed across the television screen and once again, I was shaken to the core. How fragile has life become under the crushing weight of expectations, isolation, and unspoken pain?

I have always been an incorrigible optimist. To me, life despite all its ups and downs is a gift,  a miracle. Among all living species, we humans are uniquely blessed. We not only have the ability to think, but also the profound capacity to feel,  to empathise, to connect, to reflect.

And yet, why are we seeing so many lives lost to  sheer hopelessness, something that should never have held as much power?

Life, by its very nature, is a mix of joy and sorrow, triumph and failure, calm and chaos. But should the first sign of struggle, rejection, or loss shake us so deeply that we choose to abandon the journey altogether? Even the wealthiest, the most brilliant, the most admired have not been devoid of hardship. None of us has had it easy. Every single person fights their own unseen battles.

So then, why are small setbacks like not getting a phone, not scoring high marks in exams, not being  successful in some  relationships becoming unbearable burdens for some?

This is not an isolated tragedy. Just two months ago, a reputed college postponed its examinations after three students died by suicide, and a fourth attempted to. What are we missing?

Is it the breakdown of honest communication?

The pressure-cooker expectations we place on ourselves and the young?

The endless comparisons served by social media?

The unrealistic lives portrayed in films and influencers reels?

Or is it the silence around mental health in our homes, our schools, and our society at large?

Have we forgotten how to simply talk, how to truly listen, and how to just be there?

Perhaps we must stop pushing our emotional struggles under the carpet. We must learn to be more open, share our  vulnerability. The pain which we hide, ignore and suppress perhaps start seeking an escape in the most tragic ways.

As parents, teachers, friends, and fellow human beings, we need to set examples not only about our achievements but also of togetherness, compassion, sacrifice, and resilience. Not silence but communication and connections can be our strength in relationships. 

Let us spread the awareness that suicide does not end pain but multiplies by passing it on to grieving parents, broken families, bewildered friends and an entire community left wondering why? 

That’s also the reason why it has become imperative  to reach out and ask, How are you? 

We need to make it normal for someone to say, I am not okay,  share their burden and ask for help.

We must remind ourselves and each other that no pain is insignificant, no life is ordinary, and no person is ever alone unless we let them be.

Let’s not wait for another headline, another loss, another moment of irreversible regret.

Let us open the door before it’s too late.

Let us choose communication over silence.

Let us stand united not in mourning but in prevention.

Let us stand against suicide, let us stand for life.

Because life, even with its imperfections, is still worth living as well as precious and so are you. 

If you ever feel overwhelmed, lost, or broken please reach out to me.

No judgment from me nor advice unless you ask for it but only an honest, listening heart.

So reach out to me, 

I am here for you always,  to support you in facing life, to be a part of each honest conversation every  time.

Email: vimshine@gmail.com

R. Vimala, IAS,

Resident Commissioner, Maharashtra,

Compassionate Civil Servant & PhD Scholar at IIT Bombay