Kodaikanal: Nine Stops, a thousand moods

A sudden veil of mist, a shaft of sunlight through the trees or the distant call of a bird can turn an ordinary stop into a memorable moment. A travelogue on my visit and experience on my visit to Kodaikanal. Kodaikanal

Importance of Writing Skills

In this Vodcast I discuss the importance of writing as a communication skill. I emphasise on the various types of writing (academic, professional, and personal) and their significance in different contexts. I also share that good writing skills contribute to professional growth, enhance credibility, and strengthen interpersonal relationships.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1fn5mwjPo7h2yr9mL21utK?si=4a712068bcb54067

Comic Book on Communication

 Based on my experiences in the field of Communication, I created a Comic book on professional communication.

You can access it here

Ignorance is bliss: The courage of not knowing

 "Mistakes are made, rectified, sometimes repeated and often avoided. But many youngsters today are growing up with the slogan, “I know everything”. If this is true, then what happens to the education sector, mentors and teachers? What the youth of today fail to understand is that a lot of the information floating around is hearsay and not necessarily evidence-based or true' I write in the section EdExpert Talks in the Edexlive. You can access the article here. 

Lead through communication: Visibility is not enough

 I write in Meghalaya Monitor in my column NextGen Insights, " "What organisations must realise is that they should invest in long-term communication strategies and ensure that they are remembered not because of strong marketing skills but for being consistent, realistic, share information and ensure that they embrace constant and continuous engagement with relevant stakeholders".

You can access the article here

How can think tanks in India be more visible in the State of the Sector?

In this blog article I write on the reasons as to why Indian think tanks do not score in the sector report published by On Think Tanks. "If Indian think tanks want to be better seen in the State of the Sector, the answer is not simply to seek more visibility for visibility’s sake. It is to build the kinds of institutions that become visible because they are clear, credible, connected and strategically engaged".

You can read the article here

Are Think Tanks Builders and Brokers of Evidence?

In my regular column Communication Pulse- Probe, Reflect, Act I write an article which speaks about how think tanks play a crucial role in not only building evidence but also act as brokers of evidence.

You can read the article here 

Recipes for disaster, served with love

 I write a short article for Right in the Middle Column in the Deccan Herald. It speaks about my My earliest disasters came from not knowing the difference between dals.

Read more at: https://www.deccanherald.com/opinion/recipes-for-disaster-served-with-love-3999164#google_vignette

Training 360°: A Practical Toolkit for Before, During, and After Sessions: Design–Deliver–Reflect

 

I am happy to share a Toolkit I have created titled "Training 360°: A Practical Toolkit for Before, During, and After Sessions. This Toolkit is based on experiences as a Trainer for over 30 years. I hope you find it useful? Do share it with anyone who may be interested. Thank you

Toolkit for Training Programmes

Smart Data, Strong Policy: A Framework for Analysis and Action

 I write on the importance of Data Analytics and the advantages of using the same in policy making. You can read the article here

Beyond Celebration: The Real Work of Women Empowerment

To celebrate Women's Day, I wrote an article on the history of March 8th. You can read the article here

Recipe for writing a winning CV

I write my understanding on how to create a winning CV, especially for newcomers and youngsters. This was published by Edexlive.

You can access the article here

Why some policies work and others don’t: The case for M & E

In this article I discuss the importance of having a robust Monitoring and Evaluation system in place to help make a policy successful.

You can read the article here  Why some policies work and others don’t: The case for M&E - Meghalaya Monitor

Malik Ayaz: A great Administrator, trader par excellence

Being a history student I was fascinated by this person-Malik Ayaz. A true tradesman and merchant who changed the scenario in the Gujarat Sultanate and built urban Diu, thanks to his business acumen. 

You can access the article here-Malik Ayaz: A great administrator, trader par excellence - Meghalaya Monitor

Gali Dogs, Gavel Laws, Paws, Laws and Disorder

This is an article which is close to my heart, since I love animals, not as an activist but as compassionate humane being with just lots of love and compassion for animals. This article is written as a reaction to the laws that were introduced by the Government of India on stray animals.

Access the complete article here.https://meghalayamonitor.com/short-story-gali-dogs-gavel-laws-paws-laws-disorder/

When Phones Became the Boss-Tap, Scroll, Repeat

 

When Martin Cooper developed and introduced mobile phones in 1973, little did he realise that he was creating a revolution (especially in India) which had young, old, poor, rich participate excitedly. In India mobile phones found the daylight in 1995. I have observed and noticed the way mobiles phones are used and abused. The other day I was travelling from Jayanagar to my residence in Bannerghata. What I noticed was there were more than 75% of people on the road who were on a mobile phone. Funny expressions, anger, silent listener, a person looked like a maniac when he was gesturing his hands, which were flying all over on the busy road. The mobile contraption has literally found cosy corners in a human being. It hangs on the neck, suspended like a chain, it is tucked between the ears and a helmet. I even noticed a pillion holding a phone to the ears of the rider! One of the most amusing things I saw was the mobile stuck on a contraption attached to a vehicle, two-wheeler or a car and people looking at it rather than focussing on the road. I guess some people use the GPS where Ms Alexa or Mary or whoever provides you with directions.

I think that the mobile has adopted people rather than the other way around. People are talking as if there is no tomorrow. The mobile has become a fixture or rather another body part.

The initial use of a mobile phone was to make or receive a call or message. Today it plays a vital part in one’s life, alarm, storage, checking mails, listening to music, podcasts, watching films to name a few.  It has made a human being a multitasker who can do so many things at one time and has information at their fingertips.

Pedestrians crossing a road trust their phones and are glued to it rather than looking at traffic lights which is supposed to guide you when you travel. As an influential object a mobile phone has become a big influencer in the daily life of a person.

Documentation and sharing information which is of little interest to some people has taken a toll. A simple good morning (not knowing if it is really a good morning for others) by sending messages, floral designs had become a daily chore for some people. I have seen a by-line in many people’s phone where it says No good morning” messages, but people ignore it.

Taking photographs has become a second nature for some. I have seen people in a pensive mood but the moment a camera is switched on they have a big smile and then go back to the grim face when the camera is switched off. Even some children have learnt to adapt to a camera, despite them not ready for a “photo shoot”. The mobile camera catches your candid expression when it opens suddenly. Sometimes one feels that the lens is dirty but we do not realise it will capture or depict only what is sees!

 

Terminologies have been redefined by a mobile phone. After meetings are concluded when people say let’s “take it offline” it really means lets continue the conversation on WhatsApp?

Simple conversations between family members’ freezes when someone suddenly is watching a video or a message that has just been flagged on a mobile. In fact dinner tables represent charging stations when silence is broken by alerts from the mobile.

The mobile phones also act as codes  for example, “I reached means” one missed call, “come outside” two missed calls and “why are you not picking up my calls?” ten missed calls.

Many people have used the mobile phone as a survival tool. No more can people remember telephone numbers, but can avoid calls from people by seeing their name/photo.

AI for the People: Reimagining Governance in the Digital Age

 

"AI can be a powerful enabler to ensure sustainability if the Government uses it well and strategically in the areas of governance, development and while designing policies. To ensure this the Government require to understand how this can be done".

https://meghalayamonitor.com/reimagining-governance-in-the-age-of-artificial-intelligence/#google_vignette

From Planning to Practice: Why Research Processes and Protocols Matter

 "Typically, a well-designed research protocol and process framework transforms knowledge into a credible, ethical and impactful study. In addition to this it warrants that a research project is transparent, disciplined, and scientifically trustworthy".

https://meghalayamonitor.com/from-planning-to-practice-why-research-protocols-and-processes-matter/

Moments in the Land of Endless Skies: My Australian Odyssey

 

"History mentions that Dutch explorers named these parts New Holland in the 1660s. In 1770 Captain Cook from Britain claimed it as New South Wales. It was in the early 1800s that Mathew Flanders, a British voyager used the work Australia since he found it was more appropriate. In 1824 the British Government officially adopted the name Australia which includes the entire continent and the nation that was formed later"

https://meghalayamonitor.com/moments-in-the-land-of-endless-skies-my-australian-odyssey/

Reverse Research in Action: Aligning Research with Governance

 "Reverse research methodology includes a problem statement defined by policy makers and stakeholders; Think Tanks and research organisations  tailor their research approach based on this". 

https://meghalayamonitor.com/reverse-research-in-action-aligning-research-with-governance/