Order in Chaos

“What the hell is happening?” screamed Ambi furious over the turn of events. He had never anticipated a mass rebellion over his decision to side with Alexander the Great. What had started out as a mere opinion in the minds of students in the University of Takshashila had blown up into a full-fledged movement. This movement went on to establish one of the greatest empires the world and India in particular had/has ever seen, the Mauryan Empire. Throughout the history of our world, we find such examples of educational institutions being origins of revolutions that changed the course of human history. People would be empowered not through laws or rights, but through a common belief that held schools high enough to achieve societal development. Today, in a world where social apathy has become the status quo, schools are just buildings producing report cards and “achievers”. Schools then were centres of change and today, of just information. Education is key to bring about any chan...

Democracy is visible at its peak during an election. It is the time when people actually get to decide what they see as the best course for society to take. The stakes are quite high for all stakeholders and so are their emotions. The recent Taluk and Zilla Panchayat in Karnataka stood true to this, and I got to witness it from close quarters! I chose to assist one of the more "progressive" groups in setting up an information desk at a polling booth in the Whitefield (Bengaluru) area. Making my way to the location, I decided to stop for a quick cup of tea at one of the local shops by the road. "One cup tea", I said. "Have you come for the election as well?", the vendor quipped. I nodded. As I stood watching all the different groups and parties set up their desks on the other side of the road, I saw a woman approach the shop with a jute bag hanging by her left arm. "Have you come for the election too?", the vendor quipped again. "Ye...