Indian Freedom Struggle

Independence in today's times is seen as the liberty to make our choices, but a century ago, freedom had a completely different meaning. For almost a century we were ruled by Britishers who came to India as a group of traders known as the East India Company and, seeing the commercial viability,were lured into conquering our territory. They plundered our resources and drained our wealth.

Our Independence struggle is easily the most significant chapter of our country's history. It was a long battle to claim what was ours. The tale of valor, resilience, and sacrifice should be known to every single individual of our country. The freedom struggle can be classified into two-time periods. The mutiny in the early 1850s awakened the spirit of revolt but was quelled by the Britishers owing to a lack of co-operation among the freedom fighters. The mutiny in the 1850s turned a struggle, which was initially limited to a few states into a nationwide movement. It showed how the desire to see a free nation can even turn ordinary Indians into someone willing to risk their lives and take up arms.

Some decades later, in the early 1900s, various freedom fighters with different ideologies came together to fulfil the dream of a free nation. While Mahatma Gandhi espoused non-violence, some of his counterparts like Subhash Chandra Bose felt the need to strengthen our Armed Forces to combat the British. While their ideologies differed, all of them unified for a larger cause. The atrocities perpetrated by the Britishers acted as a catalyst never to get bogged down by the circumstances and continue their struggle for Independence. Jallianwala Bagh massacre and execution of our young martyrs made our resolution even stronger. The freedom fighters saw death as martyrdom and were not cowed down by the torture they faced in various prison cells. Non-cooperation movement, Dandi March, Quit India Movement all of them managed to gather mass support and mobilized the common public.

Eventually, India found independence on 15th August 1947 The nation was overjoyed and the struggle of every single individual who fought the tyranny of the Britishers bore fruit. The speech of India's first Prime Minister about India's tryst with destiny resonated with every Indian. While we rejoiced in the Independence, the partition of the country had a devastating effect with the formation of a separate nation, i.e., Pakistan and it subsequently led to millions of lives being lost on both sides of the border in its aftermath.

The freedom that we enjoy today should never be taken for granted. We owe allegiance to the well- being of our country as a tribute to the martyrdom of so many freedom fighters. It's our responsibility to not just be law-abiding citizens but always put the nation's interests above ours. A progressive, secular and developed nation was the dream envisioned by those who sacrificed their lives for us, and the only way we can repay that debt is by upholding all the ideals that they stood for.

Azaadi, where art thou?

“Our flag does not fly because the wind moves it, it flies with the last breath of each soldier who died protecting it”. Seventy-five years of an Independent India, are we the India that the freedom fighters envisioned or are we a blot on the very idea for which the lives were laid down?

Often, I am reminded of my middle school civics book; the teacher stood tall with pride and read aloud, “WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC and to secure to all its citizens: JUSTICE, social, economic and political; LIBERTY of thought,expression, belief, faith and worship; EQUALITY of status and of opportunity; and to promote among them all FRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation.

What a day to write this article, when my Instagram stories and Facebook notifications eloquently speak of the inefficiency of the institutions and the state to provide for even the basic needs of the citizens of the country, in the trying times of the global pandemic. I wonder if the freedom fighters ever imagined that a day would come when oxygen would be too much to ask for, or a place for cremation would be a luxury. Was their sacrifice for a state inefficient to handle the dead bodies of its taxpayers? Or was it for a state that would lead the world, by virtue of its resources and talent, morals and beliefs,integrity and honesty.

The land of Gandhi, which inspired the world with the doctrine of non- violence and peace, has often been a victim of violence, riots and human rights violations. The ideology of B. R. Ambedkar of injustice and equality, is often crushed by the feet of the mighty, privileged and powerful. Children who were meant to be the future of the nation,according to Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, are often subject to trafficking, abuse and malnutrition.

Is Independence just about the ability to hurl the flag at Red Fort every year, or does it have more to it that we, as a state, and as individuals,need to achieve? I see pain, I see injustice, I see suffering, and I see discrimination on a daily basis. In times like these I ask, “Azaadi, where art thou?”.

The idea of Independence and self-reliance is not only glorifying an event of the past but rather is to live up to the expectations of not just those who brought the freedom, but those who have been made to believe that they have that freedom. The freedom to live a prosperous life, without the fear of injustice, tyranny and discrimination. A life where the citizens believe that they have the power to change the future, not just theirs, but of those surrounding them, is what the true essence of Independence is.

The freedom fighters and their Independence struggle is bound to lose its shine and value, if we as a society fail to materialize the dream that they had for India. It is only when we make them proud of the nation that we have become, that “Azadi ka Amrut Mohotsav” gains its true essence.

The ‘Write’ Way to Heal Broken Crayons, Still Color

Cancer is often also used metaphorically to describe a situation that has bred adverse effects on people, their lives and others who form an integral part of it. The battle is always a collective fight inching towards the final war only to learn whether or not it was all worth it in the end.

In all hazy memory, I do recollect losing a dear neighbor for bone cancer. When she was diagnosed with the grave terminal cancer, it broke her, her family and us for how unfair life had been to a beautiful soul as hers. She was promised a life not longer than a few months but her will power to fight it kept her alive to light up our lives for 10 years post diagnosis.

She was a crayon standing tall until the very end. She never broke. Her way of coping with reality was mere acceptance. She welcomed it gracefully and caressed with humor for as long as she fought. She detested any sympathy that came along as she believed that she was living with an ailment like everyone else. While it was cancer for her, it was probably work, family, life or something else for another. She, however, became more particular about living a life that she loved. She made sure her inventory for chocolates and ice creams was maintained, her long drives post 10pm with her husband were more frequent, time with her children was not compromised despite their busy schedules. She lived a life that we all idealize.

Her relationship with us, neighbors, is cherished even to this date. She looked out for everyone despite their age and her relationship with them. Her spirit never dropped until the last year when she was put through excruciating rounds of therapy in the hope of betterment. Although she knew that the treatment was only deteriorating her condition, she wanted to pursue it to live longer. Life was her battle and she was not going to give in.

I often think about whether I have a purpose to serve in my lifetime. When hit by life’s inconsistencies my fear of failure immediately aggravates. It is then that I think about her only to realize that it is imperative to have a purpose to live. When you live is when you find your purpose. She taught me to embrace life as it comes and make the most of what you have on a daily basis. “Carpe Diem, my friend!”

The ‘Write’ Way to Heal Broken Crayons, Still Color

Cancer is often also used metaphorically to describe a situation that has bred adverse effects on people, their lives and others who form an integral part of it. The battle is always a collective fight inching towards the final war only to learn whether or not it was all worth it in the end.

In all hazy memory, I do recollect losing a dear neighbor for bone cancer. When she was diagnosed with the grave terminal cancer, it broke her, her family and us for how unfair life had been to a beautiful soul as hers. She was promised a life not longer than a few months but her will power to fight it kept her alive to light up our lives for 10 years post diagnosis.

She was a crayon standing tall until the very end. She never broke. Her way of coping with reality was mere acceptance. She welcomed it gracefully and caressed with humor for as long as she fought. She detested any sympathy that came along as she believed that she was living with an ailment like everyone else. While it was cancer for her, it was probably work, family, life or something else for another. She, however, became more particular about living a life that she loved. She made sure her inventory for chocolates and ice creams was maintained, her long drives post 10pm with her husband were more frequent, time with her children was not compromised despite their busy schedules. She lived a life that we all idealize.

Her relationship with us, neighbors, is cherished even to this date. She looked out for everyone despite their age and her relationship with them. Her spirit never dropped until the last year when she was put through excruciating rounds of therapy in the hope of betterment. Although she knew that the treatment was only deteriorating her condition, she wanted to pursue it to live longer. Life was her battle and she was not going to give in.

I often think about whether I have a purpose to serve in my lifetime. When hit by life’s inconsistencies my fear of failure immediately aggravates. It is then that I think about her only to realize that it is imperative to have a purpose to live. When you live is when you find your purpose. She taught me to embrace life as it comes and make the most of what you have on a daily basis. “Carpe Diem, my friend!”

The ‘Write’ Way to Heal Broken Crayons, Still Color - Ranjana Divakar

Cancer is often also used metaphorically to describe a situation that has bred adverse effects on people, their lives and others who form an integral part of it. The battle is always a collective fight inching towards the final war only to learn whether or not it was all worth it in the end.

In all hazy memory, I do recollect losing a dear neighbor for bone cancer. When she was diagnosed with the grave terminal cancer, it broke her, her family and us for how unfair life had been to a beautiful soul as hers. She was promised a life not longer than a few months but her will power to fight it kept her alive to light up our lives for 10 years post diagnosis.

She was a crayon standing tall until the very end. She never broke. Her way of coping with reality was mere acceptance. She welcomed it gracefully and caressed with humor for as long as she fought. She detested any sympathy that came along as she believed that she was living with an ailment like everyone else. While it was cancer for her, it was probably work, family, life or something else for another. She, however, became more particular about living a life that she loved. She made sure her inventory for chocolates and ice creams was maintained, her long drives post 10pm with her husband were more frequent, time with her children was not compromised despite their busy schedules. She lived a life that we all idealize.

Her relationship with us, neighbors, is cherished even to this date. She looked out for everyone despite their age and her relationship with them. Her spirit never dropped until the last year when she was put through excruciating rounds of therapy in the hope of betterment. Although she knew that the treatment was only deteriorating her condition, she wanted to pursue it to live longer. Life was her battle and she was not going to give in.

I often think about whether I have a purpose to serve in my lifetime. When hit by life’s inconsistencies my fear of failure immediately aggravates. It is then that I think about her only to realize that it is imperative to have a purpose to live. When you live is when you find your purpose. She taught me to embrace life as it comes and make the most of what you have on a daily basis. “Carpe Diem, my friend!”

The ‘Write’ Way to Heal Broken Crayons, Still Color

I still remember the way my grandmother would watch Indian sitcoms and scribble numbers in her little book consisting of a thousand Sudoku puzzles. Her glasses would be perched on her nose, eyes narrowed with focus as small grumbles would escape her mouth. ‘I told you, the main character had cancer and is dying now. That’s why the mother-in-law was looking for another bahu … I hope nothing of this sort ever happens to anyone’ she said to me one day.

Nobody tells you what cancer feels like. It starts out small -a cough, a fever or a rash. Simple symptoms that otherwise do not point to something as drastic as this are often taken lightly. The doctor told us that she’d be fine, that all she needed were antibiotics. After two weeks of no improvement, I felt that something was wrong. I spent days and nights researching on the internet about the possible meanings of the symptoms my grandmother was showing.

Cancer. Cancer. Cancer.

I ignored it. Because I did not want to believe it. My grandmother fell severely ill in August 2017 and after a series of tests, I learned that sometimes, ignorance is not bliss. She was diagnosed with Stage IV Cholangiocarcinoma or Bile Duct Cancer. I will never forget the look on her face as the doctor spoke of treatments and medication. She wasn’t scared. She was determined.

‘I won’t let it take me. I’ll make sure of it’ had become her new mantra.

A lot happened and time passed by like the wind in the following weeks. She had been admitted and was undergoing chemotherapy. Every day she would solve Sudoku puzzles with the mechanical pencil I had bought for her, claiming that it was her lucky charm. She was becoming weaker everyday but her heart was as strong as ever. She would swat my hands away from my face every time she caught me crying. She would pat my head until I was calm enough to stop wallowing in sadness. I would often find myself waking up, disoriented, only to realise that I had fallen asleep by her side. And every time I woke up, her hand would be clasped with mine. She was truly ethereal. To my grandmother, her pain was nothing in front of mine. And for me, she was everything. She passed away a month later, with my pencil clutched in her nimble hands. Up until the very end, she had remained true to her words. The cause of her demise was not cancer.

She was a warrior who fought till the very end. She taught me the power of faith. She showed me what courage looks like. She had the strength to stare at death right in the eye and challenge it because all her life, she lived on her own terms. So she made sure that her journey towards the afterlife would be according to her terms, too.

MBA during Covid Times.

MBA as a course appears to be the significant change that can transform your career into a superior form. If you are ready to upgrade yourself and want to pursue the career that puts you ahead in the corporate ladder, MBA is definitely a good option. After preparing for those tricky aptitude questions, competing with lakhs of students, writing those long statement of purpose entries, and finally making it to the merit list, the whole grind of the process makes new MBA joiners full of zeal and enthusiasm.

Some would have cracked the entrance exam while working, and some would have devoted their entire year for doing so; but the end result is what matters. Once the admission process gets over, it's time to reap your rewards. You get the chance to meet people from diverse background and exchange ideas to form the most important step towards becoming a good manager-Interaction.

Communicating effectively goes a long way and MBA course offers you the best opportunities to do so. But the recent times have seen a sudden unthinkable and unprecedented change in the way human beings have been perceiving things, even forced potential MBA candidates to ask themselves whether they should be going forward with the program or not?

The Covid-19 outbreak has disrupted the 'normal' human lives. With extreme lock-downs and preventive measures being implemented around the globe, the plan of enrolling into an MBA program has suddenly turned into an unsure and hesitant domain.

Like the different sectors, Covid-19 has swayed the Education sector also. With schools closed, classes cancelled and students locked in their homes, online education has surfaced to be the savior. The fact that the cases of infection continue to rise, the traditional methods of physical interactions have to be changed. While meetings are being conducted online, apps like Zoom, Google Meet, Skype etc. have taken the forefront to bridge the distance gaps among people. This brings us to the burning question of MBA during Covid Times.

If we look at how the top B-schools are dealing with the new incoming students, then schools like Wharton Business School cancelled the welcome weekend for the admitted students and are now trying to prepare a virtual meet for them. They extended the deadlines for the admission process, thus giving more flexibility to their whole admission process. The interview process is also adapting to the new 'normal', which is virtual interview.

Harvard Business School extended its application deadline to June 1, and also announced that it will maintain larger wait list than normal due to the pandemic. London Business School, on the other hand suspended all its non essential community events in the wake of this problem.

With all the big institutes taking actions towards altering their usual methods to adapt to the change, pursuing an MBA in these ambiguous times need a lot of thought than usual. If we look at the falling economies around the world, the picture may seem a bit demotivating for some. As industries struggle to recover after people have almost stopped using many services, the current market looks rough. MBA is made up of face to face interactions with your peers, people who have expertise in certain subjects, live workshops, networking and collaboration. All of these interactions appear to be taking the virtual road now.

However, judging the market right now isn't intelligent. The upcoming recession has the power to convince people to up-skill their management skills, because the businesses are going to be rapidly changed. For that, MBA is the perfect course. Also, there is going to be cuts in the fees for the MBA program, which is evident by new changes in the academic fees asked by the colleges. The classrooms are turning virtual and this means significant cuts in the enrollment fees. The industries are scrambling to get back on track and this means more opportunities for fresh graduates.

Thus, this is just like two sides of the same coin, and the final decision has to be made by the individual. It must be a judgement call, and needs introspection by an individual. Narrowing it down to what your career wants, your goals and if you are ready to take a stand, will definitely help in the optimum choice, and the answer to the question-MBA during Covid times.

How technology will shape the future and change the ways of working

We use mixer grinder for cooking rather than a pestle, you can call your uncle in Sydney if you have an internet connection, you have a group chat for work if you’re working remotely, you can read books online on Kindle or listen to them on Audible. Hello there! You are now logged into the digital world 24x7.

It’s Radhika’s second day at work.

She’s waiting for her cab, wondering why she carries a laptop all the time. Her back aches at the mere thought of a heavy bag, nevertheless it still comforts her in the new office.

She worries about using a microwave and she’s never used a coffee machine before. While her new friends at work could help her use these appliances, she didn’t want to embarrass herself and preferred to figure it out on her own. She decided to look it up on YouTube in the evening.

Nida Tara Owaisy (2020-2022)

On the previous day, when she sat at her desk next to the window of the 7th floor, someone came to draw the blinds explaining they couldn’t see their screen due to the light.

She got into her cab and immediately came face-to-face with the screen tied to the neck of the shotgun seat earnestly requesting her to watch some TV shows. She wasn’t too keen about it, and switched it off.

Radhika cut the trip short on her app and got off at a Metro station. She felt the urge to try it out for the first time. She spotted other office goers like herself hurrying down the staircase, talking rapidly on their Bluetooth devices, almost flying to catch the next train.

She walked up to the ticket vending machine and bought a coupon. She remembered her neighbour’s instructions on using the metro in case she got lost.

As the train approached, a gush of strong wind brushed past against her small frame and gave her a sense of comfort in contrast to the still air in the train compartment. In the early morning office goers were everywhere. She saw one girl slouching in the same compartment, working on an excel sheet.

Radhika remembered to call her mother, but the connection was quite poor. Maybe because the train was underground? Surprisingly, everyone else wasn’t facing the same issue. They were using their phones to make calls, some were even streaming movies! What a funny world. She made a mental note to change her mobile service provider.

She suddenly realised that she had to review a document. Luckily, she had saved it on her smart phone and was able to open it. Her new boss was a kind woman, who welcomed all her queries, and Radhika wanted to prove herself by being self-reliant and efficient.

At the next station, she received a notification for free Wi-Fi services offered in the Metro. She made a mental note to use it to for WhatsApp and Emails. Although she appreciated social media applications like Instagram and Facebook, she was not yet comfortable to use them for socialising.

Suddenly she was jolted in her seat. The Metro had come to a standstill. The announcer politely explained and apologised for the delay in services. “Thank God I left early”, she thought.

On reaching her station, she realised that she had barely 10 minutes left or else the scanner would record a late entry. She couldn’t explain the delay to a machine.

She ran to her building which was thankfully not far from the station. Out of breath, she made it in time by 10 seconds. If it had been a person, she’d have to explain herself. Is that another reason why scanners were invented? To cancel out the unnecessary banter?

Is that also why people preferred to watch movies in the morning? To avoid a conversation with themselves?

The need to interact with another person or even oneself is increasingly getting diluted with the screen slowly replacing people. The block to self-questioning. How often have we caught ourselves eating with the TV on? Sometimes we’re not even looking for entertainment. Sometimes we simply avoid conversation. The screen does the talking for us now.

All our activities are up online, when we login and logout, our daily work, when it was due, how much money we have in our accounts, what we need to buy and what we should do next. It thinks for us.

We’ve forgotten simple things, like taking a break, talking, asking for help, and being easy with ourselves. Our work now makes us sit in front of a screen in an enclosure with artificially cooled air and blue lights.

But technology can only go so far. Our gadgets may not be able to understand our inner needs and aspirations. We still need physical human interaction in the form of our friends and family. Do you think they have an app for that?

How technology will change the future and the ways of working

I vividly remember stumbling upon Harry Potter and the chamber of secrets while shuffling through a pile of books at a literature fest. Its azure cover had a picture of Ron driving a flying car! The sight of it opened the doors of fathomless possibilities held by technology for a 13 years old me. Moreover, it showed a glimpse of human’s unusual ability to see faint outlines of another reality, just over the horizon.

It was around the early 1800s, when a new attitude towards progress foresaw the future as an undiscovered realm. Connectivity was slight, tools were girthy and slow, tech start-ups sank within months of launch, unable to stay afloat on the ethereal promise of the dream mankind saw. However, scintillation of an ideal future did not let downfalls to daunt humans for long. Driven to satiate their needs, they saw bugs as opportunities. A new question had arrived at the doorstep of humans asking their new identity in this changing world?

Today, the answer lies in amalgamating the distinct approach of man and machine to forelay the path for scientific progress. Empathy, love and judgement of humans are irreplaceable. Machines, on the other hand, can process algorithms giving astonishing predictive powers that extend beyond the limits of thought of a human mind. Clubbing these will change the way the world has ever worked.

Today, in the age of Industrial revolution 4.0, the focus on fusion of technologies is blurring the lines among the spheres of technology, biology and society. The Internet has made us omnipresent and omniscient. Cloud computing has put vast quantities of power at everyone’s fingertips. Cyber-physical systems, data analytics, cognitive computing, 3-D printing, IOT etc. are other new horizons to explore. According to Forbes, by 2020, IOT technology will be in 95% of electronics for new product designs. And by 2050 it is expected to have everything connected to the cloud and to the internet, creating 2.3M jobs.

We are increasingly sharing our spot as the apex information-processing and tool-building species on our planet. Algorithms are the decision-makers when Facebook chooses what information to feed us based on our conceived behavioural patterns. Also, it allows us to forecast some features of the behaviour of adaptive systems that learn and evolve, while instruments gather unprecedented amounts of information about them. And these statistical models and predictions often get things right. Studies of genomic data, for example, can capture hundreds of parameters – patient, cell-type, gene location and more – and link the origin of diseases to thousands of potentially important factors.

Similarly, better and low-cost health care can be achieved through the implementation of AI-driven diagnostics, personalized treatment, early identification of potential pandemics, and imaging diagnostics, among others. Tech giants like Intel and IMEC have already unveiled their chips with capability of self-learning in an attempt to mimic neuro-biological architectures present in the nervous system. Other future breakthroughs will be Nanobots, brain-computer interface, stem cell treatments etc. that will optimise the working capacity of the human body forever.

The UN predicts there will be two billion more people in the world by 2050, creating a demand for 70 percent more food. By that time, 80 percent of us will be living in cities. Technologies like Closed ecological systems, floating vertical farms etc will come handy to meet the demand. Agricultural robots will play a pivotal role in the harvesting stage. Its utility includes weed control, cloud seeding, real-time advisory, planting seeds, harvesting, environmental monitoring and soil analysis. For an agrarian economy like India, It can play a major role in alleviating poverty among our Annadatas- farmers and related professions.

Our future cities will also evolve to be sustainable with ambitions to be a zero-carbon environment. Masdar city, Abu Dhabi is one standing example. Technologies like Hyperloop and autonomous vehicles will revolutionize our daily commuting.

The human spirit must prevail over technology – Albert Einstein

This co-evolutionary dance among the three spheres has been going on for millennia now. It is changing who we are and the society we live in at a blinding pace. We are likely to be the first species on Earth to design our own evolutionary progeny, whether composed of silicon or carbon – or, more likely, a combination of both. The result might be frightening, but it might also be beautiful. However, most future technologies will continue to arrive inevitably, despite scepticism among academicians about this upgradation. The first time humans witnessed electricity, they made much of dubiety about it but decades after look where we are. The most successful forms of future knowledge will be those that harmonise the human dream of understanding with the increasingly obscure echoes of the machines. Those men who can do so will emerge as new champions.

And now, Harry, let us step out into the night and pursue that flighty temptress, adventure - Alfred Dumbledore

The inspirational journey of KOBE BRYANT

I carry these lines with me in my heart ever since Kobe wrote “Dear Basketball” to bid farewell to the game he loved with all his heart. Kobe was always a naturally gifted athlete but he became a legend out of sheer will. Ever since he held a basketball, even as a child, he was the hardest worker in the room. He would be drenched in sweat by 5 am, before the team started practice, and he would never let anyone leave practice after him. This work ethic stayed intact come what may, and it stayed on till the end. Kobe got drafted in the NBA and picked by Los Angeles Lakers straight out of high school when he was just 17 years old and he never looked back. He spent his entire 20-year career with Lakers, won five championships, was an 18 time All star, league MVP (2008), scored 4th most points in the history of NBA, 2nd highest points in a single game and won two gold medals in the Olympic games.

But this isn’t why people loved Kobe. People loved Kobe for his charisma, his aura; his cocky surreal moves, his ability to dunk over anyone at all, his signature fade away shot, his camaraderie, his warmth and kindness, his thirst to always do better, stop at nothing, his values and his radiant smile. Kobe inspired us to do much more than pick up the basketball and fly; he inspired us to live life with zeal and to do better at anything and everything we do, every single day. When you watched Kobe play, you felt like you were a part of something bigger

than the game of basketball. You were part of a legacy that exhibited the truest, finest, purest potential of the human race.

He came up with a name for his alter ego- the mamba at the lowest point of his career to separate his personal life from his professional life. He decided that on court he would be the fierce, cold hearted, killer snake, who does whatever it takes to win and that’s precisely what he did. He never needed a second in command, like Michael Jordan needed Scotty Pippen. He survived losing his magical partnership with Shaquille O’Neal, and came back mentally and physically stronger to win 2 NBA championships without him. Kobe believed there was always room to grow. He gracefully embraced his role as a leader and showed the world that true greatness comes from lifting those around you. KOBE was truly unstoppable. His intrinsic motivation was so high that if he ever was tired, no one could tell. If he was hurting, if he was injured, no one could tell. That, was what came to be known as the Mamba Mentality.

Even retirement didn’t deter his “MAMBA MENTALITY” as he continued to rise and shine before everyone else, running the extra mile, always fighting ferociously to take it to the next level. He excelled in whatever he chose to do (even cinema). He won an OSCAR, for his short animated movie Dear Basketball. Kobe believed that the most crucial responsibility he had was to inspire, give hope and radiate strength to the future generations. He genuinely wanted to make this world a better place and he never failed to deliver. He launched the MAMBA league for young kids, to guide them, teach them the fundamentals of basketball, build their self-confidence and polish the “MAMBA MENTALITY”. He started the MAMBA SPORTS ACADEMY to train young individuals and give them a platform to unleash their true potential. Bryant supported and actively advocated for women’s basketball to get its due recognition and respect. He routinely visited the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks as an advisor and motivated women basketball players at all levels.

He brought the same zeal and love and soul into being a great athlete, a great father, a great husband, a great teacher, a great friend and a great role model.

Kobe strived for excellence till the end. His untimely demise sent a seismic shock throughout the world. People in all corners of the world mourned him because he transcended the game and touched the lives of people everywhere. Even in his death, he was able to inspire and deeply impact generations to come. He will continue to be the light for millions. In his honor and in the honour of everything he stood for, everyone who loved him will carry forward his legacy and every time anyone in the world takes a shot, they’ll yell with all their heart, KOBE.

E-recruitment: The New Buzz in Town

As the corporate sailed through the digital transformation of the workforce, there was one trend that was followed with many challenges. It wouldn’t suffice to say that online recruitment or E-recruitment was one challenging process and crucial at the same time. It is a recruiting process that an organization conducts via Web-based tools and resources such as the organization’s public Internet site or its intranet.

COVID 19 has accelerated the demand for this transition even more than the experts had anticipated. The primary drivers for pursuit of this revolutionary process is to improve organizational image, reducing recruitment costs, reducing administrative burden, instant global reach and employing better tools for recruitment teams. Online testing in combination with other Internet-based recruiting strategies has proven to be less expensive than written testing.

A candidate only has to submit one resume to be considered for all jobs with a company or job portal websites. Their computerized Job Match system matches skills and abilities on a candidate resume with all openings. Both the Government and private is utilizing Internet-based testing to expedite the selection process over traditional one.

The year 2020 saw emergence of using of artificial intelligence (AI) for recruitment as biggest trend shaping. There was a huge spike in acknowledgment of AI to the source, assess, and screen employees. Today social networking services like Facebook advertisements as an effective avenue for reaching and recruiting young participants. These provide specialised services using AI and Machine learning like ability to target a specific patient population, interactive capabilities, allowing real-time interaction with potential participants. Companies like Dell have introduced one of a kind chatbots like Rose to interact with potential candidates and offer personalized communication with the latest. Not only these actions have resulted in increased efficiency but also have cut recruitment cost. Moreover, the distance between potential candidates and companies have reduced significantly.

Although there are many advantages to online recruitment, it is not without its disadvantages or ethical challenges. The emphasis on organizational performance and individual productivity has made effective recruitment and hiring major concerns for HR managers

It is well known that body language tells a lot about our true emotions and feelings and in online recruitment it becomes a herculean task to find the true character. Also, accuracy, verifiability, and accountability of applicants’ data are also major issues for managers whose organizations use e-recruitment systems

Online recruiting also raises scepticism among potential applicants about keeping their personal information secure and confidential. Also concern of definition of private’ vs ‘public’ space online has become dubious for users. It has become quite hard to identify the possible ramifications of participation in both the immediate and long term.

Critical and inaccurate comments may also become problematic, as it may have led to other candidates.

A number of attempts have been made to simplify the recruitment and selection of employees, including decentralizing the hiring process, streamlining the application process, and incorporating technology into the HR function. E-recruitment enables a direct link between the candidate and the recruiter or hiring manager. The trends in e-recruitment use suggest that, in the future, the candidate will be connected to the central system and the line manager will be involved in the online application process. Accordingly, the role of HR in recruitment will become more facilitative than administrative.

, the integration of an e-recruitment systems and agencies’ human resource information systems (HRIS) can enable recruiters to access several databases and longitudinal data in the core HRIS, extract data on previous hires and the workforce, and import data on the new ones. Such integration is also useful for recruiters and line managers who need to think strategically when doing workforce planning, assessments, and diversity management and improve internal customer relationship management.

Since these practises are at initial stages, it is to best in interest of the companies to be mindful of these technical and ethical challenges to make the process transparent and friendly. The idea is to make the whole process inclusive where both the candidates can actively participate without any inhibitions. In the end, we must be cognizant of the famous words of Dean Kamen.

“Everybody has to be able to participate in a future that they want to live for.

That’s what technology can do- Dean Kamen”

HOW TECHNOLOGY WILL SHAPE THE FUTURE AND CHANGE THE WAYS OF WORKING?

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: A LETTER FROM DORAEMON

Hello I am Doraemon from the 22nd century. You must have seen me on Hungama or Disney channel helping my best friend Nobita using my super cool gadgets. We, the 22nd century people have observed that you all are making commendable progress in the field of artificial intelligence. I would have loved to meet you but my time machine is in the repair workshop so I am writing this letter to help you understand how technology will shape your future and change the ways of your working. I will start with basics and slowly transcend into details so that Artificial Intelligence becomes easy and understandable for all. Friends, what is Artificial Intelligence?

What is Artificial Intelligence?

Artificial Intelligence is a technology that enables the machine, fed with algorithms to understand and interpret the information so that it can mimic the information similar to humans. The keyword here is information which acts as the spine for AI’s brain. I will explain to you how important the information is by referring to a report by PWC. What if a person holding a key position decides to leave the organization? Does all his expertise and understanding of his projects also go with him? This is where AI comes into play. The saved information will help AI interpret the projects and models created by the key person. But you need to remember that the information that you feed has to be free from flaws.

AI: An equality based technology.

In some years from now, probably 2022, my friend “Vyoma Mitra” from your country will be all set for the Gaganyan mission, India’s manned mission to space. According to the Financial Express, she will help the crew in the life support system. In future, you will see that Artificial Intelligence will enable education for the ones who can’t access it right now.

Virtual classes will not be a fad anymore but a tool for necessity. The medical information that we learn from your doctors will help us perform basic to advanced level functions. We will make legal services cheaper for you, you will not have to pay hefty lawyer charges for any legal advice or operations. The judgements in your courts will be a lot quicker. We are regularly learning from you humans, and in conversation with Alexa and Siri they told me that they have still a lot left to learn from you.

What will be the potential of AI for India?

I was going through an article on the economic times and found the above graph depicting massive opportunities for AI in India.

I went through a report - “Rewire for Growth” in Accenture and found out that Artificial Intelligence has the ability to increase India’s income by 15 percent by the year 2035. This means an addition of $957 billion to India’s GDP and thus the Gross Value Added(GVA) will increase by 1.3 percentage points!

AI will become a part of your lives!!

There are various gadgets hidden in my 3rd dimensional pocket which I have never given to Nobita as he is a kid. These are the AI gadgets which help the business organisations in various functions. It helps the businesses in Marketing, Finance, Strategic Planning and Transportation.

AI will become a part of your lives!!

As more and more artificial intelligence is entering into the world, more and more emotional intelligence must enter into leadership." -- Amit Ray

You humans will soon be able to build a GENERAL PURPOSE AI. This AI will have emotions as I do. You humans are Electro-mechanical beings, but your scientists today are facing the problem of integrating the same in AI robots. This property can create side effects in us similar to Chitti from the movie Robot when emotions were installed in his algorithms.

In future, you will witness a plethora of services available to you by Artificial Intelligence which will change the ways of working. I have heard that many of you think that AI will take your jobs away, but it is not so. AI needs skilled humans to operate it. So, all you need to do is to educate yourself and keep up-skilling relevant to the market standards.

MY DAYS WHILE SAILING THROUGH COVID-19 AND UNCERTAINTY

18th March 2020 - “See you on Monday!”, I said to my best friend. Without the vaguest idea in the world, that the much-awaited “Monday”, wasn’t about to come about anytime soon.

Present Day- It has been two months to this particular day and I still can’t put a finger on which Monday, it will be when I will be able to see my best friend again. It was a Sci-Fi thriller come alive–we were facing a Pandemic!!!

As I was in the last year of under graduation, I took this sudden quarantine with a tablespoon full of salt. There had been no appropriate ending to my under-grad life, no farewell party and more so, the university still unsure about conducting the final exams, for the fortunately- unfortunate final year students. They say it takes 21 days to build a habit, and now I guess I am habituated to staying at home, spending loads of family time, doing the jhaadu-pocha, and making amazing homemade meals for my family (please note that the use of continuous tense is intended) The first couple of weeks were definitely the hard ones, but with each passing day it started to become

Meghna Dhawan (2020-2022)

like any regular day-A privileged Kala-pani-if I may! After a week of finishing all possible Netflix Rom-Coms, the fact that no one knew when this quarantine would come to an end, hit me like a fireball! I had to find something to do which would take my mind off the non-existents and clock. I had to come to terms with the fact that this lockdown was starting to seem like a bottomless pit. I thought of how I should take up a forward-looking approach on this entire scenario and decided to earn some Corona Cash through some content writing internships, to subdue my inner-spend thrifty nature prodigiously as that would come handy when the malls finally opened their doors to us shopaholics again- the mere thought of it seems fantastic. Weeks passed by and nothing but bad news seemed to come our way about the COVID-19 cases catching up to humanity like forest fire. While others made Tik-Tok videos, spent hours on Ludo, I pushed myself to start some courses online on Stock markets and trading. My interest had always lied there and the lockdown gave me sufficient time to explore these areas. Another positive take away was the time I spent with my sister who too by default had to spend these months of quarantine at home before joining her post-grad. It took two to tango, and tango we did. Starting a food blog in the midst of helping out with household chores was a silver lining and a great stress buster. We managed to spice up things a little in the kitchen, and added a continental touch to the boring old roti-sabzi meals. This really helped to subdue our cravings of our otherwise-regular Zomato deliveries and at the same time saved us from the bit bowls of compulsory dal at the lunch table.

COVID-19 has made me look at things from different perspectives, on an individual level. There are days when I crave to step out of the house and go meet some friends or just go for a movie to the nearby theatre. I console myself by thinking of all the people in the world who are not as privileged as I am right now, those who do not have sufficient ration to keep their families fed, those migrants who have stuck away from home, those people who are still working and putting their lives on the line and those who have been hit by the deadly virus and are being contained away in small hospital rooms.

We all had it coming though, didn’t we? The way we have been harrowing our environment and our mother Earth, like she was meant to be treated that way. Well, here it is, “The Ultimate Revenge.” Nature dropped in all the signals of warning to us, every now and then. But it fell on deaf ears, so here we are now, forced to behave the way she wants us to. What feels like the ultimate punishment to us, is actually the ultimate revival of nature. She wants to feel beautiful again, she wants to breathe again.