నా ఆలోచనలు मेरे विचार My Thoughts Junction

‘My Thoughts’ is now available on a single page. (Effective 6th October 2024)

‘The goal is the same as the motto: Our world can be a much better place to live in. The medium: Various disciplines and their applications.’

Let’s get back to the wonderful world of literature, languages, various disciplines, arts, and nature (no walking away from reality for these are important aspects of civilization):

There is an inherent connection between civilisations and languages. Some studies attribute the emergence of some languages to agriculture and pottery as well. As civilisations evolved, various disciplines continued to evolve as well. Just like all aspects of the world, writing has a story of its origin—from signs, symbols, and individual letters to words and thereafter to texts in numerous languages and in disciplines. As long as one is aware of what one is working on in the respective fields, everything will fall into place.

March 21 is the world poetry day as well as the international day of forests:

Our school diaries in the primary and middle used to have quotes by various authors/poets. The curriculum had poetry and prose works of various authors in English as well as Hindi. There used to be recitation competitions as well. I wrote one in Hindi on patriotism. The connection with the literature is not a recent one.

It’s not only important to prevent deforestation and ensure afforestation; it’s important to avoid dumping waste near forests as well, which results in landfills.

Weekly reports are neither a recent invention nor a recent discovery.

Junction Extension: Photography is just one aspect of art. It started with capturing nature, followed by places, and later it became a deviation from travel fatigue before evolving into a regular aspect or feature. It is an art that is practised offline and shared online. It’s proof that people live in the real world. There are many other forms of art. The preference is for eco-friendly forms. We will discuss later in due course. No one should have any iota of doubt that publishing is the main focus. Everything else follows. Photography has been an essential part of journalism for long. Hence, this is connected to publishing as well depending on the context.

The process for e-books or printed books is the same. Unlike the earlier eras, everyone works on computers and laptops these days. The only major difference is the final output. There is no bar on me publishing print versions. This is voluntary. Each version requires a separate ISBN. Both print and e-versions were available for the earlier title before making only the e-version available. The immediate reason was that a large mango tree dried up (other than the one shown in the nature junction). There were some similar instances of some trees drying up in some houses nearby back then. All versions can be made available if I desire so. No direct sales for now. It will be considered wherever required. Publishing platforms will include all taxes in the price. For those who are not aware of publishing jargon/industry, there is a concept called self-publishing wherein the author retains the copyright, gets one’s own ISBN, and can either sell a book via various book publishing platforms and/or via one’s website. Those who don’t have a website, offline as well. For instance, I can sell the earlier published title from my website or otherwise as well if deemed required.

Meanwhile, the decision of Election Commission of India (ECI) to start the process of consultations for linking UIDAI ID with the voter ID of those who have voluntarily provided consent for linking is welcome. I was among the first to do so. I am waiting for it. Some people have some concerns. Hence, ECI should ensure that no one with a valid electoral right is deprived of it for any reason.

When it comes to humour writing, some of the names that come to mind from my younger days of reading are Mark Twain, Charles Dickens, Oscar Wilde, R K Narayan, and Khushwant Singh, among several others. There are many contemporary authors as well. For non-Telugu readers, who are not aware, two titles already find a place in the Telugu Junction. The endeavour is to create original new characters/stories (as applicable) in line with the overall endeavour in literary junction. Titles in this genre may find a place in some other languages as well. Transliteration will be available for titles in literary genres (respective junctions) and nonfiction titles wherever applicable, below the book cover image, similar to the snapshot on the homepage.

We are about to complete the first quarter of the 21st century. It’s important for people across the world to ensure that our civilisation is remembered for good things. Else, people will debate about the actions of the current civilisation some centuries later. This century is going to be part of history soon, just like the earlier centuries.

As mentioned earlier, one shouldn’t mix any other cause with terrorism. Two important developments have taken place. One is the extradition of a person allegedly involved in 26/11 (Mumbai) and the sentencing by the Telangana High Court of those involved in the Dilsukhnagar (Hyderabad) blast case. We all know of 26/11, similar events during that time, and the loss of precious lives. With regards to Hyderabad, I was in the city when the blasts took place at Mecca Masjid, Gokul Chat, and Lumbini Park. That day I had stayed a little late at work, and I passed by Lumbini Park in an auto. When I reached home, I came to know about the blast. Then the Gokul chat blast happened a few minutes later. These are the places that most Hyderabadis may have visited at least once. This was no way acceptable. The Dilsukhnagar blast happened a year after I moved to Chennai (to work for a publishing organisation). However, when I was in Hyderabad, I used to have tea regularly at the Tiffin Centre and theatre near which the blast took place while returning from the well-known Dilsukhnagar Sai Baba Temple, which is just some distance away. That was shocking to know. There is no question of any support for terrorism, and none of my communication to the government has anything in support of such activities.

With regards to publishing: Earlier, newspapers such as The Indian Express, The Hindu, Times of India, The Economic Times, Hindustan Times, and Eenadu (Telugu), except for The Hitavada, Deshbandhu (Hindi), Navbharat (Hindi), and Dainik Bhaskar (Hindi), used to be delivered a day later in Bhilai, even during the early 2000s. Now, there are many with local editions, and one can read online as well. In Indore, newspapers in the region included all the aforementioned, Nai Dunia (Hindi), and some evening newspapers as well. In Hyderabad, most of the aforementioned papers as well as The Deccan Chronicle and The New Indian Express. Read them all at different times. The Telugu states have several Telugu newspapers, such as Eenadu, Vartha, Sakshi, Andhra Bhoomi (now closed), and Andhra Prabha, as well. Some now run new channels. In Chennai, I used to get a newspaper at Tambaram Station sometimes, on the way to work. When it comes to magazines, India Today, Outlook, The Week, Reader’s Digest, and Business Standard, among others, were part of my reading. I used to buy them alternately (no favouritism). I once went to Delhi Press (17th June, 2010) in Secunderabad (Delhi Press had a small branch office in the city over a decade and a half earlier in Chenoy Trade Centre popularly known as CTC, Parklane; I don’t know about it now), which publishes The Caravan. There are several newspapers across the country, such as Jagran, Tribune, Amar Ujala, Kashmir Times, Anandbazaar Patrika, The Telegraph, Malayala Manorama, Mathrubhumi, The News Minute, Dinamani, Thanti, The Hindu Tamil, Lokmat, Loksatta, Prajavani, and Deccan Herald, among others. Then there are many news agencies such as ANI, PTI, and IANS. At the international level, we have Reuters, Associated Press, AFP, Time Magazine, Washington Post, Al Jazeera, Jerusalem Post, New York Times, Dawn, and several country-specific agencies and news organisations, among others.

When it comes to journals, there are many reputed ones that are known for science publications, such as Elsevier, Science Direct, Springer, Nature, the Quarterly Journal of Economics, the Review of Economic Studies, Journal of Monetary Economics, and several journals with a focus on linguistics, environment, development, or sustainable development, among others. Impact factor is a factor. I have read many of them. Then, we have SSRN and ResearchGate with many scholarly published works. At a conference in Pune in 2017, the then Chief Economic Advisor was the chief guest, and he laid emphasis on the importance of publishing Indian journals (obviously with high standards) with an Indian perspective on various aspects. When I joined publishing, I found an interesting thing about some journals: that some have achieved stand-alone success and that some keep changing hands from one publisher to another at the global level.

Na Junction: As of 2nd April 2025, Na Junction (My Junction) is the initial step towards a publishing venture. It’s a long journey ahead. As mentioned earlier, the name is inspired by Bhilai (Bhilai is a city with a multilingual population with people from all across the country – crosschecked and confirmed with the 2011 census: data included in the Infographics Junction depicts the linguistic diversity) and railways (people from all across the country travel on railways). We may have a formal name when the time arrives (relevant details in due course). The theme here is the world. Missing language families as well as disciplines/topics may find a place in due course. We are human beings first. Hence, it’s all-encompassing here. Made in India by a human being and professional, who is a citizen of India (as long as the environment is favorable for work). (Moved here from description on the home page on 12th April 2025 for clarity)

As one can infer from the aforementioned few paragraphs, publishing is not just about books. Books are an important category, which I have been part of and keen to take forward. There are many periodical publications, such as journals, magazines, and newspapers, to name a few. While books have ISBN numbers, magazines and journals have ISSN numbers. Once a book or magazine is published with an ISBN or ISSN number, it’s there forever. If a book or magazine publication is acquired by a different publisher, it may be republished or continue to be published with a new number in case of a series or as required. Even if a book is out of print or new copies are not available for purchase, it still has an existence. That’s why it is said that books have a long shelf life. A book can be a standalone, part of a series, or a volume, and periodicals, such as journals, magazines, and newspapers, are released at predetermined intervals (daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, biannually, or annually) with issue and volume numbers. Journals can be scholarly (academic journals) or related to a profession/field/industry (trade journals). Magazines can be educational, science, literary, linguistic, editorials, opinions, or on various themes or topics, to name a few. It’s a long journey ahead. The general endeavour is eco-friendliness, which is self-initiative. This implies that whether I will do print or not is a matter of personal choice. While I will strive to publish in digital mode in general, decisions will be on a case-by-case basis or as deemed fit. It will be a full-scale publishing initiative whenever it happens. Indian language publishing in various aforementioned formats, apart from books, on various themes is worth looking into. Hence, the motto remains the same. Whenever it happens, quality will be a factor. I will explore various possibilities as things move forward. There is a well-known adage, ‘Rome was not built in a day.’ There was a day one for everything in this world that is now considered a success. In my case, this is not the first day. The base has been built over the years with determination and hard work. It’s about the next level. Like treaties and conventions in various spheres, the publishing field has the Berne Convention and Design Treaty, among others. (April 2025)

I mentioned on Twitter a few years earlier that all permutations and combinations keep the Dravidian parties at the helm in TN. The BJP has realised it finally, and hence the alliance with the AIADMK and vice versa. This is the reality. One can say anything sitting in the north, yet for people who have been to TN, the picture is always clear. There are old (DMK-led alliance) parties and new parties that will be in the fray in next year’s election, and the political temperature will only increase as the year moves forward. For the general public, it’s life as usual. Polls are still a long way away, and we will discuss it in due course.

Just because I said that one can say anything sitting in the north, yet the realities are different in southern states, it doesn’t mean that some people go overboard. Whether you are in the south or north, east or west, stay united. We live in a heterogenous country.

Another state that will go to polls next year is West Bengal. The parties are already in election mode. They don’t need to, yet that’s the trend. Bihar goes to polls later this year before the TN and WB elections; we will discuss it in due course.

Talks between the USA and Iran are welcome; yet, consistency and sincerity can only seal any deal.

I almost included an economic term in the last set of terms; however, I decided otherwise. It’s difficult to be a mute spectator of a bakery and mockery of economics. A predecessor made a bakery, and now another is making a mockery. As mentioned in the short-short stories, liberation day turned out to be a market crash day. Tough love from here in India.

Any agreement between the USA and Iran on the nuclear aspect is good for both nations and the world. However, a my way-or-highway policy won’t work; it applies to both nations. One should note that there was a deal in place earlier. Whatever the rationale, lives are precious; otherwise, a cycle of hostilities will continue that will not help any of the nations involved.

I followed some governors in the past on various platforms. The role of governors is an important role. Yet the question here is, do we need governors for each state? This is not just in the context of the recent Supreme Court judgement on pending bills; in the past too, there have been instances of President’s rule and so many other decisions. It doesn’t make sense if an important role, provided in the constitution, is utilised for political accommodation. Just one governor for a bunch of states should do; else, we can have a process wherein governors are elected as well.

We do need to respond when it matters. However, we don’t have to react to every comment from the neighbourhood and then complain later that these countries get close to another country in the region. Understand that in some countries, no post has a fixed tenure, and some talk is directed to gain support and enhance one’s influence domestically.

Lot more needs to be done for improving healthcare facilities and affordable healthcare for senior citizens across the country. There have been some initiatives in the recent past in terms of healthcare. While initiatives may be good yet their implementation needs to be reviewed and necessary improvements to remove bottlenecks must be made, across the country. Lives are precious.

Nothing is impossible. Good causes should always be possible. I will keep saying and writing this phrase as long as I am alive. Things do take time. Another example. Until late 2013, some areas beyond Tambaram towards Chengalpattu used to experience 10 to 12 hours of power cuts a day. Even if there was a respite during working days, there was no escape during weekends and Sundays. I found some noticeable improvements when this was dealt with later in 2013 and onwards. Yesterday, on 19th April, Southern Railway started AC EMU service on the Chennai Beach to Chengalpattu suburban line. Many may not have expected this way back in 2012. Yet things change. I hope for further facilities in due course. Best wishes to the people of that region. Nothing is impossible and every effort is worthwhile. A voluntary farewell promise to keep track of developments in Chennai has been kept. All those who need to know are aware that I had applied for transfer to Hyd in 2014. It was not possible and I still continued to work with dedication 24/7 and later worked with same organisation as a freelancer on invitation.

As far as Bhilai is concerned, I have never experienced any such long power-cut scenario. These days, we get information on power outages, if any, via the app, initiated by the previous government and improved upon by the current government. In general, the power gets restored well before the scheduled completion of outage time. There is always scope for improvement, and there is an option to provide feedback. A long summer ahead. Temperature is touching 42 and 43, and we are still in April.

Terrorism is a no ball. I stand for peace, yet there is no place for no balls. I mentioned this in response to Mr Imran Khan’s post on Instagram a few years ago. It’s still available: ‘Only fair deliveries please (with mention). The rules for no balls have changed since the days you played cricket. Peace is strength. Time for Pak to understand who is a true friend India or so-called countries who (recte that) use your country for their own needs. Hope goodwill is restored in the olympic (recte Olympic) season.’ (2021)

We may have magazine(s) on various topics in various languages such as Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, Marathi, and Bengali, amongst others, in due course. It may help cover endangered and vulnerable languages as well. A decision is pending. Any such effort will be part of the expanded publishing endeavour beyond books as mentioned in the earlier paragraphs. (updated)

India’s first AI data centre is coming up at Naya Raipur in CG.

So many AI enthusiasts in the world. I am from a literary, research, and publishing world who is aware of rules in the industry. Out of curiosity, I just checked what Grok has to say about me in the recent times: It reads ‘Rajani Nagesh Tadimalla, a writer since 2007, champions peace, nuclear disarmament, and citizen-centric governance from India urging global cooperation and environmental preservation.’ A more detailed version says: Rajani Nagesh Tadimalla, born in Eluru, Andhra Pradesh, India, is noted for his support for nuclear disarmament, among other causes like health, environment-friendly measures, and sustainable development goals (SDGs). His professional background spans roles at …. Tadimalla’s support for disarmament reflects his broader interest in international relations, peace, and security, … His interests, as noted on his website, include literature, writing, language, and linguistics, alongside other topics like environment, science, technology, and culture. He has expressed admiration for literary figures …. indicating a broad engagement with global literary traditions.’ Hence, it’s a win-win for me. So don’t worry. All the hard work put in over the years is paying off. No effort is ever wasted.

The girl child who has topped the tenth standard CG Board exam (results were declared on 7th May) is someone who is grappling with a serious illness yet displayed determination to achieve this feat. (Source: Zee MPCG). Not just in education, there have been instances in various fields wherein children have proved their mettle despite challenges across the country at various times. Another example that anything is possible. Yet the message again is to stay fit and don’t neglect your health.

Consolidated thoughts on Indo-Pak: This is an evolving scenario. The fact that many Pakistani citizens were in India with various visas itself indicates that India was in favour of normal ties with all, including Pakistan. There was a general ceasefire in place at LoC. There have been several out-of-the-way initiatives by me in the past urging heads of state of Pakistan and India to choose the path of peace, whether it was via letter to the government, podcast, Twitter, Insta, or other channels. The current conflict started with the statement of the military chief of Pakistan in mid-April. If people read my aforementioned thoughts, I had dismissed it without taking names. Then the Pahalgam terrorist attack happened. Then India kept the Indus Water Treaty in abeyance with several other diplomatic measures. Pakistan stated that it has kept the Simla Agreement in abeyance. According to me, that essentially made the Mountbatten plan void. Even if we don’t go for that one must note that India unanimously adopted a resolution in 1994, which states that Jammu and Kashmir was an integral part of India, and that Pakistan must vacate parts of the State under its occupation. There is no change in it. Pakistan has several internal and economic problems. No government in Pakistan has completed its term since independence. Abeyance of the Simla agreement was followed by a threat of nuclear attack by the defence minister of Pakistan. Later, when India responded with attacks on terrorist hideouts on May 7th, instead of de-escalating, the military chief and his team resorted to attacks on Indian military bases and ceasefire violations across LOC. India responded to them with success on those of Pakistan. There were continuous joint briefings by the MoD and MEA stating India’s position as well as countering various false claims. The morning briefing of 10th May reported forward movement of troops as well as attempts to disturb communal harmony in India. There were reports of a potential meeting of a council in Pakistan that deals with nuclear arms on the morning of 10th May. The threat of nuclear attack by Pakistan is essentially because India has a no-first-use policy as a responsible nation. The fact that there are irresponsible elements in Pakistan is obvious and well-known. Later in the day on 10th May, Pakistan denied that any such meeting was called. The evening briefing by MEA on 10th May stated that an understanding has been reached to cease all forms of attacks from 1700 hours due to a call by the DGMO of Pakistan to the DGMO of India at 1535 hours. It was mentioned that there will be another call on 12th May at 1200 hours. Later in the night, there was another briefing at 22:56 hours by the foreign secretary that confirmed some violations, and he called upon Pakistan to ensure that there are no further violations as a serious and responsible approach. Hence, the ball is in Pakistan’s court to ensure that there is no terrorist attack or any form of attack on the civilian population and there is no escalation. The skies have been quiet thereafter. Essentially, there is an understanding. There is nothing in writing as of now that we are aware of. I hope the understanding is maintained. (Independent opinion)

Briefings on Indo-Pak: There was a military briefing by DGs of three forces on the entire operation on the evening of 11th May. The briefing stated that forces are on high alert and any violation of sovereignty will be dealt with effectively. There was another briefing at 14:35 hours on 12th May. The briefing stated that all military bases in India are fully operational. DGMOs of both countries held talks in the evening of 12th May. It was agreed upon by both sides to initiate troop reduction from the borders. The Prime Minister of India in his address at 2000 hours stated that the entire country including all political parties were united on action against terrorism. The Prime Minister stated that the terror camps, which were responsible for strikes in India as well as other regions of the world were decimated. Instead of supporting our action on terrorism, Pakistan attacked our civilians, educational institutions, religious places, and military installations. These attacks were foiled and India responded which resulted in destruction of bases and losses to Pakistan. On the request of Pakistan’s DGMO and call to India’s DGMO, India considered the appeal for ceasefire. The Prime Minister further stated that India will not be blackmailed by any nuclear threat. Any terrorist attacked will be responded on our own terms. Any act of terror will be considered as an act of war. It’s not the age of war, yet it’s not the age of terrorism as well. Pakistan will destroy itself if it continuous to harbour terrorism. The Prime Minister of India reiterated India’s stated position and stand to the world that any talks with Pakistan will be only on terrorism and Pakistan occupied Kashmir. Terrorism and trade won’t go together. The Prime Minister said that entire nation should stay united and stated that today is Buddha Purnima, which signifies peace, yet it can be ensured only when we are strong. The gist is that there will be no tolerance to terrorism and PoK is the only agenda in case of any talks.

There has been a lot of talk about calculations and miscalculations by various countries and analysts on the nuclear front. Wow! What a realisation! They were sleeping until now. There is more threat in the Middle East. It’s good that there are talks between Iran and the US. Why were some countries sending more arms to Ukraine when all are aware that Russia has nuclear weapons? Why escalate things? There is a fresh truce proposal by Ukraine, and I hope there is progress. We never know; Canada may go nuclear because of the annexation threat. I hope it won’t. Houses with glasses (countries with vulnerabilities with a known history of interference and conflicts and who are prone to make claims or issue threats) needn’t preach to others. You can’t have different rules for terrorism. There is another important question on measures by the UN to save the normal Palestinians other than those involved in terrorism knowing well that Palestine has ratified the treaty on prohibition of nuclear weapons? Indian representatives in the Conference of Disarmament have raised a similar question in the larger context. India has a stated policy of no first use of nuclear weapons against any country and no use of nuclear weapons against non-nuclear states. Yet we can’t be held hostage to this responsible nature and allow others to impose terrorism and anti-India activities. One should note that the situation between India and Pakistan arose initially because of the then imperialists, who were masters of the trade of divide and rule and partitioned a nation. Divide and rule didn’t stop there. While one part prospered as a democracy, and another part struggled. What did some countries do? They benefitted from the prosperity and goodwill of one and took advantage of the vulnerabilities of the other for their own strategic ends. The defence minister of Pakistan himself acknowledged that they were doing the dirty work for the US and allies. Several others acknowledged that the country was supporting certain elements in the country. Over the years, China has joined the club. Thanks for the concern. However, avoiding miscalculations is my suggestion as well to the respective regions. P5 must initiate steps to reduce their nuclear arsenal. Many countries have indicated their worry about millions of lives. If this concern is really honest, it will be good for the world if such countries take initiative to arrive at a global strategy to eradicate the malice of terrorism in all forms and further arrive at a consensus on weapons of mass destruction. We have seen in the past that there is a difference between what some countries say and what they do in reality in their own regions or when their friendly countries are involved in various situations. Walking the talk is important. Stay healthy at all times. (Independent Opinion)

One must note that India and Pakistan share the list of nuclear facilities with each other on 1st January every year under a bilateral agreement. Both nations exchanged such a list on 1st January 2025 as well. People should ignore any fake information in circulation.

Indo-Pak situation is not over yet. Trust issue continue. Expecting Pakistani establishment to change their ways is a huge ask. I have mentioned some of the issues earlier. One should always remember that civilians are not our enemies. People will be patriotic to their own country even if they criticise the government internally. Even a talk between military personnel is a diplomacy at the end of the day. It brings some respite to citizens. At the same time, it is important for the other country to understand that terrorism cannot be tolerated. Their is an underlying feeling that Pakistan will use this time to recuperate and then get back to the same old pattern. They are already indications regarding the same. That will be a huge mistake. The path of democracy and development that India has chosen is something that many countries in the region can look up to. In general, I feel for people at the borders on both sides who endured blackouts in this peak summer. What some may not be aware is that most number of Pakistani visitors were in CG when the terrorist attack happened and visas were cancelled. They were around 2000 of them. They had to go back. Most of them were from the Sindh region. These people have relatives in India who chose to stay in India during partition. Over the years, many others have taken citizenship in India by following the due process. Some people were targeting a well-known bakery in Hyderabad. The name of the outlet doesn’t indicate that they are Pakistani now. Their forefathers came and chose to settle in India. One of our prime ministers and a deputy prime minister were born in places in undivided India, which are now under Pakistan. Many people in some northern states have relatives across the border. There are realities that one needs to be aware of. We have a problem with terrorism and those supporting and emanating it from across the border. There is no change in our stated position on territorial integrity. How to achieve this? In an ideal scenario like in a case of a two democratic nations, there may have been a greater scope for the civil society. A part of the problem here is that we are not dealing with a stable democracy or sane minds in the Pakistani establishment at this juncture. What we have been witnessing is one step forward and numerous steps backward. While all these years people in the Pakistani establishment were asking for proof of the support or involvement in various acts of terrorism, there is an open acknowledgment of support by some of them in the recent days. Hence, while I have mentioned and communicated with both the current and previous PMs of Pakistan in earlier occasions along with the Prime Minister and MEA of India for restoration of goodwill and peace, it’s difficult in the current scenario to do so unless some level of trust is restored. Terrorism is a no ball. If Pakistan wishes to improve ties, it has to give up support to terrorism. The same holds true for any other country that tries to disturb peace and harmony in India. (Being human/human communication).

In an environment-friendly move, BPCL and GAIL will set up Bio-CNG plants in Bhilai, Raipur, and several other local body areas across CG. Earlier, this was planned for six cities, which has now been extended.

It’s time for e-passports in India. Regional passport offices in 13 cities including Raipur will now issue e-passports with enhanced security features. It is likely to be extended to all passport offices during the year. Existing passports will remain valid until their expiry date. (news reports and FAQs at passportindia.gov.in)

True to the eco-friendly identity, a handloom expo was held in Eluru recently. I visited the same. Participants in the expo included weavers from various states across India. The city was known for Jute Mill until recently. While it’s closed now, it was nice to find the expo. I reiterate my earlier note on Twitter to concerned governments to set up jute and cotton research centres in Andhra and Telangana respectively. ఆంధ్రప్రదేశ్లో జనపనార పరిశోధన మరియు తెలంగాణలలో పత్తి పరిశోధన కేంద్రాలను ఏర్పాటు చేయడానికి సంబంధిత ప్రభుత్వాలకు నా మునుపటి గమనికను నేను పునరుద్ఘాటిస్తున్నాను. Over the recent years, some districts in Chhattisgarh too have seen a shift towards cotton crops. Why are research centres important? The answer is to tackle raw material cost, ensure soil preservation, generate sustainable yield, help the farming community, encourage eco-friendly crops, and ensure the viability of related industries. Alternatively, appropriate steps to ensure the same will help the concerned. Many are already doing research. There is no shortage of research work. I can write 100s of them or it may find place in some of my works. However, the benefit of research will be available when it is applied. The intent is to reduce the time gap between the research and its benefit to the stakeholders. That’s the area where governments can contribute. (Citizen’s note)

A quick trip to Hyderabad and back. Feeling younger now. Fact check: While I have been to the city since childhood days, there has not been a single year over the last 20 years wherein I haven’t been in Hyderabad at least once, including in 2020 (January, much before the lockdown). Travel has been synonymous with life. Kya hai ki nahi maloom (Deccani Hindi)? It’s not just about the train or any other mode of transport; once I step into the city, a metro ride, an auto, and a cab ride are part of the travel story. A lot of regular city bus rides when I was staying in the city. Once a Hyderabadi, always a Hyderabadi. Once I step into Hyderabad, I become a Hyderabadi again. Once upon a time, the city used to have small cycle rickshaws. Hyderabadi rickshaws were unique and different from those in Bhilai or other parts of the country. Bhilai had these long Bajaj Tempo Hanseats, which I had not seen in Hyderabad. Hyderabad, on the other hand, had double-decker buses as well. In the 80s and 90s, the roads in the city used to go silent by late evening. Now it’s a 24/7 city.

Some suggestions based on real travel experiences (Latest entry in letters section on infographics). I communicate what it was like. Constructive yet candid. Candid yet constructive. Only that helps any cause. That’s me for you. Many try to copy, yet there is only one original. Train connectivity not only meets development needs; it enhances people-to-people connectivity. A Vande Bharat originating from Durg to Visakhapatnam is already there. Another one to Secunderabad will be good. It will add to the existing bouquet of Rajdhani, Humsafar, and Sampark Kranti trains, amongst others, originating from the Durg Junction to various places and will be helpful to regular travellers. It is actually easier if railways decides to do so. One option is to extend the current Nagpur to Secunderabad Vande Bharat to Durg. Another is to have a new Vande Bharat train from Durg via Wadsa and Chanda Fort or via Nagpur. Yet another alternative is to extend the Bilaspur to Nagpur Vande Bharat to Secunderabad or Nampally (Hyderabad). Special trains based on demand are welcome, yet delays create hassles. The biweekly Wainganga Express (via Wadsa and Chandafort) was the first direct train between two cities, which was later extended to Korba. It reaches Kacheguda during the early hours and travels further to Yesvantpur. A tri-weekly Raipur to Secunderabad Express has eased the travel. There is another aspect of modernisation works at Secunderabad station, which is public knowledge at the city level. Some trains now start or pass via Cherlapally; the convenience of this station is based on where you are travelling from within the city. Until the work continues at Secunderabad station, there will be some inconvenience. The other day it was raining when I was travelling back, which adds to it. I hope things will settle down as work progresses. A minor reschedule will be helpful. People travel between cities to meet families/people/relations more than anything else. It holds true even if I don’t mention it here. (Experience-based independent suggestion and citizen’s note) దుర్గ్ నుండి విశాఖపట్నం వరకు వందే భారత్ ఎక్స్‌ప్రెస్ ఇప్పటికే నడుస్తోంది. సికింద్రాబాద్కు మరో వందే భారత్ ఎక్స్‌ప్రెస్ ప్రయాణికులకు సహాయపడుతుంది. ఇది దుర్గ్ నుండి వివిధ ప్రదేశాలకు రజధానీ, హుమ్సాఫర్, సంపార్క్ క్రాంటి మరియు ఇతర రైళ్ల గుత్తికి తోడ్పడుతుంది. రైల్వే అలా చేయాలని నిర్ణయించుకుంటే ఈ రైలును ప్రారంభించడం చాలా సులభం. ప్రస్తుత నాగ్‌పూర్ సికింద్రాబాద్ వందే భారత్ దుర్గ్‌కు విస్తరించడం ఒక ఎంపిక అయితే, దుర్గ్ నుండి వాడ్సా మరియు చందా ఫోర్ట్ ద్వారా మరియు నాగ్‌పూర్ ద్వారా కొత్త వందే భారత్ రైలును ప్రారంభించడం మరొక ఎంపిక. మరో ప్రత్యామ్నాయ మార్గం బిలాస్‌పూర్ నాగ్‌పూర్ వందే భరాత్‌ను సికింద్రాబాద్ లేదా నాంపల్లి (హైదరాబాద్) కు విస్తరించడం. డిమాండ్ ఆధారంగా ప్రత్యేక రైళ్లు స్వాగతించబడుతున్నప్పటికీ, ఆలస్యం ఇబ్బందులను సృష్టిస్తుంది. రెండు నగరాల మధ్య బియ్వీక్లీ వైంగంగా ఎక్స్‌ప్రెస్ (వాడ్సా మరియు చందా ఫోర్ట్ ద్వారా) మొదటి ప్రత్యక్ష రైలు, తరువాత దీనిని కోర్బాకు విస్తరించారు. ఇది తెల్లవారుజామున కాచెగుడాకు చేరుకుంటుంది మరియు యెషాన్పూర్ వరకు ప్రయాణిస్తుంది. ట్రై-వీక్లీ రాయ్‌పూర్ సికిందరాబాద్ ఎక్స్‌ప్రెస్‌కు ఈ ప్రయాణాన్ని సడలించింది అయితే సమయం లో స్వల్ప మార్పు సహాయపడుతుంది. సికింద్రాబాద్ స్టేషన్‌లో ఆధునీకరణ పనులు నగరంలోని ప్రజలకు తెలిసిన విషయం. కొన్ని రైళ్లు ఇప్పుడు చెర్లాపల్లి నుండి ప్రారంభమవుతున్నాయి లేదా వెళుతున్నాయి. ఈ స్టేషన్ యొక్క సౌలభ్యం మీరు నగరంలో ఎక్కడ నుండి ప్రయాణిస్తున్నారనే దానిపై ఆధారపడి ఉంటుంది. సికింద్రాబాద్ స్టేషన్‌లో పని కొనసాగే వరకు, కొంత అసౌకర్యం ఉంటుంది. పని అభివృద్ధి చెందుతున్నప్పుడు స్టేషన్ ప్రయాణీకులకు అనుకూలంగా ఉంటుందని నేను ఆశిస్తున్నాను. (అనుభవం-ఆధారిత స్వతంత్ర సూచన మరియు పౌరుడి గమనిక)

Suggestions based on real travel experiences (Latest entry in letters section on infographics) I had travelled several times since the younger days on the Durg to Vizag route. There are several trains on this route. The passenger train, now renamed as Express, used to take around 20 hours or so and sometimes even more. Now it takes some 16 hours. Another train from Nizamuddin via Durg, the Samta Express, takes around 11 to 12 hours. Korba to Visakhapatam Express is an overnight train, and Bilaspur to Tirupati is a weekly train. However, people in Durg and Bhilai have to go to Raipur to board these trains. People do travel by these trains. Vande Bharat from Durg to Vizag is a time saver, as it takes only eight hours. There is scope for improved connectivity for those travelling beyond Vizag towards Annavaram, Rajamahendravaram, Nidadavolu, Eluru, and Vijayawada. There is another Vande Bharat from Vizag to Secunderabad that connects some of these places, yet the gap is not sufficient in case of delay of the train from here for any reason. Many other connecting trains are available. There are some weekly direct trains that connect Durg to Vijayawada via Nagpur. It’s a longer route. A Vande Bharat from Raipur or Durg to Vijayawada and vice versa can be useful to people travelling further into Andhra. There is no air connectivity on these routes, so demand is likely to be high. Pricing can deter travellers on some routes on Vande Bharat. A hybrid model of sleeper and seater coaches can be helpful. The introduction of other trains on the Bilaspur/Raipur/Durg to Vijayawada route, or an increase in the frequency of a few, can be helpful. The reason is that many senior citizens usually require lower berths; it’s difficult to get them in the currently available trains. (Experience-based independent suggestion and citizen’s note)

Some hoax bomb calls in Andhra recently. Report any unwanted or suspicious object to law enforcement. We will not be afraid, and any attempt to disturb peace and harmony anywhere in India will not be acceptable.

Durg and Bhilai are twin cities. While Durg is the major railway station, there are other stations, namely Bhilai Nagar, Bhilai Power House, Bhilai, and Charoda on the main Howrah to Mumbai line and Maroda station on the Durg-Dalli Rajhara line. All local/MEMU trains stop at these stations, and some express trains stop at Bhilai Power House station as well, which serves the needs of the nearby population. Some works were going on at some of these stations in recent times.

I have travelled on almost all types of trains and in all classes. There is no rule that I have to travel only in a particular one. It’s only one life, and that’s how one knows where things stand.

People prefer various modes depending on the availability, timings, pricing, day of travel, and urgency. Raipur to Hyderabad and vice versa route is well-connected via road. Many buses operate in the route. Semi-sleepers have given way to sleepers. Duration of travel and the time of arrival at the respective dropping points are factors, among others, that make people choose between a bus or a train. Over the last two decades, we have seen the emergence of service roads that connect the highways with the intermediate places. Inter-state government bus transport has been closed ever since the creation of the state to all places, which usually have drop points in some intermediate towns as well. Even in the states that operate inter-state government buses, now there are stops at bypass junctions. Improvement of security at those junctions is crucial across the country for those travelling to intermediate towns. If people travel by car or taxi, people can use the by-pass and don’t have to necessary travel via Nagpur and Adilabad. The time is likely to reduce further when the Raipur-Hyderabad expressway becomes operational. . Raipur and Hyderabad are connected via the air route as well. Earlier, the Jet Connect was the main connector when Jet Airways was operational, now Indigo offers several flights. Bhilai is connected to SV airport, Raipur via the road route. It takes anytime between one to one and a half hours depending on the location, which is as much time as from within some areas of Hyderabad to the RGIA. There are to and fro flghts to Chennai and Mumbai. (Experience-based independent opinion). Raipur is now connected to Vizag as well with one flight (2025). Other than the mentioned cities, Raipur is connected to and fro to Bhubaneswar, Ranchi, Kolkata, Indore, Bhopal, Jagdalpur, Pune, and Bengaluru amongst others.

The problem with some naysayers is that they only look at the short term. There are other types of naysayers: These people are like everything is possible for us, it’s not possible for you. Stay happy in your world of assumptions.

‘Today’s saplings are tomorrow’s trees.’ This maxim applies to many other aspects and not just to nature. There are higher goals to achieve. (World can be a much better place means, one looks beyond the country. Nothing is impossible. Everything has its time.)

Nuclear disarmament is possible. It’s happening and it’s possible. It’s about leadership at the global level, which is currently lacking. Until then, the problem with some nations is that they invest in defense, yet they have a problem with others doing it. Peace doesn’t mean that you keep your country vulnerable to external threats. Arms race is not good for any country, yet you can’t have different rules. That explains the delay.

One of the best suggestions came from the person who came for passport verification. After checking all documents, while he was leaving, he found that one of our compound walls was a little short in height. He asked me, Why do you have a short compound wall? Increase the height. It implies that just because one is good, it doesn’t mean that one should neglect the security aspect of the premises.

There is a place in India called ‘Shani Shingnapur’. Homes and shops in the village don’t have any doors. I have been to the place more than once. While all places are not like this village, it is an example of an ideal village. When representatives from various nuclear-armed states visit India, they should visit this place. Their perception may change after that.

Covid is showing up again as per some reports. We will deal with it. Take all precautions or as advised. Stay positive and stay healthy.

Covid cases are steadily rising in some regions of the country as per the latest reports. It goes without saying that one should wear a mask in crowded places wherever cases are rising or instances have been reported as a precautionary measure or as advised.

Stay healthy at all times.

Let this page relax. Stay healthy at all times.

‘The goal is the same as the motto: Our world can be a much better place to live in. The medium is language.’