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)

Things have changed over the last 72 hours. I withdrew my earlier thoughts to wait and see whether we can expect any change in approach from the Pakistan government. There is so much to gain from eradicating terrorism and restoring peace. However, the response from the Pakistan government is on expected lines. There is not much to expect from those whose so-called leaders either spend time in prison or are known to seek shelter in the UK. No prime minister in Pakistan has completed a full five-year term since 1947. It’s a failed country. There is no credible leadership. As Pakistan has suspended the Shimla agreement, we no longer have to agree with the Mountbatten Plan that resulted in the creation of two nations. A meeting of representatives from various parties is welcome. The government should call for further such meetings as the situation demands. India should take all necessary steps to destroy the menace of terrorism and regain our territory as early as possible. (25th April 2025)

PR and digital marketing experts look after your own life and well-being. Some cities will continue to grow as publishing hubs, and some Hyderabadis and some from other cities will be happy with digital marketing. No one is stopping you from your work in IT or related companies. However, there is something called a full-fledged publishing industry across India and the world. I have explained about publishing in the aforementioned paragraphs. No wonder Cambridge shifted its office to another city from Hyderabad. They had an office earlier in Hyderguda. Some won’t do, and some will trivialise others’ efforts. Some only know about IT and marketing. Some don’t know anything about publishing and literature. As an independent author and editor now, I have been and I will be writing about different subjects. Nothing marketing about it. Today I am writing here; I may be writing in a magazine tomorrow. It’s part of the role. On my first day at OUP, I was told by some of my seniors at the workplace that they had read my opinions on blogs. Some don’t understand editorials. Have you never read opinions and op-eds in newspapers and magazines? A wake-up call to Chennai as well that it shouldn’t follow this trend and destroy the publishing industry there. A profession is a profession. When lives are lost, it’s about humanity as well. People in cities like Hyderabad or anywhere in the country who have witnessed terrorism need not be reminded about humanity unless some are living on a different planet. Take it in a constructive way. Lot of competition from Andhra too. So gear up.

Moving forward, we will have editorial opinions on the blog and independent editorial page in Indian languages as well. We will start with Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, Marathi, and Bengali. Opinions in other languages in due course. Perhaps, we will have a magazine in due course, which may help cover endangered and vulnerable languages as well. A decision is pending.

There was a terrorist attack in India, which resulted in the loss of precious civilian lives. There have been several attacks in the past too. The way it was done was an act of cowardice. There was an open acknowledgement by so-called leaders in Pakistan about the involvement and support of their nation for terrorism over the last few weeks. India has responded to the terrorist attack by targeting terror camps, which Pakistan itself should have taken action against. Pakistan should stop support for terrorism and its propaganda against India. The world should note that the comments of the Pakistani military chief in recent times have been indicative of a brainwashed child against India. The world is seeking restraint. That’s fine. However, if Pakistan wants to escalate further, it will be the last nail in the coffin. 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. However, Pakistan has continued to be provocative, which is unacceptable. I still hope better sense prevails. Otherwise, there is a limit to what peace lovers can do in the given scenario. Update: These are strange times and I don’t rule out a full-fledged war between India and Pakistan given the attitude of the latter. I am not jumping to any conclusions. However, false claims of are emanating from Pakistan true to it’s nature. Expecting a terror-harbouring country to change overnight is something no one expects. Let’s see the how the situation unfolds. Our armed forces are strong enough to provide a befitting reply to any misadventure and we will get back our territory. As I mentioned earlier, the Mountbatten plan should cease to be applicable now. The chances are high in case of any misadventure. If people think I am speaking tough, let it be. We have suffered so much due to terrorism. Enough is enough. The brave women military personnel who are briefing the media is an indicative of our strength. It’s the victory of good over evil forces. Stay alert. Report any suspicious object to law enforcement. Stay healthy. (Independent editorial note)

As far as Bangladesh is concerned, many Indians admired Dr Yunus in the past. His contributions are noteworthy. Bangladesh is a country with a lot of potential, and we had fairly decent relations despite issues. However, right now he is working in the capacity of chief advisor. While we have helped the country in the past, the statements from him and his aides have been provocative in recent times. India wishes for good relations, and I hope that is achieved. Otherwise, the armed forces are capable of accomplishing whatever is required. If people think I am speaking tough, let it be. We have been taken for granted for too long. Enough is enough. (Independent editorial note)

Change your ways is the message to the Chinese: Zero tolerance for terrorism emanating from Pakistan or with the support of any other country. 停止支持巴基斯坦在印度的恐怖主義和領土完整之類的問題上。 不要把印度的善意視為理所當然。This implies: Stop supporting acts of terrorism as well as those that hinder the territorial integrity of India. Don’t take India’s goodwill for granted. If people think I am speaking and acting tough, let it be. Enough is enough. (Independent editorial note)

An all-party meeting is welcome. There are some counterclaims by another country, and India should respond to such claims, if possible. As things stand, there are reports of attacks on civilians in border areas, which should be effectively dealt with. There should be further meetings as the situation demands. (Independent editorial note).

So many AI enthusiasts in the world. I am from a different literary, research, and publishing world who is aware of our rules in the industry. Out of curiosity, I just checked what Grok has to say about me over the last week: 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. ‘ It ‘s 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. I don’t have to promote myself.

India’s first AI Data Centre is coming up in Naya Raipur in Chhattisgarh.

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.

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.’