Government is a pattern

Have you ever considered how closely agriculture depends on stable weather patterns? Rainfall, temperature, and sunlight are not just environmental factors—they're essential ingredients for healthy crop growth. When these patterns become erratic—through delayed monsoons, sudden droughts, or extreme heat—agricultural productivity suffers, and farmers are left vulnerable.

In a similar way, governance operates on patterns. Just as farmers depend on weather, citizens depend on consistent, transparent policy making. Government policies shape the economic and social climate, and when these become unpredictable, the entire system can falter. Erratic decision-making can disrupt not only long-term planning but also public trust in institutions.

Recent examples from the current Indian government illustrate this trend. Sudden moves like demonetization, unannounced surgical strikes, and the decision of caste census have often been framed as bold or strategic. While actions like surgical strikes may have a legitimate place in matters of national security, using unpredictability as a political tool—particularly to unsettle the opposition—raises deeper concerns.

Governments are meant to provide stability, not suspense. Turning governance into a series of surprises may offer short-term political advantage, but it undermines democratic norms. More troubling is the portrayal of political opposition as enemies of the state. This is not only a distortion of democratic discourse but a dangerous erosion of constitutional values. When those in power equate dissent with disloyalty, they edge closer to authoritarianism and farther from the democratic ideals they claim to defend.

In agriculture, unpredictable weather can destroy crops. In governance, unpredictable policies and political polarization can weaken democracy. Both call for balance, foresight, and respect for the systems that sustain us.

India's water policy

The immediate outcome of recent Pahalgham attack has been India suspending Indus water treaty with Pakistan. So the point of importance is the water. While getting a first hand information on this development I happened to come across a good information on India's water policy.

In the context of India, the formulation of water policies presents a unique set of challenges. The Constitution allocates jurisdiction over water-related matters to State governments (Schedule VII, List II, Entry 17), while the center holds authority over inter-state rivers and water disputes. Given that river systems often traverse state boundaries, the center assumes a crucial role in ensuring sustainable management and balancing the developmental interests of different states. This may involve utilizing other constitutional entries, such as those about forests, to safeguard catchment areas. Numerous central and state laws address water management, including the state Panchayati Raj Act, which permits the delegation of responsibilities, such as minor irrigation, to Panchayats. Similarly, constitutional provisions allow the transfer of subjects, such as water supply and sanitation to urban local bodies, providing a decentralized approach to water governance (Bhatt & Bhatt 2017; Hutchings et al. 2017).

India's NWP considers water a fundamental human necessity. The management of water resources in India falls under the jurisdiction of individual states, with the central government's role restricted to inter-state water clashes. Thirteen states have formulated SWPs following the guidelines outlined in the NWP during the Eleventh Five-Year Plan, i.e., the period from 2002 to 2012 (Shah 2013). Proactively, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh developed and implemented their first SWPs in 1994, 1994, and 1999, respectively. The second NWP was issued in 2002, and the centralized India-WRIS (Web-enabled Water Resources Information System) was established in 2008. It compiled valuable data, including a river basin Atlas for India, enabling the free exchange of information among government agencies and citizens. These issues included concerns about river health, conflicts, and paradoxes within the policy's framework.

The NWP of 2012 introduced various recommendations for the conservation, development, and enhanced management of water resources in India. Its core objective was to assess the existing scenario, formulate a comprehensive action plan from a unified national standpoint, and identify the water demand-supply disparity. An extraordinary milestone in this policy was the incorporation of the Public Trust Doctrine, marking its inaugural inclusion in the NWP documentation as a facet of water sector reform and effective governance.

According to the National Water Body Census, 2023, the country will have 2,424,540 water bodies. Among these, 59.5% (1,442,993) comprise ponds, 15.7% (381,805) are categorized as tanks, 12.1% (292,280) are identified as reservoirs, while the remaining 12.7% (307,462) include water conservation structures, check dams, percolation tanks, lakes, and other water bodies. Of the total enumerated water bodies, 97.1% (2,355,055) are in rural areas, and the remaining 2.9% (69,485) are in urban areas. Approximately 78% are artificial water bodies, while 22% are naturally occurring.

Source: https://iwaponline.com/jwcc/article/16/2/493/106726/A-review-of-India-s-water-policy-and

An efficiently designed water dispersion network ensures a compact water supply in a well-organized city. A proper water conveyance framework is necessary to effectively distribute water from the centralized network to individual households (Radhakrishnan & Wu 2018). As an illustration, in India, specifically in Tamil Nadu, AI technology is being employed to manage water resources effectively in regions facing stress. The Tamil Nadu e-Governance Agency has taken proactive steps by introducing an AI-driven, cost-effective monitoring system for rural drinking water supply. This initiative ensures fair and equitable water distribution across rural areas, addressing the challenges of water scarcity and ensuring access to safe drinking water for all. In Tiruchirappalli, a city situated in Tamil Nadu and positioned along the Kaveri River at the head of the Kaveri River delta, the Tiruchi Corporation was chosen by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) to spearhead a pioneering project focused on detecting and minimizing losses in drinking water distribution using AI. Collaborating with the municipal administration department, MoHUA, and a French-based company, the civic body will develop an innovative, intelligent water resource management solution. Mohseni et al. (2021) utilized Bentley WATERGEMS software to analyze the water distribution system in Narangi village of Maharashtra, India. This software enabled them to assess the progression of water within each pipeline, monitor water levels in individual tanks, and assess the expansion of water flow velocity.

In summary, the global revolution in water management through the integration of AI and advanced sensor technologies is evident. India's efficient system, improved by AI models, optimizes water distribution, quality assessment, and infrastructure maintenance. Although challenges persist, such as heavy metal detection and IoT system efficiency, the potential of AI to tackle water scarcity and promote sustainability is promising, offering hope for a more water-secure future.

Forests and water are interlinked

The relationship between forests and water is very critical that needs to be accorded highest priority in the decision making process. The Water Policy of 2012 does not contain any reference to the links between availability of water and the forests, though it states that holistic and interdisciplinary approach to water related issues is missing’, it hardly mentions anything related to the linkages between forest cover and the water runoff or availability of the water in rivers and the watershed forests.

The Central as well as state governments have spent thousands of crores of rupees over the years towards implementation of the watershed programmes. Unfortunately, they are aimed at ‘exploiting’ the water resources through water harvesting structures rather than ‘husbanding’ water and to protect the watersheds of rivers.

In this context it is pertinent to re�ect on the traditional wisdom of people, who designated the watershed forests as ‘sacred groves’ leading to conservation of this fragile region. Compare this to the ongoing policy in which the small streams and tributaries in watersheds are being devastated to construct micro and mini hydel projects as well as run of the river schemes in both Himalayan and Western Ghats.

These practices indicate the sheer disconnect between the forest and water linkages among the policy makers as well as those who have narrow mindset while implementing these projects.

While recognising the need to conserve the forest resources, the government of India has evolved the Forest Policy in 1988 that states ‘the main aim is soil and water conservation for mitigating floods and droughts and for the retardation of siltatio...

Read more at: https://www.deccanherald.com/opinion/forests-water-interlinked-2321693

While recognising the need to conserve the forest resources, the government of India has evolved the Forest Policy in 1988 that states ‘the main aim is soil and water conservation for mitigating floods and droughts and for the retardation of siltatio...

Read more at: https://www.deccanherald.com/opinion/forests-water-interlinked-2321693

First blog

World of blogging is an enthralling experience wherein you are your own author of the content. It just started as a hobby for me to get acquainted to the idea of blogging wherein I started posting the reviews of the cinemas I watched and books I read but this habit helped to navigate through many emotions of life which otherwise I couldn't share even with my family and friends.

My first blog was now non-functional lifeishoney.blogspot.com, I don't remember what exactly I posted on that blog but I could understand the ABC of how to open a blog and post content for the audience. My hobby of posting a blog wasn't any popular in my circle but it served my purpose in unexpected ways.

It's almost 13 years since I started this blog and I am just four short of reaching 200 posts. I do maintain another blog wherein I post about movie reviews but I have restricted this blog just for current affairs. 

Blogging has helped me bridge the gap between my ideas and the providing a platform to that idea in reaching out to the digital world. I rarely get any comments for my blog posts but I am aware that my blog posts are closely watched. I usually get suggestion to monetise my blog but I want to keep it as a space wherein I convey my ideas for a greater cause.

I thank all those invisible audience who visit my blog regularly. I would post a special blog post on reaching the 200th post milestone. Thanks to one and all.

Why India is not the Tamilnadu and we need a strategy to deal with

Tamil Nadu has often stood as a challenge to the Sangh Parivar ecosystem. It remains one of the most self-sufficient and progressive states in the country, especially when compared to many states in the Hindi heartland. From its political autonomy to its emphasis on social justice, Tamil Nadu has carved a path rooted in rationalist thought and grassroots reform. Among the most influential figures of this movement was Periyar E. V. Ramasamy — a man whose ideas still echo through the state's social fabric.

But this modern, progressive Tamil Nadu wasn’t always this way.

There was a time when the state was deeply entangled in the web of caste. So rigid was the system that inter-caste relationships often resulted in brutal consequences, sometimes even in the form of honor killings. Caste identity dictated every aspect of life — from education to marriage to temple access.

Over time, however, Tamil Nadu began to transform. Social reform movements, many led by leaders genuinely committed to the ideals of equality and justice, began to challenge the old order. Through powerful anti-caste movements, affirmative action policies, and public awareness campaigns, the state started closing the gap between castes. The people of Tamil Nadu — not just its leaders — played a crucial role in this transformation. It takes deep cultural courage to let go of privilege, and large sections of society did just that, moving away from caste supremacy to a more inclusive vision of society.

No amount of modernism can flourish without the support and participation of local communities. And in Tamil Nadu, it was the people who made the conscious choice to move away from caste hierarchies, allowing future generations a chance to live with greater dignity and freedom. Their willingness to evolve deserves recognition.

Today, India as a whole finds itself at a similar crossroads — where Tamil Nadu once stood in its battle against caste, the country now stands in its battle against communalism. Yet, the Hindi heartland appears less willing to confront and renounce the ideas of religious supremacy, often justified under the umbrella of ‘Sanatan Dharma’.

What’s ironic is that the spiritual texts revered in Sanatan tradition — the Ramayana, the Mahabharata — are filled with discourses on renunciation and dharma. Both Lord Ram and Lord Krishna speak at length about self-sacrifice, letting go, and the greater good. And yet, many who identify with this tradition today struggle to renounce ideas of religious or cultural superiority — a contradiction that continues to hinder the creation of a truly modern, united India.

The question before us is this: Will the Hindi heartland show the same willingness that Tamil Nadu once did? Will it be ready to let go of supremacist notions and create a future that prioritizes harmony over hierarchy?

Only time will tell. But the hope is that, like Tamil Nadu, the rest of India too will rise to the occasion — not for the sake of the present alone, but for the generations to come.

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Ethernet based Webserver using ESP32 and W5500 modules

Have ever wondered how your routers get configured using a IP address on a web browser? The answer is simple, there is an embedded web server hosted on the router and when you connect to the computer using an Ethernet connection, the web server is accessed on the router using the IP address provided by the manufacturers for further configuration process.

I wanted to replicate this technology for evaluation purposes and using an IOT gateway development board, I could configure the ESP32 as Ethernet based web server attached to W5500 Ethernet module. I used a Arduino IDE to upload a sketch provided by a git hub repository maintained in the link https://github.com/Networking-for-Arduino/EthernetESP32/blob/master/examples/HelloServer/HelloServer.ino by https://forum.arduino.cc/u/juraj/summary

The code was uploaded after successful compilation but when connecting Ethernet module to my linux system, my linux was not allocating IP address to the Ethernet web server, a prerequisite for accessing the webserver through the web browser. There was some configuration problem in dhcp server installed in the linux system.

After consulting my friends working in the networking domain, I was suggested to use router which has an inbuilt dhcp server to allocate IP address to dhcp clients. As per suggestion from one of my friend I purchased TP link archer C6 router and connected IOT gateway to the same. Router allocated IP address to the Ethernet web server at ease and hence made web server accessible from the web browser of linux sytsem which was also connected to the router establishing a two terminal LAN.

Using this methodology you can connect your IOT gateway to local LAN for accessing the Sensor information dash board designed into Web server on getting a alert for a event notification to your mobile device by the gateway using cellular technology.

Ambedkar: The Forgotten Satyagrahi of Mahad

In a couple of days, we will be commemorating Ambedkar Jayanti—the birth anniversary of the architect of the Indian Constitution. This year’s celebration is particularly special, as it marks the first Jayanti after the symbolic moral reaffirmation of the Constitution during the highly anticipated 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

We know Dr. B.R. Ambedkar as a visionary statesman, a brilliant lawmaker, a devout Buddhist, and the principal architect of the Indian Constitution. But how many of us recognize him as a Satyagrahi?

Yes, Dr. Ambedkar too used non-violence as a means to pursue truth—much like Mahatma Gandhi. However, unlike Gandhi’s spiritual and political Satyagraha, Ambedkar’s Satyagraha was rooted in social justice. His fight was against the deeply entrenched caste system, and his cause was the dignity of the oppressed.

One of the most striking examples of this was the Mahad Satyagraha.

Mahad, located in the Raigad district of Maharashtra on the banks of the river Savitri, is also home to a significant Buddhist historical site. In August 1923, the Bombay Legislative Council passed a resolution stating that all citizens—regardless of caste—should have access to public utilities maintained by the government.

In January 1924, the Municipal Council of Mahad adopted this resolution. However, it failed to implement it due to resistance from caste Hindus.

In response, the Bahishkrit Hitakarini Sabha organized a historic conference on March 19–20, 1927, in Mahad. Over a thousand people gathered. At the conclusion of the event, the attendees—led by Ambedkar—marched to the town’s main water tank and drank from it, asserting their right to public water.

This act wasn’t just about water. It was about dignity.

The Mahad Satyagraha was one of the most powerful struggles led by Ambedkar to claim equal social rights for the so-called "untouchables." Although Ambedkar didn’t personally believe in Satyagraha as a long-term solution, he saw it as a means to appeal to the moral conscience of the dominant castes.

He remarked:

“It is not that you can solve your problems by Satyagraha. This is only a request to the upper-class Hindu mind. This movement is going to prove whether the Hindu mind treats human beings like human beings or not. This Satyagraha is going to change the hearts of Hindus. The movement will decide whether Hindu mind regards humanity in the new age.”

Source: https://www.allaboutambedkaronline.com/post/an-overview-of-the-mahad-satyagraha

Ambedkar’s legacy as a Satyagrahi may be lesser known, but it is no less inspiring. On this Ambedkar Jayanti, let’s remember not only the constitutional giant he was—but also the courageous reformer who dared to challenge society’s deepest injustices.

 

Train your mind to look at the uniqueness

Sometimes in life we yearn to be like the one who we love, especially a kid who emulates his father in the early stages of life. Hence for every kid his father is the first hero in his life. But on the other hand a truly loving father would like to see his kid earn a unique name and position in this world.

Being unique doesn't mean you sway away from society, a garden has unique breed of flowers but still it is the unique collections of all such flowers makes a garden unique. You may be wondering what will you achieve after all those efforts of training your self to be unique? Its just about adding a unique flavor to the creation, hope I am clear about the significance of being unique.

To practice uniqueness you need to train your mind to see the uniqueness surrounding you in small aspects. But to be frank this world is trained to make an individual hate the uniqueness of the other individual for the reasons well known to the trainer. So if you want to train yourself to see the unique side of the world it is at your own risk.

But once you have trained your self to see the unique side of the world, you will be free from the herd mentality, a prerequisite to see how uniquely you can contribute to the world.