The timely arrival of the monsoon this year has brought cheer to farmers all over India. A little while ago, the rivers were in spate, the reservoirs were overflowing, and the canals were brimming. However, after a good spell of rain that lasted until late September, there is now an alarm and concern over a water supply shortage and disruptions, as happens each year.

In rural areas, most babies are born around Holi, while cities see monsoon babies! Animals have fixed time cycles; humans don't!

In the quiet lanes of a small town, when a girl reaches out and holds the hand of a boy from another caste, stepping out for coffee with him, it becomes clear: this is not just affection, it is defiance. This love is powerful enough to shatter age-old walls of hierarchy, breach boundaries of caste, and unlock centuries of closed thinking. This is the new India, where love is no longer taboo; instead, it has become a rallying cry for change.

Our cynical neighbour Sharmaji was lamenting how the old circus troupes had vanished. “In our days, there was Kamla Circus, Oriental Circus, Gemini, Apollo... Oh, what fun! Clowns, elephants, acrobats!” he sighed.

At Taj View Apartments in Agra, homemaker Padmini was busy preparing for Diwali. Fed up with traffic jams and pollution, she spotted an online Diwali deal late in the evening and clicked ‘Order Now’. Little did she know she was becoming part of India’s new retail story! Within minutes, flowers, lamps, lights, fruits, and sweets, all neatly packed, arrived at her doorstep. A young biker delivered the goods, took a UPI payment, and rode off...

The next time you see or hear of another innocent ‘Nirbhaya’ dying, ask yourself, has the conscience of this so-called cultured nation already perished? Can women in today’s India live freely, without fear or judgment? Are our daughters safe in their homes, their schools, their workplaces, even in police stations meant to protect them?