As Gulzar poignantly reminds us, “Kitaben jhankti hain band almaari ke sheeshon se” - books peer through the glass from locked cupboards, an apt reflection of the diminishing interaction with physical books in our increasingly digital world.

After hundreds of trees were ruthlessly cut down by land mafias in Vrindavan, recently serious concerns are being raised about environmental conservation in the entire Braj region.

The jewel of India's heritage, along with the Taj Mahal, Agra is now facing a threat that endangers its very essence. The constant blaring of horns has turned into a public menace, leaving residents distressed and exhausted. The situation is unbearable, especially at night, when truck and bus drivers seem to revel in chaos, disrupting the city's former tranquillity.

Agra has a rich tradition of local fairs and cultural activities that flourished in our mohallas and markets until about 40 years ago.

Recently, traffic police captains held a meeting to streamline Agra city's traffic system. The same old suggestions were made, avoiding tough decisions.

Are the democratic countries of the world currently grappling with a leadership crisis? It seems that the public is bearing the brunt of the lack of inspiring leaders to steer or guide democratic systems. The current quality of leadership in countries like the US, the UK, Japan and India paints a grim picture.