Ganesh Puja became a major festival thanks to Lokmanya Balgangadhar Tilak. In 1893, Tilak transformed Ganesh Puja into a ‘sarvajanik utsav,’ advocating that it should extend beyond the confines of homes and become a public celebration to unite people in the fight for “swaraj.” His efforts brought significant attention to Pune, establishing it as the epicentre …
Today is Janmashtami, the day when we celebrate Lord Krishna’s birth. Lord Krishna is known is one of the most popular amongst all the Hindu Gods, as a lot of foreigners also know about Lord Krishna. A lot of his fame can be attributed to his teachings given by him in the Bhagavad Gita, which are …
Today is Raksha Bandhan, a special occasion that honors the bond between brothers and sisters. I have a younger sister, and while we don’t have a biological brother, we’ve never felt the absence of one. Since Dr. S.B. Mujumdar established Symbiosis in 1971, many of the foreign students have been like brothers to us. Back in …
Yesterday was International Youth Day. In 2000, the United Nations declared this day as International Youth Day which aims to celebrate the contributions of young people around the world and to raise awareness about the challenges they face. Each year, there’s a specific theme that highlights different aspects of youth issues, ranging from education and employment …
As new students enter, July and August are very significant months within the university campus. During the induction sessions, I can see new and anxious faces, and as I interact with the students, I realize that every student has a different personality, and this has led me to realize that several factors help mould a student’s …
Fathers hold a special place in a girl’s and later a woman’s life as they are the first men that she interacts with, learns from and grows up with. I have been exceptionally fortunate in this regard, as my father, Dr S B Mujumdar, is a man who is deeply respected not only by me but …
Last Saturday evening was one of my most unforgettable evenings. I had the opportunity of being with three legends who have created history in their respective fields, through the work that they have done. Dr. S. B. Mujumdar in education, Dr. R. A. Mashelkar in science, and Mr. Narayan Murthy in Technology! Why do we call …
Today is World Youth Skills Day, and I am particularly happy to write about it as I believe that skills are most important for youth to grow and progress in life. In fact, in the fast-paced modern life it may even be said that it is more important for youth to have astute soft and other …
Recently, an article that I read titled, ‘The Power of India: Top Indian-Origin CEOs Who Rule the World,’ simply echoed my thoughts! It discussed several CEOs of world-renowned companies who share the same background and are of Indian origin. As an educationist for over several decades, I have always been drawn to how appreciation for the …
For the last few days, I had been humming the famous song from the musical The Sound of Music, ‘I am 16, going on 17…,’ but with a difference…my words were… I am 60, going on… The age of 60 is a very significant year in our lives. For those leading a professional life, it means …