Pratima Shah

  A fact that I noticed off let is that today human beings do not like to be told anything/listen to someone's advice/directions/. The moment anyone points out a mistake or tries to direct another person the immediate reaction is to get defensive. No one is even bothered to process what is being told. Everywhere around no one is listening …just defending. Sometimes even I behave this way but on reflection I realize that I got defensive. It seems that we humans are getting worse at being told anything/listening to instructions/being delegated etc. Being mentored by someone who has the experience and knowledge is a blessing. Unfortunately, today the mentors/seniors do not have the right to point out any mistake of the mentee/juniors because they do not take it constructively. Rarely you will find mentees/juniors who are open to feedback. Everyone considers it as criticism and becomes defensive. When people of my age discuss these things, we feel that things used to be different in ...

  I've been thinking about a line from the Galatians lately: "Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other." A simple sentence but when I look around honestly this is the scenario everywhere. Envy always shows up without knocking. Whenever one hears news like- someone got a promotion/she moved to her new house/he posted family pics post vacation- there is a tiny flicker before you congratulate the person with the words “happy for you”. Neither do we ever pay heed to that flicker because we feel that we have moved on. But we have not. According to Socrates envy is “the ulcer of the soul,". Envy harms you terribly because it is not a fight with someone/others but it’s like a wound at which you keep picking at yourself. The other party is not even aware of what is happening and you are the only one who is bleeding and suffering. Looking at the personal angle, envy shows up in dumb ways. Say for example- when you compare your marriage to a frien...

  A phrase that frequently appears on social media is: "One of the greatest cheat codes in life is to never get offended." At first, this sounds like sensible advice. Learning not to be affected by every criticism, negative comment, or disagreement can help people maintain their peace of mind and avoid unnecessary conflict. However, there is a risk in taking this message too far. The idea of having a "thick skin" is sometimes confused with tolerating poor treatment, suppressing emotions, or remaining silent in situations that genuinely require a response. Being resilient should not mean accepting behavior that undermines your wellbeing or self-respect. This distinction becomes particularly important in workplace environments where office politics, favoritism, passive-aggressive behavior, and interpersonal tensions can influence day-to-day experiences. What Does It Really Mean to Be Thick-Skinned? Having a thick skin does not mean ignoring disrespect, accep...

    Why Getting a Degree in English Is Among the Best Career Decisions in the NEP Era? In a world that is changing quickly due to digital communication, global networking, artificial intelligence, and the creative industries, students frequently ask: "After earning a Bachelor's or Master's degree in English, what can I do?"  Today's response is: a lot more than in the past. English Studies is no longer restricted to becoming a teacher/lecturer under India's National Education Policy (NEP, 2020). The policy places strong emphasis on interdisciplinary learning, employability, communication skills, creativity, critical thinking, research and industry-oriented education-- all of which are abilities that English programs naturally foster. These days, a ...

                                                                       (PC: ChatGPT) Many a times I come across moments in my professional life when I confront an uncomfortable question: Is it ok to be someone's person, or a system's person?  As such it seems to be a matter of professional alignment but reflecting upon it one realizes that it is an ethical dilemma that many professionals face. It is an ethical dilemma that silently molds the conscience, credibility and culture of a work space. I realized that this question becomes layered when I look at academic institutions because these work spaces are imagined as spaces of empowerment, intellectual freedom and collective growth. Reflecting further, I notice that there exist invisible networks of loyalty-circles of "someone's persons"- who have achieved...

As we commemorate International Women's Day,  It's critical to consider the path towards gender parity and acknowledge the various experiences that women have worldwide. Despite advancements, a lot of women continue to be used and manipulated, frequently by members of the same society. Let's recognize the tenacity and fortitude of the fearless, honest, and hardworking women who face these obstacles head-on and overcome them. The Harsh Reality of Exploitation: Some women in our culture are subjected to manipulation and exploitation by their peers. These women frequently find themselves at the whim of cunning people who want to undercut their efforts and minimize their value, whether it's at the job, in social circles, or even in their own families. This kind of exploitation might include gaslighting, emotional blackmail, and even outright abuse. The Power of Resilience: The courageous and strong women among us do not allow such hardship to quiet or defeat them. They tak...

 I am very choosy about each and everything that I have; but I am the most fussiest when it comes to choosing friends. I do not have a huge gang of friends but the friends I have can topple a gang for me. I am selfless, sensitive and supportive towards all my friends no matter what. I am blessed with friends who make my life fulfilling and precious. You come across people who just pretend to be friends and never value the ones who consider them as their friends. If you are a true friend you will genuinely value and nurture the relation with utmost care and sincerity. You would do anything to see a smile on the face of your friend.  A true friend is one with whom you share a deep and meaningful bond that is based on trust, mutual respect, support and affection. True friendship transcends beyond the boundaries of time, distance and mere acquaintances. The connection that true friends share is genuine, enriching and enduring. True friends must be genuine and authentic with one an...

  To pray or not to pray is the choice of every individual but to respect the time of prayer cannot be the choice of an individual. It really shocks me to see majority of girls moving here and there in the University campus during the time of prayer. The prayer that we have is not a long prayer and yet these girls have the impudence to move around during the prayer time. I can understand that each one of us in a great hurry during the morning hours but that does not mean that we can insult the creator of the Universe.  Every university will have students who follow different religions and traditions. But the common factor among all these religions is that every one prays. Whether it is prayer done in isolation / in a crowd one must respect the hour pf prayer. It is one of the stepping stones to respecting a person. If you love and respect someone; you will definitely respect the time when the person prays without any objections / barriers. A university is the hub of knowledge ...

  Our experiences would be a waste if we do not use them. None of us just lands into the world with all the required knowledge. But each one of us goes through the process of 'living' life. These moments are the experiences which you had; yet we never take a lesson from our experiences. Unless and until we don't stop and look back into the experiences of the past we will never learn from those experiences. You are what your experiences have molded you into. If you are bitter / fussy / insecure /, it could be that you have faced such circumstances. But the strength lies in doing the opposite. If you had a toxic boss who ill treated you and showed no human concern towards you; would you also play the same boss or you would be the opposite. While reading this each one of us would respond by affirming that you will not be the same toxic boss. But does this really happen in the world? Only in rare cases; otherwise most of the time the same vicious chain continues. Why? Why? Why?...