Dear Colleagues 

From polluted Delhi, here is another round of random reflections for your perusal:

  1. During a recent flight from Bhubaneshwar to Delhi, commotion during boarding after take-off revealed that a ‘baraat’ (wedding) party was traveling together. They were seated in all different rows, and the groom was being periodically mauled. I discovered that two professionals were accompanying the baraat to take videos and make reels! Those were the days of collective singing used to take place when ‘baraat’ party travelled by train in a reserved bogey.
  2. Old town Faizabad is losing its shine to Ayodhya, now named as district. New highways and better infrastructure is everywhere. The temple campus is still under construction, but ‘darshan’ is well organized. The new statue of ‘Ram Lala’ is shining black stone.  Udupi restaurants are most visible and popular! People’s ‘astha’ (faith) is unending, and scope for higher end religious tourism is massive.
  3. The ‘City of Joy’ Kolkatta seems to be maintaining much of its old world charm (and hassles). Pavement walking is still impossible; street food is still safe and cheap; roads remain chaotic, but much easier to move in comparison to Delhi or Bengaluru! Air is clean, general public awareness is very high, and very large Bihari informal workforce discussing Bihar election results loudly.
  4.  An auspicious period in the autumn season in northern India begins on Devuthani Ekadashi (this year on November 1). In central Uttar Pradesh, harvesting of new crops of sugarcane begins, as well fresh supplies of sweet potatoes come to the market. The sugarcane crushing season of sugar mills of central UP begins then.  Large carts of these two crops on the streets of central UP towns are ready for offerings. It is said that jaggery (gud) should be made after this day as the juice of sugarcane becomes sweeter then!
  5. The city of Bhubaneshwar is emerging as a new conference destination in eastern India. Its streets are clean and traffic movement smooth; garbage free and decorated sidewalks are inviting for pedestrians. It has a high density of colleges, academic and professional institutions, supplying trained human resources. Its sporting facilities are now well recognized. What a change in 15 or so years!

Stay well, sincerely

Dr. Rajesh Tandon

 

 

About the Author

A Ph.D. from Case Western Reserve University (Cleveland, USA) and an electronics engineer (IIT, Kanpur) with a graduation in management (IIM, Calcutta), Dr Rajesh Tandon is an internationally acclaimed leader and practitioner of participatory research and development. His journey with PRIA started in 1982, as a young IIM graduate wanting to do more than just complete his PhD fieldwork.

You may be interested to read

March 1, 2026

February 1, 2026

February 2026

January 1, 2026

November 1, 2025

Durga Puja and Dushehra festivities this year overlapped with Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday on October 2. Puja pandals and Ramlila grounds had less visitors this year since Dandiya Dance parties became popular all around the city.