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The Middle

  • Seeking a female driver led to unexpected reactions, exposing societal biases. Jokes and doubt from friends highlighted ingrained stereotypes. Despite celebrating women's achievements, a woman driver was met with ridicule, revealing a disconnect. Real change requires embracing women in everyday roles, not just high-profile ones.

    Supreet Gill
    28 Aug 2025
  • An aunt, her son, and the narrator walked 16 km to Gurdwara Baba Budha Sahib, despite family doubts. Driven by determination and a shared desire for the long walk, they started at dawn. After encountering sunrise, villages, and a near-fall, they reached the gurdwara, celebrated with langar, and considered it a test of mental strength.

  • The author, a civil servant, initially disliked yoga during training but later embraced it to escape bureaucratic stress. Despite awkward attempts at poses, the author now values the 30-minute daily respite from work demands, offering a break from calls, questions, and data analysis.

    Chitvan Singh Dhillon
    26 Aug 2025
  • The author observes a man among Ganesha idols, triggering memories of their grandmother's devotion. Modern rituals have lost their intimacy, replaced by commercialism and new idols. The author concludes that true devotion resides not in offerings, but in the enduring impact of meaningful moments.

    Suresh Chander Kumar
    25 Aug 2025
  • In 1977, a student's dissection of a frog led to a lab panic. The incident highlighted insufficient anesthesia. The helpful lab technician, Garib Dass, later assisted the student. Animal dissections are now largely phased out due to ethical concerns.

    Ashwani Chatrath
    24 Aug 2025
  • Modern society is saturated with requests for customer feedback, fueled by intense competition and the desire for social proof. This constant demand for validation, often intrusive, pressures individuals and impacts the effectiveness of genuine feedback mechanisms, despite its importance in various fields.

    Taru Bahl
    22 Aug 2025
  • The essay highlights various forms of parental love: a grandfather's gentle care for his grandchild, a soldier's father's silent worry, and a mother's enduring concern for her son's well-being, all demonstrating love's quiet, consistent nature.

    Rajbir Deswal
    21 Aug 2025
  • Army horses and mules served for 18-20 years, with exceptional individuals exceeding that. Zorawar provided black horseshoes, Jagatmata nurtured orphan foals, and ‘engine’ mares led young horses. Pedongi set a record, and Bholu, a trick-performing mule, entertained with dramatic 'death' scenes.

    Col Vikas Thakur
    20 Aug 2025
  • BACK in 1994, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, then PM’s Scientific Adviser and the DRDO Secretary, visited Army War College, Mhow. His interactive session was meant for senior officers of the three services who were attending the combined operational review evaluation...

    Brig IJ Singh retd
    19 Aug 2025
  • In 1979 Hoshiarpur, a young boy secretly delivered rented novels for his sister, earning small change. This 'quick commerce' involved dodging his father's disapproval and fueled his love for reading Hindi comics. He later realized it was early entrepreneurial experience.

  • THE gentleman at the grocery shop wasn’t buying ketchup so much as making a foreign policy statement. “Ae kitthe di hai?” he asked, pointing at a bottle of Heinz. “Kinne di hai?” the shopkeeper replied helpfully. “No, no,” came the...

    Ajay Sood
    17 Aug 2025
  • WHEN I was in my teens, I carried the first stirrings of a fear of stray dogs. Their staccato barks and unyielding gaze used to unnerve me. I would alter my route home if it meant avoiding a stretch of...

    Aditya Mukherjee
    14 Aug 2025
  • THE other day, a new word, ‘vexillology’, captured my attention. “Has it something to do with ‘vexing’ people?” I mused. No, said the online dictionary. Vexillology is the study of flags, their evolution and the relationships between symbols, identity and...

    Usha Bande
    13 Aug 2025
  • A street vendor in Chandigarh shared a story about a one-legged stranger who helped him. Stranded in the rain, the vendor received aid from a man with one leg, a small act of kindness that the vendor considered a miracle, proving that help can come in unexpected forms.

    Himanshu Atal
    12 Aug 2025
  • A principal reflects on an encounter with parents who wanted their son's newspaper subscription canceled because he made paper airplanes. The parents, especially the teacher mother, disapproved of such childish behavior, highlighting the pressure on children to meet adult expectations and the loss of simple joys. The principal, however, cherishes childhood and vows to protect it.

    Dinesh Kumar
    11 Aug 2025
  • The narrator unexpectedly reunited with his long-lost friend, Humraaz, at a market. Humraaz revealed he found freedom by deleting unwanted contacts after quitting his corporate job. He described deleting numbers as removing burdens, achieving a sweeter silence. The narrator envied his liberation.

    Saurabh Malik
    10 Aug 2025
  • Raksha Bandhan has shifted from a bond of faith to a commercialized, formal event. Originally rooted in care and protection, the festival now emphasizes gifts and social media, potentially overshadowing the true meaning: mutual support and presence in each other's lives.

    Santosh Jatrana
    08 Aug 2025
  • The author observes daily ironies: slick advertisements promoting cleanliness, beauty, and wellness juxtaposed with rampant pollution, poverty, and decay in the city. These contrasts highlight the city's deceptive facade, where truth is obscured by superficial promises.

    Avinav Kumar
    07 Aug 2025
  • In the 1980s, the author observed Adis in Arunachal Pradesh practicing Donyi-Polo. Later, during 2004-06, he witnessed socio-economic changes, including the spread of Christianity. He saw a shift in religious practices, exemplified by abandoned nature worship hall.

    Kulbir Singh
    06 Aug 2025
  • As Public Grievance Officer, the author assisted a farmer, Harnek Singh, whose irrigation time was reduced. After listening empathetically, the author explained the situation, adhering to regulations. The farmer's main need was to be heard, which brought relief.

    Balbir Singh Dhol
    05 Aug 2025
  • A student interviewed India's former Foreign Secretary, Maharaja Krishna Rasgotra, a century-old diplomat. The meeting, filled with anecdotes and insights, covered his work with Nehru and humorous experiences with international figures like Henry Kissinger, offering a masterclass in diplomacy.

    Harshal Raj Patel
    04 Aug 2025
  • A teacher of Urdu and Persian faces various excuses from students for poor performance, including poverty, illness, family deaths, and threats of self-harm. Some students even attempt bribery. While the teacher avoids failing students, creative excuses and demands for specific grades are common.

    Sumit Paul
    03 Aug 2025
  • The author fondly remembers childhood love for jamun fruit, especially during summer. They and friends would gather jamun from various backyards, relishing the taste. A retired officer allowed access to his tree under certain conditions, creating a memorable experience.

    MA Krishnaprasad
    01 Aug 2025
  • The MiG-21, a 60-year-old aircraft, is retiring from service in India. Despite its age and nickname as a 'flying coffin,' it remained operational due to the dedication of engineers and the pilots who flew it. The author salutes the maintenance crews, pilots, and the aircraft itself.

  • Observing people at the mall, the narrator notes pervasive digital distraction, contrasting it with the genuine connection of laughing youths. Outside, technology permeates the streets. In a quiet lane, elderly artisans find solace in crafting traditional art, emphasizing human connection.

    Sonika Sethi
    30 Jul 2025
  • A couple lost their passports in Paris, devastated by theft. They filed a police report, secured temporary lodging, and received help from their host, Tom, to obtain replacement documents. Despite the initial setback, they enjoyed an extended Parisian stay, viewing it as a blessing.

    Ranbir Parmar
    29 Jul 2025
  • In remote Seegur, lacking basic amenities, a bank employee faced challenges. The branch was infested with snakes, thankfully revered by villagers but preyed upon by peacocks and vehicles. Cobras sought warmth near the generator and firewood piles. The sweeper often removed snakes and scorpions from the building.

    NJ Ravi Chander
    29 Jul 2025
  • The author's daughter failed a medical exam, prompting a pilgrimage to Sri Hazur Sahib. Despite travel setbacks, the author met a helpful couple, delaying departure. Eventually, the author stayed longer, sensing divine intervention and learning the importance of faith and surrender.

    Gurvinder Pal Singh
    27 Jul 2025
  • In 2023, residing at a Chandigarh senior home, the author remembered meeting Lt Gen Jacob in 2001. While supervising a visit for the Punjab Governor's fishing trip at Pong Dam, the author expressed concern about his daughter's living situation. Shortly after, the author was unexpectedly transferred back to Chandigarh.

    PS Tulsi
    25 Jul 2025
  • The author, a former Army Major, recalls using a Royal Enfield Bullet as a ropeway to transport supplies and personnel after a landslide in North Sikkim in 1996. The innovation, crucial for military and civilian aid, earned him recognition and fostered solidarity. The author connects this memory to a current experience.

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