The thought balcony

  An Encounter with Jai- an illusion of safety  We were in Ranthambore, Zone 6 of the National Park. Our guide, Pooja, told us there were four tigers in this zone—Jai, Badal, Noor, and Lakshmi—two males and two females. Hearing their names itself made the forest feel inhabited, almost intimate. But nothing prepared me for what followed. We encountered Jai resting right on the road. It was unbelievable—a very different kind of experience. There we were: gypsies, canters, humans everywhere. I suddenly became acutely aware that every time we enter a national park, we are risking our lives. Yet the irony struck me—we assume the danger is ours, when in reality, it is their space we intrude upon. Jai lay there, asleep. He opened his eyes lazily, noticing one gypsy, then another, then two canters—nearly fifty to sixty people in total. There was even a toddler crying, completely unaware that he was sitting just a few feet away from a tiger. I was zapped—caught between fear and...

  The Great Power Play: Where Do We Stand? Power—whether political, economic, or psychological —has always fascinated humankind. Every individual aspires to rise high enough to influence decisions, shape narratives, and dictate terms. That’s human nature. In governance, this instinct materializes through political parties—groups formed on shared beliefs and interests. On paper, it’s simple civics. In reality, it’s an intricate web. We call ourselves democratic. We vote with care. We choose wisely. Yet, despite the promise of representation, citizens often remain caught between conflicting interests when two opposing parties shape the nation’s discourse. The ruling party pushes its agenda; the opposition challenges it. While criticism keeps the ruling bodies in check and drives them to work harder, the motivations are rarely altruistic. After all, human beings, by nature, gravitate toward self-interest. Zoom out to the global stage, and the power play becomes even more pronounced. ...

 The Restless Middle: Between Who I Was and Who I’m Becoming There comes a stage in life — somewhere in the quiet bend of midlife — when the mind stops running on autopilot. Things you once accepted without question suddenly demand answers. Habits you’ve carried for years begin to feel heavy. And the routine that once brought comfort now asks for reinvention. For the last few months, I’ve been sitting with this restless feeling. It’s as if I’m pushing myself to do things I don’t always want to do, while also dreaming of what’s next — the next idea, the next adventure, the next chapter. It’s funny because I’ve always been the one to try something different — always exploring, creating, stepping into new spaces. And by grace, so much has come from that instinct: the Reading Club, the promotion, the recognition, the love from students, opportunities that showed up simply because I said, “Let’s give this a try.” Then there are my students — they’re living proof that passion multiplies....

  When Writers Speak, We Learn I recently had the privilege of attending an online literary festival - Adventures of the Literati ,that brought together 13 remarkable authors from across the globe ,each offering a new lens to view the world. Over two intense and engaging days, I found myself completely immersed in discussions that spanned thrillers, environmental concerns, spirituality and the craft of writing. What moved me the most was watching students from my school’s Reading Club participate with maturity and enthusiasm. They sat through six hours of sessions, asking thoughtful questions after every talk—proof of how deeply literature can engage young minds. The authors brought a wide range of insights. One admitted that he often finds inspiration by eavesdropping, turning snippets of conversations into characters and scenes. Another, who had read the Bhagavad Gita, felt compelled to simplify its wisdom for modern readers. An environmentalist-author spoke urgently about ...

  When Silence Becomes a Cry: Reflections on a Child’s Inner World The recent news of a student’s suicide in Delhi has left a heaviness in my heart that I cannot shake off. It forces me to look beyond headlines and into the shadows where a child’s unseen emotions often sit quietly, waiting — sometimes too long — to be heard. As teachers and parents, we find ourselves asking the same painful questions: Who went wrong? When did it go wrong? How does a child reach a point where ending life feels easier than living it? Children today live in a world far more complicated than the one we grew up in. We like to believe that they are protected, loved, pampered, and supported — and many of them are. Yet, beneath that comfort lies a silent pressure. Their minds are overloaded with expectations, comparisons, judgments, and fears they don’t know how to explain. A child rarely says, “I am scared” or “I feel ashamed.” Instead, he withdraws, hides behind a smile, or breaks down over something...

  When Behaviour Shapes a Life As a teacher, I have watched generations of children walk into my classroom with their own strengths, quirks, and sparks of brilliance. Each one brings something unique—some show it in their writing, some in their curiosity, some in the quiet sincerity with which they try. It is heartwarming to see them work hard and to witness their thoughts take shape on paper. Yet, even in this beautiful mix, there are always a few who drift—held back not by lack of ability, but by low motivation, inconsistency, or the absence of behavioural grounding. And this, I have realised, mirrors life. Some move ahead, some find their rhythm, and some continue to struggle because the drive to push themselves is missing. The real challenge, however, lies not just in academics but in behaviour. As a class teacher, I often find myself becoming a surrogate mother, trying to understand how children speak to one another, how they form friendships, how they handle anger, disa...

  The Touch, The Voice, The Presence: What AI Can Never Replace by Nidhi Guglani Artificial intelligence is everywhere—shaping our thoughts, assisting our work, and quietly becoming a part of our everyday routines. After today’s book discussion, I found myself questioning not just the future of AI, but my own relationship with it. Am I using it the right way? And more importantly, are we, as teachers, guiding our students to use it wisely? AI is powerful, but it is not human. It learns from data, not emotions. It responds with empathy, but it does not feel. And that is where our human edge lies. Today, many turn to tools like ChatGPT for comfort, validation, or companionship—perhaps because real relationships sometimes feel heavy, demanding, or imperfect. But this dependence can be dangerous. AI can support, but it cannot replace. It can listen, but it cannot understand the way a living, breathing human does. The warmth of a conversation, the reassurance of a touch, the wisdo...