Lata Mangeshkar’s sister, Queen of Versatility, Asha Bhosle, 92 [8 Sep 1933 – 12 Apr 2026], Sadgati. Sang for eight decades, 12,000+ songs. Most recorded artist in music history, as per Guinness World Records. Greatest hits include: Aaiye Meherbaan; Aaja Aaja Main Hoon Pyar Tera; Mera Kuchh Samaan; Piya Tu Ab To Aaja; Dum Maro Dum; In Aankhon Ki Masti; Dil Cheez Kya Hai; Rangeela Re; Aaja Aaja O Haseena Zulfon Wali; Yeh Mera Dil; Chura Liya Hai Tumne Jo Dil Ko; Abhi Na Jao Chod Kar; Isharon Isharon Mein; Nigahein Milane Ko Jee Chahta Hai; Kahin Aag Lage Lag Jaave; Jhumka Gira Re; Eena Meena Deeka; Chhod Do Aanchal; Chala Chala Nav Bala; Aao Huzoor Tumko; In Ankhon Ki Masti; Bow Down Mister; Radha Kaise Na Jale; The Way You Dream et al.
Mahatma Jyotiba, Jyotirao Phule, 199. 2-year celebrations for 200 years of social activist, businessman, anti-caste social reformer, teacher, thinker, and writer – have started. His and his spouse Savitri’s contributions include: First school for girls; women’s education – empowerment; anti-caste movement, for Dalits; widow remarriages; rights of peasants, farmworkers et al. His influential books include ‘Gulamgiri’ (Slavery). Jyotiba was a great influence on Gandhi and Ambedkar.
Human Space flight. Yuri Gagarin was the human to go in the space flight, and orbit the Earth. Valentina Tereshkova was the first woman to do so. I took up ‘development/livelihoods’ work, not taking up the offer of Space tech work in SHAR. Space tech is progressing exponentially. It enables global communication; GPS navigation; weather forecasting; disaster prediction and management. It lets us satellite-enabled telemedicine and pharmaceutical research in microgravity. Satellites monitor climate change, pollution, agricultural health and related data. Can we all have the Space tech basics?
US-Iran talks at Islamabad failed. No breakthrough. Trust was missing. Iran maintained that its nuclear programme was for peaceful civilian purposes, and did not comment on nuclear weapons. How can there be ‘talks’ under pressure, threats? Israel strikes on Lebanon could not be stopped despite US-Iran ceasefire. Iran saw the Strait of Hormuz as a leverage and therefore differences over the control of the Strait of Hormuz remained.
Elections. TMC seems to be defending well in West Bengal. DMK alliance appears ahead in TN.
Street children. There may be up to 20 million in India. Children on the street with nowhere else to go, maybe about a million; Children with families on the street; Children on street returning to their families at night. Majority of them are boys. Most often self-employed, or work in multiple jobs. Can we reduce these numbers? Can we ‘rehabilitate’ them into dignity, or to their homes? Can we educate, skill them for better living, wellbeing?
NGOs, CSOs. Community collectives are taking charge. Government Organizations are taking over. Business Foundations are taking over. Big 5/10/100 Consultancy organizations are ahead. NGOs and CSOs, if they survive, are taking up new roles. Quick measurement, cost-effective replication/scaling, clear articulation/narratives are centre stage. Absorbing risks, satisfactory compliance, results on scale matter. Speed of a consultant with cost of a not-for-profit. No root cause analyses. No fieldwork, but dashboards, innovations. No concern for equity, inclusion. Can we get ‘understanding’ back? Society’s, community’s, poor’s. Poorest of the poor’s. Can we get human centricity back? Can we have NGO work surviving? Can we have rights, justice, collectivization, communitization, agency, mobilization, animation, and facilitation work live?
Yes, we can. If we coexist, flowing. Being on ground. In N? janakatakayoga for 7L.