Dear Readers,

As we wrap up the second month of 2021, while finding our ground with the deadly virus, we also witnessed a ground breaking moment in the realm of space science research and technology. With Perseverance landing safely in Mars, a new chapter has begun in our study of planets and extended universe.

Indians, in specific, had a lot more to cheer. The mission was announced successful by Dr. Swati Mohan, an Indian. Women in sciences is not an unknown phenomena for us and we have enough women researchers and scientists working with the defense and space science missions.

The Bright Red Dot highlights the relatively strong presence of women in science and technology in our country, penned by Ajay Raman, a seasoned hi-tech professional. While he goes on to highlight the strong presence of women in defence, probably the only country in the world to have so, he also nudges us all to encourage our daughters to pursue their careers in areas of STEM – Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

While Dr. Swati’s bindi became the talk of town, what stood out to me was the fact that irrespective of being ridiculed often, she stood her ground and was undeterred about her choices. She was fearless. Often in a woman’s life, it is the fear of the unknown that restrains her. In Known Devil? No Thanks, Jyoti Shekar clearly urges us to be undeterred and take that chance.

Life has its ups and downs, and the trick is to tide over and understand that this too shall pass. However to ensure we do not hit a real bottom low, we need to ensure we keep ourselves afloat to encourage our self, nourish our soul and keep our sanity intact. How about knowing your own self first and stepping out for A Date with Yourself? Jayanti Krishnan nudges us to not miss the chance of spending time with the most important person in our lives – our own self.

One more way to handle the travails of life is to indulge in some therapeutic activities that help you get a handle on your emotions and calm yourself down to think more clearly. In Handling Your Emotions with Art, Jyoti Shekar walks you through the magic that colour and art can do to our souls. We have only one life and we cannot miss this chance to live a life filled with colours, love and harmony.

Our Young Voices section this time has a young law student, Adithi Holla, penning Real Men Don’t where she debunks the paradox of an ideal man and how the society has built numerous stereotypes making the real man drown within them. These voices are what we need today to give us all a reality check.

Nurturing good human beings is a deep responsibility. More so, in today’s world. Not only are the parents responsible for ensuring they nurture a bright mind, they also need to be these smart visionaries who can spot the talent and see the potential in their children and then get down to work on bringing them to the fore. I recently read a novel by a 13 year old boy, and I caught up with his mother, Janani Jaganmohan, to get a perspective on how she went by Nurturing a Young Author.

As we herald in the spring, I am wishing for and dreaming a better, happier and a pandemic free world for all of us.

Cheers

Swapna Narayanan

Chief Editor