Russian bear has been on edge for some time, questioning NATO's need to poke Russia in the eye. The endless conflict in Ukraine, with constant Western assistance to extend the war and undermine Russia at the expense of Ukrainian lives and damage. The further the battle lasts, the more death and damage there will be.

Has Russia Won the Battle But Lost the War?

If you listen carefully to Russian President Putin's comments, one thing becomes clear: he never desired a conflict with the West. Forget about direct confrontation; Russia's President has made it clear that conflict, even on a minor scale, is out of the question, and all he wants from Western countries (read NATO) is for them to leave Russia alone. He was not in the mindset or position to oppose the united economic, political, and military might.

According to his interviews, Russia presented no threat to the United States, but rather the opposite. The United States is still attempting to limit Russia's might and confine it on its own border. 

Russia has already lost political and economic capital as a result of its disintegration; what it did in Ukraine was to rescue its honour; otherwise, Russia would be balkanized. The United States and its allies were hellbent on eradicating Russian influence, but despite their best efforts, the stage is getting tough for the American war machine to win all fights. Since its rash choice to strike Saddam Hussein's Iraq, it has repeatedly tasted defeat and lost face. 

The West is gradually losing its enthusiasm for fighting wars, and the Taliban's incredible success in Afghanistan appears to be a new reminder of the United States' inevitable demise. We are addressing a time when China, despite its inherent flaws, is slowly but steadily catching up with the United States on all development metrics, and some argue has already left it behind in many areas.

The problem with the US is the ego battle with Russia, and I believe the conclusion of the Syrian war, in which Russia effectively gained a foothold while the US lost all of its friends, was the tipping point. I believe Putin made the error of celebrating his achievement too soon and too loudly, which rubbed the US ego the wrong way, resulting in the Ukraine-Russia confrontation. Russia must learn from China's method of quietly building strength while remaining amicable even with foes.

Everyone in this situation has something to learn. The West, which is mired in its own turmoil of multiculturalism and human rights lobbies, is fighting and losing a separate battle. If things continue in this direction, civil war is on the horizon, with no clear moral winner.

Sengol is a cultural and historical treasure that represents our national pride, virtue, tradition, and history.

 Sengol : Its Significance And Controversy Surrounding It

The Sengol represents authority and power in ancient times. Although the exact era of its origin or initial usage is unreliable, various sources show that it has been a part of Tamil culture for over 3000 years. It was customary to offer the sceptre to the new ruler upon his accession to power.

 

According to experts, the sceptre is a symbolic depiction that reminds those in the authority of their position or duty to the public to guarantee good governance and justice. In addition, it serves as a continual reminder that the Sengol does not bend in its pursuit of justice. 

 

Sengol was presented as a noble gift in ancient times, but many of us were unaware of its rich history and current conflict. Let me explain how and why Sengol grabbed the limelight and why there was controversy, so read on.  

Installation of Sengol in the Indian Parliament 

May 28 2023, marked a historic day for the country when it was handed over its new parliament building. Sengol, a cultural mark commemorating power transfer, was installed near the speaker's chair in the new structure. 

The most exciting part of the ceremony was that the Government installed the same sceptre that the Britishers presented on August 14, 1947, to India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. It represented the transition of authority from the British and was kept at an Allahabad museum.

 

Sadly, the sceptre was confined to a museum corner as a "walking stick" of Nehru. Many people questioned Nehru's attitude and intent as a result of this. According to some, Nehru sought to protect his secular image and avoided using the Sengol because of its history in Hindu ceremonies. Many believe the evidence was intentionally destroyed to remove the momentous event from national memory. 

Upon learning about its significance, the incumbent Government decided to install the "Dharmic Stick" in its rightful place. It is also an attempt to restore this antiquated custom and honour India's freedom.

Why The Controversy?

Everything appeared to be going smoothly until the politicians entered the fray with their loud tongues and evil intentions. Some opposition parties rejected the Sengol as entirely fictitious, while others denied the concept of justice. Others referred to the transfer of Sengol to Nehru as misrepresentation and demanded photographs from the day to back it up—some web portals with a dubious reputation and backing also back up such bogus accusations. 

While corrupt politics has long harmed our nation's interests, politicians haven't given up. 

Government’s Efforts to Remove Cloud of Doubt

To refute the opposition's charges and set the record straight, the Central Government has issued a 30-page docket. 

The material supplied proves beyond question that the vesting of the Sengol, a significant cultural signal of power transfer during the Chola period, was used to signify the transfer of sovereignty from Colonial rule to India.

 

The evidence supplied includes media accounts such as Time Magazine, novels such as D F Karaka's Betrayal of India and Freedom at Midnight by Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre, and hundreds of additional books and documents from the period in question.

 

The historical facts claim that during the ceremony, the priests recited 11 verses of the Tamil sacred script, "Kolaru Pathikam," concluding with a prayer to Lord Shiva that the new authority would rule eternally.

 

Such factual details were tabled before the people with unimpeachable evidence by the Government. 

 

Here is a short film sourced from Google that will help you better understand the chain of events that occurred during the presentation of the sceptre to Nehru. 

Conclusion

To summarize the events, I believe, Sengol is a symbol of India's rich cultural heritage. It is a reminder of the country's diversity and the importance of respecting each other's differences. Sceptre is an important symbol for the people of India, reminding them of their history and the power of their collective voice. It also reminds us that the Indian people have the ability to bring about change and fight for justice. 

Image and Video Courtesy: Google

Overpopulation is a serious issue in India, and as the country's population continues to rise at an unsustainable rate, disputes over resources will only worsen.

Polulation Explosion in India

Over-population In India

Population growth is a severe challenge to India in particular and the globe in general. It is not only responsible for shifting demography and overburdening of existing resources also a key contributor to rising crime rates. Moreover, the government is facing a resource shortage for the expanding population, which might lead to political and social turmoil. 

With limited assets, India faces a nightmare in which the competition for resources will only escalate in the future, jeopardising the country's very existence.

     

In such circumstances, a news report caught my eye: Shereefa (shown above) had recently given birth to her 12th child. Shereefa, who married Haneefa, a hotel employee, in 2003, had her first child when she was 18. 

Consequences Of  Population Growth

My main fear is how long the administration will be able to kick the can down the road when indicators of administrative collapse and system failure due to overburdening are apparent on the horizon. How long will strict population control measures be postponed? Isn't it true that we're already behind the curve? 

We've all learned that India's population has officially exceeded that of China. This is not something to be proud of or celebrate. It is time for the government to reflect and make clear decisions. 

I can infer the kind of outrage the enactment of such a law(to control the population) will bring when we have witnessed a harmless CAA has caused such turmoil in a peaceful community supported by "Anarchists" across the country and disrupt the everyday life of the citizenry. 

As we advance, the will of the government and the concerned citizens will be tested continuously. Only resolute decisions to bring structural changes, regardless of repercussions, should prevail. The road to Elysium is fraught with danger. Hopefully, our government and civil society will stay strong, confront the problem, and convince everyone (the majority) to look into the merits of population control.
 

Source - https://www.mangalam.com/news/detail/376484-keralam.html

While predictions of a US decline are premature and overblown, there are real issues that must be addressed down the road.

Is The US Decline Inevitable? 

America That I Admired!

According to the saying, "A half-truth is even more dangerous than a lie." My desire to study the United States developed with information gained through Hollywood films and documentaries, particularly those concerning war (WWII). 

Visual media has a powerful influence on the human brain, and I was no exception.  

The open and vibrant society, economic power, cutting-edge military weaponry, and incomprehensible scientific advancements effectively generated an atmosphere of invincibility and confidence in American principles. 

The moral aptitude and leadership qualities, the commitment to upholding democratic values at any cost, made America the leader of the righteous world, at least in my eyes.

However, with time I learned that perception creates a smokescreen that opaques the reality. It hinders a person's ability to do rational thinking, and I, too, was blinded by one side narrative meticulously planned and executed through media. The American Betrayal of ordinary Afghanistanis was the proverbial last straw. 

While American dreams enticed ordinary citizens and US citizenship became an apparent goal, the US emerged as the promised land of milk and honey. But, gradually, as I continued with my quest to learn about the US, some uncomfortable facts started tumbling out. 

Scratching The Surface

Active Participation of the United States in Regime Change

Learning about the successful attempts by the US to topple regimes in South America surprised me. 

What amused me most was the Guatemala coup (1954). Endorsed by the USA, it was a blatant misuse of power and against all democratic principles that it claims to uphold. There's a long list of where the US overthrew democratically elected governments between the 1950s till the 1980s. Unfortunately, the hunger for a strategically crucial foreign land and natural resources have yet to end. 

History was again repeated in Iraq, where a regime was overthrown, and the entire region hasn't stabilized yet. The byproducts of the illegal Iraq war are the Syrian bloodbath, the ISIS monster, the Yemen crisis, and instability in Iraq. 

The US Refuses to Play Ball in International Treaties

If one was to track the record of honoring International treaties by respective nations, the US stands exposed with its abysmal record. It is abrogating International treaties unilaterally, such as the Paris Agreement on climate change, Trans-Pacific Partnership, and North American Free Trade Agreement. 

The US even rejected an International Court of Justice ruling on Iran. However, it doesn't bode well with a country that sermonizes other nations to comply with such treaties.  

The Unholy Alliance

Not just duping the civilized world, America has a past chequered history of making opportunistic alliances with terrorist organizations, autocratic regimes, and radical Islamic states. 

From selling weapons to providing technical knowledge or monetary assistance, America furthers its propaganda without deliberating on consequences. 

Not to forget that America is the only country that dropped Nuclear weapons (Japan) and used chemical weapons(Vietnam) in the world. It still possesses the most massive arsenal of Nuclear bombs and the most significant defense spender. 

The complexities of different societies, treacherous diplomacy, and economic windfall gains at the expense of misery inflicted on hapless innocent people due to successive American governments are under-reported or brushed aside by the media.

Though Gobbles is the fallen guy and is blemished, even today, American policy is the real culprit in waging propaganda wars and peddling their narrative as sacrosanct throughout the globe. Mischievous propaganda is propagated by dominating media. 

There is no denying that autocratic or communist regimes have abysmal respect for world peace or human rights, but American policymakers are no different either. Whether supplying weapons to Saudi Arabia for killing Yemini civilians or abandoning Afghan society at the mercy of the Taliban, the US has treaded an opportunistic path.

Image courtesy- Google Images 

The country's reconstruction attempt was doomed from the outset. When the Taliban acquired power, they began pursuing and executing Afghans who worked with the US to form a civil government. The US abandoning of Afghans, along with the Taliban's violent strategy, has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of Afghans.

American Betrayal In Afghanistan (Part -3)

The Afghan Debacle

The Afghan war started in October 2001 in the aftermath of the Twin Tower attacks and lingered for 20 years without any decisive outcome. It was the longest and most expensive war for the USA. 

 

The resilience of Taliban fighters shocked and exposed the limitations of the American war machine. With most of its allies have withdrawn their forces in 2014, American troops also changed their strategy. The US forces limited their activities to training Afghan troops for a combat role. They were only available to the Afghan army in a supporting role, encouraging Afghan National Security Forces to be at the forefront. 

After a prolonged period of fighting, the escalating cost of war and no remedy in sight to end the stalemate forced the US to start looking for a face-saving exercise by entering into 'peace talks' with the Taliban. Moreover, ending the war and bringing troops home became a burning election issue in America, with successive Presidential candidates focusing on troop withdrawal. Eventually, the Biden administration decided to conclude the operations and ordered a retreat.

 

It is necessary to emphasize that despite the world community's constant support and good intentions, the elected politicians couldn't bring stability to Afghanistan.

Taliban Returned to its Old Ways

The global community attempted to reconcile and play a role in reconstruction, but all efforts were futile. In the end, it was the Taliban who triumphed and began harassing citizens, especially women and religious minorities.

 

The world community tried its best to usher in a new era of development and to wean Afghanis away from radical ideology and bloodshed. International donors poured billions of dollars in aid to support the noble cause. Countries such as India, which has a strategic interest in the stability of Afghanistan, have contributed over $750 million in assistance to Afghanistan.

 

However, the inefficiencies of the Afghan administration, large-scale corruption, infighting among politicians who were former warlords, and crimes committed by government officials have disappointed the Afghanis. In addition, the ineffectiveness of the Afghan National Army in protecting vast swathes of territory and civilians from terrorists further eroded the confidence of civilians.

The Taliban shifted gears and continuously changed their strategy until they captured Kabul. During their struggle, they undermined the government machinery and remained aggressive. Taliban is attempting to win the people's confidence by adopting a dual strategy. 

 

They were threatening violence against civilians supporting the erstwhile government and reminding people of times when the Taliban succeeded in stamping out corruption and lawlessness and making the roads and areas under their control safe for commerce to flourish. The tactics eventually proved successful. 

What Fueled the Taliban's Rise to Power?

The Taliban, who regrouped successfully under the leadership of Mulla Omar with tacit support from the Pakistan Military, had sound financial backing. The Taliban leadership was well-funded and protected, which helped them strategize to take on their enemies at will. With an annual income of around $1.7 billion, the Taliban emerged as a powerful self-funding terror group well entrenched.

 

Since 2002, the money collected through different sources such as drug trade, illegal mining of natural resources, taxation on goods and transit fees on vehicles plying in controlled areas helped the Taliban maintain the insurgency and finance more attacks on the establishment. 

Pakistan's tacit support and hobnobbing with terror outfits benefited the Taliban immensely.

 

The Final Betrayal

Sadly, Afghanistan today has become a battleground for all major powers to extract a pound of flesh for themselves. As a result, the vested interests of groups within and outside Afghanistan have become a stumbling block to lasting peace in Afghanistan.

 

In this tug-of-war between negotiators and the Taliban, Afghan society stands to lose the most. In the last 20 years, the narratives and goals of the Afghan war kept changing. Unfortunately, the values for which the war started and was once a noble effort has long been forgotten. Supporters of women's rights, human rights, and civil society are dismayed today.

 

The Taliban's refusal to respect Afghanis' human rights, uphold international laws, avoid violence, and give equal rights to Afghan women during discussions was not taken into account by negotiators. Unfortunately, the US and its partners were more interested in a face-saving formula than negotiating a meaningful settlement with the Taliban. As a result, the civilized world bowed down in the face of lunatics. 

Image courtesy - Google Images 

Though the US possessed the firepower to demolish the Taliban government and claim moral victory, the US government had a poor strategy and ignored warnings about Afghanistan.The Taliban's foot soldiers adopted a simple strategy of blending in with the local populace and waiting for the right moment to strike back and seek vengeance.

American Betrayal In Afghanistan (Part -2) 

America Strikes Back

Following the breakdown of negotiations, battle lines were drawn between the mighty American war machine and deeply rooted Taliban fighters with a history of wrestling Russia. The military campaign began 27 days after approximately 3000 Americans were killed in the horrific twin towers attack.

 

The main goal of the United States 'Operation Enduring Freedom' was to demolish Al-Qaeda's infrastructure by ousting the Taliban from power. On the ground, fighters loyal to the Northern Alliance joined the military operation against the Taliban. 

 

The United States was aided in its fight against terror by its allies. Yet, at the same time, the Taliban received no open backing from any nations that recognized its authority, including Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. 

As the U.S. started its campaign, the Taliban couldn't withstand the military might of US-led forces and, within two months, lost most of the Afghan territory under its control. By December 17, 2001, the Taliban were knocked out of power, and American-led forces built military bases near major cities nationwide to provide security.

The Emergence of Civil Society

As the Taliban retreated, the U.N. Security Council, led by the United States, advocated the establishment of Afghan National Security Forces to protect Afghan land from the Taliban. International Security Forces led by the United States were to train Afghan forces to take up the task when it was ready.

On the political front, Hamid Karzai was appointed as the leader of the transitional administration to supervise the start of the country's diplomatic process. Following successful elections in 2004, Hamid Karzai was elected the first President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. 

 

Civil liberties were introduced with some semblance of peace returning to Afghanistan, and women's rights were actively supported. Moreover, the establishment emphasized the improvement of necessary physical infrastructure along with economic and educational reforms.

 

Afghanistan received generous cooperation from the international community in the form of Billions of dollars to improve health, education, human rights, etc.

 

Afghan women and girls treated as second-class citizens during the Taliban era were permitted to return to school and university and contribute to their country's development.

However, with all these development activities taking place in Afghanistan, there's always a danger of the Taliban lurking around. It is essential to understand that they were forced out of power but not defeated by the USA.

 

 Pakistan Comes to the Taliban's Aid 

Contrary to popular belief, most al-Qaeda and Taliban members were neither arrested nor killed. Instead, they quickly fled to adjacent Pakistan over the porous border or withdrew to Afghanistan's rural or distant mountainous districts, away from American strikes. 

 

Following that, the Taliban gradually began reorganizing within the safe havens of tribal areas of Pakistan under the command of Mulla Omar. Then, despite continuous American ground and air forces, the Taliban, more acclimatized to the mountainous environment, unleashed an audacious guerilla attack against US-led troops across the Pakistan border. 

The Taliban's more brutal and deceptive tactics were victorious against the ill-prepared US-led troops, who began losing soldiers in more significant numbers. Since the beginning of the conflict, America has lost almost 2300 troops and another 20,500 injured, although the number of casualties among all allies is far greater.

 

Despite some initial setbacks, the Taliban adapted well to the changing scenario of the battlefield. They started their offensive from bordering areas of the AF-PAK border and quickly escalated to the heart of the country. As the Taliban increased its strength, massive-scale attacks on government buildings, military bases and suicide attacks on civilian locations in urban areas increased exponentially.

Taliban Were Waiting in the Shadows

Patience and perseverance proved effective in the Taliban's win over Western nations. With time, the Taliban steadily regained power and lost ground, owing to battle-hardened warriors and geography that supported their combat strategy. Using patience and tenacity, the Taliban gradually expanded their authority across Afghanistan, leaving vast swaths of the country unstable and prone to murder.

Even when pressure was put on Pakistan to rein in terrorists on its soil or with successful raids by U.S. forces to filter out terrorists, it didn't do much in blunting the Taliban's offensive capabilities. 

 

To some extent, the United States achieved its initial objective of denying terror groups like al-Qaeda sanctuary while neutralizing its senior leadership. Nonetheless, the momentum seems to have shifted in favour of the Taliban.

 

The U.S., for its part, gradually started realizing the futility of the continuity of the conflict it was sucked into. Despite constant commitment towards Afghanistan regarding men and material, US-led forces were losing much more than human lives.

Tide Has Turned Now

Sensing fatigue in enemy camps, the Taliban also increased its offensive. Emboldened by the violence unleashed against the U.S.-led forces and civilians, the Taliban re-emerged as a force to reckon with that can no longer be sidelined.

 

As the bodies began to pile up, the divisions within U.S. allies came to the fore. They were no longer interested in committing their troops to the battlefront, forcing the U.S. to shoulder the responsibility alone. The limitations of the U.S.-led forces, large-scale corruption in governance, and tribal divisions within government provided a suitable ground for the Taliban to get a seat at the negotiating table.

 

With no end to the war in sight and the resurgence of the Taliban visible, the U.S. was pressured to negotiate with the Taliban to end the stalemate.

Image courtesy - Google Images 

The Afghans who relied on the global community for a peaceful and prosperous future are being abandoned. We, as a whole, and the United States in particular, not only crushed their aspirations, but also plunged them into a black pit from which there is no exit out.

American Betrayal In Afghanistan (Part -1) 

When did the Taliban first taste blood?

Afghanistan has traditionally been a religiously conservative, intolerant society. There was never a lack of radicalized soldiers capable of fighting barefoot with practically little sustenance. All it takes is a call to fight infidels, and thousands of young zealots will line up. 

 

Though they are rational in their way, the outside world is unaware of their heinous methods of operation. It was in 1995-96 that the world first saw their hideous face. They came to power via the use of American money and weapons, and what followed was a shameless dance of death that no civilized civilization could boast of. 

The brutal murder of Dr Najibullah Ahmadzai, Afghanistan's ousted president, was a watershed moment in the country's power struggle. With the killing, the Taliban declared their takeover of power in 1996. How Afghanistan's ex-President was hauled from the United Nations complex and gruesomely assassinated demonstrated that the Taliban had no regard for international law or human rights. 

 

The dawn of Taliban rule

With the rise of Taliban authority over Afghanistan, Sharia law, or rigid Islamic laws and regulations, was brutally imposed on Afghani society. As a result, all forms of amusement were prohibited, children were debarred from modern education, guys were required to wear beards, and so on.

 

This Sharia-inspired law had a significant impact on Afghan women. The authorities prohibited them from obtaining education or working outside their houses, among other limitations that made them second-class citizens.

 

While the rest of the world stayed silent about the Taliban's atrocities against its inhabitants, the victims' silence supported the ruthless regulations. The public flogging of accused violators, the open execution of offenders, and the amputation of alleged thieves became the norm.

 

The Taliban administration did not hesitate to perpetrate human and cultural genocide. Despite the international uproar, the demolition of the Bamiyan Buddha sculptures is a prominent example. 

Afghanistan became a refuge for terrorists

With Taliban securing control over 90% of Afghanistan by 1998, its cadres, educated, taught, sponsored, and armed at Madrasas right next in neighbouring Pakistan, gradually began to exhibit solidarity with terrorist organizations operating in various parts of the world.

 

As a result, there has been a large influx of radical Islamic cadres from all over the world into Afghanistan. In addition, funding from Saudi Arabia and weaponry from Pakistan quickly poured into Afghanistan, creating a haven for terrorist organizations to act against other countries.

Al-Qaeda left its mark

Despite rising allegations of terror organizations such as Al-Qaeda plotting and threatening to use violence against modern societies, the world has remained chiefly unaware of the disaster created within Afghanistan. Moreover, while Afghanistan's close neighbours, such as India and Iran, bore the brunt of terror assaults, these organizations stayed off the radar of major international powers such as the United States.

 

As Afghanistan plunged into the dark ages due to the governance of the Taliban, its land was used by terror groups as a haven to arm, operate and execute their plans. However, small resistance within the Afghan society started brewing against the terror establishment by this time. Here, it is essential to underline that the Afghan community is profoundly religious and divided on ethnic grounds.

The Taliban cadres, who belonged to the largest ethnic tribe Pashtuns (Sunni), endorsed tribal norms and rivalries that helped the Taliban achieve power on about 90% of Afghan terrain. Other tribal groups, including Hazaras, Uzbeks, and Tajiks, endured persecution under the Taliban, as did religious minorities, which fueled instability.

 

The Northern Alliance, led by Ahmad Shah Massoud, was the Taliban regime's primary opponent within Afghanistan. As the Taliban placed the war-torn country under strict Islamic authority, terror groups linked with the administration incited sectarian killing within and outside Afghanistan.

 

More significantly, the upheaval in Afghanistan allowed a terrorist organization like AlQaeda to attack civilians and government troops they deemed unIslamic or an impediment to the propagation of extreme doctrine.

The world gradually recognised the horror of the Taliban

Due to political, military, and economic circumstances, the United States, once a supporter and financier of Mujahadeen factions against Russia, has emerged as an arch-opponent of Al-Qaeda. In 1998, Al-Qaeda carried out a suicide attack against American embassies in Kenya and Tanzania to prevent America from intervening in countries designated as Muslim territory. A horrific attack on the World Trade Centre in New York by Al Qaeda-affiliated terrorists followed these.

 

The demolition of the twin towers on September 9th, 2001, was the defining moment that forced America to commit itself fully to a war against Al-Qaeda led by Osama bin Laden and their patron Taliban.

 

As the USA threatened the Taliban with consequences to support Al-Qaeda, the wheel has turned full circle. The erstwhile alliance forged between the Taliban and USA was in tatters, and the war between the two sides was on the anvil. The Taliban refused to entertain any negotiations, and the result was the planned invasion of Afghanistan by U.S. forces.   

The US onslaught

Afghans who once favoured the Taliban against the corrupt, violent warlords were now reeling under an extreme orthodox regime. The invasion of Afghanistan by the USA and their allies brought a ray of hope among civilians that it will end their tyranny.

 

Once again, Afghanistan was at the cusp of history, and Afghans were bracing for the bloodshed that has become their destiny. As the negotiations drew blank, U.S. President George W. Bush announced counterstrikes against the Afghan Taliban regime, its military installations and power centres.

 

The American strikes commenced on October 1st, 2001, against the Taliban establishment in Afghanistan. The main objective of the American attack was to dislodge the Taliban regime and substitute it with a more favourable establishment. The perpetrators responsible for orchestrating the attack on American soil were also actively pursued.

With the commencement of Airstrikes, the ground was being prepared for the next course of action by U.S. ground forces.

Image coutesy: Google

As a result of the economic lockdown and recession, more students may have difficulty finding employment or internships, which may negatively impact their future employment prospects.

How Has The Current Lockdown Situation Impacted A Student's Career? 

Coronavirus pandemic has emerged as a formidable challenge to humanity. The worsening health crisis prompted governments across the world to impose lockdown. In India too, all schools and colleges were temporarily shut down as a precautionary measure by the government.

The temporary measure to close down educational institutions had a domino’s effect on the entire education sector. From board examinations to competitive exams in universities, everything got cancelled, much to the horror of students who are stuck in the limbo and are staring at the wastage of an academic year.

Impact of lockdown on schools

The school lockdown disrupted academic activity immensely. To start with, there were no nursery admissions in schools; similarly, board examinations across the nation were cancelled. One of the significant drawbacks of the lockdown was the complete breakdown of the teaching system in the majority of our schools. 

In our country, most of the state-run government schools and a large number of low-income private schools do not have access to technology-driven e-learning solutions. As the vast majority of students are admitted in these schools, there is complete floundering of their academic activities.

On the other hand, only a small number of private schools, with limited enrolled students, have the ability to impart education, through e-learning programs.

The lack of e-learning facilities due to paucity of resources is a significant roadblock today. It has severely dented the continuation of the academic session in the majority of our schools. With no certainty emerging on the schedule for reopening of schools, the bleak outlook for students is likely to continue in the immediate future.

Colleges and Universities

Not just schools even the academic session in colleges and universities are impacted severely. The significant disruption in higher education is, however, limited in scale because of access to e-learning solutions.

The situation is, however, different for students applying for courses in various universities abroad. The pandemic badly hits many of the countries where students migrate to study—these countries such as USA, China, UK. Etc have barred the intake of international students in the present academic year. 

Similarly, students who have applied for higher education within the country are also feeling the pressure because of the mass cancellation of entrance exams in these universities. However, there are various initiatives taken by private individuals and socities to ensure students can study online from the comfort of their homes.

Job Scenario

The long term impact of the pandemic on various sectors is still under review, but the short term repercussions on the economy are beginning to take its toll on students.

Due to faltering economic activity, most of the graduates, around 33 lakh from arts, commerce and related fields and 16 lakh from engineering and management field are facing grim professional job scenario. Most of the companies have deferred the interviews for fresh hiring of students due to stagnant growth and uncertain economic activity.

As the businesses are affected worldwide, private companies are less enthusiastic and have scaled-down their attendance to hire students through on-campus placement drives.  

In cases where jobs are being offered, the companies have postponed the joining dates and in some cases even withdrawn the appointments.

According to the estimate, the slump in employment activity has pushed the early April unemployment rate to 23 per cent from 8.4 per cent in March. The worrying part is, the urban unemployment rate could be as high as 30.9 per cent.

Sensing the fear of fresh graduates to the withdrawal of job offers the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) has urged the corporates to honour their job commitments. 

There is no denying the fact that the enforced lockdown has jeopardized the already stressed job market. The slowing economy will further deteriorate the prospects of students to secure job. 

Under present circumstances, the students who have availed education loans for higher studies are facing a double whammy. Not only faltering job prospects even loan repayment is a major headache for them. 

Summary

The lockdown has disrupted the education sector immensely and threatened the education of 285 million students temporarily. With the pandemic situation worsening and no respite in sight due to lockdown, the students have to bear the maximum brunt of the emerging scenario. The long term impact of the pandemic induced lockdown on students will be assessed only later, but the aspirations of young learners are curtailed for now.