Sabriwithrealitycheck

For me, Chhath Puja has never been just another religious ceremony. It is a profound seasonal ritual of sun worship, a tradition where prayers are offered uniquely to both the setting and the rising sun. The evening sun represents closure, surrender, and peace, while the rising sun embodies hope, renewal, and the beginning of life. Rooted in ancient agrarian culture, Chhath is a way of honouring sunlight, water, and fertile land, an act of gratitude to the supreme natural forces that sustain every grain and every life form on this earth (Jagat). In this sense, Chhath is not only spiritual, it is deeply ecological. Being born in Bihar, I carry a natural sense of memory and belonging to this festival. My first encounter with Chhath was around the age of ten, at my Nana’s house in the village. He came from an agricultural family and his fields were near a large village pond. I still remember how every member of the family, along with neighbours, would clean and prepare the Chhath ghat w...

The reports evolving from Bihar election, towards growing unease within the INDIA alliance. What was envisioned as a broad-based front to counter the BJP’s dominance now appears fragmented and uncertain, at least in its public perception. From a distance, one observes a worrying absence of cohesion and purpose among the alliance partners. Most conspicuous is the near-complete silence of Rahul Gandhi. His absence from Bihar’s political developments raises uncomfortable questions. Why has he not intervened at a time when confusion and mixed messaging threaten to erode the credibility of the alliance? Some reports from the field may be exaggerated, others may carry a kernel of truth, but what remains undeniable is that this is a critical juncture for the opposition. The Congress party risks repeating a historical mistake if it fails to respond with political pragmatism. The reality in Bihar is clear, only the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), under Tejashwi Yadav’s leadership, commands bo...

We are deeply troubled by the passing of our dear friend, classmate, and a true lover of composite culture, Amit Kumar . Late last night, I came across this heartbreaking news through a social media post shared by one of our classmates. It was difficult to process this information in the quiet of the night. I immediately reached out to friends to know more, and they shared that Amit had been unwell for some time and was facing serious health issues. After completing his M.A. in History from Jamia Millia Islamia in 2005 , Amit devoted himself to preparing for the Civil Services Examination in Mukherjee Nagar, Delhi. He was deeply committed to his goal and, as far as I know, achieved considerable success, even though he could not make it to the final list. Later, I learned that he joined Banaras Hindu University (BHU) to pursue a Ph.D. in History . During my previous job, I often traveled to eastern Uttar Pradesh. Once, while visiting Varanasi, I called Amit. Though he was not in t...

  Today, the Election Commission of India (ECI), through an extensive press conference, shared detailed updates about the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and briefed the media about its preparedness for the upcoming Bihar Assembly Election 2025. I found the information shared by the ECI somewhat confusing, especially since there is little clarity about the actual level of preparedness on the ground. How will the election ensure a level playing field for all political parties? Although the ECI appeared well-prepared for the press conference, it also seemed intent on convincing the public and institutions including the Supreme Court of India,   that everything concerning the SIR process is functioning smoothly and without fear. The Commission reiterated that there is still an opportunity for individuals whose names have not been included in the final electoral roll to get them added. It remains to be seen how the Supreme Court will react in its next hearing regarding the S...