One Mind, Many Ideas

Everyone Is Mature — And That’s Exactly the Problem We often hear people say, “Everyone is mature now. They know what they’re doing.” On the surface, it sounds fair. After all, every individual has their own experiences, struggles, and ways of thinking. No one likes being told what to do. So I thought—maybe I should stop telling anything at all. If everyone already knows what they’re doing, then who am I to suggest something? Even when the intention is good, advice today feels unnecessary, even unwanted. But here’s the reality: maturity doesn’t mean we always make the right choices. Today, even if you suggest something genuinely good—something meant to help—many people take it as interference. Advice feels like control. Concern feels like judgement. Guidance feels like ego. So instead of listening, people defend their decisions, even when those decisions may harm them in the long run. The idea of “I know everything” has quietly replaced the idea of “I can still learn.” We l...

Four Attempts, One Dream: Waiting Between Panic and Hope I am Sugyan Nanda, a Political Science student from Balangir, Odisha — carrying middle-class dreams, family expectations, silent battles, and a hope that has survived every near miss. Appearing for UGC NET is not just an exam for me anymore. It has become a journey of patience, resilience, and emotional endurance. My first attempt gave me 210 marks. The JRF cutoff was 224. I cleared NET but missed JRF by about seven questions. In my second attempt, distractions took over — mental pressure, uncertainty, life. My score dropped to 198. Again, only NET. JRF slipped away. By the third attempt, after completing my postgraduation, I was more focused. I scored 234. The JRF cutoff was 238. This time, I missed JRF by just two questions. That one hurt the most. Being that close makes you feel both proud and broken. Now comes the fourth attempt. This time I scored 214 according to the answer key. A few questions are under challen...