Author Archives: Shashwat Mishra

Is your life today what you pictured a year ago?

When a period of struggle drags on, hopes are nipped in the bud and too much time lost in that toxic situation. You worry in calculate the damages, even if anything is achieved in between, it’s hard to tell.

There is no limit to progress, once something is achieved, a person automatically sets a new target. Who lives life so calculatedly, calculating what they’ve lost and what gained? Life is about liveliness and carefreeness, it’s not a calculator.

Healing has no deadline, joy doesn’t expire. As long as you are breathing change is possible. Every sunrise is a proof that light returns. We just keep moving with the support of hope, perhaps just moving on is what life is all about.

This is the fact that now you have more experience, strength and wisdom than ever before. Believe that good things still find you in between chaos. And there is never too late, what could not be done then will be done in this new year.

What cities do you want to visit?

Madhya Pradesh (M.P), a large state in central India, retains landmarks from eras throughout Indian history. It have world famous Hindu and Jain temples at Khajuraho are renowned for their carvings of erotic scenes, most prominently Kandariya Mahadeva, a temple with more than 800 sculptures.

The eastern Bandhavgarh and Kanha national parks, noted Bengal tiger sanctuaries, offer guided safaris. One half of the state is forested and offers a unique panorama of wildlife. In the National Parks of Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Shivpuri and many others.

Three sites in Madhya Pradesh have been declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO:
The Khajuraho Group of Monuments
Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi
The Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka.

Hanumantiya is a popular tourist destination in the Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh. This is one of my favourite destinations. This is also known as a waterfront resort developed by MP Tourism on the backwaters of the Indira Sagar Dam on the Narmada River.

Here view is nearly same as sea beach ⛱️with no salt water. It offering water sports, cruises, and adventure activities like kayaking, jet skiing, and during events like the “Jal Mahotsav,” ballooning and microlight flights.

What are your favorite physical activities or exercises?

Yoga is something beyond physical health and fitness. The human persona is not only a body, it is also a mind, an intellect, and a soul. Yoga attempts to harmonise all of them. In the process, one attains a healthy body, a sharp intellect, and a focused mind capable of realising personal and cosmic consciousness.

Yoga means to join. Its ultimate goal is to experience the unity of individual and universal consciousness. Yoga teaches us to recognise the fundamental unity between human beings and humankind, humans and the environment, and ultimately recognise a total interconnectedness of everything.

In Sanatan vedic literature, the word yoga was first mentioned in the Rigveda , but its philosophy, science and grammar were first provided by Patanjali in his magnum opus, Patanjali Yoga Sutra . It is heartening to note that yoga has been widely accepted across the world today.

What’s your favorite cartoon?

Tom and Jerry are the funniest of cartoon characters. The animation series shows the story of a pet cat Tom who has to chase out the naughty mouse Jerry. Jerry is always troubling Tom and stealing things from the house. Poor Tom is always trying to catch Jerry but always fails.

Jerry, though naughty, is an intelligent mouse who at times, also helps Tom. And sometimes, even Tom helps Jerry when someone else troubles him. But soon, they are back to being enemies. The funny chase and run of these two characters is what makes this cartoon series stand out.

Though Tom and Jerry are always fighting, their friendship is still evident. They teach me that we may fight with our friends, but when our friends need us, we should always be there for them.

Do you ever see wild animals?

India’s countryside continues to witness a deepening crisis of human-wildlife conflict, with increasing instances of wild animals straying into farmland and towns that often results in deaths of both wildlife and people and calls to ‘contain’ animal numbers.

Just a few weeks ago, a leopard wandered into the area near my village. It was quite a sight for a few days, then the forest department caught it and took it away. Although I didn’t see it directly but other people captured videos and photos of leopard.

As India moves ahead with infrastructure and population growth, the pressure on its wild spaces deepens. The fate of elephants, vultures, and other species depends not only on protective laws but on choices made by farmers, developers, and policymakers alike.

I enjoy observing nature closely, so I’ve seen many wild animals, some in my village, wildlife sanctuaries, and zoos. I wish for the well-being of both humans and wild animals.

Only by balancing human needs with ecological realities can India hope to safeguard its natural heritage and ensure that the forest’s silence doesn’t become permanent.

What is one thing you would change about yourself?

After a long and arduous struggle, some of my decisions started to turn out right. Since then, I’ve found that I don’t like to listen to anyone else. I cannot tolerate anyone else’s interference in my work and personal decisions.

I don’t understand why someone else would decide what I should do, even if it is beneficial for me. But sometimes when I use meditation to examine my thought and behavior patterns. Then question to my critical inner voice and ask myself about decision in that particular situation.

So, now I would like to make a small change in myself so that I can be a little flexible in taking decisions. By pay an attention to what other people are saying and try to see things from their perspective. This builds empathy and opens my mind to new ideas, rather than dismissing anything that opposes my view.

What are your two favorite things to wear?

If you have promised someone to be with them and you know that it is not possible right now. So you both decide after a long discussion that after a certain period of time, after attaining maturity, after achieving something in your career, we will automatically try to find each other and make all it happen in comfortable environment. Then any kind of hurry can spoil your relation.

Somethings are worth waiting for. sometimes it takes time, so don’t rush it, don’t force it. Let it happen on its own. Let it find you when you are ready. Let it be the part of your life when your heart and mind are clear. Only then it bloom. Only then it will work out for you.

So please be patient with those you love, with dream you chase , with anything you feel, and with your own life. Something are worth waiting for, something takes time. Something are far more beautiful that your imagination. Just remember to always keep you heart open. Everything that really meant for you will find you automatically.

But what did you do during this time, you know you don’t have much control on that situation. So, it’s possible that unnecessary mischief during that period could backfire. Either you have the guts that you’ll overcome the situation no matter whatever it is, and you should have stood with full responsibility. Or silently waiting might be the better option I guess.

What technology would you be better off without, why?

Our world must decarbonize. Air pollution remains a significant global health threat, with most of the world’s population living in areas that exceed WHO air quality guidelines. Developing countries facing worst situation.

As the needs of a growing global population demand more from innovation and technology, it’s essential that we make the right choices to stay resilient and competitive while minimizing impact on the planet. We must move towards that technology that replace the burning of fossil fuels.

Technologies that can help stop burning fossil fuels include renewable energy sources like solar, wind, tidal energy and geothermal power, as well as carbon capture and storage (CCS) to mitigate emissions from existing plants.

India is one of the world’s largest emitters of greenhouse gases, with coal being the main source. Air quality is frequently poor, especially in major cities. For example cities like Delhi and Kolkata had very high AQI readings.

Do you or your family make any special dishes for the holidays?

Here in north India, dishes are prepared according to festivals and seasons, not for summer or winter holidays. If any special dish is cooked without any festival, then you are lucky. Here are some of winter special dishes.

Sarson ka Saag: A mustard green curry often served with coarse grain specially Makki ki Roti (cornbread).

Gajar ka Halwa: A sweet, warm dessert made with carrots, milk, and sugar.

Matar Paneer: A rich dish of paneer (cottage cheese) and peas in a spiced tomato-based sauce.

Dum Aloo: Potatoes cooked in a yogurt sauce with spices and herbs.

Chole Bhature: Spicy chickpea curry served with deep-fried bread.

Dal Makhani: A rich and creamy lentil dish made with black lentils and kidney beans.

Rajma chawal: Kidney beans and rice, along with aromatics like onions, tomatoes, ginger, and garlic.

Aloo Paratha: A flatbread stuffed with a spiced potato filling.

If you didn’t need sleep, what would you do with all the extra time?

If sleeping isn’t necessary, like to explore nature more go for a bike ride, cycle ride in any remote area, or try a nature walk go to park and collect leaves. Also give more time to my blog, try more creative writing and more learning and reading.

I’d like to spend more time with Mom. It would be nice to help her cook. She has other things that I can’t yet devote time to, so I’d like to do them all if I get extra time.

As mother says, you should also do religious rituals and prayers daily, even if it is just a little, but do it regularly. Because she loves doing all this. Her free time of day is spent in this.

During the preparation for civil services, i got a chance to study philosophy. From Vedas, Upanishads to morden thinkers, I have studied Indian philosophies which is very vast and deep.

Along with this, I have also studied western philosophies. Due to this, i get a chance to read and understand many schools of thought, due to which my logic increases.

Our religion Sanatan Dharma doesn’t rely on a single scripture, a single god, or a single founder. Our religion offers many options, it depends on you what you choose to follow. And religion is only matter of personal faith and believe not logic.

So, I don’t understand the need to follow a particular religious ritual every day. But if I have time, I would like to understand my mother’s religious practices in more depth.