Part II — From Information to Influence If the architecture of communication has changed, the role of the government communicator must change with it. The challenge is no longer simply to disseminate information but to create understanding, build credibility and, where necessary, persuade citizens and stakeholders that a particular course of action is both necessaryContinue reading “From Press Release to Public Conversation -II”
Author Archives: udaykumarvarma9834
From Press Release to Public Conversation-I
Part I — When Communication Changed Its Architecture There was a time when government communication followed a relatively uncomplicated trajectory. The Government had something to announce; the communication machinery prepared the message; newspapers, radio and television carried it; and citizens received it. The system had its complexities, but its architecture was reasonably stable. There wereContinue reading “From Press Release to Public Conversation-I”
Two Pavilions, Two Ways of Showing India
A recent article in The Economist drew attention to a striking contrast between India’s pavilion at the Osaka World Expo and its pavilion at this year’s Venice Biennale. Both were official representations of India, both came under the Ministry of Culture, and yet the magazine’s assessment of the two could hardly have been more different. Two WaysContinue reading “Two Pavilions, Two Ways of Showing India”
AI and Labour: Preparing for a Future We Cannot Stop
There is a question about artificial intelligence being asked almost everywhere today: Will AI take away our jobs? It is an understandable question, but perhaps not the best one with which to begin. Every major technological transformation has changed the nature of work. The steam engine, electricity, computers and the internet each eliminated some occupations, createdContinue reading “AI and Labour: Preparing for a Future We Cannot Stop”
When the Monsoon Changed
India’s ancient rhythm in an age of extreme weather A Monsoon Out of Step The Himalayas have provided the latest and most unsettling images of India’s monsoon. In Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, intense rain has triggered landslides, flash floods and the collapse of roads and bridges. Mountain slopes have given way, sometimes carrying away everythingContinue reading “When the Monsoon Changed”
कांवड़: आस्था की अनोखी यात्रा
आज श्रावण मास का तीसरा सोमवार है। वैसे तो श्रवण मास में शिव मंदिरों में भीड़ उमड़ती ही है लेकिन सोमवार तो भगवान शिव का दिन है और इसलिए आज भीड़ कुछ ज़्यादा ही है। और जब भीड़ अनियंत्रित हो जाती है तो दुर्घटनाएं भी होती हैं, जिनमे लोग जान गँवाते है। अधैर्य और आवेशContinue reading “कांवड़: आस्था की अनोखी यात्रा “
India’s Ethanol Story: From Sugarcane to Energy Security
A Supplement to the E20 Debate The several responses to my earlier piece ‘E20: A Debate That Needs More Science And Economics Than Rhetoric’ suggest that the subject requires some further understanding and clarification. I have therefore written this supplementary article, which sets out some of the relevant facts and arguments that may help makeContinue reading “India’s Ethanol Story: From Sugarcane to Energy Security”
Beyond the World Cup-VI
A Note Before the Final Letter This is the concluding letter of Beyond the World Cup, the second and final part of a journey that began with The World Cup—A Primer from Dadu, a series of twelve letters written to my grandchildren during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. What began as a few letters to introduce Parth,Continue reading “Beyond the World Cup-VI”
E20: A Debate That Needs Science And Economics More Than Rhetoric
When a fuel blend becomes the subject of political campaigns and even gives birth to a political outfit, it is evident that the debate has travelled well beyond chemistry. India’s transition to E20 petrol—20 per cent ethanol blended with 80 per cent petrol—has generated sharply divided opinions. Supporters see it as a milestone in energyContinue reading “E20: A Debate That Needs Science And Economics More Than Rhetoric”
Beyond the World Cup-V
Letter V: The Long Road to Greatness My dear Parth, Viyanka, and Veyd, Today I want to take you somewhere that no television camera ever shows. It is not the dazzling stadium where thousands of people cheer. It is not the grand stage where a captain lifts a glittering trophy. It is not even theContinue reading “Beyond the World Cup-V”
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