FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK

For many decades, human society has been becoming more accommodating of diversity across religion, age, gender, and race But recent events from the broad disempowerment of women (hijab mandates, abortion challenges, etc ) to the humanitarian tragedies of war highlight the problems facing humanity today But when asked the question ‘What is the greatest threat to humankind?’, my answer would include none but that which makes the use of them possible: Hate

Specifically, the sabotage of diversity by the blind hatred groups can have toward each other I am convinced that separatism is the existential threat of our time With Make America Great Again essentially meaning being Make America White Again and Brexit being a similar move towards culling diversity, our world echoes perverted sentiments of nationalism

This year, we were overjoyed to see ‘Naatu Naatu’, a song from RRR, receive recognition at the Golden Globes as ‘Best Original Song’ This win, however, sparked controversy as people asked who the achievement truly ‘belonged’ to Members stepped forward to claim the overshadowing of the South Indian film industry by Bollywood stating that the win was not claimed for India but instead only for the Telugu and southern Indian film industry Nothing could be less Indian

India at seventy-five reminds me of Gandhiji's favorite story about four blind men touching an elephant and feeling it was a rope, tree, or snake to illustrate the philosophy of Anekantavad or the multi-sidedness of truth Unlike most countries, India was not born of a single religion or language but contains multitudes Nearly six hundred disparate princely states chose to unite as one country One people Bangalore is a city of migrants Neev, a body of evolving difference We bear multiple legacies of unity through diversity. Like all legacies including our freedom, this must be cherished, nurtured, and defended.

By Noor Sabharwal, Chief Editor