Trees are the lungs of the Earth. They absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen, making life possible for millions of species. A single mature tree can absorb approximately 48 pounds of carbon dioxide per year. In addition to this, trees regulate temperature, prevent soil erosion, and provide habitat for birds and animals. Forests cover about 31% of the Earth's total land area, yet every year millions of hectares of forest are lost due to deforestation.

    Deforestation has many causes — agriculture, urbanisation, logging, and the demand for fuelwood. The consequences are alarming: climate change, loss of biodiversity, increased flooding, and desertification. In countries like Brazil, India, and Indonesia, vast stretches of rainforest disappear each year. It is estimated that about 15 billion trees are cut down annually worldwide.

    However, there is hope. Reforestation and afforestation programmes have gained momentum globally. India launched the Green India Mission under its National Action Plan on Climate Change. Countries are pledging to plant billions of trees. Community-led conservation efforts are proving effective in many regions. Scientists argue that protecting existing forests is more cost-effective than planting new ones, since old-growth forests store far more carbon.

    Each one of us has a role to play. Planting a tree, reducing paper consumption, choosing sustainable products — these small acts collectively make a large difference. As the saying goes, "The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago. The second best time is now."

    India is one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, yet it faces a paradox — millions of young people remain unemployed or underemployed. The youth unemployment rate in India has been a subject of concern for economists and policymakers. According to data from the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), youth unemployment (ages 15–29) has consistently remained far higher than the national average.

    Skill gaps are a primary reason. While India produces millions of graduates annually, many lack the practical skills demanded by industries. The mismatch between academic education and market needs is significant. The government has launched several initiatives — Skill India Mission, PM Kaushal Vikas Yojana, Start-up India — to address this. However, experts argue that awareness and implementation at the grassroots level remains inadequate.

    The gig economy has emerged as a partial solution. Platforms like Zomato, Ola, Urban Company, and Freelancer provide flexible employment. However, these jobs lack social security, pension benefits, and job stability. The debate continues — is the gig economy a bridge or a dead end for India's youth ?

"Albert said nothing but thought deeply. The following Sunday he went to see his mathematics teacher, Herr Koch, who admired him and had taught him all the school had to offer. Herr Koch immediately gave him a certificate : 'He has talent reaching far beyond his school age.' Albert's face lit up with joy."
— Albert Einstein at School, Patrick Pringle

"She was not pretty. She was short and fat and a little bent. Her face was a criss-cross of wrinkles. Her silver locks were scattered untidily over her pale, puckered face. She always wore white. Her lips constantly moved in inaudible prayer. In her hand she carried a rosary. She had been like this as far back as I can remember, and so she will always remain in my memory."
— The Portrait of a Lady, Khushwant Singh

"The cardboard shows me how it was
when the two girl cousins went paddling,
each one holding one of my mother's hands,
and she the big girl — some twelve years or so."
— A Photograph, Shirley Toulson

"Then sleek as a lizard, and alert, and abrupt,
She enters the thickness, and a machine starts up
Of chitterings, and a tremor of wings, and trillings —
The whole tree trembles and thrills."
— The Laburnum Top, Ted Hughes