IT was a sunny winter afternoon in Delhi. Omita Paul was completely engrossed in her daily busy schedule at the office of Pranab Mukherjee Foundation which she formed in 2017 to carry forward the legacy of Pranab Mukherjee, who served as the 13th President of India from 2012 until 2017 in the course of a political career spanning five decades, On request for an interview, publicity-averse Omita replied with a smile, “I don’t give interviews.” However, upon insisting, she agreed to our request. In an exclusive interview with the Dignity Foundation she revealed her deep insights on life and her purposeful journey at the Pranab Mukherjee Foundation, which she has been fostering with motherly care for over two years. Excerpts:
You had an illustrious career in civil service. What ignited you to foray into social service during your post-retirement days and build the Pranab Mukherjee Foundation?
It is not merely a post-retirement engagement for me. I had a long career of nearly five decades in the civil services and worked on multiple important assignments throughout my public life. When I retired in July 2017, as secretary to President Pranab Mukherjee, I had many options to choose from as a second career. Here I took a pause and I asked myself: ‘What is it that I really want to do for the rest of my life?’ In the silence of my heart, I found the answer.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة February 2020 من Dignity Dialogue.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة February 2020 من Dignity Dialogue.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
I Hope I Never Lose My Voice
Asha Bhosle, the evergreen playback singer who has some of the greatest film hits to her credit, celebrated her 88th birthday in September 2020. But age has never been a determining factor. She continues to do what she loves the most – singing.
Reverse Mortgage: A Boon for Seniors
The thought of being financially independent, not running short of funds in case of medical emergencies and not being a burden on their children accords a lot of mental peace and a restored sense of dignity to the elderly. Dr. Sampath Iyer explains how reverse mortgage makes this possible.
Get Rid of that Bronchial Cough
Symptoms of acute bronchitis usually resolve within one or two weeks with home treatment. You should start to feel noticeably better after a few days. Meanwhile, drink plenty of water and warm liquids and eat healthy foods. The article highlights some of the home remedies that work.
Build Bridges, Not Walls
To be able to live in harmony with each other, we must learn to not just contact but also connect, suggests V Anand Kumar.
Balancing Spirituality and Indulgence
Susanne Kempken, co-founder of The Guided Meditation Site, explains why there is no harm in being indulgent while being spiritual.
Self-Control: The Need of the Hour
‘The Marshmallow Test’ by Walter Mischel is a good book to read for those interested in understanding self-control and learning how to master it. Indira Ananthakrishnan gets into further details of what it means.
Different Kinds of Wills
Wills are an important part of the financial planning process. A will is a legal declaration that spells out a person’s wishes and intentions in matters of care of dependents or inheritance of property after his or her own death. Here is an article on the different types of wills.
Doctor in the Kitchen
Even as we turn to finding a cure for our ailments in our kitchens and gardens, Dr. Sonam Vohra provides an insight into what makes for a home remedy and why caution is required.
Stick to a Healthy Diet
Given the current pandemic there is so much information being shared about what makes for a healthy diet that it can become overwhelming. However, there are just a few simple pointers that you must keep in mind.
Understanding the Corona Virus Vaccine
Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect oneself and others from severe illness or death, especially in the case of the coronavirus. This is in addition to other recommended precautions such as wearing mask, keeping social distance and maintaining a high level of hygiene. K R K Moorthy explains how the vaccine works and the possible side effects.
