Congress Left Seva Dal Behind

Many readers will recall the reasons behind Congress's recent defeat in Bihar, while others may reflect on the current crisis faced by the J&K Congress in its alliance with the National Conference as they read through to the end. The Indian National Congress is one of India’s oldest and most important political parties. Its history is closely linked to India’s freedom struggle and later political growth. A big part of its strength during the independence movement was the Congress Seva Dal, a group of volunteers created in 1923 to organize and discipline party workers. Rahul Gandhi has even called it the “backbone” of the Congress. The Seva Dal was once central to the party, but today it seems to have lost importance. This raises the question: has the Congress left behind this once-vital institution?

To begin with, the Seva Dal was born out of necessity during the freedom struggle. It was founded by Dr. Narayan Subbarao Hardikar and supported by leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru. The goal was to create disciplined volunteers who would help the Congress in its non-violent fight against British rule. Therefore, members were trained in physical fitness, organization, and ideology. They became the foot soldiers of the Independence movement. In addition, Seva Dal volunteers played active roles by joining protests, providing relief during crises, and spreading the message of unity and self-reliance. Their uniforms made them recognizable as symbols of service and sacrifice. After 1947, the Seva Dal continued to work at the grassroots level by staying present in towns and villages. It became a training ground for future Congress leaders and helped the party stay connected to its core values of social justice, secularism, and nationalism.

Leaders like Rahul Gandhi often reminded people of its role, calling it an “unshakable pillar” of the party. However, as Indian politics changed, the Congress began to pay less attention to the Seva Dal. The rise of regional parties, identity politics, and the growing power of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) shifted priorities for Congress party. Unlike the BJP, which built a strong volunteer force with support from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the Congress did not modernize or properly invest in the Seva Dal. First, the Congress shifted from building a grassroots network to focusing mainly on elections, media campaigns, and alliances. Although this seemed practical in a competitive environment, it made the slow but steady work of the Seva Dal look outdated. Second, internal divisions in the Congress made things worse. The Seva Dal, which once united people, got sidelined because of leadership struggles and lack of attention. Even though leaders like Lalji Desai were appointed to revive it, these efforts were not strong enough. Today, the Seva Dal still organizes marches, training programs, and camps, but its activities rarely influence the party’s larger strategy. As a result, the neglect of the Seva Dal has hurt the Congress.

Earlier, the Seva Dal showed the party’s commitment to service and unity, which gave it strong connections with ordinary people. By ignoring it, the Congress has weakened its grassroots strength and begun to look like a party of elites. In today’s politics, where success often depends on strong organizations and local voter contact, this weakness is costly. This is one reason why the Congress has not been able to match the BJP’s reach in many states.  On the positive side, the legacy of the Seva Dal still offers a way forward. If rejuvenated, it could help the Congress rebuild its network, connect with rural areas, and appeal to young voters. Rahul Gandhi’s praise of the Seva Dal shows the party recognizes its value, but real action is needed. This means proper funding, modern training programs, and integrating it into the party’s election plans.

The decline of the Seva Dal shows how the Congress moved away from its grassroots traditions to short-term strategies. Once a powerful force in both the freedom movement and the party’s growth, it is now a shadow of its past. However, reviving it could give the Congress new energy and help bridge the gap between its great history and its uncertain present. By investing again in the Seva Dal, the party could reclaim its connection with the people of India. If these words reach the Congress leadership, especially those who confine themselves to closed-door meetings and engage in room politics, their influence over party affairs will diminish significantly. This opaque style of functioning has been detrimental to the Congress's image and prospects, causing damage that could potentially set the party back for another 10 to 15 years in J&K.

Gaming Platforms Promoting Sedentary Behaviour

The growth of gaming platforms has changed entertainment, giving people exciting and immersive experiences. However, this digital change also has some downsides, especially for health. Both doctors and gamers now recognize that gaming has physical and mental health risks. To begin with, one of the biggest problems is sitting too much. Since gaming usually means sitting in the same spot for several hours, it can cause musculoskeletal problems. For example, gamers often develop repetitive strain injuries (RSI), like carpal tunnel syndrome, which cause pain, numbness, or weakness in the hands and wrists.

In addition, when people skip exercise because they play for long hours, it can lead to obesity, which is already a major global health concern. Moreover, bad posture during gaming, such as slouching or leaning forward, can result in back pain or even kyphosis (curving of the upper back). On top of that, staring at screens for too long leads to eye strain or computer vision syndrome. This condition often brings dry eyes, blurry vision, and frequent headaches.

On the positive side, gaming can improve skills like problem-solving, quick thinking, and spatial awareness. Even so, too much gaming can create serious issues. For instance, one major worry is gaming addiction. The World Health Organization has officially recognized “Gaming Disorder.” People with this condition often lose control, keep playing even when it hurts their life, and choose gaming over daily responsibilities. As a result, they may grow socially isolated, which can make feelings of loneliness and depression worse. Another common issue is poor sleep. Many people stay up late to keep playing, which causes insomnia or low-quality rest.

Additionally, screens give off blue light, and this light can disturb the body’s natural sleep cycle by lowering melatonin levels. Furthermore, gaming can also affect emotions. Competitive games may lead to stress and anxiety and losing or struggling in a game can increase frustration. For some players, this feels motivating, but for others, it can cause aggression or emotional burnout. Also, violent games often spark debate, as some people worry they may affect real-life behavior, though experts still disagree on this point.

Yet, gaming is not always harmful. On the contrary, many players find it relaxing. It also helps people make new social connections online, and teamwork in multiplayer games can even build communication skills. Nonetheless, the key is moderation. Taking breaks, exercising regularly, and maintaining a balanced lifestyle are crucial for keeping gaming healthy. As awareness grows, gaming communities and policymakers are acting. For example, gamers are encouraged to do “gaming exercises” or take regular “eye breaks.” Likewise, developers are adding in-game reminders that tell players when to rest or limit screen time.

In conclusion, best way to understand is that though gaming platforms bring fun, learning, and social interaction, but they also carry health problems if not managed carefully. Therefore, balancing playtime with physical activity, sleep, and real-life social connections is essential because fault lies in the way we use it and not the way these games are designed.  As gaming technology keeps improving, our strategies must also grow to ensure gaming supports our health rather than harming it.

Oversharing Is A Digital Risk

In today’s digital world, social media plays an important role in communication, networking, and self-expression. Platforms like X, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn connect billions of people and allow quick sharing of ideas, experiences, and information. Social media offers many opportunities for connection, but sharing confidential information can also be very dangerous. The risks include identity theft, financial loss, reputational damage, legal consequences, and cybersecurity threats. All such risks come especially when people share confidential information online without restraint. Whether the data is personal, professional, or organizational, sharing it can cause problems for individuals, businesses, and even national security.

One of the biggest dangers in the digital world is ‘identity theft’. Cybercriminals often use details like names, birthdates, addresses, or even small things such as pet names or favorite holiday spots. Because these details can be answers to security questions for bank accounts or email, criminals can collect enough information from posts and profiles to pretend to be someone else and hack into accounts. Fixing such stolen identity cases takes months of effort, money, and legal steps. Besides, these problems can seriously affect both personal and professional lives. In addition, sharing too much online can cause financial problems. For young people, posting about purchases or expensive items is part of a trend and gives them social esteem, but this, in many cases, attracts scammers who design targeted phishing attacks.

For companies, the risk is even bigger when employees reveal confidential information such as product launches or internal accounts. For example, in 2019, a worker at a top tech firm accidentally shared details about an unreleased product on Twitter, which led to a stock price drop. Another important issue is damage to reputation. For individuals, sharing complaints about work, sensitive opinions, or inappropriate pictures can harm their career chances. Similarly, for organizations, leaked documents or internal messages can weaken customer trust and harm brand image. For instance, in 2022, a fast-food company faced anger when an internal memo criticizing franchise owners appeared online, leading to a 15% drop in customer trust.

Moreover, the legal risks are also serious. When employees accidentally share system details or security tips online, cyber criminals can use them to break into networks. Hackers often use details from social media to create fake emails or scams to trick people. When employees share secret information online by mistake, they may break non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), employment contracts, or laws. In such scenarios, clearly, the legal consequences of oversharing can be very costly for them. Additionally, even social media platforms themselves are not fully secure. A major example is the 2020 Twitter hack, where criminals gained access to top accounts through insider information easily available online.

To deal with all kinds of risks, both individuals and organizations must act carefully. First, users should be educated about what counts as confidential information and why it should not be shared. Second, privacy settings should always be used to control who can see posts. Third, organizations must create clear social media policies, explaining what is allowed and what is not. Fourth, regular cybersecurity training should be given to employees so they can identify phishing attempts and protect accounts. Finally, using strong passwords and two-factor authentication is vital for extra protection. Therefore, it is important to be careful, use privacy tools, and practice safe online behavior. In a digital age where information spreads instantly, being cautious and responsible is the best way to protect security.