As another year draws to an end, we can't help but reflect on everything that has passed us. We probably do this ordinarily at the end of every year, but this year has proved that our paths seem to have more in common than we think. In a year of disbelief and muted acceptance of the surrounding realities, we played our parts as best as we can, whether at home or work. We are powerless against the forces of nature, but we find courage and purpose in the thread of unity that binds us. Our destinies may be different, but we march to the same beat of life. It is this lesson that resonates strongly during this pandemic. We are one. We flourish when we live in harmony with nature and let it flow. Other living beings have access to all of nature as the human species. We have a responsibility towards future generations that will inhabit this planet.

We have witnessed heroic acts of selflessness and sensitivity in the healthcare workers who risked infection to help many in need. We have many people to thank for their acts of kindness, sacrifice, and bravery. The loss of lives and livelihood has been staggering. Nothing is an accident in life; the wise men of yore told us. If this event brought us to our knees, it also imparted lessons to us. We demonstrated flexibility and adaptability in no small measure. We sought continuity and stability, but change is the order of life. Hope sustains us. In time we will find that normalcy has returned to our lives. But the contours of a normal life will have changed by then. Old ways must make way for the new. That is the sober truth we must accept for our betterment.

Through this medium, we place on record our sincere appreciation to every staff member, faculty member, and others in the administration who pulled together resolutely under the steady guidance of leadership. We changed our methods to continue to educate in different circumstances. We thank every member of staff who made us feel safe by sanitising our environment meticulously every day and attending to our needs unfailingly.

Difficult as it must have been for our students to start a new academic year in this fashion, they have been able to attend classes and pursue their goals despite varying constraints on resources. Admittedly, this experience has been trying for many. We salute their spirit for taking life's lessons not abstractly but in reality.

We humbly present this newsletter to you. We hope you will find something of interest to educate, inform, entertain, or inspire you. This collection of content, by design, covers a wide range of topics, to reflect our ongoing mission to celebrate learning and nourish our lives. In making this newsletter, we thank many of our colleagues for taking time to contribute to this newsletter and showcase their unique talents.

We invite your feedback and welcome suggestions to improve future editions of the newsletter in any way.

<aside> 🎐 Best Wishes for 2️⃣ 0️⃣ 2️⃣ 1️⃣

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by Prof. Anand S and Prof. Leena Sidenur