Rotaract Medium

Scribblings on forearms, solving math and laws, Chided by teachers for our ink-smeared flaws. Yet we walked home with swagger, no shame in the mess, Tattooed with numbers, a scholar's careless finesse. The sun shone bright when our scores were full, Each step a march of triumph, confident and cool. From the bus stop to home, we'd proudly stride, Sharing tales of the day, with laughter as our guide. The noon sun's heat, it never burned deep, For the joy of returning home lulled us to sleep. To Mum, we'd tell our stories, hearts alight, Her warmth shielding us from the weight of the night. Oh, life was beautiful in its old-school ways, In the innocence of those carefree days. By: Reine Preeam

The IPL Auction 2025, held on November 24 and 25 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, marked a significant chapter in the history of the Indian Premier League. With a staggering ₹467.95 crore spent on 84 players on the first day alone, the event showcased the relentless pursuit of talent and the increasing stakes in cricket's commercial aspect. Rishabh Pant's record-breaking sale for ₹27 crore not only made him the most expensive player in IPL history but also symbolized the shifting dynamics of player valuation, where skill and marketability intertwined. The auction was a spectacle, drawing attention from cricket enthusiasts and casual observers alike, as billionaires vied for the best talent, turning the event into a high-stakes drama reminiscent of corporate boardrooms. The trends emerging from the auction revealed a growing emphasis on youth and versatility, with franchises increasingly willing to invest in emerging talents. The presence of 577 players vying for 204 slots u...

The burning sun was scorching down on Maria, who was doing her best to wipe away sweat from her forehead. Soiled hands clutched with dirt signaled hours of working the plot. She looked over at Ana, her young daughter, sitting nearby, sorting minute tomatoes that had just been picked. This was a poor harvest this year, but one full of meaning-an earned prize won through survival and determination. Life had always been pretty tough in their little village, but it had only gotten worse with time in the past few years. Cropped plants died from multiple occasions rather than growing this season, and food became day by day scarce. Hunger is no longer a visitor; instead, it became the slouching shadow that would not go away. Maria almost lost hope, seeing all her neighbors and relatives carry out the same common battle. She saw it even in Ana's eyes: that mute longing for a life where food was never a question. One day, though, the workers came to the village, offering seeds a...

Education can be crowned the light in darkness, the only saviour strong enough to lead us through the difficult terrains of ignorance, prejudice and chauvinism. Today, even the young minds are poisoned by the brutal venom of the age-old prejudices and dogmatic views of this barbaric society. In a world drowned in inequalities and incomprehension, one finds oneself constantly worrying about the obscure future of our world led by heartless views and judgements. The only power that we yield against this dangerous and deteriorating darkness is education. Young minds need to be constantly taught to walk the right path and think differently from their ancestors. They must learn from the mistakes of our horrendous pasts and learn the power they yield to develop the pragmatic society of our dreams. These young minds have immense potential to forge innovative solutions and bring about executive, noble and all-encompassing changes in our society. They have the mental and physical str...

Lila was that woman nobody knew what went on behind her face in that bustling city filled with car horns and people racing, but no one really knew what went on behind the face she put up. About mid-thirties now, she was focused on climbing that corporate ladder at that very prestigious marketing firm. Everyone loved Lila; she was always a few minutes early, and nobody left the office before she did. Meanwhile, as Lila poured herself into her job, her health slowly took a backseat. Lila lives on takeout meals, fueled by coffee and late-night snacks, assured that sacrificing health was part and parcel of the pursuit of success. Sometimes, she dismissed the occasional bouts of fatigue, headaches, and restless nights as characteristics of a driven lifestyle. "I will rest when I am successful," she would reassure herself while her body whispered for attention. One fateful day, Lila fainted at her desk. The office was thrown into a frenzy as her coworkers rushed to her ...

Time—it governs every moment of our lives, yet its essence remains a mystery. Is it a universal truth that exists independently, or is it merely a human construct, an illusion we’ve created to make sense of the chaos? Philosophers, scientists, and even poets have wrestled with the nature of time for centuries, yet the question remains open-ended, as tantalizing as ever. The Concept of Time: A Human Invention? No doubt, the concept of time divided into seconds, minutes, hours, and years is a human invention. Even the ancient civilizations-from Egyptians to Mayans-made time measurements based on the sun, moon, and stars. But what exactly do we measure? Is a day and a year merely the shadow of Earth's rotation and orbit, or does it represent something more? Calendars, clocks, and deadlines-all are tools that humans have devised to impose order. But would time even exist without our perception? That's where the debate gets fascinating. In some ways, the human experience of time is ...

Every Ramadan, life slows down for a month. It’s a time when fasting, prayer, and reflection become a part of each day. Ramadan teaches patience and gratitude, but what strikes me the most each year is how it opens my heart to others, especially those who don’t know where their next meal is coming from. For me, fasting is a choice, but for many, going hungry isn’t. One Ramadan, my family and I decided to volunteer to make meal kits for families struggling to get by. My day would start early, with packing rice, running around the kitchen on Maa’s orders, setting aside bags of grains and dates, ready for distribution. We worked mostly in silence, each of us focused, knowing why we were there and how much each meal would mean to the families who received it. As my dad and I drove to deliver the food, I couldn’t shake the thought of how simple it was for me to end my fast at sundown. But for many, hunger is an ongoing reality, not something they can pause or turn off. The disco...

One of my favourite days of the year is Diwali. It has been since I was a kid. There is no greater joy than decorating the house, sitting in the pooja, wearing new clothes, and celebrating with the ones I love. To my kid self, this joy was universal no matter what festival brought it for someone. As I got older, however, I realized that this joy is not afforded to all. Marginalised groups, workers on duty, hospitalised people, or folks who have been left behind by their family; if they had any, to begin with, is; don’t get to partake in this joy. How unfair is that? Which is why when a youth organisation in my hometown Indore named Indore2030 started an initiative named ‘Dil-Waali Diwali’, I jumped on the opportunity to participate. It was a simple yet fulfilling plan. We circulated a list for food, medicines and a small amount of money, made postcards with a heartfelt message and our stamp on it, decorated and packed two diyas to hand out and brought sweets as well. These ...

The winter nights ain't dry anymore, For I learned to fall for me A little more. The clouds still cover the sun, The wind is still cold enough, The temperature still goes down, The dogs still howl, The sky still drizzles at night. Often it comes to my mind, Oh, so pretty! For I'm in love with me, Just a little more. Yes, true that, The love is less than What it will be tomorrow, But definitely sweeter Than the dessert I had at supper. The thunders are still so loud; I sometimes still shiver, The weather still so cold, But I don't feel the numbness anymore. True is the saying: The warmth of love Can melt any glacier. So be it. I am my beloved, And my beloved is me. That's what my name is for, My life is all about love, And it's a love story Which revolves around me. ~ Reine Preeam