There is a kind of pain that cries. And then there is another kind, the one that becomes so tired it forgets how.

There are mornings when you wake up and do everything expected of you.

You answer messages. You attend meetings. You laugh when everyone else laughs. You complete your work, ask people how they are doing, and say, “I’m fine,” when they return the question.

From the outside, nothing appears broken.

Inside, however, nothing seems to arrive.

Bad news does not destroy you. Good news does not excite you. The song that once understood your soul becomes background noise. Someone tells you they love you, and although you understand the words, you cannot find the feeling that is supposed to answer them.

You are not exactly sad.

You are not exactly peaceful either.

You are simply absent from your own emotional life.

This strange silence is sometimes called emotional anesthesia.

The Silence After Too Much Noise

We usually imagine emotional suffering as something visible.

Tears. Anger. Panic. Sleepless nights. Shaking hands. A voice collapsing in the middle of a sentence.

But not every overwhelmed person looks overwhelmed.

Some people become quieter.

Some become extremely productive.

Some learn to discuss their pain as if they were presenting a report about someone else’s life. They can explain exactly what happened, why it hurt, and what it changed,but their voice carries no emotional weight.

That absence is often mistaken for strength.

“You handled it so well.”

“You’ve become so mature.”

“You’re finally over it.”

Perhaps.

But sometimes what looks like recovery is actually disconnection.

Healing allows us to remember pain without being controlled by it. Emotional anesthesia makes the pain feel unreachable, not necessarily resolved.

There is a difference.

What Emotional Anesthesia Really Means

Emotional anesthesia describes a state in which emotions feel muted, distant, flattened, or inaccessible. A person may struggle to feel sadness, happiness, affection, excitement, grief, anger, or emotional connection with the intensity they once did.

In mainstream clinical sources, this experience is more commonly discussed as emotional numbing, emotional blunting, difficulty experiencing positive emotions, or detachment. It can appear as part of post-traumatic stress, depression, dissociation, grief, and other psychological experiences. (National Institute of Mental Health)

That distinction matters.

Giving an experience a name can make us feel understood. But a poetic name cannot tell us what caused it.

Calling everything “emotional anesthesia” and assuming the mind is merely protecting itself may sound comforting, but it is clinically incomplete. Similar feelings can emerge from very different conditions, and those conditions may require different kinds of support.

A metaphor can describe the room.

It cannot always tell us why the lights went out.

A Shield Is Not the Same as Healing

The most popular explanation of emotional numbness is that the mind shuts down feelings when pain becomes unbearable.

There is truth in that explanation.

After trauma or extreme stress, people may feel detached from themselves, from others, or from the world around them. The NHS describes dissociation as one way the mind may cope with too much stress, while trauma-related conditions can involve social isolation, loss of interest, and difficulty experiencing positive emotions. (National Institute of Mental Health)

In that sense, numbness can function like a shield.

When feeling everything seems dangerous, feeling nothing may appear safer.

But a shield is supposed to protect you during battle. It is not supposed to become your permanent home.

The problem begins when the danger has passed but the emotional distance remains. What once protected you from unbearable pain may eventually prevent you from experiencing trust, affection, pleasure, intimacy, and hope.

The nervous system may have learned to survive.

It may not yet have learned that it is safe to live.

Why Do We Become Emotionally Numb?

There is no single explanation that fits everyone.

Trauma and prolonged emotional overwhelm

After frightening, violent, humiliating, or deeply distressing experiences, a person may avoid thoughts and feelings connected to what happened. Some describe watching their life from a distance or feeling as though the world has become unreal, lifeless, or foggy.

Trauma-related numbness can exist beside anxiety and hypervigilance. A person may therefore appear emotionally flat while their body remains tense, alert, and prepared for danger. PTSD can include detachment, social isolation, diminished interest, and difficulty feeling happiness or satisfaction. (National Institute of Mental Health)

This is one reason “You do not look traumatized” is such a careless statement.

Trauma does not have one face.

Sometimes it screams.

Sometimes it disappears behind a perfectly controlled expression.

Depression and the loss of emotional range

Depression is not always experienced as intense sadness.

For some people, it feels more like emptiness, apathy, disconnection, or the disappearance of emotional colour. Emotional blunting may be part of depression itself, including after the most severe symptoms have begun to improve. (National Institute of Mental Health)

It is also useful to separate several experiences that are often mixed together:

Anhedonia mainly refers to reduced interest in or pleasure from activities.

Apathy centres more on reduced motivation and goal-directed behaviour.

Emotional blunting refers to a broader reduction in emotional intensity.

They can overlap, but they are not identical. Someone may still complete every responsibility while feeling no satisfaction, warmth, excitement, or emotional reward from doing so. (PubMed Central (PMC))

Grief and shock

Numbness can also be part of grief.

After a major loss, the reality may be too large to absorb immediately. Some people cry continuously; others feel almost nothing. Neither reaction, by itself, proves that someone loved more or less.

Periods of sorrow, disbelief, anger, guilt, and numbness can all occur during grief. In many cases, these reactions gradually change as the loss is processed. (Mayo Clinic)

Not every emotionally numb period is therefore a disorder.

Context matters.

Duration matters.

Most importantly, the effect on a person’s daily life matters.

Medication-related emotional blunting

Medication deserves particular care and honesty.

Some people taking antidepressants, especially SSRIs or SNRIs report feeling emotionally blunted. Studies have produced varying estimates, with several reporting the experience among a substantial proportion of treated patients. However, researchers still debate how much of the numbness comes from medication and how much represents remaining symptoms of depression. (PubMed Central (PMC))

That uncertainty is precisely why someone should not diagnose the cause alone.

A person experiencing emotional blunting while taking medication should discuss it with the prescribing clinician. Antidepressants should not be stopped abruptly or changed without medical guidance because sudden discontinuation can produce significant withdrawal symptoms and worsen emotional distress. (nhs.uk)

The answer is not necessarily “stop the medicine.”

The answer is “have an informed conversation.”

How Numbness Hides Inside a Functional Life

Emotional anesthesia does not always make a person incapable of living.

Sometimes it makes them extraordinarily functional.

They continue because stopping would require feeling.

They build routines so strict that no emotion has enough space to interrupt them. They keep the television running, the phone scrolling, the music playing, and the calendar full. Silence becomes uncomfortable because silence may allow something buried to knock on the door.

Emotional numbness may feel like:

• Knowing that you love someone without feeling emotionally close to them.

• Laughing while sensing that the laughter never reaches inside.

• Receiving important news and reacting only because you know how you are expected to react.

• Losing interest in music, conversations, celebrations, intimacy, or activities that once mattered.

• Feeling indifferent toward outcomes that previously carried emotional meaning.

• Struggling to cry, even while knowing that something hurts.

• Feeling as though you are observing your life rather than inhabiting it.

• Saying “I don’t care” when the more accurate truth is “I cannot reach what I feel.”

These experiences are not a diagnostic checklist. They can have many explanations.

But when they persist, worsen, or begin damaging relationships and daily functioning, they deserve attention rather than admiration.

Being able to survive without feeling is not the same as being well.

Peace and Numbness Are Not the Same

Peace has often been confused with emotional absence.

But peace is not empty.

Peace can hold sadness without being destroyed by it. It can experience joy without desperately trying to preserve it. It remains connected to the present even when the present is difficult.

Numbness feels different.

Peace says:

“I feel this, but it does not control me.”

Numbness says:

“I know something should be here, but I cannot find it.”

Similarly, dissociation is not simply calmness. It may involve feeling disconnected from oneself or the world, observing oneself from outside, or experiencing surroundings as unreal, lifeless, distant, or foggy. (nhs.uk)

These distinctions are important because our culture often rewards emotional suppression.

We praise the person who never cries.

We admire the one who remains available to everyone.

We call emotional distance maturity, even when it is exhaustion wearing a clean shirt.

But the inability to feel is not emotional mastery.

Sometimes it is emotional depletion.

The Cost of Feeling Nothing

At first, numbness may feel like relief.

The memories stop cutting as deeply. Rejection becomes easier to tolerate. Disappointment loses its power. You no longer spend nights begging the past to become different.

But emotional life rarely offers a separate volume control for every feeling.

When emotional range becomes restricted, pain may become quieter, but affection, curiosity, excitement, tenderness, and intimacy may also fade. Research on emotional blunting describes diminished positive and negative emotion, while trauma-related numbing can contribute to withdrawal and difficulty maintaining emotional closeness in relationships. (PubMed Central (PMC))

The people around you may misread your distance.

They may think you stopped caring.

You may think so too.

But sometimes the love is still there. It is simply trapped behind a door that was locked during a different emergency.

The tragedy of emotional anesthesia is therefore not that a person becomes heartless.

It is that the heart may still be speaking while the person has lost access to its language.

The Slow Return to Feeling

Emotions do not always return through one dramatic breakthrough.

Sometimes they return in fragments.

A song suddenly feels different.

A particular smell brings back a memory.

Someone asks the right question, and your throat tightens before you understand why.

You become irritated after months of indifference.

You cry over something small because the tears were never only about that moment.

These are not failures.

They may be signs that something inside you is becoming reachable again.

Stop demanding a dramatic emotion

Repeatedly asking, “Why can’t I feel anything?” can turn emotion into another performance requirement.

Instead, begin with smaller observations:

What is happening in my body?

Do I feel heavy, restless, tense, warm, cold, tired, or disconnected?

Do I want to move closer to something or farther away from it?

What moment today carried even one percent more emotional weight than the others?

You do not need to manufacture happiness.

You are simply rebuilding awareness.

Let the body participate

Emotional reconnection is not always achieved by thinking harder.

Walking, breathing slowly, exercising, maintaining regular sleep and meals, practising mindfulness, and returning to manageable routines can support emotional regulation and recovery. NIMH recommends exercise, mindfulness, realistic goals, consistent routines, and time with trusted people as supportive practices alongside appropriate treatment. (National Institute of Mental Health)

The purpose is not to “hack” yourself into feeling.

It is to give your mind and body enough stability to stop treating every emotion as a threat.

Tell one person the accurate truth

You do not need to deliver a perfect explanation.

You can simply say:

“I am not exactly sad. I just feel far away from everything.”

Or:

“I know I care, but I cannot feel connected right now.”

Honest language gives another person the opportunity to meet the reality you are experiencing rather than the performance you have been maintaining.

Social support can be an important part of trauma recovery, while talking therapies may help people understand underlying causes and learn ways to manage periods of disconnection. (National Institute of Mental Health)

Choose someone who can listen without immediately trying to repair you.

Not every silence needs advice.

Some silences first need company.

Seek professional assessment when the numbness remains

A mental-health professional can help explore whether the experience is connected to trauma, depression, dissociation, grief, medication, or another concern.

Psychotherapy is not merely a place to describe pain. It can help people identify patterns, understand triggers, process difficult experiences, and gradually reconnect thoughts, emotions, behaviours, and physical sensations. Different underlying conditions may require different therapeutic approaches. (National Institute of Mental Health)

Getting support does not mean your mind failed to protect you.

It may mean the protection worked, and now you need help putting the shield down.

When the Silence Needs Urgent Attention

Emotional numbness should not be treated as a personality trait when it is interfering with your relationships, work, sleep, self-care, or ability to remain present.

Seek professional support especially when the numbness:

• Continues for an extended period or keeps worsening.

• Is accompanied by severe hopelessness or social withdrawal.

• Makes you feel unreal, detached from your body, or disconnected from reality.

• Leads you to rely on alcohol, drugs, self-harm, or dangerous behaviour just to feel something.

• Comes with thoughts of suicide or a belief that life is no longer worth continuing.

If you are in immediate danger or believe you may hurt yourself, contact local emergency services, go to the nearest emergency department, and tell a trusted person who can remain with you. Suicidal thoughts and self-harm require immediate, serious support, not secrecy or self-judgment. (nhs.uk)

Closing Thoughts: Your Heart Is Not Gone

Perhaps you are not cold.

Perhaps you have simply been standing guard for too long.

Perhaps your mind became tired of deciding which pain was safe to feel, so it lowered the volume on everything.

That may have helped you survive.

But survival strategies are not always suitable as permanent ways of living.

A wall that once stopped danger can eventually stop love too.

So do not hate yourself for becoming numb. But do not romanticize the numbness either. It deserves compassion, curiosity, and, when necessary, professional attention.

Feeling again may not begin with joy.

It may begin with discomfort.

With a tear you did not expect.

With anger you had buried.

With a song that suddenly refuses to remain in the background.

Let those small emotions arrive.

Do not interrogate them.

Do not ask them to prove that you are healed.

Simply make room.

Because your heart may not have forgotten how to feel.

It may only be waiting to believe that feeling is safe again.

Your numbness may have protected you from yesterday. It does not have to become your permanent address.

Your Turn: Have You Ever Felt Emotionally Absent?

Have you ever passed through a season when neither happiness nor sadness could fully reach you?

What helped you feel present again,a person, a conversation, a song, therapy, solitude, faith, movement, or simply time?

Share only what feels safe.

Sometimes the first step toward feeling again is discovering that we were never the only ones who went numb.

Every harvest season looked productive from the outside. Machines moved, teams worked, and fields were covered day after day. But inside the business, a quiet problem was compounding.

At the end of each week, we’d gather around a table covered in notebooks, loose slips, and half-remembered phone conversations, trying to answer questions that should have been simple: Which fields were finished? How much area was covered? What rate was agreed upon? Was payment collected in full, in part, or not at all? And why did the office’s numbers never quite match what actually happened in the field?

These weren’t rare slip-ups. They were systemic. A completed job would go unrecorded. A recorded job would lose its geographic trail. A payment made in instalments would drift out of alignment with the books. In a seasonal business where margins are tight and time is short, each of these gaps translated directly into lost revenue.

That realisation was our turning point. We decided to stop running a growing operation on paper memory and end-of-week reconciliation. Instead, we set out to build a complete system from the ground up — a field-first mobile app, a management web dashboard, and an intelligence layer to guide faster, better decisions.

This is the story of that transformation.

The Real Problem Wasn’t Record-Keeping

Our first instinct was to blame sloppy documentation. But when we studied the workflow closely, we found something deeper. Data was being captured hours or days after the actual work, not in the moment. The field team and the office operated with different versions of the truth. Connectivity in rural areas made conventional digital tools unreliable. Pricing logic varied by job type and crop, but the tools we had were rigid. Collections and dues were tracked reactively, always a step behind. We had reports, but nothing resembling insight.

So we reframed the entire goal. We weren’t building “an app.” We were building an operating system for harvesting operations — one that covered the full arc from job creation in the field to financial settlement in the office, with intelligence layered throughout.

The result is Kandel Krishi: a two-part digital platform with an Android mobile app for field teams and a web dashboard for management. Both share a live backend, synchronise data in both directions, and work together to give every person in the business — field officer, manager, owner — a single, consistent version of operational reality.

The Mobile App — Built for the Reality of the Field

Working Without Signal

The first and most important rule we set for ourselves was this: the app must work whether or not the phone has signal. Full stop.

Our field teams operate across terrain where connectivity is unpredictable. Strong on a main road. Nothing in the middle of a paddy field. So the app stores everything locally on the device first. Jobs, farmer records, payments, expenses — all of it is saved on the phone before anything is sent to a server. If there’s no connection, the work continues without interruption.

The Kandel Krishi mobile app home screen — showing today’s overview with jobs, revenue, collections, expenses, pending dues, and the one-tap sync feature that keeps field data flowing even from areas with unreliable connectivity.

Synchronisation runs quietly in the background, every fifteen minutes, whenever a network connection is available. Field officers can also trigger a sync manually with a single tap from the home screen. And when someone tries to log out with unsent records still on their device, the app warns them — a small safeguard that has prevented more than a few data losses on a busy close-of-day.

This single decision — to make offline the default, not the exception — immediately reduced missing entries and late updates. Work logged in a field with no signal reaches the server the moment the phone reconnects. Nothing is lost. Nothing is delayed by someone forgetting to fill in a form later.

Farmer Management

The farmer directory is the starting point for all field activity, and we built it to be genuinely useful rather than just a list of names.

Every farmer record holds their name, phone number, address, ward, and village. That location detail — ward and village — does more than just describe an address. It feeds the geographic analytics on the dashboard, building up a picture over time of where the business is operating and where it isn’t. Every farmer profile also carries a complete history of their jobs and payments, visible to any field officer in the field.

The farmer directory in the mobile app — searchable by name or phone, with total dues, individual balances, sync status, and quick access to view or edit each record.

Creating a new farmer takes moments. The form is minimal and validates against duplicate phone numbers so the same person doesn’t get registered twice. Editing is equally quick, and every change is logged with the identity of who made it and when — so the audit trail is always intact.

From a farmer’s profile screen, a field officer can start a new job for that farmer with a single tap, with the farmer already filled in and the workflow continuous. There’s no jumping between screens, no re-entering data.

Job Creation — Capturing Work at the Source

The job creation flow is the core of the mobile app. We designed it to follow the actual sequence of events in the field, not the sequence that feels logical from an office desk.

The field officer begins by selecting the farmer — searching by name or phone number from the local database, or registering a new one on the spot. Then they define the work: what crop, what type of service, and how the job will be priced.

The job creation workflow — farmer selection with GPS tagging, crop and service type configuration, and flexible pricing by area, hour, weight, or bag.

Crop and service types. The officer selects the crop — Rice, Wheat, Maize, Barley, Millet, or Other — and the service — Combine Harvest, Threshing, Cutting, Transport, or Other. These selections flow into the pricing calculation and into the analytics layer on the dashboard, so over time the business builds a data-backed view of where its revenue actually comes from.

Four pricing methods, because harvesting isn’t one-size-fits-all. Different jobs are billed differently, and the app reflects that:

• By area — a rate per unit of land, with support for Kattha, Bigha, Hectare, and Acre to match whatever measurement convention is in use in a given area.

• By hour — a rate per hour of machine operation, for jobs billed on time.

• By weight — a rate per quintal, for jobs where harvest yield determines the charge.

• By bag — a rate per bag, for operations where collection volume is the natural unit.

Charges and running total. As the officer fills in the form, the app calculates the bill in real time. The base total is quantity times rate. On combine jobs, husk handling can be added as a separate charge calculated from the area covered. Extra charges and negotiated discounts are applied on top. The officer sees the full bill — exactly what the farmer will be charged — before saving the record. Billing disputes that previously ran back to the office as corrections became dramatically rarer.

Opening payment. If the farmer pays at the time of service — a common practice — the payment is captured in the same workflow, on the same screen, without navigating anywhere else.

Location. Every job is tagged with GPS coordinates at the moment of creation. The app captures the latitude, longitude, and accuracy in metres, and records whether the location came from the device’s GPS or from network-based positioning. If location capture fails — due to a denied permission or a genuine signal gap — that is recorded too, so the office knows the difference between a job with no location and a job where location capture was impossible. Geographic ambiguity had been the root of many payment disputes. With every job pinned to a coordinate, that ambiguity is gone.

Payments — Matching How People Actually Pay

Rural payment behaviour doesn’t fit a single pattern, and the payment screen was built to reflect that.

Five payment methods are supported:

• Cash — the most common method, captured with the amount and the receiving officer’s name.

• Online transfer — for bank transfers and mobile wallets. A reference number field ties the payment to the external transaction, so there is always a traceable link between the system record and the actual bank movement.

• Cheque — with reference number tracking.

• Credit — for deferred settlement. Recording a credit payment creates a due without a cash movement, keeping the accounts accurate even when money changes hands later.

• In-Kind — for harvest-share settlements, where the farmer pays with a portion of the crop rather than cash. The officer enters the crop type, quantity, unit, and the agreed rate per unit. The system calculates the monetary value so that every in-kind settlement is financially structured and sits alongside cash payments in the accounts.

For digital payments, the app generates a FonePay QR code — a dynamic code tied to the exact amount owed on the specific job, with a reference remark that makes every transaction identifiable. The farmer scans the code with any FonePay-compatible app. The officer captures the reference number once the transfer confirms. Nothing about the collection depends on memory.

The payment collection screen — showing due amount with late interest breakdown, quick-pay options, five payment methods including FonePay QR for instant digital collection.Test caption for dashboard

Before recording a new payment, the officer sees the farmer’s full payment history and outstanding balance. Quick-pay options for the full amount or half the amount reduce the time spent on data entry for the most common collection scenarios.

The Sync Queue — Knowing What’s Pending

The sync queue screen gives field officers visibility into the state of their own data. It shows which records are waiting to be sent to the server, which have failed and why, and how many times each has been retried. A single button triggers an immediate sync. This transparency means officers always know whether what they’ve logged today is on the server — and managers always know whether the dashboard numbers reflect the latest field activity.

The Web Dashboard — One View of the Whole Business

Once field capture became reliable, we needed a single place where operations, finance, and management could see the same truth, at the same time. That became the web dashboard.

The Home Screen — Live, Not Summarised

The dashboard opens on an executive overview designed around a single question: what does the business look like right now?

Eight live metrics appear across the top of the screen, each reflecting the current state of operations:

The web dashboard home screen — live KPIs for revenue, collections, dues, expenses, and profit, alongside an AI decision assistant and live operations map.

• Total Revenue — the gross amount billed across all jobs.

• Total Collections — all verified payments received.

• Outstanding Dues — the unpaid balance across active jobs.

• Late Interest — accrued interest charges on overdue accounts.

• Total Expenses — all recorded operational costs.

• Net Profit — collections minus expenses.

• Jobs Today — harvest jobs created or updated in the current day.

• Land Covered — total area serviced across area-based jobs.

Each metric shows a growth percentage against the previous period, based on whichever time window — seven days, thirty days, or ninety days — the manager has selected.

Below the metrics, the home screen runs three sections simultaneously.

Live operations. A map showing every geo-tagged job location, updated as field data syncs in. Beside it, a real-time activity feed listing the ten most recent events across the business — jobs logged, payments received, expenses recorded — with the officer’s name, the amount, and the timestamp. Leadership no longer waits for a manually compiled end-of-day summary. The picture is always current.

Financial charts. A daily line chart tracking billed revenue against collected payments, so the gap between what is owed and what has actually come in is visible every day. A service-type chart shows which operations — Combine Harvest, Threshing, Cutting, Transport — are generating the most revenue. A crop distribution panel breaks down volumes by crop type.

Performance. A top-five farmers table ranked by total revenue billed. A field officer performance panel showing each officer’s job count, assigned amount, collected amount, and collection efficiency — expressed as a percentage of assigned that has been collected.

Two AI-powered panels load in the background and appear once ready: a recommendation strip surfacing the three most actionable insights for the day, and a geographic summary showing the business’s coverage score across wards and flagging any gaps.

The Live Job Tracker — Every Job on a Map

The Live Job Tracker is an interactive map showing all geo-tagged job locations for the selected date range.

The Live Job Tracker — an interactive map with colour-coded pins by crop type, job detail popups, GIS summary, and a real-time activity feed.

Each pin is colour-coded by crop type — green for paddy and rice, yellow for wheat, orange for maize, blue for vegetables, purple for fruits, teal for others. Clicking any pin opens a popup showing the farmer’s name, village, crop type as a coloured badge, assigned officer, billed amount, and job date. A floating legend in the map’s lower corner shows the crop colours currently represented. A stats bar below the map shows the total job count, number of unique villages, and total revenue — large numbers formatted in lakhs for readability.

A pulsing green dot in the panel header signals that the data is live.

Switching between a street map layer and a satellite imagery layer is a single click.

Jobs Management

The jobs module is a searchable, filterable view of all harvest operations. Quick filters surface the most useful subsets without any setup: all jobs, today’s jobs, this week’s jobs, or pending (unpaid) jobs. Search runs across farmer name and phone number.

The Harvest Jobs management table — searchable and filterable by date, status, and farmer, with real-time totals, dues, and late interest highlighted per job.

Job detail view — full pricing breakdown with farmer details, job metrics, financial overview including late interest, overdue tracking, and harvest location link.

Clicking any job opens a full detail view showing the complete pricing breakdown — quantity, rate, base total, husk charges if applicable, extra charges, discount, gross total, amount paid, and amount still due. Where a late payment policy is in effect, the detail view also shows the base due amount, the accrued interest, the number of days overdue, and how many days have elapsed beyond the grace period.

There is no manual estimation involved. The figure a farmer owes is always the correct, policy-driven number — compounded monthly from the day the grace period ended.

Farmers Directory

Opening the farmers module shows every registered farmer alongside their aggregated financial position: total billed across all jobs, total collected, total outstanding including any accrued late fees, and job count. The list is searchable and sortable by any column.

The Farmers Directory on the dashboard — every registered farmer with their aggregated financial position, total billed, paid, outstanding dues, and job count.

Opening a farmer’s profile shows their complete job history, payment records, and a cumulative financial summary. From that screen, the office can generate a printable farmer statement or a payment invoice — making every customer conversation credible because it is backed by a complete, current record rather than a best estimate.

Payments Log

The payments module shows every payment transaction across the business: amount, payment method, reference number where applicable, the officer who received it, and the time it was recorded. Today’s total collection appears as a KPI at the top of the screen. Searching by farmer name or phone number narrows the list instantly.

The Payments Log — every transaction with amount, method, receiving officer, reference number, and reconciliation tools for continuous financial accuracy.

Admin users have access to payment reconciliation tools — controls for identifying and correcting mismatches between field-reported payments and office-verified receipts. Reconciliation went from a high-stress end-of-season exercise to a routine, continuous process.

Expenses

The expenses module captures every operational cost — fuel, repairs, wages, materials — with the category, amount, date, description, and the user who recorded the entry.

Expense Tracking — total expenses, monthly trend chart, category breakdown, and per-user cost attribution for continuous visibility into operational costs.

Four summary numbers run across the top: total expenses all-time, this month’s total, the daily average for the current month, and the count of expense entries.

Below those, three analytical views: a daily expenses trend chart, a category breakdown showing which types of cost are growing fastest, and a per-user breakdown showing what each field officer has recorded. Hidden operating costs that previously only became visible at season close are now tracked continuously.

Late Payment Policy

Consistent late-fee treatment used to require someone to remember the rules and apply them manually. Now it is configured once and enforced automatically.

Late Payment Settings — configurable grace period, monthly interest rate, and a live preview calculator, enforced automatically across all devices.

The admin settings screen has four controls: an on/off toggle for the late fee system, a grace period in days, a monthly interest rate to two decimal places, and an example calculator that shows exactly what a given amount owed after a given number of overdue days would become under the current settings. The policy is pushed to every mobile device on the next sync, so field officers and the office always see the same figures. There is no version drift, no inconsistency, no awkward conversations about whose numbers are right.

Analytics — From Showing Data to Guiding Decisions

Digitising operations gives you data. The analytics layer turns that data into decisions.

Profitability and Finance

A monthly profit-and-loss chart plots gross revenue against total expenses month by month, showing actual margin rather than estimated margin. A strategic insights panel surfaces the collection rate and profit margin percentage and flags when either falls below a healthy threshold.

Executive Analytics — net profit, collection rate, total dues, profitability trends, and strategic recommendations for data-driven financial decisions.

A payment method mix chart shows what proportion of collections are coming in as cash, online transfer, cheque, credit, and in-kind — a direct input for cash-flow planning. A debt aging report sorts outstanding dues into four time brackets: 0–30 days, 30–60 days, 60–90 days, and over 90 days. Accounts in the over-60 bracket are highlighted automatically.

An expense category breakdown makes the composition of operating costs visible early. A pricing analysis table shows the average rate achieved per service-and-crop combination, so management can benchmark whether negotiated rates across the portfolio are consistent or drifting.

Operations and Geography

A ward revenue heatmap ranks the top twelve administrative wards by revenue generated, showing where the business is densest. A village revenue breakdown does the same for the top fifteen villages. An operator efficiency chart plots each field officer’s job count against their revenue output. A geo coverage map visualises GPS-tagged job density across the operating area, making coverage gaps immediately obvious rather than abstractly described.

Operations and Geography analytics — ward-wise performance, top revenue villages, operator efficiency matrix, and GPS-based geo coverage scatter plot.

Advanced Analytics

Farmer Lifetime Value ranks the top hundred farmers by cumulative revenue, assigns Gold, Silver, and Bronze tier labels by revenue percentile, and shows the LTV alongside job count and average transaction size for each. The most valuable relationships are always visible.

Credit risk scoring gives each farmer a score from 0 to 100 based on outstanding dues, overdue job count, and payment behaviour. Farmers above a risk threshold are surfaced for collection attention before the end of a season — not after.

Advanced Analytics — credit risk scoring, payment velocity distribution, churn prediction, and AI-powered insights for proactive collection and retention.

Payment velocity charts how long farmers take to pay after job completion. The distribution across time buckets — under a week, one to two weeks, two to four weeks, one to three months, over three months — reveals systemic slow-pay patterns that should inform collection policy.

Churn prediction identifies farmers who have been inactive for sixty or more days and classifies them as At Risk or Churned, enabling re-engagement before a relationship is permanently lost.

AI Decision Intelligence

The intelligence layer surfaces structured, ranked guidance — not open-ended observations.

AI Decision Intelligence — priority actions ranked by urgency and financial impact, with business health score, projected revenue, and risk warnings.

Full recommendation list with overall assessment, AI Smart Alerts for anomaly monitoring.

Decision Hub presents the day’s most important recommendations, ordered by urgency and expected financial impact, each with a confidence rating and a specific suggested action. A manager reviewing this at the start of a day knows precisely what deserves immediate attention and what can wait.

Smart Alerts with categorised warnings and actionable steps, alongside the What-If Simulator modelling a monsoon delay scenario with projected financial impact.

Smart Alerts flags anomalies across operations and collections: unusual payment gaps, revenue falling short of forecast, collection efficiency dropping below a threshold, an expense spike in a category, or a high-value account entering the overdue range.

Scenario Simulator lets management model a proposed change before committing to it. What happens to collection revenue if the standard rate rises by five percent? What does the outstanding balance look like in thirty days at the current collection rate? The simulator returns structured projections with estimated financial impact for each scenario.

A consolidated executive summary highlighting financial performance, collections status, operational insights, and key risk indicators — giving leadership a quick view of current operational health.

Interactive forecasting and trend analysis tools visualize historical revenue patterns, project future performance, and explain the drivers behind changes in operational and financial metrics.

Revenue Forecasting uses the historical pattern of jobs and collections to project the upcoming period — giving planning a quantitative anchor rather than a best guess.

Trend Analysis explains why numbers are moving, not just that they moved. Whether a revenue increase reflects more jobs, higher rates, improved collection, or a seasonal shift — the system identifies the driver.

Goal Tracking allows management to set targets and receive progress updates comparing actuals to stated goals as the period unfolds.

Anomaly Detection flags statistically unusual events: a day with far fewer jobs than the period average, a payment amount far outside a farmer’s historical range, a sudden concentration of activity in an area that was previously quiet.

Management dashboards track progress toward revenue goals while automatically identifying unusual operational patterns, payment anomalies, and emerging financial risks.

GIS Intelligence analyses ward- and village-level coverage patterns, identifies service gaps, flags dense areas for route optimisation, and surfaces geographic expansion opportunities the business might otherwise overlook.

GIS Intelligence Dashboard

AI Report Generator synthesises all of the above into a written report on demand — executive summary, financial review, operational assessment, and strategic recommendations — in English or Nepali, whichever the manager prefers.

Automatically generated management report summarising key financial indicators, operational performance, and executive insights for quick review

AI-Generated Business Report (Nepali)

SWOT Analysis frames the business’s current data as a structured Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats assessment, ready for a board review or planning session.

AI-assisted SWOT analysis converts operational and financial data into a structured assessment of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats for strategic planning.

Reports and Export

The reports section turns live data into formatted documents for sharing, printing, and official filing. Every report type supports a date-range filter — seven days, thirty days, ninety days, six months, a year, all time, or a custom range — and a payment-method filter.

Six reports are available:

Daily Collection Report — day-by-day payment totals, broken down by officer and method.

Outstanding Dues — a complete list of every farmer with an unpaid balance, with job-level detail. The dues report also supports a four-page printable invoice format with a FonePay QR code embedded, so the office can hand a farmer a professional bill and accept payment on the spot.

Officer Ledger — a per-officer summary of jobs assigned, amount billed, amount collected, and outstanding balance.

Expense Report — every expense entry with category, user, and date.

Profit and Loss Statement — monthly revenue, expenses, and net margin in a clean financial format.

Pending Billing Invoices — all unpaid jobs formatted as individual invoices, each with a FonePay QR code for on-the-spot digital collection.

Automatically generated pending billing invoices formatted for printing or digital sharing, each including a FonePay QR code to enable instant on-site payment.

All reports export to PDF. The work of compiling reports manually disappeared, and confidence in official numbers rose because every document traces directly back to the same live database that the dashboard reads from.

Users, Roles, and Accountability

Three roles structure who sees what and who can do what.

Admins have full access to every module — user management, late-payment policy configuration, payment reconciliation, and system setup. They are the people responsible for how the system behaves, not just how it is used.

Managers can view all operational data, generate reports, access the full analytics suite, and manage farmers and jobs. They cannot change system policy or manage other users.

Field Officers can create jobs, record payments, add expenses, and view their own work. They cannot see other officers’ records, access analytics, or generate reports.

Every record in the system carries the identity of who created it and when. Every edit carries the same. Accountability is not imposed on top of the workflow — it is part of the workflow.

What Actually Changed

The most important outcome isn’t the software. It’s the shift in how the business actually operates.

In the field, work is logged at the moment it happens. Location-backed records have eliminated geographic ambiguity. Offline conditions no longer block reporting. Field teams and the office share a single, synchronised timeline.

Financially, collections are captured faster because the payment screen is always in the field officer’s pocket. Due tracking is accurate because every job carries a live, policy-driven balance. Late-interest treatment is consistent because the rules are centralised and automatically applied. Reconciliation is a continuous, controlled process rather than a seasonal crisis.

For management, leadership sees live KPIs without waiting for a manually compiled summary. Reviews are grounded in system data rather than recollection. Performance conversations are specific and evidence-based.

Strategically, the business now has continuity between field execution, financial tracking, and forward planning. Data is no longer something to compile at the end of a season. It is an asset available every day — for pricing decisions, collection policy, resource allocation, and identifying where to grow next.

A Final Thought

Our original pain was simple. Jobs were getting done, but value was leaking because records were fragmented, delayed, and disconnected.

By linking mobile execution, dashboard control, and intelligence insights into one system, we created an environment where every significant event in harvesting operations — from job creation to final payment — can be captured, synchronised, verified, and acted upon.

The field officer who logs a job in a paddy field with no signal and the manager who checks the morning dashboard from the office are now looking at the same data, in the same state, with the same confidence. That shared operational reality — which simply did not exist two seasons ago — is the real product of this work.

This transformation didn’t come from working harder. It came from changing the system.

Initial system setup interface for Kandel Krishi, where the database schema is created and the administrator account is configured before the platform becomes operational.

If your field business still runs on notebooks, delayed entries, and spreadsheet reconciliation, the hidden cost is almost certainly larger than it appears. And the answer isn’t simply digitisation. It’s end-to-end operational intelligence — the ability to capture work in the moment, synchronise it reliably, understand it analytically, and act on it decisively.

That’s what we built. And it changed everything.

The digital marketing playbook that has guided strategy for the last decade is now obsolete. The foundational assumption—that success in search is measured by clicks to a website—has been fundamentally dismantled by a quiet but seismic shift in user behavior and technology. Marketers who fail to recognize this new reality risk becoming invisible, not because their rankings have dropped, but because the very nature of ranking has changed. The battle is no longer for the top of the page; it is for the answer itself.

The Vanishing Click: The Rise of the Zero-Click SERP

For years, the Search Engine Results Page (SERP) was a means to an end—a list of blue links designed to drive traffic to other websites. That era is over. Today, the SERP is increasingly the final destination. A staggering 65% of all Google searches now end without the user clicking on a traditional organic result. This phenomenon, known as the "zero-click search," occurs because platforms like Google are providing the answer directly on the results page, satisfying user intent instantly.

This trend is being aggressively accelerated by the rollout of AI-powered summaries. Google's AI Overviews, which synthesize information into a direct answer at the very top of the page, now appear in 16% of all U.S. desktop searches. The impact on traditional organic results is immediate and severe. Studies show that the presence of an AI Overview causes an average click-through rate (CTR) decline of 15.5%, with some analyses reporting drops as high as 34.5%.4 The implication is clear: if your brand is not the source of the answer featured in these snippets, you are effectively cut out of the user's journey. The goal is no longer simply to earn the click; it is to be the answer that makes the click unnecessary.

The Conversational Tsunami: How Voice and AI are Redefining Queries

Concurrent with the transformation of the SERP is a revolution in how users interact with search technology. The input method is shifting from fragmented keywords to natural, conversational language. This is driven by two powerful forces: voice assistants and AI chatbots.

Globally, there are now 8.4 billion voice assistant devices in use—more than one for every person on the planet. This has conditioned users to ask full-sentence questions as if they were speaking to another person. More than 58% of all search queries are now conversational in nature, a dramatic departure from the terse, keyword-driven searches of the past. Users are not typing "running shoes best"; they are asking, "What are the best running shoes for someone with flat feet?"

This conversational trend has been supercharged by the explosive adoption of AI chatbots. An estimated 400 million people use ChatGPT every week, and the traffic to AI chatbot platforms has grown by an astonishing 125.8% year-over-year, dwarfing the 5.6% growth of traditional search engines. The strategic consultancy Gartner predicts that by 2026, a full 25% of all organic search traffic will shift to AI chatbots. These platforms are not search engines in the traditional sense; they are answer engines, designed to synthesize information and provide a single, definitive response.

The convergence of these trends—the rise of zero-click results and the dominance of conversational queries—has led to a fundamental restructuring of the digital information ecosystem. The historical link between visibility and traffic has been broken. Google itself has acknowledged this phenomenon as the "great decoupling" of impressions and clicks, where a site may be seen more often (as part of an AI Overview) but clicked less.5 For marketers, this invalidates the traditional ROI model of SEO, which has long been predicated on driving traffic volume. Success can no longer be measured by website sessions alone. The new battleground is for on-SERP influence and zero-click visibility, and winning requires a new strategy: Answer Engine Optimization.

From Search Engine to Answer Engine: Defining the New Battleground

In response to this new landscape, a new discipline has emerged. Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) is the strategic practice of structuring and optimizing content to be selected and delivered as a direct, definitive answer by search platforms. This includes being featured in AI Overviews, cited by chatbots like ChatGPT and Gemini, or delivered as a spoken response by voice assistants like Alexa and Siri.The primary objective of AEO is not to rank a webpage in a list of links, but to have your content become the answer itself—to be quoted, cited, and featured directly within the user interface.

AEO vs. SEO: An Evolution, Not a Replacement

It is critical to understand that AEO and Search Engine Optimization (SEO) are not mutually exclusive; rather, they are complementary disciplines, with AEO representing a strategic evolution of SEO principles.17 A strong SEO foundation—including technical site health, mobile optimization, and domain authority—is a non-negotiable prerequisite for effective AEO.1 AI and answer engines are more likely to trust and cite content from websites that are already considered authoritative and technically sound.

However, the strategic focus of AEO is profoundly different from that of traditional SEO. While SEO aims to improve a website's overall ranking to attract clicks, AEO focuses on satisfying a user's query so directly and efficiently that a click may not even be necessary. The following table delineates this strategic shift.

This comparison reveals a fundamental pivot in marketing philosophy. Traditional SEO is a strategy of attraction, designed to pull users from a third-party platform (the search engine) to a brand's owned media (the website).Its success is measured by the volume of this transfer. AEO, conversely, is a strategy of authority. Its goal is to establish such undeniable expertise that the third-party platform chooses to amplify the brand's message directly, citing it as a trusted source. This reframes the discipline entirely. AEO is a brand-building and authority-building practice first, and a traffic-driving practice second. It compels marketers to shift their mindset from that of an advertiser trying to capture attention to that of a subject matter expert dedicated to providing clear, trustworthy information. This elevates AEO from a tactical task for the SEO team to a core strategic concern for the entire marketing organization.

The Business Case for AEO: From Visibility to Authority and Revenue

The strategic pivot to AEO is not merely a defensive measure against declining clicks; it is an offensive strategy that drives measurable business growth by building brand authority, attracting higher-quality leads, and directly impacting revenue. The business case for investing in AEO is built on a new currency of trust that is uniquely generated in the answer-driven ecosystem.

Building the New Currency of Trust: Enhanced Brand Authority

When a neutral, third-party AI engine like Google Assistant or ChatGPT cites your brand as the source for an answer, it functions as a powerful, unbiased endorsement. Unlike a paid advertisement or even a standard organic listing—where users are conditioned to be skeptical—an AI-generated answer is perceived as an objective, curated piece of information. Being the brand behind that answer instantly positions you as a credible, authoritative leader in your domain. This process transforms your digital presence from being just another option in a list to being the trusted source, building brand equity and recall in a way that traditional search marketing cannot replicate. If SEO brought traffic, AEO brings trust.

The AEO Funnel: Attracting High-Intent Traffic and Quality Leads

While AEO can lead to fewer overall clicks, the traffic it does generate is of significantly higher quality and intent. By optimizing for and answering very specific, long-tail, conversational questions, AEO intercepts users at their precise moment of need. A user asking, "Which CRM for SaaS has automated workflows?" is much further down the purchasing funnel than someone searching for "B2B marketing".

Data confirms that this high-intent traffic converts at a much higher rate. A study by Amsive found that for one insurance website, traffic from Large Language Models (LLMs) converted at 3.76%, compared to just 1.19% for traditional organic search. For an e-commerce site, the difference was just as stark: a 5.53% conversion rate from LLM traffic versus 3.7% from organic. This is particularly potent in the B2B sector, where buyers conduct extensive research and ask highly technical or comparative questions. Being the source of the answer to these queries can generate a stream of highly qualified leads directly from AI platforms.

Case Studies in Action: Proving the ROI of an Answer-First Strategy

The tangible business impact of AEO is not theoretical; it is being demonstrated by forward-thinking companies across industries.

• NerdWallet: Perhaps the most compelling case study is that of the personal finance company NerdWallet. The company reported a 35% growth in revenue even as its organic website traffic declined by 20%. This outcome was achieved by ensuring their expert content was consistently featured in snippets and other answer channels, reaching consumers directly even without a click.

• HubSpot and Semrush: Leading marketing technology companies have also proven the model. By restructuring its content around AEO principles, HubSpot saw a 10.5% increase in clicks from the featured snippets it captured. Similarly, Semrush tripled its number of featured snippet placements after implementing AEO techniques like incorporating FAQs and schema markup.

• B2B and E-commerce Success: The model extends to both complex sales and retail. One B2B company reported a 25% increase in qualified leads originating directly from ChatGPT responses. In healthcare, the Mayo Clinic has successfully structured its content to dominate answer results for medical conditions, while e-commerce giant Amazon leverages user-generated Q&As and structured product data to appear in AI Overviews for product-specific queries.

• The Education Sector: An online college partnering with an agency to optimize for AEO gained 17 new featured snippets. This resulted in a 60% average increase in pageviews for the optimized articles, with one blog post seeing a remarkable 127% surge in organic traffic.

These examples reveal a powerful paradox at the heart of the new search landscape: less traffic can, in fact, lead to more revenue. This is because AEO fundamentally reshapes the marketing and sales funnel. The answer engine acts as an automated top-of-funnel filter, performing the initial research and qualification on behalf of the user. When a user finally clicks on a citation link within an AI-generated answer, they are not starting their research journey; they are often validating a final decision. The leads that arrive at your website are therefore "pre-sold," having already been guided by a trusted AI. This results in warmer leads, shorter sales cycles, and a more efficient marketing spend—a compelling proposition for any business leader.

Your AEO Implementation Playbook: How to Become the Answer

Transitioning from a traditional SEO mindset to an answer-first strategy requires a systematic approach. This playbook outlines the three core pillars of AEO implementation, providing actionable tactics to transform your content from a passive asset into an active, answer-providing engine.

Pillar 1: Rethinking Research – From Keywords to Questions

The foundation of AEO is a deep understanding of user intent, which has evolved from simple keywords to complex questions. The objective is to shift research efforts away from targeting broad, high-volume terms and toward identifying the specific, conversational questions your audience is actively asking.

Actionable Tactics:

• Mine "People Also Ask" (PAA): Google's PAA boxes are a real-time goldmine of related questions that users are searching for. Systematically analyzing these for your core topics provides a direct roadmap for content creation.

• Use Specialized Tools: Leverage question-research tools like AlsoAsked, AnswerThePublic, and KeywordsPeopleUse. These platforms visualize the relationships between questions, helping to uncover thematic clusters and long-tail query opportunities that traditional keyword tools miss.

• Listen to Your Audience: The most valuable questions often come from your actual customers. Analyze your internal site search logs to see what users are looking for on your website. Crucially, survey your customer service, sales, and support teams to compile a list of the most frequently asked questions they receive daily.

• Focus on Question-Based Queries: Prioritize long-tail keywords that are phrased as natural questions, typically beginning with "who," "what," "when," "where," "why," and "how." (5W1H).This aligns your content directly with the conversational nature of voice and AI search.28

Pillar 2: Content Architecture for AI Consumption (The Answer-First Model)

Once you know the questions, you must structure your content to be easily digestible and extractable by both human readers and machine crawlers. This requires a shift from linear, narrative-driven articles to modular, answer-focused knowledge hubs.

Actionable Tactics:

• Adopt the Inverted Pyramid: This is the single most critical tactic for AEO. Immediately following a heading that poses a question, provide a direct, concise, and complete answer. This answer should ideally be between 40 and 60 words. This "answer-first" structure makes it incredibly easy for an engine to lift the text for a paragraph snippet.

• Use Semantic Headings: Structure the entire article using clear HTML headings (H2, H3, etc.). Each heading should be phrased as an explicit question that a section of your content answers. This creates a logical, machine-readable outline of your page.

• Format for Scannability: Answer engines frequently pull formatted elements directly into their results. Make liberal use of:

• Numbered Lists: Ideal for step-by-step instructions or "how-to" guides.

• Bulleted Lists: Perfect for highlighting features, benefits, or non-sequential items.

• HTML Tables: The best format for presenting comparative data (e.g., pricing, features). These formats are not just user-friendly; they are prime "snippet bait".

• Maintain Objectivity in Definitions: When providing a definition (e.g., for a "what is" query), write it like a dictionary entry. Avoid using opinionated, promotional, or emotional language. Answer engines want to present facts, not marketing copy, in these definitional snippets.

This approach creates content that is "fractal" or modular in nature. Unlike a traditional pillar page that tells a single, flowing story, an AEO-optimized page is a collection of discrete, self-contained units of knowledge. Each question-and-answer pair can stand on its own. It is this modularity that allows an AI to confidently extract a single piece of information to answer a specific query without needing the context of the entire page, dramatically increasing your chances of being featured. This requires a fundamental change in the content creation workflow, from storytelling to knowledge base construction.

Pillar 3: Speaking the Engines Language – Essential Schema Markup

Schema markup, or structured data, is a code vocabulary that you add to your website to explicitly tell search engines what your content is about. It removes ambiguity and provides context, significantly increasing the likelihood that your content will be understood, trusted, and featured in rich results and answer formats.39

Actionable Tactics:

• Prioritize Critical Schema Types: While hundreds of schema types exist, a few are particularly valuable for AEO. Focus your implementation efforts on:

• FAQPage: For pages with a list of questions and answers.

• HowTo: For content that provides step-by-step instructions.

• QAPage: For pages where users can submit questions and answers (e.g., forums).

• Article: To define the main content of a blog post or news story.

• Product: To provide details like price, availability, and reviews for e-commerce items.

• Speakable: To identify sections of content that are especially well-suited for being read aloud by voice assistants. 1

• Implement with JSON-LD: Use the JSON-LD (JavaScript Object Notation for Linked Data) format to add schema to your site. This is Google's preferred method because the script can be placed in the <head\> section of your HTML, keeping it separate from your main body content and making it easier to manage.

• Leverage Generation Tools: You do not need to be a developer to implement schema. Use free tools like Google's Structured Data Markup Helper or Merkle's Schema Markup Generator. These tools allow you to simply highlight content on your page and will generate the corresponding JSON-LD code for you.

• Validate Every Implementation: Before deploying schema on your live site, always test it using Google's Rich Results Test tool. This will identify any errors in your code that could prevent search engines from reading it correctly, ensuring your efforts are not wasted.

The Horizon: AEO as the Foundation for the Future of Search

The principles of Answer Engine Optimization are not a fleeting trend; they are the foundational skills for the next era of digital marketing. As search technology continues to evolve toward more sophisticated, AI-driven experiences, the ability to create clear, structured, and authoritative content will become the primary determinant of online visibility and success.

Beyond AEO: Introducing GEO and LLM Optimization

The strategic horizon extends beyond AEO to what experts are calling Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) and Large Language Model (LLM) Optimization. While AEO focuses on having your content extracted as a direct answer, GEO and LLM Optimization focus on having your content synthesized as part of a new, AI-generated response. These disciplines aim to "train" the AI models to recognize your brand as an authoritative entity on a topic, making it more likely that your data, insights, and brand name will be woven into the fabric of their generated answers. However, the path to success in this advanced arena runs directly through AEO. The core principles of clarity, structure, trustworthiness, and machine-readability are the non-negotiable prerequisites for influencing generative AI.

The Future is Multimodal and Personalized

The evolution of search is not limited to text. Answer engines are increasingly multimodal, incorporating images, videos, audio, and interactive elements into their responses. AEO strategies must therefore expand to include the optimization of all content types: descriptive alt text for images, full transcripts for videos and podcasts, and clearly labeled data visualizations.9

Simultaneously, the future of answers is hyper-personalized. AI will likely deliver different answers to different users based on their location, search history, and other contextual signals.1 In this environment, a brand cannot rely on optimizing for a single, universal query. Instead, success will depend on building a deep and comprehensive knowledge base of answer-ready content that can be deployed dynamically to meet a wide array of personalized intents.

This leads to a final, critical realization about the future of search. The old ranking factors, while still relevant, are being subsumed by a new, more holistic evaluation: the trust layer. For decades, SEO used backlinks as a primary proxy for authority. In the age of AI, this is no longer sufficient. Answer engines and LLMs are not just matching keywords; they are actively evaluating the trustworthiness of a source before they choose to cite it. This evaluation is based on a wide constellation of signals that collectively form a brand's E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trust). The AI considers expert bylines, credible data citations, content freshness, and a brand's reputation across the entire web—from news articles and industry reports to forums like Reddit and Quora.

This means that "ranking" in the future is less about technical tricks and more about demonstrating genuine, verifiable authority. You cannot simply format your way to the top; you must earn the trust of the AI by being a truly reliable entity. AEO is the technical framework that makes this earned trust visible and accessible to the machines. Therefore, a successful AEO program cannot exist in a silo. It must be deeply integrated with broader strategies for brand building, public relations, and reputation management.

Final Call to Action: Stop Chasing Clicks, Start Owning Answers

The digital landscape has undergone an irreversible transformation. The era of the ten blue links is fading, replaced by a world of direct, AI-powered answers. Marketers who continue to anchor their strategies and metrics to the old model of attracting clicks will find their influence diminishing. Those who adapt—shifting their focus from a click-based SEO model to an answer-based AEO model—will not only survive but will build a formidable competitive advantage. By becoming the definitive, trusted answer in your industry, you build a "digital moat" that is difficult for competitors to cross. The time to stop chasing clicks and start owning answers is now.

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Introduction: Democracy on Trial at Sharda University

Within the vibrant, multicultural ecosystem of Sharda University, the Nepali Community has long served as a cultural embassy, a home away from home, and a training ground for the civic values that bind its members. It is a space where students celebrate their shared heritage while navigating their educational journeys in India. However, this community now finds itself at a precipitous crossroads. A recently instituted rule, mandating a full year of prior community service as a prerequisite for presidential eligibility, has fractured the student body. What began as a principled objection to an unfair and exclusionary policy has culminated in the outright cancellation of a democratic election and the unilateral appointment of a new president. This sequence of events is not a mere administrative misstep or a minor internal disagreement. It represents a profound and deliberate betrayal of the democratic ethos that forms the very bedrock of both the Nepali and Indian nations. The actions taken by the community's leadership are not simply a flawed electoral process; they are, in effect, the murder of an election.

This report will establish, with exhaustive detail and rigorous analysis, that the imposition of the one-year service requirement and the subsequent appointment of a President are fundamentally illegitimate. The analysis will demonstrate that these actions are a direct affront to the constitutional promises of equality and freedom of association that are the cornerstones of both Nepali and Indian jurisprudence. The report will first dissect the exclusionary rule through the lens of constitutional law, proving its discriminatory and arbitrary nature. It will then explore how the denial of a free and fair election hollows out the fundamental right to form an association, rendering it meaningless. The third section will systematically dismantle the primary justification for the rule—that "experience is crucial"—exposing it as a fallacious argument that promotes stagnation, masks favoritism, and subverts the educational mission of a student organization. Finally, the report will synthesize these arguments to frame the presidential appointment as a premeditated coup in miniature, an illegitimate seizure of power that lacks any democratic mandate. This is a call to awaken the constitutional conscience of a community and to reclaim the democratic space that has been so brazenly usurped.

Section 1: The Constitutional Promise of Equality vs. The Reality of Exclusion

The new rule requiring one year of community service to be eligible for the President's position is, at its core, an act of discrimination. It erects an artificial and unjustifiable barrier to participation, creating a privileged class of "eligible" insiders while disenfranchising the majority of the community's members. This act of exclusion stands in stark violation of the foundational principles of equality that are meticulously enshrined in the constitutions of both Nepal and India. These documents are not mere legal texts; they are the moral and political charters of their respective nations, born from historic struggles against autocratic and feudal systems. To ignore their spirit is to ignore the very identity of the people they represent.

Subsection 1.1: The Bedrock of Equality in the Constitution of Nepal

The Constitution of Nepal is a document forged in the crucible of popular movements aimed at creating a just, equitable, and inclusive society. Its Preamble is a powerful declaration of intent, explicitly resolving to end "all forms of discriminations and oppression created by the feudalistic, autocratic, centralized, unitary system of governance" and to build an "egalitarian society founded on the proportional inclusive and participatory principles".¹ This is the guiding light of the entire constitutional framework. The goal is not merely to tolerate diversity but to actively protect and promote "unity in diversity" by eliminating discrimination based on class, caste, region, language, or any other arbitrary distinction.² A student community that bears the name "Nepali" has a profound responsibility to reflect these national aspirations.

This overarching spirit is given concrete legal force through the chapter on Fundamental Rights. Article 18, the "Right to equality," is the central pillar of this commitment, guaranteeing equal treatment for all citizens.³ While this article provides the general principle, Article 24, the "Right against untouchability and discrimination," offers a powerful analogy for the situation at hand. Article 24(1) states, "No person shall be subjected to any form of...discrimination in any private and public places on grounds of his or her origin, caste, tribe, community, profession, occupation or physical condition".⁵ The rule requiring one year of service effectively creates a new, artificial "community" or class of individuals—those who have previously served in some capacity—and discriminates against all others based on this manufactured status. It prevents a vast majority of members from aspiring to the highest office based not on their merit, ideas, or capabilities, but on a condition that is not universally accessible or necessarily relevant to leadership potential.

Furthermore, Article 24(3) prohibits any act "purporting to demonstrate any person or community as superior or inferior" or "justifying social discrimination".⁵ The one-year service rule does precisely this: it implicitly frames the "experienced" as superior and more worthy of leadership, thereby justifying the social discrimination of excluding newcomers. This contravenes the constitution's explicit goal of ending all forms of oppression and creating an egalitarian society.¹ Nepal's commitment to these principles is not merely a domestic affair; it is a matter of international standing, with the government repeatedly affirming its dedication to "promoting equality amongst all and eliminating all forms of discrimination" as a cornerstone of development and social equity.⁶ For a student body representing Nepal abroad to enact a rule so clearly at odds with this national and international commitment is a profound contradiction.

The rule is not just a violation of specific articles; it represents the creation of an "un-constitutional culture" within the student body. The constitutions of both Nepal and India are living documents that embody national values forged through struggles against autocracy and inequality.¹ They are intended to cultivate a society based on participation and fairness. A student community, particularly one representing a national identity on foreign soil, should function as a microcosm of these constitutional values, serving as a practical training ground for democratic citizenship. The introduction of an arbitrary, exclusionary rule does the exact opposite. It establishes a hierarchy, promotes an elitist in-group, and subverts the fundamental principle of equal opportunity. The true damage, therefore, extends beyond the individuals it immediately excludes. It corrodes the collective political and social education of the entire community by normalizing a form of governance that is fundamentally alien to the democratic spirit of the homelands these students represent.

Subsection 1.2: The Doctrine of Equality and Non-Arbitrariness in the Indian Constitution

The legal framework of the host nation, India, provides even more powerful analytical tools to dismantle the legitimacy of the exclusionary rule. The Indian Constitution's commitment to equality is absolute and forms part of its "basic structure." Article 14 commands that "The State shall not deny to any person equality before the law or the equal protection of the laws within the territory of India".⁹ While a student union may not be "The State" in a literal sense, any organization operating within an Indian university is expected to adhere to these foundational constitutional principles. Article 16 further guarantees "equality of opportunity for all citizens in matters relating to employment or appointment to any office under the State".¹⁰ By analogy, this principle of equal opportunity should apply to any position of office within a significant community organization that operates with the university's sanction. The rule in question is a direct assault on this principle.

To assess the constitutionality of rules that create classifications, the Indian Supreme Court has developed crucial legal tests. In the landmark case of Ram Krishna Dalmia vs Justice S R Tendolkar, the court established the "Test of Reasonable Classification." This test permits a classification between groups of people only if two conditions are met: first, the classification must be based on an "intelligible differentia" that clearly distinguishes the groups, and second, this differentia must have a "rational relation" or nexus to the objective the rule seeks to achieve.¹² The one-year service rule fails this test spectacularly. While the "intelligible differentia" is clear (one year of service versus less than one year), there is no demonstrable rational nexus between this specific duration of service and the objective of securing competent leadership. Is a person with 11 months of service inherently unqualified? Is a person with 13 months of service inherently qualified? The criterion is rigid, arbitrary, and bears no necessary relationship to a candidate's actual skills, vision, or ability to lead.

The most potent weapon against the rule, however, comes from the "Doctrine of Arbitrariness," articulated by the Indian Supreme Court in E. P. Royappa v. State of Tamil Nadu. In this seminal judgment, the court declared that "Equality is a dynamic concept with many aspects and dimensions... From the positivistic point of view, equality is antithetic to arbitrariness. In fact, equality and arbitrariness are sworn enemies... Where an act is arbitrary, it is implicit that it is unequal both according to political logic and constitutional law and is therefore violative of Article 14".¹² The one-year service rule is the very definition of arbitrary. It is not based on a fair assessment of merit, a competitive evaluation of ideas, or a transparent measure of skill. Instead, it imposes a single, restrictive, and artificial condition that inherently favors a small clique of insiders. It is a form of class legislation, forbidden by the constitution, that creates an unreasonable barrier to entry for the vast majority of members. By being arbitrary, the rule is inherently unequal and thus stands condemned by the core principles of the Indian Constitution.

Table 1: Constitutional Principles of Democratic Governance at a Glance

Section 2: The Right to Associate, The Power to Choose

The right to form an association is a cornerstone of any free and democratic society. It allows individuals to come together to pursue common interests, express collective views, and organize for shared goals. However, this right is rendered hollow and meaningless if the members of that association are stripped of their most fundamental power: the power to choose their own leaders through free, fair, and periodic elections. The actions of the Nepali Community leadership—first engineering an exclusionary rule and then bypassing an election altogether—have transformed a supposedly democratic association into a self-perpetuating oligarchy, violating the spirit of association guaranteed by the constitutions of both Nepal and India.

Subsection 2.1: Freedom of Association and Democratic Process in Nepal

The Constitution of Nepal is unequivocal in its support for democratic organization. Article 17(2) explicitly guarantees every citizen the freedom "(c) to form political party" and "(d) freedom to form unions and associations".¹ This right is not granted in a vacuum. It exists within a broader constitutional context that lionizes democratic processes. The Preamble celebrates "peoples' competitive multi-party democratic governance system, civil liberty, fundamental rights, human rights, adult franchise, periodic elections, complete press freedom and an independent, impartial and competent judiciary" as the core values of the nation.¹ The constitution repeatedly emphasizes the right of the people to "take part in a free and fair election... in an environment without fear".⁴

The critical connection that must be drawn is between the right to form an association and the right to govern it democratically. The freedom to associate is not merely the freedom to sign up and pay dues; it is the freedom to participate in the life of the association. The ultimate expression of this participation is the act of electing leadership. An association where leaders are appointed by an elite few, or where elections are structured to exclude the majority of members from even contesting, is not a "free" association in the spirit of the Nepali Constitution. It is a controlled entity, an instrument of the few rather than a voice of the many. The right to form a union or association, as protected by Article 17, implicitly includes the right for that body to be governed by democratic norms, chief among them being periodic and competitive elections.¹⁸ To deny this is to gut the right of its essential meaning, leaving only an empty shell.

Subsection 2.2: The Essence of Association and Election in India

Similarly, the Indian Constitution provides robust protection for the freedom of association. Article 19(1)(c) guarantees all citizens the fundamental right "to form associations or unions".¹⁰ The Indian judiciary has affirmed that this right is not merely procedural. In the case of

Damyanti v. Union of India, the Supreme Court upheld the right of the members of an association "to continue the association with its composition as voluntarily agreed upon by the persons forming the association".¹³ This principle logically extends to the right of members to determine their own leadership through a process of their choosing. If an external body cannot impose a leadership structure, then an internal clique cannot do so either without violating the fundamental right of the members to freely associate and determine their own governance.

While the "right to vote" in India is classified as a constitutional or legal right under Article 326 rather than a fundamental right, the entire edifice of Indian democracy rests upon the principle of free and fair elections.¹⁶ The Constitution dedicates an entire section, Part XV, to the mechanics of elections, and the Supreme Court has consistently acted to strengthen the hands of the Election Commission to ensure their fairness.¹⁷ The appointment of a leader without an election is a complete and shocking departure from this foundational democratic norm. It is an act so alien to the political culture of India that it would be unthinkable in any public body. For a student organization operating on Indian soil to adopt such an autocratic practice is an affront to the democratic values of its host nation. The act of appointing a president confirms the worst fears about the exclusionary rule: it was never about "experience," but about circumventing the will of the members.

When students join a community organization, they do so under an implicit social contract, one based on the democratic norms of their home countries. This contract assumes a right to participate and to have a voice in the community's governance, a right epitomized by the act of voting.¹ The leadership, by accepting their roles, implicitly agrees to act as fiduciaries of this trust, representing the members' interests. By canceling an election and appointing a leader, the leadership unilaterally shatters this contract. They cease to be a representative body and transform into a self-appointed authority. This action fundamentally alters the nature of the organization. It is no longer a "community" in the democratic sense, but a hierarchy where members are subjects rather than citizens. This breach of trust erodes the very legitimacy of the leadership and undermines the purpose of the association, which is to represent its members, not to rule over them.²¹

Subsection 2.3: The Standard of Care: Student Union Elections in Practice

To understand just how far the Nepali Community's leadership has strayed from acceptable norms, one need only look at the established best practices for student union governance in India. The ordinance governing student union elections in Chhattisgarh, for example, provides a detailed and reasonable framework that can serve as a benchmark.²² This ordinance explicitly states that one of the primary aims of a student union is "to promote and reinforce the democratic values and principles amongst the students and to educate them about their duties and rights in democracy".²² This stands in stark contrast to the Nepali Community's actions, which have taught a lesson in exclusion and autocracy.

The contrast becomes even more glaring when examining the specific rules. The Indian ordinance lays out a clear and objective set of disqualification criteria for candidates. A student can be deemed ineligible if they have been involved in ragging, have criminal proceedings pending, have been punished for using unfair means in exams, or have failed to meet academic progress standards.²² These are objective, verifiable criteria related to a student's conduct and academic standing. They are fair and apply equally to all. Nowhere in this comprehensive document is there a subjective, arbitrary requirement like "one year of service." The ordinance mandates elections for the Students' Council, with office bearers elected by the council members themselves, ensuring a chain of democratic legitimacy.²² The process is transparent, with clear timelines for nomination, scrutiny, and polling.

By comparing the Nepali Community's new rule and subsequent appointment to this established standard of care, the deficiency is laid bare. The community's leadership has not just violated the high-minded spirit of two national constitutions; it has failed to meet even the most basic, practical standards of fair and democratic student governance. The ordinance shows what is reasonable and possible: a system that promotes democratic values, uses objective criteria for eligibility, and guarantees an electoral process. The Nepali Community's system does the opposite on every single count, proving that its process is not just flawed, but a deliberate and flagrant deviation from established democratic practice.

Section 3: The Tyranny of Experience: A Defense of Stagnation, Not Progress

The primary defense offered for the exclusionary one-year service rule is the assertion that "experience is crucial for understanding the community's operations and avoiding mistakes." On its surface, this argument appears reasonable, appealing to common-sense notions of prudence and competence. However, a deeper analysis reveals this justification to be a dangerously flawed and intellectually lazy defense for a policy that ultimately serves to entrench power, stifle innovation, and promote a weak and ineffective model of leadership. It is a classic argument for stagnation, not progress, and it serves as a convenient mask for favoritism and the consolidation of an insider's club.

Subsection 3.1: Deconstructing the "Experience" Argument: Institutional Knowledge vs. Stagnation

The argument for the rule rests on the perceived value of "institutional knowledge"—the collective, often intangible, insights and expertise that employees or members accumulate over time about an organization's culture, processes, and history.²³ Proponents would argue that a leader with this knowledge can navigate challenges more effectively and make more informed decisions, thus avoiding costly errors.²⁵ They believe that a new leader, without this background, is more likely to make mistakes and disrupt the smooth functioning of the community.²⁶

This perspective, however, fundamentally misunderstands the nature of both leadership and organizational health. While institutional knowledge has its place, mandating it as a rigid prerequisite for leadership is profoundly counter-productive. Relying solely on on-the-job experience without new perspectives can lead to the reinforcement of bad habits, the perpetuation of inefficient processes, and a dangerous resistance to necessary change.²⁷ An organization that only ever promotes from within a narrow pool of "experienced" individuals risks becoming an echo chamber, where outdated assumptions are never challenged and innovation is suffocated. As former Intel CEO Andy Grove argued, to navigate profound change, existing management must adopt an "outsider's intellectual objectivity," unfettered by emotional attachment to the past.²⁸ The one-year rule actively prevents this by filtering out the very outsiders who could provide that critical perspective.

History and business are replete with examples of successful "outsider" leaders who brought transformative change precisely because they were not beholden to the institutional orthodoxies of the past. Political leaders like Margaret Thatcher and Abraham Lincoln successfully cast themselves as outsiders to challenge the established order.²⁹ In the business world, CEOs like Henry Singleton of Teledyne and Warren Buffett of Berkshire Hathaway achieved extraordinary success by thinking like investors and capital allocators, not as traditional managers steeped in the operational minutiae of their many businesses.³¹ Founders like Sara Blakely (Spanx) and Steve Jobs (Apple) had no prior industry experience but succeeded through vision and a fresh approach.³² These cases demonstrate that a fresh perspective is often more valuable than accumulated experience, especially when an organization needs to adapt and grow. The most valuable leadership experiences are often those that push a person out of their comfort zone, not those that simply repeat established routines.³³ The rule, therefore, does not guarantee good leadership; it guarantees the perpetuation of the status quo, for better or worse.

Subsection 3.2: Transactional vs. Transformational Leadership: Choosing the Right Model

The debate over the "experience" rule is, at its heart, a debate about the kind of leadership the community wishes to cultivate. The rule, by its very design, selects for and promotes a transactional model of leadership. Transactional leaders focus on managing existing systems and processes. They operate on a system of exchanges—rewards for performance and punishments for failure—and their primary goal is to ensure stability, clarify roles, and maintain the current order.³⁴ This style is characterized by a focus on control, clear chains of command, and managing by exception (intervening only when something goes wrong). The argument that a leader needs one year of experience to "understand operations" and "avoid mistakes" is a textbook description of the transactional mindset. It prioritizes the smooth execution of existing tasks over the creation of a new vision.

A dynamic and evolving student community, however, does not merely need a manager; it needs a leader. It requires a transformational leadership model. Transformational leaders do not just manage; they inspire. They articulate a compelling vision for the future, motivate their followers to look beyond their immediate self-interest for the good of the group, encourage creativity and innovation, and foster the personal and professional growth of each member.³⁷ They operate on principles of charisma, intellectual stimulation, and individualized consideration.³⁴ Research consistently shows that transformational leadership leads to higher productivity, greater satisfaction, and a stronger sense of collective purpose among followers.³⁴

The one-year service rule acts as a filter that actively blocks potential transformational leaders. A newcomer with a bold new vision for the community—a new event, a new mentorship program, a new way of engaging with the university—is deemed ineligible. A charismatic individual who can inspire and motivate a broad base of students is barred from running. The rule ensures that the only people who can lead are those who have already been socialized into the existing system, making them less likely to challenge it. It prioritizes the transactional skill of "knowing how things are done" over the transformational quality of "imagining how things could be better." For a student organization, whose very purpose should be growth and development, this is a catastrophic choice.

The purpose of a student organization within a university is fundamentally educational. It should be a laboratory for developing the skills and character of its members. A key part of this development is providing opportunities for practical experience in leadership, collaboration, and governance.²¹ The modern understanding of leadership is that leaders are overwhelmingly "made, not born," and they are made through experience, training, and overcoming challenges.³³ The one-year service rule is a profoundly anti-educational tool because it creates a bottleneck. It restricts the most valuable leadership learning opportunities to a tiny, pre-selected group, effectively telling the majority of members that their role is to be passive followers, not active participants or future leaders. This subverts the educational mission of the university itself. Instead of being an incubator that cultivates a wide and diverse pool of future leaders, the community becomes a gatekeeper that stifles talent, hoards opportunity, and reinforces a rigid, unproductive hierarchy. This is a perversion of its function within an academic institution.

Subsection 3.3: The Corrosive Impact of Favoritism

Ultimately, the "experience" argument is a flimsy veil for a much more toxic dynamic: favoritism. The rule is a textbook mechanism for creating an in-group (those who have served and are thus "eligible") and an out-group (everyone else). This is not about competence; it is about control. It allows the existing leadership clique to groom its own successors, ensuring that power remains within a closed circle of friends and allies.

The consequences of favoritism in any organization are devastating and well-documented. It is a poison that corrodes the foundations of trust and meritocracy. When members perceive that opportunities and positions are not based on merit but on personal connections, their morale plummets.⁴⁰ Motivation withers, as there is no incentive to contribute ideas or work hard if one is not part of the favored circle. Team dynamics are impaired, breeding resentment and exclusion rather than collaboration. Innovation is stifled, as new ideas from the out-group are ignored or dismissed.⁴⁰

Most importantly, favoritism destroys the credibility of the leadership. When leaders are seen to be making decisions based on personal bias rather than objective criteria, they lose all moral authority.⁴⁰ The appointment of a new president without an election is the final, undeniable proof of this dynamic. It confirms every suspicion that the rule was never about ensuring competent leadership, but about ensuring a specific, favored individual would take power. This single act of blatant favoritism invalidates any claim the leadership might have to fairness or integrity, and it reveals the "experience" argument for what it truly is: a self-serving justification for an undemocratic power grab.

Table 2: Deconstructing the "Experience is Crucial" Justification

Section 4: The Appointment: A Coup in Miniature

The sequence of events within the Nepali Community at Sharda University—the sudden imposition of an exclusionary rule followed by the cancellation of an election and the direct appointment of a President—cannot be viewed as a series of isolated mistakes. It must be analyzed as a single, coherent process. The appointment of the President was not an unfortunate, ad-hoc solution to an unforeseen problem; it was the premeditated and indefensible culmination of an anti-democratic strategy. This final act represents the successful execution of a coup in miniature, a deliberate seizure of power that strips the community of its democratic soul and renders its leadership completely illegitimate.

Subsection 4.1: The Inevitable Outcome

The appointment of the President should not be seen as a surprising development. It was the logical, and likely intended, consequence of the one-year service rule. By creating such a restrictive eligibility criterion, the existing leadership effectively engineered a situation where the pool of "qualified" candidates would be vanishingly small. It is highly probable that the rule was crafted with the knowledge that it would disqualify all but a handful of insiders, perhaps even just one preferred candidate.

This is a classic tactic of authoritarian control: if you cannot win a fair election, you change the rules to ensure there is no fair election to be won. The rule was the primary weapon in the "murder of an election." It incapacitated the democratic body by making genuine competition impossible. Once the field of candidates was artificially narrowed to the point of non-existence, the election itself became a mere formality, an inconvenience to be discarded. The claim that an election was no longer necessary or feasible is a disingenuous excuse. The conditions that made it "unfeasible" were deliberately created by the leadership's own exclusionary policy. Therefore, the appointment was not a reaction to a crisis; it was the final step in a carefully orchestrated plan to bypass the will of the members.

The phrase "murder of election" is not employed as hyperbole but as an accurate diagnosis of a deliberate, two-step act. The first step was to incapacitate the democratic process with the poison of an exclusionary, arbitrary rule that destroyed the level playing field and violated core constitutional principles of equality. The second step was to deliver the final, fatal blow by cancelling the election entirely, thus removing member participation from the equation. The justification for the rule—the need for experience—was demonstrably false and served only to mask the true intent. When a flawed premise leads to an undemocratic outcome, the only logical conclusion is that the entire sequence of events was not aimed at improving the community, but at ensuring a specific, predetermined result. It was a calculated strategy to consolidate power in the hands of an elite clique, effectively killing the democratic process to achieve a political end.

Subsection 4.2: A Complete Betrayal of Trust and Democratic Norms

The act of appointing a leader without an election is a profound betrayal of the trust placed in the leadership by the community's members. Fair elections are the lifeblood of any democratic organization, no matter its size or scope. They are the primary mechanism through which leadership is held accountable and legitimacy is conferred.⁴¹ By unilaterally cancelling the election, the leadership sent a clear and insulting message to its members: your voices do not matter, your choices are irrelevant, and your participation is worthless.

Effective leadership is built on a foundation of trust, which is cultivated through specific, deliberate behaviors. These include open and transparent communication, encouraging involvement, sharing the rationale behind decisions, and demonstrating integrity.⁴² The actions of the community's leadership represent a masterclass in how to destroy trust. Communication was not open but manipulative. Involvement was not encouraged but actively blocked. The rationale for the rule was specious, and the final appointment was the opposite of transparent. This is not just poor leadership; it is a deliberate dismantling of the relationship between the leaders and the led. It replaces a covenant of trust with a dynamic of command and control, fundamentally altering the character of the community for the worse.

Subsection 4.3: The Leader Without a Mandate

The individual who has been appointed as President, regardless of their personal qualities, intentions, or past service, begins their term with an insurmountable deficit: they have no democratic mandate. A mandate is the authority granted by the people to a leader to act on their behalf. It is earned through a competitive process of presenting ideas and winning the consent of the governed in a free and fair election. The appointed President has not earned this. They were not chosen by the members; they were installed by a committee.

This lack of a mandate renders their leadership inherently weak and illegitimate. They do not represent the will of the community; they represent the will of the small group that appointed them. Every decision they make, every action they take, will be shadowed by the undemocratic nature of their ascension to power. They cannot claim to speak for the community because the community was never given a chance to speak. They cannot command the genuine respect and loyalty of the members because their position was not earned through merit or popular support, but through a backroom deal. This creates a deeply unstable and unhealthy dynamic. A leader without a mandate can only rule through the authority of their position, not through the moral force of popular consent. This is the hallmark of an autocracy, not a vibrant student community. The community is left with a figurehead, not a representative—a president in name only.

Conclusion: A Call to Action - Reclaiming Our Democratic Space

The analysis presented in this report leads to an unassailable conclusion: the imposition of a one-year service requirement for presidential eligibility and the subsequent appointment of a President without an election by the Nepali Community at Sharda University are acts that are illegitimate, unconstitutional in spirit, and profoundly anti-democratic. The exclusionary rule violates the foundational principles of equality and non-arbitrariness enshrined in the Constitutions of both Nepal and India. The cancellation of the election hollows out the fundamental right of association, transforming a democratic community into a self-perpetuating oligarchy. The justification for these actions—a supposed need for "experience"—has been exposed as a fallacious argument that promotes a weak, transactional leadership model and serves as a convenient mask for favoritism. The final appointment was not an administrative necessity but a deliberate power grab, the culmination of a successful strategy to murder an election and silence the will of the members.

This is not merely an internal squabble over bylaws. This is a critical moment for the members of the Nepali Community to defend the very constitutional values they carry with them from their homeland. It is a moment to decide whether the community will be a reflection of the democratic, egalitarian, and participatory ideals that both Nepal and India aspire to, or whether it will be an unfortunate caricature of the autocratic and feudal systems those nations have fought to overcome. This is an opportunity to put the principles of the constitution into practice, to demand accountability, and to reclaim the democratic space that has been stolen. The path forward requires courage, unity, and a clear set of non-negotiable demands for reform.

Therefore, the following specific, actionable demands must be presented to the current leadership and the university administration:

1. Immediate Repeal of the Exclusionary Rule: The first and most critical step is to demand the immediate, unconditional, and permanent repeal of the rule requiring one year of community service for presidential eligibility. This rule is the root of the democratic decay and must be excised completely.

2. Nullification of the Appointment and a New, Fair Election: The presidential appointment, lacking any democratic mandate, must be declared null and void. A new election must be scheduled promptly. This election must be open to all regular members of the community in good standing, with eligibility criteria that are fair, objective, and non-discriminatory, ensuring a level playing field for all who wish to serve.

3. Establishment of Democratic Bylaws: To prevent such a crisis from recurring, a formal and binding set of bylaws for the community must be created. This process must be democratic and transparent, led by an independent committee with broad representation from all segments of the student community. These bylaws must explicitly guarantee the core principles of equality, non-discrimination, and the right of all members to vote and stand for office in periodic, free, and fair elections. This new governing document should draw its inspiration directly from the democratic ethos of the Constitutions of Nepal and India and from the established best practices for student union governance, ensuring that the "murder of an election" can never happen again.

Works cited

1. The Constitution of Nepal - ConstitutionNet, accessed August 12, 2025, https://constitutionnet.org/sites/default/files/2017-07/Constitution-of-Nepal-_English_-with-1st-Amendment_2_0.pdf

2. CONSTITUTION OF NEPAL 2015 - ADB's Law and Policy Reform Program, accessed August 12, 2025, https://lpr.adb.org/sites/default/files/resource/629/nepal-constitution.pdf.pdf

3. THE CONSTITUTION OF NEPAL - ConstitutionNet, accessed August 12, 2025, https://constitutionnet.org/sites/default/files/nepal_constitution_-_official_translaiton_eng_mljpa.pdf

4. The Constitution of Nepal, 2015 - Legislation - South Asian Translaw Database, accessed August 12, 2025, https://translaw.clpr.org.in/legislation/the-constitution-of-nepal-2015-constitution-nepal/

5. Nepal - Global Gender Equality Constitutional Database - UN Women, accessed August 12, 2025, https://constitutions.unwomen.org/en/countries/asia/nepal

6. India 1949 (rev. 2016) Constitution, accessed August 12, 2025, https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/India_2016

7. EP Royappa vs State of Tamil Nadu - Case Analysis - Testbook, accessed August 12, 2025, https://testbook.com/landmark-judgements/ep-royappa-vs-state-of-tamil-nadu

8. THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA - FAOLEX Database | Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, accessed August 12, 2025, https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/ind132810.pdf

9. E.P. Royappa vs. State of Tamil Nadu & Another (1973), accessed August 12, 2025, https://blog.ipleaders.in/e-p-royappa-v-state-tamil-nadu-mala-fide-abuse-discretion/

10. DU announces strict rules for student union elections to prevent defacement, accessed August 12, 2025, https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/du-announces-strict-rules-for-student-union-elections-to-prevent-defacement/articleshow/123144638.cms

11. RULES AND REGULATIONS TO CONDUCT THE ELECTIONS OF THE STUDENT'S UNION OF GMCH, accessed August 12, 2025, https://gmchassam.gov.in/downloads/Rules&Regulations.pdf

12. Internal hiring or external recruitment? - IZA World of Labor, accessed August 12, 2025, https://wol.iza.org/articles/internal-hiring-or-external-recruitment/long

13. Eight advantages and disadvantages of internal recruitment | Workable, accessed August 12, 2025, https://resources.workable.com/stories-and-insights/advantages-disadvantages-of-internal-recruitment

14. Transformational and Transactional Leadership: Association With Attitudes Toward Evidence-Based Practice - PMC, accessed August 12, 2025, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1876730/

15. Transformational and Transactional Leadership | EBSCO Research Starters, accessed August 12, 2025, https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/social-sciences-and-humanities/transformational-and-transactional-leadership

But now… look at me. Just look at me. Here I am, alone, surrounded by this silence and yearning and begging for somebody—anybody—to come for me, to show up for me the way I showed up for them, gave to them, without ever asking for anything in return. And nobody's here. Nobody ever is.

Isn't it funny? The irony, I mean. I built my whole life around being there for people. Picking up the pieces for them. Carrying their weight, their struggles, their pain—like it was mine to carry. And I did it willingly. Gladly. Because I thought… I thought they'd do the same for me when the time came.

But here I am now, falling apart, and where are they? Where are you? I don't see anyone. Do you even care? Do you even see me? Or was I just convenient? Was my love and my time and my energy just something to take and leave behind?

I don't know what else to do anymore. I've done everything. Everything I could. I give and give until I have nothing left, and yet, it is like I am nothing. The things I do don't matter. And the love, well, that's just worthless. And now, when I need—somebody—when I need someone—to see the cracks, to notice how broken I feel, to hold me together... there's no one. No one hears me. No one sees me. No one... is here.

And you know what? It's not fair. It's just not. I don't care if I'm selfish for saying it, I don't care if it makes me sound weak—it’s not fair. I gave so much. Too much. And what do I have to show for it? Loneliness. Silence. This empty, gnawing feeling that I'll never be enough for anyone, no matter how hard I try.

But maybe… maybe this is the truth. Maybe I was wrong all along. Maybe I wasn't supposed to give so much. Maybe I wasn't supposed to pour myself into people who couldn't—or wouldn’t—pour anything back into me. Maybe the lesson isn't in what I gave but in what I shouldn't have.

But God… it hurts. It hurts so much. I feel it in my chest, like something's clawing at me from the inside. Tearing me apart piece by piece. And I'm tired. I'm so tired. Of hoping. Of waiting. Of trying to convince myself that someday, someone will show up for me the way I showed up for them.

Maybe someday… maybe someday, someone will care. Maybe someday, I will matter to someone. Until then… well, it seems like it is just me, just me holding together with hands already broken, just me trying to fill the silence with words I wish someone would say to me.

But why does it still hurt so much… to be alone?

You see, here’s where people get it twisted. They look at someone like me—consistent, dependable, always giving—and they think, “Oh, they’ll always be there. They’ll always care.” But they forgot one thing. Access to me was a privilege. Not a right.

I’ve been the one who listens when no one else will. The one who stays when everyone else walks away. The one who pours everything I have into someone else’s empty cup. And for what? For them to treat me like I’m disposable? Like I’m just… there to make their life easier?

Nah. Not anymore.

I’m Done Being Taken for Granted

The truth? I gave too much for too long. And if we’re being honest, I’m not even mad about it. I don’t regret it. Because caring deeply is a beautiful thing. It’s one of the best things about me. But even superheroes know when to hang up the cape.

Even the strongest hearts know when to stop giving to people who only take. Even the best intentions reach their breaking point. And you know what? I’ve reached mine.

I’m done playing the fool in a game I didn’t even want to be part of. I’m done being the safety net for people who don’t respect me. I’m done letting people take, and take, and take, while giving nothing in return.

It’s Not Spite, It’s Self-Respect

I’m walking away. Not because I’m bitter, or angry, or holding a grudge. I’m walking away because I finally realized that I deserve better. I deserve respect. I deserve reciprocity. I deserve to feel like my energy is going to people who actually value it.

And if that makes me cold, or selfish, or hard-hearted in your eyes? That’s fine. I’ve spent too much of my life trying to live up to other people’s expectations. I’ve bent over backward trying to prove my worth to people who didn’t even deserve to stand in my shadow.

Not anymore.

Let Me Remind You Who I Am

If you thought for one second that I was someone you could take for granted, let me remind you: I’m the one who showed up when no one else did. I’m the one who held space for you when the world turned its back. I’m the one who was there, no questions asked, no strings attached.

But you know what? I’m not a constant. I’m not some fallback plan, some afterthought, some person you can call when all your other options run dry. If you thought my care was infinite, if you thought my presence was guaranteed—you were dead wrong.

This Isn’t a Cry for Attention

Let me be clear. I’m not saying this to get your attention. I don’t need validation from you, or anyone else, for that matter. This isn’t some dramatic plea for you to notice me.

This is a reminder—to you, and to me—that my time is valuable. That my energy is sacred. That my concern, my care, my love—they aren’t things you get just because you exist.

For too long, I’ve let people slide with their subtle disrespect. Their empty gratitude. Their half-hearted apologies. For too long, I’ve convinced myself that if I just gave a little more, they’d see my worth.

But some people? They’ll never see it. Because they’re too wrapped up in their own entitlement to even notice. They’ll take and take until there’s nothing left.

But guess what? They won’t take from me anymore.

You’re Either In or You’re Out

I’ve drawn the line. And if you’re on the wrong side of it, well… that’s on you. Consider this your notice: you no longer have access to me.

I’m not explaining myself anymore. I’m not giving second chances. And I’m definitely not wasting my time on people who can’t even spell the word “reciprocate.”

If you thought my presence was something to take lightly, wait until you feel my absence. Because here’s the thing: I’m not irreplaceable, but I am unforgettable. And the loss of me? That’s something you’ll feel every single day.

This Is My Clarity, Not My Anger

This isn’t anger speaking. This isn’t bitterness. This is clarity. This is me finally seeing things for what they are.

And honestly? It feels good. It feels powerful. I’m no longer afraid to say no. I’m no longer afraid to walk away. I’m no longer afraid to demand the respect I deserve.

So if that makes me “cold” or “selfish” in your eyes, so be it. At least I’m no longer sacrificing myself for people who wouldn’t even cross the street for me.

To the Ones Who Took Me for Granted: Goodbye

To those who took me for granted: bye.

To those who respected my presence: thank you.

And to myself? Welcome back.

Because the world needs my energy—but only for the people who actually value it. The rest? They can watch from the sidelines.

Closing Thought

At 2AM, when the world is quiet and the thoughts get loud, this is what I know: caring deeply isn’t my weakness. It’s my strength. But from now on, I’ll be giving that care to the people who truly deserve it. The rest? They can figure it out on their own.

And you know what? That’s more than fair.

Today, that song, for me, was “Tum Tak.”

I’ve heard it countless times before. It would drift through my room on idle afternoons, and I would hum along absentmindedly, never pausing to understand it. But today was different. Today, its words leapt out at me. They embraced my heart and whispered truths I’d somehow overlooked:

Naino ki ghaat le ja, naino ki naiyya
Patwaar tu hai meri, tu khevaiyya
Jaana hai paar tere, tu hi bhanwar hai
Pahunchegi paar kaise, naazuk si naiyya?

These lines did more than touch me — they unraveled me.

A Journey Across Fragile Waters

At its core, “Tum Tak” is a journey: a lyrical odyssey over love’s uncharted seas. In these delicate lines, Irshad Kamil conjures a world where eyes become boats, lovers become oarsmen and whirlpools, and trust becomes the only compass. The imagery is not just beautiful — it’s visceral. You can see it, feel it: a fragile boat drifting towards a distant shore, the beloved guiding and yet becoming the very current that could pull you under.

This paradox mirrors the nature of love itself, where safety and danger become intertwined, and where surrender and control dance in the same breath.

Naino ki ghaat le ja, naino ki naiyya
(Guide me to the shores of your eyes, let your eyes be my boat.)

Eyes often serve as the silent storytellers of our deepest emotions. Here, they transcend simple observation. They become the vessel of love, fragile yet profound. It’s in the quiet exchange of glances that love finds its bearings. With eyes as boats, the journey begins at a sacred threshold where words remain unspoken, yet truths are understood.

Patwaar tu hai meri, tu khevaiyya
(“You are my oar; you are the boatman.”)

In love, the beloved is not just the destination; they become the very means of travel. They hold the oar and steer the boat. This line acknowledges that love involves handing over the reins — entrusting someone else with your journey. There is humility in this surrender and vulnerability in this trust. The tension lies in the faith placed in those hands: Will they guide you gently, or will they falter?

Jaana hai paar tere, tu hi bhanwar hai
(I must reach the other side with you, yet you are also the whirlpool.)

This paradox stole my breath. Love is presented here as both refuge and risk, solace and turbulence. The beloved becomes both the calm harbor and the swirling vortex. This duality is at the heart of every love story worth telling. Love rescues and endangers, uplifts and engulfs. To embrace love is to acknowledge this contradiction — to accept that the same force that propels you forward can also threaten to pull you under.

Pahunchegi paar kaise, naazuk si naiyya?
(How will this delicate boat ever reach the shore?)

The final question lingers, softly echoing in the silence. There are no guarantees here. Love, like a fragile boat, can be easily overturned by doubt, fear, or circumstance. Yet this uncertainty is precisely where the poetry lies. We do not love because it is safe; we love because it’s worth the risk. There’s courage in pushing off from the shore, knowing the waters ahead may be stormy.

The Power of Rediscovery

What amazes me is how a song I’ve heard a thousand times can suddenly feel brand new. That’s the quiet patience of art — it waits for you. It stands just out of sight, ready to reveal itself when you need it most.

Perhaps I’m different now — more weathered by life’s storms, more open to its wonders. Today, the lines of “Tum Tak” became my own. They reminded me why I fell in love with words, with metaphors, with the inexplicable beauty of human feeling. These lyrics do not merely tell a story; they invite you to live it. They hand you the oars, surround you with uncertain waters, and refuse to promise safety.

A Celebration of Vulnerability

This song is a testament to the power of vulnerability. It refuses to mask the fragility of love. Instead, it honors it. It tells us that it’s okay to be afraid, uncertain, and exposed. In fact, this tenderness is the very heart of what makes love profound.

We trust the boat, no matter how delicate. We trust the hands that guide it, no matter how unsteady. We trust the water, no matter how deep its currents run. Because love is not about the certainty of reaching a distant shore; it is about the courage to set sail in the first place.

Closing Thoughts

Today, “Tum Tak” whispered a timeless truth: love is a journey, not a promise. The fragile boat may quiver, the whirlpool may beckon, and the shore may remain only a distant dream. But the act of choosing to sail — of embracing the risk and the rapture — is what makes the entire voyage meaningful.

Here’s to fragile boats and unpredictable waters. Here’s to paradox and poetry, to the hands that guide us, and to the songs that remind us why we dare to leave the safety of the shore. Again and again, we set sail.

Let me paint a picture for you through a series of real-life cases that highlight the dangers our children face in the virtual realm.

Case 1: Cyber Harassment by Pratik

Four years ago, 17-year-old Pratik (name changer) saw a video of his classmate Reeya (name changed) on the popular video app ‘Tiktok.’ What started as innocent interactions and comments quickly escalated into an online romantic relationship, with the two exchanging explicit messages and private photos, despite never having met in person.

When Reeya decided to move on and block Pratik on all social media platforms, he could not handle the rejection. In a fit of rage, he created a fake Facebook account and sent her threatening messages, warning that if she didn’t respond or unblock him, he would post her private photos and videos on the dark web and even confront her parents. Terrified, Reeya reported the incident to the authorities, leading to Pratik’s arrest.

This case highlights the dark underbelly of online relationships, where young, impressionable minds can become entangled in a web of emotional manipulation, blackmail, and cybercrime. Pratik’s actions, driven by a toxic mix of heartbreak and technological know-how, demonstrate the urgent need to educate our children about the dangers that lurk in the digital world.

Think about it: a teenager, barely old enough to vote, was threatening a girl’s safety, leveraging the twisted corners of the internet most of us don’t even understand. And this isn’t just a story — it’s a wake-up call.

The scariest part? This could be happening right now — to someone you know.

We say, “It won’t happen to us.” But the truth is, the most vulnerable in our society — our children — are growing up in a digital age, where mistakes aren’t forgotten, where threats don’t disappear, and where harassment isn’t confined to the schoolyard anymore. It follows them into their homes, into their minds, through the screens they’re glued to.

Case 2: Vianet Data Breach

In 2020, Nepal’s largest data breach occurred when a hacker, a 16-year-old boy named “Narapichas,” exposed over 175,000 records from Vianet Communications Pvt. Ltd. on social media. The teenager claimed that his intent was to highlight the company’s weak data security, not to cause harm.

When confronted by the police, the hacker immediately confessed, acknowledging his wrongdoing and expressing remorse for the breach. He explained that his actions were driven by a desire to send a message to the developers, who often responded with insults and neglect when vulnerabilities were pointed out.

This case underscores the stark reality that even our young, tech-savvy children are not immune to the temptation of hacking and exploiting digital vulnerabilities. While their intentions may not have been malicious, their actions still had serious consequences, both for the company and the individuals whose data was compromised.

It’s not just the hackers we should worry about; it’s the fact that these teenagers, our future, are crossing lines without fully understanding the consequences.

Case 3: Teenagers Post Obscene Videos

In 2020, a disturbing incident occurred when a group of three teenagers, aged 19, 16, and 17, from Bhaktapur were found to be involved in abusing and uploading obscene videos of a transgender individual, Nikisha Shrestha, on social media platforms like YouTube and Facebook. The teenagers claimed that they did not realize their actions were illegal.

In the same year, the Cyber Bureau also uncovered the formation of a Facebook group called “Rapist Organisation,” created by an 18-year-old teenager and joined by others as young as 16 and 17. This group was established in response to a protest against violence against women, further highlighting the disturbing mindset and lack of understanding among our youth.

These incidents demonstrate the alarming trend of our children engaging in the non-consensual production and distribution of explicit content, as well as the creation of online platforms that promote harmful and illegal activities. It’s a wake-up call that our children are not immune to the lure of the digital world and the potential consequences of their actions.

From obscene videos to virtual blackmail, our youth are stepping into a world they’re unprepared for. They’re misusing technology because no one has taught them the real dangers. When we give them smartphones, social media accounts, and unrestricted access, we unknowingly open Pandora’s box. A place where fake accounts, like in Prateek’s case, can ruin lives, where a simple misunderstanding can lead to criminal charges, and where a moment of curiosity turns into years of regret.

Underage Virtual Love

According to the data from the Cyber Bureau, the number of minors involved in both the victim and perpetrator roles of cybercrime is steadily increasing. In the fiscal year 2022/23, 176 minors’ family members filed applications reporting their children as victims of cybercrime, while in the fiscal year 2023/24, the number rose to 635. In the current fiscal year 2024/25, 68 minors’ family members have already visited the Bureau to file such applications. (Source: Gorkha Patra)

Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Nabindra Aryal, head of the Cyber Bureau, explained that these cases often involve teenagers engaging in “virtual love” or online romantic relationships, leading to the exchange of explicit messages, photos, and videos. The curious and impressionable nature of young minds, coupled with the ubiquity of mobile devices and social media, has created a perfect storm for these types of incidents.

A study conducted in 2022 by Voice of Children and EP-Luxembourg in the Kathmandu Valley revealed that 75% of children aged 5 to 12 years old did not know how to protect themselves from online abuse. This is a troubling statistic that highlights the urgent need for comprehensive education and awareness-raising efforts to safeguard our children in the digital age.

The Risk of Virtual Chatting

The problem of cybercrime among minors is not limited to just romantic relationships or data breaches. In a recent incident, a student studying in grade 9 at a famous school in Lalitpur posted a pornographic video of his friend in the school’s student messenger group, demonstrating the widespread nature of this issue.

DIG Aryal noted that the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting shift to online learning have exacerbated the problem, as mobile phones and social media have become mandatory for education. This has led to a concerning trend where children are spending an excessive amount of time on their devices, often unsupervised by their parents.

Child rights activist Sanjeev Neupane emphasizes the importance of parental involvement, urging them to closely monitor their children’s online activities, from the contacts they maintain to the content they consume and the conversations they engage in. He stresses that parents must be aware of their children’s digital conduct, including the sharing of personal information, passwords, and photographs.

The Way Forward

As a society, we must confront this growing threat to our children’s well-being head-on. The time has come for a comprehensive and multi-faceted approach to address the issue of cybercrime targeting minors.

First and foremost, we must invest in education and awareness campaigns, both for children and their parents. Our young people need to understand the legal consequences of their actions, the importance of online safety, and the risks associated with unguarded digital interactions. Parents, on the other hand, must be empowered with the knowledge and tools to monitor and guide their children’s online activities effectively.

Secondly, we must strengthen the legal framework and enforcement mechanisms to combat cybercrime. Law enforcement agencies, such as the Cyber Bureau, must be equipped with the resources and expertise to swiftly identify, investigate, and prosecute offenders, regardless of their age. The legal system must also adapt to address the unique challenges posed by digital crimes and ensure that the punishment fits the severity of the offense.

Thirdly, we must foster a culture of responsible digital citizenship. Tech companies and social media platforms must take a more proactive role in safeguarding their younger users, implementing robust content moderation policies, age verification systems, and parental control features. Simultaneously, we must encourage the development of digital literacy programs in schools, empowering our children to navigate the online world with wisdom and caution.

By addressing this issue on multiple fronts — education, legislation, and technological solutions — we can create a safer and more secure digital environment for our children to thrive. It is our collective responsibility as a society to protect the vulnerable and ensure that the promise of the digital age is not overshadowed by the perils of cybercrime.

As I conclude my monologue, I urge you all to join me in this crucial endeavour. Together, we can ensure that our children’s digital footprints are marked by their creativity, curiosity, and compassion, rather than the scars of cybercrime. Let’s work towards a future where our young minds can explore the boundless possibilities of the online world with confidence and without fear.

We can’t keep turning a blind eye.

The real threat is not the technology itself. It’s how we’re using it, or rather, misusing it. It’s our lack of awareness, our complacency, that’s putting the next generation at risk.

So here’s my call to you: Get involved. Know what’s happening behind those screens. Before another child becomes a victim — or worse, a criminal.

Let’s stop pretending the cyber world isn’t real. It’s as real as the pain, the fear, and the consequences these kids are living with. Let’s teach them, guide them, and most importantly, protect them. Because if we don’t, who will?

As the silence of the night settled around me, a quote from a book surfaced in my mind: “I’m afraid there was never space in your heart reserved for me. There was just space, and you’d be okay with anybody else staying there, too.” The words, from “I don’t Love you anymore” by Rithvik Singh, resonated deeply. It felt as if they captured an unspoken truth I had been wrestling with — the painful realization that sometimes, we are mere placeholders in someone else’s life, easily replaced, never truly needed.

And then, as if on cue, the song “Jiyein Kyun” by Papon began playing softly through the cab’s speakers. Its haunting melody wrapped around my thoughts like a comforting, albeit melancholic, companion. The night, the road, the music — everything seemed to conspire to bring out those hidden emotions, the ones we bury deep, hoping they’ll disappear with time.

When the Heart Has No Space: Reflections on a Quote

“I’m afraid there was never space in your heart reserved for me…” The quote lingered, echoing in the quiet of the cab. How often do we find ourselves in spaces we weren’t meant to occupy? Spaces where we hold our breath, waiting for someone to notice, to care, to reserve a place for us. And yet, the reality is often harsher — there was never a space meant for us; just an emptiness that anyone else could fill.

We spend so much of our lives hoping for that one person who will make room for us, who will hold us with the intensity and passion we’ve always longed for. But what if that space is never ours? What if the love we yearn for is always fleeting, always slipping through our fingers, like sand in an hourglass?

The words made me think of all the times I had tried to fit into someone else’s world, adjusting myself to be what they needed, only to realize I was never truly needed at all. It’s a painful revelation — to understand that the space in their heart wasn’t meant for you, and perhaps, never will be.

The Soundtrack of Solitude: “Jiyein Kyun” and Its Resonance

As the song played, its lyrics asked a question that felt painfully familiar: Why continue living when love has brought so much pain? Papon’s soulful voice carried the weight of every unspoken sorrow, every unanswered question that fills the spaces between people. The song is a lament, a cry for understanding in a world that often offers none.

There is a unique power in music that can make us confront feelings we didn’t even know we had. “Jiyein Kyun” is not just a song about heartbreak; it’s a song about the confusion and emptiness that follows. It captures that sense of drifting, of being lost in a sea of emotions with no clear path to shore. As it played, I felt the lyrics settle into my bones, each word a reminder of the times I’ve wondered why we hold on to love that doesn’t hold on to us.

In that cab, on that empty road, the song became more than a melody. It became a vessel for every emotion I had buried deep, every ache I had tried to ignore. It was as if the universe was asking the same question that often lingers in our hearts: Why continue when love seems so distant and unattainable?

A Journey Through the Heart: Solitude on an Empty Road

There’s something about a late-night drive that lends itself to reflection. The world outside moves quickly, but inside, time seems to slow down. The road ahead feels endless, and in that space, thoughts start to wander. I found myself thinking about all the times I had searched for love in places it wasn’t meant to be, hoping that somehow, the wrong person would become the right one, that the wrong love would become the love I needed.

Have you ever felt the sting of a song that seemed to know your heart better than you did? Have you ever been on a road that seemed endless, your mind racing as fast as the world outside? There’s a certain solitude in these moments that feels both isolating and strangely comforting. It’s in these quiet spaces, where there’s no one to judge, that we come face-to-face with our truest selves.

As I continued down the empty road, I realized that some journeys are meant to be taken alone. Some questions, like the ones “Jiyein Kyun” asks, don’t always need answers. And perhaps, in the silence and solitude, we find the space we were looking for — not in someone else’s heart, but in our own.

Finding Space Within: A Conclusion

Maybe the emptiness isn’t a void to be filled but a space to be embraced. Maybe it’s in these moments of solitude, with the right song playing in the background, that we find the courage to let go of the spaces we were never meant to occupy and create a space within ourselves where love can truly grow.

And so, I wonder, where do we go when the road is empty, and the music fades? Where do we find the space to heal and grow? Perhaps the answer lies not in finding someone to reserve a place for us but in finding the strength to create a space for ourselves — a space that is sacred, whole, and enough.

Your Turn: Let’s Navigate This Journey Together

What about you? Have you ever felt the weight of an empty road or the comfort of a song that speaks your truth? What songs or quotes have carried you through your midnight journeys? Share your thoughts, your songs, your stories in the comments below. Let’s navigate this journey together.

The Failure of Management and Security

In a place meant for healing, where doctors like Moumita dedicate their lives to saving others, the last thing one would expect is such a horrific crime. Yet, here we are, forced to confront the reality that even hospitals are not safe havens. The lack of proper management at R.G. Kar Medical College is glaring. How is it that a civic volunteer, Sanjay Roy, could wander the premises, intoxicated, without raising any alarms? How could such a breach in security go unnoticed until it was too late?

These are not just rhetorical questions — they are a damning indictment of the systemic failures within our institutions. As a student far from home, I often find solace in the idea that educational institutions, especially those dedicated to health and wellness, are safe spaces. This incident shatters that illusion.

A Systemic Issue: Policies and Consequences

This case is not an isolated incident; it is symptomatic of a much larger issue. Sexual violence against women is a pervasive problem, not just in India but across South Asia. What is particularly disheartening is the inadequacy of the policies designed to protect women and the shockingly lenient punishments meted out to perpetrators of such heinous crimes.

In India, as in Nepal, the judicial process is often excruciatingly slow, and the punishments, when they do come, frequently fall short of providing true justice. How many more lives must be shattered before we see meaningful change? It is deeply frustrating to see rapists walking free after serving only a fraction of their sentences, while their victims are left to pick up the pieces of their broken lives — if they survive at all.

The Need for Reform

As I reflect on this tragedy, I am overwhelmed by a mix of anger, sorrow, and a sense of urgency. The pain felt by Dr. Debnath’s family is unimaginable, yet it is a pain that too many families have endured. We must demand more from our leaders, from our institutions, and from ourselves. The laws must be strengthened, the judicial process expedited, and the management of our public institutions overhauled to ensure that such crimes cannot happen again.

We need to create a society where women feel safe, where justice is not just an abstract concept but a lived reality. This is not just about avenging Dr. Debnath’s death; it is about preventing future tragedies, about ensuring that no other woman has to face what she did.

A Personal Plea

As a Nepali student studying in India, I find myself deeply connected to this struggle. Though I come from a different country, the issues we face are strikingly similar. This is my plea, not just as a student or as a foreigner, but as a fellow human being: Let us not forget Dr. Moumita Debnath. Let us not allow her name to become just another statistic in the grim ledger of crimes against women. Let us use this moment to push for the changes that are so desperately needed.

Justice for Dr. Debnath is not just about bringing her killer to account; it is about transforming our society into one where such a crime is unthinkable. It is a long road ahead, but it is a journey we must undertake, for the sake of all our futures.

Reference:

1. “Kolkata doctor rape and murder incident,” Wikipedia. Retrieved August 2024.

2. “What happened on the night of the incident,” India Today, August 2024.

3. “How the incident unfolded,” Business Today, August 2024.

Goodbye IP Addresses, Say Hello to the Magic of Network Aliases

Imagine you’re in a big school, and every student has a unique name. This name helps teachers and friends recognize and talk to each other. But what if the school keeps getting bigger and more students join every day? Keeping track of everyone just by their names might get really tricky. This is similar to how computers on a network use IP address to talk to each other. Let’s explore a new way to make things easier called “Network Aliases.”

What Are IP Addresses?

Think of an IP address like your home address. It tells your friends exactly where you live so they can visit you. Computers use IP addresses to send messages and data to each other on the internet. But as the internet gets bigger, managing all these IP addresses becomes really hard, just like if there were too many houses with confusing addresses.

Technical Insight:

IP addresses are numerical labels assigned to devices connected to a network that uses the Internet Protocol for communication. IPv4 addresses are 32-bit numbers typically represented in dot-decimal notation (e.g., 192.168.1.1), while IPv6 addresses are 128-bit numbers written in hexadecimal (e.g., 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334).

What’s the Problem with IP Addresses?

Too Many Addresses: Imagine trying to remember the address of every single friend in your school. It would be really tough!

Changes Are Hard: If you move to a new house, you have to tell all your friends your new address. The same goes for computers; changing IP addresses can be difficult.

Not Safe: If someone bad knows your home address, they might try to cause trouble. The same thing can happen with IP addresses.

Technical Insight:

Managing a large number of IP addresses in growing networks can lead to complexities such as IP conflicts, increased administrative overhead, and difficulties in implementing network policies. Reconfiguring networks during changes can also introduce downtime and errors. Static IP addresses are also susceptible to targeted attacks.

Introducing Network Aliases

Now, let’s talk about a magical solution called Network Aliases. Think of a network alias like a nickname. Just like you might have a nickname that your friends use, a computer can have a special nickname (alias) that makes it easier to manage.

Technical Insight:

A network alias, or virtual IP, is an additional IP address assigned to a network interface, enabling a single interface to be associated with multiple IP addresses. This abstraction layer simplifies network management, allows for more flexible network configurations, and supports advanced networking techniques like load balancing and failover.

The Magic of Network Aliases

• Easy Management: Instead of remembering many long and confusing addresses, you can use simpler nicknames. This makes things much easier.

• More Flexibility: If you change your nickname, it’s easy for your friends to keep up with it. Network aliases work the same way; they can change without causing problems.

• Better Safety: Using nicknames can help keep your real address a secret from people who mightwant to cause trouble.

Technical Insight:

Network aliases facilitate easier network management by reducing the need for frequent reconfigurations. They allow administrators to manage logical addresses separately from physical addresses, enabling dynamic changes and migrations with minimal disruption. Aliases also enhance security by providing an additional layer of address obfuscation.

How Do Network Aliases Help?

• Sharing Work: Imagine you have a big pile of homework, and you share it with your friends. Network aliases can help computers share work and messages more easily.

• Backup Plans: If one of your friends is sick, another friend can help you with your homework. Network aliases allow computers to have backups, so if one computer is down, another can take over.

• Hosting Parties: If you’re hosting a party and inviting many friends, each friend can use a different nickname to join the party. This is like how websites can use aliases to host many sites on one server.

Technical Insight:

• Load Balancing: Network aliases can distribute incoming network traffic across multiple servers or services, improving performance and availability. Each alias can point to a different backend server, enabling efficient load distribution.

• Failover Solutions: In high-availability environments, aliases allow for seamless failover by redirecting traffic from a failed primary server to a secondary server without changing the client’s configuration.

• Virtual Hosting: Web servers can use aliases to host multiple websites on a single physical server,each accessible through a unique alias, facilitating efficient resource utilization.

How to Set Up Network Aliases

Setting up network aliases is like giving your computer a new nickname. Here’s a simple way to doit:

For Linux systems:

# Assigning a network alias
sudo ip addr add 192.168.1.10/24 dev eth0 label eth0:0

# Verifying the alias
ip addr show dev eth0

In this example, we gave the computer a new nickname (alias) ‘eth0:0’ with the address ‘192.168.1.10’. Now, the computer can respond to this new nickname just like it does with its real name.

Technical Insight:

The ‘ip addr add’ command in Linux adds a new IP address to a specified network interface. The ‘/24’denotes the subnet mask, indicating that the first 24 bits are the network part of the address. The label assigns a logical name to the alias, making it easy to reference.

Conclusion

Just like nicknames make it easier for friends to remember and call each other, network aliases make it easier for computers to communicate and manage their addresses. By using network aliases, we can make networks more flexible, easier to manage, and safer. It’s time to say goodbye to the old way of using only IP addresses and hello to the new magic of network aliases!

Network aliases are a powerful tool in modern networking, offering significant advantages in terms of scalability, flexibility, and security. By understanding and implementing network aliases, we can navigate the complexities of today’s networks more effectively and efficiently.

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Reading has always been a refuge, a place where I could escape the pressures of reality. Naval Ravikant’s wisdom taught me about the intricacies of life, wealth, and happiness. His insights resonated deeply, especially as I navigated the ups and downs of my own journey. The philosophy of seeking freedom, both financial and personal, echoed in my heart, reminding me of the importance of self-discovery and resilience. As Ravikant wisely said, “Desire is a contract you make with yourself to be unhappy until you get what you want.” This resonated with my own aspirations and the continuous pursuit of goals.

But amidst the pages of wisdom and adventure, my heart found its own story to tell — a story of love and loss, of dreams and despair. Subina, or Subu as I affectionately called her, was the first girl who touched my soul in a way that no book ever could. Our bond was woven with threads of innocence and curiosity, growing stronger with each passing day. I still remember the first day I met her, not a love at first sight, but a connection that grew with every conversation.

Love and Letters: The Story of Subu and Me

“To the person who was so close to me……**I have always been the person who believed whoever comes to my life comes with a reason. There were many people around, but I chose you. I chose you to share my secrets, I chose you to share my pain. Because I thought to make your stay forever, you need to know me better.” -Open Letter by Abhishek Kandel, 2020, Scribble Stories

These words, penned in 2020, were a testament to the depth of my feelings. Subu was my confidante, my muse, and my source of endless inspiration. Our bond was more than just friendship; it was a connection that transcended the ordinary. I prayed for her, thought of her every day, and wished for a future where we could be happy together. But as life would have it, our paths diverged, and the closeness we once shared became a distant memory.

“By this time, I’ve realized sometimes in life, we have to make a decision that hurts our hearts, but the decision is compulsory. Everything depends upon destiny. You and I were meant to cross our paths the same way, you and I were meant to create the memories the same way, but you and I forever were never meant to be.” -Open Letter by Abhishek Kandel, 2020, Scribble Stories

In 2023, I wrote another letter to Subu, trying to capture the essence of our evolving relationship and the bittersweet nature of our shared past.

“Subu, our paths have diverged, but the memories we created still linger in my heart. I often find myself wandering through those memories, cherishing the moments we shared. I hope you are doing well, and though we may be apart, a part of me will always wish the best for you.” -Letter written on October 12th, 2023, marking the commencement of five incredible years of our journey (maybe) together

Our story, much like the tales I read in my books, had its own twists and turns. The name “SuAbhi” became a symbol of our togetherness, a fusion of our identities that still resonates in my heart. Even as time carries us away from the inception of our story, the essence of “SuAbhi” remains a melody that transcends the passage of time.

The Wisdom of Words: Lessons from My Books

As I reflect on my journey, both in life and in love, I realize that the books I’ve read have always been a mirror to my soul. From the profound teachings of Naval Ravikant to the timeless wisdom of Khaled Hosseini’s “The Kite Runner,” each book has left an indelible mark on my heart. Hosseini’s tale of friendship, betrayal, and redemption mirrors my own experiences with Subu, reminding me of the fragile nature of human connections and the power of forgiveness. As Hosseini wrote, “For you, a thousand times over,” I find echoes of my own willingness to go to great lengths for those I care about.

Stephen Hawking’s “A Brief History of Time” has been another beacon in my life, inspiring me to look beyond the immediate and ponder the mysteries of the universe. Hawking’s quest for knowledge and his resilience in the face of adversity have been guiding lights, encouraging me to pursue my dreams, even when the path seems uncertain. His words, “However difficult life may seem, there is always something you can do and succeed at,” have been a source of unwavering motivation.

During my time at Sainik Awasiya Mahavidyalaya, I also found a love for the strategic intricacies of chess. The game taught me patience, foresight, and the importance of every move, mirroring the life lessons I found within the pages of my favorite books. Chess, like reading, became a sanctuary, a place where I could lose myself and yet find profound truths about life.

Friendships and Growth: My Journey Beyond Books

The friendships I formed at Kathmandu Model Secondary School were another pivotal part of my story. As the Computer Club President, I organized events like TechnoFest and CodeJam, fostering a sense of community and shared passion. These friendships, though sometimes strained by the passage of time and the demands of life, have taught me the value of loyalty and the bittersweet nature of growing up.

Today, as I stand at the crossroads of my journey, I carry with me the lessons learned from books, the memories of a love that once was, and the hope for a future where I can continue to grow and evolve. My story is still being written, with each page bringing new challenges and new opportunities. And through it all, I find solace in the words that have shaped my life, knowing that no matter where my journey takes me, the love for reading will always be my guiding star.

My Bookshelf: A Testament to My Journey

My bookshelf is a testament to my journey: from Erica James’s tender tales of love and devotion to Neil deGrasse Tyson’s explorations of the cosmos in “Astrophysics for People in a Hurry.” Each book is a chapter of my life, a reflection of the experiences and emotions that have shaped who I am. Books like James Clear’s “Atomic Habits” and Cal Newport’s “Deep Work” have guided me in my professional endeavors, teaching me the value of focus and persistence.

The emotional depth of Colleen Hoover’s novels, such as “It Ends With Us” and “Ugly Love,” resonate with my own experiences of love and loss. The wisdom in Robert Greene’s “The Laws of Human Nature” and the financial insights from Robert Kiyosaki’s “Rich Dad Poor Dad” have provided me with valuable perspectives on life and success. Greene’s observation, “People around you, constantly under the pull of their emotions, change their ideas by the day or by the hour, depending on their mood,” has been particularly enlightening, helping me understand the complexities of human nature.

Reflecting on my journey, I realize that my life, much like the books I treasure, is a tapestry woven with threads of joy, sorrow, hope, and discovery. From the bustling halls of Sainik Awasiya Mahavidyalaya to the introspective moments spent with a book in hand, every experience has contributed to the person I am today. And as I continue to write the story of my life, I am grateful for the pages that have been filled and the ones yet to come.

Introduction

As the world continues to embrace digital transformation, the importance of secure and transparent voting systems in democratic societies cannot be overstated. Traditional voting methods are susceptible to tampering, errors, and significant logistical challenges. In a large democratic country like India, with a population exceeding a billion, ensuring a secure, tamper-free, and fraud-resistant voting system is crucial. Our research proposes a novel approach to electronic voting using blockchain technology, offering a decentralized and distributed ledger system to enhance security, transparency, and efficiency.

Blockchain Technology and E-voting

Blockchain technology, known for its decentralized and distributed nature, incorporates robust cryptographic principles to create effective security mechanisms. Each block in the blockchain is secured using a unique cryptographic hash, which acts as a fingerprint for each block. Any tampering with the data within a block changes its hash value, thereby preventing malicious activities and ensuring data integrity.

Our research highlights the successful adoption of blockchain-based e-voting systems in countries like Switzerland, Norway, and Estonia. These systems leverage blockchain’s core features:

• Immutability: A cryptographic hash value assigned to each new block creates a secure and unchangeable chain, keeping all entries tamper-free.

• Decentralization: The distributed network of blocks requires consensus before adding new blocks, enhancing security and reducing the risk of single-point failures.

• Verifiability: The decentralized nature of blockchain ensures high accessibility, allowing all nodes to maintain the consensus version of the network.

Proposed E-voting Model

Our proposed e-voting model aims to address critical challenges such as voter privacy, vote secrecy, and end-to-end verification. By utilizing blockchain technology, our model ensures:

• User Authenticity: Each voting transaction is safeguarded using a strong cryptographic hash, ensuring the confidentiality and authenticity of each vote. Eligible voters receive this hash value over secure communication channels.

• Transparency and Security: The decentralized and immutable nature of blockchain provides a transparent and secure platform for e-voting, reducing the risk of tampering and fraud.

Literature Review

Several research works have explored the integration of blockchain technology into e-voting systems, each offering unique approaches and methodologies:

• Garg et al. implemented a smart contract-based Boardroom Voting system, ensuring voter anonymity using the Open Vote Network.

• Abuidris et al. developed an end-to-end indisputable model using a token-based voting system, designed for governments and institutions.

• Alam et al. researched digital voting integrated with blockchain, allowing eligible voters to issue votes through web browsers or voting districts.

• Curran et al. proposed decentralized apps and Ethereum blockchain for e-voting, incorporating biometric readers for voter authentication.

• Hsiao et al. designed a blockchain-based e-voting model using SHA-256 to secure the blockchain and manage user authentication.

Conclusion and Future Scope

Our research presents a secure and functional electronic voting system utilizing blockchain technology. This system addresses significant issues in the traditional voting process, providing a robust solution for large democratic countries like India. By ensuring user authenticity, vote secrecy, and end-to-end verification, our proposed model paves the way for a more secure and transparent voting process.

As we continue to refine our model, future improvements could focus on enhancing the scalability of the blockchain network, integrating advanced cryptographic techniques, and conducting extensive real-world testing to ensure the system’s robustness and reliability.

For the full paper and detailed analysis, you can read our publication on IEEE Xplore

The Final Stretch

It felt surreal, like a dream on the verge of becoming reality. The stadium in Kingstown echoed with cheers and the drums of undying support for Nepal. Despite the odds, we were there, standing tall—unfazed, united, and unyielding. Yet, the bitter pill is, no matter how close, how tenaciously fought, reality often brings an unpredictable twist. This twist knocked us out of the tournament but won millions of hearts across the globe. For today, and ages to come, every Nepali can hold their head high, knowing our boys made even the giants, South Africa, sweat and scramble for their coveted victory.

To the countless Nepali fans who stayed glued to their screens despite unfriendly hours and restless nights, your unwavering support was felt across the continents. Our players felt it on the pitch; I felt it in my heart, and the world cannot deny the reverberations of your passion. Our gutsy performance against a Full Member, raising hopes high and drawing eyes to what might be our first groundbreaking win, made our hearts beat with collective pride and adrenaline.

Post-Match Eyes and Ears

As the captains spoke, my heart flipped through moments of glory, heartbreak, hope, and despair, almost like an unedited raw documentary playing in a loop. Aiden Markram, gracious in victory, admitted not being at their best tonight. But, here’s the pivot—our boys put them under relentless pressure! Markram’s words amplified my pride even more. Reflecting not just on their performance but the strides Nepali cricket is making, his words comforted the wounds of another heartening loss.

Rohit Paudel, you compassionate leader, every word striking, every assurance resonating with a heavy heart but also hope. Our boys carried the weight of the nation’s dreams, enduring the pressure, braving the storm, and you never failed to thank the fans, recognizing the distance they’d come and the rain they’d braved to show their love.

The Match That Was

The run was exhilarating. Bhurtel and Airee spun magic, sending jitters through the South African camp. Our batters holding fort seemed like destiny preparing to write history. Kami’s six almost tore the skies open, hinting at the craziness yet to unfold. Then, the intervention by Shamsi and Nortje dragged reality back into brutal focus—a reminder of the befuddling nature of sport. Jha’s valiance pulled us nearer one daredevil swing after another. Gulsan Jha, hail his spirit, fell into a tragedy of mere centimetres—it was Quinton de Kock’s moment to smile, but our tears began.

Our beloved Nepal was down but not outright defeated. The world watched a small nation fight like lions, chanting their war cries even in the dead of night, our resilience visible on the global stage. We are honored.

Tributes and Fluttering Hearts

Cricket fans enjoyed a thrilling match as Nepal faced South Africa, nearly achieving an incredible upset. Renowned cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle praised the Nepalese team on Twitter, saying, "Hold your heads high Nepal. That was South Africa you almost took down today. You have some of the most passionate fans and you let them believe. Hopefully bigger days are around the corner."

This heartfelt message was one of many. The cricketing world united in applauding Nepal's spirited performance. Tributes poured in from various quarters, including notable IPL franchises like Delhi Capitals, Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals, and Chennai Super Kings Cricket Limited. Even the International Cricket Council joined in, recognizing the team's potential and the fervor of their fans.

Social media buzzed with admiration as these organizations shared tweets and photo montages, celebrating Nepal’s tenacity and the impact they are making in the world of cricket.

Emotions Unleashed

I cried not because we lost. My tears flowed uncontrollably, showing my immense pride and relentless passion. We showed the world we belong. We belonged in that arena, in those crucial moments, amidst the roaring crowds. Emotions ran deep as I read the unwavering optimism in Nepali supporters' tweets, saw the empty streets, accepted distant journeys, and held our dreams even tighter.

The Dawn of a New Hope

As I sit here, lost in reflection, the sun rises here, and I can’t help but feel its warmth as a beacon of hope. Today felt intensely personal, like every boundary, every misstep happened within my soul. As a loyal fan and passionate supporter, I stand humbled by our valiant fight, awaiting another chance, another day. Nepal, our journey continues. We grow stronger.

For every beat, every cheer, every tear you offer, my dear friends, is a tribute to a cause greater and closer to our hearts. Cricket is more than a sport to us; it is a saga of heartache and euphoria, breaking barriers as we march forward.

In Conclusion

Embrace this morning, for it whispers promises of what’s to come. The golden rays of dawn reflect the persistence and spirit of our nation, young and old, ready to stand by our team through triumphs and trials alike.

My heart, every fibre of my being, feels connected to this journey of Nepali cricket. As I look forward to the future, I hold close the undying hope and resilience of today. Shine on, believe, and the glory of our day will soon dawn.

Goodbye Siloed Chaos, Hello Seamless Integration

Imagine no more jumping between different apps for emails, documents, and presentations. Office 365 seamlessly integrates Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and more, letting you work with ease. Need to collaborate on a document with colleagues? Share it directly within Teams and edit together in real-time. It's like having a beautiful symphony of productivity tools playing in harmony, conducted by the maestro of efficiency.

Collaboration Made Fun (and Easy)

Teams became my go-to hub for teamwork. Video calls, instant messaging, shared files, and project management tools – all under one roof, making collaboration a breeze regardless of location. No more endless email chains or lost files; information flows freely, fostering a culture of teamwork that's both productive and enjoyable. It's like having a virtual watercooler where ideas spark, projects take flight, and deadlines become manageable milestones.

Effortless Searching, Powerful Insights

Forget the frustration of typing keywords and hoping for the best. Microsoft Search, powered by Bing, understands your intent, not just your keywords. It's like having a personal research assistant who knows exactly what you're looking for, even if you can't quite articulate it perfectly. And with intelligent insights from Microsoft Graph, you gain valuable context about your work – top collaborators, frequently used documents, upcoming deadlines – all presented beautifully within your workflow. It's like having a productivity crystal ball predicting your future needs. For example, suppose I want to search the documents I sent to Shruti, then I can just type “Document sent to shruti " in natural language then I will give the result directly and precisely. The snapshot of the following search result is given below:

Security You Can Trust:

Data breaches are a concern, but with Office 365, you can rest assured. Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) acts like a digital bodyguard, warding off malware, phishing attacks, and other online threats. Multi-factor authentication adds another layer of security, making unauthorized access about as likely as finding a unicorn on your morning commute. It's like having Fort Knox for your data, but way more user-friendly.

Copilot: Your AI-Powered Productivity Partner

Meet Copilot, your friendly AI assistant within Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. This little genius suggests grammar corrections, helps you analyze data with ease, and even writes entire sentences based on your context. It's like having a personal productivity coach whispering helpful advice in your ear, except much less intrusive and infinitely more efficient. It's like having your own mini-genius in your pocket, ready to help you conquer any writing or data challenge.

Beyond the Tip of the Iceberg

This is just a glimpse into the many ways Office 365 has transformed my work life. From OneDrive's cloud storage to Outlook's scheduling magic, every aspect is designed to empower you to achieve more. It's not just about tools; it's about a philosophy – a philosophy of interconnectedness, collaboration, and intelligent assistance. It's about working smarter, not harder, and leaving stress behind

Ready to Ditch the Juggling Act and Embrace Smooth Sailing?

If you're looking for a solution that streamlines your workflow, empowers collaboration, and keeps your data secure, look no further than Office 365. It might just be the productivity upgrade you've been waiting for. Take the plunge, and you might just find yourself wondering how you ever survived without it.

Cyberbullying is a form of bullying that occurs online using digital technologies, such as social media, messaging apps, gaming platforms, or websites. It can involve sending or posting harmful or offensive messages, images, videos, or comments to or about someone, impersonating someone online, spreading rumors or false information, or excluding someone from online groups or activities. Cyber bullying can have serious consequences for the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents, such as depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, isolation, self-harm, or suicidal thoughts.

According to a study by the Nepal Telecommunications Authority, 26% of students in Kathmandu reported experiencing cyber bullying. According to a survey by UNICEF, 51% of Nepalese school adolescents were bullied online, and they were more likely to report loneliness, anxiety, suicide attempts, school absenteeism, and involvement in physical fights. These statistics show that cyber bullying is a prevalent and pressing problem that needs to be addressed urgently.

This article aims to provide readers with a comprehensive understanding of the existing laws and policies that address cyber bullying in Nepal, their effectiveness, and the importance of taking proactive steps to combat this growing problem in the digital age.

Cyber Law and Policies in Nepal

Nepal has a legal framework that regulates cyber crime and cyber bullying, but it has some limitations and challenges in terms of comprehensiveness, clarity, and enforcement. The main legal framework consists of the following:

• The Electronic Transactions Act 2063 (2008), which deals with issues related to digital signature, intellectual property, and cyber crime. Section 47 of the act is the most used section to prevent cyber bullying in Nepal . It states that anyone who publishes or displays any material in the electronic media that may be contrary to public morality or decent behavior or may spread hate or jealousy against anyone or may jeopardize the harmonious relations among people shall be liable to punishment with imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or a fine not exceeding one hundred thousand rupees or both.

• The Cyber Security Bylaw 2077 (2020), which is a mandatory cybersecurity regulation for Telcos and ISPs to implement security standards and best practices. It aims to protect the information systems and networks from unauthorized access, use, modification, disruption, or destruction. It also requires Telcos and ISPs to report any cyber incidents or threats to the National Information Technology Center (NITC) within 24 hours.

• The Privacy Act 2075 (2018), which protects the personal information and data of individuals from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. It defines personal information as any information related to the identity of an individual that can be used to identify him/her directly or indirectly. It also grants individuals the right to access, correct, delete, or restrict the processing of their personal data by any person or organization.

• The National Security Policy 2016, which recognizes cyber security as one of the key components of national security. It states that the government shall formulate and implement necessary policies and strategies to ensure cyber security and prevent cyber attacks that may affect the national interest. It also states that the government shall establish a national cyber security agency to coordinate and monitor the cyber security activities of various sectors.

The legal framework provides for punishment of cyber-related criminal activities, such as imprisonment or fines. It also establishes separate judicial bodies, such as the IT Tribunal and Appellate Tribunal, to handle cases related to computer and cyber crime. It also empowers the government to monitor and control online activities that may pose a threat to national security or public order.

However, the legal framework is not comprehensive enough to cover all aspects of cyber bullying, such as psychological harm, emotional distress, or reputational damage. It also lacks clear definitions and guidelines on what constitutes cyber bullying, how to report it, and how to resolve it. It also faces challenges in terms of enforcement, awareness, coordination, and capacity building among relevant stakeholders.

For instance, many victims of cyber bullying may not be aware of their rights or how to seek legal help. Many cases of cyber bullying may go unreported due to fear of retaliation or stigma. Many law enforcement agencies may not have adequate resources or expertise to investigate and prosecute cyber crimes. Many judges and lawyers may not have sufficient knowledge or experience in dealing with cyber law issues. Many Telcos and ISPs may not have effective mechanisms or policies to prevent or respond to cyber bullying on their platforms.

Therefore, there is a need for more comprehensive and effective legal measures to address cyber bullying in Nepal.

Effective Measures to Prevent Cyber Bullying

In addition to improving the legal framework, there are also some practical tips and suggestions on how to prevent cyber bullying from occurring or escalating. These include:

• 

  Educate oneself and others about what cyber bullying is and how to recognize it. Research what constitutes cyber bullying, how and where it occurs, and talk with friends about what they are seeing and experiencing. Learn about the legal rights and responsibilities of online users, and the consequences of cyber bullying for both the bully and the victim.

• 

  Develop healthy interpersonal skills, such as self-confidence, social awareness, and emotional intelligence, that can reduce the chances of becoming a bully or a victim. Learn how to communicate respectfully online, avoid engaging in negative or hurtful comments or posts, and empathize with others who may be different or vulnerable. Respect the privacy and dignity of others online, and do not share or forward any information or content that may harm or embarrass them.

• 

  Create a safe and supportive environment where cyber bullying can be reported and addressed. Teachers, parents, and students should work together to establish clear rules and expectations for online behavior, monitor online activities regularly, encourage open dialogue and feedback, and provide help and resources for those who are affected by cyber bullying. Schools should implement anti-bullying policies and programs that include cyber bullying prevention and intervention strategies. Parents should supervise their children's online usage and educate them about online safety and etiquette. Students should report any incidents of cyber bullying to their teachers, parents, or trusted adults, and seek peer support from their friends or online communities.

• 

  Protect one's online accounts and devices with passwords and not share them with anyone. Use privacy settings and features to limit who can see or contact one online. Block or unfriend anyone who is harassing or abusive online. Do not post or share any personal information or photos that may be used to manipulate or humiliate one online. Be careful about what one downloads or clicks on online, as it may contain viruses or malware that can compromise one's security or privacy.

• 

  Document any incidents of cyber bullying that occur online. Take screenshots of harmful posts or content if possible. Report any cases of cyber bullying to the relevant authorities or platforms. Seek legal or professional help if needed. Do not delete any evidence until the issue is resolved.

Conclusion

Cyber bullying is a form of bullying that occurs online using digital technologies. It can have serious consequences for the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents. Nepal has a legal framework that regulates cyber crime and cyber bullying, but it has some limitations and challenges in terms of comprehensiveness, clarity, and enforcement. Therefore, there is a need for more comprehensive and effective legal measures to address cyber bullying in Nepal. In addition to improving the legal framework, there are also some practical tips and suggestions on how to prevent cyber bullying from occurring or escalating. By educating oneself and others, developing healthy interpersonal skills, creating a safe and supportive environment, protecting one's online accounts and devices, and documenting any incidents of cyber bullying, one can help combat this growing problem in the digital age.

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Welcome to the era of Artificial Intelligence (AI) where academic and professional fields are experiencing a shift in the way things are done. In programming, AI is transforming not only how but also what gets programmed. From coding simple chatbots to complex problem-solving systems, AI is impacting how programmers develop software.

One of the major impacts of AI in programming is the way it delivers productivity, accuracy, and precision to programmers. By handling the simple, mundane tasks, AI frees up time for programmers to focus on more complex ones. However, with the increasing role of AI in programming, there are concerns around job loss for programmers.

The future of programmers who embrace AI is bright, rather than bleak. It means collaboration and upskilling, beyond the traditional way of programming. The combination of AI and the programmer’s expertise will lead to the creation of powerful, efficient, and effective software systems to solve real-world problems.

Are you ready to navigate the future of programming with AI? Keep reading!

Pros of AI in Programming

As AI continues to make an impact on various industries and fields, it is no surprise that it is now influencing programming. The use of AI technology in programming has various benefits, one of which includes increased productivity and efficiency. Programmers can use AI to automate repetitive tasks, which in turn frees up time for them to work on more complex tasks. This results in higher productivity and efficiency levels.

With AI, there is an improvement in accuracy and precision. This is because AI can detect errors more quickly and accurately than humans. The use of AI technology also leads to a reduction in errors, and debugging time. This enables programmers to complete tasks faster and increase their output.

Another benefit of AI in programming is its ability to enable the exploration of complex problems. AI systems can analyze large amounts of data and provide insights that would be difficult for humans to discover. With this technology, programmers can work on more complex problems that would otherwise be too time-consuming or impossible to solve.

The use of AI in programming is not without its challenges, but the benefits outweigh the disadvantages. As programmers navigate the future with AI, they will have to deal with issues like the possibility of losing jobs to AI. However, as AI systems continue to evolve, they will need programmers to manage and operate them. There is also the possibility of dependence on AI for programming, but this issue can be addressed through the upskilling and reskilling of programmers.

In conclusion, the use of AI in programming has significant benefits that outweigh the challenges it poses. As programmers navigate this new era, they must understand the impact of AI on their industry and take measures to develop their skills accordingly. The future of programming with AI is exciting and full of potential, and programmers must be prepared to embrace the changes that come with it.

Cons of AI in Programming

Let’s start with the elephant in the room- the cons of AI in programming. While it’s true that AI promises to change the face of programming, there are some potential drawbacks that need to be addressed.

Firstly, let’s discuss the loss of jobs for programmers and developers. With AI’s ability to automate and optimize programming tasks, it’s inevitable that some jobs will be replaced by intelligent machines. However, this doesn’t necessarily have to be a bad thing. Programmers can use this as an opportunity to focus on more strategic and creative tasks, while leaving the repetitive and mundane tasks to the AI.

Another thing to consider is the possibility of dependence on AI for programming. While AI can make programming more efficient and productive, it can also make developers overly reliant on its capabilities. This can lead to a lack of innovation, as developers may be less likely to approach problems in new and unique ways.

The inability of AI to think outside the box is also a concern. While AI has the ability to analyze data and provide insights, it lacks the human element of creativity and intuition. This means that humans are still necessary when it comes to tackling complex and nuanced problems.

Finally, there’s the issue of ethics and bias in AI programming. Since AI is only as good as the data it’s trained on, there’s a risk of perpetuating biases and discrimination. It’s important for programmers to take a proactive approach to ensure that their AI systems are ethical, inclusive, and unbiased.

Overall, it’s clear that there are both pros and cons to AI in programming. While the cons shouldn’t be ignored, they also shouldn’t overshadow the potential benefits of AI. By embracing the changing landscape of programming and finding ways to collaborate with AI, programmers can position themselves for success in the future.

Introduction to ChatGPT’s AI Training

ChatGPT is an artificial-intelligence chatbot developed by OpenAI and launched in November 2022. It is built on top of OpenAI’s GPT-3 family of large language models and has been fine-tuned using both supervised and reinforcement learning techniques. ChatGPT can respond to general and technical questions as well as engage in natural conversations with users.

In this blog post, we will explore how ChatGPT’s AI training works and what kind of hardware it requires. We will also compare different types of hardware for AI training and see how ChatGPT leverages them to achieve high performance and efficiency.

The Role of Hardware in AI Training

Hardware plays a crucial role in AI training, as it determines how fast and how well a model can learn from data. The hardware requirements for training and using AI algorithms can vary significantly depending on the type, size, complexity, and purpose of the model.

Training, which involves recognizing patterns in large amounts of data, typically requires more processing power and can benefit from parallelization. Once the model has been trained, the computing requirements may decrease.

Some of the main hardware components that affect AI training are:

• Processor (CPU): The central processing unit executes instructions from software programs and coordinates other components. It defines the platform to support other hardware devices.

• Video Card (GPU): The graphics processing unit specializes in performing parallel computations on large arrays of data. It has become the driving force behind many advancements in machine learning and AI research since the mid 2010s.

• Memory (RAM): The random access memory stores data temporarily for fast access by the CPU or GPU. It affects how much data can be processed at once.

• Storage (Hard Drives): The storage devices store data permanently for later retrieval by other components. They affect how quickly data can be accessed and transferred.

• Interconnects: The interconnects are cables or circuits that connect different hardware devices together. They affect how fast data can be communicated between components.

CPU vs. GPU for AI Training

One of the most common questions about hardware for AI training is whether to use a CPU or a GPU.

A CPU is designed to handle a variety of tasks efficiently but not necessarily quickly. It has fewer but more powerful cores that can execute complex instructions sequentially or concurrently.

A GPU is designed to handle graphics-intensive tasks quickly but not necessarily efficiently. It has many but less powerful cores that can execute simple instructions simultaneously or in parallel.

For AI training, a GPU usually outperforms a CPU because it can process large amounts of data faster using parallelization techniques such as matrix multiplication or convolutional operations.

However, a CPU may still be useful for some tasks that require more flexibility or logic such as preprocessing data or running custom code.

Exploring ChatGPT’s GPUs

ChatGPT relies heavily on GPUs for its AI training, as they can handle massive amounts of data and computations faster than CPUs. According to industry sources, ChatGPT has imported at least 10,000 high-end NVIDIA GPUs and drives sales of Nvidia-related products to $3 billion to $11 billion within 12 months.

One of the most powerful GPUs that ChatGPT uses is the NVIDIA A100 HPC (high-performance computing) accelerator. This is a $12,500 tensor core GPU that features high performance, HBM2 memory (80GB of it) capable of delivering up to 2TBps memory bandwidth, enough to run very large models and datasets.

However, even with such a powerful GPU, ChatGPT still faces some challenges in scaling up its AI training. For example, on a single multi-GPUs server, PyTorch can only launch ChatGPT based on small models like GPT-L (774M), due to the complexity and memory fragmentation of ChatGPT. Hence, multi-GPUs parallel scaling to 4 or 8 GPUs with PyTorch’s DistributedDataParallel (DDP) results in limited performance gains.

Exploring ChatGPT’s memory, storage and interconnects

Besides GPUs, ChatGPT also uses other hardware components to enhance its AI training performance. These include memory, storage and interconnects.

Memory is used to store data and instructions that are needed for processing by the CPU or GPU. Storage is used to save data and models that are not currently in use by the CPU or GPU. Interconnects are used to transfer data and instructions between different hardware components.

ChatGPT requires a lot of memory and storage capacity to handle its large models and datasets. For example, ChatGPT-3 has 175 billion parameters and requires 45 terabytes of data for training. This is beyond the memory capacity of even the largest GPUs used to train the systems, requiring multiple processors to be running in parallel.

Exploring ChatGPT’s memory and storage technologies

ChatGPT uses a combination of different types of memory and storage technologies to optimize its AI training performance. These include:

• High bandwidth memory (HBM): This is a type of memory that is integrated with the GPU chip, providing faster data transfer and lower power consumption than traditional memory modules. ChatGPT uses HBM to store its large models and parameters that need to be accessed quickly by the GPU. According to Samsung and SK Hynix, ChatGPT has increased their HBM orders significantly.

• Solid state drive (SSD): This is a type of storage device that uses flash memory chips instead of spinning disks, offering faster read and write speeds and lower latency than hard disk drives (HDDs). ChatGPT uses SSDs to store its large datasets that need to be loaded quickly by the CPU or GPU. SSDs also have lower failure rates and longer lifespans than HDDs.

• Cloud storage: This is a type of storage service that allows users to store data on remote servers over the internet, offering scalability, accessibility and security benefits. ChatGPT uses cloud storage to backup its data and models that are not currently in use by the CPU or GPU. Cloud storage also allows ChatGPT to share its data and models with other users and applications easily.

Exploring ChatGPT’s interconnect technologies

Interconnects are used to transfer data and instructions between different hardware components, such as CPUs, GPUs, memory and storage devices. Interconnects can affect the speed and efficiency of data processing and communication.

ChatGPT uses a combination of different types of interconnect technologies to optimize its AI training performance. These include:

• PCI Express (PCIe): This is a type of interconnect that connects peripheral devices, such as GPUs and SSDs, to the motherboard of a computer system. PCIe offers high bandwidth and low latency for data transfer. ChatGPT uses PCIe to connect its GPUs and SSDs to its CPUs.

• NVLink: This is a type of interconnect that connects multiple GPUs together, allowing them to share memory and work as a single unit. NVLink offers higher bandwidth and lower latency than PCIe for GPU-to-GPU communication. ChatGPT uses NVLink to connect its GPUs together for parallel processing.

• Ethernet: This is a type of interconnect that connects multiple computer systems together over a network, such as the internet. Ethernet offers scalability and reliability for data communication. ChatGPT uses Ethernet to connect its computer systems together for distributed processing.

Techniques for Overcoming Hardware Limitations

While advanced hardware can greatly improve the performance and efficiency of AI training, it also comes with some challenges and limitations that need to be addressed. Some of these challenges include:

• Privacy and security: AI training often requires access to large amounts of sensitive data, such as personal information, medical records, or financial transactions. This poses a risk of data breaches or misuse by malicious actors. To protect the data and the results of AI training, some techniques that can be used are:

  • Cryptographic algorithms: These are methods that encrypt the data or the computations using secret keys, so that only authorized parties can access them.

  • Data masking: This is a technique that replaces sensitive data with fake or anonymized data that preserves its statistical properties.

  • Synthetic data: This is a technique that generates artificial data that mimics the characteristics and distribution of real data.

  • Differential privacy: This is a technique that adds random noise to the data or the results of AI training, so that individual records cannot be identified or inferred

• Scalability and complexity: AI training often involves complex models with millions or billions of parameters, which require large amounts of computational resources and time to train. To scale up AI training and reduce its complexity, some techniques that can be used are:

  • Distributed computing: This is a technique that divides the AI training task into smaller subtasks and distributes them across multiple devices or servers.

  • Parallel computing: This is a technique that performs multiple computations simultaneously using multiple cores or processors.

  • Model compression: This is a technique that reduces the size or complexity of an AI model without compromising its accuracy or functionality. Some examples of model compression are pruning (removing unnecessary parameters), quantization (reducing the precision of parameters), and distillation (transferring knowledge from a larger model to a smaller one).

• Memory bottleneck: AI training often requires loading large amounts of data into memory for processing, which can exceed the memory capacity or bandwidth of hardware devices. This can result in slow performance or memory errors. To overcome this memory bottleneck, some techniques that can be used are:

  • Data streaming: This is a technique that processes data in small batches as they arrive instead of loading them all at once into memory.

  • Data prefetching: This is a technique that anticipates which data will be needed next and loads them into memory in advance.

  • Memory optimization: This is a technique that reduces the memory footprint of an AI model by using efficient data structures, algorithms, or libraries.

The Future of AI Hardware

As AI becomes more ubiquitous and powerful in various domains and applications, there is an increasing demand for more advanced hardware solutions to support its development and deployment. Some trends and directions for future AI hardware include:

• Specialized chips: These are chips designed specifically for certain types of AI tasks, such as image recognition, natural language processing, or reinforcement learning. They can offer higher performance, lower power consumption, and lower cost than general-purpose chips. Some examples of specialized chips for AI are:

  • ASICs: Application-specific integrated circuits that are designed to do one specific type of calculation very quickly. They can be used for things like Bitcoin mining, video encoding, or running specific artificial intelligence tasks.

  • GPUs: Graphics processing units that are originally designed for rendering graphics but can also perform parallel computations on large arrays of data. They are widely used for deep learning and other AI applications that require high computational power.

  • FPGAs: Field-programmable gate arrays that are reconfigurable circuits that can be customized for different types of computations. They can offer more flexibility and adaptability than ASICs or GPUs but also require more programming skills and resources.

• Edge computing: This is a paradigm that moves some of the AI processing from centralized servers or clouds to local devices or nodes near the data sources. This can reduce latency, bandwidth consumption, and privacy risks associated with sending data over networks. Some examples of edge devices that can run AI algorithms are:

  • Smartphones: These are handheld devices that have built-in cameras, sensors, and processors that can enable various AI applications such as face recognition, speech recognition, or augmented reality.

  • Smart cameras: These are cameras that have embedded processors and memory that can perform image analysis and object detection without relying on external servers or clouds.

  • IoT devices: These are devices that are connected to the internet and can collect and transmit data from their environments. They can also run AI algorithms locally to perform tasks such as anomaly detection, predictive maintenance, or smart home automation.

• Neuromorphic computing: This is a branch of computing that mimics the structure and function of biological neural networks in the brain. It aims to create hardware devices that can learn from data and adapt to changing conditions without explicit programming. Some potential benefits of neuromorphic computing are:

  • Energy efficiency: Neuromorphic chips can consume much less power than conventional chips by using spiking neurons and synapses that only activate when needed.

  • Learning ability: Neuromorphic chips can learn from their inputs and outputs without requiring labeled data or predefined models. They can also adjust their parameters dynamically based on feedback signals.

• Fault tolerance: Neuromorphic chips can tolerate noise and errors by using redundancy and diversity in their components.

  These are some of the main types of specialized chips for AI and their applications. The impact of advanced hardware on AI is significant, as it can enable faster, cheaper, and more scalable AI solutions for various domains and challenges. Some of the trends and benefits of hardware for AI are:

  • Accelerating application development: Hardware for AI can orchestrate and coordinate computations among accelerators, serving as a differentiator in AI.It can also reduce the time and cost of training and deploying AI models by providing specialized platforms and tools.

  • Enabling pervasive computing: Hardware for AI can support the increasingly multi-faceted functionality of AI systems, such as storage, memory, logic, and networking. It can also enable edge computing by allowing devices to run AI algorithms locally without relying on external servers or clouds.

  • Becoming an omnipresent feature of everyday life: Hardware for AI can empower various applications that affect our daily lives, such as smartphones, voice-activated assistants, smart cameras, IoT devices, robotics, healthcare, security, education, entertainment, etc..

Conclusion: The Impact of Advanced Hardware on ChatGPT's AI Training

The impact of advanced hardware on ChatGPT’s AI training is significant, as it can enable faster, cheaper, and more scalable training of large language models like GPT-3.5 that form the basis of ChatGPT. Some of the benefits of advanced hardware for ChatGPT’s AI training are:

• Accelerating training time: Advanced hardware can reduce the time required to train large language models by providing specialized chips that can perform parallel computations on large arrays of data. For example, GPUs can offer higher performance than CPUs for deep learning tasks.

• Reducing training cost: Advanced hardware can reduce the cost associated with training large language models by providing specialized platforms and tools that can optimize resource utilization and efficiency. For example, ASICs can offer lower power consumption and lower cost than general-purpose chips.

• Enabling larger-scale training: Advanced hardware can enable larger-scale training of large language models by providing more memory, storage, logic, and networking capabilities. For example, FPGAs can offer more flexibility and adaptability than ASICs or GPUs but also require more programming skills and resources.

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