2025 was a wonderful year, primarily for only one reason - Nina's selection for PhD at Tezpur University (also MA in Performing Arts) and the huge change that came in my usually quiet Shillong life. The first half of the year was spent in applying and strategising for her PhD admission; the second half was spent in running between Shillong and Tezpur, with 15-day stint in Pune as well. The later part was crazy with Rodali getting issues in adjustment with new environment, Nina going haywire with multiple assignments and I am almost on the road, forgetting the money part. Without looking at my diary, I really can't think of any other significant event of the last year. Getting adjusted to this primary event took so much time and effort that I could manage to write only 2 posts in this blog last year. What a shame!
My professional life also had a smooth sailing. In fact, I was never been so satisfied about my professional life ever. Financially, the hike I got on birthday, the approval of hardship allowance, occasional sessions at MATI/IIM and the savings from the official tours have been fantastic. Contribution wise I feel happy to host the Regional AI Impact Summit, ET and Bhashini workshop, giving two awards to the state - one from DigiLocker and another from E-Gov summit thing. I also think I have received the respect as well from the state officials. Even though SDC chapter was tough, I learnt a lot about handling technical tender (and how politicians make extra money)
On the negative side, the PhD progress is not good at all. The first four months witnessed lot of painful efforts going in completing the SOAS. However, that momentum was lost soon after SOAS, as I had to complete 3.0 of A2O. After A2O finished, none of the two progressed. Also, as I vacated the MSH room, there is less incentive now to visit IITG. In fact, after the hike in fee by more than 500%, I, at times think of quitting the PhD. Until now, I have been able to convince myself not to do that.
I am trying to think is there any big takeaway of 2025. Nina resuming study and we started living separately show I am still not 'settled'. Is this a typical middle class thing? I think No. So, I should feel good then. The more I am becoming 'family' oriented, I keep questioning myself - Am I compromising something? Should I have been in some Public Policy director role in an MNC or in a Sr Public Sector Specialist role in the World Bank? My happiness framework says -No, I am doing good. Maybe coming out of 'growth mentality', restlessness, 'slowing down' are signs of ageing, but for the betterment of living. On a superficial level, it looks like something is missing. But when I question point/framework wise, I find everything is fine. This is a bug shift in realisation that I started feeling in 2025.
Regular Sections:
A) High's
1) Completing 3.0 of A2O, 2) The sessions at MATI and Skill India Hackathon, 3) My growing connections with IIM Shillong, 4) Conducting the ET workshop successfully after getting funding from NeGD, 5) Contributing an article for Governance Now and to UJAAN via Sushanta Kar Da, 6) Getting used to the train route to travel to Ghy, 7) Swlisunthar progressing well with new teachers recruitment.
B) Low's
1) Stupidity- losing the power bank gifted by NeGD, Electricity bill issue with neighbour at Bishnupur rented house.
2) Others: The international tour did not materialise even after much planning, The two abortions and the guilt both of us carried for a long time, The Mirza land fiasco continued, Being away from Majoni.
C) People
1) New: Welcoming SeMT Meghalaya people, Manas (Gyanmalini's husband), Pranil (Rumpee's husband), Rupankar, IESA (Debamalya Sen, Bindu Madhavi and Sameer), Prod Basav and Prof Parijat.
2) Connecting back: Omi bai, Pranjal coming to Shillong, Anup spending night in Shillong, with Dwipen and Basanta to attend Samiran's place at Tihu, with Taslima, with Pankaj Da at TU, Ajeet (NeGD), Nilutpal Baruah, Dr. Amiyo Kr Das (Tezpur University)
3) Losing Zubeen Da, Patgiri Sir, Dibyo Sir, Kaushik Da's father, Bah Nongbri's aunt and mother, Samiran's wife.
4) Strengthening friendship with Shelter(his openness), Kaushik Da(his depth of delivery and reliability), Mridul (financial transactions), Nischal (things to learn)
D) Travels
1) Trip to Ahmedabad and staying at Hotel Leela, visiting Gandhi Kutir, AI-CoE and shopping, 2) The SeMT orientation trip to Delhi was an amazing experience, 3) The Jaintia hill trip and climbing up with Rodali on lap, 4) Amar Da's fishing pond, 5) Trip to Bhubaneswar with Jasper, 6) Vizag trip and meeting Nitu Da, 7) IMC Yoshabhoomi visit, 8) Visit to Mawkarwat for MeghDEE prog,
E) Family
1) Fixing the Xonchapori land was a big achievement of the last year, 2) Taking Nina to Bamunkura Sakhati mela, 3) Publishing Maa's third book and applying for award (unsuccessful though), 4) Moina and Tapan buying their flat, 5) Bou's transfer out of Nagarbera, 6) Deepshikha Bhanti getting PGT job.
F) Important Days
23 Feb (Nina clearing NET), 26 Feb (Attending Advantage Assam 2.0), 8 May (SOAS), 9 May (twice Shillong trip day), 13 May (Nina's first TU visit and enthusiastic replies), 15 June (worst day at Hiranyav hospital), 23 June (IIM Shillong MDP lecture), 23 July ( heavy travel day), 11 October (super busy day).
G) Unique things
1) Monthly storytelling sessions at office, 2) Watching India vs Bangladesh football match at Polo stadium, 3) Inauguration of Grantha-Katha, 4) HBS declaring medical college at Balijana, 5) Experience of handling SDC RFP and the CM interventions, 6) Some heavy busy days with travel-Tezpur- Delhi-BBSR- Tezpur-Shillong uhh!! 7) Getting involved in two Bhaonas.
H) Good pages of diary
21 May (eventful day in diary), 30 June (my future), 28 July(life's learning), 15 Sept(revisiting NIT days), 1 Dec (am I middle class?)
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