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By:

Anil D. Salve

21 March 2026 at 8:11:09 pm

A Drought of Wisdom in an Ocean of Information

We live in an age where information is everywhere. With a single click, we can access news from across the world, thousands of opinions, countless videos and endless claims. Knowledge has never been so accessible. Yet, in this overwhelming flow of information, something increasingly scarce is discernment-the ability to distinguish what deserves our belief from what deserves our doubt. Information and knowledge are not the same. Reading, watching or hearing something does not automatically...

A Drought of Wisdom in an Ocean of Information

We live in an age where information is everywhere. With a single click, we can access news from across the world, thousands of opinions, countless videos and endless claims. Knowledge has never been so accessible. Yet, in this overwhelming flow of information, something increasingly scarce is discernment-the ability to distinguish what deserves our belief from what deserves our doubt. Information and knowledge are not the same. Reading, watching or hearing something does not automatically make it true. We need the ability to verify information, understand its context, recognise its purpose and only then form an opinion. In the digital age, this ability has become one of the most important forms of wisdom. Social media has transformed the way information travels. WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and other platforms have made communication faster, wider and more accessible. But the same speed that connects society can also overwhelm it. Information often reaches us before facts do. A headline is read before the full story. A short video is watched without knowing what happened before or after it. A photograph is circulated without its original context. A message arrives with the familiar words, “Forwarded as received,” and within minutes it may reach thousands of people. By the time the truth catches up, the rumour may already have done its work. The problem becomes even more serious when misinformation is deliberately created and circulated. Rumours may be planted not merely to mislead individuals but to divert public attention from an important issue, create suspicion, damage someone's reputation or push society towards a particular narrative. A distraction does not always need to be completely false. Sometimes a small piece of truth is mixed with exaggeration, selective facts or emotional language. The result can be more powerful than an outright lie because it appears believable. This is how narratives are manufactured. Social media platforms can become powerful tools in this process. A repeated claim begins to look familiar, and familiarity is often mistaken for truth. A provocative post attracts attention. Thousands of reactions create the impression that “everyone” believes it. One emotional video triggers another, comments intensify the mood, and before facts have an opportunity to speak, public sentiment may have already shifted. This is where mob psychology enters the picture. A society can move from calm to anger, suspicion to trust, or optimism to fear with surprising speed. People who would ordinarily think carefully may react differently when they see thousands of others expressing outrage, fear or hostility. The individual begins to follow the crowd, and the crowd begins to reinforce the individual. The danger is not limited to negative emotions. The same mechanism can also be used positively-to mobilise people for social causes, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, public awareness and community action. Technology itself is neither wise nor foolish. Its impact depends on how information is created, amplified and consumed. The greatest danger, therefore, is not that we have too much information. It is that we may lose the habit of thinking while consuming it. We are increasingly becoming consumers of information rather than creators of thought. Everyone has access to information today, but access does not necessarily mean understanding. The boundaries between a rumour and a report, an opinion and a fact, popularity and truth are becoming increasingly blurred. A post does not become true because thousands of people have liked it. A video does not become evidence merely because it has gone viral. An opinion does not become a fact because it is expressed confidently. An idea does not become correct simply because it confirms what we already believe. This last point deserves particular attention. We often accept information not because it is accurate, but because it is comfortable. We are naturally attracted to information that confirms our existing beliefs and suspicious of information that challenges them. In the digital world, this tendency can be amplified by algorithms that repeatedly expose us to content similar to what we have already watched, liked or shared. Gradually, we may find ourselves living inside an information bubble where we hear many voices-but mostly voices that agree with us. That is not diversity of information. It is an illusion of certainty. Discernment does not mean doubting everything. It means thinking before believing. It means asking simple but powerful questions: Who is saying this? What is the evidence? What is the context? What may be missing? Who benefits if I believe it? And have I heard the other side? These questions may take only a few seconds, but they can prevent hours, days or even years of misunderstanding. This responsibility is particularly important for the younger generation. Children today are growing up in an environment of unprecedented information exposure. They can encounter more information in a few hours than earlier generations might have encountered in weeks. Therefore, education cannot merely teach students how to collect, remember and reproduce information. It must teach them how to question, verify, analyse and interpret it. A student who can write the correct answer in an examination may be academically successful. But a student who knows how to ask the right question is better prepared for life. The classroom of the future must therefore produce not merely informed students, but thinking citizens. They must learn that forwarding a message is also a form of responsibility. Sharing a post is not an innocent act when it can affect someone's reputation, create public fear or influence social behaviour. The challenge becomes even greater in the age of Artificial Intelligence. AI can generate information, images, audio and video with extraordinary speed and sophistication. The distinction between what is real and what merely appears real may become increasingly difficult. In such a world, human judgment becomes more valuable, not less. Technology can produce an answer in seconds. It cannot automatically tell us whether that answer deserves our trust. Some answers require experience. Some require context. Many require the ability to think independently. We have more information, more technology and more connectivity than any previous generation. Yet our real challenge is to preserve something technology cannot manufacture for us: the capacity to think for ourselves. The ocean of information will only become larger. The question will no longer be, “How much information do we have?” The more important questions will be: What should we accept? What should we question? What should we verify? And what should we reject? No technology can completely answer these questions for us. No number of likes can substitute for evidence. No viral trend can replace judgment. No majority can turn misinformation into truth. That responsibility belongs to human beings. Information can tell us what happened. Discernment helps us understand what it means, why it happened, what may be missing from the story and how we should respond. Perhaps, therefore, the greatest educational challenge of our time is not to teach people how to find more information. They already know how to do that. The greater challenge is to teach them how to pause-to pause before believing, to pause before reacting, to pause before forwarding and to pause before joining the crowd. Because sometimes the most intelligent response to information is not an immediate reaction, but a moment of reflection. The ocean is already around us. It is growing deeper every day. What we need now is not more information to swim through it-but the wisdom to know which direction to take. (The writer is the Principal of Podar International School, Ausa, Latur. Views personal.)

Dubai: A Magical Land

Writer: Archita Redkar
Archita Redkar
Sep 11, 2025
3 min read

Travel is not just about places—it is about the people and memories we create.

My love for travel began in childhood on long road trips in our old Ambassador car or Matador van. Those month-long journeys sowed the seeds of my passion. That passion led me to study tourism management and build a career exploring the world with families, students, senior citizens, and corporate groups. My most recent trip, however, was different—this time with school friends. We chose Dubai, and it was all fun, laughter, and nostalgia. It reminded me that travel is not only about places but also about the people and memories we create.


When I travel, I feel like a different person—confident, energised, and content. Whenever something troubles me, I reflect on my thoughts and often find the answer lies in escaping to a calm, serene place.


As first-time travellers, the ladies were thrilled and felt more comfortable with me accompanying them. Sameer designed a wonderful itinerary and arranged a hotel near the Meena Bazaar area, taking care of all bookings, visas, and tickets.


On our first day, everyone was eager to explore Dubai. For many, it was their very first international trip. I understood their excitement, having visited the city several times before in different seasons and with various groups.


That day, a light shower left the weather pleasantly cool. We began with the Museum of the Future, a stunning landmark in the heart of Dubai. One section moved us deeply, showcasing plants, animals, and a futuristic world that highlighted the need to care for Mother Earth.


In the evening, we dressed up for a dinner cruise at Marina Bay and were lucky to witness a rare drone show. Hundreds of drones formed dazzling shapes, shifting colours every second. The spectacle was breathtaking, and the joy of sharing it together was unforgettable.


The Women Who Inspired Me!

Traveling with these ladies was a beautiful experience, each carrying her own inspiring story.


Anju, a bank employee, had saved every rupee to enjoy this trip independently. Sharmila, a tutor, had found joy again after losing her husband. Mahi, from a small town, finally realised her dream of travelling with school friends in her fifties. Sayli patiently turned each of her dreams into reality, and Ragini, despite losing her father, remained positive and financially independent. Hearing their stories, I realised how courage and grace carry women through life’s trials. We promised this would be the first of many yearly journeys together.


We explored Dubai’s lively markets and the old fort in a van before a short city tour, visiting luxury hotels and the beach. Viewing Dubai from the 125th floor of Burj Khalifa was thrilling; the city stretched below us like a sparkling canvas.


The desert safari was the highlight. Riding a Land Cruiser over golden dunes, we screamed, laughed, and savoured every wild moment. At sunset, we climbed a dune, watched the glowing horizon, and silently gave thanks for life and friendship—a moment of pure magic.


The next day began with a delicious breakfast before visiting the Miracle Garden, a paradise of countless flowers forming intricate sculptures of planes, villas, bridges, and fountains. Later, at Global Village, we explored pavilions from around the world and enjoyed Thai sticky rice with mango—a simple joy I treasure despite having visited Thailand 22 times. We walked for hours, enjoying every cultural display, before retiring, exhausted but happy.


Another day was dedicated to spirituality. We visited the newly built Swaminarayan Temple in Abu Dhabi, a masterpiece inaugurated by our Honourable Prime Minister. The carvings, sculptures, and pillars were exquisite, each telling a story from Indian tradition. Few visitors are aware of a second level beneath the main temple, equally divine and serene. We were blessed with ‘prasad' before continuing our journey. Next, we visited the majestic Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, whose white pillars, blue domes, vast prayer halls, and sparkling chandeliers left us spellbound. By evening, we returned to Dubai, hearts full of peace.


On our last day, it was difficult to say goodbye. We spent the morning shopping for fresh dates, dried fruits, and souvenirs. A special moment for us was when we visited the Burj Khalifa on Makar Sankranti – a day when, in Maharashtra, we share sweets and say, 'Take this sweet and speak sweetly.' Celebrating this tradition at the world’s tallest building felt surreal. At the airport, we carried gifts in our bags and memories in our hearts, promising that this was only the beginning of many adventures.


This tour reminded me that travel is more than sightseeing. It brings confidence, freedom, and wisdom; it teaches us to appreciate diversity, bond deeply, and celebrate life. I encourage every woman—and every person—to step out, explore, and let travel transform you. Little dreams can become extraordinary experiences.


(The writer is a tourism professional and runs a company, Global Voyages. Views personal.)

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