top of page

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.)

Indian Immigrants in the US: A Story of Success and Contribution

Writer: Shekhar Upasani
Shekhar Upasani
Jan 13, 2025
3 min read

Concluding Part Eight

In the final installment, we explore how Indians in the US fuel America's growth and how hard work and adaptability at home can unlock India's future prosperity.

This busy rate and growing population is a big challenge for India in its future journey. Like India, America also has a democracy, but there is one difference. The overall cabinet structure, parliamentary structure, and the method of electing representatives are different from those in India. To give an example, here the President is elected by the people, while in our country, the MPs and MLAs elected by the people elect the President. In America, the President has a lot of importance and powers; of course, we have them in India, but along with him, the post of Prime Minister in India should have more powers, which affects the overall administration of the country.


The United States, comprising 50 states, not 52, exhibits a distinct federal system, where power is decentralised, and each state enjoys significant autonomy. Except for a few critical areas like defence, justice, and education, which are overseen by the federal government, individual states have considerable authority to govern themselves. This decentralisation fosters a unique identity for each state, contributing to the country's rich diversity.


Despite being a global leader, the United States faces intense pressure to maintain its position. The rapidly shifting global landscape and emerging challenges from other nations necessitate continuous effort and innovation. Moreover, the country grapples with domestic issues, including rising unemployment, which demands effective policy responses to ensure sustainable growth and prosperity.


Although the United States pioneered the computer and mobile revolutions, which followed the industrial revolution, outsourcing has led to the displacement of many factories and the relocation of industries, such as the automotive and computer manufacturing sectors, to other countries. Consequently, the US is grappling with rising unemployment, which poses a significant challenge.


Another pressing issue is the influx of immigrants, particularly those who have entered the country illegally from neighbouring South American nations, primarily Mexico. The presence of a substantial number of undocumented immigrants in the US has become a contentious issue, sparking debates on border control, immigration policy, and national security.


A substantial number of Indian citizens have migrated to the United States for educational and professional opportunities and are now lawful residents. Notably, the intellectual capital, academic excellence, and diligent work ethic that Indians bring to the table are making significant contributions to America's prosperity and economic growth.


Indians, known for their peaceful and gentle nature, tend to blend in seamlessly without asserting their distinct identity or engaging in activities that might disrupt social harmony. Notably, Indians have made significant contributions to various fields in America, including software development, NASA's scientific community, medicine, engineering, and research. Indians comprise a sizable proportion of professionals in these areas.


In keeping with India's timeless tradition of promoting global well-being, the Indian diaspora in America strives to make meaningful contributions to the country and the world. By working diligently and peacefully, Indians aim to add value to their adopted homeland.


Indians living in America on valid visas like H1 or B1 likely have no reason to worry, thanks to Donald Trump's understanding of India's importance and the valuable contributions Indians make to America. The friendship between Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to foster positive relations between the two nations.


Trump has consistently shown appreciation for India and Modi, even calling him a "true friend." Their bond was evident in events like the "Howdy Modi" rally in Houston and the "Namaste Trump" event in Ahmedabad. With Trump's second term, India can anticipate strengthened cooperation in defence, security, and trade.


The US recognises India's highly skilled workforce, particularly in the tech sector, as a valuable asset to the American economy. This mutual understanding suggests that Indians in America can continue to contribute positively without major concerns.


Historically, the East, particularly India, was renowned for its prosperity. Today, the West, epitomised by America, holds that distinction. However, a global shift is underway, with Eastern nations like India and China driving their growth and development. As the world continues to evolve, new opportunities will emerge.


To capitalise on these prospects, it's essential to adopt a forward-thinking mindset and be adaptable in a rapidly changing world. Ultimately, there's no substitute for diligent, honest hard work. By embracing this ethos, India is poised to become a developed and prosperous nation, even if it may not attain superpower status by 2050.


(The author is a director of a company. He has travelled extensively across India and overseas.)

Comments

bottom of page