Winds of Change: Issue 42
In this week's issue, we say a teary goodbye to Winds of Change with a heavy heart.
Welcome to Winds of Change, a weekly newsletter that collates my work as I chase the winds that bring us the monsoon and drive our turbines.
Wednesday, October 20 was my last day at The Economic Times. After two years and four months at my first full-time job, I say adios to the best newsroom I've been a part of.
I got into ET as a campus hire from the Asian College of Journalism in Chennai, a 10-month post graduate course. My interview lasted over 20 minutes, and I was grilled like a tomato, while the other interviewees were only in there for 5 minutes on average.
Nevertheless, we knew how that turned out, and I'm so glad!
My time at ET has been spent between the Bombay and Delhi bureaus, and I had a very obvious preference for the former. Not only because I am from Bombay and I saved a fortune on rent and laundry, but because that office was full of people that made me realise that every job is a job at the end of the day, but it's the people you work with that play a big part in you getting through your days.
On my last day, I made a lot of calls to colleagues, all of whom only had good things to say about me. It felt really warm and nice! Moreover, I realised that my exit from Journalism need not be a long one, and that some people might still want me back!
My new job, which I'll be telling you about in a bit, still involves me writing. But there's nothing I can recap, and it isn't to do with climate and sustainable energy anymore. So with a heavy heart, sadly this will be Winds of Change's last issue.
Jabbing the toddlers
No, we're not punching tiny babies just yet.
With the government mulling opening vaccinations for kids aged 2 to 18, there are a lot of considerations we need to take. And the first and foremost is, why?
The pandemic has lasted well over 18 months by now, so we have a lot of anecdotal as well as empirical data. That data tells us that even if kids contract COVID-19, the chances of a severe infection are very, very less. Meanwhile, the immunity systems of kids is also in a weird stage between 2 and 18, and we don't really know how the vaccines will affect them.
Moreover, the government only has plans to approve Covaxin for now. The same vaccine which is still awaiting an approval from the WHO (and where many of India's citizens expect cutting of corners to grant the said approval).
Kabhi alvida na kehna
In my final story for ET, I wrote about the monsoon. A befitting end!
After a prolonged stay in the country, the southwest monsoon will finally exit the country by October 26, the weather bureau said.
This year's monsoon has been marked by weak and strong phases, a clear effect of climate change. Our monsoon season has also been prolonged by at least 10 days, data from the past few years shows. While most parts of the country aren't strangers to October rainfall, the intensity has surprised quite a few people.
Fun fact: my first ever story for ET was about the monsoon as well!
And that brings us to the end of the newsletter. I'd like to thank all of you who continue to read my issues every week, but some specifically: my mother, Gangwani, Anjali, Subrahmanyam, Chandni, and Bikash uncle, who passed away after contracting coronavirus earlier this year. I know that all of them are regular readers, and have given me regular advice and pointed out errors, and I'll always appreciate that. It's made me a better writer.
Special thanks to Devika, who designed the amazing header picture.
I'm moving to Meesho, an e-commerce startup. There, I'll try to channel my inner Don Draper and work in marketing, which is a young and exciting team. I'm quite intrigued to see how this works out!
Thank you all for reading Winds of Change, and thank you for taking special interest in my work. If you're still reading, I would request you to reply to this mail so I can personally thank you — it'd mean a lot to me.
For one last time, that's all for this week's issue. Thank you for reading! This issue was written by me, Shashwat Mohanty, and the artwork was produced by Devika Menon for Winds of Change.
I hope you learnt something new. Please feel free to reply to me about any errors or typos you spotted, any clarifications, and most importantly, any feedback. I'll miss you all!
Well written Shashwat!!! I wish you all the best.
As always learn few things from your last news letter... while wishing you all the very best,I pray you always get to do what you like to do....your new assignment encourages you to read and write...more than ever and you leave your footprints in the hearts of people wherever you go....read your thank you messages ... goodbyes are always painful....but nothing can be more satisfying than leaving with a good note on everyone's mind and soul whoever have crossed your path...May you always be blessed and guided by divine force...lots of prayers and blessings for your future ahead! God bless you!