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A Leader Without Noise: Chandy Oomen
By Mani Skaria, PhD Some legacies are inherited…But what really matters… is how you carry them. Chandy Oommen—A lawyer…A Supreme Court advocate…Now serving in the Kerala Legislature… representing Puthuppally. He is the son of the late Oommen Chandy…Former Chief Minister of Kerala…A man known for a lifetime of humble service. And when you listen to…
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From Tension to Peace–Happy Easter!
This Easter, in 2026, feels different. From Washington… to Jerusalem… to Tehran…to New Delhi…the world feels tense. Nations are uneasy.Communities are divided.Hearts are heavy.People are getting killed. But Easter was never about comfort. It was about hope in the middle of uncertainty. It was about light breaking through darkness. It was about peace in a…
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Who Will Grow Food for Kerala? (Malayalam)
Educated, Global …. Yet Food-Dependent! By Mani Skaria, PhD Kerala is a narrow strip of land, cradled between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea.A long coastline.Backwaters that breathe with the tides.Monsoon-fed rivers that descend from mist-covered mountains. It is a land of coconut palms, paddy fields, tea gardens in the high ranges, and spices…
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The Doctor Who Built a Heaven Between
Reflections on the Retirement of Dr. Saroja Viswamitra DHR Health, Edinburg/McAllen By Mani Skaria, PhD On February 12, 2026, in McAllen, Texas, nearly 450 people gathered to honor the retirement of Dr. Saroja Viswamitra — Chief Medical Officer, physician, builder, and community healer. The room was filled with physicians, professionals, civic leaders, and friends. They…
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Why I Love India
I love India not because it is perfect, but because it is purposeful. India gained independence in 1947, inheriting not only freedom but also the immense responsibility of nation-building amid limited resources and a vast population. What India did not inherit, it deliberately built: institutions, resilience, and confidence. In the decades that followed, a young,…
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Kerala, Social Media, and the Quiet Disappearance of Due Process
Kerala, Social Media, and the Quiet Disappearance of Due Process By Mani Skaria, PhD Kerala is a state that takes pride in thinking aloud. Its high literacy, political awareness, and culture of debate have long been sources of strength. Public discussion here has never been passive; people question, argue, and challenge authority. But in the…
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India’s Horticultural Future Takes Center Stage at IHC 2025
By Mani Skaria, PhD I was truly fortunate to witness the 11th Indian Horticultural Congress (IHC 2025), held from November 6–9 at the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru. Built around the theme “Horticulture for Inclusive, Equitable, and Sustainable Growth,” the Congress highlighted India’s vision for a resilient and farmer-centered horticultural future. Organized under the leadership…
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MANI’s VISIT to MANI BHAVAN in MUMBAI: A Reflective Journey Through a Living History
Insight No. 31 Author: Mani Skaria, Ph.D. (the Silly Goose Grandpa)Professor Emeritus, Texas A&M–Kingsville Prepared on November 19, 2025 Yesterday, my wife Anne and I (first name, Mani) stood before a quiet, dignified building called Mani Bhavan on Laburnum Road in Mumbai. The wooden balconies, iron railings, and filtered sunlight made the façade almost glow….
