Editorial

Legacy is not what I did for myself. It’s what I’m doing for the next generation.

-        Viltor Belfort

As I sit down to pen this note, my memory takes me to a vivid moment from circa 2011. My dadi, Late Smt Mridula Sinha had published one of the initial issues of ‘The Fifth Pillar’ magazine. We were sitting in her office on the sofa. She held a copy of the issue in her hand, while another stack rested on the coffee table. I had returned home for the holidays from law school. I was giving her company, observing her go about her daily matters and absorbing her essence in the process.

She looked at me, waved the issue in her hand and said, “I have started it, but it is you who has to take it forward.” Overwhelmed at the enormity of the proposition I replied, “I am not going to”.  With surprise and a smile, she said, “Karna hi hai. Tumhare liye shuru kiya hain. Ek din tumhe hi isko badhana hain”.

At the time, I believed that it would always be her thing. But today, as I edit and compile this issue, I can feel her almost grinning at me from up there somewhere as I fulfil her prophecy made more than a decade ago. She was a woman of immense grace, conviction and purpose- effortlessly chic, yet deeply rooted in service to others. Be it in her capacity as the head of Mahila Morcha, as a social worker and writer or as the first woman Governor of Goa, understanding the pulse of people always came easy to her. A people’s person in every sense, she believed in the transformative power of words and action. Her dedication to the social cause and discipline to make her dreams into reality is what I wish to emulate in my actions towards developing this magazine.

The Fifth Pillar was born out of her belief that knowledge, when shared with care, can be the fifth stronghold of democracy- beyond the Legislature, Executive, Judiciary and Media. 

This issue brings together thoughtful contributions from individuals committed to creating awareness and fostering informed discourse. I am grateful to all our contributors who enthusiastically responded to the call and joined hands to breathe life into this dream.

We’re honoured to feature a nuanced piece by HMJ (Retd.) Justice Shiv Kriti Singh, who explores the evolving landscape of NGO’s and their role in shaping civil society. Equally compelling is Dr. Pinky Anand’s (former ASG, Govt of India) article on surrogacy law, examining the ethical, legal and social implications of the recent ban on commercial surrogacy- a crucial step towards protecting the dignity of women and safeguarding them against exploitation. Mr. Rana Mukherjee, Senior Advocate demystifies the complex RERA framework, making it accessible to the average citizen navigating the real estate sector.

Law and civil society go hand in hand as the former provides a legal framework within which societal change can be affected and order can be restored. It also goes a long way in facilitating collective action. Many efforts of civil society impress upon improving upon the human rights and fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution of India. Therefore, Law and Policy is a robust section of our magazine. Additionally, we are excited to introduce a dedicated Books section with essay style reviews. Nature and Environment is a section that we wish to bring as a close second to Law and Policy. Be it Environmental Laws, Civil Society Actions, stories from the jungles of India or neighbourhood bird watching sojourns, we hope that the stories from the coming issues will inspire you to do your bit for planet Earth. We also bring to you, reflective pieces in other sections such as Mind and Spirit and Children. Keeping with the modern media trends, we bring to you a Podcast recommendations section which enlists our favourite podcasts in recent times that you can listen to you while travelling, during your walks etc 

Lastly, we are proud to inaugurate a special section, ‘From the Founder’s Pen’, which will feature a piece of writing by Late Mrs Mridula Sinha in every issue.

I sincerely hope this issue and those to come in future, inspire meaningful thought, spark positive conversations and build a community rooted in knowledge, empathy and action.

Happy Reading.

Warmly,

Hansa Sinha

Editor, The Fifth Pillar