top of page

By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 8:56:24 pm

The Woman Redefining Healthy Living

Part - 9 Name: Neha Ranglani Where: Mumbai, Maharashtra From social-media-fuelled health obsessions to lifestyle disorders, US-trained integrative nutritionist Neha Ranglani is helping thousands, particularly youngsters, understand their bodies, embrace healthier lifestyles and lead more fulfilling lives. Bombarded with information on social media, Gen Z is more health-conscious than ever. From fitness fads and wellness trends to calorie-counting and restrictive diets, youngsters are...

The Woman Redefining Healthy Living

Part - 9 Name: Neha Ranglani Where: Mumbai, Maharashtra From social-media-fuelled health obsessions to lifestyle disorders, US-trained integrative nutritionist Neha Ranglani is helping thousands, particularly youngsters, understand their bodies, embrace healthier lifestyles and lead more fulfilling lives. Bombarded with information on social media, Gen Z is more health-conscious than ever. From fitness fads and wellness trends to calorie-counting and restrictive diets, youngsters are constantly chasing the ideal body, often at the cost of their physical and mental well-being. But this pursuit of physical perfection can become an obsession and take a toll on health, cautions Ranglani, 39, a functional medical practitioner with nearly two decades of experience. “Gen Z is definitely more aware of health and fitness, but sometimes it goes too far. Social media influences their choices, and the desire to be healthy can become almost obsessive,” she observes. Her advice to youngsters is to steer clear of ‘quick fixes’ and learn to listen to and understand their bodies. “First, I identify the root causes; then the treatment becomes easier,” Ranglani told The Perfect Voice and Vruttamanas on her ‘art of healthy living’ strategy. Rather than recommending fancy diets or indiscriminately adding or eliminating foods, she focuses on individual needs and identifies underlying problems. She then helps people build healthier habits that nurture physical and emotional well-being. “I strongly believe that the human body is a wonderful creation; it has an innate capacity to heal and restore balance when given the right support. Balanced nutrition, regular physical activity, stress management, adequate sleep and attention to nutritional deficiencies can all contribute to better health. Where necessary, I provide personalised nutritional support that can help bridge identified gaps, alongside appropriate medical care,” she elaborated. So far, Ranglani has helped more than 40,000 people worldwide on their journeys towards better health. Her clients range from children as young as five to senior citizens aged 85, with concerns spanning obesity, diabetes, thyroid imbalances and other lifestyle-related conditions. For Gen Z, seemingly caught in a perpetual hurry to achieve quick results, her message is particularly relevant: resist the lure of instant transformations and unrealistic expectations. Instead, cultivate self-awareness, patience and consistency to achieve sustainable results. Ranglani emphasises that the ultimate goal is not lifelong dependence on wellness programmes or supplements, but the ability to make informed lifestyle choices through greater health awareness and discipline. “By helping people understand their bodies and adopt healthier habits, I try to empower them to take greater ownership of their own fitness and long-term well-being,” she declared. “My message to the current generation is simple: there is no perfect formula for health. Instead of fighting your body, learn to understand it, nourish it and give it the right environment to repair itself and thrive. The results can be wonderful, not just for you but also for those around you,” concluded Ranglani with a smile.

Caste-based Census Sparks Nationwide Debate

Writer: Darshan Solanki
Darshan Solanki
Oct 2, 2024
3 min read

Updated: Oct 22, 2024

Caste-based Census

Caste-based identities continue to dominate rural India, directly or indirectly shaping electoral outcomes. Many major elections are influenced by specific caste groups. After the Bihar government released the first phase of its caste-based socio-economic survey, the caste census became a hot topic. The results, backed by evidence, showed improvements in the living standards and social status of marginalised communities, both in cities and villages. With parties like the JDU and NCP backing a caste census, there is growing momentum for the government to conduct one. However, every story has two sides—joy and sorrow. Even Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Nation, raised concerns about the caste census.

Rahul Gandhi accused the BJP of being “anti-Bahujan.” The clear meaning is that his father and forefather refused to execute a caste-based census, which might have far-reaching effects and even permanently fracture India’s social fabric. This may be negative for caste-based beneficiaries. The last caste census in India was conducted in 1931 by the British government. Those times were different from the present scenario. The data was made public and became the basis for the Mandal Commission Reports and reservation policies for Other Backward Classes. Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has clarified that the caste-based population count data will not be used for core politics. But the agenda for politics is always twisted and expanded.

The Central Government also joined the legal debate by filing an affidavit with the Supreme Court, leaving the matter unresolved. India’s partition, rooted in the divide-and-rule strategy, is frequently cited as a cautionary tale. Including caste in official census data could further deepen social divides. This issue has become a political pressure point, with various states pushing the Centre for action. Although the Constitution uses the term “class” instead of “caste,” the Supreme Court has consistently ruled that caste is a relevant, and at times, sole or dominant criterion for defining a backward class.

After the release of caste-based census data in Bihar, discussions around conducting similar censuses have gained momentum in states like Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand. Karnataka, which has already conducted its own caste census, may release its data soon as well.

Notably, all these states are governed by anti-BJP parties. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also announced that Congress-ruled states have committed to carrying out caste censuses. Meanwhile, the BJP has remained silent on the matter, creating a significant roadblock.

Caste-based censuses focus on proportional representation in areas like jobs and education, with the argument that this will aid in targeted planning for the disadvantaged. However, the situation remains unclear, much like a foggy winter morning. The BJP’s stance on caste-based censuses and reservations seems different, as they fear the caste-based calculations could fragment their traditional Hindu voter base—an underlying concern for the party.

Professor Sanjay Kumar from The Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, says, “Let alone the BJP; no party can openly oppose it; it is not free from danger. BJP gets a large number of votes from the OBC community, their population across the country would be around 52%. Another downside is that the caste-based censuses could disrupt the balance of socio-economic zones. Data theft is a common issue in government systems, and people may feel disconnected from their actual rights.

The moot question is that if the financial status of an ST/SC/OBC or Dalit citizen moves up by a few notches, will his social status change automatically? The lifestyle of any class will only change when the income of a particular class is changed. The actual source of income is employment. The reality is that only metro cities have enough place and space for workers. Aside from the GIDC and IT sectors, less than 30% of industries have their own designated vacancy periods. After a decade, the Jamnagar and Rajkot Corporations have opened their doors to newcomers alongside experienced staff. However, age and caste bias often operate behind the scenes. It’s important to recognise that poverty is also widespread among many upper-caste individuals, and their needs cannot be overlooked. In the overall interests of the nation, terms like SC/ST/OBC, Dalits, etc. must be deleted from the nation’s vocabulary. Every citizen should have only one classification, that of being an ‘Indian’, in the spirit of the constitution.

Last year, when the Bihar government decided to conduct a caste survey in the state, the BJP was also Nitish Kumar’s partner in the state government, and it supported it. Political expert and former professor of Tata Institute of Social Science, Pushpendra Kumar, says, “It is not that the BJP does not talk about caste. It tries to reveal the caste of the Prime Minister as well. For caste politics, the BJP also tried hard to raise the issue of Pasmanda Muslims.”

(The writer is a management professional based in Ahmedabad. Views personal.)

Comments

bottom of page