Atmanirbhar - Self Reliant

 The first time I came across the term Atmanirbhar was when Prime Minister Modi launched the Atmanirbhar Bharat mission. Over the past decade, I’ve come to understand that self-reliance isn’t just a national aspiration — it’s deeply personal as well.

At the national level, Atmanirbhar signifies more efficient, competitive, resilient, independent in areas like energy, raw materials, defense manufacturing, capital, and even markets. But for an individual, self-reliance is more nuanced. It means being physically, mentally, and emotionally self-sufficient — reaching a state of contentment that doesn’t depend on external validation or stimuli. It’s about finding inner stability and peace, regardless of what’s happening outside.

Recently, I mentioned to Sweety that she seems to be constantly seeking distractions. I don’t think it landed well with her — and understandably so. It's not easy to hear, and perhaps not easy to say either. But that moment made me reflect deeper on what individual self-reliance really means.

We often associate self-reliance with being able to manage on our own — to cook, earn, survive. But true self-reliance runs deeper. It's about being comfortable in our own company, being still without craving stimulation, and finding meaning that isn't propped up by external sources — not endless scrolling, constant conversations, or relentless goals.

It's not a criticism of distraction, but an observation of how easily we all reach for something — anything — to avoid sitting with our thoughts. Maybe it’s discomfort, maybe restlessness, or maybe a gap we don’t yet know how to fill. Self-reliance is not isolation. It’s the quiet strength of knowing that even when the world pauses, you’re still content and at peace.

To enable people to be self reliant - it is important to let go. I mentioned this in one of my previous blogs -  "Give people space to make their own decisions,  even if they decide to take the scenic route that we definitely wouldn’t have chosen"