The first quarter of the twenty-first century has drawn to a close, and humanity now embarks upon its journey towards the year 2050. While the history of our planet is ancient, the chronicle of mankind is but seventy thousand years old—a mere blink in the grand scheme of time. Prior to this, man was but another creature amidst the teeming multitude of life, bound by nature’s immutable laws. However, with the awakening of intellect, humanity broke free from the passive acceptance of existence, rejecting the principle that governed all other beings—“let it be so that it may continue indefinitely.” In its place, man sought dominion over nature, crafting civilization from the wilderness and shaping culture through the ceaseless march of progress.

There is little need to dwell upon this well-documented history, for its essence is known to all. What demands our scrutiny, however, is the transformation that has since ensued. A mere ten to twelve thousand years ago, humanity abandoned its nomadic ways, embraced agriculture, and established permanent settlements. With this newfound stability arose the necessity of economic and administrative systems, which, over centuries, evolved into the intricate governance structures of today. Yet, in stark contrast to the slow and measured pace of change throughout the preceding millennia, the past 250 years have witnessed an unparalleled acceleration in human advancement.

The year 1776 marked the dawn of the First Industrial Revolution, a seismic shift that redefined human civilization. Since then, three chapters of industrial transformation have unfolded, culminating in the ongoing Fourth Industrial Revolution that commenced in 2011. The impact of this rapid evolution is nothing short of astonishing. The very fabric of our world has been reshaped; its economies, currencies, and societies have undergone a metamorphosis so swift and profound that it may only be described as ‘turbo-speed’ progress.

To illustrate the scale of this change, one must consider the trajectory of human population growth. It took nearly two hundred thousand years for the global population to reach one billion. Yet, from the year 1800 onwards, this figure has multiplied eightfold, surging past eight billion within a mere two centuries. The pace at which human society has transitioned from rural to urban living is equally staggering. Until 1800, only three percent of mankind resided in cities, but today, over fifty-eight percent of the global populace dwells in urban environments. Such transformations, which once took millennia, now unfold within decades.

What, then, lies ahead? If the velocity of change in the past 250 years is any indication, the coming twenty-five years shall unfold at ‘super-turbo speed’—a rate beyond present comprehension. The implications of this are both exhilarating and ominous. On one hand, humanity may stand on the precipice of extraordinary breakthroughs; on the other, we may be witnessing the dawn of an irreversible transformation—one in which Homo sapiens, as we know them, may evolve into an entirely new species. The trajectory of change is no longer in our hands, nor can it be arrested. The only course left to us is vigilance, foresight, and preparation for the trials that lie ahead.

The Perils of Reactive Governance

Yet, as we peer into the future, one cannot help but observe a troubling trend—the persistent inclination of governments and societies to adopt a reactive rather than a proactive stance. The prevailing culture appears to be one of responding to crises only after they have erupted, rather than anticipating and mitigating them in advance. If this mindset persists, the magnitude of challenges in the coming decades may reach such critical levels that remedies will no longer be within our grasp.

The urgency of the hour calls for deep contemplation and decisive action. Every citizen, thinker, policymaker, and administrator must engage in rigorous discourse, charting a course for the future of the nation and the state. Policies must be drafted with foresight, governance must be steered with prudence, and the economy, social structures, and legal frameworks must be refined in anticipation of impending upheavals. But is such deliberation taking place? Is there a grand vision guiding our collective future, or are we merely postponing the inevitable with half-measures and short-sighted policies?

A crucial question arises—have society, government, and intellectuals genuinely attuned themselves to the gravity of the challenges that loom ahead? Are priorities being set in accordance with the severity of these issues? Alas, there is little evidence to suggest so. Just as a physician’s diagnosis is essential before treatment can commence, so too must our problems first be understood before solutions can be devised. If we remain oblivious to the crises we face, how shall we ever address them?

Governments ought to present a clear and comprehensive projection of the hurdles that await both the nation and the state. The people must be informed of the strategies devised to confront these adversities, and transparent discourse must replace the vague assurances and hollow rhetoric that have too often defined political narratives.

The Crisis of Problem-Illiteracy

A short while ago, I publicly posed a question on social media, urging citizens to list the most pressing challenges confronting our nation and state in descending order of severity. The responses, or rather the lack thereof, revealed a disturbing truth—we suffer not just from a lack of solutions but from a far graver affliction: ‘problem-illiteracy.’ We are an educated society, yet one woefully unaware of the real issues plaguing us. As a collective, we remain oblivious to the existential threats at our doorstep, and this ignorance may prove to be our greatest peril.

It is imperative that we reclaim our focus from the distractions that have veiled the truth. A distressing pattern has emerged in governance, policymaking, and political discourse—one in which genuine problems are ignored, and artificial ones are manufactured to serve vested interests. Emotional rhetoric has replaced reasoned deliberation, and superficial debates have supplanted meaningful dialogue. This malady extends beyond the realm of politics, infecting even the private sector, where self-interest often takes precedence over long-term stability. If we fail to identify and address the real challenges of our time, how shall we ever hope to overcome them?

The Path Forward

The velocity of change in our world has reached a perilous juncture, and the next twenty-five years shall be among the most defining in human history. We stand at a crossroads, where every decision, every policy, and every action shall reverberate far into the future. It is, therefore, incumbent upon us to engage in earnest deliberation on the challenges that await—at the global, national, and state levels.

In the forthcoming discussions, we shall examine the critical issues that must be addressed if we are to navigate the complexities of the coming age. Let us embark upon this discourse not with fear, but with resolve—for the future shall not be shaped by mere observers, but by those with the vision and will to act.

(Marathi translation of this article was published in the daily Divya Marathi on 16/3/2025)