blog • 3/24/2026
Reflections on a World in Transition - Shajil Anthru
I am reminded of Kanyakumari, formerly known as Cape Comorin, the southernmost tip of mainland India in Tamil Nadu. This remarkable site is celebrated as the convergence of the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea, and the Indian Ocean—three vast bodies of water merging seamlessly. Yet, no visible demarcation line separates them at the point of convergence. Similar natural meeting points exist elsewhere in the world.
In the same way, the transition from 2025 to 2026 reveals no clear demarcation or abrupt shift in global society. The year 2025 was marked by escalating armed conflicts, devastating natural disasters, and profound geopolitical changes. Organizations such as the United Nations described it as a period of staggering instability, with humanitarian needs affecting hundreds of millions worldwide.
Sudan's civil war remained the world's most severe humanitarian crisis, driving massive displacement and widespread famine. The ongoing conflict in Gaza continued to exact a heavy toll, amid reports of famine and acute suffering. In Syria, the dramatic collapse of the Assad regime late in 2024 led to further upheaval and power shifts into 2025. The Russia-Ukraine war entered its fourth year, with persistent infrastructure destruction and entrenched front lines.
Major natural disasters included catastrophic wildfires in California, a powerful earthquake in Myanmar, Hurricane Melissa, and severe flooding in Texas.
Under the second Trump administration, the United States imposed broad import tariffs, prompting retaliatory actions and disrupting global supply chains. By year's end, record numbers of people were forcibly displaced worldwide, amid rising gang violence and hunger crises in places like Haiti.
Many more examples could be cited. As the calendar turned from 2025 to 2026, little had changed on the ground, and prospects for resolving these crises remained distant. Authoritarianism has gained ground in various regions, regardless of democratic traditions, and even established democracies have shown authoritarian tendencies in subtle forms.
Yet, we must not avert our gaze from the quiet yet persistent efforts of writers, artists, and thinkers who challenge injustice and foster empathy. Through their stories, poems, paintings, and performances, they illuminate human suffering, bridge divides, and inspire collective action against oppression and discrimination. Writers and artists play an indispensable role in preserving truth, amplifying silenced voices, and envisioning a more equitable world—often at great personal risk.
It is imperative that we cultivate a universal, compassionate approach to addressing these global crises, drawing on the creative and moral insights of those who dedicate their lives to redefining humanity's shared future.
-Shajil Anthru
In the same way, the transition from 2025 to 2026 reveals no clear demarcation or abrupt shift in global society. The year 2025 was marked by escalating armed conflicts, devastating natural disasters, and profound geopolitical changes. Organizations such as the United Nations described it as a period of staggering instability, with humanitarian needs affecting hundreds of millions worldwide.
Sudan's civil war remained the world's most severe humanitarian crisis, driving massive displacement and widespread famine. The ongoing conflict in Gaza continued to exact a heavy toll, amid reports of famine and acute suffering. In Syria, the dramatic collapse of the Assad regime late in 2024 led to further upheaval and power shifts into 2025. The Russia-Ukraine war entered its fourth year, with persistent infrastructure destruction and entrenched front lines.
Major natural disasters included catastrophic wildfires in California, a powerful earthquake in Myanmar, Hurricane Melissa, and severe flooding in Texas.
Under the second Trump administration, the United States imposed broad import tariffs, prompting retaliatory actions and disrupting global supply chains. By year's end, record numbers of people were forcibly displaced worldwide, amid rising gang violence and hunger crises in places like Haiti.
Many more examples could be cited. As the calendar turned from 2025 to 2026, little had changed on the ground, and prospects for resolving these crises remained distant. Authoritarianism has gained ground in various regions, regardless of democratic traditions, and even established democracies have shown authoritarian tendencies in subtle forms.
Yet, we must not avert our gaze from the quiet yet persistent efforts of writers, artists, and thinkers who challenge injustice and foster empathy. Through their stories, poems, paintings, and performances, they illuminate human suffering, bridge divides, and inspire collective action against oppression and discrimination. Writers and artists play an indispensable role in preserving truth, amplifying silenced voices, and envisioning a more equitable world—often at great personal risk.
It is imperative that we cultivate a universal, compassionate approach to addressing these global crises, drawing on the creative and moral insights of those who dedicate their lives to redefining humanity's shared future.
-Shajil Anthru