Poetry from Ratan Bhattacharjee

Middle-aged South Asian man with short trimmed hair, reading glasses, a mustache, and a gray and white striped collared shirt and red tie.


Ode to 2026: Harbinger of Hope

Dr. Ratan Bhattacharjee

I

Hail to thee, O year of light,

 You rise to banish the lingering night.

 From weary hearts new dreams shall grow,

 Your dawn proclaims what all shall know.

 Hail to thee, 2026, Harbinger of Hope,

Guide us onward, teach us to cope.

II

The past lies silent, its burdens cast,

 You bring renewal, a future vast.

Injustice trembles, despair takes flight,

You crown the world with courage bright.

 Hail to thee, 2026, Harbinger of Hope,

Guide us onward, teach us to cope.

III

The children’s laughter rings clear and strong,

 The elders join in a timeless song.

Nations awaken, their voices free,

You weave their dreams in unity.

Hail to thee, 2026, Harbinger of Hope,

Guide us onward, teach us to cope.

IV

No tyrant’s shadow shall dim your flame,

 You etch on history a noble name.

With love and justice your banners rise,

 A brighter world beneath your skies.

 Hail to thee, 2026, Harbinger of Hope,

Guide us onward, teach us to cope.

V

So march we forward, hand in hand,

 Across the seas, through every land.

Your promise shines, our spirits soar,

 Hope reborn forevermore.

Hail to thee, 2026, Harbinger of Hope,

Guide us onward, teach us to cope.

Essay from Normurodova Salima Saitkulovna

Image of a person of uncertain race or gender in a mask and lab goggles looking at chemical diagrams on a screen.

The Impact of Pandemics on Public Health

Normurodova Salima Saitkulovna

Syrdarya Region, Yangiyer City

Abu Ali Ibn Sina College of Public Health

Abstract

This article analyzes the medical, social, and psychological impacts of pandemics on public health. It examines health-related challenges caused by the widespread transmission of infectious diseases, changes in mental well-being, and the increasing burden on healthcare systems.

Keywords: pandemic, public health, infectious diseases, mental health, prevention.

Introduction

A pandemic is the widespread outbreak of an infectious disease across large regions, including multiple countries or the entire world. Throughout history, pandemics such as plague, influenza, tuberculosis, and COVID-19 have significantly affected all aspects of social life, particularly public health. In the modern era, pandemics are considered not only a medical issue but also a major social challenge.

Main Part

Pandemics primarily affect public health through physical illness. The rapid spread of infectious diseases increases morbidity and mortality rates among the population. Elderly individuals, children, and people with chronic illnesses are especially vulnerable and belong to high-risk groups.

Another important aspect is the impact of pandemics on mental health. Quarantine measures, social isolation, fear, and uncertainty contribute to increased stress, anxiety, and depression. These psychological consequences highlight the growing need for mental health support within society.

During pandemics, healthcare systems face severe challenges. Hospitals experience shortages of beds, medical staff are exposed to excessive workloads, and there may be limited access to medicines and medical equipment. As a result, the stability of healthcare systems is put at risk. Therefore, prevention and early diagnosis play a crucial role in protecting public health.

Pandemics also emphasize the importance of improving public health literacy. Adherence to hygiene rules, vaccination, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle are key factors in reducing the negative consequences of pandemics.

Conclusion

In conclusion, pandemics have a serious and multifaceted impact on public health. To minimize their negative effects, it is essential to strengthen healthcare systems, expand preventive measures, and increase attention to mental health. Only through a comprehensive approach can the consequences of pandemics be effectively managed.

References

World Health Organization (WHO) materials.

Fundamentals of Public Health. — Tashkent, 2021.

Educational materials on infectious diseases and their prevention.

Essay from Xudoyberdiyeva Mohiniso

Young Central Asian woman with dark hair in a ponytail, brown eyes and small earrings, and a pink collared shirt.

THE PHILOSOPHICAL CONNECTION BETWEEN HUMAN BEINGS AND EXISTENCE

Annotation:

This article analyzes the philosophical connection between human beings and existence. It examines the place of humans in being, their relationship with nature and society, and the interaction between consciousness and matter from a philosophical standpoint. The article compares the views of Eastern and Western thinkers on the relationship between the human and existence with modern philosophical concepts, substantiating the idea of harmony between human thought and being.

Keywords: human, existence, philosophy, consciousness, matter, thought, being, nature, spirituality, Eastern and Western philosophy.

Introduction

The philosophical connection between the human being and existence has been one of the central themes of philosophy since ancient times. Humans, as a part of existence, are also the beings who perceive, transform, and give meaning to it. Therefore, understanding the role and position of the human in existence has been a significant subject in every era of philosophical thought.

Eastern thinkers such as al-Farabi, Ibn Sina, al-Biruni, and Alisher Navoi considered the human being a creature striving toward moral and spiritual perfection. Western philosophers such as Plato, Aristotle, Hegel, and Kant emphasized the active role of human reason in comprehending existence. In contemporary times, the issue is interpreted more deeply through the lenses of ecology, technology, and ethical values.

Main Part

The Philosophical Essence of the Concept of “Existence”

The concept of existence encompasses everything that is present — nature, society, humans, and consciousness. Philosophically, existence is the general form of being, the unity of everything that exists or may exist.

Materialist philosophers such as Democritus, Epicurus, Marx, and Engels argued that the foundation of existence is matter. According to them, consciousness is a product of matter, and humans, being part of nature, comprehend and transform it.

Idealist philosophy, on the other hand, regards the foundation of existence as an idea, spirit, or God. Plato maintained that true being exists in the realm of ideas, while the material world is only its shadow. Hegel explained existence as the process of the “absolute spirit” knowing itself.

The Place of the Human Being in Existence

A human is a conscious being capable of understanding, transforming, and valuing existence. The role of humans in being is twofold:

1. On the one hand, humans are inseparable from nature as part of it;

2. On the other hand, thanks to consciousness and intellect, humans comprehend being in a conscious and reflective manner.

Ibn Sina stated that “a human understands himself through understanding existence.” Al-Farabi wrote that “the path to happiness lies in knowing existence and living in accordance with it.”

In the modern world, the balance between humans and existence is reflected particularly in ecological issues. Although technological progress enables humans to transform nature, preserving the natural balance of existence has become a philosophical and ethical necessity.

Human and Existence in Eastern and Western Philosophy

Eastern philosophy views humans in harmony with existence, emphasizing spiritual purity and moral perfection. Navoi’s concept of the “perfect human” connects the human role in being with ethical and spiritual development.

Western philosophy, by contrast, focuses on the active cognitive role of the human being — understanding existence through reason, logic, and experience. Kant described the human as “a being who understands the world through experience,” while Hegel considered the human “a spirit analyzing existence through reason.”

Thus, Eastern philosophy emphasizes spirituality and harmony, whereas Western philosophy prioritizes intellect and cognition. Both perspectives complement each other in explaining the deep philosophical connection between humans and existence.

Conclusion

The philosophical relationship between the human being and existence remains an eternal subject of human thought. A human is part of existence; yet, at the same time, the only being capable of understanding and transforming it. To comprehend existence is to comprehend oneself.

Therefore, the moral development of the human, the freedom of thought, and ethical responsibility are inseparable aspects of understanding existence. In today’s age of globalization and rapid technological change, harmonious coexistence between humans and existence — protecting nature and fostering spirituality — becomes an essential philosophical direction for the future of humanity.

Thus, the philosophical connection between human beings and existence represents one of the most fundamental questions of human thought. Humans, as both part of being and its conscious interpreter, form a unified, mutually dependent system with existence.

References

1. Hegel G.W.F. Philosophy of Spirit. Moscow: Mysl, 1977.

2. Ibn Sina. Kitab al-Shifa. Tashkent: Fan, 1980.

3. Al-Farabi. The Virtuous City. Tashkent: Yozuvchi, 1993.

4. Kant I. Critique of Pure Reason. Moscow: Nauka, 1994.

5. Alisher Navoi. Mahbub ul-Qulub. Tashkent: G‘afur G‘ulom Publishing, 1983.

6. G‘afurov B. Fundamentals of Philosophy. Tashkent: Uzbekistan, 2010.

7. To‘xtasinov A. Philosophy of Human and Existence. Samarkand: SamSU Press, 2021.

Xudoyberdiyeva Mohiniso was born on May 22, 2006, in Denov district, Surxondaryo region. She is currently a second-year student at the Faculty of History, Denov Institute of Entrepreneurship and Pedagogy.

Poetry from Kassandra Aguilera

When will I accept that I feel alive, if that ever happens?

One consuming tenderness flickering between fear and warmth, feel alive.

Two who enrapture my time, my being, my heart, I feel alive.

Collecting words I consume as wisdom while

cycling back to old conversations helps me feel alive.

Voluntarily measuring variations of matching visions

verify the mass between my shoulders, making me feel alive.

On the isolated islands above, I interpret my wrongings

and believe the design lied about my tendency to feel alive.

I decided for the first ten years of my life

to drink my spit and hide so I wouldn’t feel alive.

Since the sunflowers started speaking towards the sun,

I’ve struggled to fully feel alive.

Seeing myself surrounded by bloomers saying similar statements

to each other, I don’t associate with them, those who feel alive.

Even if we may agree, I battle between the truth

or continuing to drink my spit, denying that I feel alive.

There is nothing wrong with others who do, not to mention

I do feel sorrow for those persecuted who feel alive.

Honestly, I don’t want to endure any more of the

exhausting longing that stems from the way I feel alive.

Kass is only an example of a field of sunflowers who wilt internally,

those who hate themselves the hardest, feel alive.

When November Won’t Whistle

When will November find the way back home?

Why won’t the withered waters

Evaporate leaving me to suffocate

In the widely arranged wrath of

Eleven months complete with wronging.

I place a droplet of stone cold

Designing a pure perfect painting

Pointing to the people of the compass

West stitching on skin, North drawing on tongue,

East missing, South poorly printed red.

Pouring out of my nose, feeding onto what is left

So I roll and I reek in remnants

Until it stops raining, though quickly,

Where I am left to wait through the months wail once again.

Poetry from Dylan Lloyd

First Sonnet

I love writing as a personal ability

I can use it and make whatever I want as I see fit

It feels enlightening, and has the capacity to be frightening

There is no way I will use the term “lit”

No, there are no terms to describe it for me

I use it every day, or at least think about it, I am not obsessed with it

Coming up with such ideas is always good with a cup of British tea

For my level of skill despite being only above average I do not contest it

Creations Encompassed

Singular, I am one singular being?

I disagree, I am many, and many am I

That belief always sways while I flip a dime

“Will these thoughts change with enough time?”

There is no one to answer but myself

The mind both does and does not have such wealth

I hear the silence as music

Although off-topic, I peer through the darkness

The light shines through and I am in a world of white

Too bright, then too dark

It is no walk in the park

This is my mind, why not have a look inside

I disagree with me being one

I live in all of my creations who will not be undone.

Essay from Abu Rayhan Beruni

The Interconnection of Family and Society in Uzbekistan

Abu Rayhan Beruni

Urgench State University Faculty of Socio-Economic Sciences

Field of Study: Jurisprudence

Abstract: This article analyzes the essence of the close interconnection between family and society in Uzbekistan, as well as its social, spiritual, and legal foundations. The family is the fundamental unit of society and a sacred institution. The Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan emphasizes that the family is under state protection. The stability of society, the upbringing of a morally mature generation, and the preservation of national values are directly linked to the strength of the family institution.

Conclusion: The role of the family in society is invaluable. Strong, harmonious, and value-based families ensure social stability and sustainable development.

Poetry from Alan Catlin

Bakeame: Rain in the sunshine

after the downpour

white blossoms

falling from damaged

tree limbs

softer than a dream

lover’s skin

…………………………………………………….

Fuchikunun: Rain that comes inside

A glimpse

of nothingness:

an empty

mirror reflects

interior rain

…………………………………………………..

Mifu San-U: Merciless rain and wind

Like Sinead

singing in the rain

the voice of

an angel

besieged by

demons

Pipipiri: A little light rain

Light Spring

rain:

recalling all

those who

passed before

us

………………………………………………………………

Wakabu Ame: Rain falling on new leaves

Early morning

Spring rain

on new leaves:

a festival of

white

………………………………………………………………….

Oniwaaarai: Rain after a religious festival

After the outdoor

wedding

rain consecrates

the union

Deiu: Rain mixed with ashes

So much

black rain

                                           !

How many

people have

died

      ?

………………………………………………………………….

Zanteki: Remaining raindrops after rain

Lingering drop

on bare

new budding

branch

about to

fall

………………………………………………….

After the funeral

incessant

rain on a tin

roof