When Banu Mushtaq became the first Kannada author to win the prestigious International Booker Prize for her short story collection Heart Lamp, she didn’t just make literary history—she reignited a conversation about the role of literature in shaping society, and the way schools can nurture future writers not just as hobbyists, but as cultural forces.

Mushtaq, along with translator Deepa Bhasthi, was honoured for Heart Lamp, a collection of stories chronicling the lives of Muslim women in Karnataka across three decades. The stories are rooted in resistance, critique of religious and patriarchal structures, and everyday courage. The recognition was not just for the literary craft, but for the emotional and moral clarity the stories offer—a kind of truth that is rarely rewarded in global spaces. But the International Booker did just that.

And yet, how many students in Indian classrooms today know what the Booker Prize even is? While the Grammys, Oscars and even YouTube Play Buttons are common cultural currency among young people, literary awards often pass under the radar. This needs to change.

The International Booker Prize is one of the most prestigious literary honours in the world, recognising the finest works of fiction translated into English. It opens up space for voices that often remain local to reach a global stage. For students in India, this is an opportunity to understand that writing, especially in regional languages, is not a dead-end path. Yes, it may not offer the instant gratification of a viral video or influencer deal—but as Mushtaq’s life proves, it can shape public discourse, win global accolades, and leave behind a legacy that matters.

For educators, this is a teaching moment. Banu Mushtaq’s story is as much about literary merit as it is about resilience. She wrote in Kannada, a language she adopted over her native Urdu. She survived deep personal trauma, including a suicide attempt, and faced social backlash for her activism. She was a councillor, a journalist, and a lifelong advocate for women’s rights. These are the kinds of role models classrooms should be spotlighting—especially for young girls who need to see that stories, quite literally, can change lives.

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Heart Lamp may not be appropriate for every age group, but its themes—identity, voice, justice—can be introduced in many ways. Schools should consider book discussions, literary circles, or even creative writing prompts inspired by such works to encourage students to find their voice, in whatever language or form it may come.

This win is also a reminder that educators need to broaden the definition of success they present to students. STEM, coding, and commerce continue to dominate career conversations, but it’s equally crucial to show that the arts—especially literature—have their own path to impact and influence. We hope for a time when young writers are not asked “what else do you do?” but are valued for what their words bring to the world.

Banu Mushtaq’s Booker Prize win is not just an individual triumph—it’s a collective opportunity. For schools, for students, and for all of us who believe that a powerful story can change minds, communities, and someday, the world.

For John B. King Jr., former U.S. Secretary of Education, school wasn’t just a place—it was a lifeline. In his newly released memoir, Teacher By Teacher: The People Who Change Our Lives, King traces his journey from a grief-stricken child in New York to the corridors of educational leadership in Washington, D.C. But while the book is rooted in the American educational experience, its messages about the impact of teachers resonate far beyond U.S. borders.

In an exclusive interview with Education Week’s Sam Mallon on May 5, 2025, King reflected on his memoir, the teachers who shaped his life, and the ongoing challenges educators face worldwide.

A Childhood Saved by Teachers

King’s story is a testament to the power of mentorship. Following the death of his mother and his father’s battle with Alzheimer’s, school became King’s sanctuary. “Teachers saved my life,” he shared, recalling how educators believed in him, nurtured his potential, and gave him hope even when the world outside seemed dark.

From those formative years, King went on to earn degrees from Harvard, Columbia, and Yale. His career as a teacher, school principal, education policymaker, and eventually, U.S. Secretary of Education became a journey of giving back. The memoir celebrates not only King’s personal resilience but the quiet heroism of teachers everywhere.

Former Secretary of U.S Education John King. Image Source- EducationWeek

While King’s book is anchored in American education, the messages it carries are universally relevant. Teachers worldwide are grappling with challenges—overcrowded classrooms, mental health issues among students, and ever-changing education policies. In his interview with Education Week, King highlighted how schools must be more than academic factories. They must be safe havens, places of healing, and hubs of inspiration.

King advocates for “trauma-informed practice”—an approach where teachers are equipped to understand and support students facing emotional challenges. This is a lesson that transcends borders, as schools globally encounter rising mental health concerns among students.

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Teacher Evaluations and Policy Pressures

King’s time as U.S. Secretary of Education was marked by ambitious reforms—from implementing the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) to pushing for more rigorous teacher evaluation systems. But looking back, he acknowledges a key lesson: change cannot be forced without teacher buy-in.

“Teachers can’t be bombarded with reforms,” he explained. Change must be gradual, and educators must feel a sense of ownership over new policies.

King’s narrative is ultimately about hope. In his memoir, he shares how a single teacher’s encouragement can change a student’s life trajectory. He recalls how his father’s legacy as New York’s first Black deputy schools chief was kept alive by a former student who, years later, shared how impactful his father’s teaching was.

Teaching is more than a job—it is a calling. It is a force for social good, a platform for mentorship, and a means to nurture the next generation of thinkers, leaders, and dreamers. King’s Teacher By Teacher is a reminder that educators everywhere have the power to transform lives, often without even knowing it.

Though written from an American perspective, Teacher By Teacher is a love letter to educators everywhere. It is a call to support teachers, to understand the pressures they face, and to recognise the life-changing impact they can have on their students.

For a world that often takes teachers for granted, John King’s memoir is a reminder of the heroes who stand at the front of every classroom, ready to make a difference.

Excerpts referenced in this article were taken from John King's exclusive interview with Education Week on May 5, 2025, in Washington, conducted by Sam Mallon for Education Week.

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Ambedkar Jayanti Special | ScooNews

Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar. Most students in India recognise the name—largely as the “Father of the Indian Constitution.” If you ask a Class 10 student what Ambedkar stood for, you’ll likely get a respectable summary: chairperson of the Drafting Committee, architect of constitutional equality, and perhaps a passing reference to his fight against untouchability. But that’s where it ends.

This is not a failure of our students. This is a failure of our books.

Because Babasaheb Ambedkar was not just a jurist or a political figure to be summarised in three bullet points under Civics. He was one of the most radical, intellectually fierce, and unapologetically liberal minds India has ever known. And if we are talking about modern India—its democracy, its dissent, its diversity, its demands for dignity—then Dr. Ambedkar isn’t just relevant, he is foundational.

And yet, he remains tragically under-read and under-taught.

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The Man We Didn’t Read Enough About

Ambedkar’s life is a masterclass in resilience, intellect, and reform. Born into the most marginalised community in India, he went on to become the first Indian to pursue a doctorate in economics from Columbia University, studied law at the London School of Economics, and returned to a country that still wouldn’t allow him to sit beside upper-caste students.

But Ambedkar did not stop at personal success. He turned his education into ammunition. His writings dissected caste not just as a social issue but as an economic and psychological reality. In works like Annihilation of Caste, he boldly challenged not just the religious orthodoxy but also Mahatma Gandhi—a sacred figure for many—in ways that were considered almost blasphemous at the time. And even today.

Unlike Gandhi, who sought reform within the caste system, Ambedkar demanded its demolition. Where Gandhi appealed to morality, Ambedkar appealed to reason, law, and modernity.

This discomfort with Ambedkar’s sharp, unflinching views is perhaps why our textbooks package him safely—as the dignified lawyer with a pen, not the roaring revolutionary with a voice.

More Than a Constitution-Maker

To say Ambedkar gave us the Constitution is both true and painfully incomplete.

• He gave us the right to constitutional morality, the idea that the Constitution isn’t just a set of rules but a living document that must be interpreted in the spirit of liberty, equality, and justice.
• He envisioned reservations not as charity but as corrective justice.
• He believed that a true democracy must have “social democracy” at its base—not just the right to vote but the right to dignity in everyday life.
• And he warned, prophetically, that political democracy without social democracy would be India’s downfall. He was not just designing India’s governance system, but was rather trying to develop India’s moral spine.

A Voice for Individual Freedom—Louder Than We Knew

“I measure the progress of a community by the degree of progress which women have achieved.”- Bhim Rao Ambedkar

Ambedkar’s liberalism was far ahead of his time. He consistently advocated for individual rights in the truest sense. There’s documented evidence that he argued for the decriminalisation of same-sex relationships, seeing it as an issue of individual freedom long before such conversations entered our legal discourse.

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His economic ideas—rarely taught—favoured state-led industrialisation, fair wages, and social security decades before these became policy buzzwords. His writings on women’s rights were equally progressive, particularly through the Hindu Code Bill, which sought to grant women equal property rights, rights to divorce, and freedom in marriage—a bill so radical for its time that it was shelved, only to return years later in diluted forms.

Why Today’s Students Need Ambedkar—Unfiltered

In an age where freedom of speech is contested, when marginalised voices still struggle for space, when gender and sexuality are still debated as ‘issues’ instead of identities—Ambedkar is the teacher we didn’t know we needed.

We need to stop sanitising him for our syllabus. We need high schoolers to read Annihilation of Caste in their literature classes and understand the intersections of caste, religion, and gender in history—not just from an upper-caste nationalist lens but from the view of the people who fought to be seen as human.

We need Ambedkar in economics classrooms, debating his views against today’s neoliberal models.

We need to introduce him as an intellectual, a radical thinker, a critic of Gandhi, a reformer of Hindu personal law, a journalist, a linguist, a labour rights advocate, a rebel with a cause.

Because the freedoms we enjoy today—freedom of religion, freedom of expression, freedom to love, to choose, to protest, to dream—all have Ambedkar’s fingerprints on them.

If our education system truly believes in nurturing critical thinkers and empathetic citizens, then Dr. Ambedkar cannot remain a footnote or a ceremonial portrait garlanded on April 14th.

He must be read. He must be debated. He must be understood. Because the more we know about Ambedkar, the more we know about ourselves—and the democracy we’re still trying to build.

In a deeply reflective and engaging episode of the NEP Tunes podcast, Dr. Anju Chazot, education reformer and founder of Mahatma Gandhi International School (MGIS), Ahmedabad, sat down with Mrs. Anita Karwal, former Secretary of School Education, Government of India, to explore one fundamental question: How do we prepare children for a rapidly changing world?

Titled “Be the Change in the Changing World,” the episode offers a powerful conversation between two veterans of Indian education who have shared a decades-long friendship—and a mutual vision for a holistic and transformative school system.

“You can’t prepare children for tomorrow with the pedagogy of the day before yesterday.”

Drawing inspiration from John Dewey’s famous words, the episode begins by addressing the urgent need for policy literacy among stakeholders in education. Mrs. Karwal and Dr. Chazot underscore that the pace of global change—technological, environmental, economic, and emotional—has far outstripped the ability of traditional education systems to keep up. “We are in a VUCA world—volatile, uncertain, complex, ambiguous,” Karwal reminds listeners, calling for schools to adapt to this reality rather than resist it.

Decolonising the Classroom

A significant portion of the conversation focused on the historical context of schooling in India. Dr. Chazot draws parallels between today’s school system and Michel Foucault’s “cell and bell” model, which mirrors the prison system—marked by uniforms, bells, and rigid structures. Tracing the roots of modern schooling to the Prussian military model and colonial-era policies introduced by Lord Macaulay, both speakers lamented how education was once used as a tool to produce clerks for the Empire, rather than creative, entrepreneurial individuals.

“Colonialism didn’t just take away our resources; it colonised our minds,” Chazot observed. Karwal added, “The gurukul system was rooted, contextual, and sustainable. The colonial model replaced it with standardisation and control.”

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Disruptions and the Call for Change

From climate change to AI, from the gig economy to rising mental health challenges—today’s youth are living in an era of non-stop disruptions. Mrs. Karwal shared a poignant insight: on the very day she retired from her government service (30 November 2022), OpenAI launched ChatGPT. “As a senior citizen, I would have felt useless had I not tried to understand this disruption,” she said, urging listeners to stay updated with technological trends.

Mental health also featured prominently in the discussion. The World Health Organization reports a 25% increase in global anxiety and depression cases, especially among the youth. Schools, Karwal said, must acknowledge and address this invisible epidemic, and create environments that are nurturing—not anxiety-inducing.

Why NEP 2020 Is a Game Changer

Against this backdrop, both educators believe the National Education Policy 2020 is a timely and visionary document. “It’s not just about academics—it’s about the whole child,” said Chazot, pointing to NEP’s focus on holistic development across cognitive, emotional, physical, and ethical domains.

Key elements of the NEP and the newly released National Curriculum Framework (NCF) discussed in the podcast include:

• A shift from rote learning to competency-based, experiential learning

• Focus on Indian traditions and cultural rootedness

• Moving away from exam-centric teaching, especially in early years

• Recognition of multilingualism and contextual learning

• Encouragement of critical thinking, creativity, and adaptability

“Learning to learn is the most essential skill of the future,” Karwal stressed. “Children must be ready to unlearn and relearn throughout life.”

The Future of Jobs

To illustrate the rapidly changing employment landscape, both speakers listed a host of emerging careers—from Prompt Engineers and Drone Fleet Managers to Climate Data Analysts and Digital Detox Specialists. “Just imagine,” Chazot quipped, “if I were a child again, I’d become a Prompt Engineer and finally fulfil my parents’ dreams of being an engineer—with a creative twist!”

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Karwal, on the other hand, expressed a desire to become a Human-Machine Team Manager—a futuristic role bridging collaboration between people and machines.

Their message was clear: the world our children are entering is drastically different from the one their parents and teachers grew up in. And education must keep up.

A Takeaway Challenge for Listeners

To wrap up the episode, the hosts offered a unique call-to-action: ask yourself what job you would pick today if you could go back in time again. Then, explore new professions with your family or students. From LinkedIn job listings to the World Economic Forum’s reports, Karwal recommended several tools to research emerging careers. They invited listeners to write in with their findings and reflections.

“This exercise is not just for students,” said Dr. Chazot. “It’s for parents, teachers, and policy-makers alike. We must all become learners again.”

Final Thoughts

In an era where the only constant is change, the NEP Tunes podcast is a timely resource to help educators, parents, and students reimagine the purpose of schooling. With leaders like Anju Chazot and Anita Karwal at the helm of the conversation, the journey towards meaningful transformation in Indian education seems not only possible—but exciting.

This article is adapted from the NEP Tunes podcast hosted by Dr. Anju Chazot. You can listen to the full episode on YouTube. Here is the video- 

In a heartwarming recognition of dedication and innovation in education, Saudi Arabian teacher Mansour bin Abdullah Al-Mansour has been awarded the prestigious $1 million GEMS Education Global Teacher Prize. Announced at the World Governments Summit in Dubai, the award celebrates Al-Mansour’s transformative work in empowering students from low-income families, including hundreds of gifted orphans, and his 3,000+ hours of community service.

Al-Mansour, a teacher at Prince Saud bin Jalawi School in Al-Ahsa, has spent over two decades uplifting students facing academic challenges, disabilities, and financial hardships. His efforts include establishing mentorship programmes, innovation incubators, and financial literacy initiatives, enabling students to achieve global recognition. Notably, he plans to use the prize money to build a school for talented orphans, furthering his mission to provide quality education to underprivileged children.

(Image: Mansour Al Mansour- 2025 Global Teacher Prize Winner)

Beyond the classroom, Al-Mansour has authored 21 educational books, trained over 300 educators, and led literacy programmes for prison inmates, helping reduce sentences for some. His work has earned him accolades as an international ambassador for educational excellence.

The Global Teacher Prize, now in its ninth year, recognises exceptional educators who make a profound impact on their communities. Al-Mansour was selected from over 5,000 nominations across 89 countries, joining a prestigious list of global educators.

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Sunny Varkey, Founder of the Global Teacher Prize, praised Al-Mansour’s “passion, dedication, and the life-changing power of education.” Stefania Giannini, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education, highlighted the importance of investing in teachers to build a sustainable future.

As the world faces challenges like inequality and climate change, Al-Mansour’s story serves as a beacon of hope, reminding us of the transformative power of education and the unsung heroes shaping our future.

The Ministry of Women and Child Development is set to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) scheme, a landmark initiative aimed at protecting, educating, and empowering the girl child. Launched on 22 January 2015 in Panipat, Haryana, the scheme has evolved into a national movement that addresses gender discrimination and fosters societal change towards valuing and empowering girls and women.

The inaugural event on 22 January 2025 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, was attended by Union Ministers Shri J. P. Nadda and Smt. Annpurna Devi, alongside international representatives from UNICEF, UN Women, and other global organisations. Women officers from various sectors and girl students joined the event, which featured an oath-taking ceremony and the launch of compendiums and digital initiatives such as Mission Vatsalya and Mission Shakti portals.

The celebrations, spanning until International Women’s Day on 8 March 2025, will include rallies, cultural events, and campaigns at state and district levels. Schools, community groups, and women achievers will actively participate in activities under SANKALP: Hub for Empowerment of Women. Nationwide media campaigns and sustainable practices such as a plantation drive will amplify the scheme’s message.

In its decade-long journey, BBBP has sparked a nationwide dialogue on gender equality, challenging societal biases and championing the rights and dignity of women. The scheme’s accomplishments include a rise in the national Sex Ratio at Birth from 918 in 2014-15 to 930 in 2023-24, an increase in institutional deliveries to 97.3%, and higher enrolment of girls in secondary education, now at 78%. Initiatives such as the Kanya Shiksha Pravesh Utsav and Yashaswini Bike Expedition have further underscored the scheme’s impact.

Through collaboration with partner ministries, the mission of this campaign is to advancing gender equality, ensuring girls become active leaders of change and shaping a more inclusive India.

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As India celebrates nine years of the Startup India initiative on National Startup Day, 16 January 2025, it’s evident how deeply the entrepreneurial spirit has been embedded in the nation’s fabric. From being a country of aspiring doctors and engineers to a hub for budding entrepreneurs, India has undergone a significant transformation. This shift isn’t confined to adults but is increasingly taking root in schools, where the next generation of business leaders is being nurtured.

The Entrepreneurial Wave in Schools

Startup culture has permeated classrooms, with students now creating and marketing products under professional guidance. Chemistry labs aren’t just for experiments anymore; they’ve become mini manufacturing units. Students are crafting innovative products—think handmade soaps, eco-friendly cleaning agents, and even tech gadgets—and selling them under their school’s brand. This hands-on experience in entrepreneurship is teaching them valuable lessons in problem-solving, teamwork, and financial literacy, far beyond traditional academics.

Shows like Shark Tank India have also played a crucial role in shaping young minds. These programmes, widely watched across TV and OTT platforms, have demystified entrepreneurship for students and parents alike. By showcasing real-life success stories, they’ve encouraged families to view entrepreneurship as a viable career path, on par with medicine or engineering.

Schools as Incubators of Ideas

Schools today are recognising their potential to act as incubators for future business leaders. Many are introducing entrepreneurship programmes, collaborating with startups, and organising business pitch competitions. These initiatives allow students to explore their interests and learn the intricacies of building a business—from ideation and prototyping to marketing and scaling.

Some schools have even created dedicated innovation labs and partnered with local businesses for mentorship opportunities. These setups not only foster creativity but also give students exposure to the practical aspects of running a business. Such efforts align perfectly with the government’s Startup India initiative, which has championed innovation and inclusivity for nearly a decade.

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Why This Matters for the Future

Entrepreneurship isn’t just about creating businesses; it’s about fostering a mindset. Students who grow up in this environment are better equipped to tackle real-world challenges, think creatively, and adapt to changing circumstances. These skills are invaluable, whether they eventually choose to run their own business or work within an organisation.

Moreover, promoting entrepreneurship in schools has a ripple effect. It not only prepares students for the future but also inspires communities and contributes to economic growth. Schools that actively engage in such initiatives are setting a precedent for holistic education that balances academics with life skills.

What Next?

With over 1.59 lakh startups now recognised in India, the country has become a global hub of innovation. Schools must seize this moment to integrate entrepreneurial education into their curriculums actively. By doing so, they will not only align with national objectives but also prepare students for a world that values innovation and adaptability above all.

As we celebrate National Startup Day, let’s look forward to a future where classrooms double as boardrooms and students graduate not just with degrees but with dreams ready to take flight.

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On 12 January each year, India celebrates National Youth Day, commemorating the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda—a visionary whose ideals continue to inspire generations. His emphasis on courage, self-discipline, and selflessness laid the foundation for building a nation of empowered youth. Yet, as we reflect on his teachings, a poignant question arises: if Swami Vivekananda were alive today, would he be proud of the state of India’s youth?

A Disturbing Landscape

Despite remarkable strides in education, technology, and global recognition, troubling statistics reveal a different narrative. Reports show a disheartening rise in suicides among young students, with academic pressure, bullying, and mental health struggles emerging as significant factors. According to the National Crime Records Bureau, India recorded over 13,000 student suicides in 2022—a grim reminder of the challenges our youth face.

Swami Vivekananda famously said, “Arise, awake, and stop not till the goal is reached.” But how do we encourage this awakening in an environment that often prioritises grades over mental well-being, competition over collaboration, and individual success over collective growth?

Polarisation and Division

In his landmark address at the Parliament of the World’s Religions in Chicago, Vivekananda envisioned a harmonious world, where mutual respect and inclusivity thrived. Yet, incidents of hate crimes in educational institutions paint a different picture. Instead of fostering understanding, many schools struggle to counter narratives of division and intolerance, which are seeping into the minds of impressionable young individuals.

Vaping is Cool!

Another alarming trend is the increasing prevalence of substance abuse and vaping among teenagers. Easy accessibility and peer influence have made vapes and drugs a growing concern in schools and colleges. Vivekananda’s ideal of youth as paragons of strength and discipline seems to clash with a reality where momentary fun triumphs responsibility.

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Are We Listening to the Youth?

One of Vivekananda’s core messages was to listen and understand the needs of the youth, not dictate them. Today’s students crave purpose and authenticity in their pursuits. Yet, our education system largely remains exam-centric, with limited focus on developing emotional resilience, moral values, and critical thinking skills.

The rise of mental health issues highlights the urgent need for robust counselling frameworks in schools. Bullying, academic stress, and societal expectations weigh heavily on students. Swamiji believed in holistic education that nourished the body, mind, and soul—a vision that modern-day institutions must strive to achieve.

The Path Forward

1. Mental Health Awareness: Schools must normalise conversations about mental health. Hiring trained counsellors and introducing life skills education can empower students to cope with stress and trauma.
2. Fostering Inclusivity: Combatting polarisation starts with creating safe spaces for dialogue. Schools can champion diversity and empathy through collaborative activities and community-driven projects.
3. Balanced Education: Beyond academic excellence, education must focus on creativity, moral values, and societal contributions—aligning with Vivekananda’s philosophy of balanced personal and communal growth.
4. Youth Empowerment: Engage students in decision-making processes within educational institutions, giving them a sense of ownership and responsibility.
5. Combatting Addictions: Early intervention and peer education programmes can deter substance abuse. Incorporating discussions on self-control and the consequences of addiction is crucial.

A Call to Action

If Swami Vivekananda were here today, he might be disheartened by some of these realities but would undoubtedly call upon educators, parents, and leaders to rise to the occasion. The Indian youth remain a powerful force capable of leading transformative change, provided they are equipped with the right guidance and support.

As educators and leaders, we must ask ourselves: Are we nurturing the kind of youth Swami Vivekananda dreamed of? Are we empowering them with the tools to think critically, act compassionately, and embrace diversity? Or are we just celebrating the day just for the sake of it? We need to ask real questions. The answers lie in our collective efforts to reshape the educational and societal systems influencing young minds.

Swami Vivekananda’s timeless words echo loudly: “The youth are the pillars of the nation.” It is upon us to ensure that these pillars stand strong, united, and unwavering, ready to lead India toward a brighter and more inclusive future.

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