บท 2: The First Cabinet Meeting
New Delhi was waking up, just like any other day.
The streets began to fill with early risers, vendors setting up their stalls
But for Rohan Varma, this morning was different.
Today, he wasn't just another face in the crowd.
Today, he was the Prime Minister.
Sitting at his desk, Rohan let out a long breath.
He had barely slept the night before, but there was no time to dwell on that now.
Every decision he made from here on out would impact millions.
He stirred the chai in his cup absentmindedly, staring out the window at the city below.
He took a sip of the now-cold chai, grimacing at the taste.
His mind was racing with thoughts of the day ahead.
He had spent years preparing for a life of public service, but nothing could have truly prepared him for the reality of this role.
The country was in chaos after the Partition, millions of people displaced, industries crumbling, and a nation struggling to find its footing.
And it was his job to lead them out of it.
Rohan leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples.
The responsibilities felt overwhelming, but he wasn't one to shy away from hard work.
Still, part of him couldn't shake the fear that he wasn't ready for this.
What if he made the wrong call?
What if he let people down?
A knock on the door pulled him from his thoughts.
Manisha, his personal secretary, stepped in with a stack of papers in her arms.
She gave him a reassuring smile as she set the documents on his desk.
"Prime Minister, here's your agenda for today," she said, her voice steady.
Rohan nodded, glancing at the thick pile of papers. "Thanks, Manisha," he said, picking up the first document.
"Looks like it's going to be a busy day."
She smiled. "It always is, sir. But you've got this."
He appreciated the confidence she seemed to have in him.
He nodded again and returned his attention to the papers.
There would be no easing into this role, no time to get comfortable.
His first cabinet meeting was minutes away, and the decisions they would make would have immediate consequences for millions of lives.
He flipped through the agenda.
Economic instability, the humanitarian crisis caused by the Partition, food shortages, education reform, it was a long list of problems with no easy solutions.
Rohan took another sip of his chai, wishing it could offer more comfort.
He got up from his desk and walked to the window again, looking out at the city.
The knock at the door came again. It was time.
---
Rohan entered the cabinet room, where his ministers were already seated around a long wooden table.
The room was filled with quiet chatter as they prepared for what was sure to be a long meeting.
As soon as Rohan stepped in, the room fell silent.
All eyes turned to him, waiting for his lead.
He took his seat at the head of the table.
This was his first official meeting with the cabinet, and the challenges before them were immense.
The room was filled with seasoned ministers, each an expert in their field, but even they looked tense.
India was going through one of its toughest times, and they all knew it.
Rohan began, his voice calm but firm. "Good morning, everyone. We have a lot to discuss today. The Partition has left us with an enormous humanitarian crisis, a crippled economy, and a broken infrastructure. It's going to take every bit of our effort to rebuild this country. We can't afford to waste time."
He turned to Harish Patel, the Finance Minister, who was already scanning through his papers. "Harish, let's start with the economy. What's the situation, and what do you propose we do?"
Harish adjusted his glasses and cleared his throat. "Prime Minister, we're facing significant challenges. Industries are on the brink of collapse, particularly textiles, steel. The displacement has caused labor shortages, and we've lost access to key resources. On top of that, foreign investors are pulling out due to the instability. We need a plan to stabilize things, and we need it fast."
Rohan nodded. "What's your plan, then?"
Harish leaned forward, his brow furrowed. "I suggest we focus on reviving key industries first. Textiles and steel are essential. If we can get them running, we'll create jobs for the displaced and start restoring confidence in the economy. But we also need immediate relief efforts. People need food, shelter, and work. I propose a large-scale job creation program tied to rebuilding infrastructure and industry."
Rohan listened carefully, considering the options. "That sounds like a good start. What about funding? Where will we find the money for this?"
Harish sighed, his expression grim. "That's the challenge. We're going to have to reallocate funds from other sectors, possibly take out loans. It's not ideal, but we don't have a choice."
"We'll make it work," Rohan said, turning to the other ministers. "We can't afford to wait. Harish, get a detailed plan ready by the end of the week."
Harish nodded. "I'll get it done."
Next, Rohan looked to Mira Chaudhary, the Minister of Education.
She was flipping through her notes, her face showing the strain of the crisis in her sector. "Mira, the education system is in disarray. What's our next move?"
Mira sighed deeply before speaking. "Prime Minister, the situation is worse than we thought. Thousands of children are displaced, and many schools are either destroyed or completely unstaffed. The rural areas are suffering the most, with entire regions left without access to education. We need to rebuild schools and recruit teachers, but more than that, we need to rethink the entire system. The British left us with a model that doesn't work for us."
Rohan nodded. "What do you suggest?"
"We start by building schools where they're needed most, especially in areas affected by the Partition," Mira replied. "But beyond that, we need to update the curriculum to make it relevant to our country's needs. Vocational training should be a priority too. There's a large group of older students who need practical skills so they can start contributing to the economy."
Rohan sat back, absorbing her words. "You're right. Education will be key to rebuilding this country. But we have limited resources. How soon can you draft a plan that includes both short-term relief and long-term reform?"
Mira looked determined. "Give me a week, and I'll have something ready."
"Good. We'll need to prioritize it," Rohan said. "Education is the foundation of everything else we want to accomplish."
He turned to Arjun Mehta, the Minister of Agriculture.
Arjun had a stern expression, already bracing himself for what he knew was coming.
Agriculture was the backbone of India, and it was falling apart.
"Arjun, the farmers are in trouble," Rohan said. "What's the situation?"
Arjun shook his head, his voice heavy. "Prime Minister, it's bad. Many of our farmers have been displaced, and those who are still on their land are struggling with outdated techniques. We're facing a food crisis if we don't act now. The Bengal famine has left its scars, and we're already short on supplies. The situation will only get worse as more displaced families settle in rural areas."
"What's your recommendation?" Rohan asked.
"We need to modernize our farming practices," Arjun said, his voice firm. "The British neglected agriculture for years, and now we're paying the price. I propose we provide subsidies for modern farming equipment and seeds, and we need to train farmers on new methods. But we can't stop there. We also need to import food immediately to avoid a full-scale famine."
Rohan frowned. "Imports? How soon can we make that happen?"
"We can start negotiations right away," Arjun replied. "But it won't be easy. We'll need to reach out to other countries and secure deals quickly."
"I don't like the idea of importing food when we should be producing our own, but I see we don't have a choice right now," Rohan said. "Get started on those negotiations, and draft a plan for modernizing farming practices. We can't afford to wait."
Arjun nodded. "I'll get on it immediately."
Rohan then turned to Leela Kapoor, the Minister of Health.
She looked tired, a reflection of the strain her department was under.
The health crisis was perhaps the most urgent of all.
"Leela, the healthcare system is collapsing. What do we need to do?" Rohan asked.
Leela's face was lined with worry, but her voice was clear and steady. "Prime Minister, the situation is critical. The Partition has left millions without access to healthcare. We don't have enough doctors, nurses, or hospitals to meet the demand. In some rural areas, there are no medical facilities at all. If we don't act quickly, disease and malnutrition will become widespread."
"What's your plan?" Rohan asked, leaning forward.
"We need to set up temporary clinics in the areas most affected by the Partition," Leela said. "These clinics can provide basic care while we work on building more permanent healthcare facilities. We also need to ramp up our training programs for healthcare workers. And Prime Minister, we need more supplies medicines, vaccines, basic equipment. We can't treat people if we don't have the resources."
Rohan exhaled slowly. "How soon can we get these clinics set up?"
Leela looked determined. "If we start immediately, we can have the first clinics up and running within a month. But we need to prioritize the areas where the need is greatest."
"Do it," Rohan said firmly. "Get the clinics set up and start training more healthcare workers. I'll work with Harish to make sure we allocate enough funding, but we need to be careful with the budget."
Leela nodded, her expression resolute. "I'll make it happen."
Rohan looked around the room, meeting each minister's gaze.
"We all know the challenges ahead are massive, but we don't have the luxury of time. We need to act fast, but we also need to act wisely. Every decision we make affects millions of lives. Let's not forget that."
The room was silent. Each minister knew the road ahead would be difficult.
They had no choice but to succeed.
"Let's get to work," Rohan said, standing up.
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