It was what seemed like a regular video conference sometime last November. The discussion steered to how we had been working from homes and transitory spaces for almost nine months. One colleague said how for the longest time, the only living entity they met was a plant. Another colleague spoke of how their elderly father would slip out of the house to drive his scooter in circles in the underground parking space. Everyone continued to cope with loved ones falling sick, worrying news trickling in a steady stream from all over the world, and the frustrations of video calls. When we returned to the FoV House in January, the calendar, whose leaf marked March 2020, was taken off the hook. We wash hands, there are sanitisers on our tables, and there are masks around.
 
Two of our colleagues conducted a workshop with young adults in Mumbai and came back rejuvenated, for enthusiasm is also infectious. We had a visitor who is looking at seeding green initiatives, and spoke of the importance of changing processes and institution-building over short term gains. We nodded in assent – it was a heartening to hear another speak our language. A colleague completed a year at FoV, most of which was spent working alone. We celebrated with some ice-cream and made some hot tea on the side. A friend of FoV who works in a nearby organisation swung by with some old jokes and new stories. More tea was had. As we celebrate Fields of View's ninth birthday today, we are grateful – for the camaraderie, chai, and the small joys that soothe the ups and downs of our uncertain times. And as it is with every year, it feels like the story has just begun.
 
Having built India's leader in tools for public policy, we are now in a position to take head-on the big HOWs of policymaking. The pandemic has repeatedly underlined the need for social protection of the most vulnerable in our society. We know what needs to happen – a robust social net for the vulnerable. But how can this be made a reality? How can participation of the most vulnerable in policymaking be made a reality? These are the tricky HOWs that will be our focus. We are in the process of institutionalizing our tools and approaches and scaling them – by partnering with Universities, Policy Institutes, Governments, and NGOs across geographies.
 
In continued recognition of FoV's consistent performance, for the eighth consecutive year, FoV has been featured in the 'Best New Idea or Paradigm developed by a Think Tank'; category of the 'Global Go To Think Tank Index Report'; created by the University of Pennsylvania ranking think tank organisations worldwide. We have also been featured in the list of 'Top Think Tanks in China, India, Japan, and the Republic of Korea'.
 
So dear friend, we want to thank you – you have been part of our journey across these nine years, and every milestone crossed is a testament to the support and strength you sustain us with. Do visit us, and let us brew some chai and conversations together.

- FoV Team