By a Proud Member of the HR Fraternity
Today, on International HR Day, I pause not just to celebrate the profession I proudly belong to, but to reflect, reminisce, and reimagine the beautiful journey that is Human Resources. It’s more than a function. It’s a calling from within. A silent force that shapes organizations, fosters human potential, and bridges the gap between vision and people.
The Journey: From Personnel to Strategic Partner
There was a time when HR was simply called “Personnel.” I experienced that in my early days, even. The primary focus was to manage records, calculate salaries, and ensure compliance. We were the “admin people.” Invisible in boardrooms, yet always present when a form needed filling or a signature was missing. Still, several people think HR is in that line. Sadly!
But like the world around us, HR evolved.
From those dusty files and handwritten registers, we stepped into the digital age. From managing leave applications, we started managing employee experiences. From being task-oriented, we became strategic partners, helping CXOs align people strategies with business goals. We spoke about culture, inclusion, talent analytics, and employee well-being – and the world listened.
The Pandemic Pivot
Nothing tested our resilience and relevance more than the pandemic. When the world shut down, HR lit the lamp of connection. We became the emotional anchors for our teams. We arranged work-from-home models overnight, drove vaccination drives, managed grief, ensured mental health support, and kept businesses running.
HR was not just “support“, we were the support system.
HR Today: The Human Lens in a Digital World
Today, HR wears many hats – counsellor, strategist, DEI champion, digital transformer, and sometimes, even a silent warrior. Technology has entered every HR function—from AI-based recruitment to predictive attrition models. But while systems became smarter, our core remained deeply human.
Because at the heart of every business is a beating heart – it’s people.
We now talk openly about neurodiversity, flexible work, gender equity, and purpose-led leadership. We no longer just hire people; we attract talent, nurture them, and create workplaces where they thrive.
The Future: What Lies Ahead?
The future of HR is not just about automation or chatbots. It’s all about “People”. It’s about being more human in a tech-driven world. As we move into an era of hybrid work, global mobility, and gig economies, HR will be the compass that ensures we don’t lose direction—or humanity.
We’ll need to re-skill at lightning speed, manage generations with different aspirations, and build organizations that are agile, inclusive, and ethically grounded. The challenges are many, but so are the possibilities.
We will continue to be culture custodians, empathy evangelists, and leaders of transformation.
A Personal Note
As someone who belongs to this dynamic fraternity, I feel proud. I’ve seen the shifts, felt the growing pains, celebrated the small wins, and stood tall during storms. I’ve seen employees become leaders, interns become innovators, and workplaces become communities.
HR has gifted me stories of people, courage, resilience, and dreams.
On this International HR Day, I raise a silent toast to every HR professional who worked behind the scenes, stayed up late fixing policies, handled tough conversations with a smile, and believed that people make everything possible.
To those still discovering the magic of this profession, welcome.
To those who’ve been here a while, thank you.
Here’s to us – the heart and soul of every organization.
Happy International HR Day!