#99 – The Educator – Ranjitsinh Disale
Ranjitsinh Disale started his career in 2009 as a teacher. He took on the uphill task of turning around a dilapidated school building and overcame all odds to contribute to the profession. How he contributed? With innovative teaching works that include demonstrating scientific experiments from the science lab built by him and adding QR codes … Continue reading #99 – The Educator – Ranjitsinh Disale
#98 – A railway constable and a teacher – Rohit Kumar Yadav
June 2018, while traveling from Unnao to Rae Bareli for work, I met a few children begging for money on the train. A kid came to me, asking for money to buy food. I was hurt seeing begging bowls in the kid’s hands that should have otherwise been carrying pens and books at that age. … Continue reading #98 – A railway constable and a teacher – Rohit Kumar Yadav
#97 – Aranya Forest – D Saravanan
Aranya Forest in Poothurai village, Tamil Nadu, is home to canyons, bird nests, two-decade-old banyan trees, bonsai creations, climbers to ferns, and moss. It has lakes and a flourishing ecosystem. But did you know two decades ago, it was just a barren piece of land? This transformation is 25 years of unwavering dedicated efforts of … Continue reading #97 – Aranya Forest – D Saravanan
#96 – Plastic-infused roads – Kerala
Given the sheer scale of plastic usage, the earth does not have space to accommodate this growing mound of plastic waste. Unfortunately, plastics have become an unavoidable part of our lives. For this, many Indian states are coming up with innovative methods of combating this menace. For instance, Eraviperoor Panchayat in Kerala has implemented a … Continue reading #96 – Plastic-infused roads – Kerala
#95 – Motoring Innovation – K Akhtar Ali
“Necessity is the mother of all inventions” is a saying K Akhtar Ali, a mechanic, put it to use and built an eco-friendly, affordable AC that brings down the room temperature by nearly 10°C! All for his ailing wife in the insufferable heat of Tamil Nadu. The narrow streets of Lalgudi road in Trichy, Tamil … Continue reading #95 – Motoring Innovation – K Akhtar Ali
#94 – Chocolate boy’s hidden talent – R Madhavan
We all know 50-year-old chocolate boy R Madhavan and his roles ranging from Karthik in Alaipayuthey(Tamil) to Farhan Qureshi in 3 Idiots. He has always been vocal about the environment and social issues. He has given a few motivational talks given in schools and colleges as well. In the recent past, while his contemporaries were busy cooking, … Continue reading #94 – Chocolate boy’s hidden talent – R Madhavan
#93 – The Noble Effort – Suresh Kumar
In the last 12 years, Suresh Kumar from Kannur, Kerala, has fed over 4 lakh people, and despite the grim situation of COVID-19, he has continued his noble effort of providing food and clothing. “I have seen many people who were once rich but a sudden turn of events left them penniless. Some of them … Continue reading #93 – The Noble Effort – Suresh Kumar
#92 – The Ingenious Forest – Santosh Ajur
The grim reality is that a place like Bengaluru, blessed with abundant rainfall and fertile land has its green cover completely neglected. So much so, that a report by the Indian Institute of Science states that, the green cover in Bengaluru has reduced by 88 percent from 1973 to 2017. On the other hand, we … Continue reading #92 – The Ingenious Forest – Santosh Ajur
#91 – Row, Row, Row your boat – Relu Vasave
The villages in Nandurbar, Maharashtra, across the Narmada are so far away that in the absence of roads, it requires the neighboring villagers to commute by boat. Our story begins with 28-year-old Relu Vasave, who lives in these remote tribal areas. Relu joined as an Anganwadi worker in 2014 with the Zilla Parishad. Her job … Continue reading #91 – Row, Row, Row your boat – Relu Vasave
#90 – School Farmers – Punjab
Since 2019, close to 500 students across 70 government schools in Mansa, Punjab, have been consuming organic vegetables as a part of their mid-day meals. Finally, kids are eating their veggies! All the vegetables that are consumed in the mid-day meals are grown by the students in the backyards of their schools as a part … Continue reading #90 – School Farmers – Punjab
#89 – The Retired farmers – Thankamani and Narayanan
Thankamani and Narayanan open their eyes at the first stroke of sunrise. They both wake up to birds chirping and mild sunrise with their sight (and smell) falling on the 20 varieties of jackfruit trees including, Vietnam Early, Chembarathi, Sugandha Varikka, Seedless Jack, and Rose Varikka. It also features 30 varieties of bananas including, West … Continue reading #89 – The Retired farmers – Thankamani and Narayanan
#88 – Power Turbine – Madhu Vajrakarur
A young inventor has a simple but innovative solution that can solve the problem of both clean water and electricity. Madhu Vajrakarur, an electrical engineer from Andhra Pradesh, India, has developed a wind turbine that produces electricity and water for drinking. Yes, you read it right! A wind turbine, which can produce clean drinking water … Continue reading #88 – Power Turbine – Madhu Vajrakarur
#87 – Pahari-Style Miniature Paintings – Vijay Sharma
Vijay Sharma, 58-years-old, is excited and nervous like a schoolboy. Why? It boils down to when the Himachal Pradesh government asked him to make a miniature painting to honor the renowned lyricist, Gulzar, during a conference in the state. Now, he was going to meet his childhood idol, Gulzar. Even though Vijay Sharma had won … Continue reading #87 – Pahari-Style Miniature Paintings – Vijay Sharma
#86 – Have you seen a Sparrow? – Inderpal Batra
I remember when I was young, my grandmother would sit by the window, cleaning up the grains. Then when she felt the time was right, she would place it on a plate just outside the window and let the magic happen. Within seconds, Sparrows would fly in, but all that is in the past now. … Continue reading #86 – Have you seen a Sparrow? – Inderpal Batra
#85 – Roti-sized goodness – Surat City
Anila begins her day by making Rotis for her family and just an extra five more for the migrant workers, whom she fondly refers to as her ‘new family’. She waits for the doorbell to ring in the morning and hands over the extra rotis to a volunteer from the housing society. Stranded, hungry, away … Continue reading #85 – Roti-sized goodness – Surat City
#84 – A Gardener – Vipesh Garg
Vipesh Garg, a gardener by heart whose childhood fascination for gardening cemented his graduation in Agriculture Science and did his Masters in Vegetable Breeding. Since 2014, he has been working with the Punjab State Government in various capacities. Not just professionally, personally as well, Vipesh’s love for gardening drove him to nurture his garden, which … Continue reading #84 – A Gardener – Vipesh Garg
#83 – The Punjabi’s in the house – Manmohan and Darshan Singh
The sun shines brightly in the Vallandhai village in Ramanathapuram, Tamil Nadu. A soft-spoken farmer in a colorful turban heads out to the field to do what he loves – till the land. He has a smile on his sun-tanned face, moving around. A lady in a salwar-suit walks into the fields with a thermos … Continue reading #83 – The Punjabi’s in the house – Manmohan and Darshan Singh
#82 – The ‘Eye’ Sight – Ramkumar
For a person who has had his vision since birth and then suddenly poof! lost it, is a harsh reality. People rarely ever realize the value of something until it is gone. Ramkumar M lost his vision to glaucoma 28 years ago. But he feels lucky that he was not born blind and that he … Continue reading #82 – The ‘Eye’ Sight – Ramkumar
#81 – The Taxi Driver’s School – Gazi Jalaluddin
A young boy is floating through the air during his walk home. He is ecstatic, and his excitement knows no bounds. 7-year-old Gazi Jalaluddin has ranked first in his class. All through his walk, he is excited about how proud his father is going to be. A studious kid, he jumped around in joy and … Continue reading #81 – The Taxi Driver’s School – Gazi Jalaluddin
#80 – Inspired by Light Bulb – Gurmet Angmo
For 11-year-old Gurmet Angmo, life revolved around the sun. All her chores and homework had to be done before the sun went down, especially during the winters when the sun would set much sooner. And her parents would restrict her from going out once it got dark because wild animals would move around. At 11 … Continue reading #80 – Inspired by Light Bulb – Gurmet Angmo
#79 – Life of Lake Rachenahalli – Dr. Shobha Reddy
100 acres of Rachenahalli Lake found behind the Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Rural Energy & Development (MGIRED) in Bengaluru is beautiful. Just that it has no fencing; it has tall weeds, mounds of garbage, people defecating in the open, and sewage flowing in from surrounding areas. But five years later, all that has changed. The … Continue reading #79 – Life of Lake Rachenahalli – Dr. Shobha Reddy
#78 – The Eco Baba – Balbir Singh Seechwal
Today’s Something Good is about the power of one man–Eco Baba and how he cleaned the 160-km-long sacred river, Kali Bein in Punjab
#77 – The future of Pashmina – Ladakh – Part 2
In recent years, Ladakh has focused its efforts to reclaim ownership of the pashmina trade following centuries of outside dominance. At the forefront of this; is the all-women startup called Lena Ladakh Pashmina. Started in 2016 by Sonam Angmo and Stanzin Minglak. The duo started making apparel in a distinctly Ladakhi manner with a commitment … Continue reading #77 – The future of Pashmina – Ladakh – Part 2
#76 – The History of Pashmina – Ladakh
We all know Ladakh for its sun-kissed mountains and the frozen lakes. But for centuries, this region of Ladakh, particularly Leh, was a layover along international trade routes— Mongolia, China, and Tibet in the east to Kashmir, Central Asia, and Europe in the West. Salt, grain, pashmina or cashmere wool, charas or cannabis resin from … Continue reading #76 – The History of Pashmina – Ladakh
#75 – A 1,000 Surangas – Kunjambu
Said to have originated in Iran, Surangas–a sustainable water harvesting system is now sadly overpowered by borewells. Many of the existing surangas have become futile. But it has found a saviour in 67-year-old Kunjambu, in a village in Kerala’s Kasargod district. Digging through the ‘suranga’ cave wells is one of the oldest water harvesting systems … Continue reading #75 – A 1,000 Surangas – Kunjambu
#74 – The Unwitting Cycle – Hardik Rajgor
“Do the right things and the right things will happen. Doesn’t matter who you are.” This saying fits perfectly with a story about a small colony in Bhuj. No one is out to save the environment, yet almost everyone is using solar energy. The Story Let’s go to Bhuj, a small district in Kutch, Gujarat. … Continue reading #74 – The Unwitting Cycle – Hardik Rajgor
#73 – Magnificent Godavari Revival – Devang Jani
Rivers are free-flowing spirits. But when man interferes, it can cause more harm than good. Today’s Something Good, though, has a good ending. Read on! Take the example of the Godavari River, the second largest river in the country after the Ganga, originating about 25 kilometers from Nashik in Trimbakeshwar. It’s largely a free-flowing river, … Continue reading #73 – Magnificent Godavari Revival – Devang Jani
#72 – The Diwali Magic Lamp
With Diwali around the corner, how would you like to have a diya which burns for at least 24 hours? Well, here is a ‘Magic Lamp’ that you can use. Ashok Chakradhari, a potter from Kondagaon in Bastar District of Chhattisgarh, has revived a traditional lamp that can burn for at least 24 hours. “I … Continue reading #72 – The Diwali Magic Lamp
#71 – Barren Sand to Orchard – Ishwar Pindoria
Ishwar Pindoria, born in a village 20 km off Bhuj, one and a half hours away from the Great Rann of Kutch. He owns a hi-tech farm spread across 40 acres. The man has been growing exotic Barhi dates, local elite-colored varieties of dates, pomegranates, and the famous Kesar Mango using various Israeli farming technologies … Continue reading #71 – Barren Sand to Orchard – Ishwar Pindoria
#70 – Living Architecture – Morningstar Khongthaw
For eons, Meghalaya has had the unique distinction of being synonymous with natural beauty. The jungles of Khasi and Jaintia in Meghalaya are home to unique living root bridges that can seemingly last forever. These living root bridges, for centuries, have sustained life on the southern slopes of the hills. For generations, these bridges have … Continue reading #70 – Living Architecture – Morningstar Khongthaw
#69 – Green fingers – Hashmath Fathima
Gardening is many things. For some, it is a hobby, whereas for some, it is to aesthetically grow their lawns, and for some, it is just plain therapeutic. And then there are some for whom gardening is much more than just all this—it is a passion. Hashmath Fathima from Mysuru is one passionate gardener. Her … Continue reading #69 – Green fingers – Hashmath Fathima
#68 – Art, 900 years old – Patola
“Though it may suffer wear and tear, a Patola design will never perish,” is a famous Gujarati saying. Two fluorescent bulbs cast harsh shadows on the peeling walls of the cramped workshop. Eight workers, silently focused on the tasks at hand: carefully wrapping and unwrapping thousands of dyed silk threads in Patan, a town in … Continue reading #68 – Art, 900 years old – Patola
#67 – 105* – Pappammal
“Age cannot be the barrier for anything and always remember that there can never be a substitute for hard work,” says Pappammal. On a sunny afternoon with the sun beaming down, you would expect people to be resting under the shade. Even farmers do that. You don’t expect anyone to be working in their farms … Continue reading #67 – 105* – Pappammal
#66 – Project Happiness – Jayasree
Once upon a time, Jayasree was sad. She lost her husband, and she was heartbroken at her son’s medical condition. Then, she created a forest, a forest that grew out of Jayasree’s sadness. The more she planted, the more comfort she gleaned from her green ‘friends’. She gained immense happiness, strength, and resilience from planting … Continue reading #66 – Project Happiness – Jayasree
#65 – The Blue Elixir – Utkarsh and Nishant.
‘Earth without water is earth with no life’ Ironically, the ones who need it the most are the ones who pollute it to the extent that it spells doom for the entire planet. According to Niti Aayog, the majority of rural land under cultivation is for two major food crops — wheat and rice, which … Continue reading #65 – The Blue Elixir – Utkarsh and Nishant.
#64 – A mother to all – Sulagitti Narasamma
She is known to India as the Mother of all; she was an Indian midwife who won the Padma Shri in 2018. She delivered more than 15,000 babies for seven decades, without ever asking for a single cent. Who is she? She is Sulagitti Narasamma – where ‘Sulagitti’ is a Kannada term which translates to ‘delivery work.’ Narasamma began the … Continue reading #64 – A mother to all – Sulagitti Narasamma
#63 – Meet Rajagopalan Vasudevan
‘Degrade and Disappear’ doesn’t seem to apply to plastics. A boon in the early part of the ’90s is slowly consuming the entire planet. Dumping grounds have no more space to accommodate them. We keep hearing – Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle plastic. And to that, an Indian scientist has hit ‘2 birds with 1 stone.’ … Continue reading #63 – Meet Rajagopalan Vasudevan
#62 – The History of Tattoos in India – Part 3
(This is a continuation of a 3-part series on Tattooing in India. If you haven’t read the first part, you can read it here. You can read the second here.) We’ve looked at tattoos being used across India for different reasons. Here’s another interesting reason: In the recent past, Ramnamis of Chhattisgarh fought caste discrimination with full-bodied ‘Ram Ram‘ tattoos, … Continue reading #62 – The History of Tattoos in India – Part 3
#61 – The History of Tattoo in India – Part 2
(This is a continuation of a 3-part series on Tattooing in India. If you haven’t read the first part, you can read it here.) In our last post, we read about the rich tradition of getting Tattoos of different kinds in the North Eastern and Southern parts of India. Let’s move on to the Western, … Continue reading #61 – The History of Tattoo in India – Part 2
#60 – The History of Tattoos in India – Part 1
India has always been a land of rich culture and traditions. The art and tradition of the tattoo is not a new concept in India. Tattoos have existed through generations among tribals not just as a sign of beauty but also as a tradition. They have existed for diverse reasons by different communities across the country. … Continue reading #60 – The History of Tattoos in India – Part 1
#59 – The Lost Art – Rogan – Abdul Hamid Khatri
Abdul Hamid begins his magic: an intricate pattern grows beneath the swirling pin that never touches the cloth. The floral design looks like needlework.
#58 – Silicon Valley to Mathalamparai – Sridhar Vembu
Sridhar Vembu wears traditional veshti and moves around on a bicycle in Mathalamparai in Tenkasi, Tamil Nadu. But calls himself more of a teacher these days. But who is Sridhar Vembu? Sridhar Vembu is the founder of Zoho Corporation, a Silicon Valley star valued by Forbes at nearly $2.5 billion. But that’s not what today’s … Continue reading #58 – Silicon Valley to Mathalamparai – Sridhar Vembu
#57 – 54,000 saplings in a day – Punit Goyal
Bondri hill in the Shahpur division is the perfect example for ‘before-after.’ A picture that was taken before 2017 is quite different from the one taken now. This hill is now a green haven for birds, hosting plenty of biodiversities. A five-hour drive, 180kms from Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh leads you to this … Continue reading #57 – 54,000 saplings in a day – Punit Goyal
#56 – Inspired by Chola Dynasty – Vikranth Raja
‘A bucket of water meant walking for miles’ This was the state of water in my father’s village where he was born but, now this is the unfortunate state of the entire town of Karaikal, Puducherry. Due to the uneven distribution of rainfall, overuse of groundwater levels, the lack of Cauvery river water for usage, … Continue reading #56 – Inspired by Chola Dynasty – Vikranth Raja
#55 – The Art Village – Raghurajpur, Odisha
Puri in Odisha is very famous for the Jagannatha temple and the Rath Yatra. But just about 10 kilometres away, lies another not-so-popular-yet-unique village on the banks of the Dhaudia river. The moment you enter Raghurajpur, you’ll see rows of houses with walls canvassed with paintings. After all, every villager is an artist and every … Continue reading #55 – The Art Village – Raghurajpur, Odisha
#54 – No Dearth to Goodness – Ashwini and Ankush Shah
At the break of dawn, when you walk outside Kandivali station in Mumbai, you will realize there is no dearth of food stalls. But, there is one stall that stands out. A breakfast food stall run by husband-wife duo, Ashwini Shenoy Shah, and Ankush Shah, both MBA graduates. Setting up the stall at 4 am … Continue reading #54 – No Dearth to Goodness – Ashwini and Ankush Shah
#53 – The Canaan – Ashams Ravi
Meet 27-year-old Architect, Ashams Ravi, from Thiruvananthapuram, who has taken construction in a new direction. He understood quite well the impact that construction has on the environment. “With floods and landslides that Kerala faced in 2018, I was sure that my house should be consciously built without causing much damage to the environment,” says Ashams, … Continue reading #53 – The Canaan – Ashams Ravi
#52 – Revival of the Indigenous – Coorg Mandarins
Think about Indian coffee and you can picture the coffee estates in Coorg. But did you know that Coorg is also known for its Oranges? Today’s ‘Something Good’ is regarding these delicious fruits. Read on; you’ll know why. Coorg Oranges or Coorg Mandarins are a man-made hybrid that is typical to that region because they … Continue reading #52 – Revival of the Indigenous – Coorg Mandarins
#51 – Age is just a number – Asha Ambade
Looking for inspiration? Want to go trekking with friends? Look no further; 68-year-old Asha Ambade is creating quite an inspiration by engaging in a steep trek on the Harihar Fort in Nashik, Maharashtra. She is proving to all of us that age is just a number, and a video of the 68-year-old woman completing a … Continue reading #51 – Age is just a number – Asha Ambade
#50 – Nabha Sparsham Deeptham – Indian Air Force
‘Nabha Sparsham Deeptham’ This is the motto of the Indian Air Force, taken from the 11th chapter of the Bhagavad Gita, which encompasses the discourse given by Lord Krishna to Arjuna during the heat of battle, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra. It means: Touch the Sky with Glory If you live near our country’s capital, … Continue reading #50 – Nabha Sparsham Deeptham – Indian Air Force
#49 – Rainwater Harvesting – Uma Maheshwara
Bengaluru – founded by Kempegowda, the crown jewel of the state of Karnataka, was gifted with beautiful lakes and gardens. It is known for its weather. But years of urbanization, poor water management, pollution, and an accelerated population, the army town has become a city of traffic and concrete, with falling groundwater levels, and dry … Continue reading #49 – Rainwater Harvesting – Uma Maheshwara
#48 – Potloi Septi – Abok Radhe
Spectacles on her nose, eyes are focused with intense concentration. The woman is 88-year-old, Abok Radhe who is crafting anxiously a ‘Potloi’ – a traditional skirt in the Manipuri wedding attire. Sitting in the middle of her home with a piece of cloth in her hand, around her are ribbons, stones, and mirrors that she … Continue reading #48 – Potloi Septi – Abok Radhe
#47 – Odisha’s First Eco Village – Muduligadia
Muduligadia – A tiny town in the Nayagarh district with barely thirty-five households holds a unique distinction. Situated on the banks of the Mahanadi river, and adjoining the Satkosia, it became the first village in Odisha in 2019 to attain self-sustainability with zero-waste and 100% eco-friendly initiatives of livelihood. Credit goes to Anshu Pragyan Das, … Continue reading #47 – Odisha’s First Eco Village – Muduligadia
#46 – A startup for forests – EasyForest
91-year-old Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki is renowned all over the world for pioneering ‘The Miyawaki Forest Method’. This method was initially introduced in Japan and is now spread the world over. It was in 2018, during their engineering days in Pollachi, that Ramachandran (21) and Karvendhan (23) were introduced to this method of growing self-sustaining … Continue reading #46 – A startup for forests – EasyForest
#45 – It’s a Jungle out there – Chennai
2,020 – that’s the number in the mini forest comprising of young trees, shrubs, creepers. From Jamun to Mahua to Vaagai and smaller creepers, all set up in an area of 23,000 sq ft is the result of a proven method called the ‘Miyawaki Method’. Where, you ask? Along the banks of River Cooum, in … Continue reading #45 – It’s a Jungle out there – Chennai
#44 – Terracotta Artwork – Molela
Pottery is one of the oldest human inventions and India has one of the most tangible and iconic elements in Indian art. Traditional pottery in India is specialized in different castes and communities. Indian pottery includes objects such as simple kulhar cups, and oil lamps, that are disposable after a single use remains common even … Continue reading #44 – Terracotta Artwork – Molela
#43 – Tamil Nadu’s first woman ambulance pilot – Veeralakshmi
It started as a desperate measure during a financial crunch, but it ended up being something unique. A woman driving a taxi is less known as it is; but a woman driving an ambulance–a first in Tamil Nadu; a very very inspiring first. Here’s 30-year-old Veeralakshmi’s story, who finished her diploma in automobile engineering and … Continue reading #43 – Tamil Nadu’s first woman ambulance pilot – Veeralakshmi
#42 – Powered by the Sun – Cochin International Airport
Have you peeped out of the window when moving towards the city from Cochin Airport? If not, then don’t forget to do so next time. You will notice a sea of solar panels; they will be seen on rooftops, car ports, along the runways, or any land not required that is otherwise for airport operations. … Continue reading #42 – Powered by the Sun – Cochin International Airport
#41 – Indore’s Inspiration to Cleanup – IAS Asheesh Singh
Indore is slowly turning into a model city for the whole of India. Having been awarded the cleanest city in India title for the past 2 years, cleaning up may well have become a part of the bloodstream of Indore so to speak. Keeping up with the prestigious award the people and authorities are doing … Continue reading #41 – Indore’s Inspiration to Cleanup – IAS Asheesh Singh
#40 – The 21-year-old Sarpanch – Parveen Kaur
Parveen Kaur is only 21 years but, she has done more for her village than what most could only think. Kalrala panchayat in Haryana’s Kaithal district with a population of close to 1200 is quite ahead of big towns in many aspects, all thanks to Kaur, who became the Sarpanch or Decision Maker of the … Continue reading #40 – The 21-year-old Sarpanch – Parveen Kaur
#39 – A strong resolve on water shortage – Angrotha Village
We are all hearing about water shortage in different parts of the country, or even the world. The silver lining is that many are avidly searching for solutions and viable options. With that in mind, today’s inspirational story is about Angrotha. This village in Madhya Pradesh is no different and is facing a shortage of … Continue reading #39 – A strong resolve on water shortage – Angrotha Village
#38 – The Roadside Library – Ngurang Meena
When was the last time you read? No, not this blog. But a book, a magazine or even an e-book? Now, think about the amount of time you spend on social media, gaming or watching videos. Android can even tell you in its ‘Digital Wellbeing’ section, how much time you spend on different apps. What … Continue reading #38 – The Roadside Library – Ngurang Meena
#37 – The Recycle Man of India – Binish Desai
India produces around 101 Metric Tonnes per day (MT/day) of COVID-19 related biomedical waste, as per a report by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in the National Green Tribunal. This medical waste is in addition to the biomedical waste of around 609 MT/day that the country generates. While the menace of medical waste is … Continue reading #37 – The Recycle Man of India – Binish Desai
#36 – From computers to helping animals – Robin Singh
What is the meaning and purpose of our life? We often find ourselves asking us that–at our worst and even at our best moments. We are born; we study; we work hard and build a semblance of life that we think is liveable. We justify to ourselves that we have done or doing, is the … Continue reading #36 – From computers to helping animals – Robin Singh
#35 – Waste turned to bricks – Zerund Bricks
Startups all over the globe have been given a massive push. India is slowly getting onto the bandwagon and giving impetus to financing and encouraging startups — startups like Zerund Bricks. Three young engineering graduates from Guwahati, Assam, David Gogoi, Rupam Choudhury, and Mousam Talukdar are using innovation and low cost to create a new … Continue reading #35 – Waste turned to bricks – Zerund Bricks
#34 – Wasteland to Model Lake – Rajokri Lake
The requirement for clean water is necessary for every one of us. And from individuals, governments to independent foundations–all are taking steps to rejuvenate lakes, rivers, and ponds all over the country. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal from the Delhi Government is no different and doing its bit in cleaning up the water bodies in and … Continue reading #34 – Wasteland to Model Lake – Rajokri Lake
#33 – Building the difficult road – Meena Gayen
In West Bengal’s Sundarbans delta, women in a village built a brick road to make their village accessible. The force behind this? Meena Gayen, a 36-year-old woman from Tridibnagar a village in South 24 Paraganas district of West Bengal. Villages in the area are surrounded by creeks and tidal rivers making it difficult to construct … Continue reading #33 – Building the difficult road – Meena Gayen
#32 – India’s first solar-powered island – Diu
At a time, when there is much talk about carbon emissions and climate change, the Smart city of Diu became the first city to be completely powered by renewable energy during daytime in 2018. Even in the country, solar-installed capacity in India has reached 20 GW in February 2018. That means India’s solar-generation capacity increased … Continue reading #32 – India’s first solar-powered island – Diu
#31 – The Seed Mother – Rahibai Soma Popere
54-year-old Rahibai Soma Popere is a self-made expert in the subjects of agro-biodiversity, landrace conservation, and several innovative techniques in the cultivation of paddy crops. Hailing from Kombhalne village located in Akole block of Ahmednagar district in the state of Maharashtra, she has no formal education; has worked on farms all her life, and has … Continue reading #31 – The Seed Mother – Rahibai Soma Popere
#30 – A century-old environmentalist – Saalumarada Thimmakka
Saalumarada Thimmakka has planted over 8,000 trees in 80 years. Winner of Padma Shri, part of a prestigious list of BBC’s 100 Most influential women–those are just a few of the long list of awards she has won. The best part? She is just 106 years old. Born in Gubbi Taluk in Ramnagar, Karnataka to … Continue reading #30 – A century-old environmentalist – Saalumarada Thimmakka
#29 – India’s first fully-powered Solar Village – Dharnai, Bihar
In a small village of 2,400 people, the villagers struggled with a lack of electricity for years. After a point, the people of Dharnai near Bodh Gaya in Bihar’s Jehanabad district, decided to take matters into their own hands. With the help of Greenpeace, the village installed a solar-powered micro-grid, which provides round-the-clock electricity to … Continue reading #29 – India’s first fully-powered Solar Village – Dharnai, Bihar
#28 – Kilo of plastic waste to Kilo of Ration – Project Mumbai
For the past few years, every country has been fighting a menace to the environment – single-use plastic and plastic waste. From vegetables, groceries to ordering food, the plastic entering our homes has increased exponentially. While India has committed to phasing out the use of single-use plastic by 2022, the use of plastic products in … Continue reading #28 – Kilo of plastic waste to Kilo of Ration – Project Mumbai
#26 – The water seeker – Laungi Bhuiyaan
Laungi Bhuiyaan, a farmer from Kothilawa in Lahthua area in Gaya, Bihar has managed to successfully carve out a canal for the past 30 years so that he can guide the water from the nearby hills to the pond and fields. Imagine, digging every day to build a 3-km-long canal! “It took me 30 years … Continue reading #26 – The water seeker – Laungi Bhuiyaan
#26 – The Architect turned farmer – Eldho Pachilakkadan
“Swargam Medu is a wild fruit forest – it is a book I am taking lessons from about the ways of nature and how it sustains itself, so I can apply it elsewhere” Eldho Pachilakkadan, an ex-architect hailing from Trivandrum, Kerala converted 10 acres of barren land into a wild fruit forest to learn the ways … Continue reading #26 – The Architect turned farmer – Eldho Pachilakkadan
#25 – The fisherman who removed 3.5 tonnes of Plastic: Priyesh KV
In the past few years, Priyesh, a 30-year-old Fisherman from Calicut, Kerala has managed to catch more than just fish on his nets – Plastic waste. Embarking on a personal mission, Priyesh has managed to remove about 3.5 tonnes of plastic from the sea all by himself in just two months! A native of Azhiyur, … Continue reading #25 – The fisherman who removed 3.5 tonnes of Plastic: Priyesh KV
#24 – The Father of Indian Radio Astronomy – Govind Swarup
Govind Swarup, known as the ‘Father of Indian Radio Astronomy’ passed away on 7 September 2020 after a period of illness at the age of 91. He was the person behind the launch of the Pune-based National Centre for Radio Astrophysics (NCRA) of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), and building two world-class radio … Continue reading #24 – The Father of Indian Radio Astronomy – Govind Swarup
#23 – The boy who harnessed the wind – William Kamkwamba
William Kamkwamba was born in penury or extreme poverty in Kasungu, Malawi in 1987. At a young age of 14, he successfully built a wind turbine to power multiple electrical appliances in his family’s house in Wimbe, 32 km (20 miles) east of Kasungu, using blue gum trees, bicycle parts, and materials collected in a … Continue reading #23 – The boy who harnessed the wind – William Kamkwamba
#22 – A mere chaiwala to Padmashri chaiwala – Deverapalli Prakash Rao
“Service to mankind is service to God” That is the motto with which 62-year-old Devarapalli Prakash Rao from Odisha has lived by all his life. Not only does he provide education to slum kids, but also helps the needy with essentials at a hospital. Despite being a mere chaiwala, his wondrous efforts have led him … Continue reading #22 – A mere chaiwala to Padmashri chaiwala – Deverapalli Prakash Rao
#21 – World’s smallest Inhabited River Island – Umananda Island
One of the strongest and beautiful features of the North East in India is the 5,000 km-long Brahmaputra River. Largely undiscovered, the North East offers us a wide spectrum of beauty from landscaping and mountains to amazing people. In fact, the North East is considered tourism-friendly across all weathers. One such beautiful spot is Umananda … Continue reading #21 – World’s smallest Inhabited River Island – Umananda Island
#20 – The Teacher from Breswana, Kashmir – Sabbah Haji
Sabbah Haji is the director of Haji Public School in a tiny village called Breswana in the Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir. She saw that nearly two generations of villagers had no education due to the apathetic attitude of the government and militancy. With the help of her parents, she set up this not-for-profit … Continue reading #20 – The Teacher from Breswana, Kashmir – Sabbah Haji
#19 – Amazing India Series: Woman’s Only Market, Imphal
Every day over 5000 traders come in and meet at the market with their farm produce and sell them. The specialty is that all 5000 traders are ‘FEMALES’. Mother’s Market or ‘Ima Keithal’ or ‘Nupi Kiethal’ are some of the names of the 500-year-old tradition seen in the State Capital of Manipur – Imphal. In … Continue reading #19 – Amazing India Series: Woman’s Only Market, Imphal
#18 – The World’s Highest Post Office in India – Spiti Valley
There are few interesting facts about India that a handful are aware of and one of among those is that the world’s highest post office is located in India. In a beautiful village called Hikkim in the Lahaul-Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh; the World’s Highest Post Office rests at an elevation of 4440 m (14,567 … Continue reading #18 – The World’s Highest Post Office in India – Spiti Valley
#17 – Amazing India series: Shani Shingnapur village
Shani Shingnapur – A village in the Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra, named after a Hindu God Shanidev, has a Shani temple. The legend has it that about 300 years ago, a large amount of rain flooded the village. At that time a person saw a heavy block of rock in the Panasnala river. The person … Continue reading #17 – Amazing India series: Shani Shingnapur village
#16 – The city where shops don’t have shopkeepers – Mizoram
The North-Eastern states in India have always remained a relatively unknown territory for the rest of the country. Mizoram, the southernmost North-Eastern state sharing borders with Bangladesh and Myanmar, is one of them. The name is derived for the natives living there called the ‘Mizos’ and Ram meaning land; thus the name ‘Land of the … Continue reading #16 – The city where shops don’t have shopkeepers – Mizoram
#15 – The first and oldest Cardiologist of India – Dr Padmavati
Dr. Padmavati Sivarama Krishna Iyer or fondly known as Dr Padmavati passed away this past Sunday due to Covid-19 at the age of 103. She remained a very active woman right till the end, advising patients and doctors and contributing articles to 300 medical journals. She also kept active physically by swimming till the age … Continue reading #15 – The first and oldest Cardiologist of India – Dr Padmavati
#14 – Dadi Ki Rasoi: Anoop Khanna
It all started in 2016 when social activist Anoop Khanna’s mother suggested the idea of serving food to the poor. That kick-started his noble venture of Dadi ki Rasoi (Dadi means grandmother, and Rasoi stands for kitchen). Initially, his kitchen started with serving just 15 people. But slowly, it gained massive popularity in and around … Continue reading #14 – Dadi Ki Rasoi: Anoop Khanna
#13 – Life of specially trained dogs
Twilight. The Esplanade bus terminal — where the state and private buses for all of West Bengal depart — teeming with people. There are porters, office-goers and ladies in sarees gathered in a typical Indian city. Gypsy, a well-trained 2-year-old German Shepherd police dog remains calm with Mohan Mondal, her handler. Mondal shows his hand … Continue reading #13 – Life of specially trained dogs
#12 – A man’s dream to develop the village he grew up: Golakh Parida
A 45-year-old CA-turned-Businessman, residing in Chennai with special permissions from the authorities, moved back to his village–Jalahari, Orissa with his wife and 2 kids at the start of the lockdown. Initially, his move was only to spend time with his family but within a few days he saw some unfortunate scenarios like lack of food … Continue reading #12 – A man’s dream to develop the village he grew up: Golakh Parida
#11 – The Dosa Ajji: Sharda Chouragade
“The thing about being content in life. All you need is a moment of confidence and courage to turn your life around.” These are the encouraging words of Sharda Choragade or fondly known as ‘Dosa AJJI’ (grandmother in Marathi) from Nagpur. From walking away from a drunkard husband to coping with the death of her … Continue reading #11 – The Dosa Ajji: Sharda Chouragade
#10 – Eco Friendly Houses: Dhruvang Hingmire & Priyanka Gunjikar
Everyone of late has Bengaluru (Bangalore) in their list of perfect cities to settle down due to weather. Now imagine if you could have a home where the outside weather isn’t ruining your mood or day. You have a home that remains cool without an air conditioner or a fan. This Pune-based couple–architects by profession–is … Continue reading #10 – Eco Friendly Houses: Dhruvang Hingmire & Priyanka Gunjikar
#9 – The Bike ambulance: IAS Awanish Saran
When IAS Awanish Saran took charge as district collector in April 2018 of Kabirdham district in Chattisgarh, one of the first things he did was take on an initiative named the ‘Sangi Express’ Now what is this ‘Sangi Express’? It’s a one-of-a-kind system where Mr. Saran arranged for bike ambulances to reach remote villages of … Continue reading #9 – The Bike ambulance: IAS Awanish Saran
#8 – India’s cleanest city: Indore
This is a phenomenal success story of an urban Indian city that managed to become the cleanest city in the country in under 5 years. All thanks to the collaborative efforts of the authorities, the people of the city, education, NGOs, massive fines, and even private companies. It effort took into consideration different factors like … Continue reading #8 – India’s cleanest city: Indore
#7 – Versova Beach Cleanup: Afroz Shah
In October 2015, a Mumbai-based lawyer, Afroz Shah started an ambitious project, that would eventually be lauded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He was also awarded ‘Champions of the Earth’ by United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) The project: Cleaning of Versova Beach, the first of many such projects or drives running in Mumbai. All because … Continue reading #7 – Versova Beach Cleanup: Afroz Shah
#6 – The first 100% organic state in the World: Sikkim
Sikkim a beautiful North-eastern state in India, neighboured by Bhutan, Nepal and Tibet. Occupied majorly by the Himalayas, this state only has 10% farmland. Sikkim’s traditional way of farming is mainly rain-fed with bare minimum external inputs. It can easily be called an organic farming method. This ambitious project was spearheaded by the then-CM, Pawan … Continue reading #6 – The first 100% organic state in the World: Sikkim
#5 – The only Carbon Negative Country – Bhutan
Let’s start with the phenomenal things this amazing small country does for their people: Free Education, Healthcare, Electricity (for its farmers), Environmental subsidies. Now, for the world, Bhutan has so many trees that it is negating some of the CO2 (carbon dioxide) or carbon emissions produced by other countries. Bhutan has 72% tree cover and … Continue reading #5 – The only Carbon Negative Country – Bhutan
#4 – The tree planting search engine – Ecosia
Hello… So the first 3 stories were inspirational in some way. What I am sharing today is a website, The tree planting search engine – Ecosia. In a way, you can do something good. This Berlin, Germany-based search engine donates 80% profit towards planting trees. It’s a non-profit organisation run by founder Christian Kroll since … Continue reading #4 – The tree planting search engine – Ecosia
#3 – From Beat Raja to Eat Raja – Anandraj
The inspiration for his juice stall’s name Eat Raja came from his father feeding him when he was young saying, “Thinnu Raja”. This roughly translates to Eat, my King. So, why am I mentioning this guy and his story? 2 reasons. He went from being a Radio Jockey for 10 years—known as Beat Raja—to a … Continue reading #3 – From Beat Raja to Eat Raja – Anandraj
#2 – Idli for a Buck – Paatima
Paatima, which translates to Grandmother, is what Kamalathal is fondly known in the Manchester of the South—the beautiful city of Coimbatore. She has been selling idlis for a mere Rs 1 per piece for the past 15 years. She has customers aged anywhere between 10 and 65 years; maybe even more. At the very young … Continue reading #2 – Idli for a Buck – Paatima
#1 – The Forest Man of India: Jadav Payeng
This not-so-young-man of Assam managed to plant trees for the past 30 years in Majauli Island in Jorhat, Assam. As a 16-year-old, he had seen dead snakes near his farm due to high temperatures and a lack of shade. Moved deeply, he began to plant trees, single-handedly. managing to reforest his entire island to the … Continue reading #1 – The Forest Man of India: Jadav Payeng
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