Before air conditioners, India had a smarter solution to heat. 🌿

Traditional homes used Madras Terrace roofing—a 300-year-old technique built with lime, bricks, and jaggery water.

At a time when extreme heat is rising, we’ve moved toward concrete structures that trap heat instead of releasing it.

But this ancient method creates breathable roofs that naturally regulate temperature, keeping homes cooler for generations—without electricity.

It’s sustainable, cost-effective, and perfectly designed for Indian summers. 🌱

As we rethink how we build for a warming climate, maybe the answer lies in what we already knew.

Would you choose this over modern concrete homes?

#SustainableArchitecture #EcoFriendlyHomes #IndianArchitecture #ClimateSolutions #GreenBuilding #TraditionalWisdom #SustainableLiving #NaturalCooling #VernacularArchitecture #EcoConstruction #ClimateResilient #indianhomes

[Madras Terrace roofing, natural cooling India, sustainable architecture India, eco friendly homes India, traditional Indian construction, passive cooling techniques, climate responsive architecture, green building India, heat resistant roofing, vernacular architecture India]

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“Driving wasn’t something I ever imagined for myself. Not because I couldn’t, but because no one around me ever thought I should. Once I sat behind the wheel, it felt like reclaiming a part of myself I had never known was missing,” says Anupreeti Ajit More (48), a home baker in Kolhapur.

Across India, women have always travelled. They have crossed cities and states, carried families across generations, and managed responsibilities that stretch far beyond any map.

Yet when it comes to driving, especially long-distance self-drive journeys, women have historically participated far less. This gap has less to do with ability and more with confidence, access, and the lack of spaces where women feel supported enough to explore freely. 

In recent years, that has begun to change. More women are stepping into the driver’s seat, not only for errands or school runs, but for independence. The road offers a sense of self that daily life rarely makes space for. 

At the centre of this shift is Embarq Motorworld, a self-drive experiential travel company that has spent over a decade helping women take charge of their journeys, both on the road and within.

Through Embarq, women sign up for self-drive road journeys where they are behind the wheel of their own cars, travelling in a guided convoy across cities, countries, and sometimes even continents. From handling permits and breakdowns to mapping unfamiliar terrain, the logistics are taken care of so that participants can focus on the experience of driving and discovering at their own pace. 

Two women, one vision

The story begins with Mumbai’s Sujal Patwardhan and Pune’s Medha Joseph, who first met in 1999 during their MBA at IMERT, Pune University. “We clicked instantly because we shared the same curiosity, the same urge to explore, and the belief that travel could change the way you see life,” says Medha, now 47.

Both grew up in families where travel was encouraged. “Even as children, we were pushed to venture out,” Sujal (47) tells The Better India. “Driving is about making your own choices and taking control of your journey.”

Their personal passion grew into something much larger in 2015, when they, along with a small group of friends, embarked on a 57-day self-drive expedition from Hyderabad to Morocco, covering three continents and over 23,000 kilometres. “There was no plan to start a company. We just wanted to see what it felt like to navigate the world on our own terms,” Medha admits.

The journey revealed a clear contrast. Self-drive adventures felt natural for many Europeans, but for most Indians, they remained daunting. “Back home, the thought of driving such distances was overwhelming for many. Crossing borders, handling paperwork, travelling through unfamiliar roads, and dealing with language differences, each step added to the hesitation,” she adds.

When they returned to India on 1 August 2015, the idea of creating a platform for Indian travellers had taken shape. And by 12 October 2015, ‘Embarq Motorworld’ was officially registered.

It was bootstrapped for the first five years. During this time, their journeys also brought new people into the fold. In 2019, they met Neeta Lad on one of their trips, and the connection grew into a strong professional bond. She later joined as an investing partner, and the three now hold equal stakes in the company.

Learning the ropes, one journey at a time

Embarq’s early trips were cautious and small-scale pilots. Initially, these self-drive journeys welcomed both men and women, and their first domestic expedition in Punjab, aimed at friends and family, involved only 15 participants. 

“It was a learning experience,” Sujal shares. “Apart from routes, we realised how to make travellers feel secure, confident, and supported every step of the way.”

Soon after, they launched their first international expedition to Kyrgyzstan with 23 participants, many of them first-time international drivers. She emphasises the attention to detail involved, “Every route is personally recce’d by us. Every stop, fuel station, hotel, and washroom is checked in advance. It is exhausting, but necessary if we want our participants to feel safe.”

Over the next few years, they expanded across India, Central Asia, Europe, and Southeast Asia, taking hundreds of travellers on journeys that prioritised emotional comfort alongside adventure. In this time, they conducted 115 expeditions, hosted 1,400 travellers, and covered 23 countries.

When women took over the steering wheel 

By 2018, it was becoming obvious that more women were interested in the trips, with many travelling solo for the first time. The duo started getting calls from women who expressed a need for trips specifically designed for them. “Initially, we did not want to label travel by gender. But listening closely, we realised women were not asking for exclusion, they were asking for safety and freedom,” Medha says.

That realisation led to a turning point. 

In January 2019, Embarq organised the first all-women self-drive expedition, from India to Thailand. Planning began eight months earlier, in May 2018, and involved extensive paperwork, safety logistics, and cross-border coordination. Only 16 seats were offered.

“The kinds of questions that came in spoke volumes,” she shares. “People asked, if it is all women, who will lead? Who will handle emergencies? Many could not imagine women managing every aspect of such a journey.”

The convoy made it to the destination without a hitch, but what lingered was the lasting impact it had on the women. “The confidence with which the women returned was astonishing. More than driving, it was about reclaiming space in their own lives and seeing the world and themselves with a fresh perspective,” Medha adds.

Designing journeys through a woman’s lens

Embarq stands out because every trip is shaped around the real needs and insights of women travellers. “All our women-led trips are designed by women. Every route, stop, and interaction is planned from a woman’s perspective,” Sujal explains.

Every two hours, the convoy comes to a planned stop. Sujal and Medha personally vet each hotel along the route before the trip dates. Walkie-talkies keep all cars connected, while lead and support vehicles move alongside the group. At every stage, a backup plan is ready, making sure the journey runs smoothly. 

“If someone feels uneasy, we stop. There is no pressure to keep moving. The journey adapts to the traveller and not the other way around,” she adds.

Each morning briefing includes the roads and the dynamics of the group. “We remind everyone that we travel together and we support one another,” Medha explains. “It builds trust and camaraderie that lasts long after the trip ends.”

Stories from the road

For Anupreeti (48), a home baker from Maharashtra, Embarq opened the door to a life full of possibilities she had not dared to dream of. 

“I had only just learnt to drive. I had never driven long distances by myself. During one drive, a short 70 to 80 km stretch became a turning point. With Sujal guiding me, my fear disappeared, and that drive became a memory I will always carry. I came back believing in myself,” she says.

For Anjana (41), a baker from Bengaluru, the Kashmir to Kanyakumari expedition in March 2025 combined thrill with vulnerability. “Highway driving can be intimidating,” she admits. When her car started giving off a burning smell in the mountains, another participant stayed with her. “It showed me the depth of what women supporting women can mean.”

For Sulekh (48), a senior engineer and a mother of two, the expedition offered a rare pause from constant responsibility. 

“My elder daughter is well-settled in her career, while my younger child has special needs. Being a mother of a child with special needs has shaped me emotionally and mentally. My life revolves around care, planning, and attention to others,” Sulekh explains. “But this journey with the team felt like breathing out. For 10 days, I could step away from my daily routine and reconnect with myself. It reminded me that I deserve space, growth, and adventure.”

For Sujal, seeing these changes was moving. “Every time a woman drives further than she imagined, every time she laughs freely or trusts her instincts, I feel that all our work matters. It is not about the distance covered on the road, it is about the distance travelled within.”

‘We cried when we reached the destination’

In March 2025, Embarq launched ‘The Bold Route Series’, beginning with the epic Kashmir to Kanyakumari expedition. Around 40 women drove across India in 25 cars over 10 days.

“When we reached Kanyakumari, we all cried. By then, it was no longer just a physical journey. It had become personal and emotional for all of us,” Medha says. Explaining why the moment was so overwhelming, she adds, “They came from such varied backgrounds, and many of them were fighting battles at home that nobody knew about.” 

Some, she notes, had secured permission to join the journey only after a lot of convincing, which made reaching the destination even more meaningful.

The Bold Route has become the organisation’s signature experience now. These are long and carefully designed journeys where women traverse diverse terrains, cultures, and personal fears together. Each trip includes safety workshops, mechanical training, and sessions on self-awareness. “The road teaches you about patience, resilience, and joy,” Sujal says.

Where the road leads next 

By January 2026, Embarq has taken over 100 women on redefining journeys. On 8 March 2026, International Women’s Day, they flagged off their new Bold Route: Kutch to Kibithoo, traversing India from west to east.

“Our message to all women is to step out because the road is kinder than you think,” Medha says.

For many who have already taken that step, the journey continues to stay with them long after the road ends. “I realised I am capable of more than I ever thought,” Anupreeti says. “The road gave me the courage to live a life on my own terms.”

“Independence doesn’t mean isolation. I realised it means learning to trust yourself while trusting others. That is the bond we formed,” Anjana adds.

Sujal sums it up, “This is not just a road trip. It is a movement. Every woman who joins takes a piece of herself back that she may never have known existed.” 

Medha smiles and adds, “And that, for me, is the true journey. Not the miles, but the metamorphosis.”

All pictures courtesy Sujal Patwardhan

While fuel prices continue to rise, one man in Gujarat found a powerful alternative.

Sadhulbhai Chawda didn’t wait for big companies or new technology—he built his own solar-powered car using scrap materials. 🌿

With zero petrol and no charging cost, this car runs purely on sunlight. Even better? The solar panels keep charging while the car is moving.

It comfortably covers 50–60 km daily, proving that clean energy can be both practical and affordable.

Built at just ₹30,000, this innovation is a perfect example of India’s grassroots ingenuity and sustainable thinking. ☀️

Could solutions like this change the future of transportation in India?

#SolarCar #InnovationIndia #CleanEnergy #SustainableIndia #DesiJugaad #RenewableEnergy #EcoFriendly #MakeInIndia #RuralInnovation #GreenFuture #IndianInnovation #LowCostInnovation

[Solar car India, Gujarat solar car, low cost electric car India, solar powered vehicle India, rural innovation India, desi jugaad car, renewable energy transport India, sustainable vehicle India, zero fuel car India, affordable innovation India]

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Naresh Purohit (12) is like any other child when it comes to going to school. Some days he just doesn’t feel like it. Except that Naresh has an incentive waiting for him at school — music class.

For the last three years, The Sound Space, an initiative by two sisters, Kamakshi (38) and Vishala Khurana (36), to offer music and allied learning to children from underprivileged communities in Mumbai, has been holding music lessons at Naresh’s school.

Started in 2010, the premise of the initiative lies in making music accessible in a contemporary way.  

It stemmed from the sisters’ observation of different underserved communities in South Mumbai and the realisation that the lack of space and access deterred children from learning. This inspired their mission to build a world where music is valued as fundamental to human development, and where Indian classical music is embraced as a living, accessible practice — one that transcends barriers of geography, privilege, or prior training.

A childhood guided by rhythm

How can music be seen beyond an extracurricular activity? 

As Kamakshi explains, “Many children are sometimes clueless about the different emotions they experience or why they feel this range of emotions. A lot of our music and our sessions are directed towards helping children experience their emotions, recognise them, and connect with them. Music allows that space for expression.” 

She adds that the music classes help make the children aware of different aspects of life. “We have songs that make the children aware of their bodies; no one really spends time explaining to the children why their bodies are reacting in a certain way. Music helps with self-awareness.” 

In fact, the siblings’ formative years, too, were largely shaped by music. Having learnt and practised classical music since the age of three — their father was a trained musician with a visharad (equivalent to a bachelor’s degree) in Hindustani classical music  — Vishala recalls how, from the time they woke up in the morning, rhythm was a part of their routine. 

“Even our mealtimes used to be rhythmic; we’d sit as a family and sing for hours. That’s just how we bonded. Even our studies were most effective when we did them through music. As we were growing up in our teenage years, we realised having music as a friend was like having something that would always be by your side,” she explains. 

She adds that their shared sentiment towards music made them see it as a joy that everyone should experience through The Sound Space. “We're not trying to make singers out of everybody; we’re just trying to bring the joy of music to as many people as we can,” she shares. 

When music becomes a teacher  

The 45 minutes that Naresh spends learning music, singing, and perfecting action songs at his music classes are the favorite part of his time at school. “Every day it’s something new that we learn,” he says. While Naresh hasn’t learnt to play an instrument yet, he says he’s learnt all about them. In fact, he often enjoys these subjects even more than academics. 

This mode of learning suits him. 

Kamakshi empathises with him. “When I was in school, I was never one to score well. I was not great at following the rules of the school system. Interestingly, my parents didn't push me too much because they could see that I wanted to pursue music. Some children are naturally good at learning concepts; I’m terrible at it, but will remember tunes and lyrics very easily.”

Through The Sound Space, the sisters want to assure children an alternative learning mode.

But while expanding the initiative, they realised that many children are not even enrolled in schools. Government reports suggest that, for the year 2024-25, 1.17 million children across India have been identified as those not enrolled in primary, secondary, and senior secondary education, or Out of School Children (OoSC). 

In Mumbai, these children are usually concentrated in and around the bastis (slums). In 2023, the sister duo decided that if the children couldn’t come to school, they would take the school to them through Soundspace on Wheels, a mobile music classroom that goes into the different communities of the city.

The ‘classroom’ is basically a bus, which, as Vishala explains, is a safe space for the children. It’s in this bus-turned classroom that students from different communities become part of the music class. 

“On Monday, the bus will go to a certain area, and then on Tuesday it will head to another area. Once the bus parks within a community, the teachers and students have their sessions (music lessons where they learn about Indian music, Western music, different artists) in the bus, helped by volunteers. The children get to interact with other children, and they share musical ideas. Sometimes, we have people who come in and play different instruments for the children. They learn to read music, sing as a group, and connect as a community.” 

Vishala adds, “Since the children have an opportunity to interact with other children and people from all strata, they also learn social skills.” 

At the end of the day, the bus is cleaned and heads back to the centre. 

Kamakshi explains, “Every session lasts 40 minutes and accommodates 25 students. It travels to seven bastis throughout the week, and over 500 children between the ages of five and 12 attend these sessions.” 

Through engaging sessions, the goal is to help strengthen language skills, spark creativity among children, build social-emotional awareness, and enhance communication abilities.

The Sound Space also has a choir programme specialising in Indian classical music and choir training, focusing on vocal skills, music theory, and performance, with opportunities to build confidence through events. 

They also engage children with hearing and speech impairments through weekly music classes to develop their communication skills through interactive musical activities, alongside music therapy sessions for children with special needs that help them connect with their body and mind.

At the core of this is the sisters’ endeavour to ensure every child they reach out to begins to see the world as a space where their voice matters. 

All pictures courtesy The Sound Space

Sources 

'Music on wheels: This organisation teaches melody and rhythm to underprivileged children in Mumbai': by Rekha Balakrishnan, Published on 9 September 2024.

'1.17 million children identified as ‘Out of School’, govt tells LS': by Vrinda Tulsian, Published on 10 December 2024.

In Madhya Pradesh, the Ajnar River was once the lifeline of its town.

Over time, that lifeline began to choke.

Plastic waste piled up along its banks. Drainage pipes emptied directly into its waters. The stench grew so unbearable that people stopped going near it. What was once a shared public space slowly turned into a neglected, polluted stretch — ignored by most who lived around it.

But this Republic Day, something changed.

A 19-year-old, Bittu Tabahi, decided to act.

Armed with garbage bags he bought himself, Bittu walked to the river and began cleaning it — alone.

Every day, between 3 pm and 6 pm, he shows up. Wading through sludge, enduring the overpowering smell, and picking through layers of waste, he works steadily, often without help. The conditions are far from easy. There are snakes in the area, and the risk of infection is real. Yet, he continues.

Because, for him, this is not just about cleaning garbage.

It is about restoring the town’s water source.

In just one and a half months, Bittu has removed over two truckloads of waste — nearly 10 kilos every single day. Slowly, the impact is becoming visible.

The ghats that people once avoided are seeing visitors again. Families are returning. Children are beginning to play by the riverbanks.

A space that was abandoned is coming back to life.

For Bittu, cleaning the river is not an extraordinary act. It is a responsibility — a reminder that water is irreplaceable, and that neglect comes at a cost.

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His effort also raises a larger question.

If one person can show up every day and make a difference, what is stopping the rest of us?

In a town that once turned away from its river, one teenager’s persistence is quietly becoming a wake-up call on civic sense.

Originally reported and written in January 2023, this story has been republished as part of our archival content.

Yushika Jolly, a 26-year-old from Ankleshwar, Gujarat had been colouring her hair all through college using formulations she bought off the internet. Today, she doesn’t need to, thanks to her semi-permanent hair colouring brand Paradyes, which she launched in March 2021. 

Like Yushika, numerous youngsters in India score online marketplaces looking for funky yet safe hair colour options, and Paradyes steps in to provide a one stop solution. 

Following a Bachelors at the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) and then a Masters in Design Management in London, Yushika returned to India in 2019 with an idea. 

She explains, “My dad had a business that focused on manufacturing the raw materials for hair dyes. So, it was something I grew up seeing. When in London I would often experiment with hair colour combinations and this compelled me to think of the dearth of these options in India.” 

Having identified this gap in the market, Yushika tied it with a cause that she held close to her heart and decided to venture into creating hair colours, a result which two years later manifested as Paradyes. 

Colours made from natural extracts 

On returning from London, Yushika set up a lab in Ankleshwar with the help of her brother, who had a background in chemical engineering. He also brought in R & D experts on board. Once things were in place, she began experimenting with formulations and colours, a task she says “wasn’t very tough”. 

“I had experimented with so many brands in the past, and hence knew how Indian hair works, what colours deposit well, etc. I would then distribute these formulations among very trusting friends and family to try,” she adds. 

 

Some, however, were sceptical. 

For instance Yushika recounts how no one wanted to try the yellow hair dye, and so finally she tried it herself. “Coincidentally it was during my wedding time that I did this and I got married in yellow hair,” she laughs. 

However, on a more serious note, she adds that Paradyes is extremely cautious with formulations and the brand uses herbal extracts like bringhraj, aloe vera etc. Another factor that sets them apart from international brands is that their range includes funky pop colours too, she notes.  

“That’s not all,” says Yushika. “These colours are temporary and can be washed away. They are essentially a conditioner with a dye, and are thus nourishing for the hair and fade away after eight to ten washes. You then get your base back,” she assures.

 

Making it to national television

 

 

 

 

 

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Just as Yushika was starting to widen her horizons when it came to Paradyes by way of expanding their hair care range to include more products, she found out about Shark Tank Season 2. 

“I always dreamt of taking the brand to a larger audience. I used to follow Shark Tank and so when Season 2 came out, I applied for it. I made a pitch and submitted my application and then auditioned in Mumbai. We got selected, and the episode will be out soon,” she reveals. 

She emphasises that with 20 colours in their range, Paradyes colours are safe and free from harsh chemicals, metal extracts, and any toxic ingredients. She says with the investment amount, they are planning on expanding into different verticals of hair colour to add to the existing range, which focuses on hair protection for coloured hair and damage control. 

“We are in the process of launching a serum and oil at the end of this month and want to get into permanent hair colours such as blacks and browns too. We want to make Paradyes an A to Z brand for hair care,” she says. 

She recounts how previously the hair care scene in India was very different. 

 

“In India, people were not ready to experiment with colours as they viewed them as taboo. They thought these colours were not sanskari. Another set of people thought funky colours wouldn’t suit them, but it all changed when I began putting out content,” Yushika notes. 

She adds that all Paradyes’ shoots are their own customers and not models who are hired. This has helped them attract more attention than if they would have resorted to models. 

With a team of 15 people and an office in Ahmedabad, today, Paradyes sees around 150 orders daily and has witnessed a turnover of Rs 3.5 crore in the last financial year, she notes, adding that they ship pan India and also to the US. 

“What’s amazing is that a lot of our marketing is through word of mouth. People see others have funky hair colours and ask them which brand they are using. When they say it is Paradyes, our name spreads and as a founder, this thrills me,” Yushika says. 

Edited by Divya Sethu

On a bright summer morning, when the air already carries a hint of warmth, the idea of growing something tropical at home feels almost instinctive. Pineapple, with its eye-catching crown and sunlit sweetness, seems like it belongs to distant plantations rather than a compact balcony. However, it adapts with surprising ease, asking only for light, warmth, and a gardener willing to wait.

There is no rush in growing a pineapple. It is a slow unfolding, a peaceful companionship between plant and caretaker. A once-forgotten crown slowly finds purpose, growing into a living centrepiece, and its journey is unhurried yet satisfying.

1. Begin with a crown that promises new life

The process starts with a ripe pineapple that has fresh, green leaves and a firm body. Gently twist off the crown or cut it cleanly, making sure no excess fruit remains attached. Any leftover flesh can invite decay, which is best avoided at the very beginning.

Peel away a few of the lower leaves to reveal a small portion of the stem. Place this crown in a cool, shaded area for a couple of days so that the base dries slightly. This simple step helps protect it from rot once it is planted.

2. Create a home where roots can breathe

A suitable container makes all the difference. Choose a pot that is neither too large nor too shallow, ideally one that allows enough room for roots to settle comfortably. Good drainage is critical, so confirm there are holes at the base.

Fill the container with a loose and well-draining mixture. A combination of soil, sand, and compost creates an environment where water does not linger, and roots can develop without stress. Pineapple plants prefer such airy conditions over dense, heavy soil.

3. Set the crown gently into its new space

Planting should be done with care rather than haste. Place the dried crown into the soil, burying just enough of the stem to keep it stable. Press the soil lightly around it so that it stands upright.

Water sparingly at this stage. The soil should feel slightly moist but never soaked. Too much water can do more harm than good, especially when the plant is still establishing itself.

4. Let sunlight and warmth guide its growth

Pineapple survives in generous sunlight. A location that receives several hours of direct light each day will support consistent development. A terrace or a well-lit balcony often provides the ideal setting.

Warm conditions encourage the plant to grow with vigour. When it receives consistent heat, the leaves become stronger and more vibrant, gradually forming a dense cluster at the centre.

5. Maintain a gentle cycle of care

This plant does not demand frequent watering. Allow the top layer of soil to dry out before watering again. During the height of summer, this may mean watering once or twice a week, depending on how quickly the soil loses moisture.

Nourish the plant occasionally with a gentle organic fertiliser such as compost tea, well-rotted manure, or a diluted liquid seaweed solution. A small dose once a month is sufficient to encourage growth without overwhelming it. Regular care matters far more than the quantity.

6. Watch patiently as the plant matures

Growth appears gradual, almost unnoticeable at first. Over time, the plant develops long, arching leaves that form a sturdy rosette. This stage can last many months, testing one’s patience.

Eventually, a small flower spike emerges from the centre. This signals the beginning of fruit formation, a moment that feels triumphant after such a long wait.

7. Gather the fruit and continue the cycle

The pineapple is ready when its colour deepens into a warm golden shade, and a gentle fragrance becomes noticeable. Harvest it with care and enjoy the fruit that has taken its time to ripen.

Even after harvesting, the plant often produces small offshoots near its base. These can be replanted, allowing the cycle to continue. In this way, one plant leads to many, each carrying forward the same slow and satisfying journey.

Growing pineapple in a container is not only about the harvest. It is about observing change, tending with intention, and finding joy in a process that unfolds at its own pace under the summer sun.

Love Doraemon? The voice you grew up hearing belongs to Sonal Kaushal 🎙️ She’s also brought characters like Shinchan and Chhota Bheem to life for millions across India

From mimicking voices as a child to becoming one of India’s leading dubbing artists, her journey is built on passion and persistence Despite tough competition and vocal strain, she mastered her craft and carved a space in the animation industry

Today, her YouTube channel reaches millions proving that childhood dreams can turn into powerful careers So here’s the question what passion of yours could become something bigger 💙

#Doraemon #VoiceArtist #IndianCreators #ChildhoodMemories #AnimationIndia #VoiceActing #BehindTheScenes #CartoonVoices #IndianArtists #CreativeCareers #YouTubeIndia #DreamBig #inspirational

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Who Is Sonal Kaushal Doraemon Voice Artist
Who Gives Voice to Doraemon in Hindi
Indian Voice Artists Behind Cartoons
How to Become a Voice Actor in India
Story of Sonal Kaushal Motormouth

Originally reported and written in January 2023, this story has been republished as part of our archival content.

For Bangalorean Vishwanath Mallabadi Davangere, there is no such thing as a useless object or ‘waste’. Give him anything — discarded metal or plastic items, old gadgets, dysfunctional printed circuit boards — and he'll create art out of it. From jewellery, murals and sculptures to abstract art, art installations, wall art, and even robots.

 

The Wipro executive who turned into an eco-artist after retirement buys e-waste from scrap dealers and recyclers but says that he is selective in choosing the ‘waste’.

“I don’t pick up everything, only those items which have scope for transformation. I extract copper, gold or multi-coloured wires, keyboards and computer components that are useful according to the texture, colour and forms,” the 60-year-old tells The Better India.

Vishwanath’s passion is particularly relevant in the current age, where India generates more e-waste than it can recycle. In 2019-20, the country generated a total of 10.1 lakh tonnes of e-waste. Of this, only 22.7 percent was collected, dismantled, and recycled or disposed of.

 

The rest ends up in landfills, exacerbating environmental issues.

The eco-artist has upcycled and transformed nearly 200 kg of e-waste into usable products and proposes eco-art as a means to deal with waste management.

Turning a hobby into a business

Vishwanath’s father, D M Shambhu, was a famous sculptor and painter, but he wanted his son to choose medicine and become a doctor. However, Vishwanath, who was interested in upcycling second-hand objects right from childhood, decided to pursue a BFA in Applied Art.

He later went on to work at Wipro in Talent Transformation, but even while he was a senior executive, he would involve in research and development in eco-art. “In my free time and during the weekends, I used to conduct experiments in e-waste and try to develop something unique,” he recalls.

 

He would dismantle computers, laptops, data cards, DVDs, VCRs, floppy drives, set-top boxes, old landlines and cordless phones, and even medical devices such as glucometers.

“I started this as a fun activity; creating small animals out of scrap from gadgets. I used to collect a lot of e-waste, and nobody knew what I was trying to do exactly,” says Vishwanath with a laugh.

“But upon learning about the implications of e-waste on the environment, I started creating murals and sculptures, and slowly it turned into a business, post my retirement two years ago,” he adds.

Vishwanath has now started selling his unique artworks and says he has buyers from Europe, the Netherlands, the US and also Delhi.

 

500+ artefacts, from e-waste

So far, the eco-artist has created more than 500 artefacts. These include a six-foot tall sculpture made from upcycled computer keyboard keys on a mannequin, and a landscape inspired by Vincent Van Gogh’s The Starry Night, using upcycled resistors on wood, which was later coated with clear epoxy resin.

Among his other artworks are a 42x38 inch Kamadhenu (a divine bovine goddess) created from upcycled keyboard keys on a sun board finished with resin, a deer made of discarded multicore cables, a bird made with electronic components, plants and flowers from upcycled sugar glucometers and computer parts, and eco jewellery from upcycled digital wrist watch parts.

 

He has also created a portrait collage of business tycoon Azim Premji using e-waste on wood. He has even transformed e-waste into wearable art by designing apparel for a fashion show at Mount Carmel College, Bengaluru.

However, the process of upcycling is not that easy, says Vishwanath. The work involves scrutinising the e-waste objects — the texture, shape, and colour etc, and visualising and conceptualising the final product.

“It takes just two-three minutes to create a piece of jewellery, but it might take weeks and months for sculptures. However, sustainable initiatives and upcycled art are nowadays in demand in multi-national companies opting for a sustainable culture,” he informs.

 

Winning accolades for his talent 

Vishwanath has been written about in the India Talent Magazine and has also given a talk at the first International Data Science Conference on UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), on putting e-waste to good use.

His passion and talent is remarkable! pic.twitter.com/BdPWxEcOKh

 

— Indo Data Week for Sustainable Development Goals (@IndoWeek) December 3, 2019

The eco-artist has also written a paper titled 'Upcycling for Sustainable Living, Complementing Circular Economy' which was published by Springer Nature, Singapore, in 2020.

Meanwhile, Vishwanath is working on his next project, a 20x30 feet public art installation. He has already collected nearly 2,000 discarded parts of mobile phones, remote controls and calculators for this. He is also working on a mural installation and 3D sculpture which he proposes to display in the Bengaluru metro.

To know more about the artist and his work, visit his official website.

Edited by Asha Prakash. All images: Vishwanath Mallabadi.

On the lush-green campus of IIT Madras, where humans and animals coexist in harmony, one familiar presence has been brightening stressful academic days for nearly two decades — Sarala Amma.

A coconut vendor by profession, she is known for something far beyond what she sells. With an ever-present smile, Sarala Amma has, over the years, become a small but steady source of comfort — not just for students and staff, but for the animals that share the campus too.

Each day, as students drift between lectures and deadlines, she moves through her routine with a rhythm shaped by both people and place. She is often seen carefully separating coconut pulp, setting it aside for the monkeys that gather nearby. 

Small acts, big heart

“On hot, humid afternoons, she offers them coconut water too — a small but thoughtful act that reflects her deep familiarity with the campus and its non-human residents,” says Kalaiarasi Kannan, who interacted with her during a five-day visit.

“She always has a smile on her face,” is how many describe her, a detail that feels almost inseparable from her identity.

But her presence extends beyond these quiet acts of care for animals. It is in her everyday interactions with people that her impact is most deeply felt.

“It was such a small but wholesome interaction,” recalls Kalaiarasi. “She struck up a conversation so easily and even checked in on me, saying, ‘You look so pretty! How is your day going?’ She came across as genuinely happy, so easy to talk to, and really enthusiastic about being around students. We had never met before, but there was an instant sense of connection.”

It is this ability to connect, effortlessly and without pretence, that has made her a reassuring presence on campus. For many, these exchanges last only a few minutes. Yet, they linger, becoming part of the emotional texture of life at IIT Madras.

Anubhav K, a post-doctoral scholar, says her warmth often cuts through the weight of academic stress. “On some days, work gets very hectic, and the stress naturally brings a frown to my face. I usually run into Sarala Amma on my way back home, and even a short conversation with her helps me feel lighter. She is always smiling, and that is incredibly heartwarming to see,” he shares.

Stories of her kindness have quietly travelled across batches, occasionally resurfacing in unexpected ways. One Instagram user recalled a moment from the pre-UPI era: “During demonetisation, I was in such dire straits that I had stopped buying coconut water. She noticed and quietly lent me Rs 100.”

Kindness as a daily practice

In a space defined by rigour and routine, Sarala Amma offers something rare — a pause. Whether through a gentle check-in, a shared smile, or a simple act of generosity, she creates small pockets of ease on otherwise demanding days.

A recent video showing her offering coconut water to a deer brought wider attention to what many on campus have long known that her kindness is instinctive, consistent, and deeply woven into her daily life.

For those who see her often, however, the moment of virality changes little. Sarala Amma has always been this way — attentive, generous, and quietly impactful.

In the end, her story is not about a single act, but about a pattern of care sustained over years. In the spaces between lectures, deadlines, and daily routines, she remains a steady presence, reminding everyone who passes by that sometimes, the simplest gestures are the ones that stay with you the longest.

A documentary camera lingers on a tigress moving through dry grass, no rush in her stride.

For many, Legendary Tigers of India captures the beauty of the wild. For Valmik Thapar, whose voice carries the film, it draws from decades spent observing the Royal Bengal Tiger up close.

Thapar, who passed away in May last year,  had arrived in Ranthambore in the early 1970s as someone looking to step away from the noise of Delhi. He was then a young filmmaker, not a conservationist.

Along the way, he found a landscape that was on the edge of being forgotten.

And then, he encountered a tigress who would anchor his life to this place.

The tigress who changed everything. She was called Padmini. Padmini raised cubs that would go on to shape Ranthambore’s tiger population. Her daughter, Noor, established dominance over fertile territories near the lakes. 

Then, another tigress would come to define Ranthambore for the world: Machli.

Machli challenged her own mother for territory, raised generations, and became central to the identity of the park. Her genetic line continued through tigresses like Krishna and Arrowhead. 

But even as these lives played out, many lives were being lost. This story of individual tigers unfolding in one forest mirrored a larger reality across the country. While some landscapes still held on, India’s overall tiger population was slipping towards a dangerous decline.

In 1973, India launched Project Tiger with just 1,827 tigers left in the wild. It began with the realisation that India was on the verge of losing its most powerful symbol.

When the tiger was almost lost

Centuries of hunting, first by colonial officers, then by royalty and elites, had turned the animal into a symbol of sport. 

Firearms made killing efficient. Prestige made it desirable.

By the early 1970s, India’s wild tiger population had dropped to 1,827. It was a number that forced a reckoning.

In 1973, Project Tiger was launched as an urgent intervention. Led by Kailash Sankhala, India’s first director of Project Tiger and a pioneering conservationist, the programme set out to do something India had never attempted at this scale, protect an entire ecosystem by focusing on one species.

Nine reserves were identified in the beginning. The approach was to secure core habitats, limit human disturbance, and allow natural systems to rebuild.

The years that tested the system

Recovery, however, did not come in a straight line. By 2006, tiger numbers had dropped again — to 1,411. The decline exposed gaps like weak monitoring, organised poaching, and inflated data in some regions. 

This moment became a turning point. Conservation efforts began to rely more on technology and transparency. Camera traps replaced older estimation methods, allowing individual tigers to be identified through their stripe patterns. Independent verification processes improved the credibility of data. At the same time, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) was set up to strengthen oversight and ensure accountability across reserves.

The ripple effect of saving a tiger

Today, India is home to over 3,000 wild tigers.

From the original nine reserves, the network has expanded to 58, spanning diverse landscapes, from the mangroves of the Sundarbans to the forests of central India.

But the impact of Project Tiger extends far beyond the species it was named after. And the growth shows how protecting tigers helps entire forests recover.

When a tiger is protected, the forest around it is protected too. Tigers need large territories, clean water, and a healthy population of prey to survive. So when forests are secured for tigers, grasslands begin to regenerate, rivers and water sources stabilise, and animals like deer and wild boar increase in number. In turn, this supports birds, reptiles, and smaller mammals, creating a balanced and thriving ecosystem.

The human effort behind the comeback

What often goes unseen is the scale of human effort that sustains this recovery.

Forest guards patrol difficult terrain daily, often under threat from poachers. Local communities, in many cases, have adjusted their lives to coexist with wildlife.

And then there were storytellers like Valmik Thapar, who ensured that these efforts were not invisible.

53 years later…

On 1 April 2026, Project Tiger completed 53 years. The numbers suggest success, but the future points to a lot of work that’s yet to be done.

According to the latest official estimate, India had 3,682 wild tigers in 2022, nearly 75% of the world’s wild population. A fresh all-India estimation for 2025–26 is currently underway, expected to offer the next snapshot of where the species stands.

If the first 53 years of Project Tiger were about bringing the species back, the next phase is about learning how to live with it.

One of the biggest challenges ahead is habitat fragmentation. As forests get cut up by roads, railways, and new construction, tigers are left with smaller spaces to move. So keeping forests connected matters just as much as protecting them. Wildlife corridors allow tigers to travel, find mates, and stay genetically healthy, while also reducing the chances of them straying into human settlements.

At the same time, more tigers also mean more chances of crossing paths with people. And when that happens, the response on the ground makes all the difference. Timely compensation for livestock loss, early warning systems, and local monitoring can help prevent fear from turning into retaliation.

Because at the heart of conservation are the people who live closest to these forests. For them, this is not a general idea, it is part of everyday life.

So the question becomes: how do you make space for wildlife while also supporting human lives?

The answer often lies in working together. When communities are involved, whether through livelihoods, eco-tourism, or decision-making, conservation becomes something they are a part of, not something imposed on them. That shared responsibility makes coexistence more stable and more lasting.

And that is what 53 years of Project Tiger have shown. With steady effort, strong systems, and people at the centre, recovery is possible.

From a time when tigers were disappearing to a point where India now holds the majority of the world’s wild tigers, this journey has rebuilt more than just numbers. It has strengthened forests, revived ecosystems, and created a model the world continues to learn from.

In a sunlit corner of her Bengaluru home, 15-year-old Manya Harsha sits bent over a sieve, her hands steady as she presses onion peels into textured sheets of handmade paper. The air carries an earthy smell. Around her are no machines or polished tools, only water, pulp, patience, and a determination that seems far bigger than her years.

Each attempt takes time. Each sheet asks for care. Yet Manya stays with the process, shaping waste into something useful with the same belief that guides much of her life: almost nothing needs to be thrown away too soon.

For Manya, sustainability has never been an abstract lesson from a school textbook. It has always felt close, lived, and familiar. It is the way she sees the world, the way she has grown up, and the value she carries into everything she creates.

Manya is a writer, poet, climate advocate, and founder of Grandma’s Green Weave, a youth-led initiative that upcycles discarded sarees and textiles into reusable cloth bags, reducing single-use plastic and reviving older sustainable practices. 

She has been speaking up for the planet since she was eight. “For me, sustainability is not something new; it is something I saw at home. I just chose to continue it,” she tells The Better India.

‘My grandma’s stories made me love nature’

Manya’s journey began at home with her maternal grandmother, V Rudramma. “My grandmother used to tell me stories about her childhood — how they planted saplings, nurtured them, collected flowers and spent time in nature,” Manya recalls. “I saw her recycle old fabrics into cloth bags that she carried to the market. That stayed with me.”

Her mother, Chitrashee, traces that influence back to her own mother. “If there is one person behind Manya’s love for nature and writing, it is my mother,” she shares. “The older generation lived sustainably without calling it sustainability. They just lived that way.”

For Manya, sustainability was part of daily life long before it became a larger conversation.

Her parents, Harsha BS and Chitrashee Harsha, nurtured her love for nature by travelling extensively across India from the time she was just six months old. Unlike conventional family trips to commercial cities, they intentionally explored villages, forests, farms, and ecological regions.

“We have covered almost the entire country by road,” Harsha shares. “She saw how farmers work in the hot sun, how forests are cut to build cities, and how ecosystems function. That practical exposure shaped her understanding.”

Those journeys became her first classroom.

A lake and a reserve forest formed the backdrop of Manya’s childhood. Time spent around them made nature feel close, familiar, and worth protecting. Through plantation drives, birdwatching, and conservation activities, she began to understand early that care for the environment starts with small, seemingly ordinary steps.

That instinct showed up at eight when she organised a ‘water walkathon’ [awareness march] with friends and families from her apartment. Together, they marched, planted saplings, and pledged to protect the Earth.

Before the data, there were poems 

Long before she understood climate terminology, Manya understood emotion and expressed it through her writing. “I started writing small poems when I was four. During school, whenever I got some time, I would write about birds, trees, buildings, anything around me.”

Then, one of her teachers noticed this inclination and encouraged her parents to publish her work. In 2019, at just eight years old, she released her first poetry collection, Nature Our Future.

But writing, for Manya, has always been a way to simply connect with people. “Stories connect personally,” she explains. “I cannot explain global warming to children using definitions. But I can tell them a story about animals or children taking action. Then they relate.”

So, she chose stories over jargon, and participation over fear. 

When mourning turned into a movement

In November 2023, after her grandmother passed away, Manya was left with a deeply personal question: how do you hold on to memory?

Her answer was not to store it away. So, she chose to keep them in use. “We converted her old sarees into cloth bags and distributed them,” she says. “That is how Grandma’s Green Weave started.”

The idea was simple. Old sarees and bedspreads were turned into cloth bags that people could use every day. For Manya, it felt like continuing something her grandmother had already been doing.

Her grandmother had stitched her own fabric bags and carried them to the market long before sustainability became a global conversation. “I saw her recycle old fabrics into cloth bags that she carried to the market. That stayed with me.”

What began with a few sarees at home soon moved beyond it. In apartments across Bengaluru, people began to open their cupboards to bring out the sarees and bedspreads that had been lying unused. Through door-to-door collections and community bins, the fabric started coming in, piece by piece, ready to be stitched again.

As the effort grew, it began to take a clearer shape. The model now rests on three pillars: 

1. Collection — Gathering used sarees and bedspreads from residential communities.

2. Upcycling — Working with local tailors to stitch them into sturdy cloth bags.

3. Education — Starting conversations about plastic pollution and mindful consumption.

Weaving impact beyond numbers

So far, Grandma’s Green Weave has collected over 2,200 sarees and 230 bedspreads, and turned them into more than 28,000 cloth bags. In the process, Manya and her team have diverted nearly 1.2 tonnes of textile waste and helped avoid an estimated 2,45,000 plastic bags. Today, these bags reach street vendors, schools, and community groups across Bengaluru.

Yet, behind those numbers sits the stubborn commitment of a 15-year-old. 

That commitment also shows in how the initiative has been sustained over time. Spread across nearly three years, the total project cost is estimated at around Rs 1.4–1.6 lakh, covering the production of over 22,000 bags to date. About 50% has come from Manya’s award money, including cash prizes from several international recognitions, while 10% has been drawn from her personal savings. The remaining amount has been contributed by her parents, largely towards paying tailors in small instalments over time.

The initiative has not accepted any external donations and continues to be driven by individual effort and intent, with expenses managed as production needs arise. “Once money enters as donation, it changes the intent,” Chitrashee explains. “We wanted this to remain a movement, not a business.”

The work has come with its own set of challenges. The cost of stitching each bag has gone up from Rs 7–9 in 2023 to Rs 20 in 2026. When tailors change, timelines shift, and busy seasons often slow the process down.

The stitching job that changed a life

Even with these changes, the people involved have stayed closely connected to the work.

For Sayta Arjun, one of the tailors who has worked with the campaign over time, this has been more than just another assignment. It has changed how she sees her work. “I feel very happy that I can help in this campaign.”

For her, old sarees now carry a different meaning. Earlier, they were often simply given away. Now, she sees what they can become. “After seeing this project, even I felt that I could reuse my old sarees and make them into cloth bags.”

While Sayta charges approximately Rs 20 per bag, the motivation, she says, goes beyond income. “I have not looked at this project financially, but I am grateful to be a part of this project.”

For Manya, every discarded saree holds possibility. “A saree is not waste,” she says thoughtfully. “It can become curtains, bedspreads, pillow covers, bags. Such a beautiful fabric has many lives.”

That way of looking at fabric also shapes what she hopes to build next. She wants to reach lakhs of vendors, reduce dependency on plastic carry bags, and make carrying your own bag a natural choice. 

“When you carry an eco bag, you feel proud. You feel like you are part of change.”

And in that pride lies the quiet power of Grandma’s Green Weave — a movement stitched with memory, responsibility, and love.

Turning onion peels into paper sheets 

The same instinct that led Manya to work with old sarees shows up in other parts of her life too. She often finds herself looking at everyday waste and wondering what else it can become.

If Grandma’s Green Weave grew from remembrance, her vegetable peel paper began with curiosity. “I started experimenting with vegetable paper when I saw my mother peeling onions. The peels already looked like paper, so I wondered if I could turn them into it.”

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But, like most new ideas, the first few attempts failed.

“I wouldn’t say I perfected it,” she says. “Perfection is a long way to go. But I think I have created something very close to regular, virgin paper. It can be written on, folded, crafted with. I have papers from 2020, and they are in perfect condition even now.”

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What began with onion peels soon expanded into a wider exploration of kitchen waste. During the 2020 lockdown, Manya began working with materials like carrot peels, garlic husks, corn cobs, pea shells, coconut husks, coriander stems, grass clippings, peanut shells, and citrus rinds, turning them into usable sheets of paper.

She also experimented with denim scraps, continuing to test how far everyday waste could go when reworked with care.

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Her mother recalls how simply the idea began. “It started when she saw me peeling onions and felt the peels looked like paper. She wanted to try turning them into something usable. Later, people approached her with business ideas, but we chose to let it remain a DIY project so people could learn and do it at home.”

Taking sustainability into classrooms

Taking her love for sustainability beyond her corner of the world, Manya now conducts back-to-school workshops in Bengaluru, where she teaches children to make seed pencils and newspaper pens.

“When you’re writing with a pencil which has seeds, you wait for the time when the pencil gets over, and you’re ready to plant the seed,” she says. “It’s a happy moment when you plant it, water it daily, watch it grow and give fruits or flowers. It’s a huge journey which they will remember for the rest of their lives.”

Alongside her work on sustainability, writing has remained a constant in Manya’s life. She is the author of nine nature-themed books and the editor of Sunshine Fortnightly, an environment-focused magazine she created to bring conversations on climate action, biodiversity, and sustainable living to young readers in schools and libraries.

Her parents have watched this journey take shape from the beginning.

Her father fondly recalls, “A teacher told us she has the potential to reach the masses through her words. After her first book was published in 2019, there was no turning back.”

Her mother adds, “Children should grow up in an environmentally friendly space and learn through practical experiences.”

Manya looks forward to continuing her effort with sparkles in her eyes. “We children are the citizens of tomorrow. If we decide to build a sustainable future for ourselves, we can bring change through our words and actions. Climate education at the grassroots level is the seed that will bring a huge forest of change in the future,” she says.

And perhaps that is what her journey brings into focus. Change does not always begin in boardrooms or policies. Sometimes, it begins at home, with a grandmother’s saree.

All images courtesy Manya Harsha

At 51, Oorbee Roy chose courage over hesitation… stepping onto a skateboard despite fear, doubt, and the constant noise of what will people say 🛹

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In the vast, wind-swept grasslands of Kutch, hope is walking on two fragile legs.

A week-old chick of the Great Indian Bustard, one of India’s most critically endangered birds, is being raised in the wild, marking a rare and significant breakthrough for conservationists working to save the species from extinction.

“The region has not seen a Great Indian Bustard chick in over a decade. This is the first time we’ve attempted a ‘jump start’ like this in the wild,” says IFS officer Dheeraj Mittal, Conservator of Forests, Kutch, Government of Gujarat. “A fertile egg was swapped with an infertile one in a natural nest. The egg hatched successfully, and the mother has accepted the chick.”

For a species that hasn’t recorded a successful chick birth in the wild for over 10 years, this moment is nothing short of extraordinary.

Small intervention, big shift

The idea behind the intervention was both simple and bold, working with nature rather than against it.

With wild populations dwindling and no viable mating pairs left in Gujarat, conservationists had little chance of obtaining a fertile egg in the wild. In fact, only three female Great Indian Bustards survive in the grasslands of Kutch.

To work around this, a fertile egg reared under Project Great Indian Bustard at a captive breeding facility in Rajasthan was transported over 770 km by road, from Sam to Naliya, in a carefully coordinated journey without halts, before being placed in a wild nest.

The hope was that the mother bird would continue incubating it, unaware of the swap, and raise the chick as her own.

And it worked.

“The mother is showing strong maternal instincts,” Mittal says. “We are monitoring the chick only through binoculars and drones within a contained zone. There is absolutely no physical handling.”

That restraint is deliberate. For conservationists, ensuring the chick bonds naturally with its mother is as important as its survival.

Most vulnerable month

Right now, the chick is in its most delicate phase. For the next few weeks, it will remain flightless, staying within a small, predictable area — making it especially vulnerable in an environment that has become more challenging over time.

“The first month is critical,” Mittal explains. “The chick cannot escape predators yet.” And the list of threats is long: jackals, foxes, wild cats, and increasingly, stray and feral dogs. To protect it, teams have mobilised around the clock.

“There is 24/7 manpower deployed in the area,” he says. “We are not just guarding against predators, but also human disturbances such as grazing, vehicles, and even people unknowingly entering the zone.”

It’s an intensive, almost hands-on approach to a species that once thrived without such intervention — a reflection of how much its ecosystem has changed.

Bird on the brink

The Great Indian Bustard was once a common sight across India’s grasslands. Today, its numbers have plummeted drastically, with Kutch in Gujarat emerging as one of its remaining habitats.

“Across India, populations are now extremely fragmented,” Mittal notes. “In many places, numbers are too low for natural breeding to happen effectively.”

The reasons are complex but familiar: habitat loss due to expanding infrastructure, fragmentation of grasslands, and one particularly deadly threat — collisions with overhead transmission lines.

“These birds have poor frontal vision,” Mittal explains. “They often don’t detect power lines in time, which leads to fatal collisions.” Over time, these pressures have not only reduced numbers but also disrupted breeding patterns.

“With fewer individuals and fragmented habitats, finding a suitable mate in the wild has become increasingly difficult,” he adds. “That’s why we hadn’t seen chick births in the wild for years.”

Can this be a way forward?

The success of this intervention offers a new direction — one that blends scientific support with natural behaviour.

Unlike captive breeding, where chicks are raised in controlled environments, this method ensures the bird grows up learning survival directly in the wild — from foraging to evading threats. “This approach allows us to retain natural instincts while still supporting population recovery,” Mittal says.

But scaling it up won’t be easy. Each intervention requires careful planning, constant monitoring, and significant manpower. And even then, survival is not guaranteed.

For now, all eyes are on the chick — from a respectful distance.

If the chick survives the next few weeks, it will attempt its first flight, a milestone that brings both relief and a new set of challenges. “Once it takes flight, tracking becomes much harder,” Mittal says. “That’s when uncertainty increases again.”

And yet, that uncertainty is also the goal, as it marks a return to the wild where the species can eventually sustain itself without constant human watch.

Fragile but powerful hope

In a landscape where the Great Indian Bustard has been steadily disappearing, this one chick represents more than just a successful hatch.

It represents a possibility. A reminder that even in the face of long decline, carefully designed interventions, rooted in patience and respect for nature, can still shift the story.

“It’s a hopeful beginning,” Mittal says. “But conservation is a long journey. This is just one step.” 

For now, that step is enough. Somewhere in Kutch’s grasslands, a tiny bird is learning to walk, and with it, an entire species’ future.

As summer temperatures climb across India, many households are returning to a simple, time-tested way of staying cool: drinking water stored in a clay pot, or matka. Naturally cooled, earthy in taste, and free from electricity, clay pot water is once again becoming a preferred choice for families looking to beat the heat.

But while a matka offers several benefits, keeping it clean and safe is essential to ensure the water remains healthy to drink. With its porous surface and constant exposure to the environment, a clay pot can easily collect dust, bacteria, and other contaminants if not maintained properly. 

Here are three simple steps to keep your clay pot water fresh and safe all summer long.

Start with proper preparation

Before using a new clay pot, it’s important to prepare it correctly. Soak the matka in water for a full day. This helps seal its tiny pores and prevents leaks. 

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After soaking, scrub the pot thoroughly and allow it to dry in the sun. This step not only strengthens the pot but also ensures it is clean and ready for storing drinking water.

Clean it daily, without fail

A common mistake is letting water sit in the pot for too long. In summer heat, stagnant water can quickly become a breeding ground for bacteria, moss, dust, and even insect larvae, all of which may lead to health issues. 

Avoid soap, use natural cleaners instead

Clay pots are porous by nature, which means they can absorb chemicals from soap or detergents. Using such products can contaminate the water and alter its taste. 

Instead, opt for natural cleaning agents. Scrubbing the pot with salt or baking soda works effectively to remove dirt and residue. For a deeper clean, using vinegar once a month can help eliminate bacteria and any lingering odour.

With a little care and daily attention, a humble clay pot can remain one of the safest, most refreshing ways to stay hydrated through the summer.

There’s a very specific feeling that arrives every April. It sits somewhere between excitement and dread, the ‘Sunday night feeling,’ but stretched across an entire month. New classes, new teachers, reshuffled friendships, rising expectations. For students, the start of a new academic year is not just a fresh beginning; it’s also an emotional reset that can feel overwhelming.

Fourteen-year-old Aalaya Bhatia from Gurugram describes it simply: “The night before going to school had always felt like ‘Did I complete all of my homework?’ or ‘Wish there was another holiday.’”

It’s a feeling many students recognise, the lingering anxiety of not being fully ready, even before things begin.

What is ‘April anxiety’?

April anxiety isn’t a clinical term, but it captures a very real experience. It’s the mix of uncertainty, pressure, and social shifts that come with starting a new school year. For some, it shows up as overthinking. For others, it feels like nervous excitement.

Sixteen-year-old Aryan Tuli from Noida, who has just finished his board exams and is stepping into Class 11, sees it differently. “I won’t call it a Sunday night feeling; it’s more of a new experience I’ll be tackling. Of course, there are a few butterflies in my stomach. But I’m really excited.”

That contrast matters. April anxiety doesn’t look the same for everyone, and that’s okay.

The triggers: What students actually worry about

For Aalaya, who is now moving into Class 8, anxiety often comes from unpredictability — especially in class. “In Hindi and science, ma’am could call for reading or surprise tests, and that makes me quite nervous,” she says.

The fear isn’t always about difficulty, but about being unprepared in the moment.

New teachers bring another layer of uncertainty. Aalaya admits that the transition between classes and changing teachers can feel unsettling. “I feel worried — will the new teachers be strict or nice? Will all the teachers change?” she adds.

Aryan, on the other hand, approaches it with a mix of curiosity and strategy. “There’s a bit of research that goes on internally with my friends,” he says with a laugh, referring to how they try to figure out which teachers they might get. Instead of letting it become a source of stress, he and his friends turn it into a shared, even enjoyable, experience.

Then there’s academic pressure, sometimes subtle, sometimes constant. Aryan admits, “It annoys me. First, the 10th standard was important; now they say the 11th is important — it’s a never-ending cycle.”

Aalaya feels this pressure differently. Repeated reminders from adults often leave her feeling irritated and frustrated.

Beyond academics, there’s also the emotional side of school life — friendships. A big part of school is the people students share it with, and when classes or sections change, those bonds are disrupted.

Both Aalaya and Aryan admit they miss their friends when they are placed in different sections. Aryan, however, accepts this shift with a practical perspective: “You cannot choose your stream based on your friends.”

The weight of overthinking

A common thread across students is overthinking — often about things that may seem small from the outside but feel significant in the moment. Thoughts about results, new beginnings, and fitting in can quickly spiral.

“I overthink, what if others judge me about my grades and more? " Aalaya shares.

It’s not always something students express openly. While she says she and her friends do talk about stress, she adds, “Few of us hide our emotions, as we don’t want to be the centre of attention or create stress for others.”

That hesitation to open up can make the anxiety feel heavier than it needs to be.

What actually helps 

The most effective coping strategies aren’t complicated — they’re simple, practical habits that give students a sense of control.

Aalaya has built a routine that helps reduce last-minute stress, from staying organised and planning ahead to making time for small, comforting activities. Like many students, she has found her own way of navigating the anxiety that comes with a new academic year.

“I try to revise topics, read chapters one day before, and plan my homework accordingly — that really helps me manage my school days,” she says.

She also leans on creative outlets. “I listen to music, read a book, or do art and craft.” Even short breaks matter: “Watching TV for 15–20 minutes or taking a nap helps me rest my mind.”

Aryan takes a different approach. For him, distraction works best. “Whenever I feel anxious, I switch on my gaming system — it helps me take my mind off things.”

He also values physical activity. Playing badminton with friends helps him “divert the stress.”

What stands out is how both students instinctively create balance — between preparation and pause, focus and fun.

The role of support and space

Support systems matter, but often in subtle, easily overlooked ways.

Aalaya says her parents help through small, everyday gestures. “Giving me hugs, supporting my work, and giving me time to rest,” she shares.

For Aryan, it’s the absence of pressure that makes the biggest difference. “My parents and brother have never questioned me about my marks. That helps me reduce stress.”

But both students point to something adults don’t always recognise — the need for space. The constant push to have everything figured out, or repeated questions about plans, can add to the pressure. Simply acknowledging that this transition period can be overwhelming — and responding with patience — can make a meaningful difference.

“We should be given enough space to make our own choices,” Aryan says, especially when it comes to academic paths.

Aalaya echoes this with a simple but powerful suggestion for teachers: “Be soft and understanding, especially in the first few days, so that students can feel comfortable.”

A more realistic way to look at April

April doesn’t have to feel like a test you haven’t studied for. It can be a transition – messy, emotional, but manageable.

The takeaway from students is clear: anxiety doesn’t disappear, but it becomes easier when you understand it, talk about it, and build small systems around it.

Sometimes, it’s as simple as packing your bag the night before or playing a game to clear your head and simply reminding yourself that it’s okay to feel both nervous and excited.

Because that ‘Sunday night feeling’?

It doesn’t mean you’re unprepared; it just means you’re stepping into something new — and that takes courage.

Students preparing for exams. Job seekers getting interview-ready. Professionals building workplace confidence.

Across Tier 2 and 3 India, millions of Indians are giving just 15 minutes of their day to learn English, and overcoming challenges of social acceptance and career advancement. Here's how this AI-native app is bridging India's English gap.

In partnership with @NITIAayogOfficial 's Frontier Tech Hub (NITI-FTH).

Music Credits:
Auto Clear Code: “Nexus” licensed via Music Vine: DBK1POIFXJ1B1FAN
Title of Musical Work: Nexus
Artist: IMG
License ID S789189-12865

Originally reported and written in February 2023, this story has been republished as part of our archival content.

Anaya Jethanandani’s schedule is unlike that of most kids her age. The Class 11 student of Bengaluru’s Indus International School describes her upcoming weekends as “hectic”, owing to the slew of workshops that she is set to host for women across the city in an attempt to make them adept at handling their finances. 

What propelled the 17-year-old in this direction? Witnessing an incident firsthand, she says. 

It all started in April 2021, when Anaya’s cook came to work one day in tears. 

“On probing why she was so upset, she said her husband was dominating her. He controlled her finances and what she did with the money, even though she was the only breadwinner in the family. She did not have any say,” says Anaya. 

She adds that to top this off, the husband wouldn’t set aside money for their two school-going sons, instead keeping all for himself and his alcoholic needs. 

This triggered Anaya, who says, “Coming from a privileged background, I have seen financial equality. Hearing this story was a cultural shock and I decided to do some research on the subject and speak to people who knew better.” 

 

FINWIN: A young girl’s attempt to bridge the gender gap in finance

When Anaya started off, she did it with the intent of simply helping women who were suppressed by their husbands and not adept at financial independence. 

“I was keen on getting insights from the lower socio-economic strata, but this was during the pandemic, which posed hurdles. So, I used the time to instead upskill on financial literacy, whilst speaking to various experts in the field and some of my parents’ friends who could shed more light on financial topics,” she adds. 

“I even did a course on the basics of financial literacy for women. I learnt a lot through this, and was now brimming with knowledge that I wanted to share with other women who may not have access to these resources,” notes Anaya, adding that this thought eventually led to her establishing FINWIN in July 2021. 

But, there was a lot of groundwork that awaited her.  

“I did a pilot study in August 2021, wherein I spoke to 15 women domestic workers from my society who had stories similar to Anita’s — of feeling out of control with their own hard-earned money. My goal was to understand where they were placed when it came to financial independence, whether they had bank accounts, control over the way they spent their money, or if their husbands or fathers handled their finances. At the end of this study, I had my answer — the problem was very prevalent,” she says. 

With this understanding, Anaya’s desire to do something to help the women was fuelled. She says FINWIN is spearheaded by two focal points. 

 

“People should be financially literate and financially included.”

As part of the former, Anaya conducts financial literacy workshops wherein she guides the women with tracking their expenses, budgeting according to the 50:30:20 method, prioritising where to cut down and where to spend, and how to beware of different frauds and scams.   

As part of the financial inclusion, the women are guided with applying for government schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dan Yojana, and how to open bank accounts. She also organises mobile clinics, wherein she collaborates with different banks.   

“For instance, we collaborated with the IndusInd Bank, for which officials came to my society and we had set up booths for them. We invited all women from the community who wished to increase their financial independence to come to these clinics and open bank accounts.”

At the end of this session, says Anaya, 60 women had their own bank accounts. 

Ripples of impact 

Malti, one of the domestic workers in Anaya’s society, has been a part of the FINWIN workshops. She says she never had a bank account until today. “Whenever I tried opening an account, they would always ask for so many documents and say this account will take very long to open. They would send me away saying kits are not in stock, and to come next month.”

But Anaya’s workshop was when it all changed for Malti. 

“Here in Anaya’s camp, they opened my account with my Aadhar card and she also activated my Google Pay [mobile payment service] in 30 minutes. Now all madams transfer salaries to my account. I’m able to save for my children and I plan to put my elder son in an English medium hostel to study,” she says. 

Jurmania, a girl who works as a nanny, says her favourite part of the workshop was learning about the 50:30:20 rule. 

 

“I have been able to shop and buy things we need for my family. We bought a tractor back in the village and I now pay EMI of Rs 5,000 every month. Opening a bank account has enabled me to avail government schemes. When I went to my village for Christmas and told the bank there about these schemes, they agreed and offered me the benefits. I had taken the paper that Anaya had given me on the scheme,” she says. 

Until today, Anaya says that 750 women have been trained in financial literacy and inclusion. These women come from areas around Bengaluru such as Sarjapur and Jainagar. 

“We have created bank accounts successfully for 200 women and have had 15 workshops in slums. The women don’t pay a fee. FINWIN is a not-for-profit venture,” says Anaya. The workshops are scheduled for weekends and last for around two hours per day. 

A major challenge, she says, is that when it comes to opening bank accounts for women, the verification often fails. 

“This is because most of them have their husband’s or father’s phone number linked to their Aadhar cards.” To navigate this, Anaya then helps these women with updating their phone numbers in the bank. 

The initiative even went on to win the prestigious MYP Student Innovators Grant, offered by the IB (International Baccalaureate) in collaboration with Ashoka.org. But for Anaya, the accolades and the acclaim are secondary. 

“I do what I do because I believe it is a great cause and I want to make a difference,” she emphasises. 

Edited by Divya Sethu

Not all strength is loud or visible at first glance. Sometimes, it reveals itself in the quiet decision to keep going — to rebuild, to return, and to reclaim life after it has been deeply shaken. At a time when conversations around health often centre on limitation, some individuals gently rewrite that narrative. 

They remind us that a medical setback is not always an ending; sometimes, it becomes the beginning of a life lived with deeper purpose and renewed strength.

A second chance rooted in resilience

In the fields of Rajasthan, one such story continues to grow, season after season.

In 2015, Suraj Bhan, a farmer from the state, became part of medical history when he underwent one of Rajasthan’s first successful heart transplants. The heart he received belonged to an 18-year-old named Raju, a young donor whose life was cut short, but whose decision gave someone else a future. 

That quiet, extraordinary act of generosity became the turning point in Suraj Bhan’s life.

At the time, the surgery itself was remarkable. Organ transplants were still evolving in the state’s healthcare system, and survival beyond the operating room was often seen as the biggest milestone. 

But for Suraj Bhan, survival was only the first step.

Returning to the land he loves

Returning home after the transplant, his journey did not follow the path many would expect. Instead of retreating into rest or dependency, he chose to return to the land he had always known. Farming — physically demanding, unpredictable, and deeply tied to routine - became both his anchor and his way forward.

Slowly, steadily, he resumed work in his fields, rebuilding not just his strength but also his sense of normalcy. Each passing season marked not just agricultural cycles but also milestones in his recovery. Bhan has now spent the past 11 years living with the heart of an 18-year-old, while continuing to work on his four bigha farm.

Years passed, and what once seemed extraordinary became everyday life.

A life that continues to grow

Today, at 43, Suraj Bhan continues to farm mustard with fellow farmers in his Jorawarpura village, nearly a decade after his transplant. April 2 marked 11 years since his surgery, and in all this time, he has kept turning up to his mandi and to his fields in Jorawarpura village, refusing to slow down.

His days begin at 5 am, as he heads to the fields in the morning, rests in the afternoon, and returns to work again in the evening. He eats simple home-cooked food, follows a steady routine, and sleeps on time — a life built on discipline, balance, and determination.

There is something profoundly moving about this continuity, not because it ignores the magnitude of what he went through, but because it integrates it.

His life is no longer defined by the transplant; instead, the transplant has become a part of a larger, ongoing story of perseverance.

What makes his journey especially powerful is the contrast it holds. A heart transplant is often associated with fragility — a lifelong dependence on medication, careful monitoring, and caution. 

Yet here is a man who chose not to be defined by fear. With discipline, care, and quiet determination, he built a life that feels whole again, carrying forward not just his own will to live, but also the legacy of a young donor whose heart still beats through his days.

More than a medical milestone

His story also reflects the evolving landscape of healthcare in India. What was once rare and uncertain has, over time, become more accessible and successful. But beyond the science and systems, stories like his bring attention to something equally important: the human capacity to adapt, endure, and thrive.

Strength does not always look like grand gestures or dramatic victories. Sometimes, it looks like waking up each day and returning to what you love, despite everything that tried to take it away from you. It looks like choosing purpose over pause and dignity over doubt.

Suraj Bhan’s life is not just about a successful surgery. It is about what came after — the quiet courage to rebuild, the patience to heal, and the determination to keep going.

In a world often drawn to fleeting moments of inspiration, his journey offers something far more lasting: proof that resilience, when rooted deeply enough, can continue to bear fruit for years to come.

Sources:

‘Heart of the matter: With 18-year-old’s heart, this Raj farmer still farms everyday’  by Syed Intishab Ali for The Times Of India, Published on 7 April 2026. 

‘Raasthan's first successful heart transplant patient leaves for home’ by The Times Of India, Published on 15 September 2015.

‘A green heart joyfully at work, part of medical history of Rajasthan’ by Syed Inrishab Ali for The Times Of India, Published 8 August 2022.

She asked us to protect her child’s identity and that request says everything about a mother’s strength 💔 Behind what looked like a perfect marriage, she silently endured years of abuse until one night changed everything

Holding her son’s hand, she chose courage over fear and walked away from a life that no one deserves Today, she is rebuilding her world as a yoga practitioner and a single mother finding healing one step at a time

Her journey is a reminder that silence should never be the price of survival Because it is never too late to walk away and reclaim your peace So here’s the question how can we support more voices to break the silence

#DomesticViolenceAwareness #WomenEmpowerment #SurvivorStory #BreakTheSilence #EndAbuse #WomenSupportWomen #HealingJourney #SpeakUp #Strength #PositiveStories #Hope #Resilience #SafeSpaces

[domestic violence awareness India, women empowerment stories, survivor journey India, breaking the silence abuse, healing and recovery stories, women leaving abusive relationships, inspirational survivor stories India, mental health and healing journey, women safety awareness India]

Signs of Domestic Violence and How to Get Help
Inspirational Survivor Stories India
How Women Rebuild Life After Abuse
Breaking Silence on Domestic Violence India
Healing Journey After Toxic Relationships

This video shares a powerful true story of a woman's journey through a toxic relationship and her courageous decision to break free. Witnessing trauma, she navigated the complexities of domestic violence, ultimately finding strength to pursue a fresh start for herself and her son. Her healing journey serves as a powerful reminder that no one deserves to live in fear within an abusive relationship.

Originally reported and written in January 2023, this story has been republished as part of our archival content.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in India among women today, and consequently, the number of mastectomy surgeries too has gone up. In India, every four minutes a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer. Many women who undergo this painful procedure, where the entire breast tissue is removed, often question their sense of self.

While some women have access to silicone breast prostheses, most don’t, and are forced to stuff handkerchiefs and cotton balls in their bras to create an illusion of full breasts. This practice often leads to rashes, infections or painful skin abrasions.

It was with an intention to help such women that Chennai-born Jayashree Ratan started making crocheted prostheses for breast cancer survivors. 

Jayashree, who is the founder of Saaisha India, a voluntary organisation that makes such prostheses, says, “Women are under such pressure to look a certain way that they have to undergo this pain as well after a traumatic surgery. That’s why I decided to make crocheted or knitted prostheses.”

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by The Better India (@thebetterindia)

 

Since its launch in 2018, the Mumbai-based organisation has distributed over 5,700 prostheses for free. It has a network of over 270 volunteers from across India, the UAE and the US.

These prostheses are made from 100 percent mercerised cotton yarn, which is soft on the skin and does not cause allergies. Each product can be used for close to two years and is hand washable. The prostheses are available in different cup sizes and fit well into the mastectomy bra.

“We never knew we would touch so many lives by spending just a few hours on each product. That is our biggest reward,” says Jayashree.

Edited by Asha Prakash

Sometimes, it takes just one line of music to stay with you long after the song ends. Not because it is loud or dramatic, but because it feels real, honest and makes you feel alive.

That is the kind of voice Dhurandhar gifted its audience through Satinder Sartaaj — a voice that doesn’t just sing, but quietly settles into your heart. In the film, even a brief moment like ‘Jaiye Sajna’ carries a depth of emotion that many full-length songs strive for. It’s subtle, yet powerful, the kind of music that lingers.

A journey that was never planned

But music was never the plan for Satinder. Born into a farmer’s family, his early life was far removed from stages and spotlights.

His days were spent helping in the fields, his evenings filled with poetry — verses he would hum softly to himself.

His true dream? Academia.

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A post shared by The Better India (@thebetterindia)

Deeply drawn to the spiritual depth of Sufi music, he pursued it with dedication, eventually completing a PhD in the subject. For six years, he taught at Punjab University, living the life he had always imagined — that of a professor, immersed in literature and music.

And yet, life had other plans waiting quietly in the wings.

The voice that travelled the world

In 2008, an unexpected opportunity took him to Toronto to perform for a Punjabi-Canadian audience. What followed was not part of any blueprint he had written for himself.

His voice was rich, soulful, and deeply expressive, and that struck a chord instantly. Videos of his performance began to circulate, and before long, the Punjabi music industry took notice.

From there, there was no looking back. Whether singing of devotion or romance, Satinder’s voice carried an emotional honesty that resonated across boundaries. It wasn’t just about melody — it was about feeling. About telling stories that people could see themselves in.

Even today, in Dhurandhar 2, that same quality shines through. With just a single line, he brings alive a character’s pain, making audiences feel something profound in a matter of seconds.

More than just a voice

Satinder Sartaaj’s journey beautifully reflects how sometimes, the paths we don’t plan lead us exactly where we are meant to be.

From a farmer’s son writing poetry, to a scholar of Sufi music to a voice that now echoes across the world — his story is not just about success. It’s about staying true to what moves you, even when you don’t yet know where it will take you.

Because sometimes, all it takes is one line — and the courage to let it be heard.

Mumbai once had thousands of pyaavs offering free drinking water rooted in sewa and daan… today, only 64 remain serving millions 💧 What was once a culture of care has slowly disappeared in the face of urban growth

As heatwaves intensify and access to clean water becomes unequal, the issue is no longer about nostalgia it’s about survival For daily wage workers, commuters, and the vulnerable, free drinking water can be the difference between safety and risk

This isn’t just a policy question it’s a public health necessity Because cities are not just built on infrastructure but on empathy So here’s the question should we bring back pyaavs and make water accessible for all again

#WaterForAll #UrbanSustainability #ClimateAwareness #PublicHealthIndia #SustainableCities #HeatwaveIndia #WaterCrisis #MumbaiStories #ClimateAction #CityPlanning #BasicNeeds #IndiaUrban #AccessForAll

[free drinking water India, Mumbai pyaav history, heatwave impact India, urban water access India, public health India water, water crisis cities India, pyaav system India, climate change water shortage India, sustainable city solutions India]

What Are Pyaavs in Mumbai History
Why Free Drinking Water Is Important in Cities
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Urban Water Crisis Solutions India
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Have you ever seen a house being transported from one place to another? Yes, like a complete house.  

Me neither, until Moon Bhandari (38) sent me this picture. 

It’s her farmhouse in Nagpur being shipped from the assembly site to the final location. And I must admit it’s a sight to behold. 

Moon and her family had the home built last year, and they’ve spent a few vacations here. Sharing their insistence during the prefabrication stages that the farmhouse be built sustainably, Moon says, “The material that’s been used is very unique, and it doesn’t harm the environment.”

She is referring to the silica composite blocks that architect Shridhar Rao (49) of the Gurugram-based ‘R+D Studio’ calls “a game changer in sustainable construction”. The blocks are 100 percent recyclable, he says, adding that they are 80 percent foundry dust (burned sand from metal casting) and 20 percent plastic waste.

How ‘waste’ becomes building material

While the farmhouse is one example of such a project built using the blocks, a series of 10 toilets in Punjab has also been constructed with them. The first of these was at the Amritsar international airport; Shridhar says the idea was sparked when a student, Ruhani Verma, noticed that the public parking space did not have public utilities and started a movement to have these built. 

“That’s when we got together and proposed the idea of a toilet that would be 100 percent green,” Shridhar shares. 

As Ruhani had shared at the time, “I stay in a boarding school, and we [students] order a lot of parcels from e-commerce sites. So there’s a lot of plastic waste that is generated right here. I spoke to the bhaiyas (sanitation workers) and found a way to segregate the plastic waste and send it to the R+D Studio team’s work site, where the bricks were being manufactured.”

Soon, JK Cement commissioned many more of these toilets. 

With the idea of new locations, there was conversation around a ‘lift and shift’ model, wherein the toilet would be constructed at the factory and then moved to the location. Shridhar gives full credit to the material’s versatility for making all of this possible. “Even today, we are still discovering new properties of this material,” he says. 

A sustainable composite material 

How do the silica composite blocks weather different climates? 

We turn our gaze to a bunker at 14,000 ft near Jammu and Kashmir’s Razdan Pass, where they brave 25 feet of snowfall and bullet threats. Sharing that the walls are strengthened with compacted earth, Shridhar says this insulates the interiors and makes the structure “impenetrable”. 

He explains, “The material is the first barrier to extreme weather. There’s a marked difference in the temperature between the outside and the inside space when you walk into an enclosure that’s built with the silica composite blocks — a minimum five-degree difference.”

While it comes with many advantages, Shridhar’s favourite property of the material is that it can be recycled. 

He recalls that when he set out to develop the material in 2017, he wanted to look beyond ABS plastic (plastic known for high-impact stiffness and toughness; examples are water bottles, LEGO blocks, etc). 

“Single-layer plastic is the thin transparent plastic bags we get from vegetable vendors, and the multilayered plastic is the food chips and biscuit packets. Since these are both input materials in shredded form, with different properties, we use an alternative recyclable additive to stabilise the mix for better results.”

He adds, “During the testing phase, we noticed that even if we threw the blocks from a height of 100 feet, they did not break.” He attributes this strength to the foundry dust, adding, “This means that even the cottages built out of the material will last longer than traditional brick-and-mortar structures.”

Built to take impact and stay intact

Pointing out another uniqueness of the material, he says, “While it performs like stone, it isn’t as brittle in nature.” The architect urges us to think of the material as resembling rubber in the way it bounces back, even after changes are made to the structure. 

“You can drill holes into it, and it will still retain its integrity. And this improves the longevity of the material’s external life by leaps and bounds,” he says. 

Will the silica composite blocks be a game-changer in the way homes of the future are built? 

Perhaps. 

As Moon shares about her farmhouse, “There was no construction dust or pollution since it was pre-fabricated. The house even came with electrical and plumbing.” 

Meanwhile, for architect Shridhar, the work now lies in taking this material beyond experiments and into more homes, spaces, and everyday builds.

All pictures courtesy R+D Studio

For a lot of young Indians, 1 April isn’t just about taxes or salary cycles. It’s that moment when you open your bank app, scroll through recent spends, and think, “Okay, this year I’ll actually get my money sorted.”

But between endless UPI taps, late-night food orders, Rs 299 subscriptions you forgot you signed up for, and impulsive “add to cart” moments, saving often takes a backseat, especially for young earners in the Rs 3.5–Rs 8 lakh range across urban India.

According to Rohith Rangan, a Mumbai-based investment professional, the problem isn’t income; it's often how we approach money. “Most people operate with an ‘earn to spend’ mindset. The shift needs to be towards ‘earn to build’,” he says.

Here are 7 simple, actually doable money habits, backed by expert insights, that young earners can realistically stick to this year.

1. Start with tracking, not budgeting

Before setting targets, understand reality.

Rohith suggests starting with a simple exercise: track every expense, no matter how small.

“Write down everything: travel, food, groceries. Once you see the data, patterns emerge. You’ll know exactly where your money is going and what can be cut.”

This is especially important in a world of frictionless payments, where money often leaves your account without you noticing.

Try this

• Track daily or weekly spends

• Use a notebook, Notes app, or Excel

• Focus on consistency, not perfection

2. Flip the formula: Save first, spend later

Most people spend first and save what’s left. Rohith, a member of the Gen-Z clan himself, recommends the opposite and goes a step further. Aim to save up to 50% of your income over time, not all at once. To illustrate the impact, he shares a simple example:

Saving 30% of Rs 10 lakh in one year can grow to Rs 4.8 lakh in five years (at 10% return), whereas saving 50% could result in Rs 8.1 lakh. That’s a difference of over Rs 3 lakh, just from increasing the savings rate. “The amount you save matters more than the return you chase, especially early on,” he says.

Try this

• Start with 20–30%, increase slowly

• Automate savings on salary day

• Treat it like a non-negotiable expense

3. Start investing early, even if it’s small

One of the biggest myths young earners believe is: “I’ll invest when I earn more.” Rohith strongly disagrees. “Compounding works the same whether you invest Rs 12,000 a year or Rs 3 lakh. The key is starting early.” He recommends SIPs in passive index funds like Nifty 50 or Sensex funds, especially for beginners.

• Lower cost

• Diversified

• No need to actively track markets

“You don’t need to understand complex fund strategies to build wealth. Simplicity works.”

Try this

• Start with Rs 500–Rs 1,000 SIP

• Choose one to two index funds

• Stay consistent over years

4. Build an emergency fund early

Before chasing returns, build security. Rohith recommends setting aside six to nine months of actual expenses as an emergency fund, ideally within the first six months of your job. “With increasing uncertainty, including AI-led disruptions, job stability isn’t guaranteed. An emergency fund is your safety net.”

Try this

• Start with a Rs 10,000–Rs 20,000 goal

• Build gradually

• Keep it easily accessible (not invested in risky assets)

5. Make spending visible again

With UPI and one-tap payments, money has become almost invisible. And that changes how we spend. “Digital payments disconnect you psychologically from spending. You don’t feel the money going out.” Rohith suggests a simple but effective hack: Withdraw 80% of your weekly budget in cash, keep 20% for digital spending. This creates friction and awareness.

Try this

• Use cash for daily expenses

• Keep digital payments for essentials or emergencies

• Notice how your spending behaviour changes

6. Use credit cards as a tool, not a crutch

Credit cards often get a bad reputation, but Rohith sees them differently. “A credit card is just a tool: it gives you about a month’s time to earn interest on your money before paying.”

For example:

• Spend Rs 20,000 on a card

• Keep that money invested at ~12% annual return

• You earn roughly Rs 200 extra in that month before repayment

But the key is discipline.

Try this

• Always pay the full bill

• Don’t spend beyond your means

• Avoid using credit for impulse purchases

7. Start now, because time matters more than you think

When it comes to money, time is your biggest advantage. Waiting has a cost. Rohith breaks it down simply: “If you start at 25 vs 30 with the same Rs 10 lakh, the difference by 35 can be Rs 40 lakh vs Rs 20 lakh, assuming 15% returns. Compounding is unforgiving.”

Try this

• Don’t wait for the “perfect time”

• Start small, start now

• Let time do the heavy lifting

The bottom line

Financial planning isn’t about complicated strategies or chasing high returns. It’s about: tracking your money, saving consistently, starting as early as possible and building discipline

Because in the end, the biggest shift happens in how you think about money. From “I earn to spend” to “I earn to build.” And that’s what shapes your financial future over time.

She was left to die on the street… broken, covered in maggots, and ignored by everyone 🐾 But when Goldey came into their lives, everything changed in a way they never expected

At first, there was fear even hesitation around dogs But choosing compassion over comfort, they stepped in to help and gave her a second chance Slowly, as she healed, something else changed too their fear turned into love

Today, Goldey thrives and in the process, she healed the very people who saved her This story reminds us that sometimes the ones we rescue end up rescuing us So here’s the question would you open your heart to a second chance ❤️

#RescueDog #AdoptDontShop #StreetDogStories #AnimalRescueIndia #SecondChance #DogLovers #PetAdoption #KindnessMatters #AnimalRescue #InspiringStories #IndiaInspires #Compassion #SaveStrays

[dog rescue story India, adopt don’t shop India, street dog rehabilitation, animal rescue journey, pet adoption stories India, inspiring dog rescue stories, stray dog adoption India, animal compassion stories, rescue dog transformation, Indian street dog stories]

Inspiring Dog Rescue Stories India
Why You Should Adopt Street Dogs
Real Life Pet Adoption Stories India
Animal Rescue Stories That Will Make You Cry
How Rescue Dogs Change Lives

At 87, Mohammad Shareef is known to many as a humble bicycle mechanic. But for thousands of abandoned souls, he is the man who ensured they did not leave this world without dignity.

For 27 years, Shareef — fondly called Shareef Chacha — has performed the last rites of unclaimed bodies, irrespective of caste or religion. In that time, over 3,000 Hindus and 2,500 Muslims have found dignity in death because of him.

But his mission began with unimaginable loss.

In 1992, as he struggled to make ends meet, Shareef’s eldest son left for Sultanpur in search of work. Weeks passed without a call or letter. Worried, Shareef spent over a month knocking on doors, searching for him.

Then, one day, he found his son’s body stuffed inside a sack near a railway track, partly eaten by stray animals.

The sight shattered him.

That day, Shareef made a promise: no human being should leave this world without dignity.

Since then, he has cycled to mortuaries, police stations, and railway tracks, looking for the abandoned dead. Whether mutilated, decapitated, or wrapped in bloodstained cloth, he accepts every unclaimed body.

He performs their final bath and last rites at the Taadwali Takai cemetery in Rakabganj, Faizabad, ensuring they receive the farewell they deserve.

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His journey has not been easy. People once called him mad and shunned him. Despite his age, poverty, and the responsibility of supporting a family of 15, Shareef Chacha never stopped.

Instead, he continued, giving thousands the dignified farewell his own son never received.

In recognition of his selfless service, he was awarded the Padma Shri in 2020.

In a world that often forgets the dead, Mohammad Shareef refuses to. And through his quiet, unwavering commitment, he reminds us that dignity in death is not a privilege, but a basic human right.

“The first arm we ever provided went to a single mother. She told us the first thing she wanted to do was hold her baby. That, for us, is the true social return on investment,” recalls Pranav, whose innovation, inspired by Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, is one-tenth the cost of comparable global prosthetic devices.

In partnership with @NITIAayogOfficial 's Frontier Tech Hub (NITI-FTH).

Music Credits:
Title of Musical Work: Elapse
Artist: Monument Music
License ID S789188-12865

Rahul Khadtare first discovered hip-hop at age 13, when his friend found a phone lying around inside an auto rickshaw.   

“We just took the phone someone had left behind inside the auto rickshaw and kept it in our pockets,” recalls the Mumbai resident, who is now more popularly known as Kidshot. 

“After opening the phone, we found that it had about 60 to 70 songs from artists like Nas, 50 Cent, Lil Wayne…Initially, we couldn’t really understand what these rappers were saying and knew nothing about them. So, we went to the local cyber cafe, did a little research and printed out the lyrics.” 

Reading their lyrics closely, the friends realised that these rappers were talking about the same things that they were going through in the streets and slums of Powai. Taking inspiration from their lyrics, Kidshot decided to write and rap about what they were going through, but in a language more familiar to them — Hindi. 

By 14, he started to drop his own songs with help from his friends. Whatever the quality, the objective was to just put out music, he notes. Slowly but surely, he sharpened his skills. He would write every day and listen to entire discographies of artists like 2Pac and Notorious BIG.

“Many of the great American rappers grew up with nothing. These artists were always talking about the streets and housing projects they grew up in. They spoke of growing up with no money and trying to make it in one way or another. In the slum where I grew up, everything used to happen, like murders, and drug peddling…and people would engage in a variety of crimes just to make something out of nothing. I really related to that reality,” he recalls. 

He says that if you mention Powai, most people have the impression that it’s a wealthy area with locations like the opulent Hiranandani complex. “They don’t know that there are real slums here too. Whenever it rained, our home would get flooded.” 

Listening to these lyrics, Kidshot felt that the only difference between growing up on the mean streets of New York and Mumbai is the gun culture prevalent in the United States (US). 

“Here, there were more physical altercations, stabbings, etc. See, these rappers came from nothing and made it to the top. I wanted that too. I didn’t want to be trapped by my circumstances. I had to do something to make my way out of these streets and earn bread for my family. Even before hip-hop fell into my lap, I was hanging around with my friends doing ‘bad things’, but also thinking about how to make things happen for me.”

 

‘The chosen one’ 

From the moment hip-hop entered his life at 14, Kidshot was determined to make it in music. Where he came from, there was no one to really offer a helping hand. With that mindset, he consistently worked on his craft, found peers with a similar passion for the genre, regularly put out songs online, and worked odd jobs. After a couple of years, opportunities came running.

Over the years, he has briefly appeared in the Bollywood film Gully Boy, featured in GQ India magazine, earned brand endorsements and collaborated with some of India’s biggest hip-hop artists like Sikander Kahlon, Kr$na, Encore ABJ and many more. Kidshot also contributed to the Netflix series GABRU: Hip Hop Revolution for two tracks and wrote a few dialogues as well.  

In June 2020, he was signed by Mass Appeal India, the Indian subsidiary of Mass Appeal, a record label founded by the legendary rapper Nas. During his time at Mass Appeal India, he launched his debut EP Bhot Kuch, which racked up millions of hits and streams. 

Today, he has returned to rapping as an independent artist, recently launching his sophomore EP The Come Up. During this time, Kidshot also launched his official merchandise called ‘The Chosen One’. The proceeds from selling this merchandise (T-shirts, sweatshirts, accessories, mobile accessories, etc) are aimed towards helping new artists create their own music. 

 

Chopper flow

As a rapper, however, Kidshot made his name through the incredible speed with which he raps. Employing a technique called the ‘Chopper Flow’, it features fast-paced rhyming, tongue twisters and generally letting syllables fly at an extremely high rate of pace. The technique he employs can be traced back to the American Midwest. 

In a YouTube video, he dropped in October 2017, Kidshot claimed to have rapped more than 350 words in a minute. The India Book of Records, which is registered with the Government of India, recognised Kidshot for creating a record of the maximum words sung in a rap song in one minute — 335 words. For a while, he was considered the fastest Hindi rapper before Abhay Prasad (aka Devil the Rhymer) clocked 478 words a minute last year.  

“Inspiration for the flow came from notable American MCs like Tech9ne, Twista, Busta Rhymes and Eminem. Last year, Tech9ne shared a song of mine on social media called Boom, which I collaborated on and recorded with fellow MCs Lazarus (from the US) and Talhah Yunus (from Pakistan). It was a massive moment because I grew up listening to him. Getting encouragement and validation from hip-hop legends lets us know that we are on the right path,” he says.

But what is the secret to his rapid flow? 

“My fast flow is a result of the way I write songs. But I never wrote songs thinking that I must rap with a super fast flow. It’s what comes to me naturally,” he says. 

‘Hip-hop saved my life’

After spending two years in engineering college, Kidshot decided to quit and focus on a career in music. Studying engineering held no meaning, but quitting came with risks.  

“Once I made the decision to quit college and immerse myself completely in music, there was no looking back. I had to make it. My friends were already going to jail for petty crimes. If I couldn’t focus on my music dreams, it would be just a matter of time before I found myself in prison, given the situation with my friends. I gave myself a certain number of years to make it in the music game and earn something from it so that I don’t have to go back to that life,” he says.

Meanwhile, his father, who runs a small garage, and mother, a homemaker, had no idea that their son was rapping. It’s only when neighbours began telling his parents about their child rapping in a music video did they actually find out.  

“Initially, my parents thought rapping was just a hobby. They didn’t know it could help me earn money down the line. After all, we had no reference points to look up to in the local rap game. Starting out, it was an ‘alien scene’. We had to make our own thing, earn money, find studios and record, etc. We couldn’t ask for any money, contacts or resources from home,” he says.

Slowly, his parents began to accept my choice to rap but always encouraged him to “do something else”. But Kidshot was dead sure about making it as a hip-hop artist.

Sometime around late 2017 to early 2018, he started getting calls from the makers of the Bollywood film Gully Boy to audition for certain roles. Following Gully Boy, he got word from Netflix to work on their series GABRU: Hip Hop Revolution. Eventually, his network grew, and people began reaching out to him for more work. But his focus was always on making music and putting out songs online. In 2020, he was eventually signed by Mass Appeal India. 

“There wasn’t any particular turning point for me. Where I am is the result of the constant work I put in. All I knew was that I could never go back to the life I came from and that drove me to constantly make music. It was a slow and gradual process before opportunities started coming my way. The constant work that I put out lets people know from the hip-hop scene that there is this rapper called Kidshot and he makes 'dope' music. There weren’t as many notable rappers in the scene then as they are today. Everyone knew what the other was doing,” he says. 

 

No stopping Kidshot

At the start of this year, he dropped his sophomore EP called The Come Up, which contains seven songs. It took him about six months to write, record, mix and master the EP. 

“My process of writing and recording songs is very natural — never forced and depends on the vibe. If you write under pressure, the content isn’t good. There are songs that were recorded in a day. But for tracks like Uddh Chale, for example, I wrote my part in a day, but I recorded it only two-three months later. Anyway, every two months, I either drop a song or a music video. There is no stopping me. I want to drop more singles this year with music videos,” he says.  

Currently, he isn’t signed to any major music labels, but talks are once again on with the likes of Mass Appeal India and Def Jam India, according to the rapper. 

“Actually I’m happy doing this independently and not too obsessed about signing with another label. As an independent artist, I have the freedom to choose my sound and do things my way. I enjoy the process of being an independent artist, although anything can happen in the future. I like working with various producers, but two that have been with me for the past ten years are HRMN and Basshole. Every producer brings a different style and energy, and I enjoy that diversity,” he notes. 

Besides music, however, his focus is also on promoting his official merchandise under the brand ‘The Chosen One’. The objective is to eventually convert ‘The Chosen One’ into a music label.       

“The proceeds from the sale of this merchandise will be spent on new artists to take care of their production costs and make music videos. If a new artist approaches us with a demo, and we feel that this person has what it takes to become a quality artist, the money from the merchandise sale will be spent on helping them. We will help these artists make their videos while also giving them the creative licence to choose what they want in it,” he says.

An inspiration back home

While they initially questioned Kidshot’s decision to quit college and make music, his family are currently loving the fact that he’s getting featured in news outlets and making his music.

“Whenever I walk down the streets of my neighbourhood, people recognise me, and that makes my family feel good about what I do. They’re happy that I’m doing something productive. I often talk to kids in my neighbourhood but don’t give them unnecessary advice. But I do tell them that there is a life beyond this neighbourhood and that they can achieve big things,” he says. 

Kidshot has become a reference point for kids in his neighbourhood. “They now believe that they can make it too. We will not let them get on a bad path,” he says.

You can buy The Chosen One merchandise by clicking here.

You can follow him on Instagram and YouTube.

(Images courtesy Kidshot)

On an otherwise ordinary evening in early April, a wildlife enthusiast and his son were returning from a safari through the boundless and biodiverse expanse of Rajaji National Park when nature offered them a rare and unforgettable sight. 

Around 7.45 to 8.00 pm on 3 April 2026, Arun Kamath and his son Ashray spotted an unusual silhouette beside the route that wound its way through the wetlands of the Jhilmil Jheel Conservation Reserve, a lesser-known and serene part of the park.

A mysterious creature surfaces from the water

At first, the animal appeared typical, perhaps just another jungle cat settling in for the night. But as they watched, it did something astonishing. Rather than lingering on land, it boldly entered the water and swam across a narrow channel to settle on a bed of reeds on the opposite bank. 

Its behaviour was unusual for a cat, immediately catching their attention and filling them with a sense of wonder.

When they shone a torch across the animal’s glossy fur, the distinctive pattern of spots and stripes became visible. These markings are not found on ordinary jungle cats, leading the Kamaths to realise they were witnessing something exceptionally rare. 

Later, wildlife experts who examined the photographs confirmed that the creature was a fishing cat, a species renowned for its skill as an aquatic hunter and its close association with wetlands.

Fishing cats, scientifically known as Prionailurus viverrinus, are semi-aquatic felines that inhabit marshes, swamps, and riverine ecosystems. They use powerful limbs and partially webbed paws to catch fish and other prey. 

Although they are distributed across parts of South and Southeast Asia, including the Sundarbans of West Bengal, sightings are rare and usually brief, making every encounter a significant event for wildlife documentation.

Why this sighting could change everything

The setting itself turns this encounter into something unforgettable. The Jhilmil Jheel Conservation Reserve, with its patchwork of grasslands, swamps, and wetlands, has long been recognised as a haven for wildlife ranging from elephants and tigers to barasingha. 

However, until now, there had been no documented records of fishing cats in this area. The photographs captured by the Kamaths are believed to be the first such records from the Uttarakhand wetlands.

There had been hints that fishing cats might inhabit the wider region. Camera trap footage from Corbett National Park in 2022-23 and a previous rescue record from Nainital suggested their presence. 

But none provided such clear confirmation of the species in the wild. This sighting stands out not only for its rarity but for the clarity of the documentation of a nocturnal and elusive predator.

The observation has captured the attention of wildlife enthusiasts and conservationists. It highlights the ecological richness of the wetlands adjoining Rajaji and reminds us that even in familiar landscapes, hidden wonders continue to survive.

Fishing cats are classified as ‘vulnerable’ due to wetland degradation, habitat loss, and human-wildlife conflict. Every new record contributes to understanding and protecting the species. 

Whether this individual represents a long-overlooked resident or a transient exploring new territory, its presence proves the depth of life that persists in India’s wild places and underscores the importance of preserving these precious habitats.

Source:
‘Rare fishing cat spotted near Rajaji National Park, possibly first photographic record from Uttarakhand wetlands’: by TOI Lifestyle Desk for The Times of India, Published on 6 April 2026.

When Mohammad Shareef lost his son in the most heartbreaking way, he made a promise no one else should face the same fate. What began as grief soon turned into a lifelong mission of compassion

For 27 years, this humble bicycle mechanic has performed the last rites of over 5,500 unclaimed people across religions and communities giving them the dignity his own son never received His work goes beyond rituals it restores humanity where it is often forgotten

Honored with the Padma Shri, his greatest reward remains something deeper the peace of serving others Because some heroes don’t wear capes they carry compassion So here’s the question how far would you go to help a stranger

#HumanityFirst #InspiringStories #RealLifeHeroes #KindnessMatters #SocialImpact #IndiaInspires #Compassion #UnsungHeroes #PositiveIndia #HopeStories #ActOfKindness #HumanityWins #ServeOthers

[Inspiring human stories India, Mohammad Shareef story, acts of kindness India, real life heroes India, humanitarian work India, stories of compassion, Padma Shri awardees inspiring stories, helping unclaimed dead India, social impact stories India]

Who Is Mohammad Shareef Padma Shri
Inspiring Humanitarian Stories India
Real Life Heroes Who Help the Poor India
Acts of Kindness That Changed Lives
Stories of People Serving Humanity India

When Mohammad Shareef lost his son in the most heartbreaking way, he made a promise no one else should face the same fate. What began as grief soon turned into a lifelong mission of compassion

For 27 years, this humble bicycle mechanic has performed the last rites of over 5,500 unclaimed people across religions and communities giving them the dignity his own son never received His work goes beyond rituals it restores humanity where it is often forgotten

Honored with the Padma Shri, his greatest reward remains something deeper the peace of serving others Because some heroes don’t wear capes they carry compassion So here’s the question how far would you go to help a stranger

#HumanityFirst #InspiringStories #RealLifeHeroes #KindnessMatters #SocialImpact #IndiaInspires #Compassion #UnsungHeroes #PositiveIndia #HopeStories #ActOfKindness #HumanityWins #ServeOthers

[Inspiring human stories India, Mohammad Shareef story, acts of kindness India, real life heroes India, humanitarian work India, stories of compassion, Padma Shri awardees inspiring stories, helping unclaimed dead India, social impact stories India]

Who Is Mohammad Shareef Padma Shri
Inspiring Humanitarian Stories India
Real Life Heroes Who Help the Poor India
Acts of Kindness That Changed Lives
Stories of People Serving Humanity India

Originally reported and written in January 2023, this story has been republished as part of our archival content.

As a teenager, Janak Palta McGilligan had a near-death experience and underwent open heart surgery at the age of 17. With a newfound respect for life, she decided to dedicate her life to mother earth’s well-being.

 

 

 

 

 

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Back in 1992, when she was invited to Rio De Janeiro for the first Earth Summit, she learned about the environmental problems across the globe.

In 2011, after her husband Jimmy McGilligan died, she moved to their home in Sanawadia village near Indore. And then, she kept her promise to the environment. The 74-year-old transformed her home and made it completely sustainable.

The zero-waste household generates no electricity bill. A windmill powers the house along with 50 other houses in the vicinity. She also grows organic produce of vegetables, pulses, rice, and spices in her garden which has 160 trees and 13 crops, and the food is cooked in solar cookers.

She also converts old newspapers into bricks and uses them to power the kitchen in the absence of the sun.

Janak is the founder and director of an Indore-based non-profit ‘Jimmy McGilligan Centre for Sustainable Development’ and the former director of Barli Development Institute for Rural Women.

Under her guidance, more than 1,50,000 youths and over 6,000 rural and tribal women from over 1,000 villages have been trained in solar cooking. Lovingly called Janak didi, she welcomes guests to give them tips on sustainable living.

In 2015, she was conferred with the Padma Shri for her social work.

(Edited by Pranita Bhat.)

India’s small and marginal farmers often find themselves tangled in a complex web of information when trying to understand or access government support schemes. Whether it is questions about eligibility, application status, payments or entitlements under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM‑Kisan) scheme, many face long queues at government offices or rely on intermediaries and officials for answers. 

This consumes precious time, energy and money. Often, official information is available only in Hindi or English, leaving farmers in regions where the language is regional at a disadvantage.

For generations, the cost of information has been the cost of a journey. In many parts of rural India, a single trip to a government centre can eat into a day’s earnings. This made it hard for farmers to make informed decisions quickly. A simple question about why a payment was delayed could take days to resolve, and language barriers only added to the confusion.

What is the Kisan e‑Mitra chatbot?

To bridge this gap, the Government of India introduced the Kisan e‑Mitra chatbot, a digital assistant supported by artificial intelligence. This chatbot has been designed to help farmers get answers to their queries about key government agricultural schemes directly and instantly. Available through official farm portals and apps, it provides a user‑friendly way for farmers to pull information without having to visit offices or wait for officials.

A cornerstone of this tool’s appeal is its multilingual support. The chatbot currently understands and responds in 11 major Indian languages, including Hindi, Bengali, Telugu, Marathi, Tamil, Odia, Malayalam, Gujarati, Punjabi, Kannada and English. This dramatically widens the reach of reliable agricultural information.

How it helps:

1. Clear answers without queues

Kisan e‑Mitra is focused on answering questions about major schemes like PM‑Kisan, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (crop insurance) and Kisan Credit Card queries. Farmers can type or speak their questions into the chatbot. Behind the scenes, machine learning and natural language processing interpret the request and supply an accurate answer based on official data.

There is no need to navigate complex websites or wait on hold to speak to an official. Farmers can check their application status, find out why a payment has not yet arrived, or understand eligibility requirements instantly. This eliminates the long journeys and waiting periods that have traditionally made information access difficult.

2. Multilingual support for real inclusion

One of the biggest challenges in rural India has been the communication gap. A farmer who speaks Bengali or Odia may struggle with English or Hindi technical content and must depend on others to interpret. 

Kisan e‑Mitra’s support for 11 languages changes this dynamic. It allows farmers to interact with the system in the language they are comfortable with, making information accessible and meaningful.

3. 24‑hour availability

Unlike physical offices with fixed hours, the chatbot is available round the clock. Farmers can ask questions early in the morning before heading to their fields, or late at night after a long day’s work. This flexibility is particularly valuable during crucial periods such as sowing and harvest, when time is scarce.

4. Personalised responses and grievance support

Because the chatbot integrates with official agricultural data systems, it can provide personalised answers rather than general information. It can also help raise and track grievances related to scheme benefits. This focus on personalised support gives farmers confidence that the information they receive is both relevant and accurate.

What makes this possible: The tech behind it

At its core, Kisan e‑Mitra uses advanced artificial intelligence techniques like natural language processing to understand farmer queries in multiple languages and dialects. By combining this with official scheme data, it provides real‑time answers with context and clarity. The system is built on multilingual language models that have been trained to interpret and respond to diverse queries from across India’s agricultural landscape.

This is part of a broader shift towards digital governance in Indian agriculture. By weaving technology into extension services, the government is making it possible for farmers to access reliable information without traditional barriers of distance, language or time.

Real‑world impact: Immediate results

Since its launch, the chatbot has handled millions of queries from farmers across India. Even in its early phases, it was resolving thousands of farmer questions every day, reducing the load on physical help desks and providing answers that were once only available through intermediaries or officials.

In remote villages, a farmer can now ask about a pending PM‑Kisan instalment from a mobile phone, receive an instant explanation in their regional language, and decide what to do next without a lengthy trip to the nearest government office.

What makes Kisan e‑Mitra notable is not just that it gives answers, but that it does so without requiring intermediaries or queues. In India’s diverse agricultural landscape, giving farmers direct access to information in their own languages empowers them to make better decisions confidently. It marks a meaningful step towards greater inclusion, transparency and ease of access.

Summer is the season of sunshine, warmth, and nature’s riot of colours. Few flowering plants can match the sheer vibrancy of bougainvillaea. Its bracts, often mistaken for petals, come in shades of magenta, crimson, orange, and white, instantly turning any corner of your home into a tropical paradise. 

The allure of bougainvillaea lies in its accessibility; even a modest terrace, balcony, or patio can accommodate this climbing plant with judicious care. Here is a methodical guide to nurturing bougainvillaea in the home.

1. Select a sunny location

Bougainvillaea grows under unmitigated sunlight. Position your plant in a location receiving at least five to six hours of direct sunlight daily. A terrace, veranda, or sunlit balcony is ideal. Insufficient light diminishes flowering intensity, while generous exposure stimulates vigorous growth and abundant bract production.

2. Choose an appropriate container or planting site

When cultivating in containers, make sure the receptacle provides excellent drainage. Terracotta or ceramic pots are preferable because they allow moisture to dissipate naturally. For ground planting, select sandy and well-draining soil. Incorporating coarse gravel at the base further mitigates the risk of waterlogging and supports strong root development.

3. Prepare nutrient-rich and aerated soil

Use a porous, light soil mixture comprising garden soil, sand, and well-decomposed compost. During the vegetative and flowering seasons, apply a fertiliser enriched with phosphorus and potassium to encourage prolific bract development. Avoid excessive nitrogen, which favours foliage over flowers. Organic alterations, such as bone meal or well-rotted manure, can improve vitality and flowering potential.

4. Water with precision and restraint

Bougainvillaea prefers slightly arid conditions. Water judiciously, permitting the upper soil strata to dry between applications. Overwatering induces root decay and reduces flowering, whereas moderate drought stress is generally well tolerated. During periods of extreme heat, monitor hydration carefully without saturating the soil.

5. Prune strategically to encourage blooming

Pruning is important for structural refinement and increased flowering. After each bloom cycle, remove senescent or overcrowded branches. This promotes aeration, sustains new shoots, and facilitates the desired architectural form, whether upright, cascading, or climbing.

6. Train climbers with support structures

Bougainvillaea is naturally scandent. Use trellises, stakes, or strings to direct growth vertically or along walls and fences. Tie young branches lightly to the supports so they grow in the desired direction, eventually creating a beautiful display of colourful blooms.

7. Monitor and adjust according to seasonal conditions

The initial flush of blooms may take several weeks to appear. Observe for pests, such as aphids and mealybugs, and manage accordingly. Adjust care according to the season, such as providing shade during intense sunlight and improving drainage during heavy rain to promote healthy growth and continuous flowering.

On a warm afternoon in Gunawad village in Madhya Pradesh’s Jhabua district, a group of women sit in a circle beneath the shade of a neem tree, discussing issues affecting their community.

At the centre of the conversation is Chanda Bhabhar(32), listening closely and occasionally stepping in to guide the discussion.

For many in the village, she has become the person people turn to when something needs fixing, whether it’s accessing a government scheme, resolving pension paperwork, or raising concerns in the Gram Sabha.

But Chanda doesn’t see herself as a leader.

“I only try to help people with whatever problems they bring,” she tells The Better India.

“Sometimes it is about medical paperwork or pensions, sometimes about explaining what schemes are available. If someone comes to me with a problem, I try to find a way.”

Today, Chanda is known as a Panchayat Badlav Didi — a grassroots governance changemaker trained through Transform Rural India (TRI). 

The initiative equips rural women with the knowledge and confidence to engage with local governance systems and ensure communities receive the services they are entitled to.

But Chanda’s journey to this role was far from obvious.

Finding her voice beyond the home 

Born and raised in a rural household, Chanda grew up with limited opportunities for education. She studied until the eighth grade but could not continue after failing her exams. 

She was married in 2007, before turning 18, and moved to Gunawad. Like many young brides, her life centred on household responsibilities. But quietly, she carried a desire to do something more.

“I always felt that I should step outside and do some work of my own,” Chanda says. “I wanted to contribute in some way, but I didn’t know how.”

That opportunity arrived in 2018 when she participated in a visioning exercise organised by TRI, where women were encouraged to think about the future of their community and their own role in shaping it.

For Chanda, the experience was eye-opening.

While many spoke about livelihoods or infrastructure, she began asking a different question: why were government schemes failing to reach people even when they existed?

She soon realised the problem wasn’t always resources, it was information, participation, and accountability.

Determined to change this, Chanda joined TRI’s Panchayat Badlav Didi training programme, which ran through a series of workshops between 2018 and 2019.

“At first, people even questioned why I was going for the training,” she remembers. “Some said, ‘What change will you bring?’ But I stayed focused and continued.”

Gradually, the training changed how she saw both her village and herself.

“I learned how planning happens in a village, how decisions are taken, and how we can raise issues; all of this gave me a lot of confidence," she says. 

With that confidence came a realisation: if someone didn’t step forward to ask questions and push for solutions, the system would remain unchanged.

Chanda decided she would be that person.

Learning governance and the power to question it

For Chanda, the training was not just about attending sessions; it was about understanding how the system around her worked.

The programme brought together rural women to learn governance from the ground up.

“It was about understanding the basics of governance,” explains Rohit Yadav, Associate Practitioner at Transform Rural India. “From understanding the role of sarpanch to the workings of Gram Sabha, eligibility of schemes, women learnt everything and could guide their communities better,” he says.

The training also focuses on building perspective and confidence among women stepping into leadership roles for the first time.

“There is a module called the Perspective Building Module,” Rohit says. “It helps women realise why they want to become Panchayat Badlav Didis and how they can take responsibility for their villages.”

At the heart of the programme is a “visioning exercise”, where women collectively imagine the future of their communities.

“The objective is to understand the aspirations of women,” explains Mansi Dalal, Associate Practitioner with Transform Rural India. 

“Most communities have never had the chance to create a roadmap for the future. Through this exercise, they prepare a five-year vision for their village — identifying the issues they want to solve and the changes they want to see.”

These discussions often surface problems that go beyond infrastructure, issues like alcohol abuse, domestic violence, and lack of participation in governance.

“When women speak openly during these discussions, many social challenges come forward,” Rohit says. “And sometimes two or three women from the group step forward and say they want to work on these issues for the village.”

Chanda was one of those women.

“What stood out about her was her willpower,” Mansi adds.

“Many people attend training, but only a few truly take ownership. In Chanda’s case, it was very clear that she genuinely wanted to bring change in her village.”

The training gave Chanda something she had never had before: the confidence to ask questions.

“At the sessions, we learned how planning happens in the village and how issues can be raised,” Chanda says. “Once I understood that, I realised we could actually solve many problems if we worked together.”

Soon, an opportunity to put those lessons into action arrived.

Fixing a broken health system

In Gunawad, healthcare services were inconsistent and unreliable.

The village’s Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM), responsible for vaccinations and maternal health services, was posted from another block and visited only occasionally. As a result, many children missed critical vaccinations and pregnant women did not receive regular care.

For years, villagers had raised concerns, but nothing changed.

Chanda decided to approach the issue differently.

“We gathered the women from our Self-Help Groups and discussed the problem,” she recalls. “Everyone shared what they were facing.”

Together, the women documented their concerns and drafted a formal application outlining the risks the village was facing. Copies were submitted to the Village Organisation, the panchayat, and the Janpad office.

It was a simple but strategic step, one Chanda had learnt during her training.

Soon after, authorities acknowledged the issue, and a new ANM was appointed for the village. Regular vaccination sessions resumed, ensuring children and pregnant women could access the healthcare they needed.

“That was when people realised that if we raise our voices properly, change can happen,” Chanda says.

Stories like Chanda’s are reflected in the lives of many villagers who have directly benefited from her efforts. For elderly residents, like Somla and Ganga from Gunawad village access to basic entitlements like pensions — once a frustrating process — has become simpler and more reliable.

“For a long time, we faced repeated challenges in accessing our old-age pension. Despite having all the required documents, we had to visit the Panchayat multiple times without receiving the right information or support,” says Somla. 

During that time, she met Chanda Didi, who listened to the concerns patiently and guided us through the correct process. 

“With her support, we reapplied and ensured that everything was completed properly. As a result, our pension was finally approved, and we now receive Rs 600 every month that helps us manage our daily expenses,” she adds.

Leading through fear during the pandemic

Just as Chanda was gaining confidence in her role, the COVID-19 pandemic brought a new challenge.

In 2021, fear and misinformation about vaccines spread quickly through rural communities. Many families in Gunawad were hesitant to get vaccinated.

“People were very scared,” Chanda recalls. “Everyone was worried about what might happen if they took the vaccine.”

With support from TRI team members who explained the science behind the vaccine, Chanda began speaking to villagers about its importance.

But she knew words alone might not be enough.

So she took the first step herself.

“I decided I would get vaccinated first so that people could see there was nothing to fear,” she says.

The gesture made a powerful impact.

As villagers saw her confidence, many began reconsidering their fears. Gradually, families came forward for vaccination, and Gunawad eventually achieved 100 percent COVID vaccination.

“It showed real leadership,” Mansi says. “When she got vaccinated first, people trusted her and followed.”

Shutting down the liquor shop

As Chanda continued working with women in the village, another issue repeatedly surfaced in conversations, alcoholism.

The presence of a local liquor shop was fuelling domestic violence and disrupting families.

“I saw many homes breaking because of alcohol,” Chanda says. “Men would drink and then beat their wives and children. It created a lot of chaos in the village.”

Determined to address the issue, Chanda once again turned to collective action.

Women from Self-Help Groups discussed the problem and decided to raise it formally in the Gram Sabha. With their support, Chanda drafted a proposal requesting the closure of the liquor shop.

Before submitting it, the women approached the sarpanch.

“We asked him if he would support us, and he agreed,” she says. With signatures from villagers and the backing of local leaders, the proposal was submitted to authorities in 2024.

The process took nearly two months and faced resistance from shopkeepers. Eventually, however, the shop was shut down.

The impact was visible almost immediately.

“There are fewer fights now,” Chanda says. “Earlier there was a lot of chaos. After the shop closed, things became calmer.”

Through her work, Chanda has helped mobilise around 500 women across 43 Self-Help Groups, along with representatives from 29 Village Organisations under the Krishna Bhagwan Cluster Level Federation.

But for Chanda, the recognition she now receives from her village feels most meaningful.

“I feel very blessed, earlier people doubted me. Now even elders come to me for advice,” she adds.

Becoming the change she once dreamed of

Today, in Gunawad, Chanda Bhabhar is no longer the quiet young bride who once wondered whether her voice would matter. She is a trusted community leader. 

Her husband, Dasrath Bhabhar (38), remembers the early days when Chanda first began attending meetings and training sessions.

“I used to take her to the meetings and send her for the trainings,” he recalls. “In the beginning, people didn’t support her. They would talk and question what she was doing. But gradually they started understanding.”

At home too, her growing confidence reshaped everyday dynamics.

“Now she takes many decisions herself,” Dasrath says. “We discuss things together, but she makes many decisions.”

Watching her efforts transform the village has been a source of pride for him.

One of the most visible changes, he adds, came after the closure of the liquor shop.

“Earlier many people used to drink,” he says. “After the shop closed, alcohol consumption reduced and some people even stopped drinking completely. Families are more peaceful now.”

For Dasrath, Chanda’s journey also carries an important message.

“Husbands should support their wives,” he says simply. “If we encourage them and allow them to step forward, they can do a lot for the village.”

Chanda’s story is part of a larger grassroots movement led by Transform Rural India. Through initiatives like the Panchayat Badlav Didi programme, the organisation has empowered more than 3,000 women leaders across blocks such as Bijadandi, Budni, Khategaon, Petlawad, Thandla, Sondwa, Manawar, and Rajpur to engage with governance and strengthen community institutions.

In Gunawad, the ripple effects are already visible. Women participate more actively in Gram Sabha meetings, villagers are better informed about government schemes, and communities increasingly work together to solve local problems.

If there is one message she hopes other women take from her journey, it is simple:

“If I can do it, others can too. All we need is the courage to step forward and work for our village.”

All images courtesy TRI team

India’s summer months are notoriously harsh, with temperatures often soaring well above 35°C in many parts of the country. For children, particularly those attending school, this heat can pose serious challenges, affecting not just comfort but also health, concentration, and overall well-being. 

While schools have fixed routines, parents and caregivers can take practical steps to make sure that children stay safe, hydrated, and active without risking heat-related illnesses.

1. Adjusting school timings

The timing of school activities plays an essential role in protecting children from extreme heat. 

Early morning classes are preferable, as temperatures are generally cooler and the air is fresher. Many schools across India adjust their schedules during peak summer months, starting earlier and finishing before the afternoon heat becomes intense. 

Parents can support this by taking care that children reach school on time and avoid unnecessary exposure during the hottest hours of the day.

2. Planning safe play hours

Outdoor activity is important for a child’s physical and mental development, but prolonged exposure to direct sunlight can be dangerous. Play sessions should ideally take place in the early morning or late afternoon, avoiding the period between eleven in the morning and four in the afternoon when the sun is strongest. 

Schools with shaded playgrounds or canopies provide added protection, while at home, parents can encourage games in shaded courtyards or verandahs. Even small adjustments can dramatically reduce the risk of heat-related illnesses.

3. Prioritising hydration

Staying hydrated is the most important strategy for children during summer. Water should be encouraged frequently, not only when children feel thirsty, as thirst can be a delayed indicator of dehydration. 

Fresh coconut water, diluted fruit juices, and buttermilk are excellent alternatives that replenish electrolytes naturally. Parents and schools should avoid sugary or aerated drinks, which may worsen dehydration and cause other health issues.

4. Choosing the right clothing

Clothing choices can considerably affect how children cope with high temperatures. Light-coloured and loose-fitting garments made from breathable fabrics such as cotton allow the body to release heat efficiently. 

Hats and caps provide extra protection during commutes and outdoor activities, while applying child-friendly, broad-spectrum sunscreen before leaving home prevents sunburn and long-term skin damage.

5. Summer-friendly nutrition

A child’s diet can influence how their body handles heat. Heavy, oily meals can increase internal body temperature, whereas lighter, fresh foods such as fruits, salads, and yoghurt help maintain energy and hydration. Seasonal fruits like watermelon, muskmelon, and mangoes not only provide natural hydration but also supply essential vitamins, making them ideal summer snacks.

6. Recognising heat stress

Recognising early warning signs of heat stress helps prevent serious health risks. Symptoms such as dizziness, fatigue, excessive sweating, irritability, or nausea should be addressed immediately. 

Parents and teachers should educate children to recognise these signs and take prompt action, such as moving to a cooler environment and replenishing fluids. Schools should also have protocols in place for heat emergencies, with staff trained to respond effectively.

7. Safe transportation

Commutes during peak heat require extra precautions. Children walking, cycling, or riding two-wheelers should wear hats or caps and carry water for hydration. Travel should be scheduled during cooler hours whenever possible. For those using vehicles, proper ventilation or air conditioning is important to prevent overheating and guarantee comfort during the journey.

8. Building awareness and habits

Creating a culture of heat safety is as important as any practical measure. Teaching children to drink water regularly, seek shade, wear suitable clothing, and listen to their bodies helps instil responsibility and mindfulness. Schools can integrate these practices into daily routines, while parents support them at home, creating a consistent environment for children to grow and stay safe during the summer.

Managing heat for children in India requires a combination of thoughtful planning, practical routines, and vigilance. Small but thoughtful measures can go a long way in protecting children from the summer heat. With proactive steps, children can enjoy the summer months safely and energetically, turning India’s intense heat into an opportunity for health and play rather than a cause for concern.

Three engineers met while working on tools to help doctors see the human eye clearly, and their mission evolved into something beyond the confines of earth.

“Whether you are imaging a retina or the Earth, the responsibility is the same. You must see clearly, and you must see in time to act,” says co-founder Sanjay.

This remarkable satellite has reduced dependence on foreign equipment, and can track ships, monitor crops and forests, and observe infrastructure.

In partnership with @NITIAayogOfficial 's Frontier Tech Hub (NITI-FTH).

Music Credits:
Auto Clear Code: “Still Here” licensed via Music Vine: VN6IS8DX0K5DD1XM
Title of Musical Work: Still Here
Artist: Iros Young
License ID S789187-12865

In many parts of the country, the day often begins with small calculations. When will the electricity come? How many hours can the work run? Will today bring enough to cover what the week demands? These questions shape routines in ways that are rarely spoken about, yet deeply understood.

Across homes, farms, and workshops, some of these answers are beginning to change. Sustainability is entering daily life in practical ways, helping work continue, incomes grow, and plans stretch a little further.

Here are four stories where that change is unfolding in everyday life.

‘After Installing the Solar Panels, I Don’t Worry About Long Power Cuts Anymore’: How 2 Rural Women Took Control of Their Income

In rural Uttar Pradesh, solar energy is helping women entrepreneurs build more dependable livelihoods. Suman, who runs a banking outlet, now works longer hours and serves more villages with reliable power. “After installing the solar panels, I don’t worry about long power cuts anymore,” she says.

Aarti Singh, who runs an RO plant, now manages timely deliveries and stronger savings. With solar, both women are running their enterprises with greater ease and clarity. Read how this change is playing out on the ground.

How Two Friends Built a Rs 1.45 Cr Bamboo Brand With Local Artists

In Rajasthan, Bamboo Anna is turning bamboo into everyday essentials while creating meaningful work for artisans. Founded by Anil Chauhan and Sawan Vaishnav, the venture has grown into a Rs 1.45 crore business supporting over 70 artisans. Beyond the numbers, the impact is personal.

“Now I am able to manage my home and my necessities,” shares one artisan. The work brings income, continuity, and pride in craft. Take a closer look at how this journey came together.

In a Goan Village, a Microbiologist-Turned-Entrepreneur Built a Zero-Waste Coconut Brand That Sustains Farmers

On a farm in Mulgao, Goa, Rohan Nazareth is building a coconut brand rooted in care, science, and community. Every part of the coconut finds purpose, from husk to shell, while local farmers and workers earn steady incomes.

His small-batch approach to virgin coconut oil reflects years of research and patience. “I wanted to make the best,” he says. The work here follows a pace that respects both land and people. Step into this farm and its everyday rhythm.

How 1500 Sundarbans Farmers Turned Poisoned Fields Into Farms Growing 192 Rice Varieties

In the Sundarbans, farmers are turning to indigenous rice varieties to strengthen both land and livelihoods. What began as Sudhanshu Dey’s small experiment has grown into a seed bank preserving 192 varieties, now supporting over 1,500 farmers. These crops grow well in local conditions and hold strong value in the market.

“We save our own, we share our own. That is our strength,” says farmer Saleya Bibi. The fields now carry both continuity and possibility. See how these seeds are shaping a new path forward.

Originally reported and written in January 2023, this story has been republished as part of our archival content.

Toy Trunk, a Pune-based startup founded by architects Priyanka Mangaonkar-Vaiude and Ajay Vaidya, is changing the way we understand toys for children between the ages of 0 and 8.

Not only are their handmade toys designed “following extensive research on motor and cognitive development of children”, but they also work with traditional artisans to make them with non-toxic and sustainable eco-friendly materials like wood and lac.

“The experiences children have in early childhood shape their brain and the capacity to learn, get along with others, and respond to daily stresses and challenges. Toy Trunk has been built with a vision to spread awareness amongst parents and guardians about how toys can contribute to the overall development of a child,” says Priyanka, speaking to The Better India.

“Also, to qualify the ‘handmade’ claim we make, some toys may require basic machine cutting in terms of their base shape. However, fine-tuning, shaping the edges, colouring, detailing, assembling, and finishing is all done manually,” she adds.

 

Finding inspiration

Priyanka, a trained architect and interior designer who also specialises in craft and technology, has more than a decade of experience in the higher echelons of Indian academia.

Back in early 2020, while writing a research paper with a fellow architect Minu Joshi for a conference at IIT Bombay, Priyanka took the example of reviving traditional woodcraft practised in the Konkan region of Sawantwadi in Maharashtra — famous for making toys.

“Different revival strategies were proposed in this paper, and both of us thought ‘instead of just discussing these, how can we implement them?’. And that’s how the idea of the Toy Trunk was initially born,” recalls Priyanka.

However, inspiration also came close to home.

In the midst of the first wave of COVID-19, Priyanka’s son had turned three. She was finding it very difficult to keep her son away from the screen during the lockdown. It was very disturbing to see her son getting addicted to mobile phones, tablets, and TVs, which could severely hamper his mental as well as physical growth and learning ability in the long run.

“I found a genuine lack of appropriate toys which could engage him. This pushed me to research child development and methods/tools that allow for the holistic development of a child in a fun and easy way. I found that toys are the best tools one can offer to a child during their early stages of development, as they also entertain,” recalls Priyanka.

Connecting the dots, she thought of redesigning traditional toys made by these artisans as tools that could aid the holistic development of a child. Moreover, if they were made by these artisans, it could play some part in keeping the traditional woodcraft, in places like Sawantwadi, alive.

Ajay, an architect and urban designer by trade who specialises in human ergonomics, also noticed how the advent of online education during the pandemic had led to increased screen time for parents and children, leading to disengagement. In his apartment complex, Ajay also observed that infants and toddlers were no longer satisfied even by being seated in front of a screen.

“Children need to be engaged in different ways off-screen. When Priyanka and I joined hands with our common vision, we participated in ‘Toycathon 2021’ — a nationwide competition organised by the Union Government in January 2021,” says Ajay.

Their entry made it all the way to the final round, and barely three months later in April 2021, Toy Trunk was first established. They launched their website in May 2022.

 

Employing research to make toys

Neuroscience research tells us that about 85% of a person’s brain development happens by the age of eight. During this period, the rate at which neurons are produced in the brain is high. These neuron connections are the result of learnings achieved through experience. Therefore, providing the right tools which will give the required experiences at the right age during this period is very important.

Here are some of the toys that Toy Trunk have that support such development in the early childhood period.

1) “Children learn to control their body movements by the time they are three years old. Children between three and eight years are considered to be learning with friends of the same age. During this time, their social skills are developing, and hence, providing such opportunities ensures the improvement of social skills,” explains Priyanka.

“Our pretend play kitchen set is one of the best tools where children learn considering others’ perspectives, language skills, negotiations, and problem-solving abilities, based on the observations made by them daily. Additionally, the idea behind developing a kitchen set was sparked when my son pointed out that the traditional toy kitchen set he had lacked the equipment that one uses in a kitchen daily today,” says Priyanka.

“This made us realise that her son’s current wooden kitchen set needed a lot of modification in its design and size so that he can relate it with the ones that we use. Also, the knowledge of ergonomics and human body proportions which we learned in architecture assisted us in deriving the right size and proportion of each utensil for that perfect grip,” She adds.

“While designing the kitchen set, we made many iterations and tested them with family and friends before reaching the correct size. Rather than using lacquer colour for its finish, we decided to use dark and light colour wood to make it more appealing,” says Priyanka. 

 

2) Interestingly, Priyanka sends her son to an ‘unconventional school’ where the focus is on experiential learning, unlike conventional schools. “Here they first focus on the development of muscles from the shoulder to the fingers before taking up the task of writing,” she notes.

“In this context, what we need is a tool that allows children movement of these muscles. For example, threading activity, which helps in developing the pincer grip, is a very important skill that a child needs before he/she starts using a pencil. In the case of our threading shape and lacing beads toy, the child is made to use both hands to weave a shape. This helps them to develop the correct hand and finger movements,” she adds.

“Our threading shapes toy develops bilateral movement as well as hand-eye coordination. It also teaches them to identify fundamental geometric shapes. This improves existing threading toys in the market that look at only unilateral hand movement,” claims Ajay.

3) There are some traditional Indian wooden toys available that are also developmental tools, but there is a lack of awareness about their purpose.

“A peacock wobbler is an example of one such toy. This toy is very helpful in increasing the tummy time of a two or three-month-old infant. Generally, at this age, a child starts crying when you put them on their tummy because their neck and shoulder muscles are not yet fully developed. But more tummy time helps in developing their neck and shoulder muscles which further help them to raise their head, roll over, sit up, crawl and walk,” explains Priyanka.

“Having something which has a vibrant colour and dynamic movement while on the tummy diverts their attention from the pain and helps them to enjoy this time. We took the concept of the same toy but improved it by modifying pointed shapes and adding attractive colours, which made our toy more desirable to parents or prospective parents,” she adds.

4) “In the first three to four months, a child learns mostly through touch and hearing sense. Hence providing different audio stimulation is crucial in this period. At Toy Trunk, we provide various types of rattles to support this development. We have redesigned the dumbbell rattle in such a way that it will not harm the little fingers of the newborn,” says Ajay.

 

Sustainability first

Both Priyanka and Ajay strongly affirm that “every toy at Toy Trunk is made completely with sustainable materials like wood or fabric, thus keeping the children at bay from plastic toxins and other chemically manufactured toys.” Even the colours used on the toys are made from lac with natural products like turmeric used for pigmentation.

“The decision to make toys out of sustainable materials like wood and fabric is inspired by several factors. Besides the obvious environmental reasons, the artisans we work with have been traditionally using these natural materials for years together. Also, wooden and fabric toys made with natural materials are safe, in contrast to plastic toys, which are produced using chemicals and ‘acceptable amounts’ of toxins in the manufacturing process,” explains Priyanka.

“Wooden toys have natural textures which stimulate the child’s senses to invite them to touch, feel and explore the surface area. Meanwhile, the basic shapes of the toys help the development of your child’s hand-eye coordination,” claims Ajay.

Who are these artisans?

“From our published research work with the School of Design, IIT Bombay, which saw us  studying the Sawantwadi toy cluster, we learnt that traditional Indian toy clusters were facing a variety of issues. So, we decided to redesign and repurpose these toys and began working with them and the Channapatna toy craft cluster as well,” says Priyanka.

Channapatna, a place near Mysore, has a toy craft cluster of over 3,000 traditional artisans engaged in the production of lacquerware made from vegetable dyes.

“Traditional practice involves lacquering of locally available ivory wood (locally known as hale wood) for making toys, but today they also work with other woods like neem wood (locally known as Gauda neem), beech wood, and rubber wood. The artisans do not use any non-toxic colours or raw materials, hence making the toys safe for children,” says Ajay. In 2005, these traditional wooden Channapatna toys were conferred with a GI tag.

One artisan that Priyanka and Ajay met when they visited Channapatna in September 2021 was master craftsman B Venkatesh of Sri Beereshwara Art and Craft. Since their first encounter, Venkatesh has completed six orders for Toy Trunk.

"We make handmade lacquer wooden toys with locally available woods — like hale wood (ivory wood), gauda neem, beechwood, and rubber wood. Traditionally, we have been making rattles, tops, kitchen sets, trains, cars, spinners, yoyos, cup-and-balls, wobblers, dancing wooden dolls, etc. Currently, I have 30 artisans working with me," says Venkatesh. 

“In the future, we wish to spread and apply our leanings, and design developmental tools in different toy craft clusters of India with respective materials. We wish to play a larger positive role in sustaining and enriching these crafts in the future,” notes Priyanka.

 

Business model

“Toy Trunk currently uses the D2C (direct-to-consumer) business model in which we sell our products directly to consumers. This includes selling toys online through our website and aggregator marketplaces such as Firstcry and The Nestery. We aim to be on more popular e-commerce platforms like Amazon India, Flipkart, and Jiomart soon,” says Ajay.

How do they work with artisans?

“We work with them on a per-order basis. When we need more inventory, we create a purchase order with the master craftsman who employs these artisans. We follow this system since it is easy to communicate the design and manage the material required, the delivery time frame, etc. The master craftsman pays the artisans according to the order. We are currently working with two master craftsmen,” notes Ajay.

Thus far, the bootstrapped startup has released 24 products and is looking to become a brand with a turnover of Rs 1.5 crore by the end of the year.

“Besides fulfilling standard business goals, however, we are currently looking at options for incubation and funding. In the long run, we want to collaborate with more artisans and improve supply chain efficiency and also build a sustainable and responsible business,” says Priyanka.

(Edited by Pranita Bhat, Image courtesy Toy Trunk)

200 million Indians battle diseases linked to spitting and tobacco… yet the habit continues in plain sight 🚫 But a group of young innovators decided to challenge it with a simple idea

Meet the minds behind Solutionaries who created a pocket spittoon that locks, absorbs, and eliminates smell making public hygiene a personal responsibility instead of a public problem

No mess, no stains, just a shift in mindset Built by students from underserved communities, this innovation proves that real change doesn’t always need big systems just better thinking So here’s the question if they can rethink habits, can we

#PublicHealth #Innovation #StudentInnovation #CleanIndia #Solutionaries #HealthAwareness #SwachhBharat #YouthInnovation #SocialImpact #IndiaInnovates #BehaviorChange #TobaccoAwareness #PositiveIndia

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How to Stop Public Spitting in India
Innovations for Public Hygiene India
Student Innovations Solving Real Problems
Tobacco Health Risks and Prevention India
Swachh Bharat Solutions by Youth