We are approaching the end of 2018, and it’s time to look back at some of the major sporting events that defined our year.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, the year 2018 saw India opening her eyes to a multitude of unique athletes who have gone onto become sporting heroes. It truly marked a year when sporting fandom in India went way beyond the contours of cricket. Given below is our list of the top 10 moments (not in any order) that defined sports in India this year.

1) Swapna Barman, Hepthalon Gold Medal in the Asian Games

Struggling with a lack of customised shoes for her 12 toes and braving an excruciating toothache, 21-year-old Swapna Barman created history by becoming the first Indian to clinch a gold medal in the Heptathlon category at the Asian Games 2018.

The gruelling schedule of seven events, spread out over three days, took a toll. That, coupled with her perpetual concern of ill-fitting shoes pinching the six toes on each of her feet and a tooth infection after a root canal resulting in a swollen jaw, were the many battles she fought bravely to notch 6,026 points. She became the fifth woman athlete to score 6,000 points in the sport.

2) Hima Das, 400m Silver Medal in the Asian Games

What a phenomenal story Hima, nicknamed the “Dhing Express” after her native village in Assam, has to share. The daughter of a rice farmer from the village in Nagaon district, she has worked hard to get to this position. She trained in her father’s rice field and that it was only last year that she took up racing seriously. While her father did not have the money or the resources to get her the required training, her village did not have any infrastructure either. However, she would go on to break the national record twice during her fantastic run in the Asian Games, where she clinched the silver medal in the 400m. She was conferred with the Arjuna Award and is currently India’s youth ambassador for UNICEF. Her story truly caught the imagination of the wider Indian public.

3) K Srikanth, World Number 1; PV Sindhu, Winner, BWF World Tour Finals

Indian shuttle ace Kidambi Srikanth entered hallowed territory earlier this year in April. He achieved what no other Indian male shuttler has accomplished ever since the Badminton World Federation adopted a computerised ranking system—become World Number 1. This is pure excellence.

The last Indian male badminton player to even enter the conversation was Prakash Padukone, who was considered World No. 1 when he won three cup tournaments in 1980.

Also Read: Introducing The World’s Best Badminton Player: Kidambi Srikanth!

At the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Kidambi was more successful, winning gold in the mixed team event, and silver in the singles event. He achieved World Number 1 ranking for a week during this period. Having said that, it’s been a tough year for him with a series of injuries and fitness issues shortening his tenure at the very top.

Olympic silver medallist PV Sindhu finally broke through this year and made history by becoming the first Indian to win the season-ending BWF World Tour Finals in Guangzhou, China. She also won gold in the mixed team event and a silver medal in the women’s singles event during the Commonwealth Games. One must also add a historic silver medal in the Asian Games to her list of achievements this year.

4) Neeraj Chopra, Asian Games Gold Medal in the men’s javelin event:

A truly world-class athlete, javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra finally came into his own this year winning gold in the Asian Games, where he set the national record of 88.06m. At the 2018 Commonwealth Games, he also clinched the gold medal in the men’s javelin event. Chopra shot to fame in July 2016, where his throw of 86.48m broke the junior world record at the IAAF World U-20 Championships, making him India’s first-ever world champion in athletics.

5) Sunil Chhetri’s historic plea to Indian fans:

On June 2, India’s best football player and captain of the national team, issued a heartfelt plea on social media urging fans to come out and support Team India, and this move paid off handsomely.

Also Read: India’s Greatest Goal Scorer Touches 100: 5 Memorable Sunil Chhetri Moments!

After a dismal turnout of less than 2000 fans in India’s previous match during the Intercontinental Cup, the next match saw the official attendance rise up to 8890 people in the Mumbai stadium, which has a capacity of 10,500.

Things couldn’t have gone better for Chhetri on his 100th appearance, as he led Team India to a 3-0 victory against Kenya in the Intercontinental Cup. Chhetri scored two goals as the raucous crowd in the Mumbai showered the team with overwhelming support. India will now play in the final.

6) Mary Kom, Winning a record sixth Gold Medal in the World Boxing Championships:

What hasn’t been said about Magnificent Mary, the first Indian woman boxer to get a Gold Medal in the Asian Games (flyweight 51 kg category) in 2014 in Incheon, South Korea and Woman Boxer to win Gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games (flyweight 48 kg category). She is also an Olympic Bronze medallist in the in the flyweight (51 kg) category. On 24 November 2018, she created history by becoming the first woman to win 6 World Championships, achieving this feat at the 10th AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships held in New Delhi, India, at the age of 35.

Aside from being an incredible athlete, she is a Rajya Sabha member, mother to three children and winner of national awards like the Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri and the Arjuna Award.

7) Tajinderpal Singh Toor, Shot Put Gold Medal in the Asian Games:

Earlier this year, Tajinderpal Singh Toor, the burly shot-putter from Moga, Punjab, broke the Asian Games record in the shot-put event, throwing 20.75 in his fifth attempt.

Tajinderpal Singh’s father, a farmer, tragically lost his battle against bone cancer, soon after his son won the gold medal. If it wasn’t for his father, Tajinder might not have ever taken to shot put. His interest initially lay in cricket, but Sardar Karam Singh encouraged him to take up an individual sport.

8) Mirabai Chanu, Gold Medal in the 48 kg category at the Commonwealth Games:

Last year, Mirabai Chanu won India its first gold since 1995 at the Weightlifting World Championships. Hailing from Manipur, the diminutive 4’11, 106 lb athlete picked up the honour thanks to an impressive 194 kg lift in the women’s 48kg, a new national record back then. At this year’s Commonwealth Games, she lit up the eyes of Indian sporting fans with her fabulous performance, breaking the women’s 48-kg category CWG record by lifting 196 kg in total. During her record-breaking spree, she lifted 86 kg in snatch and 110 kg in the clean and jerk.

9) Rahi Sarnobat, Asian Games Gold Medal in the 25m pistol event:

Rahi Sarnobat, the ace shooter from Kolhapur, Maharashtra, created history earlier this year by becoming the first Indian woman to win a shooting gold in the Asian Games after a nail-biting finish. She displayed nerves of steel in playing through two shoot-offs to secure the top spot in the 25m pistol event by a mere single shot.

Her road to Asian Games glory, however, was filled with major physical and mental obstacles. Battling a serious elbow injury (she couldn’t even lift a gun) and depression, she finally managed to break through during the Asian Games.

10) Manika Batra, Gold Medal in the Women’s table tennis singles and team event at the Commonwealth Games

Manika led the Indian women’s team to a stunning gold medal finish in the Commonwealth Games, fashioning a barely believable 3-1 win over the very formidable Singapore team. Ranked 58th, Manika humbled world number four and multiple Olympic medalist Feng Tianwei 3-2 and then brushed aside 100th-ranked Yihan Zhou 3-0 to engineer a sensational win.

Manika Batra became the most successful Indian athlete in a single edition of the Commonwealth Games, winning 4 medals in 4 events that she participated in. At just 22, the Indian table tennis player bagged 2 golds, 1 silver and 1 bronze in the Gold Coast.

(Edited by Gayatri Mishra)

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The Better India Presents ‘Spotlight 2018’: A celebration of trailblazers, champions, and pioneers of change! Ordinary folks whose extraordinary and inspiring actions have made the world stand up to take note. Join us in honouring 50 heroes, whose brilliant path to a better future deserves all the spotlight we can shine on them!

“You are the pioneers in the Indian Service, and the future of this service will depend much upon the foundation and traditions that will be laid down by you, by your character and abilities and by your spirit of service.” – Sardar Patel

Every day, in every city, town, village, hamlet and district across India, civil servants go to work. Their duties include the enforcement of the law, the empowerment of communities and building a better tomorrow for people like you and me.

It can be a hard responsibility. Doubts have often been expressed in many quarters about the widespread prevalence of politics, corruption, lethargy and a hunger for power in the Indian civil services.

The good news is that a positive transformation in governance is slowly, but steadily, rolling in – thanks to dedicated officers who believe in infusing fresher ideas, unwilling to be stifled by red-tapism and who look forward to changing the country for the better.

Which is why, each year, The Better India recognises the efforts of 10 civil service officers (in no particular order) who have made a difference in the lives of many.

They give us hope that even a few good officers can make a huge difference!

1. Harssh Poddar, IPS

An Oxford graduate and a former lawyer who returned from the UK to join civil services, IPS officer Harssh Poddar’s innovative policing strategies have won him widespread acclaim. For example, his unique Youth Parliament Championship has created some 2,00,000 young leaders against crime and terror in 18 districts of Maharashtra — an area that has a population equal to that of UK!

Currently Nagpur’s Deputy Commissioner of Police, Harssh is also credited with tackling illegal trades and communal friction in Malegaon, a town with a long history of violent strife and bomb blasts. He has also streamlined the management of police stations, helping them get ISO and ‘Smart Police’ certification. Furthermore, he has launched Udaan, a project that provides free coaching and career counselling to hundreds of local students.

“We wanted to change the narrative around Malegaon from a city of riots and bomb blasts to a positive one, through certified standards of professional policing,” says Harssh, speaking to The Better India. Asked what inspires him the most, he answers it’s the incredible opportunity that he has — thanks to his job — to learn about and understand the complex fabric of India.

The youngest recipient of the GFiles award for Exceptional Contribution to Good Governance in 2018, Harssh Poddar is currently posted in Nagpur. In 2019, he plans to focus on systematically taking down the organised crime cartels in the city.

Watch his resolution for a better India in 2019:

Here is the resolution of IPS Harssh A Poddar for making India better.

Have you got one too? Join us by sharing your 2019 resolution that will contribute in making India better as a video or post: use #ResolutionForABetterIndia and tag us.@Harssh_IPS @IPS_Association pic.twitter.com/k8MENmnYAX

— The Better India (@thebetterindia) December 21, 2018

2. Nikhil Nirmal, IAS

The DM of Alipurduar, IAS officer Nikhil Nirmal has shown what civil service is really about — taking governance to the doorsteps of the poorest. A zero-cost model of education designed by him (the ‘Aloran’ initiative) has impacted the lives of over 20,000 students across 73 schools in the last three months.

Having grown up among the tea plantations of Ernakulam (in Kerala), Nikhil has also launched ‘Apnar Bagane Proshason‘ (administration in your garden), a public awareness and grievance redressal initiative for poverty-stricken tea garden workers of the Dooars region. Furthermore, his well-planned crackdown on ‘corrupt and profit-hungry businessmen’ to ensure food safety has also endeared him to the locals.

“Now the plantation workers don’t need to travel an entire day or wait for days to meet their DM. They don’t have to deal with 10 middlemen. The DM goes to them to ensure that their work is done. That is the biggest impact this initiative has had. That is what I have always wanted to do, to ensure that the last man always comes first”, says Nikhil to The Better India.

In 2019, Nikhil Nirmal plans to ramp up the Aloran initiative while launching other zero-cost human interventions for the underprivileged residents of the region.

3. Rema Rajeshwari, IPS

A decrepit village school building is restored. School kids get access to toilets and clean drinking water. Nearly 1200 child brides are rescued from their marriage mandaps and hundreds of victims of trafficking and abuse are empowered to speak up. These are only a few of the many achievements  IPS officer Rema Rajeshwari has accomplished during her illustrious decade-long police career.

However, that’s not the only reason why the Telangana top cop commands immense respect in the inner circles of Indian police. At a time when false information spread on WhatsApp was creating rifts and leading to mob killings, Rema launched a massive campaign to revitalise village-level policing and combat fake news. The effort paid rich dividends — there have been no fake news-related killings across 400 villages under her jurisdiction!

“I think the core idea was to instill a sense of safety among the citizens whom I am responsible for. So we took pre-emptive measures to ensure that nothing went wrong. For 45 days, we barely slept as we covered 400 odd villages on a daily basis,” explains Rema, speaking to The Better India.

In 2019, Rema Rajeshwari plans to lead dedicated campaigns to crack down on child marriages and child sexual abuse. She also plans to work in enhancing road safety in her district, which is notorious for road fatalities.

4. B Raghu Kiran, IRS

The Goods and Services Tax (GST) replaced a multitude of central and state taxes that were levied on goods and services. However, after a tax change this big – confusion, questions and doubts were inevitable. And one of the most common doubts was about if all GST payouts were authorised and if they actually reached the government.

Realising that most citizens don’t know if a trader is supposed to collect GST in the first place, techie-turned-IRS officer B Raghu Kiran decided to put his software skills to good use — he utilised his own money and off-duty hours to develop an app (called GSTVerify). Every time one shops/eats /buys, they can simply check the bill and use the app to verify whether or not a trader is authorised to collect the tax!

“The benefits of GST can reach the people only if they are protected from fraudulent traders. So I decided to empower them with information. I made the app without any institutional support but with the demand increasing sharply, it will be great if the government can take over its management!”, says Raghu, speaking to The Better India.

In 2019, B Raghu Kiran plans to harness technology to improve and fine-tune other aspects of the GST infrastructure.

5. Atul Kulkarni, IPS

It is common in India for the public to have reservations about approaching the police. ASP Atul Kulkarni wondered – if citizens could not come to the police, why couldn’t the police go to them instead? With that idea, he launched a series of community-driven initiatives to tackle critical issues such as drug abuse, sexual assault and domestic abuse.

In a one-of-its-kind initiative (called Bharosa Cell), Atul and his team also started conducting grievance redressal meetings for distressed citizens every Saturday. But what truly stands out among his efforts is the IPS officer’s idea to help protect young girls. From establishing ‘Nirbhaya Pathak’ patrol vans to installing complaint boxes in schools, the top cop has completely changed the face of women safety in his district.

“I studied in Tata Institute of Social Science (TISS) and used to work in urban slums as well as remote villages. Having seen how tough life is for the vulnerable sections of the society, I always wanted to ensure that they get the justice they deserve. And I am trying to do just that”, says Atul, speaking to The Better India.

In 2019, Atul Kulkarni plans to launch an app to enhance women safety and enable smart policing in the district.

6. Hari Chandana Dasari, IAS

In 2018, Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) made news for spearheading a ‘green’ revolution through a plethora of plastic recycling initiatives across the city. And the woman who played a pivotal role in this sustainable transformation was GHMC (West Zone)’s dynamic Zonal Commissioner, Hari Chandana Dasari.

Right from installing upcycled furniture made from wastes in over 120 parks to housing and sanitation projects that used recycled plastic tiles, Hari’s efforts have seen Hyderabad witnessing a remarkable change. A dog lover, she also converted a dirty dump yard into India’s first certified dog park built to international standards!

“Whether it was building the dog park or using plastic waste to build pavements, the idea was to change the way people look at urban landscapes. I have studied environmental economics and I believe India’s future lies in recycling its waste. In fact, not adding our waste to the environment is what can truly sustain us as a civilisation”, says Hari, speaking to The Better India.

After tackling dry waste in 2018, in 2019, Hari Chandana Dasari plans to find sustainable solutions to utilise wet waste for generation of energy that can meet the needs of urban slums.

7. Ashish Tiwari, IPS

In the Naxal-affected village of Bahuar in Uttar Pradesh, Father’s Day in 2018 came bearing the most precious gift – one of education. The then-Superintendent of Police, Mirzapur, IPS officer Ashish Tiwari adopted a ramshackle village school and refurbished it completely to resemble a bright yellow school bus.

However, this isn’t the first time Ashish has introduced social innovations in his work. An IIT-Kanpur alumni and an ex-investment banker, he developed an app to digitally handle cop deployment, leave management, community policing and other tasks. He has also introduced unique ‘green’ brigades of women in local villages who not only combat domestic abuse and gambling but also keep a check on Naxal activities.

“Use of technology and simple innovations can create a huge impact in the way policing works”, says Ashish. Asked which initiative he would pick as one that made the most impact, the top cop says,” It has to be the digitisation of leave management. This has not just saved 10 lakh man-hours this year, it has also boosted the morale of the force and reduced corruption.”

Having focussed on ‘smart policing’ in 2018, Ashish Tiwari will focus on weeding out corruption and introducing ‘smart governance’ through low-cost initiatives.

8. Renu Raj, IAS

From raiding illegal quarries owned by powerful men to rescuing abused and abandoned elderly people, IAS officer Renu Raj has made headlines for all the right reasons. Winning the respect of citizens and seniors alike, the firebrand Kerala-cadre bureaucrat has also cracked down on illegal encroachments and reclaimed government land for the use of marginalised communities.

It was also under Renu’s tenure that a mega medical camp in collaboration with hospitals was conducted, which saw a footfall of 2,000 senior citizens; treatment was given on the spot, and 250 free surgeries were conducted later. Her role in organizing the state school youth festival held in Thrissur and relief efforts during the Kerala floods has also won her widespread appreciation.

“The most important part was that I could send the senior citizens home with their children, and not to another old age home. This matters to me because what had motivated me to join civil service was the dream of making a significant change in the lives of others”, Renu tells The Better India, adding that she believes in working with both passion and compassion.

In 2019, Renu Raj (posted in Munnar) plans to focus her energies on the development of the district’s plantation workers, especially the education and employment of their children.

9. Kundan Kumar, IAS

Banka district of Bihar has been setting quite a few development records for some time now. It also is home to the Unnayan Banka programme, an interactive online-offline method that has reinvented using education using cutting-edge technology such as AI and big data analytics. In fact, such has been the success of this brilliant project that the Centre is replicating it across 5,000 village schools in India!

The man driving this amazing transformation is the enterprising district collector of Banka, IAS officer Kundan Kumar. And that’s not all. This incredible initiative beat Singapore to win the International Innovation Award 2018 at the biennial Commonwealth CAPAM Conference.

“The most amazing impact has to be the huge jump in the confidence of these underprivileged kids. Kids of masons and tea-sellers are now unafraid to lead seminars and answer questions from professors in the US. They are stamping their mark in the state toppers list and getting coveted jobs in MNCs like TCS.”, explains Kundan, adding that the idea is to create a holistic ‘Education to Employment’ model that can be replicated across the world.

In 2019, Kundan Kumar plans to work with districts across India to effectively implement the ‘Unnayan’ project in them. In Banka, he will continue to infuse new ideas into the model while also focussing on areas like agriculture and gender equity.

10. Krishna Teja, IAS

In Kerala, IAS officer Krishna Teja is no less than a celebrity for the local people. As the Sub-Collector of Kuttanad in Alappuzha district of Kerala, he won hearts by organising a mammoth rescue effort that saved the lives of nearly 2.5 lakh people (and 12000 cattle) during the catastrophic floods that ravaged Kerala in August 2018.

However, ‘Operation Kuttanad’ was only the beginning. For two weeks after that, the district administration organised and managed nearly 700 relief camps, ensuring that people were well-fed, comfortable and relatively happy in their temporary homes. And they succeeded. He also launched the citizen-driven ‘I Am For Alleppey’ initiative that has led to the construction of 500 houses, adoption of 100 anganwadis, distribution of nearly 40000 school kits and more.

“Leading a movement from the front means that you have to keep the energy and tempo going, no matter what. And so I did my best to ensure that ‘Operation Kuttanad’ never lost steam. With ‘I Am For Alleppey’, I am trying to do the same,” says Krishna, speaking to The Better India.

Alappuzha (or Alleppey) was the worst-affected district during the Kerala floods. With one year to go before his posting in the district ends, Krishna Teja intends to complete all the commitments made by the ‘I Am For Alleppey’ initiative for the region’s rehabilitation.

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Heroes come in all shapes and sizes, and we at The Better India have been passionately striving to share stories of children from across the country, who have stood out in extraordinary ways.

Be it exemplary acts of bravery, innovative solutions for sustainability, or even academic excellence, many children from across the country came into the limelight in 2018, and impressed us all.

As the year comes to an end, we take this opportunity to shed light on some of these young champs, whose selfless actions and visionary initiatives made the country take notice.

So, check out these ten amazing kids who made news in 2018 and for all the right reasons!

1. Haaziq Kazi

The picture of a young whale who died of intestinal blockage after consuming implausible amounts of plastic waste is what drove this 12-year-old from Pune to wage war against plastic.

In his bid to rid the oceans of all the plastic waste that has accumulated over decades of indiscriminate littering, Haaziq came up with an ingenious innovation—Ervis—which is a prototype ocean cleaner ship that can suck out plastic from the surface of the ocean!

While his first prototype lasted for a little over seven seconds, an unperturbed Haaziq knew that this was only the beginning, and he was right!

His novel idea received global attention and acclaim when he got a chance to present it at one of the TED-Ed Clubs session. Haaziq is sure that if his idea finds the means for real-time implementation, it will save our oceans and its wondrous creatures.

You can read more on Haaziq here.

2. Mhonbeni Ezung

An act of extraordinary bravery earned this Naga girl the National Bravery Award in 2015. However, what is truly incredible is that this achievement led to a movie featuring the entire episode!

The feature film, “Nani Teri Morni” which was made in honour of Mhonbeni Ezung was released this year.

So what did she do?

Well, 8-year-old Ezung and her 78-year-old grandmother were fishing, when the elderly woman suffered a bout of cramps, then a stroke and fell unconscious into a river. Ezung did not only drag her grandmother out of the river but also ran 4-5 km (7 km according to some accounts) through the dense jungle all alone to the village crying out for help.

Ezung’s timely action managed to save her grandmother’s life, and she became the youngest person to receive the National Bravery Award.

You can read Ezung’s entire story here.

3. Veer Agrawal

What would most 14-year-olds aspire to be? A doctor, an engineer or an astronaut, perhaps? Well, for Mumbai resident, Veer Agrawal, the drive to work towards helping those in need, particularly the disabled, is what matters the most.

Considering his recent achievement, Veer has emerged victorious in his mission towards giving back to society.

It was only last month when news reports about how Veer managed to raise Rs 14 lakh through an online crowdfunding platform, began to surface. Thanks to Veer’s efforts, 300 amputees from economically disadvantaged backgrounds will now walk again.

With the money that Veer raised, each one of the beneficiaries has been provided with the ‘Jaipur Foot,’ an artificial limb that costs about Rs 5000 per patient and is customised to suit them as per their size.

In a real act of kindness and compassion, Veer proved that if we are determined enough, no dream or ambition is beyond our reach.

You can read more on Veer here.

4. Firoz

On July 5, Firoz and his 13-year-old brother, Fahad, were playing football along with a few of their friends on the Kadalayi beach in Kannur district, when the ball went into the water. Fahad attempted to retrieve it but was swept away due to the high tide.

Seeing this, his friend jumped to his rescue, but also ended up being carried away by the waves. Without thinking twice, Firoz rushed to their rescue and managed to get both the boys to the shore.

Unfortunately, he drowned in the process.

What was even more heartbreaking for the entire village was that Firoz was a football fanatic and he passed away without knowing his favourite team had made it to the FIFA finals that very day.

You can read more about Firoz here.

5. Bodhisatva Khanderao

Our parents play a huge role in shaping our thought and behaviour and making us who we are. 11-year-old Bodhisatva is an environmental crusader, and his story is an excellent example of this fact.

Amruta, Bodhisatva’s mother, is a self-driven conservationist and has been leading the fight to protect the rapidly depleting forest cover near her village. From a very young age. Bodhisatva got to observe his mother and her efforts closely, and soon, joined her crusade.

But what really caught the attention of people was his ‘seed ball’ method that he, along with his mother, went on to popularise in schools, colleges, religious sites and even public gatherings.

Today, he has become the face for environmental conservation in Vidarbha and is inspiring countless people to plant more trees through the effortless way of seed balls.

You can read more about Bodhisatva’s journey here.

6. Ishaanvi

While four-year-old Ishaanvi noticed her grandmother courageously facing the challenges that cancer threw along her way, she also noticed that she was ashamed about losing hair and wearing a wig.

In an incredible show of support, Ishaanvi decided to do something that most adults would find inconceivable—she shaved off her own hair!

With that one simple act, young Ishaanvi quashed every single stigma that was associated with cancer including the distress that patients have to undergo every single day, on account of insensitivity and shaming attitude of the society.

She wanted to prove that a tonsured head was also ‘cool’ and that the fact that it was hairless, was reminiscent of fearless warriors, who wore their battle scars with pride.

You can read Ishaanvi’s entire story here.

7. Zen Gunratan Sadavarte

In August, a massive fire that broke out in Crystal Towers, a high-rise residential building in Parel, Mumbai, left four dead and many people injured. But the number of casualties would have been much higher, had it not been for the presence of mind of 11-year-old Zen.

When Zen first saw smoke emanating from the 12th floor, she quickly opened windows of her flat. She then stepped outside her home to alert the neighbours about the fire and asked them to cover their mouth with a wet cloth. What is more, she quickly made a purifier using cotton and water, and handed it out to them. Her quick thinking saved close to 15 people from suffocating in the smoke that had engulfed the building.

In a situation where most people would rush to save only themselves, this brave kid helped others and emerged a true hero!

You can read more about Zen here.

8. Aayaan Aggarwal

A trip to the United States earlier this year, opened the eyes of the young science enthusiast to the real world problem of plastic and how it was penetrating seas and oceans and killing marine biodiversity.

Horrified by the consequences, seven-year-old Aayaan from Ludhiana decided that he was going to champion against plastic, and single-use plastics in particular, and wanted to begin with himself and his family.

From getting his parents to stop using plastic straws, tiffin boxes and even bags, Aayaan moved on to his school, where children no longer bring food in plastic tiffin boxes. He then reached out to nearby restaurants, where he showed a presentation on the harmful effects of plastic and how banning plastic straws can have such a significant impact.

What is really commendable is that he managed to convince close to 20 restaurants in the city to stop giving out plastic straws. Way to go, Aayaan!

You can read more about this young anit-plastic crusader here.

9. Samay Godika

A student of National Public School in Koramangala, Bengaluru boy Samay used science, creativity and some outstanding tech skills to win a Rs 2.9 crore global science prize and a lab worth over Rs 72 lakh for his school with his innovative submission!

What did he do?

A YouTuber, Samay made a video that broke down the Nobel-acclaimed concept of Autophagy, the physiological process in the body that deals with the destruction of cells in the body. Depicting Autophagy as the protagonist with superhero-like abilities, Samay took the viewer through an animated story that presents comprehensive scientific knowledge laced with humour.

The budding science enthusiast was inspired to research various preventive care mechanisms, as many of his relatives have been victims of neurological diseases. Thanks to Samay’s efforts, his school will now be able to produce many more science lovers.

You can read more about Samay’s work here.

10. Arul Srivastva

Arul was always fascinated with plants and their properties, and it was a fun activity organised by his school eco club that led him to come up with path-breaking innovation.

The innovation was an anti-pollution nose mask out of vetiver (Chrysopogon zizanioides) filters, that could help a person breath easily even amidst vehicular emission scale pollution!

A student of Class 6, in the Vana Vani Matriculation Higher Secondary School located in the IIT Madras campus, Arul was familiar with the grass which was used at his home for its medicinal properties. He wanted to know what else this grass could do, and find out he did!

After making the prototype, Arul even went ahead to get his masks tested at an automobile pollution-testing centre at a petrol pump to further corroborate the functionality of his anti-pollution mask. The result? Well, not only were his masks helpful, but the National Innovation Foundation also accepted his idea!

You can read more about Arul and his interesting innovation here.

(Edited by Gayatri Mishra)

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A Messiah for the differently-abled, especially those suffering from leprosy, Murlidhar Devidas Amte, popularly known as Baba Amte, was born today, 104 years ago.

Honouring his contribution, Google released a doodle slideshow of the prominent social worker and activist. Created by Vrinda Zaveri, the doodle encapsulates his inspiring journey, which was entirely dedicated to the welfare of others, especially the downtrodden.

Looking back, here are a few interesting less-known anecdotes of his life, which reflect his undaunting and selfless character!

1. An encounter that changed his life

Born in a Hindu Brahmin family, Baba Amte was living an affluent life. Underneath all the extravagance of status and wealth, he was restless. Yearning for a larger purpose in life, he volunteered for several social causes and was an active part of the freedom struggle. But, it was a chance encounter during this time that changed his life forever.

One day, he came across a man called Tushiram who was in the last stage of leprosy. His deformed state, similar to that of a corpse, scared Baba.

Known to be fearless, the Abhay Sadhak (as called by Mahatma Gandhi), Baba Amte, for the first time experienced fear and was determined to overcome it. It was then that he decided to dedicate his life to the service of leprosy patients, the abandoned, and the differently-abled and went on to build Anandwan in his later years.

2. Tagore and Shantiniketan as inspiration

Baba Amte was born a year after Rabindranath Tagore won the Nobel Prize for his songs in Geetanjali. Hence, growing up, Amte had a deep fascination for them, and they drew him further to learn Bengali, even leading him to the lush and idyllic Shantiniketan, the abode of Tagore.

A youth brimming with intellectual fervour and curiosity, Amte loved travelling and meeting fascinating personalities; the visit inspired him with the ideals of the Brahmo Samaj. He was also inspired to pursue poetry.

3. Injected himself with the leprosy bacilli

Amte was fighting the cause for leprosy patients at a time when the disease was associated with social stigma. Often considered untouchable, leprosy victims would often face social ostracisation, making their survival more painful.

Amte wanted to fight this and dispel the myths around the disease being contagious or a consequence of bad karma. Hence, to send out a strong message to society, he allowed bacilli from a leper to be injected into his body.

His efforts eventually began to show results, and he went on to establish a safe space for lepers and all differently-abled individuals–Anandwan–which means a Forest of Bliss.

4. Developed roses without thorns for the residents of Anandwan

Anandwan was to truly live up to its name and be the safest place for its inhabitants, where every individual, despite their physical limitations, would be helped to be self-sufficient and safe. Amte made sure to take care of the minutest details–creating a garden of thornless roses so that the visually-impaired inmates could enjoy their beautiful fragrance and soft touch, without being pricked by thorns!

5. Anandwan, his Eden on Earth!

Located in the interiors of Chandrapur district of Maharashtra, Anandwan is Amte’s heaven on earth–an inclusive space for all marginalised individuals.

Interestingly, Baba Amte started the ashram with only Rs 14 and six lepers to look after, back in 1949. Over the years, it has expanded both in size and scope.

Spread across a sprawling 250-acres of land, this is a SMART (Sustainable, Measurable, Affordable, Replicable and Technologically advanced) village with over 5,000 residents and an annual turnover of over Rs 20 crore!

(Edited by Shruti Singhal)

Featured image: Anandwan/Facebook

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Farming is often correlated with like barren land, unpaid loans, water scarcity, unfair prices, crop losses and farmer suicides.

And while some of these are harsh realities that we cannot turn a blind eye to, there is also an unexplored and underrated side of agriculture that doesn’t get the limelight it deserves. These are stories of innovations, successful farmers and farming techniques that have the power to change the face of agriculture in India.

While 2018 is on the brink of wishing us goodbye, the year has shed light on many such stories and innovative ideas. Here’s a quick look at ten such sustainable farming techniques.

1. Pune Brothers Quit High-Paying Jobs for Organic Farming, Make Rs 30 Lakh Turnover per Month!

When two brothers decided to quit their lucrative jobs, return to their native village in Bhodani and turn to farming, the immediate reaction from everyone around them was an utter shock.

From turning to organic farming on two acres to practising it on 20 acres and making an annual turnover of Rs 3 crore, Ajinkya and Satya Hange have come a long way with their ‘Two Brothers Organic Farm’.

Skipping sugarcane, they turned to integrated farming with native varieties of pomegranates, papayas, drumsticks, tur dal (pigeon pea), moong dal (green gram), urad dal (black gram), lobia (black-eyed pea), bananas, sugarcane and 20 indigenous Gir cows.

The brothers faced huge losses in the first few years but stuck to their gut. When they first harvested papayas, the local mandi procured a price of Rs 4/kg.

Let down by malls and other vendors, they turned to local vendors under bridges to sell their produce. Their product was tasted by the head of Star Bazaar, and then there was no looking back. They moved to the rack of every top retailer and even delivered produce to business tycoons and A-listers.

Now they sell in various farmer markets and also have their own online shop for processed organic products. Their 100 per cent organic farm attracts people from over 14 countries. They have also trained over Indian 2,000 farmers on their farm.

Read more about their journey here.

2. No Soil, No Pesticides. This Self-Taught Punekar Who Grows Veggies in PET Bottles!

Rudrarup’s first exposure to hydroponics was in class eight when his father brought home a book on the subject, long before most people knew of the technique.

At 41, this Pune-based IT professional is helping people with no farming backgrounds grow everything from herbs to mustard, tomatoes to spinach in PET bottles and homemade planters like Chyawanprash cans, yoghurt containers and even food delivery dabbas, using hydroponics.

Green leafy vegetables like spinach, mint, cilantro, basil, fenugreek, and others like lettuce, chillies and tomatoes, he grows them all on his balcony!

The growth of crop is twice as fast with hydroponic gardening as nutrients are dissolved in water and directly fed to the roots, proportionately.

Read more about his journey with this lucrative technique here.

3. Rain Shelter Farming Fetches This Kerala Cop 12 Kilos of Veggies Every Day!

Premanandan is a Vigilance Sub-Inspector from the Moozhikkal town in Kozhikode. In the last eight years, he hasn’t purchased vegetables to meet his household requirements!

Because he has been successfully harvesting 12 kilos of vegetables every single day from his 0.025-acre plot using rain shelter farming.

Similar to greenhouses, rain shelters are naturally ventilated. They are built using GI (Galvanised Iron) pipes, wooden or bamboo poles with roofs made up of a transparent UV-stabilised low-density polyethylene film that facilitates crop cultivation around the year.

He grows ten different vegetable varieties including tomato, okra, long beans, brinjal, bitter gourd, chilli and scarlet gourd, along with four different types of amaranth organically.

Read more here.

4. Traditional ‘Wonder Grass’ Helps TN Farmer Earn Rs 1.5 Lakh Profit per Acre of Land!

Did you know Vetiver grass is also known as the “wonder grass” of Tamil Nadu?

C Pandian, a farmer from the Sivaganga district in Tamil Nadu, has a 10-acre farm covered in the 5-feet-tall grass which is set to earn him profits in lakhs. It is in high demand in various sectors, including pharma and cosmetics.

The grass gives a yield of 2-2.5 tonnes/acre in coastal farms and up to 1.5 lakh tonnes in inland farms! While one kilogram of vetiver grass gives about 300 gram of oil and earns Rs 1.5 lakh/acre of cultivation, one kilogram of essential oils extracted from this yield fetches up to Rs 58,000!

Traditionally, Vetiver grass is used to make curtains, which are in high demand during summers. Tied up on windows and sprayed with cool water, they keep the room clean and also have a sweet fragrance that acts as a room freshener.

Innovators are now finding ways to utilise it into eco-friendly air conditioners and even anti-pollution masks. The grass is also used to make ‘khus’ syrup and juice and to purify water in water bodies, including artificial lakes and tanks. Another quality of vetiver is that it is an antidepressant.

Read more here.

5. Desi Jugaad Helps 21-YO MP Farmer Earn a Profit of Rs 96 Lakh

He is 21. But Madhya Pradesh farmer and innovator Rohit Patel is earning ten times more profit with onion cultivation.

While onions harvested in the summer months of March or April earn Rs 2-3/kg, when sold in monsoons, they can earn over Rs 35— ten times the price.

But that requires them to be stored until the end of the monsoon season.

Storage facilities are not cheap, so many times farmers have to use their own homes or godowns to store this crop. However, chances of this harvest getting spoilt are very high.

And so, to avoid this, in a room without windows, Patel made 8-inch-high rows of bricks at regular distances. He then spread an iron net on these rows and spread his onion harvest on it. On every 100 square feet, he installed bottomless pits (or wide pipes). He also installed an exhaust on the top of these pits, thus creating a homemade cold storage system.

Earlier, Rohit would earn Rs 90,000 for 3,000 quintals of onions, but after using this technique, he earned one crore and five lakhs for the same! This means a profit of Rs 96 lakh!

Read more here.

Read More: Brave, Brilliant, Innovative: 10 Amazing Kids Who Made News in 2018 For The Right Reasons!

6. UP’s Award-Winning Banana King Earns Rs 48 Lakh/Year, Becomes Idol For Farmers!

Dubbed UP’s “hi-tech farmer”, Ram Saran Verma works on farms spread across 150 acres and earns Rs 3-4 lakh/month!

In 1984, he managed to save up Rs 5,000 and travelled across India to interact with successful farmers, agricultural scientists and experts. When he returned to his native Daulatpur and spoke to his father about setting up a banana plantation on one acre of land, the older farmer did not approve. But Ram went ahead anyway.

What set him apart after 1988 was the distinction of being one of the first farmers in the state to introduce tissue culture for banana farming.

A 1-acre plantation yielded 400 quintals of bananas. For a cost of production of Rs 1 lakh, the farmer earned a profit of over Rs 4 lakh!

He also grows red bananas which are rich in protein, fibre and low on sugar. Smaller compared to the traditional yellow bananas, he planted 1,000 saplings of the variety back in 2012. As against Rs 15 per kg for the regular variety, these were sold at Rs 80-100 per kg.

He uses crop rotation diligently to reduce soil erosion, increase soil fertility and crop yield. Here, different types of crops are grown in the same area in sequenced seasons.

His methods have benefited over 50,000 farmers in his neighbouring districts. He also hosts training sessions and workshops for farmers from within and outside the country.

Read about his journey here.

7. A Farm That Will Live Forever: Meet the Couple Teaching This Special Technique!

Located at the foothills of Morni Hills near Panchkula, the Aanandaa Permaculture Farm was started by a husband-wife duo in 2010 with one aim—to connect urban folk with nature. An ecosystem which turns self-sufficient over time, it has insects, birds and animals, all of which play an important role.

Originally from Chandigarh, Manisha and Agam who worked in Mumbai were concerned about the deteriorating quality of the food and water they were consuming. The solution to this came in the form of permaculture.

With no background in traditional farming, they learned everything from scratch from books, videos and local villagers.

They purchased some land near Chandigarh, and within nine months, they marked the land, fenced it up, dug a bore well for water, and worked towards the plantation.

By monsoon in 2011, they had planted over 1,000 trees in the farm. Till date, the duo runs the farm by themselves, with a team of local villagers who work at Aanandaa.

The farm is open to visitors by appointment, where they can also get an introductory session on permaculture. The duo continue to have full-time careers in Gurugram and now plan to start a seed bank, giving saplings and guiding small farmers towards farming without chemicals and unlimited water.

Read more here.

8. Maha Farmer Pays off Rs 10 Lakh Loan, Helps Create Rs 400 Cr Turnover! Here’s How

Born to a marginal farmer in Pune’s Mulshi taluka, Dnyaneshwar Bodke worked as an office boy for ten years.

The success story of a Sangli-based polyhouse farmer who earned Rs 12 lakh a year inspired him to quit his job and farm. He set up a polyhouse in a 1,000 sq ft area on loan. He started cultivating decorative flowers like carnations and roses in the polyhouse. Instead of the local mandi, he tied up with decorators and hotels and also started exporting them to leading metros.

His profits were such that he repaid a loan of Rs 10 lakh within a year!

In 2004, with the help of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), he formed the Abhinav Farmers Club to practice hi-tech farming in a group.

From 11, the members increased to 305. Farmers who earned Rs 25,000 a month, started earning Rs 5 lakh a year. They even bought 300 Maruti cars to quicken delivery and won a national award by NABARD.

They decided to use a new technique of growing exotic veggies like broccoli, Chinese cabbage, parsley, cherry tomato, celery and zucchini. While Indian vegetables earned Rs 10/per kg, exotic vegetables procured Rs 80-100/kg.

Each farmer was earning up to Rs 700-800 per day. When competition increased, Bodke came up with the idea of a 1-acre hi-tech integrated organic farming project.

The produce was directly delivered to the doorsteps of customers without any middlemen. Where engineers earn Rs 12 lakh a year, a class six farmer in rural Maharashtra was earning the same amount. To tackle delivery issues, the club connected with women self-help groups who packed, graded and delivered the produce in 126 vans.

Today, the impact of Abhinav Farmers Club is spread across six states and has over 1.5 lakh farmers and 257 farmer leaders. The annual turnover of the group is about Rs 400 crore, while Bodke’s 1-acre plot is valued at Rs 10 crore! Read more here.

9. As an engineer, he earned ₹6.5 Lakh. As a farmer, ₹20 Lakh!

Anup worked as an IT engineer earning a handsome salary, but he lived for the weekend. Until he decided to quit.

For three months, he met farmers in Gujarat, Karnataka and Maharashtra to understand farming and returned to his village, Nagrale, in Sangli.

Today, Anup employs 10-15 workers at his 12-acre farm, where he grows coloured and green capsicum, sweet corn, sugarcane and marigold.

He says, “My package as an engineer was Rs 6.5 lakh. Here, I am earning double the money as well as satisfaction and inner peace.”

He is doing this using a polyhouse. His marketing skills earned him profits in the first year itself.

After capsicum, he grew chrysanths. But uncertain market prices made him sell them at a loss. He hasn’t stopped experimenting though. He has now planted marigolds in four acres and is selling them at the rate of Rs 50-60/kg.

Last year, the farmer made a turnover of Rs 20-25 lakh. He is expecting even more profits this year. Read more here

10. 2 Farmers Make Biocoal To Power Fight Against Pollution!

At a time when stubble burning is gaining attention for contributing to the deplorable air quality in the national capital, two farmers from Samrala city in Punjab have started a crop residue management company which makes biocoal with crop residue.

Founded by Sukhbir Dhaliwal, and Kamaljeet Singh, Farm2Energy, apart from saving the environment, also adds to the farmer’s income.

Started in 2016, the company is using paddy crop, sugarcane and corn stubble residue, and trying to bid for the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC). Two tonnes of biocoal samples have been sent to Europe for use in thermal plants.

In 2016 and 2017, the two partners collected crop residue and sold it to biomass and cement manufacturing plants to be used as biofuel, earning Rs 30-35 lakh.

Last year, they cleared 12,000 acres in Ludhiana, Patiala and adjoining places. This year’s target is 20,000 acres, of which 10,000 acres will be paddy farms alone.

They aim to export pellets/stubble powder to Europe and are clearing fields free of cost, so farmers don’t face issues in sowing the next crop.

Know of any more such sustainable farming ideas? Let us know in the comments section!

(Edited by Shruti Singhal)

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In a real-life Veer-Zaara reunion of sorts, an Indian couple, torn apart by socio-political circumstances in a pre-independent India, finally met each other recently after 72 long years.

Their love story, might not be ridden with sweet clichés but is indeed one that defies time and space.

As mentioned in reports across several publications, the wedding of 90-year-old EK Narayanan Nambiar and his first wife, 86-year-old Sarada, took place in 1946. Sarada was only 14 years old at the time, while Narayanan was 18.

Only eight months into the marriage, in December 1946, Narayanan and his father Thaliyan Raman Nambiar decided to be a part of the Kavumbai Farmers Rebellion, which was a farmers’ uprising against the feudal lords, to claim back their lands.

In Kuvambai, this uprising was directed against the feudalist, Karakattidam Nayanar, who exercised control over the lands in Kannur.

As per the plan, Narayanan, along with his father and hundreds of others, gathered on December 30, 1946, to attack the house of the landlord. To their surprise, the operation failed when the Malabar Special Police (MSP), deployed by the British rulers, reached the spot and cornered them. While many were killed, and several were injured, Narayanan and his father, managed to escape unhurt and went underground.

Two months later, they were found and imprisoned for being a part of the rebellion. In retaliation, the MSP plundered their home, expecting the two to return.

“His mother took care of me as if I were her daughter. One night, a shooting occurred atop Kavumbayi hills. I have never met him afterwards. [The] police came to attack me, [but] his mother protected me from them. They also set the house on fire. His mother sent me back to my house later. [The] police used to come there also,” Sarada told Mathrubhumi.

Left alone and with no sign of his return, Narayanan’s mother did not want to risk her daughter-in-law to further assault by the Britishers and the landlords, so she married her off to another man. After eight long years, when Narayanan was released from jail in Salem, he too remarried.

After having lived separately for so many years, it was fate that brought them back together.

It was purely by chance that Bhargavan, Sarada’s son, happened to come across Santha Kavumbayi, Narayanan’s niece, and TV Madhukumar, Narayanan’s nephew. Interestingly, Santha is the author of 30 December, a novel based on the events of her uncle’s life.

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The encounter revealed that after so many years, the two were still alive and it was then decided that a meeting would be set up. The couple eventually met at Bhargavan’s house in Parassinikkadavu in the Kannur district, where Sarada’s family prepared a meal of kappa (tapioca), kanji (rice gruel) and puzhukku (a root vegetable dish) for Narayanan.

After a brief interaction with their separate families, they once again went their separate ways, although this time the farewell was a sweeter one!

(Edited by Gayatri Mishra)

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The Better India Presents ‘Spotlight 2018’: A celebration of trailblazers, champions, and pioneers of change! Ordinary folks whose extraordinary and inspiring actions have made the world stand up to take note. Join us in honouring 50 heroes, whose brilliant path to a better future deserves all the spotlight we can shine on them!

2018 has been quite an eventful year for us at The Better India.

We have covered over 5,000 stories of change, impact and positivity for our readers this year. Some 50 million readers from every single country in the world with internet connectivity read our stories – including 46 from Chad and 26 from Greenland!

Through these extraordinary stories of ordinary people like you and I, we believe millions more have been inspired by the power of resilience, compassion, community effort, and most importantly, positive changes.

For us, these ordinary people are the real heroes, whose conviction and commitment to their chosen causes – despite facing the same daily hurdles and life crunches as the rest of us – make them an extraordinary breed of individuals.

As writers of these stories, it puts us in a tough spot to pick any personal favourite, for every single one of them has given us invaluable life lessons as well as goals to strive for.

However, there is a need to highlight some of them, even if they are first among equals.

With that in mind, and in no particular order, here are 10 outstanding everyday heroes, whose actions truly epitomise the values that drive The Better India:

Paulami Patel

12-year-old Paulami could have never foreseen that her family’s traditional summer vacation to Hyderabad in 2001 would change her life forever.

That year, a terrible accident left her with 75-80 per cent burns and an amputated arm. Paulami was shattered – but not so much that she could give up on life. With her parents as her ultimate pillars of support, this fighter took the reins of her life in her own hands, literally.

Sixteen years and 45 surgeries later, Paulami is perhaps one of the most resilient and strongest persons you will ever meet. She now runs her family business, which deals with heavy machinery, and is happily married to her childhood sweetheart.

“I never thought that I’d meet with an accident and little did I know that it was going to change my life forever. But it happened anyway, and there was nothing anyone could do to undo it. But what I could do was fight back. There were two choices—either give up and drown myself in self-pity or make peace with the situation and face it with a smile. I started seeing everything as an opportunity rather than a hindrance. And that’s what made the difference! They say when life presents you with an opportunity; grab it with both the hands. I did the same, just with 1 and a half!”

You can read Paulami’s extraordinary journey in detail here.

Dr Aloma and David Lobo

When Dr Aloma and David Lobo had opened their home and hearts to an abandoned baby girl, little did they know that their lives would be the ones to be enriched!

Together they battled societal stigmas, public insensitivity and even ridiculous remarks, for Nisha was born with a rare genetic condition. This is even more extraordinary considering that adoption is by no means easy in this country, or widespread.

But the hidden talents that the world failed to see, the couple and their kids saw immediately, which is unquestionably why Nisha is a fierce fighter and independent woman today.

“As much as Nisha needed us, so did we, in a funnily interesting way. More like a wise, old soul, she taught us what a family truly means—we look out for one another through thick and thin. Our journey together has been more of a learning curve, where we have learnt more from her than what we could teach her. ‘Don’t react, respond,’ is what she often tells me when I lose my cool upon coming across insensitive comments and attitude.

What India needs to begin addressing is how we treat our children—the little human beings who are worthy of love, family and security. Defining them by only their ‘condition’ makes us all part of the societal failure that denies them the identity of the person they all are.”

Read more about this family’s extraordinary story of love here.

Dr Umesh and Dr Ashwini Sawarkar

When their three-month-old daughter passed away following a road accident, the first thought that came into the minds of Dr Umesh and Dr Ashwini Sawarkar was to donate their only child’s organs.

For organ donation was their only hope to keep their daughter alive through somebody else.

As much as their poignant thought was noble, a grotesque reality awaited the grieving parents. Many grey areas existed in the field of infant organ donation, and their one last hope of donating their baby’s organs sadly didn’t find the light of the day. By the time the formalities co

To address this void and draw the attention of the government and Ministry of Health, Dr Umesh wrote a heartbreaking letter to the Prime Minister. The viral message has now become a hope for parents in India.

“Life is indeed difficult for those who are left behind to cope up with loss of their loved ones. When the doctors declared our daughter brain dead, there wasn’t anything left for us to do. But together, we nursed this vision of donating our baby’s organs. We believed that through organ donation, we would be able not just to keep the memories of our daughter alive, but also give someone in need a second chance at life. It was possibly what kept us strong through this excruciatingly painful time. More than the sadness of losing our child, what saddened us further was that this dream of ours couldn’t be fulfilled.”

You can read more about Dr Umesh and Dr Ashwini Sawarkar’s story here.

Deepika Mhatre

How often do you come across a standup comic who is also a house help? In India, there is never a shortage of extraordinary stories, and Mumbai resident Deepika Mhatre’s is no exception.

From selling imitation jewellery to passengers on the local trains to working as a domestic help in five houses, life was quite tedious for this 43-year-old. But she chose to deal with it through humour.

Perhaps it would have remained as just another hobby, had it one been for a talent show one of her employers hosted for the house helps a year ago. That changed Deepika’s life.

She was a smashing success in the talent show – which triggered in her the belief that she could do this full time. There are no fairy tales or godmothers in the real world, so things progressed slowly. But eventually, one thing led to another, and Deepika began doing comic sketches professionally. Her sketches are based on her own experiences as a house help – showcasing both the good and the bad.

“In my path to becoming a comic, my one true inspiration has been Johnny Lever. I’d also like to mention Aditi Mittal as well. Even when life got difficult, I kept smiling. Now, this is what I tell people—keep smiling, keep laughing. Never be afraid of having dreams and make sure you have the dedication to work hard towards achieving those. Through my gigs, I want to tell people that your domestic help is human too. You must treat them with dignity.”

Read more about this inspiring comedienne here.

Sonam Wangchuk

This is the man whose extraordinary life had inspired the filmmakers of ‘3 Idiots’ to craft the unforgettable character of Phunsukh Wangdu.

The 52-year-old engineer from Leh had garnered national attention when he established a revolutionary school in 1988, which admitted kids written off as failures by society. Wangchuk’s sole intent was to make learning fun and practical rather than subjecting kids to rote learning.

Later, his ground-breaking innovations like ‘Ice Stupas’ and solar heated mud huts put him on the global radar for finding sustainable solutions in difficult terrains.

“More than inspiration, it was empathy that led me to find solutions in areas that had been plaguing the lives of common people. Be it the water issue or education for children, these were people in need, and I was driven by this irresistible empathy to resolve their issues. A virtue that was instilled in me by my mother as well as my ancestors, empathy is what makes us all human, and that must come naturally. If we wish to see India as a great nation, what we must strive towards is to become great citizens first. Let’s start that by doing good for the society.”

Read more about this remarkable Ladakhi’s endeavours here.

Dadarao Bilhore

The loss of a child is enough to change any life. But how does one deal with such a devastating blow?

Dadarao Bilhore lost his 16-year-old son to a road accident – thanks to a pothole. Within a month of the child’s tragic demise, Bilhore began a crusade that changed into a lifelong journey. He now fills up every single pothole he comes across in Mumbai.

Armed with broken paver blocks, gravel, stones and a shovel, from 2015 to date, he has filled over 600 potholes.

Known as the ‘Pothole Dada of Mumbai’, he has also been relentlessly fighting to bring legal justice against errant contractors and civic authorities and does not plan to quit until fair reparations have been made.

“Every pothole that I’ve filled so far is like a ‘Shradhanjali’ to my son Prakash. For I don’t want anyone else to suffer an irreplaceable loss that we have to live through for the rest of our lives. How long can one depend on the civic bodies, who continue to wait for yet another person to succumb before filling up the potholes? We are all taxpaying members of the society, and if we don’t become watchdogs of the administration, this will continue to happen. It’s time we put an end to it, and for change to happen, we should come and stand together as a society.”

Read more about Dadarao’s fight against the potholes of Mumbai here.

Purnota Bahl

The sight of a tiny baby foot in a cancer ward reminded Purnota of her just-born daughter—a life-changing moment that would go on to change the lives of thousands of cancer-afflicted kids from low-income households across India.

This incident led Indian School of Business (ISB) alumnus Purnota Bahl to found the Cuddles Foundation, India’s only organisation providing a dedicated, nutrition-centred service charted down by professional nutritionists for underprivileged families fighting cancer.

Since its inception in 2011, the Cuddles Foundation has reached out to over 35,000 kids across 13 cities in collaboration with 22 partner hospitals and Purnota is hopeful of taking their all-women run mission to different parts of the country in future.

“Giving back to the society is not only a responsibility for others but also a deeply rewarding experience for oneself. We live in an extremely interconnected and interdependent world. Problems and issues are out there. Each one impacts our children and us. From environmental to health to human rights, you name it. So, if not for others we need to work for our kids. It’s the same world and environment that they will inherit. Not to mention, it brings in immense gratitude, perspective in our lives while strengthening our values.”

You can read more on Purnota and Cuddles Foundation here.

Baby Halder

She was only 12 when Baby was married off to a man 14 years older. Struggling through an abusive marriage for over a decade, she decided to put an end to all her miseries by taking off with her three kids to Delhi in 1999.

Turning a new page in life, she began working as a domestic help at several homes, where she’d often face humiliation for being a single parent. But things finally looked up for Baby, when she began working at the home of writer and retired anthropology professor Prabodh Kumar.

From encouraging her to read and then pen down her story, Kumar helped bring out the author in Baby and today, her book, Aalo Aandhari is hailed across the world as an incredible story of survival.

“The only thing that is stopping us is our own inhibitions. In India, there are too many barriers for women—sometimes it is inaccessibility to education while sometimes it is patriarchy that prevents them from achieving great things in life. It is time we become our own heroes and fight for ourselves. Education is perhaps the best weapon in present times to bring down societal stigmas and break free. It is indeed the stairway for women towards independence and to make choices for themselves. I would urge everyone that never stop believing in yourself and continue your fight until your last breath.”

Read more about Baby Halder’s extraordinary journey from a child bride to an award-winning author here.

Murukan S

It was the kindness of a stranger that put a roof over Murugan’s head, who had lived many years of his childhood on the streets of Kochi while scavenging through garbage to fill his stomach.

When he could finally manage to fend for himself, he decided to return the favour by embarking on a lifelong mission to ensure that the homeless in his city will have someone to care for them.

Through his organisation, Theruvora Pravarthaka Association, Murugan has rescued thousands of homeless children, elderly and ailing people from across Kerala over the last two decades and has given them a sense of dignity that even the state government failed to provide.

“No matter how big one is in their social standing, one thing most people forget is that we do not bring anything with us when we are born, nor do we take anything when we die. The few years that we have on this Earth should be one that leaves behind an impact, and I believe that can be achieved by caring for our fellow beings—especially those who have no one.

It is perhaps the best way to give back to the planet, which has given us everything for our sustenance. In this age of smartphones and social media, everyone is ready to preach but never willing to practice. Let’s us all strive together to change that and make the world more compassionate through caring and sharing.”

To know more about the remarkable story of Murukan, click here.

Alagarathanam Natarajan

After moving back to India from London, Natarajan partook in many endeavours to uplift underprivileged members of society. But the sweltering heat of Delhi summers prompted the man to turn his attention to water and how he could help to alleviate this issue.

By placing a water cooler outside his own home, his eyes opened to the grim reality of water poverty. People couldn’t walk even a fair distance to quench their thirst. Extremely saddened, Natarajan took it upon himself to install several matkas, or earthen pots, in various parts of South Delhi.

This feat has now earned him the moniker of ‘Matka Man’. He refills each one of them through a van that he drives around himself.

“What propelled me was the indifference we all have for the poor. They don’t even have water in this age and time. Instead, the state sells water to them in mobile carts. The best I have learnt in this journey is there is no limit in giving to the community, water has just been the beginning for me and my learning every day is a wonderful experience and cleansing for the soul. I am 70 years old, and I have learnt from my early days that never take no for an answer. Living in Panchsheel park, I hope one day I can make this colony an example of kindness and care to the nation. We must lead by example, and I am the first example—I say this not for self-praise but for the lack of a better phrase.”

You can read more about The Matka man here.

(Edited by Vinayak Hegde)

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The Better India Presents ‘Spotlight 2018’: A celebration of trailblazers, champions, and pioneers of change! Ordinary folks whose extraordinary and inspiring actions have made the world stand up to take note. Join us in honouring 50 heroes, whose brilliant path to a better future deserves all the spotlight we can shine on them!

While the world continues to divide individuals into collectives, there exists a rare breed of persevering people who rise above that, to redefine themselves and those around them.

These are the change-makers who are not willing to let others define them, their roles in society and what they can or cannot do.

And, this spirit is best defined in the work of strong women, who, despite several obstacles, have redefined and transformed the lives of several other women.

With another year coming to an end, we at The Better India are celebrating these female heroes who have truly made a difference to thousands of lives with their unwavering patience and resilience.

Here are the 10 wonder women of India that we would like to honour with The Better India Spotlight, 2018.

Maya Vishwakarma

Popularly known as the ‘padwoman of India’, Maya Vishwakarma calls herself the ‘standing example’ of the dire repercussions caused to the girls and women of India, by the taboo and stigma around menstruation.

Born to a family of agricultural labourers in a village in Narsinghpur district of Madhya Pradesh, Maya did not have access to sanitary napkins until she was 26. This caused her to face many health issues later in life, thus triggering her ambition to remedy the situation.

Despite financial obstacles, she continued her education and did her post-graduation in Biochemistry from a university in Jabalpur. This was followed by her stint as a researcher at AIIMS Delhi, after which she went to the US to become a cancer researcher in Leukemia.

Through all of this, her personal health issues tied her back to the cause waiting for a solution back in her country.

“During my first period when I was in the 9th grade, I was told to use a cloth instead of pads, and I continued to do so until I finally had access to sanitary napkins at the age of 26. However, the unhygienic methods in those formative years left a mark as it caused several infections. Those made me realize, that if such a thing can happen to an educated person like me, what about all those women in rural areas shrouded in lack of awareness. That is when I knew I had to do something to change it,” said Maya.

Eventually, at the age of 36, she quit her job and started the Sukarma Foundation in 2016, to create awareness around menstruation, promote the importance of using sanitary napkins and busting the stigma and myths around it.

In addition to this, the foundation also manufactures affordable sanitary napkins which are given to the women in the remotest areas of the country.

“After two years, I still feel that the work has just begun. I have started an important conversation and it needs to continue. Meanwhile, I want women all across the country and beyond to look at their own selves and care. Most women here grow up to put others before them and thus end up ignoring themselves. That needs to change for a better and safer future,” said Maya.

Rukmini Rao

In the midst of a country stricken with a 21-month-long Emergency, Dr Rukmini Rao was among the few who rose to make their voices heard. Her trigger, she says, was an inability to stomach the injustice routinely reported in the daily news.

Her group, Saheli, was established in 1981 to help women facing domestic violence, through social, economic and legal support.

One issue which particularly infuriated her was the rising numbers of dowry deaths.

“I gathered a group of like-minded people to take all the needed efforts to support women harassed for dowry and eradicate all possibilities of such deaths in the future. This has led us to push for almost seven pro-women legislation,” said Dr Rao.

These legislations include a law on domestic violence and a law against the pornographic display of women.

Speaking about the body of her work, she added, “We have been mostly working with women, but even men require such awareness to have a true impact on society. We are trying to achieve that. At the end of the day, all I am is an ordinary person, who took the leap of change. And, anyone can do that!”

Dr Rani Bang

Even after forty years, the memory of an infant child breathing her last due to a lack of medical facilities haunts Dr Rani Bang. For Rani, this was a wake-up call to address one of the most pressing issues of the nation, lack of adequate healthcare for the poor.

The painful memory was from when Dr Bang met a widowed landless labourer called Rai-bai Dabole, who had come to her seeking treatment for her infant daughter with gastroenteritis and pneumonia.

The child was in a critical state and Rani had advised her to visit the nearest hospital. Two days later, the infant died.

“I was angry, upset and felt so helpless. But after confronting the mother, Rai-bai, I realized my first lesson – healthcare is not always just the facilities or the medicine, but also to make it sensitively accessible,”

Since then, Rani and her husband, Dr Abhay Bang, have dedicated their lives to the social and educational upliftment of areas in the tribal district of Gadchiroli, Maharashtra.

Together, in 1986, they started a grassroots health organisation, SEARCH (Society for Education, Action & Research in Community Health).

This couple, who has also been awarded the prestigious Padma Shri, is also known for their ground-breaking research on how pneumonia and not diarrhoea, was the principal cause of under-five mortality.

Their findings not only had an on-ground impact but also pushed the World Health Organisation to change their drug manufacture strategy.

Speaking to The Better India, she added, “There are rampant problems everywhere and the unfortunate part is that most people today are very self-centred. This attitude needs to change as no one is ordinary when it comes to perpetrating change. Anyone can do it. What I have realised that you can earn the most prestigious accolades and awards, but true satisfaction will only come from the impact of you selfless work for the larger good.”

Chetna Sinha

Almost 200 kilometres from Pune, the town of Mhaswad in Satara district of Maharashtra has a unique bank that provides loans as low as Rs 15 to rural women!

The Mann Deshi Bank, established by Mumbai-based Chetna Sinha in 1997, provides financial aid to rural women, making them truly empowered. So far, the bank and its eight branches have empowered more than 3,00,000 women through 140 field facilitators.

Speaking to The Better India, Chetna says she realised that social empowerment of rural women was predominantly tied to the economic opportunities they get. This bank is her effort to bridge that gap.

With the support of village women, she started the bank with a share capital of Rs 600,000.

From micro-credit plans ranging from loans for five years to one day or providing loans as low as ₹5,000 to offering women the flexibility to pay on a daily basis, the bank created its own successful model to engage these women. The bank also provides a daily loan facility, with the EMI repayment amount as low as Rs 15. The bank claims that over 15,000 transactions of this kind take place on a regular basis.

‘Looking at the success, we plan to take this model all across the country and want to impact 1 million women entrepreneurs by 2022. All we need is patience and courage for that!” added Chetna.

Sonal Kapoor

With a job in the advertising sector, Sonal was living her dream. The then 23-year-old loved her job, but it an on-ground assignment uncovered her true calling.

“I was in a slum where I met the horrors of reality. There was this 36-year-old woman with six daughters and a seventh child was on the way. I noticed that one of her daughters, a 7-year-old girl could hardly walk straight or sit properly. After a lot of insisting, her mother opened up and shared that the child was sexually assaulted in a nearby brothel. I still remember how shocked I was when she said that she would strangle the seventh child if it turns out to be a girl. After this I couldn’t go back to my old job!” said Sonal, who has been fighting child trafficking since then.

In 2010, she founded Protsahan India Foundation, with a vision to eradicate child abuse, by breaking the intergenerational cycle of child abuse and poverty in urban and rural India.

The foundation uses a holistic approach with art and education to heal, help and protect the survivors and the endangered children.

33-year-old Sonal is now a member of the expert committee on anti-child trafficking, under the Delhi Commission of Women. Over the past eight years, the foundation has rescued and rehabilitated more than 19,000 children.

Speaking to The Better India, she said, “Might be a wishful thought at this point, but I hope that the world stops needing people like us, someday. People need to stop living their shallow lives and step up to stand for what’s right. And, it begins with acknowledging the problems around you first!”

Sandhya Menon

Only two months ago, the country was reverberating with the #Metoo movement.

One of its prominent voices is Sandhya Menon, an activist and freelance journalist who opened up about senior journalists who she accused of physically and verbally abusing her.

This encouraged a sea of similar responses for women across the country who shared their harrowing stories of sexual assault, thus breaking the dam of silence.

According to Sandhya, this enabled society to build a holistic picture with the larger narrative of violation coming together.

Speaking to The Better India, about her experience, she said, “I was triggered to speak up after I saw that someone as big as Nana Patekar being called out by Tanushree Dutta for assault. I pitched in because for ten years I hadn’t been able to resolve the way the two of my cases were mishandled- one by me and another by the organisation.”

The movement has had its own share of misuse as well. But Sandhya is confident that a proper legislative change will bring about much-needed change.

Deane De Menezes

At the age of 24, Deane De Menezes has been awarded the prestigious Queen’s Young Leaders Award, for her impressive initiative, ‘Red is the New Green’.

The project aims to break the social stigma associated with menstruation and the economic and gender inequality driving it.

Through several menstrual hygiene awareness sessions across schools, institutions, colleges, hospitals and organizations in Mumbai, Deane and her team, has been busting the myths around periods and encouraging safe and healthy choices.

But, in addition to spreading awareness in the rural areas, Deane and her team have been making affordable menstrual hygiene products for underprivileged girls and women, in addition to installing sanitary vending machines at several points.

Also, thinking ahead and ensuring that the used pads do not harm the environment, they have installed incinerators with each vending machine, for safe disposal and destruction of menstrual waste.

In addition to manufacturing and spreading awareness about the use of sanitary napkins, the project also focuses on alternative hygiene products like tampons, menstrual cups, etc., to reduce menstrual waste.

Speaking about her future plan, Deane told The Beter India, “The award was a big push of encouragement after a long period of struggle. We hope that with this, the cause will soon become a national and international movement, with more schools, colleges and offices openly acknowledging it, and providing easy access to products. At the end of the day, periods are a natural phenomenon, as basic and normal as sweating!”

Viji Penkoottu

The women working in the shops and malls of Midhayitheru, SM Street, a shopping area in Kozhikode, Kerala, were denied basic human rights- the right to sit or visit the toilet.

This was not an isolated case. But has been happening around the whole state. Perturbed by the situation, 50-year-old activist Viji Penkoottu decided that it was high time someone raised their voice.

“With no toilets in or around the shops and the denial to even sit, it was as if these women were not even considered humans,” Viji said, speaking to The Better India. In recognition of her contribution to the ‘right to sit’ struggle BBC also named her among the top three Indians on the 100 Women 2018 list.

“When we approached the established trade unions, we realized from their response that they too are male bastions. So we formed Penkoottu, an all-women’s trade union, to raise voice to fight for the basic rights of the saleswomen. We then approached the shop owners demanding toilet facility for women workers, and their response was very arrogant. ‘Drink less water, so that there will be less urine’, they mocked us. Some of them even suggested us use a tube or a hose if women workers wanted to urinate while working hours!” added Viji.

Owing to her incessant efforts, an act securing this right was recently passed in the state. The Kerala Shops and Commercial Establishments (Amendment) Act, 2018, was eventually passed after an 8-year struggle for flexible working hours and a place to sit.

Adhunika Prakash

Unlike her mother and many women before her, Adhunika’s first pregnancy in 2012, wasn’t what she was hoping for, at least at the start. Alone in Cork, Ireland, she did not have any support from female elders or any community guiding her through the contours of the journey.

As the questions kept piling up, she eventually found some solace joining an Irish breastfeeding support group.

“Although I had some help from my mother over the phone, it was difficult to find answers to practical questions without a community around. It was only after joining this group that I realised what tremendous difference support from other breastfeeding parents could make to the breastfeeding journey.

And, soon after that, it triggered me to start an Indian group which focused on queries from the Indian cultural point of view,” said Adhunika Prakash, speaking to the Better India.

The peer-to-peer support group for Indian mothers, Breastfeeding Support for Indian Mothers (BSIM), was established in 2013. What started as a Facebook group now has more than 82,000 members from India, the United States, United Kingdom and Australia.

In September, Last month, Facebook selected Adhunika as one among five global leaders in its Community Leadership Program out of 6,000 applicants. These global community leaders receive grants up to $1,000,000 each from Facebook to fund their initiative and amplify its effect on the ground.

If one wants to help anyone and is willing to spend time helping other people, the easiest thing to do is to start a Facebook Support group. If the support and help that you provide is genuine, people will automatically get drawn towards it. Social media can be used to make a positive impact in the lives of people. There is no excuse anymore for those to want to work on making the world a better place.”

Trisha Shetty

In 2017, a Mumbai-based non-profit organization, ‘SheSays’ led by Trisha Shetty, began a campaign, #LahuKaLagaan, which called to abolish tax on sanitary napkins.

As the campaign went viral across the country, other organisations picked up the cause. Eventually, in 2018, the 12 per cent tax on sanitary napkins was scrapped by the government.

This is not the first triumph for this 21-year-old social activist, who, since 2014, has been advocating equal rights for women, at several platforms, including, the United Nations.

The need for the NGO began in 2014 when she realised that despite the high occurrence of violence against women, there was hardly any conversation about the rehabilitation of the survivors.

Each story of abuse, be it of a woman or any member of the LGBTQ community, mattered and the organisation rose to fulfil that need for in-depth on-ground change, says Trisha.

“We kick-started SheSays with the intent and pledge to be ‘values first’. SheSays has since then been a values-led organisation that has championed for causes that stands for all,” says Trisha speaking to The Better India.

“At the end of the day, it is important to demand better from yourself. To unlearn problematic behaviours and learn how to be better. Once you demand better from yourself, you can unapologetically demand better from your family, friends and society,” concludes Trisha.

(Edited by Vinayak Hegde)

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This article has been sponsored by the Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation

“Changemakers firstly need to understand the trend of the change and then change the direction to positivity, righteousness, justice, equality and humanity. This platform gives them much-deserved recognition and advances their cause to many more,” said Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi, one of the trustees of the Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation (JBF) and a jury member of Jamnalal Bajaj Awards.

Established in 1978 by JBF, the Jamnalal Bajaj Awards are one of the longest-standing awards in India. They are meant to recognise the unsung heroes who have inspired many across the world, to acknowledge the selfless efforts of individuals who have made a difference in society, and to promote community service and social development through the lens of Gandhian values. In a span of 41 years, the Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation has gained respect as a Gandhian establishment working for the socio-economic development of the country.

JBF was established in the memory of Jamnalal Bajaj, a close associate and the adopted fifth son of Mahatma Gandhi.

Every year, the Foundation presents these awards in four categories namely Award for Outstanding Contribution in the Field of Constructive Work; Award for Application of Science and Technology for Rural Development; Award for Outstanding Contribution to Development and Welfare of Women and Children; and International Award for Promoting Gandhian Values Outside India.

This year, the Award for Outstanding Contribution in the Field of Constructive Work was given to Gandhian and social activist of Uttarakhand, Dhoom Singh Negi. Also known as ‘Guruji’, he has dedicated his life to various environment conservation movements, especially the iconic Chipko movement.

He dedicated his life to the cause and his advocacy and perseverance led to a ban on tree felling above 1000 meters, illegal resin tapping and collection.

A native of Pipaleth village of the Tehri Garhwal region of Uttarakhand, the 79-year-old has led his life on Gandhian principles, promoting a sustainable and eco-friendly lifestyle.

The award in this category recognises the contributions in any of the eighteen development areas based on Mahatma Gandhi’s Constructive Programmes, which help create a self-reliant community in rural India. These development areas include communal unity, removal of untouchability, village industries, village sanitation, basic education, adult education, knowledge of health and hygiene, provincial languages, economic inequality, labour, and more.

In the past few years, others who have been honoured with this award include Shashi Tyagi from Rajasthan. She was felicitated in 2017 for her work in rural areas to combat substance abuse, caste and gender discrimination, purdah system, women seclusion, poor health, illiteracy etc.

In 1983, she founded the Gramin Vikas Vigyan Samiti (GRAVIS) in Gagadi village, Jodhpur. The organisation, under her leadership, works in the northwest region of Rajasthan across six districts–Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Nagaur, Jaipur and Barmer–covering around 1,200 villages and serving about 1.2 million people.

It works on issues like women empowerment, primary education, healthcare, agriculture and afforestation.

The same award was conferred to Mohan Hirabai Hiralal in 2016, an active member of Jayaprakash Narayan’s Chhatra Yuva Sangharsh Wahini and a believer of Gandhiji-Vinobaji’s thesis of people’s power. His work helped the people of Mendha Lekha village in Maharashtra in making their Gram Sabha more inclusive, participatory and active. Additionally, he helped villagers focus on women’s participation, alcohol prohibition, forest conservation, fight against corruption, cultural rights, youth empowerment, sustainability, equity and security.

In 2013, after Hiralal’s incessant efforts, Mendha Lekha became the first village in India to be granted community forest rights, by becoming a Gramdan village under the Maharashtra Gramdan Act 1964.

This was after a struggle that lasted 30 years.

Each award category carries a citation, a trophy and a cash prize of Rs. 10,00,000/- (for the International Award, the Cash Prize is presented in equivalent foreign exchange).

Each year, JBF sends out letters and nomination brochures to around 2,500 to 3,000 individuals or institutions working in various fields including Sarvodaya movement, Gandhian programme of constructive work, appropriate technology, applied agricultural research, women’s and child welfare.

The offices of governors and chief ministers, members of parliament, foreign diplomatic missions, prominent journalists, NGOs, and vice-chancellors of all universities are also urged to send recommendations for the same. Self-nominations, however, are not considered.

The year-long procedure of selection includes the clearance of nominations by various levels of the jury. After a shortlist is drawn up, a special Selection Committee recommends a panel of three to four names in each award category for the final consideration by the Council of Advisors. After detailed study and deliberations, the Council recommends one name from each category of Awards to the Board of Trustees of the Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation for final approval.

“The fundamental issue is about Gandhian values and creating an inclusive society by dismantling inequalities. So these awardees are exemplars in terms of setting up role models for the society and the nation,” says eminent scientist, Dr. R A Mashelkar, who is the Chairman of the Selection Committee of the Award for Application of Science & Technology for Rural Development and Member of the Council of Advisors.

Calls for recommendations for the nomination in the 42nd year of the award are already underway. The nominations need to be made on their official website, http://www.jamnalalbajajawards.org.

The last date for sending in the nominations for the 2019 Jamnalal Bajaj Awards is January 19 for the three national awards and February 28 for the international award.

Find more details here.

(Edited by Shruti Singhal)

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This article has been sponsored by the Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation

Mahatma Gandhi’s ideologies of rural development run through the veins of many changemakers whose work has been and will be celebrated by the 41-year-old Jamnalal Bajaj Awards.

This year, like every single one before it, will see a set of real-life heroes receive much-deserved awards and recognition for dedicating their lives towards a cause for the larger good.

Established in 1978 by the Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation (JBF), the Jamnalal Bajaj Awards are one of the longest-standing awards in India. They are meant to recognise the unsung heroes who have inspired many across the world, to acknowledge the selfless efforts of individuals who have made a difference to society, and to promote community service and social development through the lens of Gandhian values. In a span of 41 years, the Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation has gained respect as a Gandhian establishment working for the socio-economic development of the country.

It was established in the memory of Jamnalal Bajaj, a close associate and the adopted fifth son of Mahatma Gandhi.

In line with the basic Gandhian philosophy which believes that India’s future lies in its villages, this award recognises the contribution of individuals or groups, in the application of science and technology for rural and tribal development.

These contributions are to be aimed at transforming the economic, social and ecological situations of the weaker sections of society.

Dr. Jst. C. S. Dharmadhikari (Retd.), a Gandhian thinker, Trustee and Chairman of the Council of Advisors of the Foundation shares, `In the field of science, the accepted formula is S+G, that is Science and Gandhi. Establishing an exploitation-free, non-violent society is the real basis of Gandhian thought. Saluting those who are carrying on in their respective fields and are working according to this thought is the spirit behind these awards by Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation.’

Here are some brilliant heroes who have won the awards in this category in the past three years:

1. In 2018, the award was given to Rupal and Rajendra Desai:

Abandoning their comfortable lives in the corporate world of the US, Rupal and Rajendra returned to India to work towards uplifting rural areas. An architect and a structural engineer, respectively, Rupal and Rajendra began with enriching their understanding about the socio-technical side of rural housing and sanitation, and its relationship with local economy and livelihood in line with Gandhian economics of Gram Swaraj.

From voluntary work in earthquake-stricken Latur, Maharashtra, in 1993, to the setting up of the National Centre for Peoples’ Action in Disaster Preparedness in 2000, for capacity-building of communities in disaster risk-reduction through the application of science and technology in rural housing, the couple has mapped out substantial and sustainable work over the years.

2. A group of post-graduates from the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), who set up Jan Swasthya Sahyog, were among the awardees in 2017.

These health professionals wanted to change the health-related situation in a region characterised by extreme poverty with no access to the most basic care. So, in 1999, they established their work in the eastern part of Madhya Pradesh, in Bilaspur district (now Chhattisgarh), which predominantly had a tribal and backward community.

There, they were dedicated to developing an effective, low-cost, high quality, community-based healthcare system, which would be readily accessible to the rural poor. It would become a model for the delivery of care in low-resource settings, and in 1999, began operations in Ganiyari village.

3. In 2016, the same award was conferred to Bon Behari Vishnu Nimbkar for his pioneering work in the field of animal husbandry and agriculture over the past five decades.

His efforts had been instrumental in increasing crop and animal productivity and he took these benefits directly to farmers and animal rearers. To continue the legacy of substantial work, he set up the Nimbkar Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) in 1968. The main objective of the organisation continues to be the platform that allows the use of science and technology to solve rural problems and contribute to constructive policy development.

Every year, the JBF presents these awards in four categories–Award for Outstanding Contribution in the Field of Constructive Work; Award for Application of Science and Technology for Rural Development; Award for Outstanding Contribution to Development and Welfare of Women and Children; and International Award for Promoting Gandhian Values Outside India.

Calls for recommendations for the nomination for 2019 award ceremony are already underway. The nominations can also be made online on the website: http://www.jamnalalbajajawards.org

The last date for sending in the nominations for the 2019 award ceremony is January 19 for the three national awards and February 28 for the international award.

Find more details here. Read more about the Award for Outstanding Contribution in the Field of Constructive Work here.

(Edited by Shruti Singhal)

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Her skin was burning and itching, but Bula swam across the English Channel.

“I wished that it would get over quickly, but quitting was never an option. The discomfort only made me swim faster and better,” Bula Chowdhury tells The Better India.

She is allergic to saline water, but this was never a strong enough reason to break her resilience. She believes that she was born to swim and so, she kept challenging herself.

Bula is a 48-year-old now but began swimming when she was just three.

“There was a pond close to our house, and my father would take us swimming there,” she says.

Recalling the day when he nearly drowned in the pond, she says that the tragedy was averted thanks to a brave stranger who rescued him. That’s when he decided that his children would learn to swim, no matter what.

So, Bula decided to carry his wish forward, and how!

Just a year after she learned to swim, Bula joined a swimming club where she was trained by a professional.

Hailing from a small town in West Bengal, she had no idea what a swimsuit looked like, and would wear a frock to the pool. One day, her mother saw a swimsuit in a shop and decided that she would stitch one for her daughter. Owing to the family’s poor financial status, and unsure about the fabric required, she stitched one made of cotton.

But Bula couldn’t care less about its quality. All she knew was that she loved the water and slowly, her coaches realised her relentless talent.

In 1982, speaking to India Today, her coach Bernard Johnke had said, “Bula is far superior to the other 14 girls in my camp and easily the best potential in the country. She is at an early age when her body is not yet fully formed, and so she can adapt better to techniques that will help improve her timings.”

And he wasn’t wrong.

12-year-old Bula was 4 feet 5 inches tall and weighed 34 kg, but could swim like a fish.

“As a young swimmer, I have broken, and established new records which were left unbeaten for several years,” she told TBI, adding, “My participation in championships—from the Commonwealth Games to the Asian championships etc.— was not just a determination to make a mark, but a result of my true love for the water.”

Soon enough, swimming pools proved to be too small for Bula who wished to conquer the seas.

She started training to swim in the English Channel in 1989 and even when she was diagnosed as allergic to seawater, she did not stop.

“My skin would burn and itch all night after the swim. But I wasn’t going to let such obstacles stop me from pursuing my dream. I always wanted to be a professional swimmer and what great thing can be achieved if not for a few obstacles and challenges?”

In 1989, at the age of 19, she took her first dive into the Channel and repeated the feat ten years later.

But it was in 2004 that the swimmer would set a world record. She would become the first woman to cross the seven seas, swimming from the Palk Straits from Talaimannar in Sri Lanka to Tamil Nadu in India.

You may also like: Abandoned by Husband for ‘Being Overweight’, Today This Mother of a 6YO Is a Champion!

She would even become the first woman to swim in sea channels in five continents in 2005. Not just that, her feat of conquering the 30 km track in three hours and 26 minutes was a record in itself!

A winner at the South Asian Federation Games and a world record holder, Bula has been awarded the Arjuna Award for her achievements in swimming and is also a recipient of the Padma Shri, India’s fourth highest civilian award.

She shares, “They say water is life and it stands true for me even professionally. Although I did day jobs for a brief period, I realised that swimming is only what I am truly passionate about. And this kept me going.”

Allergies, financial problems and other issues, were not enough obstacles for her.

“And this determination has made me achieve what I have,” concludes the water baby, who is currently working towards establishing a swimming institute in Bengal.

(Edited by Gayatri Mishra)

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This article has been sponsored by Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation

“India is the Mahatma’s country of birth; South Africa, his country of adoption.” – Nelson Mandela

Fondly referred to as ‘Madiba’, Mandela is known to have been deeply inspired by Gandhi’s philosophy. Recognising his contribution in propagating Gandhian values, especially of satya and ahimsa (truth and non-violence), the Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation conferred a special Award on Dr Mandela. The Award also came at an opportune time–on the birth centenary of the founder, Jamnalal Bajaj, in 1990.

The Award consisted of Rs 10 lakh, a citation and a specially sculptured trophy signifying Dr. Mandela’s fight for freedom.

In line with the idea to recognise international personalities or groups propagating Gandhian values, the Foundation introduced the fourth category of awards in 1988 — ‘Jamnalal Bajaj International Award for Promoting Gandhian Values Outside India’.

The Award recognises work that promotes peace and harmony among people, friendliness among nations through the application of Gandhian philosophy of truth and non-violence, end exploitation in any form, introduce innovative work in social organisations, or promote Gandhian values.

It would include an amount of Rs 10,00,000 or its equivalent in foreign currency, a trophy and a citation.

Here are some individuals who were felicitated for their contributions abroad:

1. This year, it was Dr Clayborne Carson, the current Martin Luther King Jr Centennial Professor of History at Stanford University.

He also serves as the founding director of the Martin Luther King Jr. Research and Education Institute at Stanford.

In 2008, Dr Carson began teaching courses on Gandhi and King. During his trips to India, he lectured at many universities and institutes and created an online social network – The Gandhi-King Community: For Global Peace with Social Justice in a Sustainable Environment – which has more than 1,600 members.

2. A staunch believer of the principles of democracy, freedom and human rights, Dr Zia Medoukh was conferred with this award in 2017.

A teacher and researcher, he is a Palestinian Professor and Director of the French Department at Al-Aqsa University in Gaza, Palestine. He was the first Palestinian to be recognised as the Knight of the Order of Academic Palms of the French Republic in 2011–an honorary title bestowed by the French Republic to distinguished academics and personalities across the world of culture and education.

He has manifested the development of a non-violent economy in the Gaza Strip by mobilising Palestinians to produce, use and market local products, and has also initiated agricultural and organic farming in the community as well as handicrafts in villages and refugee camps.

In 2006, Dr Medoukh, along with his friends, set up the Peace Centre, which follows Gandhian principles of a non-violent economy, to show the importance of education as a form of non-violent resistance in Palestine.

At the centre, he set up a psychological support cell to help traumatised children from the Israel-Gaza conflict in 2014. Until 2017, this unit organised more than 100 sessions in the kindergartens, schools and shelters benefitting more than 4,000 children.

3. Sheikh Rached Ghannouchi, the President of the Ennahdha Party, one of the prominent political parties in Tunisia, was given this award in 2016 for promoting Gandhian methods of tolerance and empathy.

The strategic decisions made by the Ennahdha leadership are considered to be the reason that Tunisia managed to preserve the achievements of the 2011 revolution and remain an island of democracy in a sea of autocratic regimes in the Arab world.

Sheikh Rached’s keen interest in Gandhian philosophy helped him to take the nation out of an unstable, polarised and acrimonious state. Tunisia is the only Arab country to have made a peaceful democratic transition.

Established in 1978 by JBF (Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation), the Jamnalal Bajaj Awards are one of the longest-standing awards in India. They recognise unsung heroes who have inspired many across the world, acknowledge their selfless efforts to make a difference in society and promote community service and social development through the lens of Gandhian values.

Each winner of the different categories is presented with a prize money of Rs 10,00,000. The awards also include a citation and a trophy.

Find more details here. Read more about other categories and winners here:

(Edited by Shruti Singhal)

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Every new year, the world is positively amok with ‘resolutions’ around personal health, travel and self-discovery. But some people form resolutions impacting more than just themselves. They are not the kind to jump into an existing wave, but see beyond it, mobilise efforts and re-create a larger wave for a better world.

And this year, these prominent personalities stand up with The Better India, to strive and create a world that initiates positive change through people’s participation.

Here’s what these individuals resolved in 2019 for positively impacting the masses.

1. Kailash Satyarthi, Founder, Kailash Satyarthi Children’s Foundation

A Nobel Peace Prize-winning child rights activist, Kailash has dedicated his life to protecting and nourishing the future of India’s population.

The result of his efforts is the Bachpan Bachao Andolan.

This year, he draws the nation’s attention to the horrors of sexual abuse endured by children on an everyday basis.

In his 2019 resolution, Kailash urges us to rise against such evils. For a better India, we need to promote more reporting of sexual abuse cases as well as strive to get the correct punishment for the predators, he says.

2. Harssh A Poddar, IPS, DCP, Nagpur, Maharashtra

As the ASP of Malegaon, Maharashtra, IPS officer Harssh Poddar in 2018 created a unique initiative of youth participation to combat crime where 42,000 young leaders and changemakers worked against crime and terror.

In 2019, he has resolved to combat another evil–fake news.

“Fake news is taking lives across the country, contributing to riots, mob lynching, murders,” Harssh tells The Better India.

His resolution for 2019 is to kill fake news before it kills more people!

3. Anshu Gupta, Founder, Goonj

Social entrepreneur Anshu Gupta, who began Goonj, a non-governmental organisation, to mobilise the rural population towards sustainable change, has a larger message to share this new year.

According to him, to make India better, we don’t need thinkers anymore, but doers. “We need initiative, we need action. And, the mantra for that is lage raho (keep trying).”

4. Puja Marwaha, CEO, Child Rights and You (CRY)

Puja Marwaha, the CEO of CRY, a non-governmental organisation, believes that the best way to make the year ahead better, is by focusing on restoring child rights.

According to her, India can be better when all decisions are made after considering the interests of the children.

5. Sonal Goel, IAS, Deputy Commissioner, Jhajjar, Haryana

After starting Nandini, an initiative towards the empowerment of women and girls in Gomati district of Tripura, IAS Sonal Goel has now initiated another project in Jhajjar, Haryana.

In 2019, she has resolved to further this initiative, ‘Umar Ek Pahal’, which spreads awareness about menstruation and provides sanitary napkins to adolescent girls, thereby furthering the cause of girl child education.

6. Sandhya Krishnan, Director-Program, Educate Girls

Educate Girls is an organisation which aims to tackle the root of gender inequality in India’s education system, and their director, Sandhya Krishnan resolves to further the cause with more vigour this year.

According to her, one of the prominent issues that India needs to address is to ensure that no girl is out of school and that all children have equal access to quality education.

7. Pranitha Subhash, Actor

A prominent actor who has worked in various Kannada, Telugu and Tamil films, Pranitha Subhash draws the attention of the masses to the establishment of a true democracy.

According to her, a democracy is sustainable through public participation and thus, has resolved to promote participative democracy in 2019.

8. Natasha Ramarathnam, Regional Director-South, Magic Bus

Natasha Ramarathnam, a social worker who has been working with adolescents through her organisation, Magic Bus, points out the rising need for gender sensitisation.

According to her, in its 2019 resolution, the country should seek every opportunity to address the youth, and speak to them about the need for gender equality, and help them redress the much-required balance.

9. V K Madhavan, Chief Executive, Water Aid India

Water is still a luxury for many families in various parts of the country, and V K Madhavan wants the nation to focus on this issue in 2019.

His resolution is for the nation, its citizens and the government to focus on forming policies and implementing proper actions that will make pipe water supply in every household a reality.

10. Paresh Parasnis, CEO, Piramal Foundation

Paresh Parasnis believes that a country like India cannot grow without a community effort. The CEO of Piramal Foundation, Paresh points out that it is through the mobilisation of the youth that the country can truly prosper. These are to be changemakers who will be ready to serve the country selflessly.

Hence, his 2019 resolution is to create thousands of good men and women who, in the spirit of Seva Bhav (selfless service), will work in communities to bring about social change.

11. Vatsala Mamgain, Director, Resource Mobilisation, CRY (Child Rights and You)

Vatsala Mamgain from CRY encourages the country to look at a larger future where the potential of children is utilised to the fullest, producing a socially and intellectually sound population for a prosperous future.

India needs to become a country where all her children have the opportunity to realise their potential, she says.

12. Rahul Srivastav, Additional SP, Technical Service, UP Police

Additional SP of UP Police, Rahul Srivastav points out the need for a people-police initiative for substantial change. For that, he urges the country to look back in time and recognise the best practices in the last year, and implement them in a new light.

According to him, social media and other such platforms can help in implementing better policing, if done in the correct sense. Greater transparency and a maximum amount of accountability are very crucial to further a collaborative effort of citizens and police towards change, he says.

Have you resolved to make a better India too?

Join us in this endeavour by sharing your 2019 resolution that will contribute to making India better, as a video or a post. Use #ResolutionForABetterIndia and tag The Better India.

Let us make the future of India brighter and better, together!

Sign up here to be a part of the change: http://bit.ly/Resolution_For_A_Better_India

(Edited by Shruti Singhal)

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An act of extreme violence with the intent to disfigure, maim, torture or even kill the victim, the prevalence of acid attacks in India is a disturbing insight into the horrific consequences a woman faces in India for the simple act of refusing someone’s sexual advances.

And though it does not seem possible, there have been even worse cases – this monstrosity not perpetrated by jilted lovers or stalkers, but by one’s own parent as an extreme reaction to their child being born female.

So what is so positive about all this?

This is where we want to share the story of Anmol Rodriquez. This fearless young Mumbai woman triumphed over the scars left by her father and the painful loss of her mother to emerge as a fashionista and a saviour for many others like her.

A two-month-old Anmol was being breastfed by her mother when her father doused them both with a can of acid with the intention to kill. Why? Because Anmol was a girl and he wanted to get rid of them both.

Once the heinous crime was committed, the father left them both to die. Fortunately, the neighbours came to their rescue and rushed them to a nearby hospital. However, the damage was so extensive that Anmol was left with a completely disfigured face and blinded in one eye while her mother succumbed to the injuries.

Losing her mother and disfigured beyond help, life couldn’t have been any more unforgiving to a two-month-old baby, for no fault of her own. But Anmol was meant for great things and her journey was just getting started.

For the next five years, the doctors and nurses of the hospital took care of her on their own expense. Only after they were sure that her wounds had healed to a certain degree, did they finally hand her over to Shree Manav Seva Sangh, a shelter home for orphans in the city.

This home gave Anmol all the love and care that she was never given until then, but the struggle to mingle with other children always remained.

“I was too young and never understood why I looked different from others at the hospital. But when I came in the orphanage I realised children were different than me. While no one hated me, initially they were scared of my face. Gradually, as we grew older, I made many friends. But outside the orphanage, it was always difficult,” she told The Daily Mail.

Unlike other acid attack victims, Anmol didn’t let her scars to define her and chose to fight for herself through education – and excelled at it. But society’s obsession with outer beauty prevented Anmol from making many friends and this was particularly prominent during her college days.

However, it was her love for fashion and stylish outfits that kept her going. During this time, she would turn a lot of heads throughout her college life with her sense of style.

Feeling that life had been kinder to her while most other acid attack victims would hide away from public life, this positive girl set up a non-profit organisation named Acid Survivor Sahas Foundation.

Her goal had been to help these women get back to normal life through counselling and then employment and Anmol has helped 20 women to clinch jobs so far!

Despite the tragedies that befell her at a young age, you would rarely find a person with as much positivity and resilience like this 23-year-old. A source of inspiration, Anmol aspires to become a model. In fact, she has been offered many modelling assignments and has a huge fan following of over 25,000 subscribers on her Instagram account.

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“I want to become the first commercial acid attack survivor model who can not just promote fashion but also spread awareness that acid does not end life. Acid can only change our face but not ruin our soul. We are same inside out and we should accept ourselves who we are and live our lives happily,” she added.

Way to go girl!

We admire your indomitable spirit and positive attitude to life and truly wish that all of your dreams come true!

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This article has been sponsored by Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation

Over 100 years ago, Swami Vivekananda understood that there is no chance for welfare in the world unless the condition of women improves. After all, ‘It is not possible for a bird to fly on only one wing.’

This philosophy continues to be relevant, and hence the Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation decided to include a special Award for Development and Welfare Of Women and Children in the Jamnalal Bajaj Awards.

Established in 1978 by Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation (JBF), the Jamnalal Bajaj Awards are one of the longest-standing awards in India. They recognise unsung heroes who have inspired many across the world, acknowledge their selfless efforts to make a difference in society and to promote community service and social development through the lens of Gandhian values.

The Award for Development and Welfare of Women and Children was instituted in 1980, in the memory of Mrs Jankidevi Bajaj. It comprises a cash prize of Rs 10,00,000, a trophy and citation to be given annually to a woman or women for outstanding contribution to development and welfare of women and children.

The areas it focuses on include education, skills training, healthcare, literacy, livelihood activities, holistic development, advocacy, etc.

Here are some of the brilliant women who have received the award over the years:

1. This year, the award was presented to Prasanna Bhandari, who has been working for the rescue and empowerment of deserted and relinquished infants, destitute children, distressed women and girls, and the elderly.

Prasanna is now the convenor of Karni Nagar Vikas Samiti, Kota (SKNVS).

With a keen focus on the overall development of women and children, Prasanna has been carrying out exemplary work through an array of initiatives which covers all age groups.

Various centres including the Family Counseling Center, Primary School, Old Age Home and a Physiotherapy Clinic have been set up for the same.

Currently, SKNVS runs three different shelters—Balgriha, Balikagriha and Shishugriha—where the holistic development of children is given top priority. Rehabilitation, counselling and skill training for women is also a crucial part of SKNVS’s activities. Additionally, Prasanna’s concern for the elderly has led the organisation to provide shelter and dignity to them.

Over the years, several worthy women have received this award.

2) Parents usually become role models for their children, but Dr Praveen Nair, an 87-year-old, found inspiration in her daughter, Mira, an acclaimed film director.

Praveen was inspired to dedicate her life to transforming the lives of street children after watching her daughter’s film, Salaam Bombay. It was then that she established the Salaam Baalak Trust (SBT), in 1988, along with her friend, Sanjoy Roy.

What started with three staff members and 25 children in a small space provided by the Ground Reserve Police (GRP) in the New Delhi Railway Station, has now expanded to six residential centres—Aasra, Apna Ghar, Old Delhi Railway Station Open Shelter and DMRC Children’s Home (for boys); Arushi and Rose Home (for girls).

Here, the children are provided with shelter and care, a healthy and happy environment, nutritious food, clothes, education, healthcare, counselling, and recreational facilities.

In the last 30 years, over 80,000 children have benefited through SBT’s program.

Dr Nair was presented with this award in 2017.

3) In 2016, the award was conferred to Dr Nannapaneni Manga Devi, who has been working for the welfare and empowerment of women and children for the past 50 years, through the Sri Venkateswara Bala Kuteer and Chetana Charitable Trust.

In 1965, she gave up a government job to set up a unique Montessori school—Sri Venkateswara Bala Kuteer—in Brodipet, Guntur.

In 1990, inspired by Mother Teresa, she also set up the Chetana Charitable Trust—a multi-purpose rural project in 1990 in Chowdavaram—mainly to serve the poor and needy. Since then, it has become the hub of all her welfare activities for the upliftment of oppressed women and children ensuring their development and security.

Every year, the Foundation distributes these awards in four categories—Award for Outstanding Contribution in the Field of Constructive Work; Award for Application of Science and Technology for Rural Development; Award for Development and Welfare Of Women and Children; and International Award for Promoting Gandhian Values Outside India.

The winners of different categories win prize money in the range of Rs 5,00,000 to Rs 10,00,000. The awards also include a citation and a trophy.

Calls for recommendations for the nomination in the 42nd edition of the award ceremony are already underway. The nominations need to be made on the website: http://www.jamnalalbajajawards.org.

The last date for sending in the nominations for the 2019 award ceremony is January 19 for the three national awards and February 28 for the international award.

Find more details here. Read about other categories here.

(Edited by Gayatri Mishra)

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‘Where there is a will, there is a way.’

26-year-old Mihir Kapse reminds me of this classic saying.

In the CAT 2018 results announced on January 5, 2019, he secured a score of 206, placing him in the 99.97 percentile bracket.

We are celebrating his success because he achieved it after numerous struggles since his early years. When he was in school, he was diagnosed with dyslexia, which brought its own share of troubles.

However, it was found only much later that he was actually suffering from Autism Spectrum Disorder and not dyslexia.

A study undertaken by Spectrum News shows that one in 100 children in India under age ten has autism, and nearly one in eight has at least one neurodevelopmental condition. These estimates are based on the first rigorous study of its kind in the country.

Jhanvi Kapse, Mihir’s mother, in a report published by MyMedicalMantra, says, “All this has come after many hardships. We were not only fighting with his disorder but with the outside world as well, where children like him are not easily accepted.”

An engineer, Mihir has been working as a quality analyst with JP Morgan. Despite trouble coping in school and battling to find acceptance, he has managed to ace the examinations and prove that the only thing that matters ultimately is hard work.

Speaking to the publication, Dr Harish Shetty, Psychiatrist at Dr LH Hiranandani Hospital, Mumbai, says, “[A] Child suffering from autism is still denied admission at normal schools. Among the different strata of our society, the lower socio-economic group child is still ignored. So, we still have a long way to achieve development in this sector.”

Here are some things that will help people suffering from autism spectrum disorder:

1. All stakeholders must be made aware of the disorders.
2. Teachers must be trained to handle such children.
3. Schools and workplaces must be made more inclusive.
4. Pre-vocational and vocational training must also be strengthened.

With people like Mihir achieving success on such a large platform, we hope that many others find his story inspiring and follow suit.

(Edited by Shruti Singhal)

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Teachers, much like parents, contribute greatly to shape the lives of their students, but very rarely go beyond the call of duty, to make a genuine difference.

KR Ushakumari is one of those few extraordinary teachers.

A resident of Amboori village in the Thiruvananthapuram district, Ushakumari undertakes a treacherous journey through steep hills and forests every day, all to provide education to a group of tribal children.

Ushakumari’s daily journey to the school, begins at 7.30 in the morning, as she rides on her scooty to travel till Kumbikkal Kadavu. From there, she rows a boat to reach the shore across and begins another long trek.

After a couple of kilometres, the road to her destination goes steeper into the hilly tropical forest area which known to be inhabited by wild elephants and leopards.

With the support of a stick, she, however, carries on, often accompanied by her students who join her along the way to the school located near the Kanni tribal settlement in Kunnathumala.

The school, Agasthya Ega Adhyapaka Vidyalaya, is located atop the hills within the area of the Agasthyarkoodam, which is a 1,868-metre (6,129 ft)-tall peak in the Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary of Kerala.

Despite the 2-hour-long journey through such difficult terrain, Ushakumari has never been late to school in the last 16 years, reports the Hindu.

She is the only teacher in the school which functions from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and teaches all the subjects (languages, mathematics, environmental science) to a group of 14 students from Class 1 to 4.

“The government began single teacher schools in the tribal areas of Thiruvananthapuram, back in 1999. It was there in other places like Malappuram even before that,” said Ushakumari to The News Minute.

She is not just a teacher, but also takes care of all the other needs of the school and her students, which includes getting them a proper nutritious lunch with eggs and milk. In her absence, a caretaker is also appointed to carry on the procedure properly.

She admits that it has been a challenge. Even without a salary for months, she has managed to continue her work with conviction, sometimes by spending from her own pocket to get the students a proper meal. The school building is also a new development, and before this, she would sit under the trees or on rock beds along with her students and teach them.

For her exemplary work and commitment, Ushakumari has won several accolades including the Saksharatha Puraskaram from KANFED (Kerala Association for Nonformal Education and Development), but she her true reward, she says, will be when her students graduate with flying colours and build a career for themselves.

Until then, she will continue to cross rivers and trek through mountains to bring about true change!

(Edited by Gayatri Mishra)

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There are times when the call of humanity reigns over religious faith, and a 20-year-old Sikh boy proved just that by removing his turban to save a life of a woman!

A native of Dewar village of Tral Tehsil, Jammu and Kashmir, Manjeet removed his turban to use it as a band-aid to save the life of the bleeding woman who had just met with a road accident.

Manjeet had found the 45-year-old bleeding by the road after she was hit by a speeding truck near Awantipora, as reported by KashmirLife. His presence of mind and sense of humanity saved her life by stopping further blood loss.

As her leg bled profusely, most people on the road watched passively, until Manjeet rushed to her rescue.

“I saw her lying on the road, with blood coming out of her leg. I could not resist using my own turban to plug the wound,” he told the publication.

For a Sikh, wearing a dastaar or turban is mandatory, as it is an essential symbol of faith, representing self-respect, honour, spirituality, courage and piety.

But, in such a situation, he chose to forgo his personal, religious obligation for the cause of a fellow human’s life.

A daily-wage worker in Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Kashmir (SKUAST), Manjeet added, “I did what anyone else in my place would have done.”

He does not consider his actions extraordinary, rather something which should have been ordinary. He reflects true religious bonhomie and humanity, upholding the Indian philosophy of ‘Unity in Diversity’.

(Edited by Shruti Singhal)

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On January 2, 2019, a passenger boat capsized in the Mahanadi river of Odisha, putting the lives of over 50 passengers at high risk. Although the tragedy resulted in the loss of ten lives, had it not been for the courage of three teenaged girls, the death toll could have been higher.

Subhasmita Sahoo had gone on a picnic with her mother, sister and three nieces, to the idyllic Hukitola island to celebrate the New Year. The family was on a boat with 55 other tourists and were returning to Paradip when the mishap took place at around 7:00 p.m. near the Nipania village.

The boat capsized, taking down all the 55 passengers aboard. It was a winter evening, and the crocodile-infested Mahanadi waters were freezing.

Subhasmita was one of the passengers who was trapped beneath the boat. Speaking to the New Indian Express, the commerce student said,

“My neck was trapped in a piece of wood. I somehow freed myself and swam to the shore.”

However, when she saw a group of children struggling, she dove right back into the water to save them. “We were given a new lease of life by Subhasmita,” said one of the 12 children rescued by her.

Meanwhile, the other passengers were screaming in the desperate hope that someone would rescue them. Their voices were heard by Sasmita and Purnima Giri— two sisters who were within earshot. Without giving a thought to the dangerous waters, the sisters rushed to their rescue.

“The two brave girls managed to save at least 10 [people], including two women and some children, from meeting a watery grave,” Nalini Kantu Sahu, a resident, told the Deccan Chronicle.

Speaking to the publication, the Giri sisters said, “We rescued as many persons as we could. However, we were saddened to see others drowning in the river as they were trapped under the boat which had overturned.”

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Together, the three brave girls managed to save over 22 lives!

The Odisha government has felicitated the Giri sisters although Subhasmita is still awaiting recognition. Locals are urging authorities to recognise her brave efforts and nominate her for a bravery award.

(Edited by Gayatri Mishra)

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If you think that a six-decade ban on untouchability under the Untouchability (Offences) Act, 1955, was enough to curtail it, then you are wrong!

Unfortunately, it is still not reduced to a chapter of dark history in school books, but a living reality in the interior parts of modern India.

And IAS Neha Giri was shocked to have found it prevalent in her jurisdiction.

As the district collector of Dholpur, in Rajasthan, Neha was out on an inspection of an MGNREGA site in the Basedi Panchayat on January 4, when she was taken aback to see the grave injustice against a young mother.

At the site, she saw a woman with a young child working hard as a labourer, in contrast to a well-built man who was given the job of doing a less strenuous job–serving water to the people.

Irked by the situation, when she asked the reason behind the same, she was appalled.

The villagers informed her that the woman was made to do that work as she belonged from the Valmiki community, who were considered untouchables there, and that no one would drink water offered by her.

Deeply offended by the response, she took a step forward to break the chain of untouchability–by drinking water offered by the Dalit woman.

After having strongly spoken against the evil practice, she asked her to serve water and urged all the labourers to drink it, thus setting a precedent for the entire country.

In the caste hierarchy in the region, the Valmiki community is considered to be at the bottom, even among the Dalits, and so are subjected to unjust discrimination.

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Speaking about the current situation, Dalit activist Bhanwar Megwanshi told The New Indian Express, “Be it mid-day meals, distributing water or jobs under MGNREGA or Anganwadi programmes, the upper caste people are employed. We have always insisted that the government should involve Dalits in their schemes. Only then will this practice end.”

She pointed out that despite the existence of the rule, the lack of a robust procedure to abolish it has rendered the law ineffective.

Although a simple move of drinking water, IAS Neha not only revealed the ugly face of a few social practices in India, she also took a strong stand to stop it and has been working towards eliminating it.

(Edited by Shruti Singhal)

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