Much more than a mere workout you take up, Yoga is rather a lifestyle choice that one adopts. The regime works on holistic development and improves your mental well-being, your physique and inner body strength. For some, it is the source of respite after a stressful shift at work, for others, it is the best way to begin their day and still for others, yoga paved the way to overcome the most crushing challenges.

These yogis have gone online to inspire their followers to take up yoga and experience a positive change in their lifestyles.

On this World Yoga Day, we present five such yogis who overcame personal odds and are now running social media channels on the practice of yoga.

Samrat Pasham

In 2016, Samrat was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism and a fatty liver. His sedentary lifestyle had not helped his case either. Speaking to The Better India (TBI), Samrat said, “I was over 100 kg at the time and was working night shifts in a corporate office. Although I was a regular at my gym, its sessions and routines were just adding to my physical stress. Since I was obese, the gym exercises put extra weight on my ankles. I needed something that was light and consistent in nature. That’s when I started yoga.”

Samrat’s fatty liver, hyperthyroidism and obesity meant he needed a lifestyle change, not just an exercise regime. Yoga turned out to be that saviour and he took it up with dedication and passion. Within a year, Samrat had not only shed the extra kilos but also became a certified yoga instructor.

Today, he takes regular workshops in Bengaluru and also online. With over 9,400 followers online, Samrat also posts his stretching exercises and yoga poses on Instagram. You can follow him by clicking on this link or watch his YouTube videos or visit his website, Yoga with Samrat.

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Deepika Mehta

With 1,95,000 followers on Instagram, Deepika Mehta is all the inspiration you need to take up yoga as a routine. She takes regular classes in Mumbai and has an active Instagram handle. Nowhere do her picture-perfect poses, composure and career graph indicate that in 1997, Deepika was told that she might not be able to walk. In 1997, a rock-climbing session had taken a disastrous turn when Deepika met with a terrible accident. So serious was the accident that the doctors had declared she might never be able to walk again.

But that was not to deter Deepika who took up yoga and worked on proving the doctors wrong. Over the years, she undertook several courses and mastered the practice, so much so that she is one of the most sought-after yoga instructors in the entertainment business!

You can catch her sessions as she travels the world teaching the ancient art of yoga. Or if you wish to be inspired by this amazing woman and take up the regime at home, you can follow her Instagram account. Click here to check out her Instagram account, her YouTube channel and her website.

Dolly Singh

Yoga is for everyone—irrespective of age, weight, health issues and lifestyles. Dolly Singh exemplifies this and is busting the myth that yoga is only for the lean, one Instagram post at a time.

About eight years ago, Dolly met with a minor accident and sprained her ankle. Afraid that her ankles may not be able to take her weight (she weighed about 90 kg then), she started practising yoga. “This was the first time I became active. I tried everything. Functional training, built up my stamina, aerobics, Zumba and other things. But I got bored. Two years into it, I landed in a yoga class. I never entered the class thinking I want to lose weight. I never had constraints about how big I was. However, it was the people around me in the yoga class who were surprised because they wondered how a big-bodied person could do this,” she tells TBI.

Today, Dolly is an inspiration to all those who believe that yoga is only for the slim. You can read her story here or check out her Instagram and Facebook page.

Natasha Noel

As traumatic as Natasha’s childhood experiences were, her journey from uplifting herself from those drudges, coping with acute depression and becoming a role model for thousands of women is just as inspiring. At the tender age of three years, Natasha witnessed her mother’s suicide. At the age of seven, she was raped by a male servant. In the following eight years, her uncle and cousins molested her, leaving Natasha scarred and a victim of clinical depression.

Rising above these disturbing experiences, Natasha found expression in dance and yoga. Today, the motivational speaker speaks about body positivity, about acceptance and about abusive relationships, inspiring her 2,50,000+ “supporters” on Instagram.

“I started doing yoga for mental health reasons. It taught me to accept and love myself regardless of my insecurities and demons. Yoga teaches you to be in the present, which is something I couldn’t do earlier — because I was depressed, I’d always be, in the past and because of my anxiety, I’d always be in the future. So, I was never here and in the now,” she tells the Verve Magazine.

A truly inspiring figure, Natasha is an influencer you must follow. Check out her Instagram account for uplifting, encouraging and positive posts.

Suvi Choudhary

About a decade ago, an inactive lifestyle, a lack of will to exercise and a pre-existing scoliosis condition had brought the health levels of Suvi crashing down. She was diagnosed with scoliosis when she was just a teenager but refused to do anything about it till she joined a call centre job.

“The doctor told me that I must quit the job right away and focus on exercising instead because, without this change, I was walking a very dangerous path. I was 21 then and had a slipped disc. At that time, my husband and I had very limited resources and could not afford the expensive yoga classes in Mumbai then. But following doctor’s advice, I quit my job and used the PF money to take a class. From the first class onwards, it was a pure inspiration,” the 32-year-old tells TBI.

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A change in her physique and a glow on her face after the yoga classes was so evident that a friend of her asked her what the secret was. “She asked me to teach her yoga and that’s how I started the classes,” Suvi says.

In 2012, when Suvi became pregnant she gave up yoga for a while. But after having her son, she began again, this time also posting her pictures online. “To those who said I wasn’t fit enough to take up yoga, the likes and comments I get are proof enough that yoga is for everyone. I overcame my health problems and am confident in my poses,” she adds.

You can follow Suvi on her Instagram page or Facebook page and be inspired by the young mother’s perfection in the asanas.

(Edited by Saiqua Sultan)

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Amani Wadood (name changed) does not hesitate anymore while conversing in English.

From offering directions to people who are lost, ordering his favourite food items and discussing news, the 26-year old living in London does it all and speaks the language with confidence.

He recently cleared the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) exam and is very excited about joining a University for a Masters course.

Amani is a refugee from Sudan, and according to estimates, there are close to 1.18 lakh refugees residing in the UK. He is among the few who have embarked on a new journey for a better life; many of them still face extreme difficulties in finding a sustainable livelihood with employers giving little attention to their professional experience and education qualifications.

This is why he is immensely grateful to the founder of Chaigaram (now NEMI), London-based tea company, that was started in 2016.

The social enterprise employs refugees who run tea stalls across London food markets, festivals, events and conferences.

Speaking to The Better India, Pranav, who is originally from New Delhi, says:

Ours is a platform where the refugees can improve their English skills, regain confidence and work on skills required to enter the UK job market. We also employ them within our business to perform commercial roles including sales and marketing, events, packaging and distribution.

He adds, “We are solely impact driven and re-invest more than 50% of our profits back into our enterprise to help us achieve our social-impact goals.”

Pranav has been a resident of London for seven years now. He remembers feeling deeply disturbed when he saw a news piece about an Iraqi family who was forced to move back to their country from Europe.

In addition to this, he also had a chance conversation at a restaurant with a group of refugees, which made him understand that just getting an asylum claim accepted was not the end of the difficult journey.

After some preliminary research about the global refugee crisis, Pranav decided to do something about it and set up a formal organisation with his savings. For this, he banked on his love and knowledge for chai.

Not just that, Pranav also took advantage of the growing demand for Indian tea across the West.

Pranav partnered up with Groundwork London, an organisation that works towards providing sustainable employment, “They have a program called Elevate and refer refugees to us when we are looking to hire new staff,” he says.

So far, the company has provided work experience to 18 refugees. They work right across the supply chain—packaging and distribution as well as commercial roles including sales and marketing and events.

NEMI offers a variety of tea blends, and its retail range includes teas like English breakfast, green tea, cardamom and peppermint. The company also provides a syrup made that can be used to make tea lattes, iced teas and tea-based cocktails.

Pranav has also taken care to reduce the carbon footprint of his company. For instance, the tea bags are 100% biodegradable, and all the products have a plastic-free packaging.

The journey towards establishing a niche in a city like London was not easy, and even today, Pranav faces challenges on a daily basis.

The biggest hurdle is the funding to scale the business. We are working through the fundraising process now so to resolve the issue soon. This will help us create a greater impact as well as grow our business commercially, he says.

Seeing positive outcomes from his venture, Pranav hopes to scale up his business and expand across the country. The idea is to involve as many refugees as possible.

Pranav’s initiative shows that you do not need path breaking ideas or enormous amount of money to make a social impact, it can be as simple as tea!

All the Images are sourced from: NEMI/Facebook

(Edited by Gayatri Mishra)

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In all the articles we have been writing about UPSC aspirants and the examination, one thing is clear—it requires utmost dedication and concentration from aspirants.

Poonam Dalal, who is currently serving as Assistant Commissioner Income Tax, New Delhi, is someone who has appeared for the examination four times and eventually cracked it. She has also authored a book titled ‘Ancient and Medieval India,’ a book for UPSC aspirants.

Her journey is a wonderful example of perseverance, besides proving that even life-altering changes need not be a deterrent to achieving a dream and becoming successful.

In this interview with The Better India, Poonam tells us her life story and how she came about to writing the Civil Service Examination.

Early career

Right after passing out of school, Poonam decided to take up a diploma in teaching and upon completing that, at the age of 20, she landed her first job as a primary school teacher.

While teaching was mentally satisfying, she was not ready to make it her career. She subsequently wrote the Bank Probationary Officer (PO) exam and cleared it. Following this, she took up the role of a relationship manager in a bank and continued working there for three years.

At that time, she felt that the UPSC was beyond her reach.

“I was 23 and believed that the UPSC examination was for others who were serious academics. I always thought that I wouldn’t be able to clear it. Looking back, I regret not having adequate information because if I did, I would not have waited until I was 28 for my first attempt,” she says.

More stepping stones

An ambition never dies. All it needs is one spark to get re-ignited.

Poonam’s spark came after three years in the banking role when she decided to write the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) Combined Graduate Level examination.

It must be mentioned here that these exams are conducted on a large scale, and more than 50 lakh candidates appear for them.

“I managed to do fairly well and secured an all India rank of 7. I joined the IT department as an Inspector and was posted in Delhi.”

It was during a conversation with her fellow aspirants during the interview for the SSC exam that the idea of appearing for the UPSC exams struck her.

“The other aspirants who were there for the interview were also preparing for the CSE, and that was when the thought struck me that why not me, and I started preparing for it,” she says.

Her first crack at CSE

At the age of 29, she finally found the confidence to attempt the examination. In her first attempt, while her score in the main paper was only average, the interview score was good, and she managed to secure a position in the Indian Railways.

While she was happy, the IAS bug had bit her, and she gave another attempt, and this time, the results were the opposite of the first.

“I got a very good score in my mains and unfortunately managed only 140 in my interview stage. The results came as a shock,” she recalls.

In between all this, Poonam also appeared for the Haryana Public Service Commission (PSC), which she cleared, and joined the Haryana Police department in 2011 as Deputy SP.

At the time, she felt that she had to be content with this position, as she had exhausted all her attempts. As it turned out, she was wrong. In 2015, the NDA government gave one additional attempt to candidates who appeared for UPSC CSE in 2011.

“While I was keen on making this attempt count, it came as a great challenge and opportunity as I was out of touch with preparation. Additionally, I was nine months pregnant at the time of the prelims, and by the time the mains happened, I had a 3-month-old son. But as luck would have it, I got my best rank under the most challenging circumstances,” she recalls.

Preparing with an infant in tow

As she had delivered her son via a c-section, Poonam was on complete bed-rest. Despite this, she managed to continue studying.

“With my baby in hand, I remember attempting the exam with confidence and a sense that no matter what happened, I would be fine. I had a job to fall back on, and my priority was to ensure that I did my best for my child. I had realised that I just needed to do my best and leave the results to whatever happens,” she recalls.

Despite all the challenges and being out of touch with preparation for almost 1.5 years, she managed to secure an All India Rank of 308.

“The most important lesson I learnt during all my attempts was that no two exams can be the same. There is no guarantee that a person who topped an exam one year, will do well in another attempt or year.”

Drawing an analogy to playing cards, she says, “You cannot always have the best cards in hand, what you can however do is aspire to play your best with the cards that have been handed out to you—this is exactly what I did.”

During this time, Poonam was living in Gurugram with her husband and in-laws, but during the days when the exam was scheduled, the family would move to a hotel in Delhi.

“My in-laws, husband, son, and I would leave early in the morning, check in to the hotel, after which I would go for the paper. During all this time I would have to wake up early, express milk for my son and then leave home. I was only able to manage because of the steadfast support of my in-laws and husband.”

She had to come back during the lunch break to ensure that he did not miss out on a feed.

“All other aspirants would use that time to study and cram while I rushed back to my son. I did not, at any cost, want to compromise on that,” she says.

An essential piece of advice that Poonam leaves me with is to not to be shy in seeking support—remember to communicate what you want; whether to your partner, parents, or even in-laws.

“Believe in yourself, and you will surely achieve all that you have dreamed of,” she concludes.

(Edited by Gayatri Mishra)

You May Also Like: Mother to 6-YO, How this Haryana Homemaker Cracked UPSC to Become an IAS Officer

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Ritu Jaiswal happens to be the only mukhia in Bihar to win the Ucch Sikshit Adarsh Yuva Sarpanch award in 2016 for her exemplary work as a village head.

But how did this woman living in Khelgaon, a posh locality in Delhi, manage to become the sarpanch of Singhwahini, a village in Bihar?

Let’s take a look at her story.

Right from childhood, Ritu was passionate about social work, and would regularly take part in local campaigns that aimed to help underprivileged people.

In 1996, Ritu married Arun Kumar, an IAS officer. A few years later, on a visit to her in-laws’ ancestral home in Sitamarhi’s Sonbarsha block, she came across multiple issues. There was no electricity, proper drinking water and a severe lack of basic sanitation facilities.

A shocked Ritu knew she had to do something.

She began by tackling the state of education in the village. A girl from Singhwahini had completed her BEd and was teaching in Bokaro. Ritu offered her a higher salary to come back and teach in the village school. The girl agreed and started teaching 25 girls who had dropped out from the village school.

Her efforts were rewarded when 12 out of them passed their matriculation exams with flying colours in 2015.

Ritu then moved on to other pressing issues like open defecation, domestic violence, female infanticide and organic farming. She held seminars and meetings and even conducted infotainment seminars for the villagers.

Ritu was already spending a majority of her time at Singhwahini and realised that if she was to fulfil her dream of transforming it, she would have to move there full-time.

Her husband and two children were wholly supportive and very accommodative of this decision, and Ritu soon made the permanent move.

The villagers of Singhwahini then requested her to contest in village elections. Though politics was not initially part of the plan, with their faith she decided to go for it.

Winning by a whopping 72% margin, Ritu used this position to her advantage. She attacked the problem of open defecation with the help and support of the villagers as well as the District Magistrate. Two thousand toilets were constructed, and defecators were reasoned with until finally in October 2016, Singhwahini was declared ODF (Open Defecation Free).

She then decided to tackle the issue of crumbling mud roads.

Realising that the villagers were reluctant to give up their savings and that government aid would take too much time, Ritu paid out of her own pocket to enhance the village roads. Her enthusiasm inspired the villagers to gradually begin to contribute, and today, all of Singhwahini has paved roads.

Winning the election also enabled Ritu to target another big problem —the inefficiency of the Public Distribution System.

Unfazed by the BDO (Block Development Officer) and dealers who refused to provide any help or answer her queries, she and her small team embarked on a mammoth effort to collect the ration cards of the 14000 villagers covered by the panchayat. They were then analysed and cross-checked to see if there was any mismatch or hoarding, which helped her weed out corrupt officials and dealers.

She also established vocational training centres for villagers, after which many of them became entrepreneurs or self-employed, even opening up shops.

When massive floods hit the Sitamarhi district in August 2017, Ritu had the option of returning to Delhi. But of course, this gutsy mukhiya did nothing of that sort. She stayed, and worked day and night, tirelessly, to help the victims and aid the rescue workers.

Ritu’s inspiring story reveals how good grassroots leadership can make a huge difference in a country plagued by corruption and inefficiency.

However, over the years, people, especially the young, have been losing faith in elections. They are seen as frivolous or pointless. But not voting doesn’t declare disbelief in the voting system. It only worsens our own condition.

It’s important to pursue facts when it comes to elections. It’s important to know your MPs and MLAs and their backgrounds. It’s important to have a well-read opinion because there are a lot of fake facts flying around. And most importantly, it is crucial to vote.

Because if you don’t, someone else will tell you how to run your life. And that’s not okay.

#EndTheStereotype

This story is part of The Stereotypeface Project, an initiative by The Better India that challenges 26 stereotypes, which continue to exist even today. We are showcasing these stereotypes through all the letters of the English language alphabet.

Stereotypes exist everywhere — they are passed down over generations. Instead of embracing and celebrating what makes us unique, we stand divided because of them!

We’ve unconsciously learned to stereotype, now let’s consciously #EndTheStereotype.

Visit www.stereotypes.in to know more about the campaign and support the effort!

How can you support this campaign?

1. Follow this thread on Twitter or Facebook
2. Re-Tweet / Re-share the stereotypeface that you would like to put an end to
3. Use #EndTheStereotype and tag @TheBetterIndia

(Edited by Gayatri Mishra)

Like this story? Or have something to share? Write to us: contact@thebetterindia.com, or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

At 30, she is a successful name in the plus-size modelling industry, an exceptional belly dancer and a personality that exudes warmth to anyone who interacts with her.

But growing up, Mumbai-based Anjana Bapat was a grumpy child. Much of the anger, when she looks back now, perhaps stemmed from being bullied by those around her.

All because she didn’t fit the size most girls her age did.

Sure, obesity is a problem. But obese people seem to be treated like they are a sickness. They’re shamed. They’re marginalised. They aren’t treated equally. Not just that, they’re also denied equal opportunities in colleges and workplaces too.

“Though I had a loving family and lots of friends, childhood wasn’t as fun as it should have been. Raised in the suburbs of Mumbai like Goregaon and Andheri, my childhood was inherently that of any fat child in India.” Anjana said.

And this is where it gets serious. Fat people are more likely to be bullied by a staggering 65%. Maybe we should draw a line on body-shaming somewhere?

Although bullying was a major part of Anjana’s childhood, it was still a cakewalk compared to her teenage years.

Relatives and even kids in her neighbourhood always made fun of her. At her impressionable age, Anjana was traumatised to be seen by anyone holding a plate of food or attending a family get-together.

Certain incidents from her teenage years are burnt into her mind, like what happened the day before her class 10 board exams. She was stressed about the English paper the following day when her uncle came home. With an expression of disgust, he demeaned Anjana by telling her how she didn’t look her age and went on for almost three hours about how she should lose weight.

The years between 23 and 26 were when Anjana left her cocoon to transform into a beautiful and confident butterfly. A large part of the credit for her self acceptance goes to her friend, Priyanka, and the women in her family.

“Being in their company made me realise that it was my perception of myself that was bringing me down. It wasn’t the world that was seeing me in a bad light!” Anjana recalls.

It was then that she finally began regaining her confidence. During that time, plus -size modelling had just begun picking up in India. Anjana was reading plus-size magazines and exploring brands that made plus-size clothing. She took up belly dancing, began working out, started practising yoga, and is now even venturing into running. She no longer works out to lose weight; rather, she enjoys the process.

She started taking lessons in belly dancing. Around this time, a friend told her about a the call for auditions to a play. She wasn’t so keen at first, but belly dancing got her a role in the play which ran for more than two years.

In 2016, she decided to finally audition for a plus-size brand, ALL, which she had read about for months. Amongst hundreds of contenders, Anjana emerged in the top ten, one of the first batches of plus-size models to emerge from an open platform in India.

Anjana plans to use this opportunity as a platform to spread her message of body positivity. “I wanted to tell women that they are beautiful, no matter the size or colour of their skin. You are enough and your journey towards realising that needn’t be miserable.”

#EndTheStereotype

This story is part of The Stereotypeface Project, an initiative by The Better India that challenges 26 stereotypes, which continue to exist even today. We are showcasing these stereotypes through all the letters of the English language alphabet.

Stereotypes exist everywhere — they are passed down over generations. Instead of embracing and celebrating what makes us unique, we stand divided because of them!

We’ve unconsciously learned to stereotype, now let’s consciously #EndTheStereotype.

Visit www.stereotypes.in to know more about the campaign and support the effort!

How can you support this campaign?

1. Follow this thread on Twitter or Facebook
2. Re-Tweet / Re-share the stereotypeface that you would like to put an end to
3. Use #EndTheStereotype and tag @TheBetterIndia

(Edited by Shruti Singhal)

Like this story? Or have something to share? Write to us: contact@thebetterindia.com, or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

In most places in India, a girl is considered a burden even before she can decide her role in society. She’s seen as a heavy ‘responsibility’, restricted by society’s dogmatic thinking. But for 42-year-old Amita Marathe, her adopted daughter, Advaita, is the light of her life.

Amita did not want to be bound by marriage but always wanted a child of her own, which is why she decided to adopt a baby girl.

“My parents and sister stood like a rock throughout the process,” Amita told us.

Coming from a society where child adoption and being a single woman after a certain age was frowned upon, she was surprised when her parents supported and even respected her decision. They were initially worried about how Amita could balance a child along with her career, and to some extent, she echoed these concerns as well.

However, she took the plunge, and in 2012, registered with the Child Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) at Sofosh. It stands for Society of Friends of Sassoon Hospitals, a child care centre in Pune.

In August 2013, after a long wait, Amita received a phone call that would change her life. She was invited to a child care centre in Pune. In her application, she had asked for a girl child and was ready to take home a daughter, but it couldn’t happen that day.

“It was destiny,” she says.

Amita, an MBA in finance, was at the peak of her career. She initially wanted a child who was at least a year old so that she could balance her work while raising her. But her reservations stopped when she laid eyes on a five-month-old with majestic eyes and a heart disorder.

In Amita’s words, “It was love at first sight.”

This baby, christened Advaita, became her priority. Amita provided her with the best medication in Pune.

“The doctors said that a surgery could be done only after she weighed 16 kilos, which would take some time,” she said.

But the abundance of love and care Advaita received gave rise to a miracle, and before her first birthday, her heart was fixed.

When she was a little more than a year old, Amita told her about the adoption and her birth mother through stories and pictures. She wanted Advaita to be proud of the fact that she was raised by a single parent, and not feel like she lacked something in her family.

“I didn’t want our relationship to be labelled a certain way or ever make her feel unwanted. Secondly, I wanted her to respect her birth mother.” Amita said. She adds, “The process was emotionally exhausting. I was worried if she would react negatively. But my child is more mature than I imagined.”

Advaita processed the information and happily accepted both her mothers in no time. Amita raised her to be an understanding child who focuses on whatever activity she takes up. She refers to her as “a perfect blend of daughter and friend”.

Amita got back to work at a private firm as a Business Analyst after Advaita turned three. She is also a trustee at Poornank, an organisation that educates parents and children about adoption. The positive change Advaita brought to her life is something Amita wants to experience again, which is why she is awaiting a second child in October.

However, this sort of progressive thinking sadly lacks in India. Let’s not forget that nearly 117 million girls selective abortions take place in the country each year. Female infanticide is a grim reflection of what society thinks of women, and it’s rampant till date. Few seem to think about what she feels, let alone getting to know her dreams and ambitions. Is this the future we are forcing on girls?

#EndTheStereotype

This story is part of The Stereotypeface Project, an initiative by The Better India that challenges 26 stereotypes, which continue to exist even today. We are showcasing these stereotypes through all the letters of the English language alphabet.

Stereotypes exist everywhere — they are passed down over generations. Instead of embracing and celebrating what makes us unique, we stand divided because of them!

We’ve unconsciously learned to stereotype, now let’s consciously #EndTheStereotype.

Visit www.stereotypes.in to know more about the campaign and support the effort!

How can you support this campaign?

1. Follow this thread on Twitter or Facebook
2. Re-Tweet / Re-share the stereotypeface that you would like to put an end to
3. Use #EndTheStereotype and tag @TheBetterIndia

(Edited by Shruti Singhal)

Like this story? Or have something to share? Write to us: contact@thebetterindia.com, or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

“There is an ulterior motive to let the poor remain poor,” says Dr Bharat Saran, as we begin our conversation.

Founder of an initiative called ‘50 Villagers Seva Sansthan’ in Barmer, Rajasthan, set up in 2012, it helps children from the economically weaker sections train for medical entrance examinations.

Inspired by Anand Kumar’s Super 30, this initiative takes in 25 students each in classes 11 and class 12, and hence the name 50 Villagers came about. A practicing doctor, Dr Saran, did not see himself take up teaching. “However,” he says, “it was the circumstances and the education system that made me become a teacher and mentor.”

If you are a student or know one, check out these eco-friendly books, pens, pencils and more here. 

Speaking to The Better India, he adds, “So many students are forced to drop out of school once they complete their class 10 exams, we found that while many of them were talented and had the aptitude, it was their economic conditions that made them leave school.”

“I wanted to help them complete their education.”

When asked how the students are selected, he explains, “The first criteria is that the child must have completed class 10 with first division. Then, they have to appear for a 50-mark paper that we design to assess their aptitude, followed by a home visit where our team ascertains their economic status.”

The initiative aims to provide free coaching to those who have no means to afford it otherwise, and to find such students, the team does thorough background checks.

Thirty marks are allotted for the home visits, and the team is at liberty to award extra marks in case the student is highly deserving. Giving an example, Dr Saran says, “In 2013, the team visited the home of 16-year-old Nem Singh Rajpurohit who had cleared his class 10 examinations with 83.6 per cent, but had to give up his dreams of studying further due to the financial conditions of his family.

“Having lost both his parents in a road accident in 2008, the responsibility of looking after two younger brothers fell upon him.”

The team ensured that he got a seat at the coaching centre and six years later, Nem Singh is in his third-year MBBS course at the Jodhpur Medical College.

When asked how the team manages to fund this initiative, he says, “We are in debt of almost Rs 9 lakh. This debt is from the rent we have not paid for the building that the students occupy, the books that we have bought and have been unable to pay for, etc. We work only on the donations which range from Rs 500 to Rs 5 lakh. We are often ridiculed and mocked for our work, but none of that has stopped us.”

On an average, Rs 25,000 is spent each year for one student, which includes their accommodation, food, books, and daily expenses.

In 2015, Dr Saran made it to all newspaper headlines when 28 of his students cleared the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG). This was certainly a feat that deserved the celebrations.

For students in this barren land, 50 Villagers brings with it lush hopes for a better future. If you wish to help Dr Saran, reach him at +91-9413942612.

You May Also Like: Beating All Odds, Ragpicker’s Son Clears AIIMS Entrance Exam in 1st Attempt!

(Edited by Shruti Singhal)

Images courtesy: Dr Bharat Saran

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Cutting through overwhelming cheers, she walks up to the top of the podium. A sea of applause washes over the stadium as she wraps herself with the revered tricolour flag, all while holding the priceless gold medal between her teeth in victory.

With eyes wide open, Sarita would stay awake through many nights replaying this scenario in her mind. All she wanted was a victory, a chance to make her country shine.

Born to a family of farm labourers in a remote village nestled in the hilly terrain of Dang, Gujarat, this seemed to be a far-fetched dream covered with jagged obstacles. However, while for most people, such barriers are similar to a finish line, for few people like her, it is just the beginning.

And, so nursing her big dreams, 25-year-old Sarita Gayakwad grew up amidst several challenges that only made her stronger and eventually paved the way to fulfilling her dream in the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta.

Express run from Dang to Jakarta

Hailing from Karadi Amba, a tribal village in Gujarat, Sarita was brought up amidst picturesque hills and valleys that were beautiful but disconnected from the rest of the world.

Her mother, Ramuben, and father, Laxman Bhai, were farm labourers who tried hard to make ends meet and provide basic education to the four children, including her.

At the time, all that young Sarita wanted was to do something substantial and make her parents proud. She would juggle her studies with household chores that included her climbing hills every single day to fetch water for the family.

Her physical strength and the attitude to push beyond limits brought her close to sports in school. She excelled in Kho Kho and went on the participate in numerous competitions, including the national games.

Also Read: He Learnt Swimming In Floods. Today, This Paraplegic Champion Owns a World Record!

“In my village, we had education available in the primary schools [only] till Grade 4, which is why my parents decided to put me in a hostel in 2004. Since then, I have always been inclined towards sports. I started playing Kho Kho and made my first national appearance in the sport in 2007,” said Sarita to Timesnownews.

These wins were followed by encouragement from friends and teachers, and she slowly began to weave a bigger dream.

But even training for school sports was challenging for the emerging athlete as she could not even afford shoes at that point in time. Barefoot she would run kilometres every single day to train her body and mind to be the best version possible.

With this attitude in place, she continued to play Kho Kho till 2011, only to be steered into a new direction—athletics.

Based on the advice of coaches at the National Championships, Sarita began to push herself further, until her first opportunity arrived at the Khel Mahakumbh, a local sports championship launched by the government.

Taking everyone by storm, she won gold medals in almost five events at the competition.

“That was the first time I was rewarded in thousands—I earned Rs 25,000 for five top podium finishes. Before then, I had only earned in hundreds. My parents were not in a condition to support me in my preparations as they could hardly make ends meet by farming, but the cash prize sparked a ray of hope in me, and I made up [my] mind to not look back from there. Supporting my family and aiding them financially was always one of my priorities and athletics gave me that platform to earn enough. By 2012 I was certain that I will continue working hard and improve no matter what” she added.

Her district and state-level triumphs soon made her famous in the Gujarat sporting circuit and sensing her potential; she was advised to join the Sports Authority of Gujarat’s Center of Excellence, Nadiad. Although leaving home and her family was difficult, she knew that it was for the best.

“At the academy, I got everything I wished from, right from a nutritious diet, which I was not able to afford back home, to good coaches and proper tracks. I trained for over a year at the academy and made my national debut,” Sarita said.

After training for two years, she got a chance to enrol in the National Camp at Patiala and won her way into the selections for the Commonwealth Games in Australia.

Although she did not win any medal, the international exposure made her mentally stronger and more prepared for the next.

And finally, in the 2018 Asian Games which were held in Jakarta, she proved her mettle by winning gold in the 4×400 metre team relay.

Donning India’s colours on her shoulders, Sarita, who is also known as the Dang Express, became the first girl from Gujarat to win gold on such a platform, proving it to the world, and especially her village that with time, patience, and hard work, dreams, big or small, do come true!

(Edited by Gayatri Mishra)

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Being HIV-positive is not necessarily fatal. With the right treatment, medication and lifestyle, someone who is HIV-positive can lead as normal a life as anyone. Same goes for AIDS, which is a life-threatening condition caused by HIV. With strict adherence to medication, the progress of the disease can be slowed.

But society doesn’t see it that way. While the victims of HIV are living with a fatal virus, the rest of us are living with something even deadlier – a negative perception about it.

Meet Pradipkumar Singh—Mr Manipur 2007 and Mr South Asia 2012. This bodybuilder who hails from Manipur also happens to be HIV positive.

Pradipkumar was a drug addict, and it was a shared needle which brought this condition upon him in the year 2000. But it was not until 2007 that he made a public announcement about this.

“One doesn’t realise the abuse that we put the body through in our younger days. For me coming clean about it was extremely important. I also felt that half my battle was won if I were, to be honest. I don’t see any reason why I should hide the facts,” he said.

But what motivated Pradipkumar to take this courageous decision?

“Having spent close to three years in bed, almost near death, things changed when my sister brought home a Champa plant. I saw how watering the plant and nurturing it made it flower so beautifully. That was the ray of hope I needed. I decided then that I would make something of my life and I am glad I did it,” he shares.

Pradipkumar’s story of courage and will has even been captured in a book by Delhi-based journalist Jayanta Kalita titled “I Am HIV Positive, So What?”

Jayanta told us that he was inspired by Pradipkumar’s hope and sheer determination to succeed.

“A man who was on his deathbed, deteriorating as the illness took over, Pradipkumar decided to fight back and reclaim his life.”

Now 45 years old, Pradipkumar is a physical trainer at the department of sports and youth affairs for the Manipur government. The Manipur State AIDS Control Society has appointed him as its brand ambassador, and he also leads a pan-Indian awareness campaign owned by a global NGO. In addition to this work, he uses his post as a physical trainer to discourage young boys from using drugs.

“I wanted to prove to myself and many others that being HIV positive is not the end of the world,” he adds. Aside from some minor hiccups, Pradipkumar is living his fullest life.

Around the world, HIV-positive people are seen as irresponsible; and treated with disgust. They don’t just lose their jobs, but even their friends, families and their social identities. But HIV isn’t contagious. The mindset is.

If someone is suffering, no matter what the reason, shouldn’t the instinct be to offer shelter and care to the person, rather than abandoning them? Surely, there’s room for change.

#EndTheStereotype

This story is part of The Stereotypeface Project, an initiative by The Better India that challenges 26 stereotypes, which continue to exist even today. We are showcasing these stereotypes through all the letters of the English language alphabet.

Stereotypes exist everywhere — they are passed down over generations. Instead of embracing and celebrating what makes us unique, we stand divided because of them!

We’ve unconsciously learned to stereotype, now let’s consciously #EndTheStereotype.

Visit www.stereotypes.in to know more about the campaign and support the effort!

How can you support this campaign?

1. Follow this thread on Twitter or Facebook
2. Re-Tweet / Re-share the stereotypeface that you would like to put an end to
3. Use #EndTheStereotype and tag @TheBetterIndia

(Edited by Gayatri Mishra)

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5 April 2019, marked a very important day in the lives of over 759 candidates (577 men and 182 women) who cleared the coveted Union Public Service Commission exam. One step closer to their dream of serving the country in various roles like IAS, IPS, IFS, among others, future aspirants find succor in the success stories of those who rose up to the challenge and beat it.

Among these stories, stands out the tale of Indore’s Pradeep Singh. One of the youngest candidates appearing for the UPSC 2018 exams, Pradeep, the son of a petrol pump serviceman, cracked the exams in his first attempt at the age of 22!

This is his story.

In an exclusive interview with The Better India, Pradeep recalls how his father, Manoj Singh, who originally hailed from the town of Gopalganj in Bihar, migrated to Indore in 1991 in search of better education and employment.

Though the family had ancestral land, farming brought no steady income. The women of the household stayed back and took care of the land, while men migrated to bigger cities for employment to sustain their families.

Manoj took up the humble job of a petrol pump serviceman to make ends meet. In 1996, when Pradeep was born, he spent the first few years in Gopalganj. But for education, he moved to Indore with the rest of his family. From studying at a CBSE school to completing his B.Com (Hons) from IIPS DAVV, he spent the formative years of his life in Indore.

“My father struggled through and through as the sole breadwinner of the family and saved enough to buy a home. But we faced many periods of financial crisis. He tried his hand at several small-time businesses but did not find any success. And over a period of time, the financial debt constantly kept rising. And yet, he never let the stress affect us. He never compromised on our education. He even sold our home in Indore to fund my coaching for UPSC,” says a moved Pradeep.

When I asked him how the decision to pursue UPSC came about, he laughs.

“Growing up, I didn’t know what UPSC or an IAS officer was. But my parents often spoke with delight about the success stories of aspirants who had cracked the exams to become ‘afsars’ (officers). I would look on in awe at the joy on their faces as they tried to fathom how proud the parents of these achievers would have felt to see their children crack one of the toughest exams in the country and serve the nation.”

It was at that moment that Pradeep knew, he wanted to be the reason for the same pride and joy on his parents’ faces. The dutiful son wanted it all for his loving parents.

Pradeep recalls the last wish of his late grandfather who, on his deathbed, told Pradeep and his older brother to educate themselves and achieve something on their merit and hard work.

Another source of motivation was the change Pradeep witnessed first hand.

“Indore ranks among the leading cities under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan. This wouldn’t be possible without the work of the administrators. I saw how individuals as part of an administration could drive change and contribute to the greater good and development of the people they served. I wanted to do the same too.”

Also Read: This IIT-Delhi Startup’s Innovation Tackles Air Pollution for Just Rs 10!

Moving to Delhi to prepare for the UPSC was a big decision. From coaching to accommodation, Pradeep knew it was more than his father could afford. And yet, Manoj decided to sell their home and move into a rented accommodation to help Pradeep achieve his dream.

Pradeep moved to Delhi on 17 June, two years ago. Already a bright student who had won several debates, quizzes and extempores, his preparation had started back in college where he kept himself abreast of the latest happenings in India and the world.

Even though there were times when the study material was expensive, Manoj never let Pradeep lose out. He ensured that his son had all the resources he required.

He sheds light on the challenges he faced while preparing for his maiden UPSC attempt, “I was new in the field and there are lakhs of aspirants. I knew there would be a lot of struggle but I was ready to fight my battles.”

He spent more than 14 hours preparing for the exam every day for a year.

“The schedule was set. Get up, shower and eat, all the rest of my time was spent studying. The distractions were rare. I had limited going out for films or hanging out with friends to a bare minimum. My father sacrificed a lot and I knew not everyone gets the opportunity that I had. So I treated my first attempt like it was my last attempt. I had to give it my best shot and prove myself.”

Before you think the process may have drained him, he is quick to clarify that he enjoyed the process of preparation thoroughly.

With every result that came—be it the prelims, mains or the final, the happiness of the Singh family reached new heights.

“Nobody in our family, including distant relatives, had cleared even the prelims. It was a matter of pride for my entire family. A lot of our close friends and relatives came home to congratulate my parents. After the results were declared, they did not sleep for three days. Because the celebrations were in full swing. When I returned to Indore, they took me to places. My parents were crying and laughing all at once. The joy on their faces was unmatched. My hard work paid off. All I was feeling was satisfaction.”

In a message to UPSC aspirants, Pradeep says, “Do not rely on coaching alone. Be a self-starter. Coaching will contribute about 8-10 per cent to the results. But 90 per cent depends on your hard work. If you want to pursue UPSC, think your decision through. Don’t pursue it under family or peer pressure. When it is your own decision, you will do well. Your motivation will come from within and at no point will you regret it. Yes, there will be a lot of struggle. But remember, the more you struggle the greater your chances at success.”

The results were only the first step, as he begins his journey into the civil services.

Pradeep whose journey as an IAS officer has begun signs off by saying, “As an IAS officer, any district that I am posted to, I want to focus on four key areas, namely law and order, women empowerment, health, and education. Because I believe all of these fields are intertwined and dependent on each other for a better society. As I step closer to my dream, I hope I am able to attain these for the greater good of the people I serve.”

If this story inspired you, get in touch with Pradeep on Instagram and Facebook.

(Edited by Saiqua Sultan)

Images courtesy: Pradeep Singh

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Tributes continue to pour in for the legendary Indian Police Service (IPS) Officer and former Tamil Nadu Director General of Police, VR Lakshminarayanan (fondly known as VRL), after he passed away in the early hours of June 23 at the ripe old age of 91.

Known for his remarkable insight into criminal law, VRL had set up a practice before eventually joining the famed IPS in 1951.

Had he chosen to pursue the legal profession, he would have undoubtedly been immensely successful like his brother, Justice VR Krishna Iyer; the path-breaking jurist referred to as ‘the conscience keeper of justice in India’ who introduced many reforms to the Indian justice system.

The brothers were a unique combination.

On the one hand, you had a reformist judge, upholding and interpreting the rule of law with justice in his mind, while the other was a man of fierce integrity and competency who never shied away from enforcing the law like he did when he had arrested former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on corruption charges.

This incident is captured in his memoir Appointments and Disappointments.

Back in 1977, Emergency had come to an end, a general election was held, and Indira Gandhi lost by a landslide to the Janata Party government, which was then led by Morarji Desai.

Abiding by the government’s orders, VRL had gone to arrest Indira Gandhi on corruption charges. At the time he was the Additional Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation.

Unafraid of the potential consequences of what may happen should she come back to power, he went ahead and performed his duty with both a sense of toughness and courtesy.

“I don’t want the rude hands of a policeman to be laid on the sacred person of a lady who was a former prime minister and who also happens to be Nehru’s daughter,” VRL told her son Rajiv Gandhi when he reached Indira Gandhi’s residence.

Upon hearing VRL’s words, Indira Gandhi came out of her room and asked, “Where are the handcuffs?”

He responded by saying, “I had served you loyally and well and got two medals from your hands for meritorious and distinguished service,” besides adding that since receiving these accolades he had since become lazy, and forgotten to bring the handcuffs with him.

VRL did his duty but was mindful of not humiliating her. However, this show of basic courtesy earned him no favours with her once she came to power in 1980.

“It is an irony that he never rose to head the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) despite his professional competence and integrity. In fact, it was his unwillingness to compromise and bend while investigating corruption in the highest of places that cost him the coveted job. Eased out from his posting as Additional Director of the CBI, he was reverted to the State Police,” recalls former CBI Director RK Raghavan, in a 2014 column for The Hindu.

However, VRL never showed an ounce of bitterness for being denied what should have been his office. Admittedly, he lost his job in the CBI, rank and the perks associated with holding its highest office, but came out of the entire situation with his sterling reputation intact.

Although he was sent back to his home cadre Tamil Nadu as a penalty of his ‘indiscretion’ (read: unwillingness to kowtow to those in power), it’s this very reputation which convinced film star of yesteryear and the then Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, MG Ramachandran to appoint him as the Director General of Police of the state.

So convinced was MGR with VRL that he didn’t even fear the fact that this appointment would deeply offend Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

“The decision to make him DGP was despite the advice of some vested interests that this would greatly offend Indira Gandhi. MGR took the plunge, obviously because he knew what mettle VRL was made of. MGR was the greater beneficiary of this ethical decision. I never gave VRL the chance of survival. But then the two men hit it off very well. This was a tribute to the greatness to both personalities, however different they were in their perceptions of law and order,” says RK Raghavan in a 2019 tribute to his mentor and friend.

Also Read: ‘No Help’ No More: How Indian Cops Are Taking Emergency Help to The Next Level

Following his retirement, many young IPS officer would seek his counsel, particularly during moments where their professional career was in jeopardy after a confrontation with those in authority.

Considering the system police officers existed in this country, VRL’s advice usually bordered on standing up for one’s principles in the face of the establishment, but without the necessity to wilfully offend anyone.

He was also known for his charity. “When he retired his pension was more than the salary he earned during his service. He felt this was not right. Hence he donated to different causes. He even donated during the Kerala floods,” says his nephew A Ranganathan, speaking to a national daily.

The objective for this distinguished IPS officer wasn’t to hurt anyone, but to stand up for one’s principles. And that is how he will always be remembered.

(Edited by Gayatri Mishra)

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Bearing the moniker ‘Muay Thai Queen of India’, few know the trials and tribulations that Richa Gaur faced to reach where she is today.

Seven-time national gold medallist, Asian Olympic qualifier, international champion and a martial arts and self-defence coach—these are her credentials before the age of 25.

Incredulously, this martial arts ace from Jaipur was born premature, weighing just about 1.6 kg.

In an exclusive conversation with The Better India, Richa shares that it was because of her parents’ extra care and attention that she made it back then.

“I’ve been told that I was really tiny and weak at the time of my birth. Though I became healthy eventually, my parents were extremely cautious and placed no restrictions on me that girls in India, including my elder sister, faced while growing up. And I grew up a tomboy,” she recalls.

An average student at school, sports was what brought the best in her, as she played everything as early as six. However, her foray into martial arts would only commence five years later. “I was in class 6, and they had started giving Taekwondo classes at school. I just took it up as a hobby and soon realised that I loved the sport and left no stone unturned to excel in it,” she shares.

This would flag off the journey of a champion.

Within a year, she had already gotten the black belt and won her first gold medal! With that, she had the opportunity to represent the state in Delhi. But her parents couldn’t afford the expenses. “They consoled me saying that I could go next time,” she laughs.

As her love for sports grew strong, Richa began facing difficulties on a different front.

“As is common during teenage, most girls in my class would be engaged in gossip while I concentrated solely on sports. Plus, I only had boys to practice with, because of which, I was bullied throughout my high school. People would comment on how ‘boyish’ I looked and call me a boy all the time. It went so bad that my studies were affected and I performed quite poorly in the board exams,” Richa says.

As much as the bullying affected her, Richa realised that her love for sports was strong enough and if she could focus all her attention, this too would pass.

“By then, sports wasn’t a hobby anymore. I was willing to leave anything to pursue it; even food. Unfortunately, the teacher who had trained me from the beginning, left when I was in class 11. I was very upset and wanted to train in a proper academy,” Richa recalls.

But her parents would have none of it, as they were worried about sending their daughter alone.

“All the time, those kids bullied me in school, I used it in my favour. I cut my hair short and dressed to look like a boy. Just so that I could go and train without having my parents worry themselves to death. Somehow, my parents were convinced and let me go,” she says.

By then, her aspirations weren’t limited to Taekwondo alone, and she began training in various forms of martial arts including judo, karate, kickboxing and Muay Thai.

“But unlike Taekwondo or karate, which have a set of rules, Muay Thai was a whole new experience. More like street fighting and kickboxing, you could never predict where the next blow would come from,” she explains.

From 2011, her ascent began, and within a year, she went on to clinch many medals before being selected to represent the state in Muay Thai for the national championship. Winning the gold, Richa garnered national attention and set the record as the first national gold medalist from Rajasthan in both categories of men and women.

Soon enough, the World Muay Thai Championship came calling.

“I was in the second year of college. Despite being a national champion, I received no support from the state government. The tournament was in Thailand, and there was no way I could afford to go. But my college management came forward to help. But most importantly, it was my father, who used to his Provident Fund (PF) savings to help me participate, and I didn’t disappoint him. I came back home a World Champion with a Bronze medal,” she proudly recalls.

Following the horrifying Nirbhaya tragedy, Richa opened her own academy, the Global Institute of Self Defence and Martial Arts (GOSEDMA).

“I realised that our women needed to be trained in self-defence. My academy has not only given training to different state police forces, government organisations, physical education teachers, NCC cadets, college and school students but also women from rural areas in the country,” she shares. The academy also provides coaching in sports, with many of Richa’s students making it to the nationals.

While she was making the country proud, she was also earning the wrath of Muay Thai Federation members.

“That is when I got the real taste of gender-based politics in sports. Some officials would be irate because I was a woman and had accolades to my name. I would often be threatened to be banned with false accusations and even refused NOC (No Objection Certificate). These situations often pulled me down, but my father remained my pillar of support and helped me sail through this time,” Richa shares.

Being among the Top 100 women achievers of India in 2016, she finally won all her battles. She received the award from Former President Pranab Mukherjee.

“Every hurdle that came along my way finally seemed to fade away, as this was a validation of my blood and sweat. Nothing could pull me down anymore,” she adds.

From being bullied to a becoming a pawn of sports politics, Richa’s story is akin to every sportsperson in the country who didn’t have a godfather and struggled before garnering national limelight.

However, being a female athlete made her journey more arduous, and her achievements more noteworthy.

You May Also Like: He Slept in Stadiums and Trained in Jungles to Put India on the Global MMA Map

We hope she continues to inspire women and sporting enthusiasts to pursue their passions with similar dedication.

To know more about Richa Gaur or the Global Institute of Self Defence and Martial Arts, visit their website here.

(Edited by Shruti Singhal)

Images courtesy: Richa Gaur

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An oath-taking ceremony in the Badnor panchayat of Bhilwara district, Rajasthan, saw several children and their parents making a few solemn promises in front of their respective places of worship.

“I will not get married before my legal age.”

“I will not attend any child marriage.”

“If I ever receive any information about a child marriage, I will do my best to report and prevent it.”

The ceremony is part of a silent revolution spearheaded by 26-year-old IAS officer, Athar Aamir Khan.

Six months ago, Khan, a UPSC topper (2015 batch), was posted in the region as its sub-divisional magistrate (SDM). He soon learned that it was plagued with several challenges and difficulties.

In an exclusive interview with The Better India, he says: 

From lack of cultivable land, water scarcity, high dependence on government programmes for livelihoods, caste-based divisions, high rate of school dropouts to migration, the region is both economically and socially backward.

However, he realised that the high prevalence of child marriage and consequently, the low literacy rate, were two biggest issues in the region. 

An ex-IITian, Khan decided to utilise his position and experience to work towards abolishing them.

On Fighting Child Marriages

Khan’s first approach was to understand the reason why the parents were keen to ensure that their children got married, even before reaching the legal age. 

“From fearing that kids would marry outside caste to saving money by marrying two siblings together there were several justifications that the parents listed,” he says.

The situation is so grave that there have been cases of suicides when children cannot take the pressure from their parents. 

A two-fold method was adopted by Khan and his team—appointing informers to raise alarms and keeping the police in the loop to prevent such cases. 

A special control room, which exclusively looks after the cases of child marriages, has been set up at the main office of the Bhilwara district administration. A flying squad, comprising SHOs, tehsildars, panchayat committee members and other government employees has also been formed and keeps a vigil. 

Khan also launched a massive awareness campaign, where the local anganwadi staff, Self-Help Groups and Gram Vikas committees were imparted extensive training on preventing the harmful practice. 

A handbook on child marriage that listed ways to tackle the issue was also given to them.

The trained staff, in turn, holds regular meetings for the villagers across 20 odd gram panchayats that come under Khan’s jurisdiction. They also accompany Khan when he visits construction sites, schools, social gatherings and community halls to spread the word.  

Meanwhile, in schools, the teachers have been directed to make cells for minor girls who could be forced into marriage. The idea is to make reporting cases hassle-free. 

A quiz which gives information about the Child Marriage Act and the repercussions of violating it is also distributed in all schools to educate kids about their rights.

There have been instances when families have tried to fool the authorities. Narrating one such incidence, Khan says: 

Sometimes, families keep a dummy to avoid facing any repercussions. They either replace the groom with an older man, as soon as we reach the place or they force the bride and groom to elope. We have to be alert and smart in such cases.

While a slow but steady change is witnessed in the region, there has been backlash as well. 

We are fighting against something that is considered to be a part of the tradition. There face several pressures daily. Many families continue to follow this practice fearing a backlash within the community, says Khan. 

Why Education Is The Key

For Khan, education has always been of prime importance, and thus it was not a surprise when he visited local schools a few days after his joining. 

Lack of bare minimum infrastructure was common across 78 odd schools that Khan visited. 

It was very disheartening to see the children studying without benches and desks. Some of them did not even have books and pencils, says Khan. 

Knowing that the budget for school infrastructure is minimal, almost as good as not being there, Khan resorted to other means to resolve the problem. 

With help from the villagers and village heads, who donated money, Khan furnished two schools with desks. Some villagers even donated carpets. Next, he wrote letters to influential people in the region, inviting them to visit the model school. 

“We took the village heads, teachers and others directly to the school to give them a first-hand experience. They were happy to see what we had done. After that, the donations poured in, either via cash or carpets,” he says. Khan also tapped his social media accounts and made a similar appeal online.

Within just six months, Khan covered 70 schools giving them carpets and desks. Close to 6,000 children now have proper study material. Seeing this, a few village heads have now adopted schools.

Khan is grateful for all the help that he has received.

“Contrary to my anticipation, this project was relatively easy to execute. Once people saw the change, they came forward and helped in whatever way they could. One person did not have money, so he donated his own carpet. That was very touching. As for the village heads, they made it easier for us to spread the message. Even the manufacturers charged very little for making the desks, and some even let go of their profits,” he says. 

For children studying in secondary school, Khan has started a counselling cell. 

Many children no idea about to pursue their dreams. The cell will guide them by giving them study materials to give an insight into every profession. A flow diagram explaining options in Arts, Science and Commerce is given to every school, adds Khan. 

How Community Participation Can Bring A Difference

Khan believes that it was only because of community engagement that a change is visible in the region. 

There is less opposition and resistance when people are on your side. Only a little push was needed to make them realise the effects of practices like child marriage and the importance of education. We still have a long way to go in bringing about a real change, but the fact that is has started is motivating enough for me to continue this movement, says Khan.  

The villagers often thank Khan for his campaigns by inviting him to their homes, in weddings and other such social gatherings. 

When I joined IAS, I had expected challenges, but what I had not expected so much of love and acceptance. There are several drawbacks but also things to be happy about. I really love this place and hope we accomplish all our projects.

Concluding on a positive note, Khan ended the interview and excused himself to prepare his strategies for curbing child marriages in the upcoming wedding season! 

Problems and challenges exist in every part of our country, but it is not every day that you come across people who are dedicating their heart and soul to improve such gloomy situations. 

We, at The Better India, salute Athar Aamir Khan for his courage, determination and efforts! 

If you would like to make a contribution, you can write to Khan at atharaamirkhan@gmail.com.

(Edited by Gayatri Mishra)

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In 2006, 26-year-old Harshini Kanhekar became the first woman in 46 years to graduate from the National Fire Service College (NFSC) in Nagpur and consequently, became India’s first Woman Fire Fighter.

Harshini was inspired by Shivani Kulkarni, the first female pilot of the Indian Air Force from Vidarbha, whom she had read about when she was in the NCC.

“I wasn’t aware that there was absolutely no history of a girl studying in the institute,” she recalls. She refers to the time when an NSFC telegram informed her she cleared the entrance exam as the ‘golden moment of her life.’

Although there were no women to be seen when Harshini visited the campus, she was unfazed. She remained focused on the historic red building and her dream to be a student there.

Even when a gentleman from the administration told her that it was an all men’s college, and asked her to apply somewhere that had facilities for women students, Harshini remained undeterred.

She passed the Union Public Service Commission-styled entrance exam which had just 30 seats vacant, cleared the medical exam in round two and even completed the final interview with an intimidating panel.

But this wasn’t all. She still had to prove herself to be as worthy and deserving as the men. She knew that as the first woman there, she would be setting a benchmark for all the others who would come after her.

“I would never turn up late; wouldn’t be a weakling during drills and parades,” she recounts.

The course required strenuous physical activity like dealing with heavy water hoses, suction hoses, and mock drills with dummies. Harshini used to go early and practice by herself in the storeroom so she would be on par.

“As I was the only girl, the college had to obtain special permission from the Home Ministry to allow me to go home after classes,” she added.

In 2006, Harshini joined the Mehasana fire station in Gujarat, the second largest onshore production of the Oil and National Gas Corporation, after which in 2010 she was transferred to Mumbai drilling services. She happens to be the first woman who handles offshore drilling services, including boarding a helicopter, conducting auditing, maintaining follow up, and taking full responsibility.

She is also an experienced biker, married to a fellow biker buddy. She has traversed the world’s highest motorable road, Lee Ladakh’s Khardung La pass, and Kargil.

“No field of work belongs to any gender. A bike, for example, doesn’t know if a man or woman is riding it. So, a male-dominated or female-dominated profession is a myth. If you love something and are passionate about it, do it. You live once, so push yourself to make the best of it. Don’t stop chasing your dreams,” Harshini tells our young women.

Harshini has been challenging traditional gender roles by dousing fires for close to two decades, and her story serves as an inspiration for millions of young Indian women who dare to dream.

It is also a reminder that we must work towards overcoming gender bias and stop discouraging women from entering particular fields or taking on particular workplace roles.

From encouraging young girls to pursue what they love, to ensuring housework is shared equally among all genders, change starts right from home.

#EndTheStereotype

This story is part of The Stereotypeface Project, an initiative by The Better India that challenges 26 stereotypes, which continue to exist even today. We are showcasing these stereotypes through all the letters of the English language alphabet.

Stereotypes exist everywhere — they are passed down over generations. Instead of embracing and celebrating what makes us unique, we stand divided because of them!

We’ve unconsciously learned to stereotype, now let’s consciously #EndTheStereotype.

Visit www.stereotypes.in to know more about the campaign and support the effort!

How can you support this campaign?

1. Follow this thread on Twitter or Facebook
2. Re-Tweet / Re-share the stereotypeface that you would like to put an end to
3. Use #EndTheStereotype and tag @TheBetterIndia

(Edited by Gayatri Mishra)

Like this story? Or have something to share? Write to us: contact@thebetterindia.com, or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

Mahesh Neelkanth Buch wasn’t your average civil servant. Bereft of political bias, this honest, efficient and secular Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer is considered by many as the architect of modern Bhopal.

Awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2011 for his services to the nation, he was regarded as one of the leading authorities in urban development.

Born on October 5, 1934, in the pre-Partition city of Sahiwal in Pakistan’s Punjab province, MN Buch came from a well- respected and progressive family led by his father, an Indian Civil Service (ICS) officer, who was reportedly close to Sardar Patel.

After completing his education from St Stephen’s College, Delhi University, in 1954 and Pembroke College, Cambridge University, he joined the Madhya Pradesh cadre of the IAS.

Serving as Collector of Betul and Ujjain districts, he played a pivotal role in preventing, handling and controlling numerous communal riots, believing that if a district administration just did its job with the requisite efficiency and tactfulness, there was no way anti-social elements could disturb communal harmony in the area.

Naturally, he had become a very popular figure amongst the masses in these parts. However, it was during his tenure as a municipal administrator in Bhopal, where he really began to shine.

Buch played a pivotal role in turning a town of just 85,000 people to the administrative nerve centre of Madhya Pradesh; a state carved out of the erstwhile states of Madhya Bharat, Vindhya Pradesh and Bhopal.

It was in the 1960s and 1970s when Bhopal truly developed into a modern city, particularly the area south of its two famous lakes.

As ‘Super Secretary’ from 1971 to 1977, he headed Town and Country Planning, Housing, Environment, Forests, Local Self-Government, Public Health Engineering and Tourism departments simultaneously.

In other words, if there was any department concerned with the city’s development, he was responsible for it.

“We had a fairly clean slate. When the State was formed, officials shifted to the city with their families from Nagpur, Indore and Rewa. It was obvious that the old city could not sustain this population of 3.5 lakhs. Land, back then, was easy to acquire, and there was a lot of government land,” he once told The Hindu.

Ensuring that there wasn’t too much of a difference between the old and new city, MN Buch oversaw the integration and development of the sewerage and road infrastructure in the city. He was a strong advocate of zoning, warning against setting up hazardous industrial units in cities.

Interestingly, during his time in Bhopal, he also foresaw the potentially devastating effect of having the infamous Union Carbide plant dumped in the middle of Bhopal’s slums.

“MN Buch, the planning director of Bhopal in 1975, ordered the company to relocate in an area referred to as “Bhopal’s Obnoxious Industries Zone,” after the central authorities had granted approval for construction in the area of the slums. It was only after he was transferred out of his office in Bhopal that the plant re-appeared at the disaster site—and subsequently became the source of one of the most horrible instances of industrial bloodletting in the 20th century,” writes Rajendra Ramlogan in his book, ‘The Developing World and the Environment.’

Besides his competence and foresight, he was a man of real integrity and ethics. He believed that the sole purpose of civil servants was to deliver welfare to the people without an ounce of obstructionism.

LS Hardenia, a veteran journalist and a friend of MN Buch, recalls one incident when he was Vice-Chairman of the Delhi Development Authority.

“On the very first day of taking charge of Vice Chairman of DDA, he came to know that one employee, a Sardarjee was being harassed by many employees and officers and bribes were being demanded from him. Buch, after coming to know the truth about what Sardarjee had said took disciplinary action against all those bribe seekers and freed him (Sardarjee) from all his tormentors,” writes LS Hardenia for the Milli Gazette.

Naturally, his integrity did not suit the higher-ups at the DDA and Central government. He was soon relieved from his duties, spending the whole of 1980 warming the benches without a post. Nonetheless, appreciation for his values and work came in the most unexpected way.

Also Read: 5 Inspiring Civil Servants Who Sacrificed Their Lives in Service of The Country

In a collection of essays, he wrote titled ‘An India Reimagined,’ Buch recalls one such incident when he hailed an auto rickshaw from the India International Centre to his official residence at Teen Murti Lane.

When he reached his destination, the auto driver refused to take money. On being asked why the auto driver said:

“You do not remember me, but I had come to see you in DDA. I had registered for a house which I should have been allotted years ago, but despite my wearing out several pairs of shoes, I got no solution. One day, I came to Vikas Minar and found no guards, no security personnel. I entered the office building and asked someone where I could meet the head. I was told to go to the fifth floor. Your nameplate was on the door. I asked the orderly how I could meet you and, to my surprise, he told me to open the door and walk in. You were doing some work and asked me to sit down. After you finished [with] the file, you asked me my problem. I, a mere auto-rickshaw driver, was not only heard, but the housing commissioner was sent for and, two hours later, I walked out with my allotment order and occupation order. I can never forget my debt of gratitude to you and will never take any money from you,” recalls Buch.

For this civil servant, this was the ultimate accolade.

Another mark of his character was his ability to take criticism on the chin. When the Indira Gandhi government declared Emergency in 1975, Buch was a municipal administrator in Bhopal. Despite the suspension of all fundamental rights including freedom of the press, he sent out a circular to all editors in the city urging them not to hesitate in criticising his administration’s work.

It was a circular which the Shah Commission, which was set up to investigate the excesses of the Emergency, took note of and appreciated.

Evidently, for a man of such character stewing in a system that did not accurately regard his capabilities or vision for a better India, the obvious option was to take voluntary retirement from the government service in 1984.

“He fought the 1984 Lok Sabha as an independent from his beloved Betul. He lost by a margin of 30,000 votes to the Congress candidate, the hockey player Aslam Sher Khan. In the wake of Indira Gandhi’s assassination even a lamppost would have won on the Congress ticket. That Buch did so well (with no money at all) is reflective of how much he was still loved by the people of Betul,” writes historian Ramachandra Guha in a column for the Hindustan Times.

Subsequently, he started a non-profit called the National Centre for Human Settlements and Environment in Bhopal, which advised various state governments on issues concerning urban planning and the environment.

Even the Rajiv Gandhi government approached him to take up the position of “Vice President of Urbanisation Commission with the rank of a cabinet minister,” while the Madhya Pradesh government appointed him as the Vice Chairman of State Finance Commission.

Besides working in an advisory capacity, he was also a prolific thinker and writer for various media and think-tank publications in both Hindi and English. He also went onto write four books on urban planning as well, and even today, experts in the field refer to his works.

“He also served as Chairman of the Empowered Committee for the New Vidhan Sabha building in Madhya Pradesh for which he was awarded the Aga Khan Award,” says this description.

At no point was he ever afraid of voicing his concerns about the state of the nation. When the UPA government was re-elected in 2009, he wrote five letters to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on a plethora of issues ranging from higher education to the civil services.

One letter, which may hold value to fellow civil servants, stated that the government must “mercilessly weed out from the IAS, IPS and Indian Forest Service all those who are slackers, derelict in their duty, partisan and corrupt”. Following on from this wish, he also suggested that district officers should hold personal responsibility for the execution of development projects under their jurisdiction while empowering district magistrates “to take action against their subordinates and tell the politicians that any interference in this behalf will not be tolerated”.

On June 6, 2015, he passed away following a stroke at the age of 80. Although it’s challenging to capture the entirety of legacy, it would be best to use his own words.

“A civil servant, while adhering to the highest code of integrity and ethics, must still rapidly implement a welfare policy and not act as an obstructionist. Obstructionism is itself a deviation from both integrity and ethics because it prevents the government from performing its primary task of delivering welfare to the people. Ultimately, integrity, ethics and decisiveness all come from motivation, and if an officer is correctly motivated to serve the people, he is bound to be honest and ethical.”

(Edited by Gayatri Mishra)

Like this story? Or have something to share? Write to us: contact@thebetterindia.com, or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

Can the love between two people be validated only through marriage? Does the decision to not marry yet live together nullify their affection by any standards?

Well, Illias K P and Shamika Mone don’t think so. Hailing from two different states and entirely different backgrounds, a shared passion for organic farming brought their destinies together.

And repeated crossing of paths owing to agrarian conventions across the country further ensured that this acquaintance developed into a long friendship.

“Right from childhood, I was on the rebellious side and had planned on never marrying. Until I met Shamika, even falling in love was not on the cards. She’s been such a special person in my life that even if our relationship didn’t work out, I hoped we would always remain friends. But we were meant to be. Even as our friendship transitioned to love and the decision to spend our lives together cemented, we had made up our minds not to marry, and it wasn’t to prove anything,” the Kerala-based organic farmer tells The Better India.

However, the concept of live-in relationships has always been a touchy topic in India and continues to be looked down upon in society. Character assassination is the first route that follows. Illias admits though that has been the case in general, they have managed to do rather well.

“Not many people know that we are in a live-in relationship. Strangely enough, the common assumption is that we are married, and we haven’t bothered to refute the assumption. Our families and friends in the organic farming circles know about us, and we didn’t face any opposition. Shamika’s mother was a bit sceptical initially, but after seeing how good we were for each other, her qualms dissolved too,” recalls Illias.

A matter of constant worry for the couple, however, is when the system makes it mandatory to produce a marriage certificate for every legal provision.

“At present, there is not one provision that accommodates unmarried partners. But we have accepted this reality, and if the need comes, we are willing to get married as well,” he adds.

Funnily enough, Illias shares that they haven’t faced as many problems in India, but it’s a challenge for Shamika when she travels abroad for international organic farming conventions.

“The fact that she is unmarried has led to visa cancellations on more than two occasions. I believe it is because of the fear that an unmarried person might settle down by marrying someone local, and the authorities don’t take live-in relationships into consideration. We haven’t faced such difficulties in our own country!” laughs Illias.

It has been a few years since Illias and Shamika have walked down this unconventional path.

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“We’ve definitely had it better, thanks to the support of our families and friends. I’m pretty sure that many couples had it much worse. Even in our case, we have to often deliberate if we should tell anyone about us without being judged or subjugated. Just to avoid such treatment, we often let people think that we’re married and don’t correct them when asked. I think there’s a long way to go before society will finally be okay about two consenting adults choosing to live together,” he concludes.

Presently, Illias is one of the joint secretaries of Kerala Jaiva Karshaka Samithi (KJKS), an international award-winning non-government organisation that has been functioning as a forum for organic farmers in the state for over two decades. Shamika is the Research Director of Organic Farming Association of India (OFAI), the country’s biggest network of organic farmers. Together, they also run an organic store in Kerala that sells produce from farmers across the country. 

#EndTheStereotype

This story is part of The Stereotypeface Project, an initiative by The Better India that challenges 26 stereotypes, which continue to exist even today. We are showcasing these stereotypes through all the letters of the English language alphabet.

Stereotypes exist everywhere — they are passed down over generations. Instead of embracing and celebrating what makes us unique, we stand divided because of them!

We’ve unconsciously learned to stereotype, now let’s consciously #EndTheStereotype.

Visit www.stereotypes.in to know more about the campaign and support the effort!

How can you support this campaign?

1. Follow this thread on Twitter or Facebook
2. Re-Tweet / Re-share the stereotypeface that you would like to put an end to
3. Use #EndTheStereotype and tag @TheBetterIndia

(Edited by Shruti Singhal)

Like this story? Or have something to share?
Write to us: contact@thebetterindia.com
Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter

How are heroes treated in India?

Well, it is increasingly looking like the answer to this question depends on where you are, what you do, and whether you support the message of the current political establishment.

The story of Mihir Sen, a man who went onto show the world that Indians were capable of greatness by becoming the only man to swim across oceans of five continents in one year, is both an inspirational and cautionary tale of how one hero was eventually let down by the very people he sought to champion.

Born prematurely on 16 November 1930, in a small village in Purulia district, West Bengal, there were fears that this sickly child would not survive very long.

However, his parents, Dr Ramesh Sen and Lilbati had other ideas. To seek better educational opportunities for their son, the Sen family moved to Cuttack where Dr Ramesh started his own private practice. Nonetheless, money was hard to come by for the family since his practice revolves around treating poor patients.

Lilabati decided that this wasn’t going to let that come in the way of getting her son a decent education, and began selling chicken eggs and milk from the livestock she kept in her backyard.

Also Read: Undaunted by Taunts, Mumbai Lady Helps Little Girls Chase Their Football Dreams!

The years passed by and Sen passed school, entered college and eventually, picked up his law degree from Utkal University.

He had ambitions of studying law in the United Kingdom even though his parents didn’t have the money to send him there. Seeking assistance, he reached out to future Chief Minister Biju Patnaik, who had a reputation for helping youngsters from impoverished backgrounds fulfil their professional ambitions.

Patnaik had initially rejected Sen’s request for help, but after six months of persistence and perseverance, the latter managed to board a ship to the promised land. With a suitcase, £10 in his pocket and a one-way third-class ticket, this 19-year-old made his way to England in 1950.

To support himself in the UK, he took up the job of a night porter at a railway station. After many sleepless nights, he was eventually sacked from his position. Fortunately, he had heard about Indian students finding work at the India House, which housed the High Commission of India in London.

After a landing the job, he enrolled at the Lincoln’s Inn, a prestigious society of barristers, on 21 November 1951, to study law.

The job at the India House was a very rigorous affair, and Sen barely found the time to attend class. Instead, he taught himself law by borrowing textbooks from the library.

His life changed when one day he came across a newspaper report on the achievements of Florence Chadwick, an American, and the first woman to swim across the English Channel in 1950.

Inspired by her feat, he was determined to do the same, showing the world that Indian were capable of such remarkable achievements as well. This was just a few years after Independence and many Indians wore their nationalism on the sleeve.

Sen was no different. While he had passed the bar exam on 9 February 1954, he had also begun training to become the first Asian to swim across the English Channel. Barely knowing how to paddle, he enrolled in the YMCA, where he practised for hours till he became top class freestyle swimmer with incredible endurance.

After many months of intense training and an aborted attempt at crossing the Channel, he successfully swam the 32 km stretch on 27 September 1958, finishing within a time of 14 hours and 45 minutes.

This was no mean feat. As the Channel Swimming Association says:

“The English Channel is a unique and demanding swim, considered by many to be the ultimate long-distance challenge. It isn’t just the distance that is the challenge, but more, the variable conditions that you are likely to encounter. These may vary from mirror-like conditions to wind force 6 and wave heights above 2 metres. The water is cold, and you are strongly advised to acclimatise to it, there is a good chance of meeting jellyfish, seaweed and the occasional plank of wood. It is one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world…”

In the following year, Sen was awarded the Padma Shri by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru for his achievement.

However, what he set out to do next was even more remarkable.

He wanted to swim the oceans of five continents, starting with crossing the Palk Strait between India and Sri Lanka. With financial and logistical assistance from the Central government, which sent out of Navy boats to accompany him, he crossed the Palk Straits in 25 hours and 26 minutes on April 5-6, 1966.

Subsequently, he went onto cross the Straits of Gibraltar (Europe to Africa) in a little over 8 hours on 24 August, the Bosphorous in 4 hours, the Dardanelles Straits (Gallipoli, Europe to Sedulbabir, Asia Minor) in nearly 14 hours and the entire length of the Panama Canal in 34 hours and 15 minutes across nearly two days—from 29 to 31 October.

This incredible feat earned Sen a place in the Guinness Book of World Records and in the following year, he won the Padma Bhushan award.

Why did a man specialising in criminal law, but now a thriving silk exporter venture out to conquer the seas?

“His motive for swimming the seven seas was primarily political. Being a young nationalist of uncommonly strong views and unorthodox ambition, he wanted to show the world what Indians are made of, to set for young Indians an example of courage and to tell them that one of the best things to do with life is to risk it. In this way, he hoped to prepare them for what he saw as their destiny,” wrote Supriya Sen, his daughter, for The Telegraph.

It’s a motive which Sen himself highlighted after crossing the Palk Straits.

“I had undertaken this perilous swim not to gain fame or trophies but to prove once again to the world that Indians are no longer afraid. To the youth of India, this triumph will have dramatically demonstrated that nothing is impossible for them — all they have to do is believe and persevere, and the goal will be theirs,” he wrote.

In other words, what he wanted to show was that Indians were more than capable of achieving greatness at a time when the country was just coming into its own.

However, his life took a turn for the worse in 1977, when eventual Chief Minister of West Bengal Jyoti Basu approached Sen and asked him to campaign for the Communist Party of India (Marxist).

A non-believer in the diktats of communism, Sen rejected the offer and instead decided to stand against Basu as an Independent candidate.

He lost to Jyoti Basu, but opposing the eventual chief minister came at a terrible cost. Trade unions loyal to the CPI(M) ran his silk export business to the ground, and Sen was eventually forced to shut down his business.

Besides going bankrupt, a slew of frivolous legal cases were filed against him with a pliant police regularly raiding his residence, seizing his assets and eventually freezing his bank account.

The establishment in West Bengal crushed him into poverty. Amidst all this trouble, he also suffered a stroke, which he survived, but later on, in his life was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.

He eventually passed away a broken man in 1997 at the age of 67.

Did a national hero deserve such a fate? Where were the people who once lauded him for making the country proud? Well, they went missing for the most part except for his own immediate family.

Having said that, Sen’s enduring legacy remains his will to show the world that no matter the obstacles, Indians could dare to dream and achieve great things.

(Edited by Gayatri Mishra)

Like this story? Or have something to share? Write to us: contact@thebetterindia.com, or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

When 29-year-old IT engineer Saju Samuel was called to the Nashik office of Muthoot Gold Finance to fix some technical glitches in their system earlier in June 2019, little did he know that he would meet his demise. As he sat alongside an auditor in the back office, a gang of armed robbers barged into the premises at approximately 11 am.

While two of the five-member gang kept security personnel at bay, the other three made their way into the office, took away the mobile phones of the employees and other precious items, before attempting the robbery.

At this juncture, Saju fought back, hitting one of them with the tray, for which he was shot. Despite the injury, he proceeded to press the burglar alarm and did not switch it off even when he received threats from the robbers, reports Manorama.

With the siren on, the robbers knew they had little time before the police arrived, so they attempted to flee.

As the last of them were fleeing the scene, Saju caught hold of one. Seeing this, another came and shot at him several times. Reports indicate that five bullets were taken out of him.

Within ten days of the robbery, three teams of police led by ACP R R Patil (Crime Branch), Inspector Anand Wagh (Crime Branch Unit 1) and Inspector Namrata Desai (offering technical support) opened the case and apprehended the suspects.

For their efforts, each team was rewarded Rs 70,000. However, the police team responsible for apprehending the suspects donated their prize money to Saju’s family for risking his life to foil the robbery.

“The actual hero was Saju, who showed rare courage. Despite knowing the dacoits were armed, the valour he showed to stop them was incomparable,” says Nashik police commissioner Vishwas Nangra-Patil, speaking to The Times of India.

Also Read: Bengal Driver Distributes 4000 Pairs of Clothes to the Needy, Elderly Every Week!

A native of Mavelikkara in Alappuzha district, Kerala, Samuel had been working with Muthoot Finance for the past four years, while his family was residing in Mumbai. Today, he is survived by his wife and child.

What stands out about this act of bravery is his presence of mind. At no point did he ever let the robbers get the upper hand. Ultimately, he paid with his life. His act of bravery not only prevented a robbery but also possibly saved lives. A true hero, indeed!

(Edited by Shruti Singhal)

Like this story? Or have something to share? Write to us: contact@thebetterindia.com, or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

Unsolicited stares, unwelcome comments, and hostile attacks against Northeast Indians has seen a steady rise.

Racial slurs like ‘chinky’ for our own people settled in the frontier regions have pushed them to prove their ‘Indianness’ time and again, despite their contribution to the freedom struggle and their dedication to make the nation proud.

This article aims to narrate the story of one such personality in the field of sports.

Saikhom Mirabai Chanu was only 11 when she won her first-ever competitive gold medal.

The weightlifting champion, who made her debut at the 2016 Rio Olympics, was faced with bitter disappointment when she was only one of two lifters who did not finish at the entry level category.

Despite the disappointment, Mirabai Chanu created history at the 2017 World Weightlifting Championships held in Anaheim, United States. She became the second Indian in 22 years to clinch a gold at the World Weightlifting Championships after legendary weightlifter, Karnam Malleswari.

Malleswari had achieved this feat twice, in 1994 in Turkey, and in China in 1995.

Mirabai lifted over four times her body weight to clinch that gold and when she finished the lift, she did her customary namaste giving India a podium finish.

She was born in a humble family in Nongpok Kakching village, located 20 kilometres from Imphal, Manipur. While her father is a lower-level employee at the Public Works Department in Imphal, her mother ran a small shop in their village.

The youngest of six siblings, Mirabai would accompany her older brother, Saikhom Sanatomba Meitei, to collect firewood from a nearby hill. It was at the age of 12 that the family recognised the strength of the little girl.

Speaking to PTI, her brother recalled, “One day, I could not lift the bundle of firewood but Mira easily lifted it and took it our home, about two kilometres away. She was about 12-years-old then.”

Mirabai started her weightlifting journey inspired by the performance of seven-time champion Kunjarani Devi at the 2004 Athens Olympics, who coincidentally also moved on to coaching her at one point in her career.

A brief overview of her journey:

• She hogged limelight first after clinching a silver medal for India in the 48 kg weightlifting category at the Glasgow edition of the Commonwealth Games in 2014.
• Despite qualifying for the 2016 Rio Olympics in the women’s 48 kg category, she couldn’t finish the event as she failed to lift the weight in any of her three attempts in the clean and jerk section.
• She bounced right back up after her historic gold win in 2017 in the Women’s 48 kg category at the World Weightlifting Championships in Anaheim, CA, United States by lifting a competition record 194 kg in total (85 kg snatch and 109 kg clean and jerk).
• In 2018, Chanu lifted a total of 196 kg, 86 kg in snatch and 110 kg in clean and jerk to win the first gold medal for India in the Commonwealth Games 2018. She also broke the record for the weight category.
• At the 2019 Asian Weightlifting Championships, she won bronze in clean and jerk in the 49 kg Category. The total weight of 199 kg was her best ever.
• She clinched a gold medal at the EGAT Cup in Thailand, making a strong comeback from the lower back injury that kept her out of action for more than half of 2018.
• Mirabai was bestowed the prestigious Padma Shri by the Government of India for her contribution to the sport. She was awarded Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award by the Government of India in 2018.

At her CWG 2018 win, her brother recalled her triumph despite odds, saying

“There was a lot of financial crisis for her and they could hardly support her. Despite all the hardships, she has reached a stage we never thought of… All these brought tears to my father and mother.”

You May Also Like: Married or Living In, No Love Is Less: Meet the Farming Couple Busting Stereotypes

#EndTheStereotype

This story is part of The Stereotypeface Project, an initiative by The Better India that challenges 26 stereotypes, which continue to exist even today. We are showcasing these stereotypes through all the letters of the English language alphabet.

Stereotypes exist everywhere — they are passed down over generations. Instead of embracing and celebrating what makes us unique, we stand divided because of them!

We’ve unconsciously learned to stereotype, now let’s consciously #EndTheStereotype.

Visit www.stereotypes.in to know more about the campaign and support the effort!

How can you support this campaign?

1. Follow this thread on Twitter or Facebook

2. Re-Tweet / Re-share the stereotypeface that you would like to put an end to

3. Use #EndTheStereotype and tag @TheBetterIndia

(Edited by Shruti Singhal)

Like this story? Or have something to share?
Write to us: contact@thebetterindia.com
Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

Karunsharaya, started by 82-year-old Kishore Rao, is possibly India’s first residential palliative care centre for the terminally ill. It has been functional for two decades now and has brought solace to over 20,000 cancer patients during their last days.

How did it all start?

“The genesis of this entire thing stems from a personal loss—my mother passed away from cancer many years ago, and it stayed somewhere in my head. It was with that intent that I started working towards providing support and palliative care to terminally ill cancer patients,” he told The Better India.

In 1986, Rao set up the Karnataka branch of the Indian Cancer Society (ICS) to spread awareness about cancer. He took time off from his corporate job, and not only created awareness and organised screening camps, but also helped people who needed support.

After three decades of being in a corporate role, Rao voluntarily retired in 1992 and decided to devote himself to this cause. He focused on early detection, awareness, and palliative care.

At that time, there was no organised effort or focus on palliative care, and the government too was not of much help. Only two years later did Rao find other people willing to help patients in the last stages of cancer. The Indian Cancer Society and the Rotary Club of Indira Nagar in Bengaluru helped him set up public charitable trust, Bangalore Hospice Trust.

They started with home visits. A team consisting of a nurse and a counsellor went to the patient’s home in an auto rickshaw to provide them with help and assistance.

“I had gone to Mumbai for some work and was looking for organisations that might come forward and support the vision. I landed up at the Tata Head office at Bombay House. With no prior appointment, I was ready to be turned away, but as luck would have it, I was able to speak to the Executive Director and went on to spend a good two hours with him,” Rao says.

Within a week, they had Rs 10 lakh towards their cause and more support to go on. The retired Chief Secretary of Karnataka, now part of the Trust, got the government to give them land on a long lease basis to build the infrastructure for a hospice. The plan was created by the late Tara Chandavarkar, the city’s then top architect, born from a conversation over a social dinner. Chandavarkar grilled him about the hospice, and satisfied with his intent, she agreed to design the plan completely for free.

Finally, on 1 May 1999, the building was ready as a 50-bed in-patient facility, and the first patient came in. They have since affixed two more wards and can accommodate up to 73 patients.

Sadly, on average, they lose two patients every day, since the patients only come in during their final stages. But every wish of the patients is fulfilled.

“We have had people request at night for biryani to be made and served. Given how fragile their condition is, in most cases, we cannot tell them that it will be added to the menu tomorrow. So we ensure that we send someone to get it or have it made and served immediately. It could well be the last meal they have.” Rao says, adding that this is something they take very seriously.

This is no easy job since Rao has to see the sadness and pain of every patient. “The fact that they all go with dignity and with immense peace is what I derive my strength from,” he says.

Aged people in our society are seriously sidelined—even by their own kids.

In India alone, close to 100 million aged suffer from verbal and physical abuse. That’s half the aged population in the country. Beyond the age of 65, even if they’re fit and fine, there aren’t many opportunities, especially in terms of employment, to keep them busy.

And there is an unnecessary stigma to old age homes.

The aged do not need our pity and should not suffer our neglect—their experience, knowledge of the world, and company is something to be cherished, even if it comes with increased medical care or cost. Human life cannot be measured simply by how ‘useful’ that person is economically, and our aged deserve better.

#EndTheStereotype

This story is part of The Stereotypeface Project, an initiative by The Better India that challenges 26 stereotypes, which continue to exist even today. We are showcasing these stereotypes through all the letters of the English language alphabet.

Stereotypes exist everywhere — they are passed down over generations. Instead of embracing and celebrating what makes us unique, we stand divided because of them!

We’ve unconsciously learned to stereotype, now let’s consciously #EndTheStereotype.

Visit www.stereotypes.in to know more about the campaign and support the effort!

How can you support this campaign?

1. Follow this thread on Twitter or Facebook
2. Re-Tweet / Re-share the stereotypeface that you would like to put an end to
3. Use #EndTheStereotype and tag @TheBetterIndia

(Edited by Shruti Singhal)

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