Inspirational Stories of Success | Inspirational Life Stories

Sanjukta Parashar's name is enough to fill terror in the hearts of Bodo militants of Assam. She has taken down 6 militants and arrested over 64 militants in just 15 months. Here are some amazing facts about this brave IPS officer. Sanjukta Parashar, the brave IPS officer of 2006 batch, is making headlines for her immense courage and incredible work of fighting against the Bodo militants of Assam. Apart from her commendable work, she is also making headlines for being the “first women IPS officer from Assam”. In fact, the first woman to clear police service exams from Assam was Yamin Hazarika who became a DANIPS (Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands Police Service) officer in 1977 and had served as ACP Chanakyapuri and as a DCP in the Delhi Armed Police. She died in 1999 in Bosnia. Another IPS officer from Assam is D Rani Doley Barman of the 1986 IPS batch, who is now Director of North East Police Academy. [caption id="attachment_25735" align="aligncenter" width="640"]

YAMIN HAZARIKA[/caption]

Photo: www.corbisimages.com

So now that we have cleared the confusion, let us celebrate the amazing things Parashar has achieved in her career. Securing 85th AIR (All India Rank), Parashar chose to follow her heart and joined Police Service. Since then, she has been a nightmare for militants and criminals in Assam. Here are some interesting facts about the inspiring lady -

1. Parashar was always interested in sports and often took part in various sporting events in her school days. She also learnt swimming and participated in plays and march pasts.

2. An IPS officer of 2006 batch, Parashar was first posted as the Assistant Commandant of Makum in 2008. She was soon given the responsibility of controlling the clashes between Bodo and illegal Bangladeshi militants.

3. She is best known for taking down 16 militants, arresting over 64 and seizing tons of arms and ammunition in just 15 months .

4. Sanjukta completed her graduation in Political Science from IP College, Delhi University. She then did her master’s in International Relations from JNU, New Delhi. Not only this, she also earned an M.Phil followed by a Phd in US foreign policy! You can proudly call her Dr. Sanjukta.

5. Sanjukta is married to an IAS officer posted in Assam and the couple often spends months apart without meeting.

6. She also has a son and Sanjukta’s mother takes care of him in her absence.

7. As Superintendent of Police in Sonitpur district, she heads a team of CRPF jawans with AK-47 in the terror-infested region and has become one of the most feared police officers among Bodo militants.

8. She is a humble and loving person and says only criminals should fear her.

9. Apart from doing her duty of a tough cop, she also spends days in relief camps to meet people who are far from their homes and often distributes candies to two-wheeler riders who wear helmets.

10. She has received various threats from National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) but that doesn’t affect her determination to perform her duties.

All photos otherwise mentioned: Facebook

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100 percent visually impaired since birth, NL Beno Zephine fought against all odds to become India's first IFS officer. Her family read for long hours to help her prepare and she used special software to read from the computer screen.

1. NL Beno Zephine, a 25-year old girl from Tamil Nadu, created history by becoming the country's first 100 percent visually challenged Indian Foreign Services (IFS) officer.

2. Ever since Zephine received the news from the government of securing the 343rd rank in the Civil Services Examination of 2013, she has been busy giving motivational speeches and addressing students across the state.

Having gone through all the difficulties and finally emerging as a winner, Zephine advises other people with disabilities to never give up on their dreams and utilise the resources available to them.

3. A post-graduate in English from Madras University, Beno worked as a probationary worker at State Bank of India.

But one phone call from the Ministry of External Affairs, who called to confirm her selection in IFS, changed her life forever.

4. A socially active person from childhood, Beno always gave a piece of her mind to those who would leave the taps on and waste water.

Her friends and family would call her a "collector" because of her quality to stand for what she believed in.

5. Though Zephine cleared her UPSC exam last year, she received confirmation on her posting on June 12.

She is now all set to join the ministry within next 60 days of the training.

6. Visually impaired since birth, Zephine never let her disability come in her way of achieving her dreams. And an extremely supportive family, friends and teachers made her reach the place where she is today.

7. As there is not enough study material available in Braille, her family and friends read for long hours to help her prepare for her exams.

While her father fulfilled her desire of getting any book she required, her mother helped her extensively in the reading process.

8. She also used Job Access With Speech (JAWS), a software that allows the visually challenged to read from a computer screen.

The software can be used on a smartphone too.

9. Former diplomats have backed this decision as many deserving and promising candidates lost out on the opportunity due to a lack of 20:20 vision.

10. An active student throughout, Zephine participated in various debate and extempore competitions in school and is looking forward to now speaking as a diplomat.

Kudos to the girl who has proved that nothing can beat strong determination and hard work.

All photos: Twitter

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We have seen signs of it everywhere. Our ponds have dried up, native birds and insects have become extinct, parks have made way for IT Parks. Yet we live like there’s no tomorrow. Well, this group of nameless volunteers has taken it upon themselves to script a different future for our children. Their amazing tale will show you how nature can work wonders when you choose to work with her. From our hill stations and lakes to monuments and holy shrines, tourist spots across India have a uniform trait to them –you’ll most likely see plastic bags, leftover food and yes, the signatures of the lovely tourists who had previously walked over those realms. While that’s the only mark most of us are capable of leaving behind, tourists in Puducherry have chosen to do the exact opposite – transforming trash into treasure, and how.

Volunteers from over 50 countries have joined forces to change a 70 acre arid land into a lush forest.

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The volunteers from various backgrounds have completely transformed the land[/caption] Being a Pondicherrian, the place was unrecognizable to us. In a period of 11 years, more than 40 acres of TDEF (Tropical Dry Evergreen Forest) have been reclaimed, and with their water conservation efforts, the water table in the surrounding area has risen substantially too.

Yes, the wells in the neighbouring zones have finally watered up, thanks to the Sadhana Forest project run by Israeli-origin environmentalists Aviram (50) and Yorit Rozin (43). One visit to the community run inside the forest is all it takes for us to realize the precious wealth we happily squander – our beloved soil.

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Swales on Google maps before the intervention.

Sadhna on Google maps before the intervention.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_25586" align="aligncenter" width="1152"]

Sadhna on maps after the intervention[/caption]

The first thing you’ll notice when you step inside Sadhana Forest are the plastic cola bottles. Only this time, instead of being strewn across the land, they are carefully poised with a wick to enable irrigation (wick irrigation method).

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This is how Sadhna looked before.[/caption] Two volunteers stepped out to guide us around the land and we witness the magic that has been done to what was once a dry, parched land.

The forest is now buzzing with birds and insects of all kinds and the volunteers have planted 29,000 Tropical Dry Evergreen Forest plants of 160 different indigenous species, and are constantly mulching and caring for them. Survival rate in average is between 80% – 90%.

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Swales before[/caption] [caption id="attachment_25594" align="aligncenter" width="1123"]

This is how Swales look after the intervention.

Swales after.[/caption]

We ask Aviram about what prompted this beautiful effort and he says, “After a year of farming in Auroville (an international spiritual community), we wanted to enable people to do productive work with nature. This 70 acre-land belongs to the Auroville Foundation and we were appointed as stewards to manage it the best we can.”

Aviram, along with his family and a set of volunteers then began planting trees, acre by acre. Slowly, the word spread and Sadhana Forest soon had eager volunteers swamping the place. The bigger challenge however was water conservation. They went around digging percolation ponds, building swales, bunds, earth dams and more to make do with available water resources.

Aviram smiles and adds, “We read a lot of books on the subject but it was and is still a constant learning process for us. Every soil is different and the land itself is the best teacher.”

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Aviram[/caption] The best part of Sadhana Forest is not only do they store and recharge the water aquifer (ground water), they also ensure that they use as little water as possible. They have a small community of long-term and short-term volunteers who live inside the forest and every action they do here is inspiring, to the very least. These volunteers get up every day to work tirelessly for the land that is not theirs and whose fruits they’ll never reap. They just give their time and energy expecting nothing in return from nature or the local population. So, what do they seek here?

Lark Rodman, a long-time volunteer from USA replies, “I came to Sadhana Forest because I was looking for a place where sustainability wasn't just a catch phrase, a place where living sustainably could be a practiced reality. At Sadhana Forest, everything from the food we eat and how it is prepared to our water consumption to the use and reuse of every kind of waste is approached with a deep consciousness of its effect on the environment as well as the community."

Zero waste policy

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The volunteers make the compost themselves.[/caption] True to his statement, the visitors here ensure that their existence leaves nothing but goodness for the land they have adopted. Yes, they are completely off-grid and rely on solar and human powered bicycle generators for energy. The toilets are dry compost model (with minimum usage of water) and even vessels are washed with ash (a natural antiseptic) instead of soaps. The used water is then re-used for gardening. Well, hear this; they even have the future sorted out. Recently, they had tied up with Biomimicry Europa and the University of Lausanne in Switzerland for research on oxalogenesis (trees that convert carbon from the air and transform it into calcium carbonate in the soil).

This could be a game changer in global warming as the trees do not release carbon dioxide even when burned or cut.

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The group of volunteers often reach out to local community for their valuable advice.

The group of volunteers often reach out to the local community for its valuable advice.[/caption]

Native knowledge

It is not just the foreign volunteers, local people too have been very supportive of the project and Aviram vouches that they have a treasure trove of information on local plants and its uses.

“In fact, once I was bitten by a saw-scaled viper snake and I fell ill. I was extremely week and my vision was limited. I simply couldn’t recover. It was then that a local friend of mine took me to an old lady herbalist. She gave me a handful of leaves and asked me to swallow them daily. To my surprise, as the taste of the leaves became bitter, I became better. I have now planted the local perianangai plant here in Sadhana forest,” reveals Aviram.

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The volunteers have planted 29,000 indigenous saplings.[/caption] He now hopes to go on a water conservation yatra across India, travel with local people, exchanging knowledge as they go. He also plans to work more with the local Tamil children. Nothing like catching them young, right? The forest and its community is a beautiful success story that showcases how men from different races can come together to heal the earth where it is hurt the most.

One of their Swiss volunteers Katharina sums it up just right, “May there be more forests to grow people!”

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A team of nine mountaineers conquered Mount Everest 50 years ago and created many records. Here's a look at the amazing team. It was on May 20, 1965 that Late Lt Col Avatar. S. Cheema stood atop Mount Everest, thus becoming the first Indian to achieve this feat. During that expedition, which was led by Captain M S Kohli, 8 other team members, Major HPS Ahluwalia, Ang Kami, Phu Dorji, Harish Rawat, Sonam Wangyal, Nawang Gombu, C P Vohra, & Sonam Gyatso, too summited Mount Everest, thus eclipsing the record of 6 members atop Mount Everest that was set earlier by an American expedition.

This record by the Indian Expedition came to be known as “9 Atop Everest”.

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C P Vohra on the peak of Mount Everest[/caption]

Photo: M S Kohli/immersive.imgix.net

May 2015 marked the 50^th Anniversary of the conquest of Mount Everest by an Indian expedition team.

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Surviving Members and the next of kin of the 1965 Indian Everest Expedition with the Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi.[/caption]

Photo: www.namoleague.com

Prior to the first successful Indian Expedition of 1965, an Indian Expedition led by Brigadier Gyan Singh attempted to scale Everest in 1960. They reached up to 28,300 feet (8,625 meters), but due to extremely bad weather they had to turn back. There was another unsuccessful attempt in 1962 led by Major John Dias. M.S. Kohli was a part of both these expeditions.

India finally became the fourth country to scale the world’s highest mountain.

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Major Ahluwalia with Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru at the graduation ceremony at HMI, Darjeeling.[/caption]

Photo: Wikimedia

The Successful Indian Expedition of 1965 Indian Expedition had many “Firsts”:

(as recorded by Captain M S Kohli):

First Indian team to successfully climb the Everest.
First time three climbers stood on the summit together.
First time nine climbers reached the summit, setting a world record which India held for 17 years.
First Man in the World to climb Everest twice – Nawang Gombu.
First time that the Oldest (Sonam Gyatso at 42) and the Youngest (Sonam Wangyal at 23) climbed Everest together.
First Nepalese to climb Everest – Phu Dorji.
First time the Indian Railways issued free first class passes to every member.
First time Harish Rawat climbed all alone from the last camp to the South.
First time the story of Everest climb in cartoons, written by Mala Singh, daughter of Khushwant Singh, was serialized in the Illustrated Weekly of India.
First time a full-length 90-minute film on the Expedition, with music by Shankar-Jaikishan and commentary by Zul Vellani, was released in cinema halls throughout India.

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The 1965 base camp at 17,800 feet.[/caption]

Photo: HPS Ahluwalia

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India's Everest Base Camp, 1965[/caption]

Photo: Capt. M.S. Kohli/ www.mheadventures.com

To honor this historical event, the Government of India conferred Arjuna Awards to the entire team. Additionally, eleven members of the team were also conferred with the Padma Bhushan or Padma Shri awards.

To celebrate this momentous occasion, the Indian Postal Service brought out a special Stamp and First Day Cover.

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First day cover and stamp on the 1965 Indian Everest Expedition.[/caption]

Photo: 4.bp.blogspot.com

Captain M S Kohli, who led the 1965 Everest expedition, has written several best selling books on the historic climb.

With an aim to curtail the destruction being caused to the Himalayan eco-system, Captain M S Kohli and several of the world’s top mountaineers, including the legendary mountaineer late Sir Edmund Hillary, founded the Himalayan Environment Trust.

[embedvideo id="bbmtq4Kzeeo" website="youtube"]

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

About the author: Sharath Ahuja works at the Indian Institute of Science, plays badminton, billiards and snooker and is also an amateur photographer.

A group of retired professionals. One 'Mobile Science Laboratory' bus. 2,80,000 Kilometres traveled. More than 3 Lakh students covered. Science education by this group of senior citizens will give our youthful teachers a complex! As the ‘Mobile Science Laboratory’ (MSL) bus turns on the winding roads of Maharashtra, the teachers ready the science experiments and all the material for activities. A science laboratory on wheels is perhaps no novelty in India these days; after all, it has proved to be the simplest way to reach out to those in rural landscapes. However, the people taking it from place to place certainly are. 'Vidnyanvahini', as the name itself gives away, is literally a wealth of knowledge on wheels. Knowledge is imparted at absolutely no cost at all and science is made interesting by Vidnyanvahini’s team, a group of retired professionals from the various scientific fields.

This team of entertaining and passionate teachers has an average age of 64 years with the youthfulness of that of twenty-year-olds.

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The Vidnyan Vahini team with the ‘Mobile Science laboratory’[/caption] Harsh weather conditions, long hours of work or arduous journeys in a bus are the least of deterrents for this team as they travel across the state and the country to teach science the way it should be - practically. The last 20 years of their generous service have seen more than 3 lakh students from all over India benefit. Their impressive records include 2,750 visits to schools across India till date. Even more impressive is to know that they have traveled 2,80,000 kilometres, the same as travelling seven times around the globe, in just 20 years!

Humble beginnings

Vidnyanvahini was born of an idea by Mr. and Mrs. Deshpande. An NRI couple with a penchant for Mathematics, Mr. Deshpande holds a PhD in Mathematics and Mrs. Deshpande spent numerous years as a Mathematics teacher in the United States. A short documentary on mobile laboratories in 1994 gave Mrs. Deshpande the inspiration to start a mobile laboratory in their hometown of Pune. Thus, this determined couple came home with modest donations to build their very own Mobile Science Laboratory (MSL).

A first-of-its-kind back in the 80’s, this innovative solution of an MSL conceived by Mrs. Deshpande was ideal to address the lack of resources and quality education in rural India.

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The MSL on the road .[/caption] Mr. And Mrs. Deshpande looked to their acquaintances in various fields for support. Volunteers came on board to form a small team of five, and soon the operations began in 1995. With the simple aim of creating a passion for scientific enquiry and heightening students’ interest in the subject, the MSL embarked on its journey to villages in Maharashtra. Travelling close to 150 kilometres every day, the team commenced their visits to schools on the fringes of Pune. Each day saw new schools and excited students, and to reach out to as many of these students, more members joined the initiative.

Within months, the word of the MSL had spread to various rural schools in Maharashtra and the Vidnyanvahini team had more invitations to schools than their schedules could permit.

[caption id="attachment_25333" align="aligncenter" width="693"]

Dr. Kiran Phatak teaching Physics in a school in rural Maharahtra.[/caption]

"In the beginning, we hired a bus and went from village to village. Just a few months later, due to the increasing demand, we invested in a bus of our own and designed it to make it a lab on wheels. We have everything in the MSL from audio visual equipment and working tables to science experiments equipment and library sets," says Mr. Sharad Godse, secretary of Vidnyanvahini.

Age is a state of mind

With every passing year, the Vidnyanvahini team has increased their outreach to more parts of the country, and also modified their curriculum and activities as per the students’ and schools’ needs. Additions to Vidnyanvahini’s program include sex education for middle school students, mobile library for schools and teacher training programmes. All these activities together have kept this senior citizens’ team of 25 busy for the last two decades. "Once a month we take a long trip in the MSL for a week visiting schools we associate with in Maharashtra. The rest of the month goes in trips to various schools around Pune and other cities and villages in Madhya Pradesh, Assam and other states. Not a day is kept free," answers Mr. Godse when asked about the hectic schedule. [caption id="attachment_25334" align="aligncenter" width="800"]

The MSL is equipped with everything from science experiment equipment to a television and library sets.[/caption] Furthermore, word of their fantastic programme has reached the far corners of India like Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Chhattisgarh, where they have been invited by respective governments and private organizations to give valuable advice on similar mobile laboratory projects undertaken. They are also very often invited for teacher training programmes in Maharashtra and other states. And, the Vidnyanvahini team has enthusiastically obliged. If that wasn’t all, Vidnyanvahini’s work hasn’t been limited to the confines of rural education. They have taken up a watershed development project in Surodi Village, Ahmednagar. The team built close to 15 bandhs to arrest the water in this dry village to give the agriculture a much needed boost.

For the last 5 years, the village has seen their crop flourish, with an onion crop worth Rs. 3 Crores this year alone!

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Recharged wells help produce full crop in Surodi village[/caption] [caption id="attachment_25335" align="aligncenter" width="873"]

Villagers doing Shramdan to build the watershed[/caption] [caption id="attachment_25336" align="aligncenter" width="861"]

The watershed filled to capacity.[/caption]

And, work goes on

Unlike the early days, Vidnyanvahini now no longer needs to go looking for funds. As individual donations and company CSR funding pour in, work carries on. Over the last 20 years, the team has conducted an average of 150 school visits every year despite the team now running on a strength of 15 volunteers in the field. Developing passion and interest among students is a non-quantifiable objective. However, a study conducted by the Symbiosis Institute of Management, Pune concluded that their work was ‘extraordinary’ and very positively received in the rural landscapes. Additionally, they have also received recognition through awards by foundations like Marathi Vidnyan Parishad and Seva Sadan Trust, amongst others. One presumes the rough travel and long hours would be the biggest challenge for the Vidnyanvahini team. Surprisingly, Mr. Godse cites absolutely the opposite as a challenge, “We are always short of time to make visits to all the schools that invite us. Our calendars are full and we cannot, unfortunately, reach out to everyone we would like to include in our programme. Invitations are many and days are few.”

Here is a group of Samaritans who refuse let retirement dictate terms. Come rain or sunshine, or even weak knees and back aches, the Vidnyanvahini team is on the road ready to make science education hands-on.

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Mr. Sharad Godse conducting a workshop in a school in Nagaland[/caption] To enquire about science education programmes in schools or to make donations to the trust, please contact Mr. Sharad Godse at +91 96236 76949.

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About the author: After a degree in Banking, Pooja Choksi took off for South America to follow her passion — teaching. However, her love for the Indian outback brought her home to work on the Education-Base project with Conservation Wildlands Trust in the Pench Tiger Reserve. Her interests are conservation, education and travel that includes tents and no cell phone reception. She continues to play Capoeira and lend her voice to matters close to heart. She tweets as @poojation.

This is part of a special series on social innovations made possible by the Marico Innovation Foundation.

From using a unique model for sustainability to providing free eye care to marginalized communities and empowering women through paramedics training, Sankara Eye Care Institutions are covering many grounds. They have conducted over 1.3 million surgeries for adults and screened over 4.2 million children so far. Here's their success story. The story goes back to the 1970s when Dr. Ramani, along with his wife Dr. Radha Ramani, started a two-room medical centre in Coimbatore in memory of his late father. The objective was to provide subsidized healthcare to the poor. Gradually, the initiative grew and the couple thought it would be better to focus on a field that can provide a life-changing intervention for millions. Hence, Sankara Eye Care Institutions (SECI) was born to ensure that no one remains needlessly blind.

The team of doctors started travelling to some of the remotest villages of India to treat visually impaired people free of cost under their “gift of vision” initiative.

[caption id="attachment_26333" align="aligncenter" width="325"]

Sankara has screened over 4.2 million kids so far.[/caption] After spending several years on the field, the team shifted to a more sustainable model and came up with a unique approach that not only catered to the needs of marginalised communities but also helped them to expand their work. “The idea was to reach out to the needy but at the same time sustain ourselves, which was very crucial in case s we wanted to create a larger and long-term impact,” says Bharath Balasubramaniam, Head - Outreach & Information Systems at SECI. Having started as just a two-room centre, Sankara now works in over 150 districts of India through its various initiatives.

The unique 80:20 model

The team then launched their ambitious and unique 80:20 model in Tamil Nadu in which 80 percent of their patients belonged to rural and poor economic backgrounds and were treated for free, and the rest 20 percent were those who could afford to pay. The model became successful and the next step was to replicate it in other states as well. “Our mission was to have one such model in every state of India. While 80 percent of the patients were treated for free, the revenue from the remaining 20 percent was utilised to sustain the model,” explains Bharath. [caption id="attachment_26338" align="aligncenter" width="731"]

Sankara's 80:20 unique model helps them sustain their projects.[/caption] The Sankara team has already established 9 such hospitals across the country in states including Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Gujarat, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. The team identifies the beneficiaries by conducting door-to-door surveys and giving yellow ID cards to those who require an intervention. These cardholders then show up at weekly medical camps where they are treated for free.

“The team spends some time in publicising about the medical camp using leaflets, brochures, etc. so that a large number of people show up. We have around a 50 percent strike rate when it comes to people with ID cards showing up at the camp,” says Bharath.

Sankara organizes weekly, quarterly and yearly medical camps at different locations to reach out to people. Every camp receives a large number of footfalls that ranges from 100 to 1500 depending upon the location of the camp.

"There was one time when an old lady thanked us for our services and told us that now she will not have to be afraid of snake bites. I wondered what the connection between eyesight and snakebites was. She then explained that she went out in the field every day, and as she was unable to see, sometimes she stepped on snakes that end up biting her. Snakes had bitten her four times. That was such an eye opener for us all to know that our small intervention was creating an impact much beyond just giving them vision," recalls Bharath.

Going an extra mile

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SECI has conducted over 1.3 million surgeries.[/caption] The SECI team’s work doesn’t just end with medical camps and surgeries. They also do follow up reviews and track the recovery and health of patients who have had surgeries done. In their journey so far, SECI has conducted over 1.3 million surgeries for adults and screened over 4.2 million children. “The number is large and we want to grow even more,” says Bharath.

Training the paramedics

Apart from providing the necessary intervention to visually impaired people, SECI also trains women to become efficient paramedics. They select high school graduate girls from different locations and provide them with fundamental English training which is followed by an extensive medical training. The one-and-half month long training programme is a residential one organized at SECI’s Coimbatore and Bengaluru centres, where the girls are given a monthly stipend apart from food and accommodation. SECI has over 1,300 trained women paramedics working with them currently. [caption id="attachment_26334" align="aligncenter" width="733"]

Beneficiaries are given an ID card which they can use to avail services at various health camps.[/caption]

“This initiative has changed the lives of several girls. They would otherwise be doing household chores or would have been married off. This programme gave them a new goal and a respectable identity. They are now earning at such a young age and their confidence has improved too,” says Bharath.

Since parents are initially reluctant to send their daughters so far, the SECI team invites the parents to visit their centres and witness the work and process themselves. Thanks to this programme, some of the paramedics have become so involved in their work that they have asked their husbands to shift their locations after marriage rather than quitting the job.

Defeating all odds

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Apart from surgeries, SECI also provides regular eye care to the beneficiaries.[/caption] What seems like a successful model now was not easy to replicate at first. “Each location is different. In fact, each state is like a different country with a different language, diet, culture and traditions. Something which has worked in one state might not work in another state,” says Bharath. To build the trust factor among beneficiaries and add credibility to their work, SECI partners with local NGOS who help the team in running their work smoothly and also help them connect with the community in a better way. Apart from this, funding was initially a challenge, which is now being taken care of by various donors, government subsidies, fund raising campaigns and their 80:20 model.

The helping hand

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The team also follows up with the patients after surgery.[/caption] Having already reached great heights in terms of impact and reach, SECI now looked to expand to other areas. That is when they contacted Marico Innovation Foundation to be part of MIF’s Social Innovation Acceleration Program (MIF-SIAP). MIF will be providing them crucial support in expanding their activities in Mumbai. “Ours was a different case as we had already created certain impact and brand when it came to our work. We contacted MIF as they have a huge experience in retail and they can bring their immense expertise in helping us scale up our model,” says Kishore Joshi from SECI. MIF will be playing a crucial role in coming up with a roadmap to get more patients for SECI’s 80:20 model where they are looking for the right kind of patients who will fit into the “20” category. As a part of the SIAP Interventions, MIF is acting as mentors to help SECI find the right channels and methodologies to get more customers into their Mumbai super speciality hospital thus off setting the 80 percent free treatment which SECI aims to provide.

Support for their Vision

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Sankara also trains women paramedics.[/caption] In the future, the SECI team wants to focus on scaling up their 80:20 model in other states too. In case you want to extend your support to SECI you can either sponsor a cataract surgery or pay for a day’s meal of the patients during medical camps.

“Since we work in a set model where we require trained professionals, volunteering might not help us a great deal. But someone supporting even one cataract surgery which does not cost much will be of great help,” says Bharath.

To know more about their work, contact them at - bharath@sankaraeye.com or check out their website.

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One lady from a small village in Karnataka is taking yoga to the doorsteps of everyone in her village and enabling them to lead a healthy lifestyle. Here is all you need to know about the selfless Savitri Basole. Savitri Basole from Lakhan village in Bidar, Karnataka, was leading a happy life with a loving husband and caring children. Things couldn’t get better till she found out that she had a cyst in her uterus after she had an operation done. “It was painful and I felt that I will never be fine. I had lost the will to live because it was so painful and disturbing,” she recalls. That is when her husband advised her to start practicing yoga. “I was skeptical at first. I thought that if some breathing exercises could cure illnesses, then nobody would be sick in the world. I wasn’t sure if yoga could help me, but I just tried it for a month to make my husband happy,” she says.

And within a month she could see the difference. Not only had her pain reduced, but she also felt a positive energy within her. Impressed by the impact of yoga, she decided to spread more awareness about it.

[caption id="attachment_22012" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]

Savitri has been teaching yoga to kids for free.[/caption]

“I could feel such positive energy. I didn’t know yoga had this power,” she says.

Basole gradually developed a new passion for yoga and learnt different asanas by watching DVDs. She then went door-to-door in her village talking about the benefits of yoga. As people had already seen her recovering remarkably from her illness, they started following her footsteps too.

Within no time, Basole was teaching yoga to the entire village. Today Basole teaches yoga in 15 to 20 villages and people often seek her advice for various ailments. From a shy housewife to becoming the face of her village, Basole has traveled a long way.

[caption id="attachment_22013" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]

She has been teaching yoga for 10 years now.[/caption] Thousands of people come to learn yoga from her and she embraces them with all her heart. Of course, the journey hasn’t been easy for her as she had a family to take care of as well. From managing time to mustering enough confidence to speak in public, there have been many challenges that Basole has overcome.

“It is with my family’s support that I managed to reach this level. Especially my husband. He was the one who made me try it and he has been supporting me ever since,” she says.

A truly positive personality, Basole has given a new meaning to yoga and helped the villagers to follow a healthier lifestyle. She also started making Ayurvedic bitter gourd, which is very useful in curing several diseases. Having started distributing it for free at first, Basole now charges a nominal fee for her products as it helps her sustain her work. The villagers who have been a part of Basole’s yoga program have witnessed its positive effect in their lives as it has helped them develop a better attitude towards life and lead a healthier lifestyle too.

In the future, Basole wants to spread yoga to each village and street of the country. She believes it is the perfect way to a healthy lifestyle.

[caption id="attachment_22014" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]

A large number of villagers show up for her classes.

A large number of villagers show up at her classes.[/caption]

“It does not have any side effects and it helps you stay focused too. Also, yoga has cured some of the most serious diseases. You just have to be regular,” she says.

It has been 10 years since Basole started teaching yoga for free to the poor and needy people of various villages around her. She travels from one place to another at her own expense, without expecting anything in return. She is truly an inspiration to many. To know more about her, contact her at - balbhimbasole@gmail.com

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With the successful commencement of International Day of Yoga on June 21, the world saw a revival of the ancient art of physical and mental well-being. From new coins to stamps and many records, the day gave a much needed boost to the traditional philosophy as well as practice. Here are 20 exciting things that happened on IDY 2015.

1. India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi led thousands in a spectacular mass participation attempt for two Yoga world record titles on June 21, 2015 in New Delhi.

[caption id="attachment_26626" align="aligncenter" width="863"]

THOUSANDS OF PARTICIPANTS AT THE RAJPATH ON THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF YOGA (IDY) ON THE JUNE 21, 2015

Thousands of participants at the Rajpath on the International Day of Yoga (IDY) on June 21, 2015.[/caption]

Photo: PTI

"The event, which took place in front of India’s government buildings on the iconic Rajpath saw 35,985 people take part in the attempt which set a new record for the largest yoga lesson (single venue). The attempt beat a previous benchmark which had stood for almost ten years of 29,973, which was set in Gwalior, back in November 2005. With a total of 84 different and unique nationalities taking part in Sunday’s attempt, a second record was also set for most nationalities in a yoga lesson”, said official sources from the Guinness World Records.

2. Approximately 900 million mobile users across India received an SMS from the Prime Minister in connection with the International Day of Yoga.

[caption id="attachment_26639" align="aligncenter" width="1027"]

MINISTRY OF AYUSH AWARDED 2 GUINNESS WORLD RECORD TITLES ON INTERNATIONAL YOGA DAY FOR PARTICIPATION AT RAJPATH

Ministry of AYUSH awarded 2 Guiness World Record titles on IDY for participation at Rajpath[/caption]

Photo: intoday.in

Probably a world record too!

3. Dubai expat Ivan Stanley set the first world record of performing Shirshasana for 61 minutes non-stop.

[caption id="attachment_26627" align="aligncenter" width="675"]

IVAN STANLEY PERFORMING THE SIRSANA IN UAE

Ivan Stanley performing the Shirsasana in UAE[/caption]

Photo: www.thenational.ae

4. Yoga at the highest altitude in the world - Siachen Glacier: Indian Army Jawans and Officers at 18,800 feet above sea level (probably a World Record).

[caption id="attachment_26628" align="aligncenter" width="975"]

Army Personnel at a Yoga session on International Yoga Day at Siachen Glacier on Sunday, June 21.[/caption]

Photo: PTI

5. INDIA POST released commemorative Stamps, First Day Covers and Minisheet on the occasion of the International Day of Yoga on 21 June, 2015.

[caption id="attachment_26630" align="aligncenter" width="720"]

Miniature Stamp Sheet (With ₹ 5.00 Stamp) released by India Post on IDY - 21 June, 2015[/caption]

Photo: rainbowstampclub.blogspot.in

6. The Reserve Bank of India released two commemorative coins of denominations ₹ 10/- and ₹ 100/- on the International Day of Yoga.

[caption id="attachment_26633" align="aligncenter" width="1000"]

COMMEMORATAIVE COINS RELEASED ON IDY 2015

Commemorative Coins released on IDY 2015[/caption] [caption id="attachment_26632" align="aligncenter" width="876"]

Commemorative Coins released on IDY 2015[/caption]

Photo: lh3.googleusercontent.com

7. Website of the International Day of Yoga, http://idayofyoga.org/, has a countdown clock indicating the number of days left for International Day of Yoga 2016.

8. Try the yoga puzzle on the official website of PM Modi: http://yogapuzzle.narendramodi.in/

9. Watch the full documentary of the International Day of Yoga event held at Rajpath on 21st June, 2015.

[embedvideo id="SaJZfujgU4E" website="youtube"]

10. The Ministry of AYUSH was formed on 9^th November, 2014.

The Department of Indian Medicine and Homeopathy (ISM&H) was created in March 1995 and renamed as Department of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) in November 2003, with a view to providing focused attention to development of Education and Research in Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy systems.

11. The resolution for the Yoga Day was co-sponsored by 175 of the 193 UN member nations in a short period of 75 days.

Photo source: Twitter

12. Forty-seven of the 56 members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation countries too joined as co-sponsors, in a telling example of the universality of yoga.

[caption id="attachment_26637" align="aligncenter" width="975"]

KASHMIRI STUDENTS PERFORMING YOGA IN SRINAGAR abclocal.go.com

Kashmiri students performing Yoga in Srinagar[/caption]

Photo: abclocal.go.com

While Pakistan did not co-sponsor, it did not object to the resolution either.

13. It is estimated that 250 million people around the world practice yoga, over 20 million of them in the US.

Photo source: twitter.com/IntlDayofYoga

14. About Rs. 30 Crores ($4.67m; £2.97m): Cost of Delhi event on 21 June, 2015.

[caption id="attachment_26635" align="aligncenter" width="793"]

Aerial Yoga or anti-gravity yoga being performed by students in Ahmedabad
(AP PHOTO/AJIT SOLANKI)[/caption]

Photo: darkroom-cdn.s3.amazonaws.com

15. 650 of India's 676 districts participated.

[caption id="attachment_26636" align="aligncenter" width="975"]

NAVY PERSONNEL PERFORMING YOGA ON THE DECK OF INS VIRAAT

Navy personnel performing Yoga on the deck on the deck of INS VIRAAT[/caption]

16. Of the 193 UN member countries, celebrations were held in 192 countries - the exception is Yemen, because of the conflict there.

[caption id="attachment_26671" align="aligncenter" width="600"]

Yoga at Times Square[/caption]

Photo source: twitter.com/IntlDayofYoga

17. “Spice Jet crew and the Isha Foundation instructors will perform yoga at a height of 35,000 feet on June 21, the International Day of Yoga. Approximately 50 Isha instructors and Spice Jet crew members will undertake a 10-minute session onboard select Boeing flights across the network,” reported ANI.

[caption id="attachment_26629" align="aligncenter" width="682"]

PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI RELEASING THE FIRST DAY COVER, STAMP AND MINI SHEET ON INTERNATIONAL DAY OF YOGA AT THE VIGYAN BHAWAN ON 21 JUNE 2015

Prime Minister Narendra Modi releasing the first day cover, stamp and mini sheet on IDY at the Vigyan Bhawan on 21 June, 2015[/caption]

Photo: philamirror.info

18. Baba Ramdev’s Patanjali Ayurved alone recorded revenues of Rs 1,200 crore in the fiscal year 2014, and claims to have crossed Rs 2,000 crore last year.

[caption id="attachment_26647" align="aligncenter" width="520"]

Baba Ramdev[/caption]

Photo: knowledgecocktail.com

19. Delhi is celebrating a week of Yoga Festival or 'Yoga Parv' from June 21st - 27th with exhibitions, music and dance events across the city.

Watch the live yoga session at Rajpath. [embedvideo id="14z7QKI0f6s" website="youtube"]

20. Worldwide, yoga is estimated to be an $80 billion industry.

[caption id="attachment_26674" align="aligncenter" width="599"]

Bird's eye view of the yoga day celebration under the Eiffel Tower in Paris[/caption]

Photo source: twitter.com/Indian_Embassy

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

About the author: Sharath Ahuja works at the Indian Institute of Science, plays badminton, billiards and snooker and is also an amateur photographer.

Project "Missing" is the creation of a Kolkata-based artist, Leena Kejriwal, whose faceless and larger-than-life silhouettes of girls are a reminder of how so many vulnerable girls go missing and become part of the prostitution racket in the country. She is anonymous, faceless, lifeless, dark and voiceless. But she shouts out loud for the millions of young girls who are trafficked every year in the country.

Creation of a Kolkata-based artist, Leena Kejriwal, these faceless larger-than-life silhouettes of girls are a reminder of how so many vulnerable girls go missing and become part of prostitution in the country.

[caption id="attachment_26536" align="aligncenter" width="500"]

Leena Kejriwal[/caption] Leena's art work has been exhibited globally, including in Kolkata, Delhi, Tehran, Berlin, and Weimer. After travelling across the world, Leena came back home to India for a cause -- a cause that had been close to her heart ever since she got involved with an NGO working in the field of human trafficking.

As per a report by the Ministry of Women and Child Development in 2007, there are approximately 3 million women into prostitution, of which 35.47 percent are girls below 18.

[caption id="attachment_26523" align="aligncenter" width="960"]

Mumbai skyline - projected image[/caption]

“I thought, why not use art as a medium to spread awareness about the issue? So many girls go missing just like that. Young girls are an easy target for traffickers and I thought it is time that the issue be communicated to the public in a way that is not preachy,” she says.

After a lot of brainstorming, Leena decided to go ahead with project "Missing." The idea was to set up huge iron-and-fibreglass sculptures of girls, rising 12 ft to 15 ft above the ground, and install them in at least 10 cities across India.

[caption id="attachment_26526" align="aligncenter" width="3264"]

Stencil project-Kolkata[/caption] The sculptures, which take up very little ground space, are water and wind proof so they can usually survive any kind of weather.

“They are silhouettes of young girls which, once they are set against the sky, seem like sharp cut-outs in the sky; cut-outs which are doorways to black holes into which millions of girls disappear from the face of the earth,” Leena explains.

To make the project more interactive, Leena is also working on an augmented reality mobile app that will allow anyone with a smartphone to engage with the installations, uncover hidden stories, and connect with NGOs and campaigns working on the issue.

[caption id="attachment_26524" align="aligncenter" width="1280"]

Public Art Inspires Curiosity[/caption] Launched in Delhi’s India Art Fair in 2014, Missing received a huge positive response, which gave Leena the confidence to take the project to other cities as well.

“The problem is there is no public funding by the Government for artists. This is such a huge project and we have been struggling with insufficient funds to make and install these sculptures.”

- Leena Kejriwal

She has started a crowdfunding campaign to support her cause, where she aims to raise Rs. 16 lakhs for installing the sculptures in 10 other cities and supporting the augmented reality animation, a technology that superimposes a computer-generated image on a user's view of the real world, thus providing a composite view. Support Leena Kejriwal's campaign to raise funds for her ambitious project. To know more about her work, contact - leenakejriwal@gmail.com

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

The 7 feet 2 inch tall, Satnam is just 19 and was picked at 52nd position by Dallas Mavericks. Born in the family of farmers in Punjab, Satnam became first Indian-born to grab such a position. Here's more about the young player. "The Mavs made history with the No. 52 pick Thursday night, drafting 7-foot-2 behemoth Satnam Singh. Singh is the first Indian-born player to be drafted in league history," quoted the Dallas Mavericks press release. Here are 12 things you ought to know about the first ever Indian-born to be drafted into the American National Basketball Association (more popularly referred to as NBA).

1. Satnam Singh Bhamara was born on 10th December, 1995, in village Ballo Ke, Barnala District, Punjab.

His father, who is a farmer, is 7 feet 4 inches tall and his grandmother is 6 feet 9 inches tall. [caption id="attachment_26887" align="aligncenter" width="353"]

Satnam's father[/caption]

2. When he was a kid, he was nicknamed ‘Chhotu’.

Photo source: Twitter

3. By age 10, he was 5 feet 9 inches tall and by the age of 15 he was 7 feet tall.

Photo source: Twitter

4. He represented India in the FIBA Asia U16 Championships at Malaysia in November 2009 and went on to help his home state, Punjab win the Gold Medal in the National Youth Championships at Trichy (Tamil Nadu).

He was also a part of the Indian Basketball team that participated in FIBA Asia 2013. [caption id="attachment_26895" align="aligncenter" width="1600"]

BROOKLYN, NY - JUNE 25: Satnam Singh the 52nd pick overall in the NBA Draft by the Dallas Mavericks during the 2015 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 25, 2015 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City.[/caption]

5. He was recommended by the Basketball Federation of India (BFI) to be part of a three-team contingent of Indian youngsters sent to Singapore for the NBA‘s Basketball Without Borders (BWB) Asia camp, which featured 44 junior boys from 19 different countries in Asia and Oceania.

[caption id="attachment_26894" align="aligncenter" width="300"]

A young Satnam Singh[/caption]

Photo source: www.8asians.com

6. It was Troy Justice, the NBA’s Director of Basketball Operations in India, who spotted Satnam’s talent in India.

"First time I saw him play, he was wearing shoes that were falling apart. The seams had split, and he was coming right out of them," [NBA director of basketball operations in India Troy] Justice said to SB Nation. "That's all he had. He was growing so fast. We helped him get shoes." [caption id="attachment_26896" align="aligncenter" width="350"]

Troy Justice - Director NBA India second from left with the Satnam’s Family[/caption]

Photo source: sportskeeda.com

7. Satnam moved to the United States in September 2010 to train at the IMG Academy in Florida, he was sponsored by the IMG-Reliance program.

He was one of the 29 students selected to spend three months at the IMG Academy but he stayed back. [caption id="attachment_26889" align="aligncenter" width="1197"]

Satnam Singh Standing Extreme Right[/caption]

Photo source: here

8. Satnam did not receive any scholarship offers to play for an American college.

This is first time since high schoolers became ineligible for the draft in 2005 that a player was selected without playing in college, overseas or in the NBA Development League.

Photo source: Twitter

9. Satnam has represented the India national basketball team at the 2011 FIBA Asia Championship and the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship.

[caption id="attachment_26890" align="aligncenter" width="628"]

Indian Basketball Team for FIBA ASIA 2013 Satnam Singh Bhamara - Standing fourth from left[/caption]

Photo source: sportskeeda.com

10. As of June 2015, his listed height is 7’ 2” (2.18 m) and his listed weight is 290 lb (132 Kg). [caption id="attachment_26891" align="aligncenter" width="957"]

Satnam Singh Bhamara has a tall family. We compared him with his father, grandmother and the average height of a man and a woman. (Graphic by Joshua Friemel-Staff)[/caption]

Photo source: http://mavsblog.dallasnews.com/

11. He wears shoes that are size 22.

[caption id="attachment_26892" align="aligncenter" width="600"]

Satnam Singh with Sachin Tendulkar[/caption]

Photo source: Twitter

12. Satnam is only 19 years of age. [caption id="attachment_26893" align="aligncenter" width="1600"]

BROOKLYN, NY - JUNE 25: Satnam Singh shakes hands with Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer of the National Basketball Association, Mark Tatum after being selected number fifty two overall by the Dallas Mavericks during the 2015 NBA Draft on June 25, 2015 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.[/caption]

Photo source: www.mavs.com

Excerpts of an interview Satnam Singh gave to Ekalavya’s Youtube channel about his early introduction to the sport, the role played by IMG Reliance in his career and also has an advice to young upcoming basketball players. Watch the original video by IMG Academy here: [embedvideo id="07fKCQpzA4E" website="youtube"]

When did you first start playing basketball?

A: I started playing basketball in 2005. Like in most cases, I initially played cricket in my village and then when I returned to Ludhiana, A friend of my father suggested me to take up basketball seriously. I then met the then President of the Basketball Federation of India (BFI) Mr. RS Gill and also got introduced to the President of the Punjab Basketball Association Mr. Teja Singh. I then got enrolled into the Ludhiana Basketball Academy and that’s where my journey in the sport began.

Now at the age of 19, you have enrolled your name in the 2015 NBA Draft. How has your experience been so far?

A: Ever since I first began playing the sport, I was first mentored the late Mr. Subramanium at the Ludhiana Basketball Academy. Then I represented Punjab at the state level and represented Ludhiana. Then I got noticed by the coaches at the national level and Mr.Teja Singh asked me if I would be interested to train with the Indian team, this was around 2007-08 and I said yes. That year, I played for India at the U16 youth division and that's where an American coach saw me and called up my coach and told him,” I want this kid and want to most certainly take him as he is a good kid and is playing well too,” and over there, I got a great opportunity to go forward. I kept getting better from there on and kept improving. After that the then CEO of the BFI, Mr Harish Sharma was also very impressed with my performances and felt that I had the ability and potential in me to scale greater heights in the future.

Who is your favorite basketball player?

A: My role model is Kobe Bryant because the first game I saw on television in India was between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Miami Heat. Another player who I admire the most is the Indian player from Punjab Jagdeep Singh Bains. He was a real superstar player. Unfortunately, he’s injured right now, but I respect him now just as much as I did 3-4 years back.

How much of a help have IMG Reliance been?

A: In 2010, when I was still playing in Punjab, the then CEO of BFI, Mr Harish Sharma called up the then President of the Punjab Basketball Association Mr Teja Singh and told him that I had all the potential to become a promising basketball player and felt that my name should be recommended for the IMG Reliance Scholarship and that could help further develop and enhance my skills. After that I came for the IMG Reliance tryouts at the IMG Reliance academy in Delhi and there were about 26 girls and 24 boys over there and out of the 50 probable players, they picked 8 out of them- 4 boys and 4 girls for a fully funded Scholarship at IMG Sports Academy, that is based in Florida in USA.

You came to the IMG Academy in 2010. Can you tell us how have you improved since coming here?

A: When I first joined the IMG Academy, I don't think as good a player and I felt I needed to work on my skills, body weight and muscle building. I want to play inside and not outside and because I am a post player, strength is most important. The players who play in the center require strength otherwise they won't be effective. Ever since I came here, I have worked hard in almost all areas of the game. Aspects such as weight lifting, nutrition and the coaches, here at the IMG Academy have fine-tuned each and every move and I have learnt so many new moves, which I had never tried in India.

What do you think needs to be done to improve basketball in India?

A: First and foremost, we players need to develop an inner drive. There are several distracting thoughts in the mind of players. I think it’s critical for us to keep focus. Ever since I have come here, my only goal has been to reach the NBA. Just like how I have been putting in the hard yards, I feel others in India should also work in the same manner. If we need to improve in the sport, then the players must work hard every single day. There’s no doubt that I can come back to India and continue my training, but that’s not the solution

Last year the Indian national basketball team defeated China. Do you think you would get picked for the side and will you be interested to play if you get chosen? How do you think you will perform?

A: That is a tough question to answer because then I will have a conflict between national duty and professional playing career. I think the win over China last year was a fantastic achievement and I want the subsequent Indian squads to aim even higher and we must not be satisfied with just one victory. I feel it is equally important to beat our other Asian neighbors, the likes of Iran, Korea, Japan etc. Only if we win against them, then I think we will be able to achieve a respectable status in Asia. If I get the chance, then I will certainly be interested to play for my country.

What advice would you like to give to young children playing the sport in India?

A: My only advice to them would be develop their skills as early as possible because I feel the skills that are required in the school, college and the pro level, if the youngsters can develop them now, then it will help them a great deal moving forward. Another advice I want to give them is to keep a fixed goal in your mind, a final destination. And don't let that waver from your mind. Also, I feel it is important for children to respect their family, their parents, elders, coaches and the general public. The more you respect others, the more respect will your way. Don't think wrong about others and don't have any ill feelings about others. You can never move forward if you have ill feelings towards others. Stay focused on your final destination.

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

About the author: Sharath Ahuja works at the Indian Institute of Science, plays badminton, billiards and snooker, and is also an amateur photographer.

Meet 9 incredible female adventurers of India who have climbed some of the highest peaks of the world and achieved some of the most daring feats. They are an inspiration to us all and we salute their never-say-die spirit! Since time immemorial, women have had to fight stereotypes based on their gender. It is not uncommon even today to see girls being encouraged to sit still and be polite, while boys are not only allowed but expected to be boisterous and rowdy. There are many professions and careers that are still a male bastion. Even in the developed nations, we find more boys choosing the STEM fields, while more girls are still picking the humanities. Is this just because of passion for these fields of studies, or beliefs instilled in childhood with stereotypical toys and activities for boys and girls? Women make up 51% of the world's population, and yet are under-represented in almost every field. So is it really surprising that when we think of adventurers or explorers, we almost always think of men setting out in search of adventure and excitement? And yet, history is littered with countless women who have achieved success in the field of adventuring despite the struggles and obstacles, both real and ideological. And, it is so exciting and empowering to me as an Indian and a woman to report that there are many Indian women explorers as well. These women from our country manage to inspire all of us by the magnificent struggles they have faced and overcome in order to be called adventurers.

1. Bachendri Pal

[caption id="attachment_25151" align="aligncenter" width="304"]

Bachendri Pal[/caption]

Source : www.wikinetforum.com

Bachendri Pal is a mountaineer who made history by becoming the first Indian woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest in 1984. She realised she wanted to be a mountaineer at the age of twelve, when she along with her friends scaled a 13,123 ft mountain on a school picnic. From that time on, she knew her future lay in scaling the highest of mountains. She bagged several awards during her mountaineering career, including the Padmashree and the Arjuna awards which she received in the years 1985 and 1986 respectively. By continuously reaching new heights in her career, Bachendri Pal proved that all women can achieve success in any field they choose to pursue.

2. Arunima Sinha

[caption id="attachment_27015" align="aligncenter" width="594"]

Indian mountaineer Arunima Sinha, who had her leg amputated below the left knee two years ago gestures during a press conference in Kathmandu on May 28, 2013. Twenty-six year old Sinha from the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, who lost her leg after she was thrown from a moving train two years ago, became the first female amputee to climb Everest on May 21. AFP PHOTO/ Prakash MATHEMA (Photo credit should read PRAKASH MATHEMA/AFP/Getty Images)[/caption]

Arunima Sinha is a woman of substance who deserves all the praise and recognition we can give her. She is the first female amputee to climb Mount Everest. The former national volleyball player lost her leg when she was pushed out of a train by thieves who wanted to snatch her bag and gold chain. She fell onto the railway track and another train ran over her, crushing her leg below the knee. She was rushed to the hospital, where she had to undergo a leg amputation in order to save her life. Refusing to succumb to her disability or feel sorry for herself, the determined young woman excelled in a basic mountaineering course she decided to take. She was determined to climb Everest with the help of her prosthetic leg and she did!

3. Bhakti Sharma

Source: Twitter

Bhakti Sharma, an Indian open swimmer, set a world record after swimming 1.4 miles in 52 minutes in the freezing waters of the Antarctic ocean (at a temperature of 1°C). She became the youngest and first Asian girl to achieve this success. Bhakti has been pursuing open water swimming for the past ten years. She has swum across four oceans, eight channels and seas (which is also a world record). She was awarded the Tenzing Norgay National Award.

4. Arati Saha

[caption id="attachment_25154" align="aligncenter" width="336"]

Arati Saha[/caption]

Source : wikipedia.org

Arati Saha became the first Indian woman to swim across the English Channel on the 29th of September, 1959. She set a new record by swimming 42 miles in 16 hours 20 minutes, becoming the first and fastest Asian woman to swim across the English Channel. Even as a child, Arati was interested in swimming. She won 22 state competitions, introducing a new All-India record. She died of jaundice in 1994 and the Indian Government issued a stamp in her memory after her death. To this day, she remains an inspiration to young women, arousing a new interest in swimming and inspiring them to join the sport and bring laurels to the country.

5. Premlata Agarwal

[caption id="attachment_25155" align="aligncenter" width="347"]

Premlata Agarwal[/caption]

Source: www.erewise.com

Another Indian woman who manages to astonish us all with her extraordinary feats is Premlata Agarwal. Premlata was married at a young age and only became interested in mountaineering at the age of 35. After meeting Bachendri Pal, she decided that she wanted to participate in adventure sports and took a basic mountaineering course. In 2011, she climbed Mount Everest and in the subsequent years, conquered the top peaks of the seven continents, popularly called the 'seven summits', (Aconcagua in South America, Everest in Asia, McKinley in North America, Kilimanjaro in Africa, Elbrus in Europe, Vinson in Antarctica, Kosciuszko in Australia) - becoming the oldest woman, at age 48, to do so.

6. Krushnaa Patil

[caption id="attachment_25156" align="aligncenter" width="296"]

Krushnaa Patil[/caption]

Source: wikepedia.org

In May 2009, Krushnaa Patil became the youngest woman to successfully climb Mount Everest at the age of 19. Patil is also the first Indian woman to have climbed the highest peaks in Antarctica, South America and Europe. She has also climbed six of the highest peaks in the seven continents (the seven summits). She is not only a mountaineer, but also an enthusiastic cyclist. She was a part of a cycling rally with WANI (Women's Adventure Network of India) from Kolkata to Kanyakumari (3000km). She is also pursuing her MBA from Pune University while simultaneously keeping her passion in adventuring alive by remaining involved in courageous activities such as rafting, paragliding, rowing and horse riding.

7. Dicky Dolma

[caption id="attachment_25157" align="aligncenter" width="299"]

Dicky Dolma[/caption]

source: www.boloji.com

Dicky Dolma was added to the list of females who successfully scaled Everest in 1984. She has been interested in adventurous activities from childhood, her favourite pastime being skiing. She won a scholarship for a basic skiing course which her family declined as they didn't approve of her missing so much school. It was not until one of the senior skiing instructors at the Skiing and Mountaineering Institute in Manali wrote a letter to Dolma's parents did they agree to let her pursue her adventurous passions. After completing the institute's skiing course, she underwent the basic mountaineering course. She is the only climber to have successfully scaled the peak of Everest without completing an advanced course in mountaineering.

8. Reena Kaushal Dharmashaktu

[caption id="attachment_25158" align="aligncenter" width="300"]

Reena Kaushal Dharmashaktu[/caption]

Source: www.indiaspeakersbureau.in

A freelance outdoor and mountaineering instructor based in Dehli, Reena Kaushal Dharmashaktu became the first Indian woman to ski all the way to the South Pole. The Kapersky Commonwealth Antarctic Expedition consisted of 8 women from the commonwealth countries, including Reena who represented India. The women faced blizzards and freezing temperatures below -30°C but continued skiing consistently for over 900 km across Antarctica to reach the geographic South Pole. Reena arrived at the trademark mirror ball (ceremonial South Pole) near midnight on the 30th of December, 2009.

9. Archana Sardana

[caption id="attachment_25159" align="aligncenter" width="521"]

Archana Sardana[/caption]

Source : www.ambassadors.woodlandworldwide.com

Archana Sardana is the first Indian civilian base jumper and skydiver. She has made over 300 skydives, 60 underwater dives and several BASE dives all over the world. She had a very protected childhood, and her passion for adventuring was ignited later in life. Her first exposure to any kind of physical activity was a walkathon she participated in with her husband. After that, she's never looked back and has been addicted to adventure ever since. She is now a certified skydiver, bungee jumper, BASE jumper, mountaineer and scuba diver. Her next ambition is to jump off Mount Everest and the Pitambara tower in Delhi! What an inspiration all these women are to all of humankind! Each one has braved adversity, discrimination, and many obstacles before they could achieve their dreams. Their stories have a common lesson for all of us: if we have a dream, a passion - pursue it with single-minded devotion. And yes - never, never give up!!

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The famous mountaineer Malli Mastan Babu, who climbed some of the highest peaks in the world, died at the young age of 40. This is our tribute to the brave man.

"People do not decide to become extraordinary. They decide to accomplish extraordinary things.” - Sir Edmund Hillary, legendary mountaineer

This is precisely what Indian mountaineer, Malli Mastan Babu, did in his short climbing career.

Mastan Babu died on March 24, 2015 in the Andes Mountains, while he was descending after summiting “Tres Cruces Sur”. He was just 40. Too young an age to leave this world.

[caption id="attachment_25246" align="aligncenter" width="850"]

Malli Mastan has been on various adventurous journeys.

Malli Mastan had been on various adventurous journeys.[/caption]

Photo: odishasamaya.com

His list of achievements were as tall as the mountains he climbed, which, of course, included the world’s highest peak, Mount Everest.

“Challenge is what enthralls me and free spirit is what I exhibit. 'Never Give Up, Never Give In' is a phrase that works miracles for me. 'Courage and Conviction' have been a way of expression of myself." -Malli Mastan Babu

Early Life, Education And Academic Achievements

Named after a local saint ‘Mastan Swamy’, Malli Mastan Babu was born on September 3, 1974 at Gandhi Jana Sangam Village of Sangam mandal, Nellore district, Andhra Pradesh. He did his early schooling at the Sainik Schook in Korukonda, and went on to obtain his B.E. in Electrical Engineering from NIT Jamshedpur in 1996. He then graduated with an M.Tech from IIT Kharagpur in 1998. After a short stint with Satyam Computers, Malli joined IIM Calcutta, from where he graduated with a Post Graduate Diploma in Management in 2004. For his outstanding contribution in enriching campus life at IIM C, Malli was conferred the Dr. B C Roy award. When he was in school he was in the merit list in the National Level Science Talent Search Exam in 1991 and also won the best swimmer award in 1992. However, it was in NIT Jamshedpur that young Malli Mastan Babu began to show early signs of athletic ability; he won the first race of his life - the 6.5 km marathon run conducted by the Engineers Adventure Club. During his two year term at IIM Calcutta, Malli excelled both in academics and sports. He received the Best Volleyball Player, the Dr. B C Roy award, and founded the IIM C Adventure Club in 2003.

The Journey

[caption id="attachment_25249" align="aligncenter" width="500"]

Malli Mastan Babu on one of the many peaks he has climbed[/caption]

Photo: explorersweb.com

It is said that all of us have an inner calling to which we are eventually drawn. In Malli’s case, the statue in his school of Lt. M. Uday Bhaskar Rao, a former student, who died during the Indian Army’s Everest Expedition in 1985, was to become the trigger for his lifelong journey into mountaineering. As they say, “a journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step”. So began Malli Mastan Babu’s mountaineering journey sometime in 2004. In a climbing career spanning 11 years or, to be precise, 4105 days, Malli Mastan Babu achieved what not many Indian mountaineers had achieved so far. All mountaineers dream of climbing all the mountains in the world. As even the hardiest and the most experienced of mountaineers will tell you, mountain climbing is not for the faint hearted. You have to be at the peak of your physical condition, you have to have extraordinary mental stamina, and you require that something special in you to want to climb. Malli Mastan Babu, had that something special.

Malli’s Record Breaking Climbs: Against All Odds

[caption id="attachment_25250" align="aligncenter" width="600"]

Atop the summit of Aconcagua.[/caption]

Photo: s1.yimg.com

Beginning sometime in 2004 and until his untimely death in 2015, Malli Mastan Babu lived his dream; he summited several of the world’s highest peaks. Among his many achievements, too numerous to enumerate or even encapsulate, here are the three most outstanding ones.

The seven summits Malli conquered in 172 days in 2006 is a Guinness Record. He climbed Puncak Jaya (4884m), also known as Carstensz Pyramid, on 28 October 2006. During his record breaking summit summits in 172 days, Malli became the first Indian to summit Mount Vinson Massif in Antarctica.
In a high altitude trek in 2008, Malli covered 1100 km in 75 days, covering the region between Mount Everest to Kanchenjunga, climbing all the high passes between them.
To map the changes that global warming was causing to the Himalayan glacial topography and to highlight the disastrous effects of global warming on the Himalayan ranges, Malli undertook a 132 days, 2000 km trans-Himalayan expedition.

[embedvideo id="8Ya6zRBiZkY" website="youtube"] Not one to rest on his laurels, the ever modest and humble Malli continued to summit peak after peak. Malli added another feather to his cap when he became the first Indian to summit Mount Carstensz Pyramid, the tallest peak of Oceania. The climb he was most proud of was when he summited Mount Everest to become the first person from the state of Andhra Pradesh (where he was born) to do so. His incredible achievements are unparalleled in the history of mountaineering, for no man has ever traversed into the unknown and uncharted territory of the Himalayan regions. Oxygen deprivation, 40 degrees subzero temperatures, wildest snowstorms, avalanches, extreme fatigue and exhaustion; Malli braved it all. Initially Malli climbed the mountains with a selected few friends and classmates, he eventually went solo. When asked why he went solo, he is said to have replied, “Because his fellow climbers would not be able to keep pace with him”. [embedvideo id="Mizc8eFd0s" website="youtube"] Apparently for Malli, climbing mountains was probably the easiest of things. In his blog, he narrates his trauma, trials and tribulations tackling official apathy. The one quote from the blog which sums it all up - “Then how do we Indians aspire for achieving significant/big? What is it all about - we Indians should dream big/ make our mark in the world? It was a very disappointing and demoralizing experience”. It was not just mountaineering 24x7 for Malli. In his short stay on planet earth, Malli was an inspiration for hundreds of youngsters who came in contact with him. He was a much sought after motivational speaker around the world, using his real life stories to inspire people. He was also an accomplished yoga exponent, an ambidextrous table tennis player, and he loved to solve the Rubik’s cube puzzle.

Final climb

[caption id="attachment_25257" align="aligncenter" width="2592"]

On one of his many climbs[/caption]

Photo: www.notinay.com

Climbing solo as he always did, Malli was attempting to climb Cerro Tres Cruces Sur in the Andes. He successfully summited the mountain; with this climb he had summited the ten highest peaks of the Andes. As he was descending, Malli was engulfed by exceptionally bad weather; he went missing on the 24th of March 2015 and is reported to have died inside his pitched tent on the slopes of Cerro Tres Cruces Sur. His body was recovered on the 3rd of April 2015 after a 10 day search by rescue teams. Malli belonged to the mountains and this write up is but a small tribute to this ‘outstanding Indian mountaineer’ for whom no mountain was too high to climb.

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

About the author: Sharath Ahuja works at the Indian Institute of Science, plays badminton, billiards and snooker and is also an amateur photographer.

This international hockey umpire from India has received the Golden Whistle Award, making him the 35th umpire in the history of FIH to receive the honour and also the third Indian umpire to officiate 100 senior international matches. Here are 10 amazing facts about the young achiever. “The big month for top umpires continues, this time with India’s Raghu Prasad earning his spot on the FIH’s Golden Whistle list for his appointment on the AUS v PAK game, his 100^th match, at the ensuing Fintro Hockey World League in Antwerp,” says an official press release from International Hockey Federation, FIH. “At FIH we really value a good umpire. It is with this in mind that we present a Golden Whistle Award to every FIH International Umpire who completes their 100th official Senior International Inter-Nations Match”, FIH said. "It’s an awesome feeling to reach this milestone as it is not an easy job for an umpire to reach that level. I cannot express how I feel about it – it really is unbelievable," 36 year old Raghu Prasad told FH Umpires. Here are some interesting facts about R V Raghu Prasad (or Raghu, as he is popularly called)

1. As a young lad, Raghu wanted to become a Doctor.

Photo: fhumpires.com

2. He started playing hockey when he was in 6^th standard, though his parents wanted him to become a cricketer.

[caption id="attachment_27835" align="aligncenter" width="320"]

Raghu with his wife.[/caption]

Photo: stick2hockey.com

3. An engineering graduate from Bengaluru, Raghu Prasad began his career by playing hockey for the Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) club.

Incidentally Sandeep Michael, who led India to the Junior Asia Cup gold in 2004, was his Club mate. [caption id="attachment_27838" align="aligncenter" width="800"]

Indian Umpire Raghu Prasad (Second from Left) at the recent Fintro Hockey tournament.[/caption]

Photo: www.fih.ch

4. He started umpiring in 1999-2000, officiating in State and National level tournaments in the country.

Photo: www.stick2hockey.com

5. His first big domestic assignment was when he officiated in the 2002 Senior Hockey tournament in New Delhi.

[embedvideo id="c4caZm1Izzg" website="youtube"]

6. In 2003, Raghu got to officiate his first International match at the Hockey Australia Challenge Cup. He was then just 24 years old.

Photo: www.asiahockey.org

7. In 2005, he got to officiate in his first Junior World Cup tournament held in Rotterdam, Netherlands.

Photo: YouTube

8. He was included in the FIH World Development Panel on July 16, 2009, making him eligible to officiate in Olympic and World Cup matches.

Photo: www.stick2hockey.com

9. Since becoming an international umpire in 2003, Raghu has officiated at many world level events including the London 2012 Olympic Games and the Rabobank Hockey World Cup, which was held last year in The Hague, the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games and four FIH Champions Trophy events.

Photo: http:fhumpires.com

10. He is the 35^th umpire in the history of FIH to receive the Golden Whistle Award and is the third Indian umpire to officiate 100 senior international matches, joining Satinder Kumar and Javed Shaikh who received their Golden Whistles in 2009 and 2014 respectively.

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

About the author: Sharath Ahuja works at the Indian Institute of Science, plays badminton, billiards and snooker and is also an amateur photographer.

Amin ran away from home when he was just five. Today he owns a car rental company, has written a book, and wants to change the lives of street kids. "Iwas a street kid. Like thousands of other kids who don’t have homes, I begged, I stole, I polished shoes. I did everything that came my way to get at least one meal a day,” says Amin Sheikh, a 32-year old man who now has his own travel company, has penned a book, and will soon start a café. Amin's childhood was miserable. At the tender age of five, he was working as a child labourer in a tea shop in Mumbai where he would often face grumpy customers who would mistreat him. Going back home after a long day of work was of no relief, as his stepfather would beat him up for petty reasons. One day, he broke two glasses at work and, scared to face the wrath of the shop owner followed by a beating at home, Amin decided to run away. He is 35 now and is doing everything he can to ensure that other homeless kids don’t have to go through what he did.

So how did a homeless kid achieve all that Amin has? His is a story of passion and dedication that not only changed his own life but is changing the lives of other street children around him today.

[caption id="attachment_28065" align="aligncenter" width="652"]

Amin Sheikh[/caption]

Photo credit: Anne-laure boveron

After spending a few years in poverty, eating food out of garbage dumps, doing petty jobs, and sleeping on park benches, Amin was taken in by Snehasadan, an NGO for homeless children. He was eight years old at the time and spent the rest of his childhood and youth there. Snehsadan educated him and helped him get a driver’s license. He then went off to work as a chauffeur and Man Friday to a close friend of Snehasadan’s, Eustace. Amin’s life changed after that. His honest hard work and dedication so impressed Eustace that the latter helped him set up his up his own car company called Sneha Travels.

Amin has penned down his story in a book called “Bombay/Mumbai Life is Life: I am Because of You”, which he self-published.

The book, he says, has been translated into seven languages, including Italian and Catalan, by people around the world who eventually became his friends. He says he has sold over 10,000 copies of the book and even has an e-book available for the readers. Now a self-made entrepreneur, Amin has not forgotten his tough childhood on the streets. Since he wants to effect a change in the lives of other street children now, Amin is presently giving shape to a project called Bombay to Barcelona, which focuses on meeting the basic needs of street kids. Why Barcelona? “Because that was the first city abroad I visited with my employer. I have a special connection with it and I have made some wonderful friends there,” he says. Ever since, he has been saving up his money and going on a trip once a year to Barcelona to visit his friends and interact with his volunteers there. “This time, I also took three of my (street) kids there. They were so excited,” he recalls. But taking responsibility of the street kids was not easy, especially when he himself was struggling to make ends meet. This is when he came up with the idea of setting up a café which would not only help him earn some money to support his cause but would also double up as accommodation for the children. Amin is now all geared up to start his dream café in Mumbai, called Bombay to Barcelona Library Café, for street children.

The profits, he says, will be used to help the young children get an education and also give them employment after they turn 18.

[caption id="attachment_28049" align="aligncenter" width="1345"]

Amin's ambitious Bombay to Barcelona cafe[/caption] All the funds he raised from the sale of his book are being used to give shape to his ambitious project, he says. Currently taking care of eight kids -- four girls and four boys -- Amin wants to provide them with a safe living environment and a good education. These children will stay in the cafe, those who are eligible to work will join him, and the rest will simultaneously complete their education.

“Being a street kid was my fate. But I didn’t want to be just that. I wanted to achieve a lot more in life. I have always tried to do my best to succeed and earn a reputation. I am still a street person but I am working to make life easier for other kids. I don’t want them to experience the same things that I did,” he says.

Amin has ambitious plans for his café. He would, for instance, like it to be a platform for young artists to showcase their art and/or conduct performances too.

“I want my shop to make a statement. I’m also concerned about the environment. My customers will enjoy their coffee and snacks, and their books from the library, in the midst of flowers and plants. There will also be a donation box for Snehasadan, because when the kids leave there, I don’t want them to go back on the street. They need support and help to start a new life,” he adds.

[caption id="attachment_28048" align="aligncenter" width="640"]

A travel lover, Amin makes sure to save money every year to travel abroad.[/caption] There will also be a special board at the coffee shop with contact details of street children turned professionals - carpenters and electricians, for instance, so his customers could give them employment opportunities. Amin is now raising funds to give shape to his cafe. He is open to the idea of having a partnership. Amin also wants to start an NGO and all the profits that he will earn from his cafe will go to that NGO which will further support street kids to pursue their education.

“From accommodation to healthcare and education, I want to meet the basic necessities of street children and I will do whatever it takes to fulfill my mission,” he says passionately.

[embedvideo id="dAzE9Ujscjg" website="youtube"] To know more about Amin Sheikh and his plans, contact him at - amindreamsteam@gmail.com or check out his website.

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Young Abeeha took her last breath in India. Yet, her father has nothing but appreciation for his late daughter’s Indian hosts, the Indian doctors and medical staff who treated her, and even the Indian army.

“Now that the lines are there, let them be there… Someone must have drawn them in anguish, now use them to divide the field into two halves and come, let's play the game of kabaddi… Now that the lines are there, let them be...”

- Gulzar

Thirteen-year old Nalain Rubab Imran, or Abeeha as she was affectionately called, must have known the real essence behind these lines by Gulzar. And hence, despite the LoC, a symbol of hatred on both sides of the border, this little angel crossed over from Pakistan to India and left us behind with a lesson of love.

Mr. Hamid Imran, her father, has written a thank you note in the Pakistani newspaper Dawn:

“Neither can I forget the pain caused by the sudden death of my daughter, nor the love which I received in India”.

[caption id="attachment_28530" align="aligncenter" width="424"]

Abeeha, with her father Mr. Hamid Imran[/caption] Abeeha was a resident of Chakwal, Pakistan. She went through a liver transplant once in Saudi Arabia, where her father was working in 2011. But again this year, doctors advised another transplant. The transplant would have cost Rs. 5 million in Pakistan, so Imran decided to head towards Apollo Hospital, Delhi, India. However, this was not going to be easy. Abeeha's mother, Mrs. Sajjda Imran, was pregnant and in need of medical attention too. Moreover, they did not know a single person in this unknown country, which was more like an enemy to them until now. Imran had graduated from the Govt. High School in Chakwal, which was built by Sardar Chet Singh Kohli in 1910. Sardar Chet Singh belonged to Chakwal, Pakistan, before the partition of India and Pakistan. His noble deeds are well documented there and the people of Chakwal remember him even today. He built schools and hospitals there before migrating to Delhi after the partition. Coincidentally, Mr. Rattan Deep Singh Kohli, the grandson of Sardar Chet Singh Kohli, visited the school recently on the occasion of its 100th anniversary. He still cherishes the affection that the residents of Chakwal bestowed on him during his visit.

“During my visit to Chakwal in October 2010 when the school celebrated its 100 years, and again in 2012, the people of Chakwal and the students of the school showered so much love and affection on us that it cannot be expressed in words but only felt. My wife was in tears most of the time she was there as they addressed her as the daughter-in-law of Chakwal and were full of praise and thanks for what my elders had done for Chakwal. Beautiful articles in the Pakistani newspapers ‘The News’ and ‘Aman ki Asha’ were published about our visit,” recalls Rattan Deep Singh Kohli.

One of the old students from the same school gave Imran the contact details of Kohli in India. When Imran, along with his wife, Abeeha and a donor, Manzoor Hussain, reached Kohli’s home, the latter, along with his wife Paramjit Kaur, warmly greeted them.

[caption id="attachment_28551" align="aligncenter" width="1280"]

(From left) Mr. Imran, Mr. Kohli, Abeeha, Mrs. Kohli, Mrs. Imran[/caption]

“When Hamid came to India for Abeeha's surgery, we did not know each other. He came with a reference from another old student of the school who I had met when I visited the school. From the moment we met, Abeeha became very fond of my wife Paramjit. When my wife offered to cook special food of Abeeha’s liking, she and her family were thrilled as she was finding hospital food boring and tasteless. So, my wife would make different items for her and the family as per their choice. For non-veg items, I used to get items especially from Muslim vendors and cook for them. I knew Muslims only eat Halal. So, when I told Hamid the meat was Halal, he said in Punjabi: ‘Bhai jaan, sade waste thuhade ghar di har sha Hak Halal hai (dear brother, for us everything from your house is Hak Halal).’ My wife and I were very touched by these words,” says Kohli.

Abeeha was successfully operated on, on 16th March 2015. Mrs. Sajjda Imran had to leave for Pakistan due to her health condition. But she left feeling assured that Abeeha would be cared for by Paramjit who treated Abeeha like her own child. The next few days were critical. Abeeha's health started to deteriorate. But Paramjeet was there with her all the time. For Abeeha, Paramjit was like a second mother. She not only cooked and took food for Abeeha but also for other Pakistanis who were getting treated in the same hospital. The Kohlis also invited some of them home and made the Punjabi delicacies that they were missing. Paramjeet shared duties at the hospital and spent three to four hours there, everyday. [caption id="attachment_28411" align="aligncenter" width="1280"]

Mrs. Sajjda Imran with the Kohlis while leaving from India

Mrs. Sajjda Imran (center) with Mrs. Kohli (left) before leaving from India[/caption] “During our stay of over three months, we never felt for a moment that we were in some foreign country. Rather, the exceptional love, affection and care showered by Kohli sahab and his family made us feel that we were at some hospital in Chakwal,” says Imran. “Kohli sahab, his wife Paramjit Kaur, and their younger son Gurjap Singh Kohli, used to visit us thrice a day. Mrs. Paramjit would cook special food for us. We did not face any problem in Delhi,” Imran adds.

But on 7th May 2015, Abeeha lost her battle with death.

"She often used to say that she loved India. She loved this hospital and the doctors here and she would also say that once she was fine she would become a doctor and join this hospital. I miss her!" says Paramjit.

[caption id="attachment_28412" align="aligncenter" width="768"]

Paramjit taking care of Abeeha in the hospital[/caption] Imran had taken a treatment package of 21 days at the hospital. However, the rest of the fees were waived off by Apollo Hospital. Imran can also not forget the way he was treated at the border by the Indian Army while taking Abeeha’s body back to Pakistan.

“When our ambulance stopped at the border, a soldier rushed to the vehicle and put a piece of green cloth on it so that the body could be saved from the scorching heat.”

- Hamid Imran

Even though Hamid Imran went with tears in his eyes from India; he did not forget the love that Rattan Deep Singh and his family bestowed on his daughter during their stay here.

“Partition may have divided us and forced us to leave our ancestral birthplaces, but even after 66 years, the love of the people for each other has not diminished. The love of the people will one day overshadow the politics of both the countries and bridge the hostilities between them,” Mr. Kohli believes.

Speaking to TBI from his home in Pakistan, Imran said: “I accept my fate. As a father I did whatever I could, with whatever resources I had, for my daughter. As a Muslim, I accept Allah’s will.” Imran could not find enough words to express his appreciation for India: “I want people to know what ordinary Indians are like. Not just Mr. Kohli, but the wonderful doctors and nurses at Apollo Hospital who did their best to save my daughter – Dr. Subhash Gupta, Dr. Sibbal, and so many others.” “I also want people to know that people on both sides of the border don’t care about politics. The human bond between them runs much deeper,” he added. Abeeha's diary was found full of thank you notes to the Kohli family and to the doctors of Apollo Hospital, Delhi. “I love India!” wrote the little angel, before leaving for heaven. [caption id="attachment_28413" align="aligncenter" width="800"]

A note from Abeeha's diary[/caption] "My daughter was meant to take her last breath in India,” concluded Imran. May young Abeeha rest in peace now.

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

About the author: A Mechanical Engineer, Manabi Katoch has been brought up listening to Tagore's poems and stories, so she is kind of an emotional person within. She loves writing poems and stories on social and political issues. Few of her poems can be viewed on www.poemocean.com and satires on www.mindthenews.com. She has worked with Wipro, Frankfinn and Educomp in the past.

When asked how he managed to run the 26-mile marathon, 89-year-old Fauja replied: "The first 20 miles are not difficult. As for the last six miles, I run while talking to God.” At 101, he ran the London Marathon in 7 hours and 49 minutes. 104 today, he continues to run for fun. Here's his incredible life story.

“Fauja Singh, 100-year-old Indian born, British citizen, finished Toronto's waterfront marathon Sunday evening, securing his place in the record books as the oldest person, and the first centenarian, to ever accomplish a run of that distance.” - CBS News on Oct 16, 2011, from Toronto, Canada.

Here is the extraordinarily inspiring story of an Indian who overcame adversity to become the world’s oldest living marathon runner.

Photo source: barusahib.org

Early Years

Fauja Singh was born on April 1, 1911, in the village of Beas Pind, Punjab. Young Fauja was scrawny and sick as a child, often bullied by other children who called him “danda”, Punjabi for “as thin as a stick.” Fauja did not develop the ability to walk until he was five years old. His legs were thin and weak, and he could hardly walk long distances. He never went to school - instead, Fauja became a farmhand. Initially he would assist with odd chores like minding the cattle. But later, he began to help with tilling of the land and growing staple crops like wheat and maize. Working hard in the fields, Fauja grew into a strapping lad, tall and handsome, his traumatic early years as a sickly thin child quickly forgotten. He’d now reached a marriageable age and his parents soon found him a suitable bride, Gian Kaur.

Fauja and Gian quickly settled into a domestic routine. Fauja worked on the farm and wife Gian Kaur managed the house. Over the years, they had six children, three boys and three girls.

[embedvideo id="H6iO2PVForE" website="youtube"] The proud parents watched as the children grew up, completed their education and began looking for jobs to begin their careers. Also, now came the responsibility of getting them married. One by one the children married and/or found jobs abroad in Canada and England and left Punjab. All except one - Kuldip and his wife decided to stay back and help Fauja and Gian with the farm. The years rolled by. Fauja and his wife, now living a content life with Kuldip and his family in Punjab, made several trips abroad to visit their children.

Tragedy becomes a turning point

In 1992, Fauja’s wife Gian Kaur passed away. Fauja shed many tears but accepted his fate and carried on. He was 81 now, he’d come a long way. Then, in 1994, tragedy struck again. His son Kuldip, who had been taking care of his parents all this time, was killed right in front of Fauja’s eyes in a construction accident. Fauja’s world turned upside down. His grief knew no bounds and life became empty for him thereon.

Leaving India to start a new life

Now almost 83 and unable to bear the loss of his beloved wife and son, each day became a burden for Fauja. It was then that his children, who were by now well settled abroad, decided to bring their father to stay with them. Fauja eventually moved to London to stay with his son Sukhjinder and his family; this was in the late 1990s. [caption id="attachment_29047" align="aligncenter" width="318"]

On his 101st Birthday[/caption]

Photo Source

Though happy to be with his son, Fauja was still grieving inside; he just couldn’t come to terms with the loss of Kuldip, and his mind was still in India. However, like many others his age, Fauja too may have soon come to turns with this tragedy, spent his old age with his children and died a peaceful death. But life was about to take a glorious turn for this octogenarian.

The Making of a Star

While watching television one evening, Fauja heard the anchor of a show inviting people to participate in the upcoming London marathon. This woke Fauja up from his slumber; he was back to his childhood days when he used to run errands for the family, tearing up and down the village streets. Well, that was almost six decades or so ago; he was now 89, not a youngster by any means. Nevertheless, Fauja, who had by now taken tentative steps out of the house to enjoy an early morning jog with members of his community, decided he’d give the London marathon a try. He, of course, had absolutely no clue what a marathon was. Asking around, he was introduced to Harmander Singh, an athletic coach and a marathon runner himself. Fauja explained to Harmander that he wanted to participate in the upcoming London marathon, hardly a couple of months away. Harmander is said to have shaken his head in disbelief. Fauja wouldn’t relent, he had made up his mind and nothing was going to change it. Eventually, Harmander agreed to coach Fauja.

Here is an oft-repeated anecdote from the first day of training: it is said that Fauja turned up for training in a three-piece suit. Harmander was taken aback and had to chide Fauja that this attire was not exactly suitable for running a marathon.

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Coach Harmander Singh runs with Fauja in Valentines Park in Redbridge, London.[/caption]

Photo Source: levonbiss.com

With coach Harmander guiding him, Fauja finally began his training in right earnest. At long last he had a new goal in life and he began to come out of his shell. On race day of the 2000 London marathon, Fauja was one amongst the teeming tens of thousands who had turned up from around the world to participate in this prestigious event. The race began and Fauja ran alongside his coach, Harmander Singh. Six hours and 54 minutes later, Fauja crossed the finish line - he had run 26 miles and 365 yards. At age 89, he was a marathoner, having just completed his first marathon race, the 2000 London marathon.

When asked how he managed to run the 26-mile marathon, Fauja replied: "The first 20 miles are not difficult. As for the last six miles, I run while talking to God.”

There was jubilation all around. Fauja had moved on finally and begun to lay the tragic events of his recent past to rest. This was a new beginning and there was more to come; he would soon be a star.

Blossoming into a marathoner

Fauja entered the London marathon again in 2001, but this time with a record at stake. He needed to beat 7 hours 52 minutes to be the fastest marathoner alive over age 90. He broke the record by 57 minutes! When he turned 92, Fauja successfully competed in three marathons in the space of six and a half months, another remarkable record.

Fauja Singh would eventually become the oldest marathon runner, having participated in eight marathon races from 2000 to 2011.

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At the London Marathon 2004[/caption]

Photo Source

His personal best would be achieved in the 2003 Toronto marathon in Canada, where he clocked an astonishing 5 hours 40 minutes in the 42.195 km race - a stunning record for a 92-year-old runner.

When asked about the secret of his running prowess and his longevity, Singh has said there is no secret formula: “My diet is simple -- phulka, dal, green vegetables, yoghurt and milk. I take lots of water and tea with ginger. I go to bed early, taking the name of my rabba (God) as I don’t want all those negative thoughts crossing my mind.”

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Fauja Singh enjoying his meal[/caption]

Photo Source: levonbiss.com

The High Point in his Running Career

The year 2011 was the high point in the running career of Fauja Singh. In April 2011, he celebrated his 100th birthday and in October of the same year, he attempted and accomplished eight world age group records in one day, at the special Ontario Masters Association Fauja Singh Invitational Meet, held at Birchmount Stadium in Toronto, Ontario Canada. Timed by Canadian officials, He ran the 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, the mile, 3000m, and 5000m – setting five world records for his age group in one day. Each time he bested the previous record in that age division (some events had no previous record holder as nobody over age 100 had ever attempted the distance).

The icing on the cake, however, was to come on 16th of October, 2011, when Fauja Singh became the first centenarian to complete a marathon, the Toronto Waterfront Marathon, his time 8 hours 11 minutes 6 seconds.

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Fauja Singh waves to supporters minutes after finishing the 2011 Toronto Scotiabank Marathon[/caption]

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There were celebrations all around and he was feted by the world’s print and electronic media for this amazing achievement. The spotlight shone on Fauja!

Other awards, accolades and endorsements

In 2004, the sports giant Adidas featured Fauja Singh in its "Impossible is Nothing" ad campaign. The advertisement’s tagline said, “6:54 at age 89. 5:40 at age 92. The Kenyans better watch out for him when he hits 100.” [caption id="attachment_23281" align="aligncenter" width="1000"]

Featured in the ADIDAS ad[/caption]

Photo Source

In October 2011, Fauja, a vegetarian, became the oldest man to be featured in a PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment for Animals) ad campaign. The ad features him mid-stride and reads, "I am Fauja Singh and I Am a Vegetarian. 100-Year-Young Marathon Runner and World Record Holder.”

I-am-Fauja-Singh-and-I-am-a-Vegetarian PETA AD

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Fauja Singh has carried the Olympic torch on two occasions - at the 2004 Athens Olympics and the 2012 London Olympics.

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Fauja Singh running with the Olympic torch at the 2012 London Olympics[/caption] Photo Source In 2014, the British Government conferred on 103-year-old Fauja Singh the British Empire Medal (BEM), for his achievements and for his charity work. His biography, titled Turbaned Tornado, was written by Chandigarh-based writer Khushwant Singh (not to be confused with Khushwant Singh, the prominent journalist). It traces the runner's roots and tries to capture his life's journey, including the impact of Fauja on the world around him.

Now, at 104…

Fauja’s last marathon race was when he participated in and completed the Standard Chartered Hong Kong marathon on Feb 24, 2013, just five weeks before he turned 102. His timing was 1:32:28 for the 10 km race. [caption id="attachment_23275" align="aligncenter" width="700"]

Cover Page 'Turbaned Tornado' the book on Fauja Singh. Authored by Khushwant Singh[/caption]

Photo Source

According to Singh’s trainer, Harmander Singh, the marathoner will continue to stay active with light exercise.

Most of Singh’s marathons were charity fundraisers, in line with his Sikh beliefs. “There are two noble things in life: one to do charity and other to look after your body,” Fauja is quoted to have said.

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About the author: Sharath Ahuja works at the Indian Institute of Science, plays badminton, billiards and snooker and is also an amateur photographer.

It’s always inspiring to see teenagers show sensitivity and a sense of social responsibility. Here's how an 8th grader in Bengaluru shows the way to other school children. Part of the excitement of moving to a higher grade in school every year is buying new books, bags, water bottles and other supplies. Or so it is, for some privileged children at least. Many others make do with what they already have, struggling to just about buy the bare necessities like books and uniforms. When 13-year-old Nikhiya Shamsher, a student of Greenwood High School, Bangalore, donated her school bag to her housemaid's daughter, she received a thank you note in return. This note, written by Roja, a 4th grade student, inspired Nikhiya to look at the world differently.

Roja, whose happiness on receiving the bag knew no bounds, wrote in her note that up until now, she had never owned a school bag. She had always carried her books and stationary in a poly bag.

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Nikhiya Shamsher[/caption] Roja’s joy gave Nikhiya both a new vision and mission. The ripple effects of that one donation have changed her life and those of many other students, both privileged and underprivileged, in beautiful ways. “This incident got me thinking that there would be many more people like her [Roja], and my friends and I should donate our bags to them. So I called some of my friends and together we donated some of our bags and books to people who needed them. After this, I thought, why not include my entire school in this,” says Nikhiya. And this is how the project Bags, Books and Blessings came into existence. Nikhiya’s school principal, Mr. D’Mello, helped her get started by sending out emails to parents, allowing her to put posters around her school, and by writing to different organizations to help spread the word. All her teachers were very supportive as well.

“By the end of the year I had collected many many bags and books. I think there were around 2,500 books, about 150 bags, water bottles, a lot of stationery and stuff like that”, says Nikhiya exultantly.

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The entire collection packed and ready to go[/caption] She made sure that each donated item was carefully checked to ensure a good condition; everything was counted, cleaned, arranged in packets, and was finally ready to go. Out went Nikhiya with some of her best friends and volunteers to spread joy in a school and an orphanage in Bangalore.

Her day concluded with joy on the faces of the kids receiving books, bags, blessings, and more – it was a day full of smiles, fun and even some exciting magic shows.

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The magic show[/caption]

According to her website dedicated to this project, “Bags, Books and Blessings aims to collect re-usable bags, books and school supplies and donate them to less privileged school children. Every year thousands of needy children go back to school without basic supplies. It is natural as their parents struggle to even put food on the table. But together we can change this. We can pool our re-usable school stuff and donate them to needy children. It will give them the much needed equipment and the confidence to go to school.” What would be the next logical step for a project such as this? Says Nikhiya - “I am trying to include other schools by encouraging them to participate in the project. I am also trying to expand this in a way that I am able to create chemistry, physics and biology labs in schools that don't have them.” “I am entering my 8th grade. I just finished my 7th grade exam.” During my conversation with her, before I knew how old she is, this sentence came as a wonderful surprise. Thinking back, I do not remember myself worrying about the world at all when I entered my teens. Nikhiya, who at such a young age also wants to start her own NGO, is an inspiration to say the least. She has a world of opportunities before her, and she plans to utilize them in the best possible way.

“I am kind of trying to make a better India”, she concluded with a smile.

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They formed human chains to deliver supplies into the school premises[/caption] For this, and all her upcoming endeavours, we congratulate Nikhiya and wish her the very best.

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Archana started dabbling in adventure sports 20 days after her wedding, and hasn't looked back since then. She is India’s first woman civilian Building Aerial Span Earth jumper as well as India's first woman master scuba diver trainer. Here's more about her journey in her own words. Archana Sardana, a 40-year-old adventure enthusiast, is India’s first woman civilian Building Aerial Span Earth (BASE) jumper, often jumping from a bridge of over 3,600 metres (12,000 feet). Raised in a country where women’s participation in sports remains uneven even today, Sardana did not grow up as an adventure sports enthusiast. A mother of two boys, she graduated with a diploma in interior design, and says she was never really interested in pursuing outdoor activities.

But just 20 days after her wedding, on a whim, her husband, a naval officer, and she braved a local marathon known for its steep peaks and competitive nature. That was the turning point. She decided right then that she had to have more, and thus, a legend was born.

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Archana Sardana, a 40-year-old adventure enthusiast, is India’s first woman civilian Building Aerial Span Earth (BASE) jumper.[/caption] She completed Adventure and Advanced Mountaineering courses from the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Darjeeling, and Nehru Institute of Mountaineering, Uttarakhand, and hasn’t stopped chasing the thrill since. But the rigours of mountaineering were quite different from BASE jumping, an extreme sport. BASE jumping, which is an offshoot of skydiving, is essentially parachuting or wingsuit flying from a fixed structure. However, as BASE jumps generally take place from a lower altitude they are significantly more dangerous. In fact, according to some reports, it is the world’s most dangerous sport. Of course, before she decided to do her first jump, Sardana had performed around 200 skydives.

Be it plummeting from the sky or plunging into the deep seas, she has done it all now. Having undertaken multiple deep sea scuba dives in every corner of the globe, Sardana is the first woman master scuba diver trainer in India as well.

She unfurled the Indian flag at a depth of 30 metres in the ocean, off Andaman’s Neil Island, and set a new record in the process. A smart business woman, she runs her own venture, Archana Sardana Scuba Diving Academy, training young women to conquer their fears and feel the rush of adventure sport. Over time, Sardana has sought ways to use her adventurous spirit to help others. An expert at jumping out of helicopters, she did her first jump in service of an organisation called ‘Blind Free India’. In this one-on-one, Sardana talks about overcoming her fears, surmounting challenges in pursuing BASE jumping and balancing her home and her new-found passion.

Q: What do you think have been the most important factors that have helped in getting you where you are today?

A: Firstly, I owe it all to my support system, my amazing husband and my two beautiful children. Secondly, it has a lot to do with the mindset. The physical part is important [while pursuing sports], but it is just as important to be mentally strong. What drives you in the long run is your mindset and your drive.

Q: What were some of the biggest obstacles that you faced in your journey?

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A smart business woman, Archana runs her own scuba diving academy, training young women to conquer their fears and feel the rush of adventure sport[/caption] A: For me, the biggest obstacle has been money. I even sold my house so I could follow my dreams. But we have managed just fine till now. When I started, my children were in boarding school, and during that period, I travelled extensively. I had to find a balance. I worked more then. But now my kids are with me, they are pretty self-sufficient and they are extremely supportive of my work.

Q: Tell us a bit about your childhood, your ambitions and who inspired or influenced you?

A: I was brought up in a family that had a small business, and I was always pampered. My parents were always protective of me. Interestingly, I picked up adventure sports only after my marriage. But if I hadn’t taken that proactive initiative, nothing would have been possible. Whatever I start, I try to finish. My husband sees these capabilities in me. Somehow, something pushes me to jump.

Q: Being a woman, has that affected your road to where you are today, and how?

A: Nobody wanted me to continue. [But], that did not stop me, and I am not planning to stop either. This is what keeps me going. I will continue to do this until the end of time.

Q: What is your main message for the younger generation? What should they learn from your experience?

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Archana Sardana unfurled the Indian flag at a depth of 30 metres in the ocean, off Andaman’s Neil Island, and set a new record in the process.[/caption] A: Whatever fears you have in your mind, do not let them conquer you. To all the parents out there, [I would like to say] do not make your fears your children’s fears. Let them experience things for themselves. If parents do not interfere, they will be ready to explore themselves and the world around them. Parents must take that initiative.

Q: What is your message for other women and girls who may be inspired by your journey and achievements?

A: Overcome your fears to really start living. (This article is part of U.N. Women’s Empowering Women — Empowering Humanity: Picture It! campaign in the lead-up to Beijing+20.)

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Written by Women’s Feature Service (WFS) and republished here in arrangement with WFS.

A passion to teach made Roshni quit her job and start a virtual school where she teaches science and maths to school children for free. Her YouTube channel has over 70,000 subscribers and she has uploaded over 3,900 videos so far. As a kid, Roshni Mukherjee would often dream of becoming a teacher. Little did she know that one day she would teach not just a few classes and students but thousands of people across the country. A Master’s degree holder in Physics, Roshni, in 2011, launched ExamFear.com, an online platform where she teaches science and maths to students from classes 9 to 12. ExamFear’s YouTube channel has over 74,000 subscribers, who can’t thank Roshni enough for making their tough lessons easy. Roshni has made approximately 3,900 videos, which cover a wide range of topics in physics, chemistry, maths, and biology.

“It was mere passion that made me start ExamFear. I found that many schools offering quality education are very costly, while those schools that are cheaper usually do not have good quality education. So I wanted to come up with a platform that could address this issue and help students who cannot afford to pay for tuitions,” says Roshni.

Roshni’s journey from a full-time job to full-time teaching

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Roshni quit her job to teach science and maths to kids online for free.[/caption] After completing her Master’s degree, Roshni had wanted to enter the teaching profession. But due to her father’s untimely death she had to take up a job with a multinational company in order to support her family. Teaching took a backseat then but it was constantly on her mind. Roshni was unable to suppress her passion for long. She had always wanted to be a teacher and nothing could stop her. She started ExamFear while working full time at her multinational job.

“It was very hectic. I would work six days a week and work on the videos at night or on Sundays,” she recalls. As the number of subscribers grew and Roshni became more confident about her venture, she quit her job to pursue ExamFear full time.

Unaware of the true response and impact of her videos, Roshni’s only concern was to teach kids online. The comments and messages that she received from students across the country boosted her spirits.

A matter of pride

[embedvideo id="jzSjnNUEcRw" website="youtube"] Roshni usually uploads one video every day, and in the past four years, has never missed uploading a lesson.

“I receive messages from so many people. Recently, a student messaged me that he has been following my videos for three years now, and they have helped him score well in his exams without having to join tuition classes. He has now got admission in NIT. Such examples keep me motivated,” Roshni says.

After uploading the videos, Roshni never forgets to look at the comments and address any queries or issues that the students may have. In her videos, Roshni says she always tries to co-relate science and maths theories with real life example to make difficult concepts easier to understand. The use of images and graphics makes the lessons even more interesting and comprehensible.

Making ends meet

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The videos are fun and Roshni uses real life examples to make the concept look easier.[/caption] Given that the lessons offered are for free and Roshni does not have a permanent job, she also launched a website where anyone can contribute to her venture. “The channel has started making a little money from Google ads. Also, I have a section on the website where people can contribute whatever they like. It is completely voluntary. If anyone wants to pay, they can,” she says. In the future, Roshni wants to expand her work. She is planning to make videos for students of classes 6-8 too. In addition, she wants to make videos to teach basic English.

“There are many kids who are not fluent in English. And since they can easily access YouTube from anywhere, this will be very useful for them,” she says.

Roshni wants her videos to reach remote locations of the country where students who don't have access to good education can benefit from them. You can write to Roshni at – examfearvideos@gmail.com or visit her website.

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They come from homes ridden with poverty, violence and abuse in the darkest of slums in the nation’s capital. Sonal Kapoor believes art and colours help these young girls heal.

“These little brats are learning about ‘creativity from nature’. They are the first generation of daughters in their family to get an education - these days they pop up from behind my chair and under the office table to show me their report cards. They have scored extremely well at school. I cannot stop smiling. Such rock stars!” – says Sonal Kapoor about the young girls hovering around her.

Sonal is the founder of Protsahan, a social enterprise that uses creative education and art innovation to empower street children and young adolescent girls.

This is one of the several ways in which Sonal makes the world smile - by sharing such beautiful stories about the delightful children she works with in Delhi. And this one was shared about a week before Protsahan turned five in May this year. From completing her MBA to exploring corporate jobs and finally finding the one thing that would change her world view forever, Sonal’s journey has been that of learning, unlearning, numerous experiences, overwhelming tales, struggles, endless working hours, and lots of smiles.

The beginning

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"Simple hand crafted gifts from my lovely girls at Protsahan who are learning to craft dignity in tokens of love." - Sonal Kapoor[/caption] It all started when the 24-year-old Sonal was shooting a film for a corporate. She came across a pregnant woman who had six daughters and was expecting her seventh child. The young lady was sitting with one of her daughters when Sonal approached her with an apple. Seeing this, the mother told her that the little girl would not be able to recognize it as a fruit, simply because she had never seen one. As the conversation continued, Sonal heard this woman utter words that would change the trajectory of her own life. The woman was living in poverty and obviously struggling to take care of her children. In a very matter-of-fact manner, she told Sonal, that if she had a daughter again she was quite prepared to strangle the child. So unfortunate was their condition that she was already planning on sending one of her daughters, 8-year-old Julie, to a brothel to bring in money that would in turn feed the rest of the family. Sonal says she froze on hearing these words. It took her just about an hour to make up her mind that she wanted to change the life of girls like Julie. And within three weeks, Protsahan started as a one room creative arts and design school in a dark slum in Delhi.

Why art?

Left a CD on my work table. Day later she transformed the e waste into a piece of art. She calls her fish: Pari :-)... Posted by Sonal Kapoor on Friday, April 24, 2015

Protsahan aims at empowering every at-risk adolescent girl with creative education and entrepreneurial skills training so that she can break the extreme cycle of poverty and abuse. And this NGO does so with the help of the '5-pillars of creativity model,' which includes design, art, digital stories, photography, technology and cinema.

“We use simple techniques, but with a difference. We use scrabble to teach them English, cartoons and photographs to keep the interest alive, game and art based education, digital storytelling to make teaching a fun process. Our sole mission is to encourage creative education and skills development through creative design thinking approaches. Thus was born the teaching pedagogy using art and technology. We are compiling all our approaches and releasing them under open source soon. Our team comprises the best brains from across India -- ranging from students from IITs, IIMs to youth from well-known companies in Johannesburg, Singapore and New York, and those in the creative industry. We believe that working with one child, and transforming her in entirety, has to be done right,” says Sonal, here.

The children are also taken through a bridge course which usually goes on for two to two-and-a-half years, alongside the arts courses. In the bridge course, all the basics are taught by teachers from the local community who have been trained by Protsahan over the years. The aim is to bring the kids at the same learning level as that of other children of their age in government schools where they are finally admitted.

Today she confided her fears in me. She crafted this when I was explaining her that it wasn't her fault when the man at... Posted by Sonal Kapoor on Saturday, April 4, 2015

Sonal gives examples of how art helps the children at her centre heal. “Two of the girls were raped when they were 4-5 years old. They have been with us since they were 8-10 years of age. Their parents were least bothered about them and the community people looked down upon them. We put them through a two year bridge course. Today, they are really really good with computers and the internet. They have made their own films for UNICEF. They are amazing with camera work and they make fabulous Madhubani paintings. There are other kids who have fought severe physical abuse, one of them fought child marriage at the age of 12, one comes from a family where the father had passed away and the mother was ill with TB. The point is that when they come from such backgrounds - art and colours helps them heal. That is where their souls are happy.”

A day in the life of the founder

Today, Sonal is one of the youngest social entrepreneurial woman in India to lead an international non-profit, and Protsahan, which has been lauded with several awards and recognitions, (find details here), is growing one child at a time with numerous projects and campaigns that are transforming lives.

Ask Sonal what a day in her life looks life, and she very honestly says, “There are instances when I am like Oh My God - I don’t know how to solve this! There are times when it gets crazy in terms of balancing life, working 18-19 hours a day.”

She continues working at a day job, two-three days in the week, as a consultant for organizations like HelpAge India and the UN among others. But, “every day is a Protsahan day,” she says, because on these days, her work at the NGO starts in the evening. The rest of the week she is at the Protsahan centre in Uttam Nagar.

“Even though I am not there, the schools and projects are running. Work never ends. On 3-4 days a week when I go to Protsahan, we do different things. We are rescuing children, meeting mothers of the kids, conducting sessions, etc.”

On empathy and scaling up

One of the many things that Sonal says she has learnt from working in the NGO sector is that there is constant talk about scaling up. It is the one thing that makes her angry. “Everybody wants to scale up. It looks good on annual reports, it looks good everywhere. But many people don’t want to look at empathy. Suppose there is a training session for thousand children for an hour; in the end, it becomes 1000 children reached, 1000 children impacted, 1000 children transformed in that on hour session, when it comes to reports. Here we are trying to work with 400 girls since the last five years, making sure that they turn out to be rock stars, that everything in their life is sorted -- from the point when they were picked up from a garbage bin to the point where they are taking lessons in classes. But everybody is looking at numbers so much that it makes me sad. If our approach for one individual is not right, then what is essence of scaling up?” This post from her Facebook wall makes her stand pretty clear.

"Took months and months to get the first few words out of her. I remember, how for the first 4-5 months, we just welcomed her to PROTSAHAN and hugged her so tight each day. Then the next day. And then some more the next day too. "Donors" asked for her report card with "progress figures". I told them, there weren't any and that wasn't our priority. Many took away the sponsorship money because I didn't have her progress in Math and Hindi to show. That time, we were only killing the fear in her eyes. Ofcourse many don't get that. Today, after 11 months, she is learning to read and write and dance on simple songs. Am sure, it wasn't Hindi or Math. It was just those hugs that made her come to the school each day. And then the next day. And then some more. Until now, when we have admitted her to a good government school in grade 2 directly and she only continues to grow."

To know more about Protsahan, visit the website here or send them an email here: info.protsahan@gmail.com.

Photo: www.corbisimages.com

1. Parashar was always interested in sports and often took part in various sporting events in her school days. She also learnt swimming and participated in plays and march pasts.

2. An IPS officer of 2006 batch, Parashar was first posted as the Assistant Commandant of Makum in 2008. She was soon given the responsibility of controlling the clashes between Bodo and illegal Bangladeshi militants.

3. She is best known for taking down 16 militants, arresting over 64 and seizing tons of arms and ammunition in just 15 months .

4. Sanjukta completed her graduation in Political Science from IP College, Delhi University. She then did her master’s in International Relations from JNU, New Delhi. Not only this, she also earned an M.Phil followed by a Phd in US foreign policy! You can proudly call her Dr. Sanjukta.

5. Sanjukta is married to an IAS officer posted in Assam and the couple often spends months apart without meeting.

6. She also has a son and Sanjukta’s mother takes care of him in her absence.

7. As Superintendent of Police in Sonitpur district, she heads a team of CRPF jawans with AK-47 in the terror-infested region and has become one of the most feared police officers among Bodo militants.

8. She is a humble and loving person and says only criminals should fear her.

9. Apart from doing her duty of a tough cop, she also spends days in relief camps to meet people who are far from their homes and often distributes candies to two-wheeler riders who wear helmets.

10. She has received various threats from National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) but that doesn’t affect her determination to perform her duties.

All photos otherwise mentioned: Facebook

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1. NL Beno Zephine, a 25-year old girl from Tamil Nadu, created history by becoming the country's first 100 percent visually challenged Indian Foreign Services (IFS) officer.

2. Ever since Zephine received the news from the government of securing the 343rd rank in the Civil Services Examination of 2013, she has been busy giving motivational speeches and addressing students across the state.

3. A post-graduate in English from Madras University, Beno worked as a probationary worker at State Bank of India.

4. A socially active person from childhood, Beno always gave a piece of her mind to those who would leave the taps on and waste water.

5. Though Zephine cleared her UPSC exam last year, she received confirmation on her posting on June 12.

6. Visually impaired since birth, Zephine never let her disability come in her way of achieving her dreams. And an extremely supportive family, friends and teachers made her reach the place where she is today.

7. As there is not enough study material available in Braille, her family and friends read for long hours to help her prepare for her exams.

8. She also used Job Access With Speech (JAWS), a software that allows the visually challenged to read from a computer screen.

9. Former diplomats have backed this decision as many deserving and promising candidates lost out on the opportunity due to a lack of 20:20 vision.

10. An active student throughout, Zephine participated in various debate and extempore competitions in school and is looking forward to now speaking as a diplomat.

All photos: Twitter

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Volunteers from over 50 countries have joined forces to change a 70 acre arid land into a lush forest.

The first thing you’ll notice when you step inside Sadhana Forest are the plastic cola bottles. Only this time, instead of being strewn across the land, they are carefully poised with a wick to enable irrigation (wick irrigation method).

The forest is now buzzing with birds and insects of all kinds and the volunteers have planted 29,000 Tropical Dry Evergreen Forest plants of 160 different indigenous species, and are constantly mulching and caring for them. Survival rate in average is between 80% – 90%.

Aviram smiles and adds, “We read a lot of books on the subject but it was and is still a constant learning process for us. Every soil is different and the land itself is the best teacher.”

Zero waste policy

This could be a game changer in global warming as the trees do not release carbon dioxide even when burned or cut.

Native knowledge

One of their Swiss volunteers Katharina sums it up just right, “May there be more forests to grow people!”

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This record by the Indian Expedition came to be known as “9 Atop Everest”.

Photo: M S Kohli/immersive.imgix.net

May 2015 marked the 50th Anniversary of the conquest of Mount Everest by an Indian expedition team.

Photo: www.namoleague.com

India finally became the fourth country to scale the world’s highest mountain.

Photo: Wikimedia

The Successful Indian Expedition of 1965 Indian Expedition had many “Firsts”:

Photo: HPS Ahluwalia

Photo: Capt. M.S. Kohli/ www.mheadventures.com

To celebrate this momentous occasion, the Indian Postal Service brought out a special Stamp and First Day Cover.

Photo: 4.bp.blogspot.com

With an aim to curtail the destruction being caused to the Himalayan eco-system, Captain M S Kohli and several of the world’s top mountaineers, including the legendary mountaineer late Sir Edmund Hillary, founded the Himalayan Environment Trust.

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This team of entertaining and passionate teachers has an average age of 64 years with the youthfulness of that of twenty-year-olds.

Humble beginnings

A first-of-its-kind back in the 80’s, this innovative solution of an MSL conceived by Mrs. Deshpande was ideal to address the lack of resources and quality education in rural India.

Within months, the word of the MSL had spread to various rural schools in Maharashtra and the Vidnyanvahini team had more invitations to schools than their schedules could permit.

Age is a state of mind

For the last 5 years, the village has seen their crop flourish, with an onion crop worth Rs. 3 Crores this year alone!

And, work goes on

Here is a group of Samaritans who refuse let retirement dictate terms. Come rain or sunshine, or even weak knees and back aches, the Vidnyanvahini team is on the road ready to make science education hands-on.

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The team of doctors started travelling to some of the remotest villages of India to treat visually impaired people free of cost under their “gift of vision” initiative.

The unique 80:20 model

Going an extra mile

Training the paramedics

Defeating all odds

The helping hand

Support for their Vision

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And within a month she could see the difference. Not only had her pain reduced, but she also felt a positive energy within her. Impressed by the impact of yoga, she decided to spread more awareness about it.

Within no time, Basole was teaching yoga to the entire village. Today Basole teaches yoga in 15 to 20 villages and people often seek her advice for various ailments. From a shy housewife to becoming the face of her village, Basole has traveled a long way.

In the future, Basole wants to spread yoga to each village and street of the country. She believes it is the perfect way to a healthy lifestyle.

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1. India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi led thousands in a spectacular mass participation attempt for two Yoga world record titles on June 21, 2015 in New Delhi.

Photo: PTI

2. Approximately 900 million mobile users across India received an SMS from the Prime Minister in connection with the International Day of Yoga.

Photo: intoday.in

3. Dubai expat Ivan Stanley set the first world record of performing Shirshasana for 61 minutes non-stop.

Photo: www.thenational.ae

4. Yoga at the highest altitude in the world - Siachen Glacier: Indian Army Jawans and Officers at 18,800 feet above sea level (probably a World Record).

Photo: PTI

5. INDIA POST released commemorative Stamps, First Day Covers and Minisheet on the occasion of the International Day of Yoga on 21 June, 2015.

Photo: rainbowstampclub.blogspot.in

6. The Reserve Bank of India released two commemorative coins of denominations ₹ 10/- and ₹ 100/- on the International Day of Yoga.

Photo: lh3.googleusercontent.com

May 2015 marked the 50^th Anniversary of the conquest of Mount Everest by an Indian expedition team.

10. The Ministry of AYUSH was formed on 9^th November, 2014.