Most people retire from competitive sport long before they retire from work. For N S Dattatreya, a former manager with the State Bank of Mysore, the opposite is true. He retired from banking in 1989, spent three decades living quietly in Bengaluru, and then, in January 2019, laced up a pair of running shoes for the very first time at the age of 91 and entered his first marathon.

He has not stopped since.

At 98, Dattatreya has participated in nearly 300 marathons and walkathons, won five gold medals at the 21st Asia Masters Athletics Championship in Malaysia, and continues to be a regular face at Bengaluru's running events, including the TCS World 10K, one of India's most prestigious road races.

But the numbers, remarkable as they are, are not really what drives him.

"I want to be a role model for young people," he has said. "They should realise there is a life outside the virtual world and make walking or running 5 km a day an important part of their daily routine."

From a football field to a starting line

Dattatreya was a sportsman long before running entered his life. As a schoolboy, he was part of his school's football team, and a sense of physical discipline stayed with him through decades of professional life. Even during the demanding years of his banking career, he maintained a habit of staying fit, though formal competition remained on the sidelines.

After three decades of retirement, something shifted. A growing interest in distance running, combined with a desire to do something meaningful with his energy, led him to sign up for his first race in early 2019.

Crossing that first finish line was transformative. After completing his first marathon, he felt a deep desire to continue — and continue he did.

Within his first year alone, he participated in 90 events, both physical races and virtual running events, covering distances ranging from 5 km to more than 20 km in a single outing.

By the time he was 96 and preparing to become the first person of that age to complete the TCS World 10K Bengaluru, his total event count had surpassed 100.

Five gold medals and a seat at the Asian table

What set Dattatreya apart from being merely an enthusiastic participant was what happened when he took his running beyond India.

In December 2019, at 91 years of age, he represented India at the 21st Asia Masters Athletics Championship in Malaysia, competing against athletes from across the continent in his age category. He returned home with five gold medals across different track and field categories.

The achievement placed him firmly among India's most decorated senior athletes and earned him recognition as an Asian champion — a title that sits alongside the more quietly earned one of neighbourhood inspiration.

His son Murli began running alongside him after Dattatreya encouraged him to join, turning their morning 5 km runs into a shared routine.

The image of a father and son running the same course, with the father in his nineties leading the way, captures something of the spirit that has made Dattatreya so widely admired.

Changing lives, one kilometre at a time

The ripple effect of Dattatreya's running extends well beyond race-day medals.

Among the many people whose lives he has changed is Kuldip Singh Jadav, a corporate professional from Vadodara who met Dattatreya in 2019 when he was briefly transferred to Bengaluru.

"Dattatreya uncle changed my life," Kuldip says. "When I met him for the first time, I was stunned that a 91-year-old could run a marathon. From that moment, I felt that if he could cover long distances, why couldn't I?"

Kuldip went on to participate in nearly 50 cycling and running events, making physical activity a core part of his daily life. He is one of thousands who credit Dattatreya with motivating them to move.

This is, in many ways, Dattatreya's real project.

He is deeply concerned by what he sees as a generation absorbed in screens and sedentary routines, and he regards his presence on race courses as a living argument against inertia.

"For me, health is wealth," he has said. "I run to keep my fitness on track, and I suggest all youngsters should do the same."

Participation in the TCS World 10K holds additional emotional meaning for him. Having lost his second son to cancer, he draws comfort from the fact that the event raises funds for cancer research, making each finish-line crossing feel like something more than a personal milestone.

What science says about older adults who run

Research published over the past decade consistently supports what Dattatreya appears to embody intuitively.

Studies published in journals including the British Journal of Sports Medicine have found that regular aerobic exercise in older adults is associated with significantly better cardiovascular health, a lower risk of cognitive decline, and improved physical function well into people's eighties and nineties.

The key, researchers note, is consistency over decades rather than dramatic late-life interventions.

For Dattatreya, three decades of maintaining general fitness before he ever ran a race may have laid the physical foundation for everything that followed at 91 and beyond.

At 96, he shows little sign of slowing down.

Events continue to be marked on his calendar. The starting line, whenever he approaches it, draws the kind of attention that no elite runner can quite replicate, because watching a nonagenarian in running shoes prepare for a 10-kilometre course does something to the people around him.

It quietly removes every excuse they had for standing still.

All images courtesy: Instagram/@ns_dattatreya_at_96

Sources:

'At 92, NS Dattatreya runs TCS World 10K in a bid to inspire': by Olympics.com, Published on 17 December 2020

'TCS World 10K Bengaluru 2024: Meet NS Dattatreya, 96, the oldest participant': by myKhel, Published on 25 April 2024

'Sole mates unite' (NS Dattatreya, 96, at TCS World 10K 2024): by The Hindu Bengaluru, Published on 26 April 2024

'92-year-old marathon runner wins five gold medals at the Asian Championships': by Book of Achievers, Published on 26 February 2021

'Want to be role model for youngsters, says 92-year-old runner': by NewSD, Published on 17 December 2020

Originally reported and written in March 2025, this story has been republished as part of our archival content.

Summer is the perfect time to get outdoors and explore the wonders of nature with your kids. With longer days and warmer weather, you can engage in exciting and educational activities that not only keep them entertained but also spark their curiosity about the world around them. 

Whether you are trekking through the lush hills of Coorg, kayaking through serene mangrove forests in Goa, or participating in a beach cleanup in Chennai, these activities are sure to inspire a love for nature and a deeper understanding of environmental conservation. 

So, pack your bags and get ready to make this summer one to remember with these unique, family-friendly experiences across India.

1. Firefly watching in Maharashtra

Where to go: Purushwadi, Rajmachi, or Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary

What to do 

Visit these locations in late May or early June to witness thousands of glowing fireflies lighting up the night sky. Take an evening nature walk or camp overnight for an unforgettable experience.

 

Why it’s unique

Fireflies create a magical spectacle, offering kids a chance to learn about bioluminescence and the importance of preserving natural habitats.

2. Tea plucking in Munnar, Kerala

Where to go: Kolukkumalai Tea Estate or Kannan Devan Hills

What to do 

Let your kids try their hands at plucking tea leaves while learning about the tea-making process. Tour a tea factory and sip freshly brewed tea while enjoying breathtaking views.

 

Why it’s unique

Kids can experience first-hand how tea is grown and processed, making them appreciate the work behind their everyday cup of chai.

3. Night safaris in Jim Corbett, Uttarakhand

Where to go: Jim Corbett National Park

What to do

Take a guided night safari through the forests and spot nocturnal creatures like leopards, civets, and owls. Listen to the sounds of the jungle while learning about its ecosystem.

 

Why it’s unique

The thrill of exploring nature after dark sparks curiosity and builds an appreciation for wildlife conservation.

4. Mangrove kayaking in Goa

Where to go: Chapora River, Nerul Backwaters, or Zuari River

What to do

Paddle through serene mangrove forests, spotting crabs, kingfishers, and other coastal wildlife. Kids can learn about the role of mangroves in protecting coastlines.

 

Why it’s unique

This eco-friendly adventure is a mix of fun and education, helping kids understand the delicate balance of marine ecosystems.

5. Turtle hatching in Odisha

Where to go: Rushikulya Beach or Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary

What to do 

Visit from March to June to watch thousands of Olive Ridley turtle hatchlings make their way to the sea. Conservationists often guide visitors on how to observe without disturbing them.

 

Why it’s unique

Seeing tiny turtles take their first steps into the ocean is a heartwarming experience that teaches kids the importance of wildlife conservation.

6. Coffee and spice farm exploration in Coorg, Karnataka

Where to go: Local plantations in Madikeri or Chikmagalur

What to do

Walk through coffee and spice farms, smelling fresh cardamom and pepper while learning about sustainable farming practices.

 

Why it’s unique

Kids get to see how their favourite spices and coffee grow while enjoying a sensory-rich experience in lush greenery.

7. Build a bird feeder and track birds

Where to go: Your own backyard or parks like Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur

What to do 

Create a DIY bird feeder using recycled materials and observe visiting birds. Encourage kids to track different species and their behaviours.

 

Why it’s unique

This activity nurtures patience, observation skills, and a sense of responsibility for local wildlife.

8. Eco-treks and village walks in Meghalaya

Where to go: Mawlynnong, Cherrapunji, or Dawki

What to do

Trek through living root bridges, visit clean villages and learn from locals about sustainable living.

 

Why it’s unique

Kids gain hands-on exposure to eco-friendly ways of life while appreciating Meghalaya’s stunning landscapes.

9. Beach cleanup and sand art in Chennai

Where to go: Marina Beach or Elliot’s Beach

What to do

Participate in a community beach cleanup, followed by a fun sand art session. Explain the impact of plastic pollution on marine life.

 

Why it’s unique

This combines creativity with environmental responsibility, making kids more conscious of their actions.

10. Stargazing and camping in Ladakh

Where to go: Pangong Lake or Nubra Valley

What to do

Set up camp under the vast Himalayan sky and use a telescope to observe constellations, planets, and shooting stars.

 

Why it’s unique

With minimal light pollution, Ladakh offers one of the best night skies in India, making it a dream for budding astronomers.

Edited by Leila Badyari

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Books have a unique way of changing lives. For some, they open doors to new worlds; for others, they become the spark for a lifelong mission. For 79-year-old Anke Gowda from Karnataka, books became both a source of knowledge and a promise to ensure that no child is denied access to learning simply because of poverty.

This year, that extraordinary commitment earned him the Padma Shri, one of India’s highest civilian honours. 

But long before the recognition arrived, Gowda had already spent decades quietly building a legacy that now houses over 20 lakh books and serves thousands of readers.

A childhood shaped by the absence of books

Born into a farming family in Karnataka’s Mandya district, Gowda grew up in a village where books were a luxury. As a student, he often travelled long distances to Mysuru just to study and access reading material. The struggle left a lasting impression on him.

He understood firsthand what it meant to hunger for knowledge but have limited resources. Determined that future generations should not face the same barriers, he began collecting books wherever and whenever he could.

Building a dream, one book at a time

Gowda's dream did not take shape overnight. To support his family, he worked many jobs over the years – as a bus conductor, in a sugar factory, as a milk seller, and later as an insurance agent. But no matter how modest his earnings were, books remained a priority.

Whenever he could, he brought home another title. Then another. And another.

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What began as a small personal collection slowly took over rooms, shelves, and eventually entire buildings. Family members recall how books occupied every available corner of their lives. Yet for Gowda, each one represented an opportunity that someone else might not have had.

Over the decades, he carefully collected rare manuscripts, dictionaries, magazines, and research material in multiple languages. He wasn't building a library for himself; he was creating the kind of resource he had once wished existed in his own childhood.

That lifelong effort eventually became Pustak Mane — a sprawling library that today houses nearly 20 lakh books and welcomes everyone from schoolchildren and teachers to researchers and UPSC aspirants.

A family that lives among books

For the Gowda family, the library is more than a public institution; it is home.

Anke Gowda, his wife Vijayalakshmi, and their son Sagar continue to live within the library premises, surrounded by the very books that shaped their lives. Together, they help care for and preserve the collection, ensuring that visitors can freely access its wealth of knowledge.

Their story is a reminder that meaningful change does not always begin with wealth, influence, or grand plans. Sometimes, it starts with a child who knows what it feels like to go without a book.

Today, the boy who once travelled miles in search of reading material has created a space where learning is within reach for anyone who walks through its doors. 

And perhaps that is Anke Gowda's greatest achievement — not the millions of books he collected, but the millions of possibilities they continue to open for others.

Source:
'Once a bus conductor, now a Padma Awardee: Who is Anke Gowda, the man who built India’s largest free library with two-million-books' by Economic Times, Published on 25 January 2026.

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

Growing up in the Western Ghats, Mangal Shetty (59) and his wife Ambika developed a shared passion for nature, which continued to bring them closer. Dissatisfied with life in Bengaluru, they longed for something more.

So, in 2007, Mangal, an “entrepreneur turned ecopreneur”, says he decided to go on a quest to explore the possibility of an eco-friendly lifestyle where he could practice his values. And it was during this journey, he came across a place in coastal Karnataka nestled in the Aghanashini estuary — a space he would eventually call ‘home’.

Over the years, the sustainable project that Mangal and his wife embarked upon here is a testament to their love for nature. Their dream home, a three-bedroom plot, rises within the forests on the estuarine beach where the Aghanashini river meets the Arabian Sea. Blink twice, and you’ll almost lose sight of the home as the dense foliage camouflages it.

As anyone who passes by this land would tell you, it is one with nature.

‘I turned to nature’

 

Mangal, who was always of a business bent of mind, found himself seeking something beyond the confines of the corporate world. After discovering a potential acquisition opportunity, he sold his current company and shifted his focus to his long-awaited passion.

“I wanted to do something with nature and communities. I always believed that one can profit while creating value for the people and the ecology. So I bought land in this estuarine village. What drew me to this spot was the Aghanashini estuary,” he says, adding that in 2012, he started the Panchabhuta Conservation Foundation — an NGO that works with the local communities in Aghanashini to develop green enterprises in the area, while preserving the local environment in the estuary.

The Aghanashini river, originating in the Western Ghats, flows into the Arabian Sea and is said to be one of the very few virgin rivers as the flow is unobstructed. The estuary is laden with mangroves and abundant in biodiversity, attracting several species of mangroves, fishes, bivalves, oysters, crabs, birds, insects and animals. While the thick and dense vegetation impressed Mangal immediately, it also posed a problem during construction.

 

“My philosophy while designing the home was simple. I wanted something that would be built in nature and built by nature. I wanted a home that would be constructed without disturbing the natural ecosystem here,” he shares.

The brief that he gave architect Ajith Andagere of Andagere Architects was born out of the desire to have a space that would energise, revitalise and rejuvenate the habitat. The process of creating this “elemental” home took a total of four years and underwent several rounds of modifications before Mangal finalised it.

“The elements had to be inside the home as well as outside. One should be able to embrace it all and protect themselves from these elements by shutting the doors. And, you should be able to hear the birds.”

 

Ask him about the size in square feet of the home and he says, “A home like this cannot be measured in square feet. It is discreet, not easily visible, and the space is distributed within the home. Nothing is confined. I love to move, so the house has been designed in a way that provides for the flow of space,” he adds.

The plot of land is almost like a jungle with trees interspersed thickly that rise through the decks of the home with the roof built around them in a way to accommodate them. It entirely comprises the main house — with two ensuite bedrooms along with an attached kitchen and dining space, a guest studio, a chef's cottage, a caretaker's cottage, and a space for the water tank, a boiler and solar panels.

In 2017, the family was ready to move into the home.

 

A walk through the home

Built on stilts, the association between the home and the trees is almost poetic. “Our bath place has a coconut tree in the middle as we did not want to cut down any trees. The water we bathe in feeds the tree,” says Mangal.

This tone of mindfulness of nature is echoed throughout the rest of the home. Cane, bamboo and stone are the hero materials used for construction and furnishings. Recycled acacia wood from the fallen branches and trees in the area is used for the flooring, employing only a small fraction of cement for the construction.

Laterite stones have been laid in the washrooms while terracotta has been infused into the dining space. The rafters and roofing have been made with recycled coconut tree wood.

The home’s energy needs are fulfilled by the 4KVA solar panels, except for the freezers that depend on traditional electricity. Air conditioning isn’t used at all. The family expresses their appreciation for the home's elemental design, which they believe contributes to its wonderful ambience, and they enjoy living in it throughout different seasons.

 

“The canopy of trees means it is cool in summers and comfortable during winters. In fact, the home is 2 degrees Celsius cooler than other homes on the coast,” says Mangal.

Owing to the rainfall that this side of Karnataka receives, the family has two rainwater harvesting tanks with a capacity of 20,000 litres. The 10-acre plot of land is also home to a number of plantations and trees — such as coconuts, turmeric, cashew nuts, papayas, lemon grass, and more.

But ask Mangal his favourite spot in the home, and he says it is the dining space. "It is an open dining space, a gathering space that overlooks the Kirubeli Cove and the Aghanashini estuary. The visual communication is exceptional and one can feel the breeze and hear the bird songs. It's a magical spot."

Edited by Pranita Bhat

Climate policy in India has long lived at an altitude — dense national documents, state-level action plans, ministerial committees, and intergovernmental negotiations that happen far from the fields, forests, and water sources where climate change is most directly felt.

Karnataka is now attempting something different: taking climate planning to the village itself.

The state is working towards building individual climate action plans for each of its 5,994 gram panchayats and 314 urban local bodies — a scale of decentralisation that, if achieved, would make it the first state in India to institutionalise climate accountability at the village level.

The announcement was made by T Mahesh, Director of the Administration Department at the Environmental Management and Policy Research Institute (EMPRI), the state's nodal agency for climate change, at a sustainability conclave organised by the Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce in May 2026.

"Karnataka's ambition is to make every gram panchayat a unit of climate accountability," Mahesh said. "Where a farmer in Bidar and a panchayat leader in Kodagu both understand, own and act on their role in India's net-zero journey."

Building climate governance from the ground up

The push to the panchayat level is the latest step in Karnataka’s longer climate governance journey.

Its State Action Plan for Climate Change (KSAPCC), prepared in 2021, received central approval only in April 2024 after a three-year delay. Following the 2025–26 state budget announcement to implement the plan, a Chief Secretary-led committee began setting targets across 13 departments, from agriculture and horticulture to urban development and energy.

The state has since mapped 105 key performance indicators across 50 departments, with monitoring taking place monthly at the apex level.

District-level training programmes on these climate KPIs are already underway in 2026. Panchayat-level plans are intended as the next step — carrying state-level climate tracking all the way down to village institutions, where decisions around land use, water management, agriculture, and energy are made daily.

The KSAPCC estimated Karnataka would require approximately Rs 52,827 crore between 2025 and 2030 to implement its climate measures, while largely working within existing allocations.

What climate planning at the village level could mean

The idea of every gram panchayat having a climate plan may sound ambitious, but local examples suggest the concept is already taking shape in pockets across India.

In Kerala, the Meenangadi panchayat began its carbon neutrality project in 2016 through tree banking, organic farming, water body restoration, and energy-efficiency measures, drawing delegations from Karnataka’s rural development institutions to study the model.

In Maharashtra, sustained work by local leadership introduced solar power, LPG access, and waste segregation, eventually helping one village achieve net-zero carbon emissions and gain recognition as the country’s first net-zero village.

These examples are fewer exceptions than evidence that many ingredients for local climate action already exist: community ownership, local data, modest infrastructure investments, and sustained training.

Researchers and policy experts broadly agree that meaningful panchayat-level climate plans would need local vulnerability mapping, climate literacy for elected representatives, convergence with schemes like MGNREGA, and access to localised data on water, crops, and soil.

Importantly, the planning structure already exists.

The Gram Panchayat Development Plan, institutionalised under the 14th and 15th Finance Commissions, provides a framework into which climate priorities can be integrated. Until now, what has largely been missing is a deliberate mandate.

….

Karnataka's plan is not yet complete but the architecture is visible.

EMPRI has been established as the nodal climate agency, coordinating across departments rather than working in isolation. A Chief Secretary-led apex committee — unusual in its seniority — signals this is a governance priority, not a departmental side project. 

105 KPIs mapped across 50 departments are already being monitored monthly, with district-level training underway through 2026.

That training spans Karnataka's diversity deliberately. In coffee-growing Chikkamagaluru, horticulture KPIs carry more weight. In the coastal taluks of Uttara Kannada, fisheries and mangrove cover matter. 

In Kalaburagi and Yadgir, which are among the state's most drought-exposed districts, water table monitoring and crop diversification sit at the centre.

The state is not building a parallel system. It is asking existing institutions such as gram panchayats, MGNREGA and sectoral departments to see what they already do through a climate lens. 

The Rs 52,827 crore estimated for 2025–2030 is largely expected from convergence with existing allocations, not new spending lines.

What remains is the last mile: the actual panchayat plans, trained elected representatives, and localised data that would make those plans meaningful rather than ceremonial.

Why Karnataka’s scale matters

Karnataka’s ambition is significant because of its scale.

Individual villages and panchayats across India have pursued climate action independently, but no state has yet attempted to make climate planning universal across its rural governance system.

With nearly 2.5 lakh gram panchayats across India, a functioning model in Karnataka could become easier for other states to adapt than reinvent, particularly because panchayati raj structures already exist nationwide.

The challenges remain substantial. Panchayats continue to be under-resourced, climate literacy among local representatives remains uneven, and dedicated climate finance at the grassroots is still limited.

But Karnataka’s approach does not ask villages to start from scratch.

Instead, it asks local institutions to see existing responsibilities — managing water, farming land, sourcing energy, handling waste — through a climate lens and plan accordingly.

If Karnataka succeeds, it may offer something India’s climate governance has long lacked: proof that accountability need not remain at the top, and that the village — often the first to experience climate impacts — can also become the first unit of climate action.

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Neurological Disorder Support Stories

In most Indian kitchens, cheese still arrives in familiar cubes of paneer or in the household-favourite form of Amul cheese.

But beyond supermarket shelves and café menus, another cheese map exists across the country. In the high Himalayas, milk was boiled, pressed, and dried into hard nuggets that could survive long winters.

In Jammu’s pastoral belts, handmade discs of fermented cheese hissed on iron tawas before being tucked into kulchas.

Along Bengal’s old river ports, cheesemakers smoked salted curds over wood fires, carrying traces of colonial trade routes into local kitchens.

Long before imported cheddar or processed slices entered Indian cities, communities across the subcontinent had already developed their own ways of preserving milk.

India has always been rich in dairy traditions. But heat and humidity made European-style ageing difficult across much of the country. Instead of long-matured wheels of cheese, food cultures evolved around ghee, curd, buttermilk, khoa, and fresh chhena. Here are some of India’s own cheeses:

Chhurpi: The cheese built for the Himalayas

In the mountain regions of Sikkim, Darjeeling, Arunachal Pradesh, Nepal, and Bhutan, chhurpi has long been less a delicacy and more a survival food.

Made traditionally from yak milk or cow’s milk, chhurpi appears in two forms. The softer version resembles cottage cheese and is often added to soups, momos, or eaten with rice. The harder variety is something entirely different, dried until it becomes almost stone-like.

People chew on hard chhurpi slowly for hours.

Its texture comes from repeated boiling, curdling, pressing, and drying. In remote Himalayan economies where refrigeration was unavailable, the cheese became portable nutrition for herders and traders traversing difficult terrain. It stored well, carried protein through harsh winters, and wasted little milk.

The taste is mildly smoky, earthy, and slightly sour, carrying traces of the wood fires often used during preparation.

Kalari: Jammu’s street-side cheese tradition

Further west, in Jammu’s Udhampur and Chenani regions, another cheese tells the story of pastoral communities who learned to preserve excess milk without industrial systems.

Kalari is often compared to mozzarella because of the way it melts and stretches when heated. But the cheese existed in Jammu’s food traditions long before global cheese comparisons became fashionable.

Traditionally prepared by the Gujjar and Bakerwal communities, kalari is made from cow’s or buffalo milk. The cheese is lightly fermented, shaped into discs, and stored briefly before cooking.

Its transformation happens on the pan.

Placed on a hot tawa, kalari slowly fries in its own fat. The outside turns brown and crisp while the inside softens into a molten, stretchy layer. Street vendors usually tuck it into kulchas with chutney, creating one of Jammu’s most recognisable local snacks.

Unlike factory-made cheese, kalari changes with the seasons. The flavour depends on the milk, grazing conditions, and the person making it. Some batches taste smoky. Others carry a mild tang or deeper creaminess.

Its unpredictability is part of its identity.

Bandel cheese and Bengal’s colonial memory

Near the Hooghly River in West Bengal, Bandel cheese still carries the imprint of Portuguese settlements that once shaped trade and food cultures across the region.

Believed to have evolved from cheesemaking techniques introduced centuries ago by Portuguese settlers and missionaries, Bandel cheese remains one of India’s most distinct dairy products.

Made from cow’s milk, the cheese is small, salty, dry, and dense. After the curds are separated, they are smoked, giving the cheese its sharp flavour and faint woody aroma. It is usually sold in two forms: plain and smoked.

Unlike cheeses designed to melt, Bandel cheese is often crumbled over toast, salads, snacks, or pasta. Its saltiness once helped preserve it in Bengal’s humid climate.

For decades, the cheese survived mostly within Anglo-Indian and Bengali Christian households, rarely appearing beyond niche local markets. But chefs and artisanal food stores are now reviving it as a heritage ingredient tied closely to Bengal’s layered history.

Topli: Goa’s Indo-Portuguese steamed cheese

Named after the small woven basket or “topli” in which it is traditionally shaped, Topli na cheese reflects Goa’s long Indo-Portuguese culinary history, where European cheesemaking methods slowly adapted to local milk, climate, and food habits.

Unlike aged European cheeses, Topli na cheese is delicate and highly perishable. It is made by curdling fresh cow’s milk and then lightly steaming or draining it inside small baskets, which give the cheese its characteristic round ridged shape. The result is a soft, airy texture somewhere between ricotta, cottage cheese, and soufflé.

The cheese carries a mild sweetness and fresh milky flavour rather than sharp saltiness.

More than just cheese

Across India, indigenous cheeses reveal how communities adapted to climate long before refrigeration or industrial food systems arrived.

Some cheeses were shaped by mountain survival. Others emerged from trade routes, migration, or pastoral movement.

Many never became large commercial products because they were designed for local climates and immediate consumption. But together, they challenge the idea that India lacked a cheese tradition.

The country’s cheese history was regional, practical, and hiding in plain sight for centuries.

Sources:

'Indian cheese wins four medals at Mundial do Queijo do Brasil 2026':  by The News Mill, Published on 23 April 2026

'Bengal's truly, sourly & surely? Campaign to get GI tag for 500-year-old 'Bandel cheese' gathers pace': by Deccan Herald Web Desk, Published on 25 August 2025

'India's cheese story is changing and mozzarella isn't the star anymore': by Mehak Malhotra, Published on 11 March 2026

Along the Belagavi–Sirsi highway near Haliyal in Uttara Kannada, red earth gives rise to a forest of mango saplings. Grafted stems rise in neat rows, stretching for kilometres — a quiet, green procession across the land.

The air carries the faint tang of moist soil and the rhythm of hands at work: farmers bending over tender shoots, tying, trimming, and nurturing them toward survival.

In villages like Havagi, Tergaon, and Antrolli, nursery yards hum with this craft.

“We use dried cow dung to fertilise the soil,” says 63-year-old Shanta Bhopal Karketi, her palms stained with earth. “The sapling must be strong from the beginning — only then will the orchard thrive.”

What began as a modest initiative in Tergaon has now spread across neighbouring villages, lining the highway for over four kilometres. Today, this stretch hosts more than 200 nurseries, each tended by families and ranging from half an acre to ten acres.

From small beginnings to a thriving ecosystem

Among the many nurseries are familiar local names — Jai Gurudev, Lakkaragoudra, R K Nursery, Guru, Krishna, Mailarlingeshwar, Samrudh, and Padmamba.

Each bag of soil holds more than a sapling. It carries the promise of orchards in distant lands, livelihoods for farming families, and a legacy passed down through generations.

Every year, nearly 50 lakh saplings leave these villages, loaded onto trucks bound for mango-growing regions across India — from Ratnagiri’s coastal slopes to Tamil Nadu’s plains, Pune’s peri-urban farms, and Andhra Pradesh’s emerging orchards.

What begins as a fragile shoot in Uttara Kannada’s red soil eventually becomes the shade and sweetness of mango trees across the country.

The science behind stronger saplings

At the heart of Tergaon’s success lies a unique technique known locally as Eradu Beeja Moolakanda Tantra, or the double-seeded rootstock method.

Farmers sow two seeds in a single soil bag. One grows into the primary rootstock used for grafting, while the other acts as a backup — ensuring resilience if the first fails.

Two seeds offer security; one carries the graft, while the other quietly safeguards success.

“We’ve been making mango grafts for three decades now, and more nurseries are added each year,” says 45-year-old Sattapa Kakerri of Padmamba Nursery, which spans ten acres at Tergaon’s entrance.

Walking through rows of grafts ranging from knee-high to shoulder-length, he explains how each plant is priced based on age and growth.

A craft passed down, not taught

The roots of this thriving nursery ecosystem trace back nearly 30 years to Krishnappa Sidbhanvar, now 80.

“He guarded his craft closely — never one to teach it openly. People picked it up only by watching in secret,” says Sridhar Kakerri, 34, a software engineer who now helps run his family nursery alongside his remote job.

Sridhar also manages marketing, coordinates with pulp factories, and arranges scion collection from across regions to sustain the grafting cycle.

Nearby, women sit by the roadside, dehusking mango seeds sourced from pulp factories in Hubli and Ratnagiri. Dried under the sun and planted in enriched soil, these seeds begin their transformation into sturdy rootstocks.

From seed to nationwide supply

Once grafted, these saplings are ready to travel.

Within three years, they begin to bear fruit. A three-foot plant sells for anywhere between Rs 60 and Rs 200, depending on its age and variety.

Kesar grafts dominate the landscape, with scions sourced from Koppal and Kolar. Other varieties — Dasheri, Raspuri, Imam Pasand, Alphonso, Banishan, Mankurad, and even the rare Black Mango — arrive from Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.

“In recent years, we’ve introduced Thai cultivars like Golden Chakapat and Nam Dok Mai,” Sridhar says. “Unlike Alphonso, which produces a single seedling, Nam Dok Mai is polyembryonic, meaning one seed can produce multiple plants.”

Seasonal rhythms and market demand

With the arrival of the monsoon in late May, the nurseries enter their busiest season. Sales continue until September, as saplings are transported across the country.

At Krishna Nursery, 25-year-old Sitaram Mirashi manages nearly one lakh saplings on just one acre.

“It’s the seven-month-old plants that buyers prefer most,” he explains. “Nurseries from Maharashtra usually opt for Kesar, while those from North Karnataka lean toward Alphonso.”

Tergaon’s unique microclimate — with temperatures between 30–35°C, high humidity, and iron-rich lateritic soil — produces hardier plants with deeper roots and greater drought tolerance compared to other regions.

High effort, low margins

Despite the scale of operations, profit margins remain slim.

A sapling that sells for up to Rs 200 costs nearly Rs 40 to produce. Add labour, maintenance, and weather risks, and the returns narrow significantly.

Seeds sourced from pulp factories cost between Rs 3,000 and Rs 4,000 per tonne. Even unsold saplings must be maintained, adding to the burden.

Many farmers diversify into sugarcane, cashew, or coconut cultivation to sustain their incomes.

Still, the numbers are staggering: a three-acre nursery can produce over five lakh saplings annually, with truckloads shipped regularly across India.

A climate-resilient future

As climate change threatens India’s mango belt — with projected yield drops of 10–20% by 2030 — Tergaon’s resilient saplings could play a crucial role.

“These plants are better adapted to heat and erratic rainfall,” Sridhar explains. “With the right support, this could become a much larger movement.”

Farmers are now calling for government support — from certified seeds and subsidies for shade nets to national-level marketing hubs.

Certification under standards like the National Horticulture Board could also help position these as premium “Tergaon Hardy” grafts for orchards across India.

Growing more than just mangoes

In Uttara Kannada’s red-earth cradle, families like the Karketis, Kakerris, and Mirashis are doing more than cultivating saplings — they are nurturing a quiet agricultural revolution.

Their work sustains livelihoods, strengthens climate resilience, and ensures that India’s love for mangoes continues to thrive.

From these small villages, millions of saplings travel outward each year — carrying with them not just fruit, but the promise of a sweeter, more sustainable future.

What started with a whiteboard and a dream is now changing an entire village ❤️

Alakh Pandey knows what it feels like to struggle. From losing his family home as a child to building Physics Wallah into one of India’s largest education platforms, his journey has always been powered by resilience and belief.

Now, he’s creating opportunities for rural students through a free digital library equipped with laptops, books, internet access, and resources for competitive exams. For many students, it’s more than a library — it’s access to possibilities they never had before. 📚✨

Because talent is not limited by geography. But opportunity often is.

And when a student gets the right resources, an entire future can change. 🇮🇳

Would you like to see free digital libraries in every Indian village? Tell us below 👇

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“I used to be very scared to speak in English because I thought I would make mistakes and everyone would laugh at me, so I stayed quiet even when I knew the answer,” says Neha (name changed), a 12-year-old student from the Need Base India Girls Home in Bengaluru.

“I could understand everything the teacher was saying, but when it was my turn to answer, I would stay silent. I was too afraid of being judged or laughed at if I got it wrong,” says Sheela (name changed), also 12, from the same home.

“I liked English, but I never knew how to speak properly. I would get nervous and stop halfway,” adds Asha (name changed), 13.

In classrooms like these, English is not absent. It is present in textbooks, written in notebooks, and tested in examinations. For many children in care homes and government schools, especially in places like the Need Base India Girls Home in Bengaluru, it remains something they can read and understand, but rarely speak with ease.

What is missing is not learning. It is confidence.

And it is mostly this gap between understanding and expression that goes unnoticed in classrooms, but not by a student who walked into them with a very different question in mind.

A teenager who stepped into unfamiliar classrooms

Roshni Gupta is now 17 and studying in Class 11 at Mallya Aditi International School in Bengaluru. But when she first entered classrooms like those at the Need Base India Girls Home and nearby government schools in Rajajinagar, she was only 14, a Class 9 student trying to understand something she could not ignore.

She was raised in Bengaluru, where she grew up in a learning environment that encouraged speaking up, questioning, and discussion as part of everyday education. In contrast, what she observed in several government schools and orphanages, including Greater Hope Children's Orphanage, was very different.

The children were not disengaged. In fact, they were interested and responsive. They answered confidently in their own languages, participated actively in familiar topics, and showed genuine eagerness in learning. But when English entered the conversation, the energy in the room changed.

The voices lost their earlier confidence. Hands went down. Eyes turned to notebooks instead of teachers.

“It was not that they lacked understanding. They just were not used to speaking without fear,” the young girl shares with The Better India.

In May 2023, she began visiting more deliberately, moving between schools and homes in Srirampura, government schools in Rajajinagar, and other learning spaces in Bengaluru. She was not there to teach, but to understand.

One moment stayed with her.

“I asked a student to explain something she had written,” she recalls. “Everything was correct, but she could not speak it in English. That is when I realised the issue was not knowledge. It was an expression.”

By August, at just 14 years old and in Class 9, she decided to act on what she had seen. ‘Project Vidya’ was born.

When English becomes a conversation instead of a fear

Project Vidya began with a basic idea, but one that required a complete shift in how English was being taught in many of the classrooms she had visited. The focus was not on grammar drills or memorisation. It was spoken English, communication, confidence, and the ability to express thoughts without hesitation.

The initiative now works with children from Classes 4 to 9 across institutions, including the Need Base India Girls Home, government schools in Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Delhi, as well as chapters in Rwanda, Kenya, Lesotho, and the United Arab Emirates.

Each workshop brings together around 30 to 40 students and is built around interaction rather than instruction.

A session might begin with something as simple as introductions. But instead of writing answers in a notebook, children are asked to speak, respond, and engage. Videos are used to introduce ideas, followed by prompts that slowly draw students into conversation.

“We wanted to take away the fear of speaking, not by correcting every mistake, but by making it feel natural and comfortable,” she explains.

One of the most engaging activities involves creativity. Children are given paper, colours and craft materials, and asked to create origami or drawings. They then introduce their creations in English as if they were characters in a story. Laughter replaces hesitation, and speaking becomes part of play.

The approach is influenced by Lev Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory, which suggests that learning happens best through interaction, collaboration, and guided participation rather than silent repetition.

For older students, sessions also introduce digital literacy through tools like Canva and basic computer skills. Some workshops include financial literacy concepts such as saving, planning, and basic money awareness.

Books that moved from apartments into classrooms

Alongside workshops, the initiative slowly began building another layer of impact through book donations.

In Bengaluru, community-driven collection drives were organised in residential apartments. The team placed boxes in building lobbies, shared messages with residents, and, as days passed, began to receive contributions.

Over time, around 300 to 400 books were collected. These included storybooks, English textbooks, dictionaries, and reading material. They were distributed to orphanages in Srirampura, Greater Hope Children Orphanage, and partner schools where access to reading material is often limited.

For many children, these were not just books. They were the first time reading became something beyond a classroom exercise. “I like reading storybooks because I understand new words slowly,” says Sheela. “It is easier when I read by myself.”

In some homes, books are shared in groups. In others, they form small libraries where children pick them up during free time, reading not because they are asked to, but because they want to.

A growing network led entirely by young people

From its beginnings in Bengaluru, the initiative has grown into a youth-led network spanning five countries, including India, the United Arab Emirates, Rwanda, Kenya and Lesotho. The organisation is entirely run by young volunteers between the ages of 13 and 25, with around 40 active members.

Each region operates through its own chapter, led by a chapter head and supported by small teams working on teaching, curriculum development, outreach, and coordination.

In India, active chapters are based in Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Delhi. Internationally, teams operate in Rwanda and the UAE, while partnerships extend to Kenya and Lesotho.

The structure is intentionally flexible. The founder selects volunteers through applications and interviews, via LinkedIn and personal networks, emphasising commitment rather than prior experience.

Mentorship that helped guide direction

Behind this growing structure is mentorship from the 1M1B Foundation (One Million for One Billion), a youth-led organisation that guides young changemakers through leadership training, mentorship and opportunities aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. 

The teenager first came into contact with the programme when it was introduced at her school in 2023, and since then, she has been mentored by senior mentor Chhavi Kumar.

“I have worked with Roshni since the early stages of Project Vidya. What stood out was how clearly she thinks, how she organises her ideas, and how she actually puts them into action,” says Chhavi.

Her role, she explains, was to guide rather than instruct.

“She learnt to identify a problem, build a solution around it, and then carry it forward with consistent effort. That kind of consistency is rare at her age,” the mentor adds.

What change looks like in everyday moments

Since its launch in 2023, Project Vidya has conducted 48 workshops across five countries, directly reaching approximately 1,680 students. Advocacy sessions aligned with United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4 have engaged over 400 participants.

Through book donation drives, nearly 5,000 children have been indirectly impacted across schools and homes, including the Need Base India Girls Home in Srirampura and Greater Hope Children's Orphanage.

A scholarship initiative supported through Impact Guru raised around 42,000 rupees, helping 25 students with one year of educational support, as decided in consultation with school and home authorities.

But the most visible impact is not captured in numbers. It is seen in hesitation turning into participation.

“I try speaking now, even if I make mistakes. Earlier, I would not even try at all. Now I feel like I can at least attempt to say what I want,” says Neha. “I can speak a little English now. I don’t feel as scared in class anymore, and I try to answer when the teacher asks questions,” adds Asha.

At the Need Base India Girls Home in Srirampura, caregivers and educators have noticed a slow shift. Children who once avoided speaking are now attempting answers, asking questions, and engaging more freely during sessions.

For Roshni, now balancing Class 11 academics with leading a multi-country initiative, Project Vidya is still growing. She hopes it will grow into a larger youth-led movement that reimagines how communication skills are taught, not as a subject to be tested, but as a life skill to be lived.

“I want children to feel that their voice matters,” she says. “Not only in English, but in any language, in any space.” In classrooms across Bengaluru and beyond, that change is already visible in small ways.  And sometimes, that is how change begins.

All pictures courtesy Roshni Gupta.

At the edge of Jait Sagar Lake in Kota, the morning begins with the chatter of a group of young volunteers moving along the waterline near Sukh Mahal, the 18th-century palace once associated with Rudyard Kipling’s Kim.

Some crouch near the steps, pulling soggy packets and bottles from the lakebed. Others drag nets through dark water thick with floating waste.

For the volunteers of Kota Community, this is not a symbolic clean-up. It is an attempt to rescue Rajasthan’s relationship with water.

Across Rajasthan, lakes, baoris (stepwells), ponds, and ghats once determined where settlements could survive. In a state where water has always shaped daily life, these structures were engineered as systems of survival as much as architecture. Today, many lie abandoned under layers of plastic, sewage, and neglect.

Kota’s youth are trying to reverse that decline, one clean-up drive at a time.

Cleaning the water, reclaiming the city

The recent drive at Jait Sagar and Sukh Mahal brought together volunteers from Kota Community and Kota Hike. Gloves snapped over eager hands as students and working professionals spent hours clearing litter from the lakefront and nearby public spaces.

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On some weekends, volunteers clean the banks of the Chambal River. On others, they clear clogged stepwells, remove debris from temple premises, arrange water and grain for birds during Rajasthan’s harsh summers, or persuade residents to stop using plastic bags.

Rajasthan’s forgotten water structures

The work carries a larger urgency.

According to government and environmental studies, Rajasthan’s traditional water bodies have been shrinking under rapid urbanisation, encroachment, and pollution.

Several historic stepwells across the state have either dried up or turned into dumping grounds over the years.

For centuries, these baoris served as social and ecological centres. They stored rainwater, cooled surrounding neighbourhoods, and became gathering spaces for travellers and communities escaping the desert heat. Many also housed local deities and temples along their steps.

Modern piped water systems gradually pushed them into disuse. Neglect did the rest.

According to the state’s Water Bodies Census (2018–19), Rajasthan has 16,939 water bodies, but nearly 21 per cent are no longer in use because of drying, siltation, and structural neglect.

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In Jaipur’s Mansagar Lake, urban surveys have estimated that over 40 per cent of the lake’s banks have been altered or encroached upon without environmental clearance. At the same time, pollution and solid waste continue to choke inflow channels.

A recent National Green Tribunal observation on Rajasthan’s Chandlai Lake also warned that rapid urbanisation, illegal construction, and untreated waste discharge are placing historic water bodies under “continuous and unrelenting stress”.

The volunteers cleaning Jait Sagar know they cannot solve the crisis alone. But they believe visibility matters.

When residents watch young people wading into polluted water to pull out rubbish by hand, it changes how public neglect is seen. A clogged stepwell no longer appears invisible.

Youth at the centre of change

Over the past three years, Kota Community has organised around 75 drives across 30 temples and 45 public spaces in and around the city.

The volunteers are mostly students, office-goers, and residents who gather regularly — often on Sundays — carrying gloves, sacks, and long-handled nets.

Their efforts now coordinate with municipal authorities so collected waste is transported for disposal and composting instead of being left roadside after drives.

The impact is not always dramatic.

Stepwells that have been clogged for decades cannot be restored in a single morning.

But the repeated act of showing up has begun to create a sense of civic ownership.

In a country where conversations around pollution often collapse into blame, Kota Community operates differently. Its members insist public spaces survive only when people treat them as a shared responsibility rather than somebody else’s problem.

The volunteers return home dirty, exhausted, and smelling faintly of lake water.

But the next Sunday, they show up again.

Sources:

'Greed over development’: NGT orders demolition of constructions encroaching on Rajasthan’s historic lake': by Ashish Shaji, Published on  21 January 2026

'Mansagar Lake, Jaipur: A BlueCities Perspective on Reviving Rajasthan’s Iconic Urban Water Body': by Pragna Chakraborty

As dawn breaks over Adimali in Idukki, Kerala, 62‑year‑old Saseendran VT heads to his rooftop, where lush passion fruit vines drape across railings and ropes, clusters of ripening fruit hanging like bright ornaments. This is more than a garden. “Growth never stops for plants, and certainly not for people,” he said.

An LIC insurance advisor by profession, Saseendran is also pursuing a second master’s degree in Malayalam, fitting textbooks and assignments into a life already full of work and farming. “Studying at this age is tough, but I study while ironing clothes, listen to class recordings while driving, and watch lessons while cooking or farming. You just have to make time”, he said.

His garden uses only compost from kitchen waste and cow dung, no external inputs, and grows passion fruit along with okra, beans, broccoli, papaya and chillies in a clever criss‑cross pattern that maximises sunlight on limited space.

Here’s how you can grow passion fruit too, with steps inspired by what he has practised:

1. Choose the right climate

Passion fruit grows best in temperatures between 20 degrees Celsius and 32 degrees Celsius. Warm weather, regular sunlight, and moderate humidity help the vines produce healthy flowers and fruits.

Temperatures above 38 degrees can reduce flowering and cause fruit drop. In hotter areas, light shade during peak afternoon heat helps protect the plants.

The crop requires:

• Six to eight hours of sunlight daily
• Good airflow
• Protection from strong, dry winds
• Consistent moisture without waterlogging

This is exactly what Saseendran encountered on his terrace in Idukki — the vines happily climbing under warm tropical conditions with steady sunlight, showing how passion fruit adapts to even compact urban spaces when placed thoughtfully for light and airflow. 

On his 950‑square‑foot rooftop in Idukki, Saseendran has placed his vines so they catch plenty of morning and evening sun while being shielded from the harshest heat. “It actually grows better here because it’s protected from direct rain and sun,” he said, showing that even compact urban spaces can offer the right climate when plants are positioned thoughtfully. 

2. Select a suitable variety

Choosing the right variety is important for both yield and market demand.

Purple passion fruit

• Sweeter flavour
• Better for fresh fruit markets
• Suitable for moderate climates

Yellow passion fruit

• Stronger vine growth
• Higher yields
• Better suited for warmer conditions and juice production

Hybrid varieties are often preferred because they offer better disease resistance and stable production.

In his rooftop orchard, Saseendran grows four varieties of passion fruit alongside other vegetables. The mixed approach has helped him keep the vines productive throughout different microclimates on his terrace — a useful strategy for small growers experimenting with multiple types. 

3. Prepare the soil properly

Passion fruit performs best in well-drained sandy loam soil with a pH between 5.5 and 6.5. Avoid fields where water collects after irrigation or rain.

Land preparation

• Deep plough the soil
• Remove weeds and old roots
• Add organic compost or farmyard manure
• Create raised beds in heavy soils

Dig planting pits measuring roughly one and a half feet deep and one and a half feet wide, and mix the soil with compost, neem cake and a phosphorus-rich fertiliser before planting.

On his terrace, Saseendran relies exclusively on organic compost from kitchen waste and cow dung, demonstrating how rich soil can be built even without chemical fertilisers. Composting at home not only enriches soil but connects gardeners to an ongoing cycle of care. 

4. Maintain proper spacing

Correct spacing improves sunlight penetration and reduces fungal diseases.

A practical spacing system is:

• 2.5-3 metres between rows
• 2-2.5 metres between plants

This also makes pruning and harvesting easier.

On his rooftop, Saseendran arranges plants in a criss‑cross pattern that maximises light and airflow, showing how proper spacing can work just as well on a terrace as it does in an open field. 

5. Install a strong trellis system

Passion fruit vines need support from the beginning. A single-wire trellis system is commonly used for commercial farming.

Trellis setup

• Use cement or treated wooden poles
• Keep pole height around 2.2 metres
• Stretch galvanised wire firmly across the row

Train the main vine upward until it reaches the wire, then allow side branches to spread horizontally. A proper trellis improves airflow, fruit quality, and harvesting efficiency.

In his own garden, Saseendran has adapted this idea with ropes and railings on his rooftop, training the vines upward so they can spread out safely and get air and sun exposure without crowding. “The roots are in the ground,” he explained, “but we’ve directed the vines to climb up to the terrace.” 

6. Irrigation and nutrient management

Passion fruit requires regular watering, especially during summer. Drip irrigation works best because it maintains consistent soil moisture while reducing water wastage.

Watering guide

• Young plants: every two to three days
• Mature vines: once or twice weekly, depending on soil moisture

Mulching with straw or dry leaves helps retain moisture and control weeds.

For healthy growth, apply balanced nutrients regularly:

• Nitrogen for vine growth
• Phosphorus for flowering
• Potassium for fruit development

Organic inputs such as vermicompost and compost tea also improve soil health.

Even without advanced irrigation, Saseendran waters his terrace vines thoughtfully, matching moisture levels to plant needs rather than a fixed schedule. Mulching and compost help his soil retain water naturally. 

7. Prune the vines regularly

Pruning is important for maintaining productivity. Dense vines restrict airflow and increase disease problems.

Remove:

• Weak shoots
• Diseased branches
• Excess side growth
• Old unproductive vines

Regular pruning encourages fresh flowering shoots and improves fruit quality.

This is a practice Saseendran follows on his terrace vines too — trimming back overgrowth to improve air circulation and encourage more blooms in later seasons. 

8. Protect the crop from pests and diseases

Common problems include aphids, fruit flies, root rot, and leaf spot diseases.

To reduce risk:

• Avoid excess irrigation
• Maintain proper spacing
• Remove infected branches quickly
• Use neem oil sprays or bio-fungicides when needed

Preventive care is far more effective than treating severe infestations later.

Good airflow and clean spacing are among the first pest‑management techniques practised in Saseendran’s garden — a reminder that simple preventive care goes a long way even before sprays are considered. 

9. Harvest at the right time

Passion fruit is usually ready for harvest 70 to 90 days after flowering. Ripe fruits develop full colour and become slightly heavier. Some varieties naturally fall from the vine when mature. Handle the fruits carefully during harvesting to avoid skin damage and maintain market quality.

In his home garden, Saseendran’s passion fruit has been producing for more than eight years, and the harvest isn’t just for sale — he often shares fruit with family, friends and neighbours, making cultivation a part of community life. 

You’ll find a list of tandoor items on the menu of most Indian restaurants, no matter what corner of the world you’re in. The science of baking flatbread in an urn-shaped oven is not recent, but one that has been in existence since time immemorial. 

While today the tradition also encompasses meats and other succulents, history reveals that people have been enjoying the wonders of the tandoor right from the time of the Harappan civilisation. 

An interesting turn of events led to the tandoor style of cooking being passed down through the lands of undivided Punjab to Delhi — where the historic Moti Mahal restaurant has kept the secret of the tandoor alive since 1920. 

A love affair 

 

The art of baking bread using this method was well-known during the Indus Valley Civilisation 5,000 years ago, suggested by traces of tandoors discovered during the excavation of these sites. People would build cylindrical clay ovens into the ground and light fires with charcoal. The beauty of creating this structure was that within it, temperatures would rise to as high as 400 degrees Celsius, lending the bread and meat a charred or slightly smoky flavour. 

But while the tandoor was prevalent during these historical times, it was only during the Mughal era that cooking meats in this style gained popularity. 

Emperor Jehangir is to thank for this. So fascinated was he by the smoky flavours of dishes cooked in the tandoor that he began pushing for meats to be prepared in the same style. And that’s not all. 

As the Mughals would shift base and move their army camps from one site to another, Jehangir fondly missed his tandoori delights, and to satiate his appetite, he had a portable tandoor created to prepare meats and bread on the go. 

 

 

 

 

 

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This form of cooking remained popular even after the sun set on the Mughal era — especially in the Sikh community. Guru Nanak Dev, founder of the Sikh religion, was intent on secularism, encouraging people of all religious backgrounds to eat together. Through the formation of sanjha chulha (common ovens), people from different communities would come together for a meal, with the women using tandoor ovens to bake the bread. 

However, while the tandoor was a symbol of community before Partition, it is only after this historical event that it reached the modern world. 

The Partition of 1947 

The singular reason for the prevalence and popularity of tandoori delights in Mughlai cuisine, across India in general, was because of a gentleman named Shri Kundan Lal Gujral. When he was just a little boy, his father passed away. Kundan became responsible for supporting the family. This was around the same time that India was divided into two separate nations. 

 

 

 

 

 

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Among the scores of people who migrated across borders was Kundan, who left behind his eatery in Peshawar — Moti Mahal — and moved to Delhi. Unwilling to give up on the work he had built since 1920, he carried the tandoor tradition with him to the new region. With a friend, he purchased a space in Daryaganj, eventually setting up the first Moti Mahal restaurant, the pride of which continues to be the tandoor to date. 

As Monish Gujral’s book Moti Mahal’s Tandoori Trail highlighted, “He had the chicken roasted in a mud-baked oven made from a hole dug into the ground and lit with wood or coal — the tandoor (derived from a Persian word). Along with this came the usual tandoori roti, constituting a thick ball of kneaded wheat, freshly baked in the same oven, made of the familiar ground wheat, but swollen to a crisp roundness. The combination was lethal for the weighty who were hard put to refrain and paradisiacal for those who could afford to splurge.” 

The magic of the tandoor 

 

The eatery’s website offers a glimpse into the slew of influential clientele that it has served. It reads, “Moti Mahal has served the traditional food, from a normal curry and a roadside tandoor baking bread in a delightful manner with full of innocuity to satiate the palates of famous personalities such as the late US president Richard Nixon, then the Canadian prime minister Pierre Trudeau, the king of Nepal, and Soviet leaders Alexie Kosygin, Nikolia Bulganin and Nikita Krushehev, and we have taken pride by winning the heart and taste buds of every generation of Prime Minister of India.” 

 

 

 

 

 

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It adds, “So this is the journey [of] a simple idea of cooking in earthen ovens, which had started in 1920 in an eatery of Peshawar, [became] an international brand known as The Moti Mahal Group.” 

Today, while 90 outlets have been added to the legacy of the brand, the fame of the tandoor has spread across the globe. Every land has come up with its own concoction of spices to be added to the marinade. As the delicacies of the tandoor grace dining tables across the world, it is an ode to how this feast was born out of pure simplicity. 

Edited by Divya Sethu

This story was originally reported and written by Hiren Kumar Bose for The Better India.

By the time the first water tanker entered Bansawargaon each summer, the village already knew what the coming months would look like.

Queues near public taps before sunrise. Women walking longer distances carrying plastic cans. Borewells turning silent one after another. Fights breaking out over whose turn it was to collect water.

In Maharashtra’s Marathwada region, this cycle has repeated for decades.

Entire villages routinely survive on tanker deliveries through peak summer as groundwater levels collapse under heat, erratic rainfall, and over-extraction.

But in Bansawargaon, a village in Latur district, residents decided to stop treating tankers as a permanent solution.

Instead, they began rebuilding the village’s relationship with water itself.

Over several years, villagers repaired canals, revived streams, created groundwater recharge structures, reduced wastage, and changed farming practices. Slowly, wells that once ran dry began holding water deeper into summer.

Today, Bansawargaon is tanker-free.

Its transformation offers a working model for drought-hit villages across India searching for long-term water security instead of seasonal relief.

What tanker dependence actually indicates

The arrival of water tankers is often seen as a response to drought. But tanker dependence usually signals groundwater failure.

During weak monsoons, groundwater is extracted faster than it can recharge. As water tables fall, farmers drill deeper wells, putting further pressure on shrinking aquifers.

Over time, local water systems stop recovering.

This is why tanker supply has become so common in drought-prone districts of Maharashtra and many southern states of India. It temporarily addresses scarcity, but it does not restore groundwater or improve storage capacity.

In many places, much of the rainwater flows away because streams are degraded, canals are clogged, ponds are silted, and recharge systems are weak or absent.

Bansawargaon’s story is not an isolated one. Across parts of Maharashtra and other drought-prone states, villages are increasingly turning towards watershed restoration and decentralised water management as climate stress intensifies.

Here’s the step-by-step water revival model other villages and cities can learn from

Bansawargaon’s transformation did not begin with a massive dam or a new pipeline project. It began with a different way of looking at water scarcity.

Instead of asking how to bring more water into the village, residents first asked why rainwater was disappearing so quickly.

That question forms the basis of a growing water revival model now being studied across drought-hit regions.

1. Map where rainwater naturally flows

The first step is understanding the local landscape.

In many villages and cities, natural stormwater channels have been encroached upon, narrowed, or disconnected from lakes and ponds. During heavy rainfall, water rushes away instead of soaking into the ground.

Bansawargaon identified old streams, canals, and runoff paths and restored them before the monsoon season.

For cities like Bengaluru, this could mean reviving and protecting lake networks and reconnecting stormwater drains that once acted as natural recharge systems.

2. Slow down runoff

Fast-moving rainwater is often lost water.

The village repaired bunds, constructed Kolhapuri-style check dams, and built small barriers that slowed monsoon runoff and allowed water to remain in the landscape longer. This gave the soil enough time to absorb water and recharge groundwater.

Urban areas can apply the same principle through recharge parks, bioswales, urban wetlands, permeable pavements, and rain gardens that prevent flooding while increasing groundwater recharge.

3. Recharge groundwater instead of endlessly extracting

One of the biggest reasons groundwater collapses is unchecked extraction.

Like many drought-hit regions, Bansawargaon had seen borewells deepen year after year. The village instead invested in recharge shafts, soak pits, and percolation systems that pushed water back underground.

This is especially relevant for Bengaluru, where several neighbourhoods now depend heavily on tanker water because of falling groundwater levels.

Experts have repeatedly warned that cities cannot drill their way out of a water crisis indefinitely. Recharge has to become part of urban planning.

4. Treat wastewater and household runoff as a resource

The village introduced soak pits and local conservation systems to reduce wastage.

For urban India, this could translate into decentralised sewage treatment plants, greywater reuse for gardening and flushing, and apartment-level rainwater harvesting systems.

Cities lose enormous volumes of reusable water every day simply because drainage systems are designed to discard water rather than recover it.

5. Use less water in farming and landscaping

Agriculture remains one of the largest consumers of groundwater across India.

Bansawargaon encouraged drip irrigation and more efficient water-use practices on farms. In cities, similar thinking can apply to public landscaping, construction practices, and residential water consumption.

The focus shifts from unlimited extraction to measured usage.

6. Make water management collective

Perhaps the most important lesson from Bansawargaon is that tanker-free systems are rarely created through infrastructure alone.

The village introduced discussions around water budgeting — how much water was available, how much could be used, and what needed to be conserved before summer.

This collective approach is often missing in cities, where water remains fragmented between agencies, private suppliers, gated communities, and informal settlements.

Without shared planning, crises simply move from one neighbourhood to another.

Why this matters so much

India’s water crisis is increasingly becoming a recharge crisis rather than only a rainfall crisis.

Cities like Bengaluru continue to flood during the monsoon while simultaneously facing summer water shortages. Villages across drought belts receive seasonal rain but lose much of it within days because local recharge systems have broken down.

Bansawargaon’s model shows that water security is not built through emergency tankers alone, and drought is not only about how much rain falls. It is also about what happens to that rain after it reaches the ground.

In Bansawargaon, the answer was not another tanker. It was rebuilding the landscape so water could stay.

Source:

'India has built an extraordinary foundation of groundwater recharge infrastructure over the past 20 years. The task now is to make it work': by Mohammad Faiz Alam, Published on 9 April 2026

'After Years of Fighting Over Tankers, Marathwada Villagers Came Together to End Its Water Crisis': by Hiren Kumar Bose, Published on 16 February 2026

India’s deadly heatwaves may need a solution that Kerala discovered generations ago 💧🌴

Before luxury infinity pools and modern eco-resorts, Kerala had Ambalakulams, natural swimming ponds that stayed cool without chlorine, chemicals, or expensive technology. Just fish, aquatic plants, stones, and nature working together to keep water clean and refreshing.

But these kulams were much more than ponds. They recharged groundwater, stored rainwater, reduced local temperatures, and provided communities with a natural refuge during scorching summers. Children learned to swim here, families gathered here, and many took sacred dips before visiting temples.

Over time, many of these water bodies disappeared beneath concrete, garbage, and unchecked development. And with them, Kerala lost part of a natural cooling system that had quietly supported villages for centuries.

Now, as India faces rising temperatures and growing water scarcity, communities across Kerala are bringing these kulams back to life. More than 56 have already been restored, while modern bio-pools are rediscovering the same ecological wisdom that existed long before sustainability became a buzzword. ✨

Maybe the answer to surviving future heatwaves isn’t something new. Maybe it’s something we forgot.

Before we build more concrete, should we bring back the ponds we destroyed? Tell us below 👇

#Kerala #Heatwave #WaterConservation #ClimateAction #SustainableLiving #TraditionalWisdom #Ambalakulam #RainwaterHarvesting #EcoLiving #ClimateSolutions #IncredibleIndia #IndianHeritage #PositiveIndia

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Kerala’s Traditional Water Conservation System
Ancient Indian Heatwave Solutions
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How Kerala Villages Stayed Cool Before ACs

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

What does it take to start afresh in your career? For 34-year-old Bharat Bansal, it was a strong sense of inspiration that he took from his own growing years in Delhi, watching the Yamuna River get increasingly polluted year after year. 

Flowers, once offered in religious institutions, become sacrosanct, and since time immemorial, the only way deemed suitable to dispose of them is by throwing them in holy rivers. Bharat, too, recalls throwing flowers into the river as a child. But it was only decades later that he realised how the pesticides and chemical fertilisers used to grow these flowers pollute the river water, making it highly toxic.

A CA dropout and lawyer by profession, Bharat quit his four-year-long career in 2020, and the same year co-founded Nirmalaya with his wife Surbhi and friend Rajiv. This Delhi-based social enterprise works with over 300 temples in the city to recycle floral waste into organic incense sticks and cones, and havan cups among others.

 

The trio kicked the business off with their collective savings of Rs 1.25 crore. Just last year, they clocked a revenue of Rs 2.6 crore. So far this year, they have earned Rs 7.5 crore, and project an annual revenue of Rs 20 crore by March 2024. With their startup, they recycle up to 500 tonnes of floral waste annually.

We sat down with Bharat, the CEO, and Rajiv, the chief operations officer, to understand what it takes to start a business of your own.

How we started

The story begins in 2019 when former real estate developer Rajiv visited the famous Sai Baba temple in Shirdi, where he saw the process of converting flower waste into incense products.

“A few women were segregating flowers offered to Sai Baba. I got curious. They told me how flowers are being used to make agarbattis (incense sticks). I went to their plant to understand the process and I learned about a pulverizer machine, which converts dry flowers into powder,” says Rajiv.

 

After coming back to Delhi, he discussed the idea with Bharat and Surbhi. Together, they started researching and contacting trustees of temples. At the time, Bharat was working in a consultancy firm as a company director. “My area of expertise has always been business development. It was a transition from a profit-making entity to building a startup which might involve losses in the beginning. I knew how to strategise things,” he says. “Setting up a business where we would ensure floral waste does not end up in rivers was a great opportunity for me to contribute towards the environment.”

He adds that when Rajiv returned with what he had seen, the trio were “inspired by the idea of recycling floral waste and set up a business that catered to the environment. Floral waste [reportedly] accounts for 16 percent of the total river pollutant.”

Building on an idea

With Bharat’s experience, Surbhi’s creative mind in designing and product development, and Rajiv’s research, they went ahead with the idea, using trial and error to build the multi-crore business.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Nirmalaya (@nirmalaya)

 

Bharat explains, “Initially, we made many errors in using our investment. We would focus on selling affordable products to compete with big players in the market, but that proved to be a mistake for us as we burned Rs 60-70 lakh in the process. When you make a premium quality product and sell it at a lower price, the cost of manufacturing becomes big. We would not get any margin, so we stopped making an affordable product range.” He adds that now, however, the company has switched to premium products. 

“You have to have the right mix between spending on marketing and spending on sales. Our spending on sales would be more because, for us, survival was a priority over brand name. But our brand name was established as soon as we started selling largely,” he adds.

Among other challenges, Bharat mentions that he did not consider the sorting and collection costs of floral waste earlier. “Although our raw material [floral waste] is free, its collection and sorting cost is more. Say we collect 600 kg of floral waste, and if we employ four or five labour workers who would take one or two days to sort it, then it would cost us up to Rs 4,000 a day,” he says.

 

Besides, “when we started the business, we thought of picking more and more floral waste and recycling more. In excitement, we would collect floral waste from everywhere we could. At that time, we also did not know what we would do with so much raw material. Along with floral waste, we would also get religious books, idol statues, and clothes. It was of no use. So we optimised our ways of collecting waste to reduce the cost of collection and sorting.” 

To overcome this, Bharat planned to be selective in what they picked. He also considered picking flowers in bulk from a particular temple on a particular day. For instance, his team picks flowers from Hanuman temples only on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and from Sai temples on Thursdays. “We have e-rickshaws that go to collect floral waste from designated areas. After coming to our unit, our workers sort flowers from plastic waste, fruits, milk packets, and clothes,” he says.

Other than that, packaging was a challenge. “Since our packaging was soft, product boxes would get damaged before reaching the customers. We started buying similar products from other brands to learn about packaging. Although we did not want to use bubble wrap, we had to use it for a better customer experience. Today, we use our own brown-coloured corrugated boxes which do not require bubble wrap,” he adds.

 

Making wealth from waste

After collection and segregation, the flowers are dried and ground into a fine powder using a pulverizer machine. They use a pulverizer that can grind up to 2-3 tonnes of flower waste daily. The powder is mixed with a premix of josh powder (binding agent) and wood powder to make incense products. After grinding, fragrances are added and products are packaged. His team of 70 manufactures the products in their two manufacturing and recycling facilities in Delhi.

Bharat also notes that weather plays an important role in his business. “We need to dry flowers before grinding them. For that, the temperature matters. In the summer, if flowers become too dry, they absorb more oil. So where we would only need 400 ml oil, we would instead use 600 ml. Then, our cost increases by 1.5 times. In the rainy season, if we leave flowers outside, they’ll gain too much moisture and be attacked by fungus. Our work remains balanced in winter, where we use solar dryers to dry the stock. Also, to maintain supply, we keep a backup of flower powder for rainy seasons,” he says.

When a flower is burnt, it produces a peculiar smell, and to control that, the team had to change the proportions of ingredients, which took them about six months of research and development. “We kept making changes with respect to the ratios of powders. The product has to be good for a repeat purchase,” he says.

Bharat says the startup gets around 45% repeat customers, with monthly orders of 18,000. He estimates getting 30,000 orders next month in May.

Nirmalaya sells over 80 products, including 18 kinds of incense sticks made using sandalwood, serene (Kashmiri rose), jasmine, and basil; 12 kinds of incense cones; two variants of Havan cups made using healing herbs, cow dung, and floral waste; and fragrances from across India like MP’s belpatra (leaves of wood apple tree), UP’s kewra (screw pine), Odisha’s vetiver oil.

Bharat says their incense sticks are zero-waste, biodegradable, and charcoal-free, and have less than 3% carbon emissions as compared to normal incense sticks, which “release around 80 percent carbon emissions”. 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Nirmalaya (@nirmalaya)

 

What should budding entrepreneurs keep in mind?

While starting the business, Bharat understood the importance of investors and the help they bring. “You can launch a startup without a big investment, but you need time and support to establish it. I focussed on getting the support of investors because they help build good networking and bring ample opportunities to expand the business. I always suggest people to make minimum viable products and raise fewer funds, which will convince investors to join hands with you,” he says.

Bharat also suggests having co-founders in order to successfully run a business instead of starting a business alone. When roles are divided, you do not have to multi-task, he adds.

Based on his experience, Bharat shares 5 key takeaways of setting up the business.

1) Businesses are not built on Excel sheets: “Such sheets are good only on paper. You need to do thorough research on the field, and only then can you set up a business. After six months, you will get to know the nitty-gritty of the industry. It is more about building the business rather than the product, which eventually gets better with feedback,” he says.

2) Be realistic: “Make your projections in a conservative manner. Analyse your costs, as there would be many hidden expenses that you could be forced to bear many times,” he adds.

3) Networking is paramount: Bharat says: “One should always have good mentors and pioneers of the industry to help them with cost analysis and marketing in the long run. When we started Nirmalaya, investors and their networking helped us in designing products and marketing.”

4) Business is more about people management: “Entrepreneurs should focus more on managing people, including yourself, than anything else. At one point, you have to focus on leadership over clerical and managerial work,” he says.

5) Understand the three pillars of a sustainable business: Environment, society, and economics (sales). “If you focus less on any of them, you won’t be able to survive the business. Everything has to be calculated as per sales, because viability comes from there,” suggests Bharat.

Source:

'In these temples, offerings do not go waste': By Subhojit Goswami for DownToEarth, on 5 June 2018.

(Edited by Divya Sethu)

In Mumbai’s intense summer heat, where concrete buildings trap warmth and push temperatures higher, one home has taken a different path.

The residence of Chetan Sorenji stays about five degrees Celsius cooler than the outside air, achieved not through heavy machinery or advanced cooling systems, but through a dense green canopy that wraps around the structure.

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A post shared by The Better India (@thebetterindia)

Instead of sealing the building in concrete and metal, it has been covered in vegetation, including passionfruit vines and a carefully planned selection of greenery. Inside this living layer grows a micro forest of around 20 native Indian trees, from bamboo and coconut to mulberry, papaya and sitaphal.

The result is not just cooler air, but a small ecosystem within the city. The house regularly draws in carpenter bees, oriental white-eyes, munias, bulbuls and other birds, turning the space into a functioning natural habitat.

Much of the planting has been positioned on the south and west sides of the building, where the sun is strongest. This natural barrier reduces heat entering the home, lowering the need for air conditioning and helping cut electricity use.

Water is treated with the same care. A 50-foot borewell harvests up to one million litres of rainwater during the monsoon, while the broader system collects around four to five lakh litres each season. This stored water helps recharge groundwater in the surrounding area and is even used to clean nearby streets and footpaths.

At its core, the idea is disarmingly minimal. There are no complex technologies at play, only thoughtful use of plants, rainwater and space. In a city where rising temperatures are becoming harder to ignore, this home is a reminder that cooling solutions do not always need to be mechanical. Sometimes, they can grow.

While fuel prices continue to rise Chennai quietly built a public transport system that actually respects commuters 🚌✨

With live bus tracking e ticketing electric buses women led crews and stronger last mile connectivity the city transformed a struggling network into one trusted by nearly 35 lakh people every single day 🇮🇳

Because public transport only works when people feel it is reliable affordable safe and convenient enough to choose over private vehicles

Chennai’s approach proves that smart mobility is not just about technology It is about designing systems around everyday people and their daily realities

If one Indian city can make buses this commuter friendly imagine what could happen if more cities followed ❤️

#PublicTransport #SmartCities #SustainableMobility #Chennai #UrbanInnovation #ElectricBuses #IndiaInspires #SmartMobility #ClimateAction #UrbanIndia #SustainableTransport #PositiveStories #FutureCities

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For generations, mornings across India began with a familiar chirping of house sparrows. Their presence was so ordinary that it rarely got any attention. 

Today, their absence does.

A bird that lived with us

The house sparrow has never been a distant, forest-dwelling species. It evolved alongside human settlements, nesting in crevices of homes, feeding on grains, and thriving in close proximity to people. Its presence has long been considered a marker of environmental health.

This is why its decline has unsettled conservationists. Recent surveys in Thiruvananthapuram, for instance, have pointed to a sharp drop in sparrow numbers. Similar patterns have been observed in multiple urban pockets across India. 

But why?

The urban paradox

According to bird researcher Sujan Chatterjee, the decline is not uniform. Sparrows continue to exist in many non-urban and semi-urban areas. The real crisis, he explains, is concentrated in cities.

“Modern architecture plays a decisive role here. Older homes, with their ventilators, tiled roofs, and small gaps, offered natural nesting spaces. Today’s glass-and-concrete structures are sealed, smooth, and inhospitable for the sparrow”, he tells The Better India.

Older homes, he notes, were unintentionally designed to accommodate bird life.

Chatterjee, who serves as the founder of West Bengal's Birdwatcher’s Society and a reviewer for eBird India—a global ornithological database managed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology—has dedicated years to studying regional shifts in bird populations.

From his vantage point, the crisis is real, but it is misunderstood.

“Sparrow populations haven’t collapsed everywhere. The sharper decline is largely visible in urban pockets.” According to Chatterjee, the disappearance of sparrows from cities is closely tied to how urban environments have evolved. 

At the same time, urban living has reduced access to food, he says. 

“Sparrows are seed-eating birds. They don’t feed on garbage,” he points out. “That’s where the difference lies. Species like crows have adapted because they are scavengers, they can eat almost anything. Sparrows cannot.”, he explains.

The shift in urban food chains has therefore worked against them. “Increased pesticide use has reduced insect populations, which are critical for feeding sparrow chicks. So, clean, sanitised cityscapes, while visually appealing, have removed the very resources that once sustained sparrows”, Chatterjee adds.

There is competition

“Pigeons have become aggressive competitors,” Chatterjee says. “They occupy nesting spaces and often damage sparrow nests. Besides, rising crow populations pose an additional threat.”

Unlike crows, which have adapted to thrive on human waste, sparrows cannot survive on garbage. They depend on specific ecological conditions, access to seeds, insects for their young, and safe nesting spaces. 

This is exactly where pigeons, and crows outcompete sparrows for food, and nesting spaces. 

Why small fixes don’t work

In recent years, well-meaning efforts, like placing water bowls or scattering grains have become common responses to the sparrow’s decline. But Chatterjee is cautious about their impact.

“These are temporary measures. They don’t address the core issue,” he says.

The real problem, he explains, lies in habitat design. “Urban landscapes today are built around control, controlled greenery, controlled pests, controlled aesthetics. Gardens are manicured, undergrowth is removed, and pesticides are routinely used to maintain “clean” environments.”

But in doing so, he says, cities eliminate the ecological complexity that birds depend on. “A decorative garden is not the same as a living habitat,” he says. 

So what would it take to bring them back?

Chatterjee believes the answer lies less in restraint.

“We often say sparrows have disappeared. But instead of asking why, we should ask what kind of spaces we are creating,” he explains.

The solution, he suggests, is to allow nature to return. “Keep parts of your garden unmanicured. Let it grow. Leave some spaces undisturbed,” he explains. “Animals are not difficult to bring back, but you have to leave space for them.”

This requires a change in mindset. Modern urban planning tends to prioritise visual order and hygiene. But ecological health, Chatterjee points out, does not always align with aesthetic neatness.

“Beauty and habitat don’t always go hand in hand,” he says. “If everything is trimmed, cleaned, and controlled, there’s nothing left for wildlife.”

Are interventions working?

Yes, in some parts of the country, the sparrow is making a tentative return. In Hyderabad, a grassroots effort has begun to show what targeted intervention can achieve. The ‘Bring Back Sparrow’ campaign, launched in 2016 by the Animal Warriors Conservation Society (AWCS), set out with a simple idea: if natural nesting spaces are disappearing, why not create them?

Over the past decade, the organisation has installed more than 1,600 nest boxes across areas such as Ameenpur, Gachibowli, Dilsukh Nagar, and Alwal. In addition, over 1,000 nest boxes are distributed each year to households, institutions, and community groups.

The approach goes beyond installation. Communities are actively involved in monitoring nests, maintaining them, and observing bird activity. This sustained engagement has created a network of micro-habitats across the city.

The boxes are designed to mimic the shaded cavities sparrows naturally prefer and were placed away from direct heat and predators.

But nesting spaces alone were not enough. Sparrows also struggled due to declining insect populations caused by pesticide-heavy gardening and shrinking green cover. 

Residents were encouraged to place water bowls during summer, grow native plants, avoid excessive pesticide use, and create small bird-friendly corners around homes.

Communities also began informally tracking which nest boxes worked best, helping improve placement over time.

The initiative gradually turned into a low-cost, community-led urban biodiversity model — showing that restoring small habitats can help wildlife return even inside dense cities.

The results are measurable. Nearly 20,000 sparrows have returned to these areas.

What can be done at the policy level?

At a policy level too, Chatterjee suggests more bird-friendly infrastructure.

“It can begin with something as simple as rethinking our road boulevards, planting native, bird-friendly shrubs, and reducing plastic use. Birds and butterflies need dense shrubs and undergrowth as hiding and nesting spaces. If we keep trimming, cleaning, and manicuring everything in the name of beautification, we risk erasing the very habitats they depend on” he explains.

Sparrows are resilient. 

As conservationists suggest, given the right conditions, they can return. The success in Hyderabad demonstrates that recovery is possible.

The bird, after all, has not gone far. It is waiting for space.

Change With One Meal has served between 20 to 30 lakh meals across Delhi.

What began in 2020 as a small community kitchen started by Kiran and his wife during the Delhi

protests and Covid lockdown has today become a space built around dignity.

Meals cost just ₹10 so nobody feels ashamed while eating there.

Today, the kitchen serves 700–800 people every day, over 1,200 on weekends, while also

creating opportunities for people rebuilding their own lives.

Loved the video? Stay tuned for more in #ForceForGoodHeroes, an extraordinary series on

India’s unsung heroes that will inspire you to believe in the power of change!
#forceforgood #adityabirlagroup

In partnership with @adityabirlagroup

Music Credits:
Believe by Vocalista

This article has been published in partnership with Roche Pharma India. 

For around 2 lakh people in India, life with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a quiet, invisible struggle. Most are in their 20s and 30s — years spent building careers, raising families, and planning for the future. Yet despite affecting so many, MS is widely misunderstood and often goes undiagnosed. People face exhausting challenges largely unseen.

MS is a condition where the immune system attacks the protective coating of nerves, slowing signals between the brain and body. This makes everyday tasks such as walking, thinking clearly, and keeping up with routines much harder. The symptoms are often invisible: fatigue that won’t go away, numbness, blurred vision, dizziness, chronic pain, or mental fog. Because these struggles are not obvious, many feel isolated, misunderstood, and exhausted. 

However, the silver lining is that timely treatment and support can make a real difference.

Below are three stories of Indians living with MS, showing resilience, adaptation, and what it really takes to live with this invisible condition.

Asmita More: Navigating work and identity

Tied carefully around Asmita More’s arm is an orange ribbon tattoo — a quiet yet powerful symbol recognised across the world for Multiple Sclerosis (MS) awareness. But beyond the tattoo is a woman determined not to let a diagnosis define the life she continues to build for herself.

A public relations professional, explorer, and traveller, Asmita has always thrived on movement, ambition, and independence. When her body began sending unfamiliar signals in 2021, the experience felt deeply disorienting.

It started with blurred vision, waves of exhaustion that rest could not fix, dizziness, recurring hospital visits, and moments where even simple routines felt unusually difficult. Like many young professionals balancing demanding schedules, she initially brushed it aside as stress or burnout.

By 2023, after months of uncertainty and delayed diagnosis, doctors confirmed she was living with MS — a long-term condition where the immune system attacks the protective covering of nerves.

“The first thing I thought about was how this would affect my work and professional life,” she recalls.

Even routine tasks at work became exhausting. Conversations were harder, thoughts felt scattered, and colleagues sometimes saw her as inefficient — highlighting how workplaces struggle to understand a condition that isn’t visible and the impact on her professional identity.

Today, Asmita continues to travel, work, and advocate, using her voice to push for more empathetic workplaces and greater awareness around invisible disabilities. For her, living with MS isn’t about giving up ambition — it’s about adapting, learning to move differently, and holding on to what makes her who she is.

Watch Asmita’s story here:

Aditi Thakur: Motherhood, sacrifice, and resilience

For Aditi Thakur, life once moved with comforting predictability. She was a successful dentist, a doting mother, and deeply rooted in family life and professional purpose.

Then came the dizziness. At first, the vertigo and tingling sensations felt temporary — easy to dismiss amid the scurry of everyday life. But when the symptoms persisted, doctors revealed something unexpected: Aditi was living with MS.

The diagnosis arrived during what she describes as an otherwise healthy phase of life. The hardest part, however, was grieving the fading possibility of having a second child — a deeply personal sacrifice that reflects the silent compromises many women with MS endure.

Because of this, every major decision Aditi makes now carries a quiet awareness of the future — whether she will have the strength to keep up with her daughter’s growing world, endless playtime, and evolving needs.

“What gave me confidence was seeing my vertigo subside after the first round of treatment. Timely intervention truly helped me continue living a life that feels whole and complete,” she shares.

With strong family support and consistent care, Aditi continues to lead a near-normal, fulfilling, and independent life. She speaks openly about awareness, early treatment, and why no one facing an invisible condition should feel alone. Her story highlights how timely medical intervention can help manage MS while continuing to live fully, even in motherhood.

Beyond the diagnosis, she remains the same woman, living with strength, purpose, and hope.

Watch Aditi’s story here:

Rahul Kumar Gupta: Rebuilding life

Rahul Kumar Gupta was still very young when MS changed the course of his life. There was a time when he suddenly lost the ability to stand or walk independently. Everyday tasks that once felt effortless required support, patience, and rehabilitation.

Coming from a family with limited financial means, Rahul, who works as a computer executive at an NGO, faced extra challenges — from finding treatment and arranging long-term care to navigating systems that often fail to recognise invisible disabilities.

Yet what stands out most is his determination to rebuild. Step by step, with doctors, rehabilitation, emotional strength, and support from organisations like the Multiple Sclerosis Society of India, Rahul regained confidence and independence.

His story also highlights the gaps many people with MS face in India. Getting disability certification, financial help, and long-term support can be overwhelming, especially when others can’t see what you’re going through. Even official disability rules can make life harder — the 40% minimum required for certification doesn’t reflect the real struggles of living with an invisible condition like MS.

And still, Rahul chose persistence over giving up. “My life is not as normal as others, but I am not missing anything in life; by God’s grace, I can do everything,” he adds.

Watch Rahul’s story here:

Why India needs more awareness around invisible neurological conditions

Multiple Sclerosis is a lifelong condition, but it doesn’t take away a person’s drive, dignity, or ability to live a meaningful life. Early diagnosis, timely treatment, rehabilitation, emotional support, and societal awareness can help people with MS continue leading independent, fulfilling, and productive lives.

Stories like Asmita’s, Aditi’s, and Rahul’s remind us that invisible disabilities often go unnoticed, leaving individuals feeling isolated or misunderstood. Their journeys highlight personal courage and the gaps in support systems.

While MS may change the path of life, it doesn’t diminish the human spirit. These stories show that, with resilience, support, and timely intervention, people living with MS can continue to lead fulfilling, independent lives.

To understand these challenges more deeply, you can also explore Walk in My Shoes, a campaign that invites you to step into the world of people living with Multiple Sclerosis and experience the realities of this invisible condition.

Imagine you are a tourist visiting the Jagannath temple town of Puri. Your phone goes missing in the crowd. In the past, you would have had to locate the nearest police station, join a queue, navigate unfamiliar bureaucracy, and hope someone at the desk spoke your language.

Today, you scan a small black-and-white square on a poster, send a single word on WhatsApp, and the help begins.

That single word is a simple “Hi”.

On 2 April 2026, Puri Police launched what they are calling the “Puri Police Assistant”, a WhatsApp-based chatbot accessible round the clock.

Citizens and tourists can access the 24×7 service by scanning a QR code or sending a “Hi” message to +91 8763199400 via WhatsApp. The chatbot provides services including filing e-complaints, reporting lost mobile phones, giving feedback, locating nearby police stations, providing parking information, and offering tourist assistance.

The project is supported by PNB ONE and implemented with technological support from Rezler Systems.

SP Pratya Singh, who led the initiative alongside Central IG Satyajit Nayak, put it plainly: “Puri Police is always committed to the service and safety of the people. This WhatsApp chatbot service will take our services closer, and citizens can get immediate assistance.”

The ambition behind that statement is larger than it sounds.

The trust deficit that no FIR can fix

Across India, policing has long wrestled with a fundamental problem that is as human as it is institutional: people do not trust the police enough to reach out to them. According to the Status of Policing in India Report, 36% of citizens surveyed expressed limited or no trust in police institutions, with scepticism arising from recurring concerns about transparency, accountability, and accessibility.

A more recent analysis noted that citizen confidence in the police had declined by nearly 11% since 2020, according to the Common Cause-Lokniti ‘Status of Policing in India’ Survey 2023.

The reasons are layered. Many citizens, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas, find police stations physically and psychologically forbidding.

The very idea of walking into one to report even a minor grievance can feel daunting, which means problems fester, small crimes go unreported, and the distance between citizens and law enforcement quietly widens.

This is especially acute in a place like Puri, where a constant stream of pilgrims and tourists arrive with little familiarity with local systems and even less time to navigate them.

The Puri Police chatbot is, in essence, an attempt to dissolve that distance without waiting for trust to rebuild itself organically over the years.

Odisha’s longer tradition of grassroots policing

What makes the Puri initiative meaningful in context is that it sits within a much older, more textured effort by Odisha to involve communities in their own safety.

The state has long operated the “Ama Police Samiti” model, where police stations are divided into beats, a beat officer is assigned to each, and a samiti of 20 to 25 members meets monthly at every police station to discuss matters of crime, law and order, and community welfare.

Grama Rakhis are also engaged in rural areas for what the district administration describes as “optimum rural policing” in isolated regions.

These Grama Rakhis, or village guards, have been a cornerstone of rural security in Odisha since they were institutionalised under the Odisha Grama Rakhi Act, 1967.

More than 18,000 of them serve across the state, functioning as the eyes and ears of local police in areas where station reach is limited. Their role is not ceremonial: they report on law and order situations, assist in crime detection, and maintain a direct line to police stations.

What happens when you scan the code

The chatbot’s design reflects a clear understanding of who will actually use it. Rather than asking citizens to download a new application, create an account, or learn a new interface, people can simply scan the official QR code or send “Hi” to the dedicated WhatsApp number. The chatbot is designed to respond quickly and guide users through various services in a user-friendly manner.

The services it offers span the most common reasons someone might need to contact the police: filing a complaint electronically, reporting a stolen or lost mobile phone, locating the nearest police station, obtaining parking information, and accessing tourist assistance with safety guidance and directions.

For Puri, this last feature matters enormously. The city receives millions of visitors annually for the Rath Yatra and everyday temple visits, many of them elderly pilgrims travelling alone, unfamiliar with the city, and carrying modest smartphones.

For them, a WhatsApp number is not a technological barrier. It is the most familiar interface in their lives.

Odisha Police Director General Yogesh Bahadur Khurania has spoken of community policing as a “bridge of trust” between the police and the public, expressing confidence that with greater public participation, crime rates will decline and peace will prevail across society.

That language of bridging is worth holding on to, as it acknowledges that a gap exists and that closing it requires effort from the institutional side, not just patience from citizens.

A model worth watching

Odisha is not alone in experimenting with technology to improve police-citizen relations. In Rohtak, Haryana, the police introduced a QR code-based feedback system across all police stations, allowing complainants to rate officer behaviour, station cleanliness, and the transparency of the process using a digital form with 12 questions.

These are small experiments, but they share a common premise: that accessibility and accountability are not administrative luxuries but the minimum conditions for policing to work in a democracy.

What Puri’s chatbot adds to this conversation is a shift from feedback to action. Citizens are not just rating an experience; they are using a live channel to get help, which means the system is only as good as the response it generates on the other end.

The real test of the initiative will come not at launch but over months of use, as citizens experience whether a complaint filed at 11 pm on a WhatsApp chat actually results in someone calling back, following up, and closing the loop.

The QR code is small, almost easy to miss, and printed on a poster near the police station wall.

But what it opens is potentially something much larger: a police force that meets people where they already are, speaks in the language they already use, and begins, one “Hi” at a time, to feel a little less like an institution and a little more like a neighbour.

Sources:

'Puri Police launches "Puri Police Assistant" WhatsApp chatbot for citizens': by ANI, Published on 2 April 2026

'Puri Police launches "Puri Police Assistant" WhatsApp chatbot for citizens': by DD News, Published on 1 April 2026

'Odisha government increases village guard allowance to Rs 2,500': by OrissaPost, Published on 22 January 2026

'District Police — Community Policing, Kandhamal': by Government of Odisha, Published on Kandhamal District Portal

'Rebuilding Trust in Police Amid Public Scrutiny': by NextIAS Editorial Team, Published on 27 December 2025

A tiny village in Tripura just achieved what many big Indian cities still struggle with 💧

Vanghmun became North East India’s first 100% rainwater harvesting village after installing systems across all 292 homes 🌧️

What once faced water scarcity now stores water year round proving that climate resilience does not always require massive budgets or complex technology, sometimes it simply needs collective action and long term thinking

And the most remarkable part?
The transformation happened in under a year ❤️

At nearly 3000 feet above sea level this small village is showing the rest of India that future ready communities are built when people act before crisis becomes unavoidable

If a small village can do this imagine what our cities could achieve with the same urgency and participation ✨

#RainwaterHarvesting #WaterConservation #SustainableLiving #ClimateAction #IndiaPositive #SustainableVillages #ClimateResilience #SaveWater #IndiaInspires #EcoFriendly #FutureReady #EnvironmentalAwareness #PositiveStories

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Layers of clay come together to tell a story. A musician playing a drum, a village procession, a traditional figure or a beloved folk hero – all carefully sculpted onto terracotta panels by artisans in Molela, Rajasthan. 

For generations, this small village has been turning its locally sourced clay into artworks that are admired far beyond India's borders.

But the appeal of Molela's art lies not only in the stories it tells. Artists and collectors from around the world are equally fascinated by the material itself.

Known for its unique composition, workability and durability, Molela clay has become the foundation of a craft tradition that dates back centuries. 

A village where clay became a storyteller

Nestled on the banks of the Banas River in Rajasthan's Rajsamand district, Molela has long been known for its distinctive terracotta craft. 

Historians trace the tradition back several centuries, when local potter communities began creating clay plaques depicting cultural figures, folk heroes and ancestral symbols for pastoral and tribal communities across western India.

These terracotta plaques were commissioned by patrons who travelled from parts of Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh to carry home representations rooted in community memory and local tradition.

The heritage of Molela is one of the reasons artists continue to be drawn to its clay. Every artwork carries material value as well as centuries of cultural memory and craftsmanship.

Over time, the village became synonymous with this specialised art form. Knowledge of preparing the clay, sculpting figures and firing the plaques was passed down through generations of artisan families, helping preserve a craft that remains alive even today.

The heritage of Molela is one of the reasons artists continue to be drawn to its clay. Every artwork carries not just material value, but also centuries of cultural memory and craftsmanship.

The secret lies in the clay

What sets Molela clay apart is its distinctive composition. Traditionally, artisans mix the local clay with donkey dung, whose organic fibres improve the material's strength and flexibility. 

This process helps prevent cracks during drying and firing, creating a clay body that is both durable and easy to shape.

For artists, this means greater freedom to experiment with intricate forms and fine details. The clay remains responsive during sculpting while retaining its structural integrity, making it particularly suitable for the elaborate relief work that Molela is known for.

Its porous nature also allows it to withstand the firing process more effectively, ensuring that even highly detailed creations retain their form.

It is this rare balance of malleability and durability that has drawn attention from artists, designers and collectors across the world, many of whom continue to explore the possibilities of this centuries-old material.

Sculpting stories instead of pots

The uniqueness of Molela clay is matched by the equally distinctive way it is used.

Unlike traditional pottery that is shaped on a wheel, Molela artisans create flat clay plaques known locally as thalas. Upon these surfaces, they carefully build scenes by layering coils and pieces of clay, gradually bringing figures and narratives to life in raised relief.

The resulting artworks are rich in texture and depth. Gods, goddesses, animals, musicians, village communities and scenes from everyday life emerge from the surface, creating compositions that feel both sculptural and storytelling-driven.

For contemporary artists, this technique offers a unique creative language. It allows them to combine the dimensionality of sculpture with the narrative possibilities of painting, transforming simple clay panels into detailed visual stories.

A tradition rooted in folklore and community life

Molela's terracotta tradition has long been connected to folklore, community memory and local life. Historically, artisans crafted plaques depicting cultural figures, folk heroes and ancestral symbols, which were commissioned by patrons from Rajasthan and neighbouring regions.

These terracotta images were often placed in traditional village spaces and community settings.

As the craft evolved, artisans began portraying scenes from daily life — farmers at work, village celebrations, weddings and festivals. The plaques became records of community life, preserving the people, practices and stories of the region.

Today, artists around the world continue to draw inspiration from Molela's storytelling tradition, adapting its techniques to explore contemporary themes while remaining connected to its cultural roots.

Colours from the earth

The beauty of Molela art extends beyond its sculpted forms. Traditional pieces are decorated using natural mineral pigments and organic materials that complement the earthy character of the clay.

Artisans use colours derived from minerals and clay slips, often binding them with vegetable gum before applying a protective lacquer finish. The resulting palette is striking, featuring warm reds, earthy browns, blacks and muted metallic tones that enhance the relief work rather than overpower it.

In a world increasingly focused on sustainable practices, these natural finishing methods add another layer of appeal. They reflect a craft tradition that works closely with local resources while preserving techniques refined over generations.

Why Molela continues to inspire artists worldwide

What makes Molela clay remarkable is not just its composition or the beauty of the finished artworks. It is the way material, technique and tradition come together to create something deeply rooted in place.

Every Molela plaque begins with clay sourced from the surrounding land and shaped by skills passed down through generations. 

It carries stories of folklore, community life and craftsmanship, all preserved in terracotta relief. 

For artists across the world, Molela offers something increasingly rare — a medium that combines creative possibility with a living cultural heritage. 

Sources:

Molela Clay Work by DIGI

‘Molela Clay Work: Rajasthan’s Unique Handmade Terracotta Plaques’ by Incredible India

Before kombucha and iced teas became global wellness trends, India already had its own summer survival drinks 🌿☀️

From North India’s refreshing Bael Sharbat to Tamil Nadu’s naturally cooling Padhaneer, Odisha’s probiotic-rich Tanka Torani, and Assam’s traditional herbal Apong, every region developed drinks designed to help people survive intense summers naturally 🥤

No fancy branding. No artificial additives. Just local ingredients, seasonal wisdom, and recipes passed down through generations.

These drinks didn’t just quench thirst, they helped cool the body, replenish nutrients, support digestion, and adapt to local climates long before modern health beverages entered the market.

As heatwaves become more frequent and temperatures continue to rise, perhaps the answers aren’t hidden in the latest trends. Maybe they’ve always been sitting in our kitchens, waiting to be remembered ❤️

What’s your state’s favourite summer drink? Tell us below 👇

#IndianSummer #TraditionalDrinks #HealthyLiving #IndianCulture #SustainableLiving #HeatwaveSolutions #IndianFoodCulture #NaturalCooling #Ayurveda #LocalWisdom #ClimateResilience #IncredibleIndia #PositiveIndia

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Bael Sharbat Benefits Explained
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Forgotten Indian Beverages Making A Comeback

For generations, girls in parts of the Bedia community were trapped in a cycle they never chose.

When Veerendra Mishra arrived in the region, he refused to accept it as “normal.” He believed every girl deserved the chance to choose her own future.

But change wasn’t easy. He had to confront poverty, social stigma, fear, and decades of silence. Instead of focusing only on enforcement, he focused on trust. Roads, water access, government schemes, and community engagement helped families begin believing that their daughters could dream beyond the limits imposed on them.

Then came education. Through hostels, scholarships, safer learning environments, and initiatives like India’s first Anti-Human Trafficking Lab, RACE, girls were given opportunities that previous generations never had.

The mission began with just 13 girls in 2010.

Today, more than 5,000 girls have moved beyond that cycle, pursuing careers as teachers, nurses, engineers, and professionals of their choice. ✨

This isn’t just the story of an officer. It’s the story of what becomes possible when someone refuses to look away and chooses to fight for dignity, opportunity, and hope.

Do we need more officers like him? ❤️

#VeerendraMishra #WomenEmpowerment #EducationForGirls #SocialImpact #IPSOfficer #IndiaInspires #WomenLeadership #PositiveChange #HumanDignity #InspiringIndia #SocialJustice #Changemaker #Hope

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How Education Changed 5,000 Girls’ Lives
Inspiring IPS Officer Stories India
Women Empowerment Success Stories India
Social Reformers Creating Change in India

The monsoon is almost here. The southwest monsoon has already touched the Andaman & Nicobar Islands — five days early — and is expected to make landfall in Kerala any day. For most of India, it can't come soon enough. Delhi's Yamuna is running low, water plants are at reduced capacity, and tanker queues have become a daily reality.

But while the headlines track the crisis, something quieter has been happening. Four very different people, in four corners of India, have spent the past year doing the same thing: making sure the rain, when it arrives, has somewhere to go.

After a Severe Water Crisis Hit Varanasi, This IAS Officer Brought Water Back to 39 Villages

Varanasi was running out of water. As CDO, IAS officer Himanshu Nagpal found 700 borewells being dug every year with nothing going back in. Companies were required to install rainwater harvesting systems but pleaded lack of space. His fix: let them fulfil the obligation on public buildings instead.

Over 1,000 schools, colleges and hospitals became recharge points. 393 ponds were built. 6,000 handpumps were redesigned to push water underground. A 30-km polluted river was revived. 39 villages got their water back. No new technology — just a shift in where the rain was asked to go.

Read the full story →

The Remarkable Journey of One Farmer’s Decade-Long Battle To Revive the Purna River & Save 6 Villages

Since 2018, citrus farmer Amol Langote from Thugaon-Pimpri in Vidarbha has been building two to four check dams every year on the Purna River — with his own money, Rs 50,000–60,000 at a time. When a fungal disease slashed his income from Rs 35 lakh to Rs 8 lakh, he kept building.

"I decided not to spend on cultural celebrations and used that money for check dams instead," he said. The dams slow the river, letting water seep into the aquifer below. Six villages around the site now have more stable water than they have had in years.

Read the full story →

Inside the Revival of Karnataka’s 11th-Century Stepwell With Rare Naga Carvings

In Sudi, Gadag district, Karnataka, a flight of sandstone stairs now leads back into the 11th century. Nagakunda — built under the Kalyani Chalukyas — lay buried under roots and rubble for decades, its carved naga walls hidden, its groundwater-recharging logic dormant.

The Deccan Heritage Foundation, working under Karnataka's Adopt a Monument scheme, cleared the debris, reset the stones and restored the percolation channels. When the monsoon arrives this year, Nagakunda will do what it was designed to do a thousand years ago: slow the rain down and send it underground.

Read the full story →

Ujjain IAS Officer Restores Historical Pond With 125 Volunteers & No Govt Funds

The Yam Talaiya — a 4.2-acre pond tied to a temple, a deity and the farming life of a neighbourhood — had been silting up for years on the outskirts of Ujjain. IAS officer Anshul Gupta decided it would be Madhya Pradesh's first Amrit Sarovar, but didn't wait for government funds. He brought in the Environmentalist Foundation of India and 125 volunteers.

Eight months of desilting, bund-reinforcing and weed-clearing later, the pond's water-holding capacity rose by nearly a third — an additional 22.8 million litres. Wildlife returned. The temple had its pond back. The farmers had their water.

Read the full story →

India’s favourite summer fruit may soon become rare. 🍒 Extreme heatwaves, warmer winters, and unseasonal rains are damaging Bihar’s famous Shahi litchis, affecting their sweetness, texture, and production. As climate change reshapes farming patterns across India, even the taste of our summers is beginning to change.

But amid the crisis, there’s still hope. In Kerala’s Wayanad, 74-year-old Kuruvila Joseph is growing naturally cultivated, chemical-free litchis that continue to thrive despite unpredictable weather conditions. His work shows how sustainable farming and biodiversity can help protect crops in a rapidly warming world.

Because this story isn’t just about a fruit. It’s about climate change, farming, childhood memories, and the flavours tied to Indian summers. The foods we grow today will shape the memories future generations inherit tomorrow. Comment “Litchi” if you love it too ❤️

#ClimateChange #Litchi #IndianFarmers #SustainableFarming #IndianSummer #ClimateCrisis #Bihar #Kerala #OrganicFarming #SaveOurFood #IndianAgriculture #SummerFruits #PositiveIndia #FoodSecurity #TheBetterIndia

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Why Bihar’s Shahi Litchis Are Under Threat
How Climate Change Is Affecting Indian Fruits
Meet The Farmer Growing Climate-Resilient Litchis
The Future Of India’s Summer Fruits Looks Scary
Can Sustainable Farming Save India’s Litchis?

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The Western Ghats are spectacular during the monsoon, but for years, most travellers experienced them through the same crowded routes: Mahabaleshwar viewpoints, Munnar, or the rush towards Dudhsagar Falls.

That is beginning to change.

Across the Sahyadris and rainforest belts of the Ghats, a form of monsoon travel is drawing urban Indians into ecosystems that only fully emerge during the rains.

Instead of chasing postcard landscapes, travellers are signing up for frog walks, nocturnal biodiversity trails, firefly festivals, birdwatching camps, waterfall treks, and rainforest stays led by local naturalists.

But these experiences last only a few weeks each year.

For many tourists, that is precisely what makes them important.

The Western Ghats are one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots, home to thousands of endemic species that become most active during the monsoon.

Amphibians breed after the first rains. Forest streams revive entire microhabitats.

For a certain section of travellers, these trails are becoming their first direct encounter with fragile ecosystems under increasing pressure from climate change, littering, and mass tourism.

Here are some of the monsoon experiences redefining travel across the Western Ghats.

1. Frog walks in Agumbe, Amboli, and Wayanad

After sunset, on rainforest trails in places like Agumbe in Karnataka, Amboli in Maharashtra, and parts of Wayanad in Kerala, naturalists guide small groups through wet forest paths, helping them identify frogs by their calls.

Many of the species are endemic to the Western Ghats and emerge only during the monsoon breeding season.

The walks usually move slowly through paddy fields and stream corridors. Torches are kept dim. Visitors crouch beside leaf litter or waterlogged rocks while guides explain how amphibians act as indicators of ecosystem health.

For travellers used to wildlife tourism centred around large mammals, frog walks offer a completely different understanding of biodiversity. Visitors can expect to spot rare endemic species like the Malabar Gliding Frog, Dancing Frog, and various colourful bush frogs.

Best time to go: June to September
Where: Agumbe, Amboli, Wayanad

2. Firefly trails in the Sahyadris

Villages around Rajmachi, Purushwadi, Igatpuri, and Bhandardara in the northern Western Ghats now host seasonal firefly trails where travellers walk through forest patches illuminated by thousands of synchronous flashes.

The phenomenon has become one of the biggest monsoon tourism draws in Maharashtra. But local eco-tourism groups are also using the experience to explain how sensitive fireflies are to habitat disruption, pesticides, and artificial lighting.

Many villages now regulate tourism during the firefly season.

Loud music, flash photography, and vehicle movement near breeding zones are restricted.

Homestays run by local families have become central to the experience, creating seasonal income tied directly to conservation.

Best time to go: Late May to early June
Where: Rajmachi, Purushwadi, Bhandardara

3. Waterfall treks beyond Dudhsagar

The trail to Dudhsagar Falls gets most of the attention every monsoon.

But deeper inside the Western Ghats, in Karnataka’s Uttara Kannada district, treks to Sathodi Falls and Unchalli Falls cut through dense evergreen forests where the trail itself often becomes the highlight.

Low clouds drift through the canopy, streams overflow onto pathways, and the sound of rain is almost constant.

Unlike crowded waterfall destinations, these routes are usually guided by local communities familiar with changing monsoon terrain.

The treks are muddier and physically demanding, especially during peak rainfall. But that slower pace is also reshaping how people experience the landscape.

Best time to go: July to September
Where: Uttara Kannada district, near Sirsi and Yellapur

4. Mist forest treks in the Nilgiris and Coorg

Some monsoon trails in the Western Ghats are simply about moving through cloud forests.

In Coorg, Chikmagalur, and the Nilgiris, trekking groups now organise monsoon-specific hikes through shola forests and grassland systems during the rainy season.

Leeches are unavoidable on these treks.

Naturalists say these hikes are helping travellers understand why montane ecosystems are highly vulnerable to deforestation, unregulated tourism, and changing rainfall patterns.

The monsoon also brings attention to native tree species, stream systems, and high-altitude grasslands, which are often overshadowed by plantation tourism.

Best time to go: June to September
Where: Coorg, Chikmagalur, Nilgiris

The rise of the monsoon rain economy

Across the Western Ghats, these seasonal experiences are creating a “rain economy”.

Homestays that once shut during the monsoon now remain fully booked because of trekking and biodiversity tourism.

Young residents are training as nature guides, birding experts, and trail coordinators.

The appeal of the Western Ghats during the monsoon lies precisely in how temporary and fragile these ecological moments are.

The monsoon reveals an ecosystem operating at full intensity and reminds travellers how much of it remains vulnerable.

Sources:

'Overview-Bhandardara Fireflies 2026' : by Treks and Trails, Published in 2026

'With Love for Their Land, These Young Locals Made Their Maharashtra Village a Place Worth Visiting Again': by Shweta Dravid, Published on 16 March 2025

'Revisiting the Western Ghats - A Monsoon Adventure': by Saurabh Sawant, Published on December 2023

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

Climate change and its adverse effects haven’t spared anyone, least of all the farmers in rural India, who witness losses every year due to drought, heat, rain and pest attacks. When Sathya Raghu Mokkapati was 17 years old, he witnessed this first hand when he saw a farmer in his village eat mud. 

On asking the farmer why he was resorting to this, the farmer replied, “My crops failed. My stomach doesn’t know my pockets are empty.” 

The incident remained in Sathya’s mind and haunted him even years later, when and his colleagues Kaushik K, Saumya, and Ayush Sharma were discussing the harrowing lives of small farmers. 

 

This propelled them to launch Kheyti in 2015 and come up with an innovation ‘Greenhouse-in-a-box’ that would get smallholder farmers in India their dues by increasing their profits. 

Explaining how the model works, Sathya says, “We build houses to live in safety and to protect ourselves from environmental factors like heat, rain, insects, etc. Likewise, a greenhouse helps plants thrive. Our greenhouse cuts off excess heat by 2-4 degrees Celsius, reduces pests by 90 per cent and saves 98 per cent water as compared to open-field conventional irrigation.”

 

The intent behind this, he says in a TED Talk, is that while we cannot cool the entire planet in one day, it is possible to create a climate for a small portion of farmers’ land to be suitable for farming. 

The ‘Greenhouse-in-a-box’ kit has two variants — one costs about Rs 2 lakh (for 320 sq mts) while the other costs about Rs 3.35 lakh (for 462 sq mts) and the farmers also get training on what to grow, how to grow and when to grow. 

Watch how this concept is helping farmers across the country increase their yield:

70,000+ vehicles entered Shimla in just 72 hours and the “Queen of Hills” came to a standstill 🚗⛰️

Traffic jams Long queues Hours lost on roads
And every summer India’s hill stations face the same problem — too many vehicles and too little space

But Sikkim may already have an answer ✨

In Gangtok getting a taxi permit starts with one simple rule: first prove where you will park No parking No permit

The state has also restricted new taxi permits until infrastructure catches up introduced odd even vehicle systems during peak hours and even uses drones to monitor traffic bottlenecks in real time 🚦

These measures do more than reduce congestion They also protect fragile hill ecosystems from pollution noise and overcrowding

As tourism rises across India Sikkim offers an important lesson, don’t just clear traffic jams Prevent them before they begin ❤️

#PublicTransport #SmartCities #SustainableMobility #Sikkim #Gangtok #UrbanInnovation #TrafficManagement #ClimateAction #HillStations #IndiaInspires #SustainableCities #UrbanPlanning #PositiveStories

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Why Gangtok Has Less Traffic
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A group of young people dressed as cockroaches cleaning the Yamuna River grabbed the internet’s attention.

But that’s only where this story begins.
Across India, young people are quietly tackling challenges that many believe are too big to solve. They’re cleaning polluted rivers, helping artisans earn fair incomes, breaking menstrual health taboos, improving road safety, reducing waste, rescuing abandoned animals, and serving communities with simple acts of kindness.
While online conversations continue to debate whether Gen Z is lazy, entitled, woke, overdramatic, or chronically online, countless young Indians are already creating real impact in the offline world.

This video brings together inspiring stories of young changemakers from across the country who prove that meaningful change doesn’t always come from institutions or authority. Sometimes, it begins with one person deciding to care.

Featuring stories of environmental action, social innovation, community service, sustainability, animal welfare, road safety, and grassroots change.

Because the future isn’t just being discussed. It’s already being built.

Subscribe for more stories of people making India better, one action at a time.

#GenZ #YoungIndia #Changemakers #India
#YouthPower #PositiveNews #InspiringIndia #SocialImpact #CommunityChange #CJP

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Dowry isn’t a ritual. It’s violence hidden behind weddings, gifts, and societal pressure. Across India, thousands of women still face harassment, abuse, and even death over demands for money, gold, cars, and property disguised as tradition. What many families continue to normalise as “custom” often becomes lifelong trauma for women behind closed doors.

After losing her daughter to dowry violence, Satya Rani Chadha transformed her grief into a movement that pushed India to strengthen anti dowry laws and demand accountability. Her fight forced the country to confront a painful reality that many preferred to ignore. But despite stricter laws and growing awareness, the crisis still continues across cities and villages alike.

According to official data, 16 women still die every single day in India due to dowry related violence. Behind every statistic is a daughter, sister, or friend whose life became conditional on payment. Ending dowry will take more than laws. It will require families to reject these demands, communities to stop normalising them, and society to finally stop calling violence a tradition. What more do you think India should do to end dowry forever?

#StopDowry #WomenSafety #GenderEquality #EndViolenceAgainstWomen #SocialChange #DowryFreeIndia #WomenRights #JusticeForWomen #IndianSociety #GenderJustice #SpeakUp #EndDowry #India #SocialAwareness #TheBetterIndia

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Why Dowry Still Exists In India
The Real Cost Of Dowry In Indian Weddings
Meet The Woman Who Fought India’s Dowry System
India’s Dowry Crisis Explained
Why Ending Dowry Needs More Than Laws

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On a warm afternoon in Balipur village, a group of women sits in a circle inside the Panchayat building. Some have come straight from the fields, their dupattas still dusted with soil. At the centre stands a woman, speaking with calm assurance about why daughters must study, why sons must share household work, and why silence is not the only option women have.

A few years ago, this would have been unthinkable.

The woman leading the conversation is Geeta Devda. Once confined within the walls of her home, she now helps other women step into public spaces, raise their voices in Gram Sabha meetings, and shape decisions that affect their lives.

Her journey from restriction to leadership is not just personal; it has unfolded alongside other women, shaped by shared struggles, collective courage, and growing trust.

Finding her voice in a village that expected silence

A resident of Balipur in Dhar district, Madhya Pradesh, she lives with her son and daughter. Before she became someone other women turned to for guidance, she was navigating a life that had changed too quickly. 

“I got married when I was 16 years old. I was studying in my Class 10," she tells The Better India.

The transition from school to marriage was not just early, it was disorienting.

“When I came to my in-laws’ house, I was having a hard time. I didn’t know how to live in the village. I had to face a lot of problems,” she says.

“Even if there was a labourer in the field, I had to reach there on time after finishing all the work at home. I didn’t know how to work in the fields because I had never done it before.”

The expectations were immediate, and the space to learn was limited. Alongside financial struggles, there were restrictions that made even stepping outside difficult. Over time, silence became less of a choice and more of a habit.

The transition from school to marriage was abrupt and disorienting.

“When I came to my in-laws’ house, I was having a hard time. I didn’t know how to live in the village. I had to face a lot of problems,” she says.

“Even if there was a labourer in the field, I had to reach there on time after finishing all the work at home. I didn’t know how to work in the fields because I had never done it before.”

Alongside financial struggles, restrictions on mobility made stepping outside difficult. Over time, silence became a habit.

But in 2013, an unexpected shift began.

“My sister-in-law used to go to a group in another village. I used to see her and think, "Can I also join? When she asked me, I said yes. I did not even ask my family members.”

It was a small decision, but not an easy one. Her family was initially apprehensive and refused permission, but she chose to go ahead.

Those meetings did not transform her overnight. But they gave her something new — a space to sit without fear, to listen, and slowly begin to speak.

From participation to purpose

The self-help group began with small savings — Rs 100 at a time — but its impact went far beyond money. It created a sense of belonging.

Alongside financial literacy, she learned tailoring. With restrictions still in place, she worked from home, stitching bags and household items, while other women helped sell them in the market.

For the first time, her work reached beyond her home.

A few years later, in 2018, another turning point came when she was introduced to Transform Rural India (TRI).

“I used to attend training sessions with other women. They told me about different projects. I said yes, but I also told them, ‘I am not educated; will I be able to work?’”

The doubt reflected years of limitation, but the willingness to try remained.

Through training on gender, rights, and leadership, her understanding began to expand.

Pallavi, a field officer who first met her during a cluster-level meeting, recalls:

“I saw her speaking very well about the problems in her village. She was confident and bold and did not mind sharing her thoughts; it was evident that whatever she was doing, it was with her full heart.”

The training encouraged women to think beyond immediate concerns.

“They are asked to think about their life, their family, and their village. From there, they begin to see themselves as part of change.”

And slowly, she did, seeing herself not just as someone affected by systems, but someone who could engage with them.

When survival turns into leadership

Then came a turning point that could have undone this progress.

“Because my children were small and my husband had passed away, I had to take care of all the responsibilities at home and farming.”

The shift was sudden, the responsibility absolute. But this time, she did not face it the way she once might have. By now, she had a network, a skillset, and a growing sense of confidence.

So instead of retreating, she expanded her role.

“Now I do housework in the morning, cook food, and then go to the field. I stay in touch with the women and tell them how we can move forward independently.”

Her days became longer, but also fuller in purpose.

What began as participation in a group gradually evolved into leadership within it. She became the president of her self-help group and started encouraging other women to step into spaces they had long avoided — Gram Sabhas, Panchayat meetings, public forums.

“They did not go to Panchayat Bhawan or Gram Sabha. They used to sit on the floor while men sat on chairs. Now they sit equally and ask about their rights.”

The shift was subtle but powerful, moving from presence to participation and from participation to assertion.

Around the same time, another layer of change began to unfold — one that was more personal and more difficult to navigate.

In 2022, they received gender training from Transform Rural India (TRI). For the first time, we understood what gender really means — our roles, the differences between men and women, and even awareness about our own bodies. 

“Earlier, these were things we were never told or were made to feel ashamed of. If I had known all this before, maybe I would not have been married so early. My education would not have been taken away,” adds Geeta.

These conversations challenged long-held beliefs, not just within the community, but among the women themselves.

“At the start, women in our group felt this was inappropriate. They asked why we were talking about such things.”

So she adapted, simplifying conversations around gender roles, myths, and body awareness.

“We also asked men to sit and listen so that there is no miscommunication and gender roles are redefined.”

Trust grew slowly, but with that came openness. Women began sharing experiences they had never spoken about before, including domestic violence.

“We told them, if you go alone, no one will listen. If you go together and voice your concerns, everyone will listen.”

That idea, of going together, became central to everything that followed.

When one voice becomes many

The change is most visible in the women around her.

One such story is Rajkor didi’s. Once confined to home and labour work, she rarely spoke in meetings. That began to change through the Nari Adhikar Kendra.

“She used to come and talk to us openly and ask us about our problems. Slowly, we began to understand — not just the problems, but how to deal with them.”

With that understanding came something deeper — a quiet but steady confidence.

“Earlier, we did not speak even at home. Now we are not afraid of anyone. We can speak and give answers.”

That shift began to reflect in everyday life.

“We learnt about education, about schemes. We took a loan and started work. I got a flour mill and spice grinder.”

But the most meaningful change is harder to see and impossible to miss.

“This confidence, this freedom to speak – it means everything. If we had taken out time earlier like this, we could have done anything,” says Rajkor.

As more women spoke up, conversations expanded to issues like domestic violence.

“They started sharing how helpless they felt. Since the sarpanch is also a man, they did not know where to go. So I told them, you can come to the Nari Adhikar Kendra and report your problems.”

Gradually, cases began to be reported.

In one instance, an elderly woman was abused and thrown out of her home. The police initially did not listen. But this time, she was not alone.

“They went to the doctor first, then spoke to other women, and together decided to take action. They went to the police station as a group. That collectiveness made a difference.”

“It will take time, because this has been there from the beginning.”

In another instance, women demanded a closer Gram Sabha.

“We went together, gave applications, and finally, through the collective effort of Didi’s Gram Sabha meetings, started happening there.”

Step by step, the shift became collective.

A circle that continues to widen

Today, her life holds many roles – farmer, mother, community leader, and coordinator.

She earns Rs 15,000 a month, supports her children, and works closely with women across villages. What once felt distant, learning to ride a scooter, has grown into bigger milestones, including buying her own car in February 2026.

But her real impact lies in the spaces she has opened for others.

“She had leadership qualities, but she did not have the platform earlier. Now she is motivating others, especially young girls, to continue their education,” says Pallavi.

“If we had known earlier, things could have been different. That is why we must tell other women and educate them.”

Back in the Panchayat building, the meeting continues. The circle is fuller now. Women who once sat quietly are asking questions, sharing opinions, and making decisions.

She is still there, but no longer at the centre.

Because the space no longer depends on one voice, it holds many.

And in that widening circle lies the real transformation, not just of one woman stepping beyond confinement, but of an entire community learning how to lead.

All image courtesy TRI team

On a humid weekend evening in Chennai’s Anna Nagar Tower Park, groups of strangers gather around chessboards under the trees. 

Some are schoolchildren still in sports jerseys. Others are office-goers winding down after a long week. A few are retirees revisiting a hobby they had once abandoned years ago.

The atmosphere is relaxed. There are no tense tournament silences or anxious parents hovering nearby. Players chat between moves, laugh over mistakes, and occasionally pause their games to discuss strategies with complete strangers.

In a city known for producing world-class chess talent, these gatherings are unusual for one reason: most people here have not come with the pressure of becoming champions. 

Instead, they have come together simply to enjoy the game.

Behind this growing movement is Chennai Chess Club, an initiative started by Paul Vannan K and Varun A in 2023, to create informal, welcoming spaces where people of all ages and skill levels can play chess offline and build a community around it.

Moving beyond competitive chess

India’s chess culture has expanded dramatically in recent years — from Viswanathan Anand’s legacy to the rise of young players like R Praggnanandhaa. Across Chennai, coaching centres and academies train children for competitive tournaments from an early age.

But casual chess spaces, especially for adults, remain surprisingly limited.

Paul explained that this gap became more visible during the pandemic, when online chess platforms experienced a massive surge in popularity. 

While many people began playing regularly online, there were very few opportunities for them to meet fellow players in person or form an actual community around the game.

Varun, who had long been involved in chess competitively, noticed the same trend. Chess had increasingly become performance-driven, with most organised spaces focused on rankings, titles, and tournaments rather than leisure or social interaction.

The duo decided to change that.

Chess over chai and conversation

Their initiative now hosts multiple community-driven formats across Chennai.

One of the most popular is ‘Chess Chai Connect’, where players gather at cafés on Sunday mornings to play friendly games over tea and coffee. 

Another initiative transforms public parks into open chess spaces where anyone can walk in and participate.

Boards are provided, and players are usually paired with strangers during the first round of games. As sessions progress, people naturally begin interacting with others who match their playing level.

Paul said the idea was inspired partly by public chess cultures abroad, particularly in cities where cafés and parks regularly become gathering spaces for chess enthusiasts.

The sessions, which typically see participation from 20–30 members, are intentionally kept relaxed and low-pressure. While small prizes or goodies may be offered to top performers, the primary emphasis remains on interaction and community engagement rather than competition.

That approach appears to be working.

What began as occasional meetups has steadily grown into a regular community activity, attracting children, working professionals, hobby players, and even those returning to chess after decades away from the board.

Rediscovering chess without pressure

For many participants, the appeal lies in the absence of expectations.

Regular attendee Shwetha R explained that she had first learnt chess from her grandfather as a child but drifted away from the game over time. 

Competitive environments no longer interested her, but the Chennai Chess Club sessions offered something different — a chance to reconnect with chess socially and casually.

She said the gatherings gave people space to talk, relax, and enjoy the game without worrying about rankings or tournament outcomes.

That sentiment is echoed by several adult players who attend regularly.

In India, chess is often viewed through the lens of achievement, with structured coaching and intense preparation beginning at a young age. 

But initiatives like this are slowly creating room for another kind of player: people who simply enjoy the game as recreation.

Why offline chess still matters

The resurgence of in-person chess comes at a time when online platforms dominate the sport globally.

Digital chess offers convenience — players can find opponents instantly at any hour of the day. But many community players believe something important gets lost in the process.

Paul pointed out that online games can feel isolating because players rarely form real connections with the people they compete against. 

In contrast, face-to-face games often lead to conversations, friendships, and collaborative learning. Players discuss openings after matches, analyse mistakes together, and sometimes continue chatting long after the games end.

There are also concerns around fair play online.

Aravind Aaron, a chess player and coach, explained that fair play can also be harder to ensure online, as players may use external devices or engines during games. 

Over-the-board chess, he suggested, creates a more authentic and engaging experience.

Building community, one move at a time

While Chennai Chess Club operates on a much smaller scale, its founders believe the game still has the power to bring people together in meaningful ways.

At a time when social interactions are increasingly moving online, a few chessboards in a park may appear simple. Yet every weekend, those boards continue drawing strangers into conversations, friendships, and shared experiences.

And in the process, Chennai’s newest chess movement is quietly reminding people that the game was never only about winning.

In a small town in Assam, a government school teacher began missing work for four to five days every month. She loved her classroom. She did not want to be away from it. But for those few days each month, staying home felt easier than the alternative.

Her younger brother, Kiriti Acharjee, an electronics and communications engineer working in Bengaluru, noticed the pattern. When he asked her about it, what he heard changed the course of his life.

"My sister is a government school teacher. She spends eight to nine hours at school. But she didn't attend school when she was menstruating. I first thought it could have been some other reason. But I came to know that she neither had any hygienic facility to change her pads nor any products that could stay for long hours," Kiriti recalls.

That conversation sat with him for weeks. His sister was not the only one. Across India, millions of women were navigating the same five days each month with no real options, only sanitary pads that leaked, chafed, and demanded a clean toilet every few hours.

Kiriti picked up the phone and called two friends from home.

A conversation in Bengaluru that refused to end

Kiriti and Sourav Chakrabarty had grown up in the same town, Hailakandi, in Assam. Their families had lived in Pune. The two had worked their early professional years in the same city between 2015 and 2018, and in that time, one subject kept returning to their conversations: how women they knew, including the women they loved, were spending their periods.

Sourav had his own story. Back in 2016, his girlfriend, now his wife, had opened up to him about what those days felt like. She bled heavily. Changing pads every couple of hours felt like torture. Four to five days, every month, every year.

"I agree with her that it is a challenge to change pads often, and women endure many difficulties with their underwear. For five days a month, they wear something extra on top of their underwear. It causes rashes because of the plastic they wear for four to five days. Wearing one for 24 hours is very uncomfortable," says Sourav, now 34.

Around them, the silence began to lift. Their women colleagues spoke openly about cramps and leaks. Their friends complained about the same things their mothers had endured without ever saying a word.

"As we grew up, we noticed that the neighbours' families or our parents' generation were not quite open to talking about periods. However, the present generations never hesitate. Our women friends and colleagues would frequently mention 'cramps' in their lower stomachs, as well as pad leaks. This kind of experience led me to conclude that this was the real problem," Sourav says.

Then came Satyajit Chakraborty. A senior to Kiriti, from a tiny town called Nivia, about 100 km from Silchar, Satyajit was working at Capgemini in Bengaluru. His sister carried a heavier burden than most.

A sister who sometimes forgot she was bleeding

Satyajit's sister is a schizophrenia patient. The illness affects everything, including her ability to remember the most basic things about her own body.

"Females don't usually go through pain or rashes, but they also face many issues during menstrual cycles. My sister is a schizophrenia patient. She usually forgets to change her pads, sometimes even that she is menstruating. As a result, blood runs onto the floor from her bloodied garment. This issue not only affects her but also keeps our family constantly alert," Satyajit says.

He eventually got her admitted to a Bengaluru hospital, where she was treated for two years. She is in better condition today, though not fully healed. For years, Satyajit had been juggling his job with hospital visits and her check-ups. The leave kept piling up. His work suffered. But he could not walk away from a salary either, not yet.

In 2018, through his cousin, Satyajit met Kiriti. The two found their values matched. By 2019, Satyajit had quit his seven-year stint at Capgemini and joined his two friends.

Three brothers, in the same city, each shaped by a sister's struggle. The company they were about to start had already chosen them.

Sixty tries before they got it right

The three friends pooled in Rs 15 lakh and founded HealthFab in Bengaluru in January 2020. Their plan was straightforward and difficult: build a reusable, leak-proof period panty that a woman could wear for 12 hours without worry.

The product did not exist in India. It existed in the United States, but with a polyester base that did not feel right to them. Sourav, who came from a research background, began digging.

"He learnt that underwear can be engineered, where absorbency can be built on, and that can be produced by cotton, the specialised fabric which can absorb the period all by itself," he explains. Using contacts in China for ideas on product development, he tried, and most attempts failed.

The team approached manufacturing partners across India. Many agreed to make samples. Most rejected the brief once they understood the absorbency required. Out of dozens of attempts, only one or two prototypes worked. The team made those more absorbent, then handed them to friends and family for honest reviews.

"My friends and family were supportive when I gave them the samples to try. They weren't shy and gave me their honest feedback, such as that it leaked after an hour or two. We've done 60 permutations and combinations, and it took a long time to get this absorbency level. Finally, we found a way it could survive long enough to soak them up and decided to launch the product," Sourav tells The Better India.

Through 2019, during the pilot phase, the trio kept tweaking. The fabric became more absorbent. The weight came down. The feel improved.

By January 2020, the product was ready. They listed it on Amazon and called it GoPadFree.

The product that does the work of hundreds of pads

A regular sanitary pad absorbs about 6 ml. A GoPadFree panty absorbs 30 ml. A woman bleeds roughly 40 to 50 ml over four to five days. One panty lasts 12 hours, without side leaks or dampness, and can be reused up to 50 times. Over two years, a single panty can replace hundreds of disposable pads.

"We focus on showing the problem with current single-use pads and how we solve it with leak-proof period panties," says Kiriti, now 35.

"We have played here with the fabric level. We buy cotton in thread form. Then from thread to fabric, the process is achieved. The absorbency comes from the layers covering each other and what they are made of. Each panty weighs 80 grams," he explains.

Satyajit, 43, is already thinking ahead. "We want to take it from 80 grams to 40 grams and make it a mass-market underwear garment. Menstrual blood can be rinsed away with water, resulting in a clean, ready-to-wear panty. It can be used as many as 50 times."

GoPadFree is India's first reusable, leak-proof standalone period panty, meaning no sanitary pad, menstrual cup or tampon is needed alongside it. The product is certified by BIS under IS: 17514 CM/L-6200217087. It is made from soft, breathable cotton, free from PFAS and over 250 other harmful substances.

The panties come in black, wild green, navy blue and red. There are three styles: Hipster Mid Rise, Hipster High Waist, and Hipster Midrise with Lace. The basic variant currently sells for Rs 549, with other variants priced at Rs 649, Rs 799 and upwards.

"It's eco-friendly, and it's a budget-friendly product as well. The fabric layers of GoPadFree panties are hyper-absorbent, which removes the anxiety of dampness and infection," says Kiriti, an army kid who earned his engineering degree in electronics and communication from Annamalai University, Chennai.

When customers wrote in saying "life-changing"

The launch came just weeks before the country shut down. By September 2020, the team began to see something unusual in their inbox.

"We suddenly started getting all this amazing customer feedback, like, 'It's a life-changing product.' Some even pointed out that they had rash-free days for the first time," recalls Sourav.

Sneha, a customer, says, "The product offers exceptional comfort. It's hyper-absorbent, odourless and irritant-free. I used it on day two, when the heaviest flow usually occurs, and even then there was zero leakage. It's worth the money as you don't buy sanitary pads, as I ended up buying more."

Mihir Amburle bought one for his wife. "She mentioned the textile of the panty is soft, breathable and comfortable. It fits nicely, offers ample coverage, and doesn't leak or stain. The stitching and cushioning are fabulous. It's easy to clean and dries quickly after washing. Overall, it's a very practical, useful and reusable product. My wife is really happy with the panty."

Malbika calls it "a true innovation. This leak-proof hipster underwear turns heavy periods into a walk in the park. They offer comfort and economy. It's the must-have menstruation item."

For Juhi, the relief was visceral. "I got really frustrated with pads because they would chafe my thighs, and tampons were painful. This product has been a real blessing. Even during heavy flow days, it has no leaks and no stains."

From Amazon to Shark Tank and a Pre-Series A round

The team's 2020 patent filing was accepted, giving them a head start. In February 2025, HealthFab appeared on Shark Tank India Season 4 and received offers from all four sharks present, Anupam Mittal, Aman Gupta, Vineeta Singh and Peyush Bansal, for a total of Rs 2 crore. The deal did not eventually go through. The company instead raised Rs 5 crore from external investors in its Pre-Series A round.

Today, GoPadFree is sold through HealthFab's website, Flipkart, BigBasket, Blinkit, Zepto, Swiggy Instamart, Myntra and Meesho.

"What matters to us is that our customers love it. It solves the real problem of pain for women on their period days," Kiriti says.

The numbers tell their own story. Sales of a few thousand units in FY 2019-20 grew to Rs 73 lakh in 2020-21, Rs 1.1 crore in 2021-22, Rs 3.3 crore in 2022-23 and Rs 8.34 crore in 2023-24. HealthFab has reached over four lakh customers, with more than six lakh women using the product to date. The team is eyeing Rs 11 crore in sales by September 2025.

"The company grew 3.3 times in 12 months, and we are at an ARR of Rs 36 to 38 crore as of now," Kiriti says.

A factory in Bengaluru, run largely by women from home

HealthFab's 10,000 square foot factory in Bengaluru employs 100 people, 40 of them women, and around 50 of them from Assam, the founders' home state. The supply chain, from raw cotton to finished panty, is entirely Indian.

"Essentially, we have established a fully vertically integrated supply chain in India. We source all raw materials locally to manufacture our products in our 10,000 square foot factory located in Bengaluru. By focusing on Indian manufacturing, we ensure high quality, as we are a product-centric organisation," says Sourav.

Their next push is into smaller cities and towns. "We want to touch every woman's wardrobe and be part of their period cycle," Satyajit says. "We're concentrating particularly on tier 2, tier 3, and tier 4 areas because they've been a big challenge to get on top of. Waste disposal of pads is another major problem in India. But our period pants are making periods easier. One no longer needs to use sanitary pads, menstrual cups, tampons, etc."

What 1,000 tonnes of plastic looks like

A single disposable sanitary pad produces 2 to 3 grams of plastic waste. That plastic takes 600 to 700 years to decompose. Multiply that by the number of pads a woman uses across her lifetime, and the scale becomes hard to picture.

"We have addressed another significant issue, plastic waste. Our calculations indicate that our product has helped prevent at least 1,000 MT of plastic sanitary waste from entering landfills, as women have transitioned to using period panties instead of disposable products," Sourav says.

Every woman who switches to GoPadFree saves at least 11 kg of plastic waste over her lifetime, the equivalent of hundreds of pads that would have otherwise gone to a landfill.

The sisters who started it all

The story that began with a teacher in Assam choosing to stay home four days a month now sits inside the wardrobes of six lakh women across India.

"There are about 180 crore females who menstruate worldwide. However, the products made for them don't completely support them. It's the first in India, a two-in-one period product which is absolutely leak-proof and can be used 50 times. It's a standalone product. From a simple idea to a widespread movement, changing the lives of six lakh women and beyond," Sourav says.

Somewhere in Assam, a government school teacher no longer has to choose between her classroom and her body. Somewhere in Bengaluru, a woman who once bled through her clothes without knowing it now has a garment that holds her safely. And in a 10,000 square foot factory, 40 women, many of them from the brothers' home state, stitch the next piece of that promise.

Three friends from Hailakandi and Nivia listened to their sisters. The country is still catching up.

At first glance, dragon fruit looks less like something you’d slice into a fruit bowl and more like a prop from a fantasy film — bright pink skin, green spikes, and a name dramatic enough to breathe fire. But behind its quirky appearance lies a fruit that has quietly become one of India’s fastest-growing food obsessions.

From smoothie bowls on Instagram to supermarket shelves in tier-2 cities, dragon fruit — also known as pitaya or “kamalam” in India- is no longer an exotic rarity. 

Over the last few years, it has gone from niche health-store curiosity to a mainstream favourite among health-conscious Indians, fitness enthusiasts, and even farmers looking for climate-resilient crops.

How dragon fruit found a home in India

What makes this fruit especially interesting is that India’s dragon fruit story is still relatively young.

Native to Central America and belonging to the cactus family, dragon fruit first entered India in the late 1990s. For years, most of the fruit sold in Indian markets was imported from countries like Vietnam and Thailand. 

But gradually, Indian farmers, especially in states like Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and West Bengal, began experimenting with local cultivation. 

Today, dragon fruit farming is rapidly expanding across the country.

One major reason? The crop fits surprisingly well into India’s changing agricultural realities.

Dragon fruit plants require far less water than many traditional fruit crops, can survive in relatively dry conditions, and continue producing fruit for nearly two decades once established. 

In a time when erratic rainfall and rising temperatures are making farming increasingly unpredictable, many growers see dragon fruit as both profitable and practical.

Why health-conscious Indians are loving it

Much of dragon fruit’s growing popularity can also be linked to its impressive nutritional profile and the increasing focus on healthy eating among Indian consumers.

Cut one open, and you’ll find either white or deep magenta flesh speckled with tiny black seeds. The taste is mild, slightly sweet, and often compared to a mix of kiwi and pear. But its real appeal lies in what nutritionists call a “nutrient-dense” profile.

Dragon fruit is rich in fibre, vitamin C, magnesium, antioxidants, and beneficial plant compounds like flavonoids and betalains. 

These antioxidants help fight oxidative stress in the body — the kind linked to ageing and several chronic illnesses. Studies have also noted its anti-inflammatory and immunity-supporting properties.

The fruit’s high fibre content makes it especially popular among people trying to improve digestion or manage weight. Because it is relatively low in calories while still being filling, it has become a regular ingredient in breakfast bowls, smoothies, salads, and post-workout snacks.

Its tiny edible seeds also contain omega-3 and omega-9 fatty acids, which are associated with better heart health. Some research further suggests dragon fruit may help regulate blood sugar levels and support gut health because of its prebiotic properties.

More than just another food trend

Interestingly, dragon fruit’s popularity in India also reflects a larger shift in how urban Indians are eating. Consumers today are far more curious about foods once considered ‘foreign’ or unusual — from avocados and blueberries to quinoa and kombucha. 

Dragon fruit has managed to stand out in this crowd because it combines novelty with accessibility. It photographs beautifully, tastes refreshing in Indian summers, and feels aspirational without being intimidating.

For farmers too, the fruit represents possibility. Government initiatives and horticulture missions are now actively encouraging dragon fruit cultivation, with experts seeing it as a high-value crop for the future.

And perhaps that is the most fascinating thing about dragon fruit in India: it is not just another health fad. It is part of a bigger story about changing farms, diets, and aspirations.

Sources: 

‘Dragon fruit: Is it the next big thing in Indian horticulture’ by Vijaysinha Kakde, Sangram B Chavan, Vanita Salunkhe for Down To Earth, Published by 19 July 2021.

‘Benefits of Dragon Fruit and How to Eat It’ by Healthline.

‘Get to know the Mighty Pitaya’ by Growberry Farms.

From the heart of Bastar to the world stage Animesh Kujur is sprinting into history
Clocking a stunning 10.18 seconds in Greece he is now India’s fastest man and has shattered the national 100m record to qualify for the Commonwealth Games
Raised by athlete parents and trained at dawn under coach Martin Owens Animesh’s journey began with a school race he joined almost on a whim
Today his grit discipline and relentless belief are inspiring an entire generation to dream beyond limits and proving that world class talent can rise from anywhere ❤️
Because sometimes history begins with one unexpected step forward

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

Despite being preventable by a vaccine, rabies — a viral zoonotic disease — is responsible for claiming the lives of at least one person every half an hour in India and accounts for 36 percent of global rabies-related deaths each year. Though most cases often go unreported due to a lack of awareness, with prompt and appropriate medical care, these lives could have potentially been saved.

Dogs are the source of most human rabies deaths contributing up to 99 percent of all rabies transmissions to humans. In India, an increase in aggression among dogs has also been observed post-pandemic — probably resulting from food shortages, abandonment of pets, and a decrease in human–dog interaction (see map).

Over the years, Goa has taken several measures to control the fatal disease and has become the first rabies-controlled state in the country. Thanks to a decade-old campaign started by an international non-profit called Mission Rabies in collaboration with the state government.

With a focus on mass dog vaccination, community education about rabies, and enhanced rabies surveillance in the state, Goa has managed to curb rabies-related cases from 100 to 1 in the past five years.

In conversation with The Better India, veterinarian Dr Gowri Yale associated with the campaign says, “Goa is estimated to have 1.5 lakh dogs. We have been able to vaccinate 70 percent dogs including owned and stray dogs repeatedly every year. This has helped prevent the rabies transmission in the dogs.”

“We do not have rabies in Goa anymore. We are only getting cases from border areas of Maharashtra. Last year, we had three cases. This year, so far, we had one as compared to the 100 that we would get in 2018. This is not so shocking because metropolitan cities report up to 500 cases a year,” adds the technical manager.

 

Dr Gowri (38), who has been working in the field of rabies for the past 13 years, says rabies is the only fatal disease that does not have a treatment to date. “In any other disease, people recover. But rabies eventually results in death. India has many incidences of such deaths whereas other countries have already eliminated this disease long ago i.e. in the 1800s.”

Since Goa is a tourism hub with at least 34 lakh domestic and foreign tourists travellers, the incidences of rabies-related deaths and tourists being at the receiving end had been a drawback.

Recalling one such incident, Dr Murugan Appupillai, director of education at Mission Rabies, says, “Once a tourist from the UK got bitten by a dog. By the time she reached the UK, it was too late for treatment and she died. But after the introduction of this programme, Goa has now become a safe haven for tourists.”

Vaccinating one lakh dogs annually

Initially, Mission Rabies started its project in Goa in 2013 when the non-profit did a pilot in eight cities including Mumbai, Madurai, Kolkata, Chennai, Goa, and Thiruvananthapuram to eradicate the zoonotic disease. “But Goa was the only state that was motivated to take the project forward. In 2015, we signed an MoU with the state government,” says Gowri, who has been working with the non-profit since 2016.

As part of the project, a team of 50 vaccinators and dog catchers divide areas into smaller regions to vaccinate dogs. For instance, Goa has 12 talukas, so each month is dedicated to vaccinating a taluka.

“If we start from Pernem in January, we vaccinate the neighbouring taluka the next month. By the next year, we come back to Pernem. This is how we cover the entire state throughout the year. And it takes an entire year to vaccinate at least 70 percent of their population,” she says.

“We plan the vaccination such that the coverage does not drop. We mark the dog with regular paint post-vaccination. After that, a surveyor counts the number of dogs vaccinated in an area,” she adds.

Through catch-vaccinate-release and door-to-door vaccination, the non-profit claims to have vaccinated around one lakh dogs annually, of which 60 percent are stray dogs. As per Gowri, every dog needs to be vaccinated once every year.

 

“We may not get the same dog every year because the dog might have died or new dogs are born. The vaccine is safe even if a dog gets two shots,” she says.

The non-profit administers doses of Nobivac Rabies, which provides immunity for at least a year. Moreover, Gowri’s team is also vaccinating dogs in four talukas bordering Goa with Maharashtra and Karnataka.

Besides mass vaccination, the organisation launched a 24*7 Goa Rabies Hotline to report cases of dog bites and vaccination requests.

“Our hotline receives 30 calls in a day. Initially, when we would line up in front of people’s houses, they would be suspicious of our work. We would convince them about the benefits of free vaccination. It took us 3-4 years to build trust. Today, we get phone calls on vaccination requests, and people now tell us if we are late. The way people perceive vaccination and rabies in Goa has undergone a transformation,” she says.

 

To introduce oral vaccination

After its success to control rabies in the state, Mission Rabies hopes to get an oral rabies vaccine to boost vaccination coverage in areas like forests where the net and hand catching may not be possible.

“We are hoping to start the trial for oral vaccination by October-November this year,” says Dr Murugan, who is also heading the government collaboration of the Mission Rabies project in Goa.

While the programme is expected to continue work in Goa, it is aiming to expand the projects in other states of the country. “States like Puducherry, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, and Himachal Pradesh have initiated rabies control strategies using our mobile application. At present, we are working as technical advisors with Bengaluru and Mumbai. Meanwhile, our work in Goa will continue because if we stop the vaccination, the virus will come back from across borders. Hopefully, by next year, we won’t get any cases,” shares Dr Gowri.

Source:

'Rabies in India': Published by World Health Organization (WHO)

'Emergence of rabies among vaccinated humans in India: a public health concern': Published by The Lancet on 21 November 2022.

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

It’s a usual Tuesday morning and Aarthi Chandrasekaran, a mother to twins is busy getting her day started. Amidst the countless chores that she has to see to in the wee hours of the morning, Aarthi has a tough task at hand — keeping her twins distracted as she gets breakfast ready!

Luckily for her, the twins have taken a fascination with the colourful clutch ball that she recently purchased from a sustainable toy brand, Shumee. “My twins love the colours,” she says, going on to add that the unique design of the ball makes it easy to grasp. “It’s their favourite toy by far.”

Aarthi is one of the many mothers who can heave a sigh of relief and take a break in the midst of a chaotic day. And making this possible is a sustainable and safe toy brand founded by a mother. Meeta Sharma Gupta launched Shumee in 2016 as an attempt towards helping kids develop their cognitive and motor skills while they played.

“None of this was planned,” says Meeta in conversation with The Better India, as she recounts her journey from the portals of Harvard University to Delhi where she launched the brand.

 

‘My quest for safe toys’

Post completing a BTech from IIT Delhi, Meeta went on to pursue her PhD at Harvard University. Though the now 45-year-old had a lucrative career awaiting her, she says she felt the need to move closer to family, and so in 2012, she returned to her hometown in Delhi.

As a young mother, Meeta was constantly on the lookout for toys she could buy for her kids but felt at a loss. This was because she was looking for toys that were designed sustainably and in ways that could help develop her younger kid’s cognitive skills just like the ones her older kid had grown up playing with, in the US.

 

“The toys here were either made from plastic or had small parts that rendered them unsafe for little kids. On the trips that I continued to make to the US, where I was working with IBM, I started bringing back toys.”

It was during this time that Meeta realised if she couldn’t source the right toys in India, why not create them?

She says the prospect excited her. “Even though I did not have the technical training to design toys, I wanted to come up with a brand that would produce toys of good quality and at affordable prices.”

And that’s exactly how Shumee was born.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Devika Chawla :nazar_amulet::ribbon: (@parenting_her)

 

The brand is the result of a mother’s quest to give kids innovative outlets to channel their creativity with its range of toys that help develop a child’s cognitive and motor skills.

Holistic growth through toys

Elaborating on the range of bestsellers at Shumee, Meeta says there are several, each catering to a different age group.

“The rattles for babies are made out of neem wood and the colours are done with cloth fabric. They double as teethers too. Meanwhile, for toddlers, we have paediatrician-approved push walkers made out of neem, which help to develop the child’s motor skills. It has little drums on it making it fun for the child.”

One of the most fascinating toys, however, is the 5-in-1 activity triangle. The triangle-shaped toy has abacus-coloured beads which help in colour recognition and counting, alphabets that help with uppercase and lowercase association, a clock on one side that helps with time recognition, gears for fine motor development, and a blackboard to scribble.

 

In addition to this, kids can choose from a range of numerous puzzles and board games, which are based on traditional stories, but have a twist in the way they are represented.

“For instance, you may recall the story of the thirsty crow from the Jataka tales. We’ve brought it back in the form of a game with wooden crows and handcrafted beads that symbolise the water. It’s a one-of-a-kind game wherein we have tried to match the play elements in the artistic form.”

The toys at Shumee are safe and made out of different kinds of plant wood — neem, mango, and birch being the most popular options. Birch ply is used for sturdier toys such as the rocking horse, enabling it to be passed from one generation to the next.

“Due to their quality, people often think these toys are imported,” says Meeta, who feels this is great as it is exactly the standard she had set out to create. She adds that the colours are certified non-toxic paints and all the materials are certified by American, European and Indian standards. “We also have an in-house lab to check the physical parameters of the toys such as the choking hazards and tensile strength.”

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Aditi Mishra (@mummastrove)

 

Shumee’s toys are enjoyed by mothers in the United States, United Kingdom, UAE, Singapore and India, and see over 8,000 orders a month. They are associated with over 100 artisans in clusters across India who make the toys.

However, Meeta says, a challenge throughout has been to perpetuate the message of skill-building through toys. “It is tough to find a middle ground between manufacturing toys that promote skill building while continuing to retail at competitive prices. But it has been a wonderful journey.”

Through the years, Meeta has not only focused on building a sustainable toy brand but also a community of mothers for whom the platform is a safe space. Through blogs, articles and sessions, mothers are helped with understanding how to engage with their kids in a myriad of activities that do not involve screens, and how playing can be made fun.

From a simple idea to a multi-crore brand, Shumee has grown in leaps and bounds. As Meeta witnesses the community scaling while more toys and games are added to the ever-growing list, she emphasises, “Play is a child’s superpower. There are wonders that can happen with the right toys.”

Edited by Pranita Bhat

Every winter, thick smoke from burning crop residue blankets parts of northern India. For many farmers, stubble left behind after harvest is often seen as a burden — expensive to manage and difficult to dispose of.

But imagine if that same agricultural waste could become a source of income.

In the coming years, technologies being tested across the world could allow farmers to convert crop residue such as paddy straw, wheat stalks and maize waste into green hydrogen — a clean fuel increasingly being called the energy source of the future. Instead of burning leftover biomass, farmers could sell it or process it for energy production, creating an additional revenue stream from material that currently goes unused.

This is just one example of how green hydrogen could reshape Indian agriculture. While discussions around hydrogen often focus on heavy industries and transport, its impact may eventually be felt much closer to home — on farms, in irrigation systems, and even in the fertilisers that help grow the country's food.

What exactly is green hydrogen?

Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe, but it rarely exists on its own. To use it as fuel, it must first be separated from other compounds.

Green hydrogen is produced by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen using electricity generated from renewable sources such as solar and wind power. Because the process avoids fossil fuels, it produces little to no carbon emissions.

This makes green hydrogen different from conventional hydrogen, which is typically produced using natural gas and releases significant amounts of carbon dioxide.

India sees green hydrogen as a key part of its clean energy transition and has launched major initiatives to scale up production over the coming decade.

1. More stable fertiliser costs for farmers

One of the most immediate benefits of green hydrogen could come through fertilisers.

India's fertiliser industry depends heavily on imported natural gas and ammonia. As global energy prices fluctuate, fertiliser production costs often rise, increasing pressure on government subsidies and creating uncertainty in agricultural supply chains.

Green hydrogen offers an alternative.

It can be combined with nitrogen from the air to produce green ammonia — the key ingredient used in many nitrogen-based fertilisers. 

By manufacturing ammonia domestically using renewable energy, India could reduce its dependence on imported fossil fuels and make fertiliser production more resilient to global disruptions.

For farmers, this could eventually translate into more stable fertiliser availability and less exposure to international price shocks.

2. Turning agricultural waste into an income source

Agricultural residue is often treated as waste, but green hydrogen technologies could change that perception.

Biomass-to-hydrogen systems can convert crop residue into hydrogen and methane through specialised processing methods. 

Instead of paying to remove agricultural waste or resorting to stubble burning, farmers could potentially sell biomass to hydrogen producers or participate in local energy-generation projects.

The model creates value from materials that currently generate little or no income. In regions where crop residue is abundant, this could open up an entirely new rural economy centred around clean energy production.

For policymakers working towards improving farm incomes, the idea of farmers becoming energy suppliers rather than just food producers is fascinating.

3. Reliable power for irrigation and rural communities

Access to dependable electricity remains a challenge in many rural areas, especially for energy-intensive activities such as irrigation.

Green hydrogen can act as a form of energy storage. Excess solar or wind power can be used to produce hydrogen, which is then stored and later converted back into electricity through fuel cells when required.

This means farmers could have access to power even when the sun isn't shining or the wind isn't blowing.

Hydrogen-based microgrids could help provide round-the-clock electricity to remote villages, reducing dependence on diesel generators and improving energy security for irrigation pumps, cold storage facilities and farm operations.

4. Cleaner tractors and smarter farm equipment

Modern agriculture increasingly depends on machinery, but most farm equipment still runs on diesel.

In the future, hydrogen fuel cells could power tractors, harvesters and other heavy agricultural machines without producing harmful tailpipe emissions. 

Unlike battery-powered vehicles, hydrogen-powered equipment can be refuelled relatively quickly and may be better suited for heavy-duty applications that require long operating hours.

For farmers, cleaner machinery could mean lower fuel dependence, reduced emissions and improved efficiency over time.

Can Green Hydrogen Become a Reality for Indian Farms?

The promise is significant, but the challenges remain.

Producing green hydrogen is still more expensive than conventional alternatives, and the infrastructure required for production, storage and transportation is still developing. 

Large investments in renewable energy, electrolyser manufacturing and distribution networks will be necessary before the technology becomes widely accessible.

However, India's growing renewable energy capacity and policy support for green hydrogen suggest that momentum is building.

For decades, Indian agriculture has relied on imported fuels, chemical inputs and increasingly expensive energy sources. Green hydrogen offers the possibility of changing that equation.

It could help produce cleaner fertilisers, reduce dependence on imported natural gas, create new income streams from crop residue and provide reliable energy for rural communities.

Most importantly, it has the potential to place farmers at the centre of India's clean energy transition — not just as consumers of energy, but as producers of it.

Sources: 

‘The Potential of Green Hydrogen in India’s Industrial Sector’: by KP Group

‘Green Hydrogen Adoption in Fertilizer Manufacturing: Opportunities and Challenges’: by  Anuraag Nallapaneni and Shaifali Sood for WRI India, Published on 14 March 2023.

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