Author: BharatSpeaks
In the heart of Rajasthan’s Bundi district lies Budhpura, a remote village that bears a haunting title—“the village of widows.” Here, the sound of chisels striking sandstone is not just the pulse of the local economy, but a death knell echoing across generations. More than 70% of women in Budhpura are widowed in their youth, their husbands felled by a single, silent killer: silicosis. Silicosis, a deadly occupational lung disease caused by inhaling fine particles of silica dust, has become endemic among the men who work in the region’s unregulated sandstone quarries. They often die before reaching 40. And as…
In a rare and candid revelation, model-turned-actor Muzammil Ibrahim has disclosed that he was in a two-year relationship with Bollywood superstar Deepika Padukone in the early stages of her career. Speaking during an interview, Ibrahim offered a glimpse into a lesser-known chapter of Deepika’s life before she rose to stardom. “She asked me out first,” Ibrahim recalled, referencing their first meeting at a Tommy Hilfiger fashion show. “That confidence, that drive—I admired it even then.” The relationship, which reportedly began around the time Deepika was navigating her early modeling and film auditions in Mumbai, unfolded away from the public eye.…
In the sandstone heart of Rajasthan, where desert winds brush against palatial walls and tradition stands still in time, Princess Shivranjani Rajye of Jodhpur is scripting a quiet revolution. Unmarried, unapologetically modern, and fiercely committed to heritage, she remains a custodian of one of India’s most iconic royal residences — the Umaid Bhawan Palace, a 347-room marvel perched atop Chittar Hill. While her family lineage traces back to the former Marwar princely state, Shivranjani’s role today is less ceremonial and more strategic. Overseeing operations at the palace — part residence, part museum, and part luxury hotel run by the Taj…
In a significant step toward reshaping the linguistic character of India’s bureaucracy, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday inaugurated the ‘Bharatiya Bhasha Anubhag’, a new section within the Department of Official Language aimed at mainstreaming Indian languages in official communication. Positioned as part of the government’s broader push to “decolonize the Indian mindset,” the initiative seeks to reduce dependency on English in administrative affairs by enabling real-time translation of official correspondence into regional languages. The move is being hailed by policymakers as a transformative effort to make governance more accessible and culturally rooted. A Vision to Empower Through Language…
India has recorded a remarkable decline in extreme poverty over the past decade, according to a new report from the World Bank, which points to expanded social welfare programs and sustained economic growth as key factors in the transformation. The number of Indians living in extreme poverty fell from 344.47 million in 2011–12 to just 75.24 million in 2022–23, reducing the poverty rate from 27.1% to 5.3%. The drop is even more significant given the World Bank’s updated international poverty line, which was raised from $2.15 to $3.00 per day (at 2021 purchasing power parity). “India’s progress over the last…
In a moment that seamlessly blended tradition, opulence, and personal tribute, Nita Ambani—philanthropist and chairperson of the Reliance Foundation—drew global attention during the pre-wedding festivities of her youngest son, Anant Ambani. The source of fascination: an emerald-and-diamond necklace reportedly valued at over ₹500 crore (approximately $60 million). The multi-tiered necklace, anchored by two rare, large emeralds, was worn by Mrs. Ambani during one of the most anticipated events in Jamnagar—a sprawling cultural spectacle that marks the lead-up to Anant Ambani’s wedding to Radhika Merchant, scheduled later this year. Draped in an ivory and gold saree custom-designed by Indian couturier Manish…