Author: BharatSpeaks
In a rare and inspiring career transformation, Papa Rao Biyyala, a former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer and ex-United Nations diplomat, has been honored with a National Film Award for his debut feature film Music School. The film, which explores the emotional and psychological impact of academic pressure on schoolchildren in India, marks Biyyala’s formal entry into cinema after decades in public service. Music School, a bilingual musical drama released in 2023, brings to light a growing concern across Indian households—the relentless focus on rote learning and academic achievement at the expense of creativity and personal growth. The film, made…
In a rare and historic appearance, IAS officer Abhishek Singh has become the first Indian government official to walk the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival, blending public service with global cultural engagement. The 2011-batch Indian Administrative Service officer graced the prestigious event not as a diplomat or delegate, but as a cultural ambassador representing India’s evolving soft power. Dressed in a classic black tuxedo with a tricolor pocket square, Singh’s presence on the famed red carpet marks a symbolic moment for India’s bureaucratic class—often seen as rigid and distant from the world of global culture and cinema. A…
In a sweeping move to enhance public security and preempt potential threats, the Uttar Pradesh government has issued a statewide directive prohibiting all forms of photography and videography at critical public infrastructure and sensitive locations, including railway stations, bus terminals, and government buildings. The order, issued by the state’s Home Department, is part of a broader security revamp aimed at tightening surveillance and safeguarding high-risk areas. Officials say the directive is rooted in intelligence assessments that flagged growing risks from digital surveillance, misuse of public footage, and the potential exploitation of social media content by hostile elements. The ban applies…
At Harvesting Robotics, a technology startup based in Hyderabad, one of the most beloved members of the executive team doesn’t write code or attend strategy meetings. Instead, he roams the office with a wagging tail and an open heart — his presence reminding everyone of the simpler joys of showing up. His name is Denver. He is a golden retriever. And as of this month, he is officially the company’s Chief Happiness Officer (CHO). While the title may draw smiles, the intention behind it is serious. In a sector known for burnout, long hours, and high attrition, the company has…
In the southern state of Kerala, nestled in the quiet town of Pathanamthitta, a young woman once burdened by grief has now emerged as one of India’s most inspiring civil servants. Minnu Joshy, now an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, wasn’t always a public figure. At 21, she was married. At 23, a mother. And at 26, she made an improbable decision: to chase a dream she had shelved years earlier — to become a civil servant, just like her late father had once hoped. Her father, a policeman, died suddenly while on duty. The family, reeling from the loss,…
In a military operation often marked by stealth and strategy, it was the quiet determination of a 10-year-old boy that left a lasting impact on India’s soldiers. The Indian Army has formally honoured Shravan Singh, a young resident of a remote border village, for his extraordinary civilian support during Operation Sindoor, a classified military mission conducted near the Line of Control. As military tensions flared, Shravan undertook a mission of his own — carrying pitchers of water, milk, and lassi to soldiers stationed along the border near his village. While the soldiers held the line under difficult and uncertain conditions,…