Author: Sharad Natani
In the narrow lanes of Vyasarpadi, one of Chennai’s most modest neighborhoods, a young boy once watched his parents leave home every morning to earn daily wages. They had little to give their son except food, love, and the most powerful lesson of all—the value of hard work. That boy, Varaprasad, is today Lieutenant Varaprasad of the Indian Army. Struggles That Couldn’t Break Him Life was never easy for Varaprasad. After completing his 10th standard, financial hardship struck the family so hard that he had to drop out of school for a year. Many dreams fade in such darkness, but…
Amid the relentless downpour and rising Yamuna waters, one officer stood tall—umbrella in one hand, books in the other. Noida District Magistrate Medha Roopam (IAS, 2014 batch) has become the face of resilience and empathy after a video of her braving heavy rains to oversee flood relief operations went viral, sparking admiration across India. Leading from the Front: Relief Over Rain With parts of Noida submerged due to the Yamuna crossing danger levels, Medha Roopam wasted no time stepping into action. Appointed as Noida DM in July, she visited flood-hit relief camps in Sector-135 and Sector-150, walking through drenched lanes…
India has achieved a historic milestone in rail infrastructure with the completion of its longest rail tunnel — a 14.57 km stretch between Devprayag and Janasu — ahead of schedule. The tunnel, part of the 125-km Rishikesh-Karnaprayag Rail Link Project, promises to transform connectivity in Uttarakhand’s Himalayan terrain and is targeted for commissioning by December 2026. A Feat of Grit and Engineering Precision The breakthrough was powered by sheer determination and advanced technology. Two veteran tunnel boring machine (TBM) operators, Baljinder Singh and Ram Avtar Singh Rana, led the effort under treacherous conditions. At one point, a massive landslide blocked…
In the heart of the Tarai region, where lush forests meet sprawling farmlands, an extraordinary transformation is unfolding in the classrooms of Pilibhit. For decades, children in government primary schools had no desks or chairs. They sat cross-legged on cold cement floors, or worse, under trees in crumbling courtyards, trying to study in conditions that stifled learning and dignity. That bleak reality changed when 2014-batch IAS officer Gyanendra Singh took charge as District Magistrate (DM). Within months, his mission reshaped not just classrooms but the future of more than 90,000 children across 903 schools. The Spark That Lit a Movement…
Indian cinema has added a shining new chapter to its global journey. At the 82nd Venice Film Festival, debut filmmaker Anuparna Roy created history by winning the Best Director Award in the Orizzonti (Horizons) section for her film Songs of Forgotten Trees. The recognition not only celebrates Roy’s artistic brilliance but also marks a landmark moment for Indian women in global cinema. Who is Anuparna Roy? Anuparna Roy, born in Kolkata and trained in filmmaking at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), has long been passionate about stories rooted in memory, identity, and the human connection with nature.…
In a landmark step towards sustainable maritime development, V.O. Chidambaranar (VOC) Port Authority in Tuticorin has become the first port in India to produce green hydrogen, marking a major leap in the country’s clean energy ambitions. The initiative was inaugurated by Union Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, who also witnessed the signing of two critical MoUs with NTPC Green Energy Ltd and Indian Port Rail Corporation Ltd (IPRCL). Green Hydrogen Pilot: A National First The Green Hydrogen Pilot Project, established at a cost of Rs 3.87 crore, will generate 10 Nm³/hr of green hydrogen. The clean energy…