Author: Sharad Natani
In a world where businesses were shutting down and jobs were vanishing, two young sisters from Ghaziabad — Anuja Gupta and Prataksha Gupta — decided to take a leap of faith. With just Rs 1 lakh in hand and a deep belief in their craft, they started a humble chikankari clothing brand from their small 750 sq. ft. home. Today, their label ‘Chaukat’ is valued at over Rs 5 crore, inspiring countless women across India. A Brand Born in Lockdown In February 2020, right before COVID-19 changed the world, the sisters launched Chaukat with just 40 pieces of chikankari clothing…
In a remarkable turnaround, India has achieved a dramatic fall in extreme poverty — from 27.1% in 2011–12 to just 5.3% in 2022–23, according to the latest World Bank data. This means around 269 million (26.9 crore) Indians have been lifted out of extreme poverty in just over a decade. Key Highlights: People living in extreme poverty: 344.47 million (2011–12) ➝ 75.24 million (2022–23) At $2.15/day poverty line: 205.93 million ➝ 33.66 million Rural poverty: 18.4% ➝ 2.8% Urban poverty: 10.7% ➝ 1.1% Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI): Fell from 53.8% (2005–06) to 15.5% (2022–23) Top Contributor States: Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra,…
India continues its digital entertainment dominance on YouTube, with multiple homegrown channels leading the global charts in 2025. At the forefront is T-Series, the music and entertainment giant, which has extended its reign as the world’s most subscribed YouTube channel. Having made history in December 2021 by becoming the first channel to cross 200 million subscribers, it has now climbed to an astonishing 295 million subscribers, setting a benchmark few can touch. While T-Series holds the throne, Sony Entertainment Television (SET India) and Zee Music Company also maintain their strong global rankings at #4 and #9 respectively. These entertainment powerhouses…
In an age where relationships are often fleeting, a couple from a remote tribal village in Rajasthan has redefined the meaning of love, commitment, and togetherness. After living together for 70 years, raising a family of six, and watching their grandchildren grow, 95-year-old Rama Bhai Kharari and 90-year-old Jeewali Devi finally got married—marking the beginning of a new chapter in a lifelong love story. From Live-In to Lifelong Vows The couple, residents of Galandar village in Dungarpur district, had lived in a traditional tribal live-in partnership for over seven decades—long before the concept became a topic of modern conversation. Together,…
After nearly a decade of public silence, controversial businessman Vijay Mallya made headlines again by appearing on Raj Shamani’s popular podcast, “Figuring Out.” In a four-hour-long, no-holds-barred conversation, Mallya opened up about his financial downfall, the collapse of Kingfisher Airlines, and his ongoing battle to avoid extradition to India. Mallya, once hailed as the “King of Good Times,” has been a fugitive in the eyes of Indian authorities ever since he left the country in 2016. Facing fraud and money laundering charges involving over ₹9,000 crore in unpaid loans to Indian banks, Mallya defended his side of the story…
In a remarkable feat of medical excellence, doctors at the Mahavir Cancer Sansthan and Research Centre (MCSRC) in Patna, Bihar, successfully removed a rare tumour from the right testicle of a six-month-old infant—marking one of the rarest paediatric urological surgeries performed in the region. This life-saving procedure, led by Dr Rahul Janak Sinha, brought a wave of relief to the distraught family from Nalanda and highlighted the critical role of early diagnosis in paediatric healthcare. A Parent’s Worst Fear: The Alarming Discovery The journey began when the parents of the infant noticed a swelling near his right testicle. At first,…