No Fame, No Fees, Just Books: Why a Karnataka Conductor Won the Padma Shri

In a country that often celebrates loud success this story begins in silence the soft rustle of pages the smell of old paper and a man who spent five decades working without expecting applause On the eve of Republic Day when the Padma Awards list was announced one name stood out not for glamour or power but for humility Anke Gowda a former bus conductor from a small village in Karnataka was conferred the Padma Shri His reward was not for fame or fortune but for building something India and the world had never seen before the largest free-access library on Earth A Childhood Where Books Were a DreamBorn in into a farming family in Chinakurli village of Mandya district Anke Gowda grew up with limited access to books In rural Karnataka books were not everyday companions but rare luxuries Yet somewhere between the fields and village life a quiet

29 Jan 2026

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Service, Strength, Recognition: Vishisht Seva Medal Conferred to Colonel Sofiya Qureshi

Republic Day brought with it a moment of collective pride as Colonel Sofiya Qureshi of the Indian Army was honoured with the Vishisht Seva Medal VSM one of the country s most respected peacetime military decorations Announced as part of the annual Republic Day honours and conferred by the President of India the award recognised her distinguished and exemplary service during Operation Sindoor a crucial counter-terror operation conducted in nbsp Her recognition resonated deeply with citizens across the country not only because of the operation s importance but also because Colonel Qureshi represented a new confident face of India s Armed Forces professional composed and inclusive What the Vishisht Seva Medal Stands ForThe Vishisht Seva Medal is awarded for distinguished service of a high order and holds immense value within the Armed Forces Unlike gallantry awards given for battlefield bravery the VSM recognises sustained exceptional service often involving strategic decision-making

29 Jan 2026

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Lahari Bai : The Millets Queen Who Turned Forgotten Grains into a Movement

In an age where agriculture is increasingly driven by chemicals commercial seeds and uniform crops Lahari Bai stands out as a quiet revolutionary From the remote Dindori district of Madhya Pradesh this humble farmer has dedicated her life to protecting something most people overlook traditional seeds Known today as the Millets Queen of Madhya Pradesh Lahari Bai is on a mission to conserve India s disappearing millet diversity and revive farming practices that are deeply connected to nature nutrition and culture Her journey is not backed by laboratories big funding or formal education in agricultural science Instead it is rooted in inherited wisdom lived experience and an unshakeable belief that seeds are not just food but life itself Roots in Tradition and Ancestral WisdomLahari Bai s connection with agriculture began early in life Born and raised in a farming family she grew up watching her grandmother carefully preserve seeds from

28 Jan 2026

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Tum Hi Ho, Forever: Arijit Singh Steps Away from Bollywood Music

When the voice that defined a generation of heartbreaks love and melodies goes silent millions pause to remember not just the songs but the soul behind them Arijit Singh s voice has been a constant in the lives of millions From the quiet streets of Jiaganj in Murshidabad to the grand studios of Bollywood Singh s journey reflects the story of a small-town boy who conquered hearts with emotion rather than ostentation Known for his natural grainy baritone and emotive depth he has become synonymous with the soundtrack of modern romance in Hindi cinema His songs from the haunting Tum Hi Ho in Aashiqui to the melodic Kesariya in Brahmastra have transcended age region and language barriers creating an intimate connection with listeners that few artists achieve Early Years Nurturing Talent from HomeBorn on April to a Punjabi Sikh father and Bengali Hindu mother Arijit Singh grew up surrounded by

28 Jan 2026

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Savita Punia: From Haryana’s Fields to Padma Shri - India’s Unbreakable Wall of Women’s Hockey

Savita Punia s name has firmly established itself in Indian sports history as she proudly receives the Padma Shri one of the country s highest civilian honors This award celebrates a career marked by unwavering determination exceptional skill and a pioneering spirit that has transformed women s hockey in India nbsp Growing up in Haryana where sporting opportunities for girls were limited and societal pressures strong Savita broke every barrier in her path Known as nbsp The Wall she is a fearless goalkeeper whose sharp reflexes and calm presence have saved countless goals and inspired millions across the nation A Journey of Grit and Landmark AchievementsFrom a small town to the global stage Savita s career is filled with defining moments Since her international debut in she has become an indispensable part of India s defense earning over caps Her finest hour came during the Tokyo Olympics where she guarded

28 Jan 2026

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Shaurya Chakra for Courage at Sea: Navy Women Honoured for Historic Global Voyage

On the vast unforgiving oceans of the world where isolation tests the strongest minds and nature shows no mercy two Indian Navy women officers carved their names into history Lieutenant Commander Dilna K and Lieutenant Commander Roopa A were awarded the Shaurya Chakra one of India s highest peacetime gallantry awards for their extraordinary courage and leadership during Navika Sagar Parikrama II a historic double-handed circumnavigation of the globe powered only by wind Their achievement is not just a naval milestone it is a human story of perseverance self-belief and breaking barriers Navika Sagar Parikrama II A Mission Like No OtherNavika Sagar Parikrama II was conceived as an ambitious Indian Navy expedition to push the limits of small-crew long-distance sailing Beginning on October the voyage saw Lt Cdr Dilna K and Lt Cdr Roopa A set sail on an eight-month journey around the world covering over nautical miles roughly kilometres

27 Jan 2026

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Netaji at 129: Remembering Subhas Chandra Bose Beyond the Legend

Every year on January India pauses to remember Subhas Chandra Bose not just as Netaji the charismatic leader but as a complex human being whose life was driven by one obsession freedom for India at any cost Born on this day in Bose s story is not a simple tale of heroism It is layered with idealism sacrifice moral dilemmas and difficult choices made in the darkest years of world history On his birthday today Netaji s life invites both admiration and reflection A Privileged Beginning A Restless MindSubhas Chandra Bose was born into a well-to-do Bengali family in Cuttack then part of the British Raj He grew up surrounded by comfort discipline and education shaped by British institutions Yet even as a young student Bose felt deeply disturbed by colonial injustice and racial arrogance His academic brilliance took him to England where he cleared the Indian Civil Services examination

23 Jan 2026

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From Grief to Giving: How One Woman Turned an Auto into a Lifeline

Every morning at exactly am outside the busy gates of Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital in Chennai an auto-rickshaw arrives and waits It does not honk impatiently or look for passengers Instead it stands still ready to offer something far more precious than a ride breath Painted in blue and black this auto has become a moving symbol of hope driven by a woman who refused to let her pain end in silence R Seetha Devi s story does not begin with applause or recognition It begins with a hospital corridor long hours of waiting and a daughter watching helplessly as her mother s life slipped away during the second wave of the pandemic nbsp A Loss That Changed EverythingIn May Seetha s -year-old mother a dialysis patient tested positive for the pandemic Like thousands of families during that terrifying period Seetha rushed her mother to the government hospital hoping

22 Jan 2026

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24 Hours at 18,510 Feet Without Oxygen: How an Indian Mountaineer Made World Record

Can you imagine being in a freezing temperature for even minutes Personally I can t Most of us start shivering the moment the AC is set too low or a winter breeze cuts through our clothes Now imagine standing at nearly feet above sea level in temperatures dropping to minus degrees Celsius with violent winds and almost no oxygen to breathe not for minutes but for continuous hours That is exactly what an Indian mountaineer from Haryana Rohtash Khileri did pushing the human body and mind into one of the most hostile environments on Earth and returning with a world record A Lone Man on Europe s Highest PeakRohtash Khileri made his name into global mountaineering history by becoming the first person ever to remain on the summit of Mount Elbrus Europe s highest peak for straight hours without using supplemental oxygen Mount Elbrus located in the Caucasus Mountains stands

22 Jan 2026

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