A Global Salute: Indian Army Major Swathi Shantha Kumar Wins UN Secretary-General’s Award 2025

In a moment of pride for India and the global peacekeeping community Major Swathi Shantha Kumar of the Indian Army has been awarded the prestigious United Nations Secretary-General s Award for her outstanding contribution to gender-inclusive peacekeeping Currently serving with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan UNMISS the Bengaluru-born officer emerged as a global winner in the Gender Category selected from nominations across all UN peacekeeping missions and UN agencies worldwide The recognition places her work among the most impactful peace initiatives undertaken by UN personnel in recent years A Global Honour with Deep MeaningThe award was officially announced by UN Secretary-General Ant nio Guterres who praised Major Swathi s project titled Equal Partners Lasting Peace The initiative strengthened UNMISS s gender-inclusive framework aligning closely with the United Nations mandate to promote gender parity and gender-responsive peacekeeping What makes this honour particularly significant is the process itself the project

13 Jan 2026

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Beyond Cinema and Politics: Pawan Kalyan Becomes First Indian Honoured as a Samurai

In a world where political power is often measured by numbers and noise Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and Jana Sena Party president K Pawan Kalyan has earned recognition through an entirely different path one built on discipline silence and decades of personal commitment In December he achieved rare international recognition in Japanese martial arts becoming the first person from India to be honoured as a Samurai The achievement officially confirmed through a Jana Sena Party press release places him in a global cultural lineage that few non-Japanese practitioners ever enter An Honour Beyond BordersPawan Kalyan was awarded the prestigious Fifth Dan th Dan by the Sogo Budo Kanri Kai one of the world s most respected governing bodies of traditional Japanese martial arts This is not a ceremonial title but a recognition granted only after years of rigorous training evaluation and philosophical understanding Adding to the distinction he became

13 Jan 2026

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A Historic Exit: Maharashtra’s First Woman DGP Rashmi Shukla Retires After 37 Years

Rashmi Shukla s journey in the Indian Police Service began in when she joined as part of a batch that entered a force overwhelmingly dominated by men especially in leadership roles Born on June she steadily rose through the ranks at a time when women officers were still viewed as exceptions rather than equals Over years she held some of Maharashtra s most demanding postings eventually becoming the first woman Director General of Police in the state s history Her retirement marks not only the end of a long career but also the conclusion of a chapter that took decades to write one built on experience earned district by district file by file and command by command Intelligence Urban Policing and High-Risk LeadershipShukla s career was shaped by roles that demanded discretion strategic thinking and resilience She served as Pune Police Commissioner overseeing law and order in one of Maharashtra

13 Jan 2026

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A Life Lived for the Land: Remembering Madhav Gadgil

The passing of Dr Madhav Dhananjaya Gadgil on January marks the end of an era in Indian ecology but not the end of his influence A pre-eminent ecologist institution builder policy thinker and people s scientist Gadgil was among the rare intellectuals who combined world-class scholarship with deep commitment to India s land forests and communities For over five decades he stood at the intersection of science society and sustainability shaping how India understands and protects its natural heritage nbsp Born on May in Pune Gadgil grew up in a household steeped in intellect and public service His father Dhananjay Ramchandra Gadgil was a renowned economist and the architect of the Gadgil Formula while his mother Pramila nurtured a spirit of curiosity and discipline This environment laid the foundation for a life devoted not just to knowledge but to its ethical use From Fergusson College to Harvard A Scholar in

9 Jan 2026

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Parimal Kanjilal: The Stove Repairman Who Cycled Across India for the Planet

In a world where grand adventures are often associated with sponsorships expensive gear and social media fame Parimal Kanjilal s story stands apart Known today as the Cycle Man of India the -year-old stove repairman from Kolkata set out on a journey that defied age income and convention With barely any savings and no support system Parimal chose a bicycle as his companion and the entire nation as his destination His goal was not personal glory or records It was simple yet profound to travel across every corner of India and spread a message that the country and the world urgently needs to hear plant trees and protect the environment From a Modest Life in Kolkata to a National MissionParimal Kanjilal also known as Parimal Kanji comes from an ordinary background For years he earned his living repairing stoves a profession that rarely brings financial security or public recognition His

8 Jan 2026

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Brewing Change: How Coffee Waste Is Becoming the Future of Sustainable Cutlery

Every cup of coffee leaves behind more than caffeine it leaves waste Tons of spent coffee grounds are discarded daily by caf s offices and households usually ending up in landfills where they release methane and contribute to environmental damage Nanosentrix steps into this overlooked space with a simple yet radical question What if coffee waste could live a second life The Bengaluru-based innovation transforms used coffee grounds into sturdy biodegradable everyday products like straws spoons and cutlery By repurposing what was once considered useless waste Nanosentrix addresses two pressing crises at once plastic pollution and organic waste mismanagement These products are not fragile soggy alternatives but thoughtfully engineered items designed to match modern consumption needs while staying kind to the planet Dr Uma Ullas Pradan Science with a PurposeAt the heart of this innovation is Dr Uma Ullas Pradan a scientist who believes sustainability must be practical to be

7 Jan 2026

Star Citizens

Named Aakhri, Destined to Rise: The Fencer Who Rewrote Her Fate

When Aakhri Sharma was born in the small town of Hansi in Haryana celebration was the last emotion her arrival triggered She was the fourth daughter in a family that desperately wished for a son In an act that quietly reflected a deep-rooted social bias her parents named her Aakhri meaning the last hoping that the Almighty would stop the birth of girls in the family No one was happy when I was born Today that same name carries a completely different meaning not an end but a beginning of pride and achievement Aakhri Sharma is now a Khelo India University Games gold medalist in fencing representing not just her family but countless girls born into similar circumstances across India Growing Up Against the OddsAakhri s childhood unfolded in an environment where expectations were limited and opportunities even more so Coming from a farming family resources were scarce and encouragement

7 Jan 2026

Star Citizens

No Whistles, No Fines, Just AI: Bengaluru Engineer’s Helmet Takes on Traffic Chaos!

On Bengaluru s roads chaos is almost routine Red lights are jumped with casual confidence wrong-side driving feels normalized and helmetless riders zip past traffic police with alarming ease For most commuters frustration ends in honking muttering or social media rants For -year-old software engineer Pankaj Tanwar it became the starting point of an idea powered not by anger but by artificial intelligence nbsp Instead of confronting reckless drivers Tanwar decided to let technology do the talking His innovation an AI-enabled helmet camera that detects traffic violations in real time and automatically reports them to the traffic police complete with evidence No shouting no chasing just data proof and accountability From Daily Irritation to Digital ActionOriginally from Rajasthan Tanwar moved to Bengaluru for work and now lives in Kadubeesanahalli an area infamous for traffic congestion Like countless others he witnessed violations every single day But unlike most he reached a

6 Jan 2026

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India’s Trusted Referee : Riiohlang Dhar on FIFA’s 2026 List

When the FIFA Refereeing International List for was announced one name from India stood out once more Riiohlang Dhar of Meghalaya Her re-selection reaffirmed her position among the country s most respected football match officials and highlighted the consistency that has defined her refereeing career In a profession where precision neutrality and calm decision-making are relentlessly scrutinized Dhar s continued presence on FIFA s elite list speaks volumes about her credibility and performance on the international stage From the Northeast to the World of Elite OfficiatingHailing from football-loving Meghalaya Riiohlang Dhar represents a region that has long nurtured the sport at the grassroots level Her journey into refereeing began not with a whistle but with a football at her feet Like many young players she grew up immersed in the game understanding its rhythms emotions and unspoken rules In after stepping away from active play Dhar made a pivotal decision

6 Jan 2026

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