Fairy-tales and folklore have always been so fascinating, haven’t they? No matter how old you are, reading about a hidden tale is always interesting. Bringing one such tale to life were two people from God’s own country – Kerala.
Ancy Francis and her fiancé Arjun Maliackal wanted to do something different as part of their ‘Save The Date’ wedding invite.
With the help of Tuesday Lights, a wedding photography and videography company, what they came up has not just gone viral but is also winning hearts.
Each year, on Onam, the mythical King Maveli, considered to be one of the greatest kings to have ever ruled Kerala, is believed to ascend to Earth from the netherworld to meet his subjects.
This year, however, there was no Maveli, given the gloom that enveloped the state.
Read more in a previous article on The Better India here.
The video
The video begins with images from the deluge just a few months ago.
So bad was the situation that this year, there were no Onam celebrations. Having taken the time to rebuild the state, every person in Kerala has been looking forward to Christmas.
Given how much Maveli was missed this year, it was only appropriate that he make a special appearance along with Santa Claus.
In the video, Santa writes a letter to Maveli inviting him to the state. He mentions that he will be waiting at the Kottayam KSRTC Bus Stand. Happy at receiving the invite, Maveli arrives at the station and seeing them together is bound to make you smile.
Together, they visit various places in the town, spreading cheer and joy wherever they go. Along the way, many happy people also stop them to click pictures with them.
Just as it was time for Maveli to return, Santa hands him an invitation to a wedding scheduled to take place on January 9, 2019. Santa then reveals herself and turns out to be the bride herself.
Given how much Maveli was missed this year, this video featuring him along with Santa has brought much cheer to all those who watched it.
Traditionally, in the run-up to Christmas, evergreen conifer trees are chopped down and decorated inside homes.
Adorned with bells, tinsel, baubles, candy etc., these trees look beautiful, no doubt, but sometimes we must ask ourselves uncomfortable questions. For example, are celebrations worth the cost to the environment?
It is apparent that many people have thought about this because nowadays, plastic trees have become a popular alternative. However, Alan from Kerala has taken a wholly unconventional route and is giving us a lesson in celebrating a green Christmas.
Alan is a student of Class 9 and a resident of Ambalavayal, a village in the Wayanad district. This festive season, he decided to grow a Christmas tree instead of merely decorating one.
However, instead of planting a tree and waiting for years before it grows fully, he came up with a unique idea.
About a week before Christmas, Alan got a bamboo frame—in the shape of a Christmas tree—which was also taller than him. He covered this frame in the soil so that it looked like a brown conical pile of mud. In this, he planted seeds of Foxtail millet—one of the most widely planted species of millet, that is rich in carbohydrates but doesn’t increase blood sugar levels.
He watered the ‘tree’ every day to ensure that the planted seeds sprouted and grew into a beautiful, lush and unique Christmas tree.
Satheesh Kumar, a resident of Wayanad, happened to cross this incredible innovation and inspired by the novel idea, decided to share it on Facebook.
The post was shared last Thursday, but by Christmas Eve, the frame would have blossomed into a lush tree.
Unique ideas like these always make festivals merrier and more joyous. By giving an eco-friendly twist to traditions and customs, you too can have a responsible but fun festive season. Read here to know more about you can make your Christmas green.
Also, if you are still hunting for meaningful presents for your loved ones, click on the link here.
“The pessimist complains about the wind. The optimist expects it to change. The leader adjusts the sails.” – John Maxwell
It is indeed an easy task to stay back, lay low and watch events unfold in front of your eyes. So easy, that most of us resort to it, even in dire situations that demand our involvement.
However, for a 44-year-old homemaker, Geetha Santosh, being an onlooker is never an option.
The gutsy woman recently made news by saving the lives of two men who were injured in a road accident in Kerala.
Last week, in a busy street of Alappuzha, Geetha happened to encounter two men, Pradeep and Prakash from Edappon, lying on the road after being injured in a car-scooter collision near the Iranikuddy bridge on Pandalam-Mavelikkara road.
According to a report by Manorama Online, she found them unattended, amid a crowd who stood passively, while these two bled profusely.
She was on her way back, after dropping off a relative’s son to school, when she encountered the situation, and instead of driving off without a care, she decided to stay back and take the lead.
Geetha rushed the two men to the hospital and made sure to notify the families of the victims as well.
Thanks to her efforts, both received medical care well in time to save their lives. While Prakash was admitted to the Kottayam Medical College Hospital, Pradeep was put under the care of a private hospital in Edappon, the report stated.
A resident of Edappon, Geetha had moved to India from Saudi Arabia with her family eight months ago. Her children, Sangeetha and Sangeeth, are in Class 10 and 8, respectively.
As a mother of two, she has not only set a glowing example for her children but also the rest of the country!
With over 10 lakh applicants each year, and only 1000 selections – the UPSC exams can seem like an insurmountable hurdle. But it can be crossed! In ‘UPSC Simplified’, The Better India catches up with toppers to uncover the do’s and don’t for India’s toughest exam. Follow the series for all the tips you need!
Gritty and motivated – these are the two adjectives that one would use to describe Dr Renu Raj.
Having studied medicine, she was practicing it until she decided that she would attempt the UPSC examination. She appeared for it in 2014 and went on to bag the second rank!
It was during her time as a house surgeon that she decided to become an IAS officer so she could contribute and help in bettering society on a larger scale.
IAS Dr Renu Raj
In this exclusive interview with The Better India, Dr Renu speaks to us about the importance of ‘English’ in the examination, juggling time between a profession and preparation, and tips for aspirants who are preparing for the interview round.
Importance of English
Dr Renu says, “A strong base in the English language is definitely a plus for UPSC. It helps the easy flow of ideas while writing answers and makes them crisp and appealing, which saves time too.”
She goes on to say, “In the interview, it makes your communication hassle-free, and you will be able to convey your thoughts to the board in the right words.”
Having said this, she also mentions that candidates have also cracked the exam and given the interview in their regional languages.
Dr Renu Raj
“Lack of fluency in English is not a barrier to succeed in the examination. Also, there is no requirement for a complicated vocabulary or poetic language in the written paper. If you can communicate your ideas in minimum and appropriate words, you can go ahead with confidence,” she says.
Juggling between a profession and preparation
Speaking about how she managed to keep practicing medicine and devote time to preparation, Dr Renu says, “I had started learning some basics for UPSC during my internship. I started reading newspapers and journals seriously at that stage. But a proper syllabus-based study is something I did after that and I devoted six to seven months totally for it.”
She continues, “After my mains exam, I started working part-time as a doctor, since I was able to manage interview preparation along with the work. I used to read while I was travelling to and from work.”
During full-time preparation, she would study six to seven hours each day. And after the mains exam, she cut it short to three to fours hours. She shares, “I feel it is not the duration, but the quality of time that is more important. To improve the quality of the time spent for studies, it is important to give breaks in between and keep your mind motivated.”
Interview preparation
Through attempting the prelims and the mains, your knowledge is tested, while the interview is all about testing your personality. The intent is to find out who you really are, she points out.
Dr Renu says, “You must be well-read and have an understanding of all recent news. Be well-versed with yourself, where you are from, the language there, the culture, the people, and anything else that is unique.”
Besides, she also suggests that aspirants brush up lessons from their graduation.
Dr Renu Raj
“Learn to build an opinion about everything and convey it politely. The art of building a conversation is very important and for this, attending mock interviews always helps. It is also useful to be as honest as possible while answering the questions put to you,” she says.
Five things to remember while preparing
1. Don’t panic
It takes a while to fall into a rhythm that works. In case you find yourself stuck on a concept or find yourself unable to move forward, do not panic. Give yourself time, and you will find that you get clarity, eventually.
2. Plan meticulously
Always have a schedule that you follow while preparing and stick to it as much as possible. Ensure it is realistic and achievable. Ticking it off each day will also motivate you to go on.
3. Understand yourself
It is essential that you identify your strengths and weaknesses. This understanding will help you immensely during various stages of your preparation.
4. Practice, practice, and practice
Just as there can never be any substitute for hard work, there is nothing that can replace practice. Attempt papers from previous years diligently along with mock interviews. This will not only boost your confidence but also give you a sense of how the papers are framed.
5. Stay focused
Preparing for the UPSC examinations can be extremely challenging, so do keep yourself motivated and stay positive. Always look at the bright side of things and be confident about yourself.
With these pointers, we wish you all the best for the examinations!
In a real-life Veer-Zaara reunion of sorts, an Indian couple, torn apart by socio-political circumstances in a pre-independent India, finally met each other recently after 72 long years.
Their love story, might not be ridden with sweet clichés but is indeed one that defies time and space.
As mentioned in reports across several publications, the wedding of 90-year-old EK Narayanan Nambiar and his first wife, 86-year-old Sarada, took place in 1946. Sarada was only 14 years old at the time, while Narayanan was 18.
Only eight months into the marriage, in December 1946, Narayanan and his father Thaliyan Raman Nambiar decided to be a part of the Kavumbai Farmers Rebellion, which was a farmers’ uprising against the feudal lords, to claim back their lands.
In Kuvambai, this uprising was directed against the feudalist, Karakattidam Nayanar, who exercised control over the lands in Kannur.
Kerala Couple, Separated During Freedom Movement, Meets After 72 Years. Photo Source: NausheenKhan/Twitter
As per the plan, Narayanan, along with his father and hundreds of others, gathered on December 30, 1946, to attack the house of the landlord. To their surprise, the operation failed when the Malabar Special Police (MSP), deployed by the British rulers, reached the spot and cornered them. While many were killed, and several were injured, Narayanan and his father, managed to escape unhurt and went underground.
Two months later, they were found and imprisoned for being a part of the rebellion. In retaliation, the MSP plundered their home, expecting the two to return.
“His mother took care of me as if I were her daughter. One night, a shooting occurred atop Kavumbayi hills. I have never met him afterwards. [The] police came to attack me, [but] his mother protected me from them. They also set the house on fire. His mother sent me back to my house later. [The] police used to come there also,” Sarada told Mathrubhumi.
Left alone and with no sign of his return, Narayanan’s mother did not want to risk her daughter-in-law to further assault by the Britishers and the landlords, so she married her off to another man. After eight long years, when Narayanan was released from jail in Salem, he too remarried.
After having lived separately for so many years, it was fate that brought them back together.
It was purely by chance that Bhargavan, Sarada’s son, happened to come across Santha Kavumbayi, Narayanan’s niece, and TV Madhukumar, Narayanan’s nephew. Interestingly, Santha is the author of 30 December, a novel based on the events of her uncle’s life.
The encounter revealed that after so many years, the two were still alive and it was then decided that a meeting would be set up. The couple eventually met at Bhargavan’s house in Parassinikkadavu in the Kannur district, where Sarada’s family prepared a meal of kappa (tapioca), kanji (rice gruel) and puzhukku (a root vegetable dish) for Narayanan.
After a brief interaction with their separate families, they once again went their separate ways, although this time the farewell was a sweeter one!
The rescue and rehabilitation measures undertaken during a natural calamity, are not the only things that help an area in its road to recovery. While these measures are indeed imperative in saving lives, the real job begins once the disaster has passed.
Alappuzha, one of the worst-hit districts in Kerala during the 2018 floods, is slowly rebuilding itself, with the district administration quite literally handholding the citizens to help them get their lives together again.
And the manner in which the authorities have undertaken the rehabilitation process is a remarkable model that deserves nationwide recognition.
Tapping into the virtue of compassion and clubbing it together with the power of social media, a campaign titled ‘I Am For Alleppey’ was launched on Facebook by the Alappuzha district administration on September 14, 2018.
The objective was to reach out to people in not just Kerala but also across the country to secure donations which would aid their rehabilitation programmes. The overall goal was to help the district get back on its feet.
The campaign was the brainchild of IAS officer Krishna Teja, the sub-district collector of Alappuzha, whose commitment to service and round-the-clock ground support made ‘Operation Kuttanad’ a success during the floods.
The Facebook page of ‘I am For Alleppey’ being launched by G Sudhakaran, State Minister for Public Works and Registration in the presence of Krishna Teja IAS, Sub-Collector of Alappuzha.
Coming back to ‘I Am for Alleppey,’ the sight of a severely dilapidated family healthcare centre in Kunnumma that had sheltered a lot of people during the floods led the sub-collector to come up with this idea.
Teja pondered over the multiple instances in past when people from different walks of life had come together and fuelled actual social change. So he wondered, why could it not be done in this case too?
Consequently, the very first post that went live on September 14 was about this building. It implored people to either provide financial aid or adopt the structure for its maintenance. Although Teja was quite hopeful about the campaign from the very start, receiving a response within 6 hours was something that he hadn’t anticipated.
A Malayali woman based in Andhra Pradesh had reached out and expressed her desire to adopt the building. To this end, she sent out Rs 8 lakhs to fund the maintenance. This very first reaction was a sign of hope for Teja, and his belief in the general compassion in people became all the more pronounced.
The next plan of action was to identify the areas that required immediate rehabilitative measures and persevere towards taking it to the last mile. Together with his team of officials, they got down to work with the sole aim of connecting sponsors with facilitators to help identified beneficiaries.
The nine identified areas were: livestock donation, student rehabilitation, specially-abled rehabilitation, senior citizen rehabilitation, women-headed family rehabilitation, green rehabilitation, infrastructure rehabilitation, health rehabilitation, and last but not the least, fishermen rehabilitation.
All of these initiatives were carried out in a phased manner with a dedicated team deployed for each area.
A cow being donated by Teja to a beneficiary, on behalf of his uncle.
They started with the mission of giving 133 identified dairy farmers in Alappuzha, who had lost all of their livestock in the floods, their livelihoods back and sent out calls for donating pregnant cows to these families. The request for only pregnant cows was to help these farmers to get back on track as soon as possible.
Out of 120 requests, about 70 successful donations were made possible by the goodwill of individuals as well as organisations. In fact, one of the donors includes Teja’s paternal uncle, Balaji Mylavarapu. Costing between Rs 48,000 to Rs 52,000, the authorities have made sure the donated cows are all procured from within the state, medically inspected and insured.
Also, every one of these beneficiaries has been provided with donated packs of cattle feed for a month. In addition to that, the initiative has also overseen about 150 donations of goats.
Next in line in their agenda was to help students get back to academics as soon as possible. Flooding in the region of Kuttanad is not a new phenomenon, and the time it takes for children to return to school roughly ranges between 3-4 months. But Teja’s plan had been to speed up the rehabilitation process within 15 days.
The team procured every stationery requirement including notebooks, geometry boxes, water bottles and school bags for 40,000 children across the region, and these were handed to them, one by one, every third day. What was truly heartening was that these schools were able to reach maximum attendance, if not 100 per cent, by November 14.
Setting the precedent for public figures, actor Allu Arjun rose to the occasion and adopted 10 anganwadis in the region. In addition to that, the campaign has seen the adoption of 10 schools as well as 50 anganwadis.
Also, the team was able to procure funds through donations to supply water filters across all anganwadis in Alappuzha and repair about 20 computer labs in affected schools.
People have also been given the option to sponsor school-going children, and so far 30 student scholarships have been handed out.
40,000 children have received their school kits until now!
The next rehabilitation step needs a special mention, for this made Alappuzha the first ever district in Kerala to do so. Specially-abled members of the society were identified and a team of palliative care authorities were sent to the houses of every single one of them and assess their requirements.
Additionally, four mega medical camps were organised for these folks. While general livelihood kits were supplied to the beneficiaries, the assessment by the authorities resulted in the creation of custom-made kits for them to cater their special needs.
Moving on to the rehabilitation of senior citizens, four mega medical camps were organised for them as well. Even here, people rose to the occasion and helped provide two months worth of medicines, food and protein supplements to the elderly for free.
Families headed by women were next on the list. The only eligibility criterion to avail the scheme for women was to be a recipient of widow pension. About 7,000 beneficiaries were provided with not just basic kits but also non-food items (NFI) kits, that were sponsored by individuals and organisations.
As much as helping the citizens get back on their feet is important, so is reviving the lost green cover in the area. But rarely do rehabilitation measures following most disasters venture beyond the scope of human lives, livestock or even infrastructure.
By increasing the green cover, natural disasters like floods and incessant rainfall can be contained to a certain extent. Rampant deforestation for infrastructure projects and commercial plantations in recent decades has indeed affected the ecosystem.
So, a team has also been deployed for green rehabilitation that is assessing the extent of damage and planning the recovery measures accordingly.
Green Rehabilitation Programme is a novel first-of-its-kind initiative that aims to restore the lost green cover in flood-hit Alappuzha by planting 4 lakh trees.
As is the case of most plantation drives, the optimal timeline to start such initiatives is being envisioned by the team during the onset of monsoon. This would ensure that the saplings would be able to grow and sustain themselves naturally.
Following next is the rehabilitation of infrastructure, and the team has been dedicatedly working towards connecting interested sponsors to adopt or provide financial aid to facilitating organisations for rebuilding houses as well as public health centres.
Many corporates have joined their hands to the cause and are helping in the construction as well as the restoration of houses for the affected people. Even here, the cinema industry has showcased spirited solidarity, with the Baahubali team adopting and undertaking the restoration of 5 houses.
Under their health rehabilitation drives, about 20 medical camps have been organised by the deployed team. They diligently reached out to all the panchayats in Alappuzha and ensured that no communicable disease outbreak occurred following the floods.
One of the worst affected in floods had been the fishermen community, who, despite losing quite literally everything, went out of their way to help in the rescue and rehabilitation operations during the calamity.
They helped rescue thousands of people who were either stuck in their own houses or were washed away with the floodwaters. To help these unsung heroes to rebuild their own lives, a team has been deployed to take care their needs. In fact, all the affected fishermen in the district have already been provided with fishing nets.
The campaign has recently completed 100 days of operation, and it showcases a rare example of effective collaboration between both the administration and the civil society towards rehabilitation.
A medical camp in Alappuzha.
Moreover, it has caught national attention for its all-encompassing model of rehabilitation that Teja and his team have so efficiently carried forth.
The district administration gives a great share of credit to social media and its phenomenal reach that had helped fuel the entire campaign and speed the rehabilitation process.
“When we started out, we didn’t realise that the campaign would end up becoming this big. None of the plans were conceived overnight, and every rehabilitative step was meted out in a phased manner. While the ideas were conceived by us, none of the initiatives would have emerged this successful if it wasn’t for the unwavering support of the Alappuzha district collector,” says Teja to The Better India.
The campaign is still ongoing, and flow of financial aid and support from people across the world is only getting stronger. Celebrities and public figures in Kerala have showcased remarkable solidarity since the campaign’s inception and have definitely contributed in uplifting the general morale of people through online engagement.
A very heartening example of support has been that of the crew of the Malayalam film ‘Oru Kaatil Oru Paykappal.’ Last month, to make sure that the message of solidarity spreads far and wide, these folks printed the following words across every poster of the film: Now Stand for Kerala, Say I Am For Alleppey.
They have also decided to use a share of the film’s revenue to adopt a damaged public building at Alappuzha.
The poster of Oru Kaatil Oru Paykappal with the message.
“Our present agenda is to keep this momentum of rehabilitation forward. As Alappuzha gradually recovers, we aim to drive positive perception amidst the citizens as they get back on their feet,” concludes Teja.
What started out as a simple social media outreach for rehabilitation, has become a massive scale campaign that is rebuilding lives and dreams of people in Alappuzha. I Am For Alleppey has proven that the virtue of compassion exists in each one of us, and in solidarity, we will find our greatest strength.
We at The Better India whole-heartedly stand by Alleppey, and we request you all to support the campaign in whichever manner you can. Click here to see how you can support the cause.
You can also follow the work and progress of the campaign at I Am For Alleppey Facebook page.
For Kerala-based doctor, Satheesh Parameswaran, distance and physical hardships never blocked his road to fulfilling his Hippocratic oath. From natural disasters like the Kerala floods to hartals (strikes), Dr Parameswaran has defied all to pursue his work.
He believes that diseases or accidents don’t check if there is a hartal before afflicting people; similarly, doctors should not be tied down and stopped from doing their duty during such circumstances.
So he recently set out on his bicycle, on a hartal day, to paddle 17 kilometres from his residence in Chelakkara, Thrissur, to the hospital at Kavassery.
Speaking to Mathrubhumi, he said, “Only common people approach government hospitals for treatment. Their only hope is doctors like us. When I thought about the patients, I could not stay at home. So, I set out on my cycle.”
Dr Parameswaran is also the secretary of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) in the Wadakkancherry area.
A day before the hartal, while coming back from duty, Dr Parameswaran’s car was forcefully blocked by a few protesters who threatened and abused him, against leaving his residence the next day.
The attack, however, worked as a catalyst and motivated him to cycle to his hospital.
This is not the first time that Dr Parameswaran has displayed such commitment to duty.
During the Kerala Floods, he crossed a collapsed bridge and walked more than 15 kilometres through the difficult forest terrains to reached Nelliampathi, an isolated area in Palakkad district. All this, to do his duty as a doctor and treat disaster-stricken people of the coastal state.
Public transport buses across India often face the wrath of an angry mob. Almost every riot or violent demonstration results in a video or photograph of a burnt down state-owned bus.
For many public service officials, this is an inevitability. However, there was one police officer from Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, who didn’t receive the memo.
With the Sabarimala Temple entry issue causing widespread public disturbance in Kerala, buses coming into the state from neighbouring Tamil Nadu were at risk of getting destroyed or suffering heavy damage from stone pelting.
Fortunately, Kaliyikkavila Sub-Inspector Mohana Iyer was present at the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border on Thursday evening. He saved many buses of the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation from stone pelting by standing firm against the demonstrators, saying “dare to touch the buses if you can face the consequences.”
His firmness at that critical juncture took the demonstrators by surprise and unable to match the courage of this officer, they let the buses pass through without any damage. This video has gone viral on social media.
For SI Iyer’s efforts, the KSRTC presented him a citation, besides a Rs 1000 cash prize award in recognition of the performance of his duty. “Nobody will break the law if the police act firmly. I had only a small team of police personnel at Kaliyikkavila, one of the busiest spots on the National Highway when the tension broke out. Even a small disruption at Kaliyikkavila would lead to a major traffic jam, which prompted me to face the hartal supporters head on,” SI Iyer told Manorama.
SI Iyer standing defiantly in front of protesters. (Source: Facebook)
In fact, the KSRTC staged a procession earlier this week with buses damaged by stone pelting taken onto the roads. In the procession, which was held in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday, 23 such buses were paraded with the aim of requesting the general public not to damage public property and destroy transport.
According to the KSRTC officials, the two-day-long protest against the entry of two women into the Sabarimala Temple resulted in extensive damages for over 100 buses.
Watch the video below:
(Edited by Gayatri Mishra)
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Wayanad is undoubtedly one of India’s best-kept secrets. This underexplored traveller’s paradise in Kerala is replete with forested hills, waterfalls, trekking routes and truly ancient, historic trails.
During the floods, one of the sectors which was massively hit in Kerala was the tourism industry—an area that rakes in much of the state’s internal revenue. However, with travellers visiting the state to fulfil their wanderlust goals once again, things are looking up for God’s Own Country.
Consequently, Wayanad is seeing quite an influx of tourists, and we’ve done some research so that you folks have a fantastic travel experience.
From the 7,000-year-old petroglyph ruins of Edakkal to the heart-shaped lake on the way to the top of Chembra peak, we have listed a collection of places that include both famous and lesser-known gems of Wayanad.
Here are eight places that you must definitely consider visiting for the sheer joy of travel and to experience Wayanad in its full glory:
1. Chembra Mala and the heart-shaped lake, Meppadi
The heart shaped pond of Chembra. Source: Wikimedia.
One of the most sought-after places of Wayanad, Chembra Mala (peak) is the highest mountain peak in the district, standing tall at 2,100 metres above the main sea level.
Devote an entire day to climbing this picturesque peak and along the way, you will stumble upon this heart-shaped lake that will blow your mind. Locally known as Hridaya Saras or Heart of Chembra, you will find birds chirping and clouds passing by here, making it for a perfect halt for those who wish to not go further with the trek to its summit.
Home to rare endemic species of birds, orchids and herbal plants, Kuruvadweep or Kuruva Islands is a protected river delta comprising a group of three islands situated in the middle of one of the tributaries of the Kabini river.
Densely wooded and uninhabited, these islands offer a peaceful retreat in the calming silence of nature. One can reach Kuruvadweep using bamboo rafts or fibre boats run by the state Tourism Department.
The only place in India where one can see Stone Age carvings dating all the way back to the Mesolithic and Neolithic Age in South India, this is the ultimate place to visit if you are obsessed with prehistoric sites and ancient human carvings.
Comprising three different sets of ancient carvings, these petroglyphs are believed to be more than 7,000 years old and to this date, haven’t been deciphered and continue to baffle both field experts and tourists.
Also, there’s a naturally formed fissure at the site that will astound you with its near-perfect symmetry. To reach these caves, one needs to trek through coffee plantations for about 45 minutes and trust us; it is entirely worth the effort.
Entirely made of massive stacks of rocks and stones, the Banasura Sagar dam is India’s largest earthen dam and has been built across Karamanathodu tributary of the Kabini river. The locale is named after king Banasura, the son of the legendary king Mahabali who is believed to have observed a severe penance in the surrounding hills.
An extraordinarily serene and beautiful location, there are places in and around the dam where you can stay and calmly retreat into the lap of nature. Besides speed boating and other adventurous activities, you can also trek around the surrounding hills for spectacular views.
A lesser-known location in most travel itineraries for Wayanad, the towering Phantom Rock, locally known as Cheengeri Mala, is a brilliant example of nature’s artistry.
Resembling a skull, from which it gets its name, the rock formation is a bit of an unusual destination, but it offers a rare vantage point to relax and reflect on the surreal surrounding landscapes.
6. Ancient Hindu Temple, Thirunelly
The ancient Vishnu temple in Thirunelly. Source: Wayanad Tourism.
A visit to Wayanad would be incomplete without heading to this ancient Vishnu temple in Thirunelly that is believed to be over 1,000 years old. Locally known as Dakshin Kashi, the temple is an architectural marvel with 30 granite pillars and an aqueduct that sits in a picturesque valley, surrounded by dense forests and mountains.
Located close to the temple is the holy mountain stream of Papanasini, which is said to wash away the sins of a lifetime. Intrinsically linked with Thirunelly, is the Shiva Temple at Thrissilery—according to local beliefs, an offering made at one temple is considered to be incomplete without doing the same at the other.
Wayanad is replete with waterfalls, and it was tough for us to select one, for every single one is as mesmerising as the next. So we picked one that is not very popular but at the same time, wouldn’t disappoint you at all!
With picture perfect and calming environs, this 30m high waterfall is at its visual best during the monsoons, and you can visit it with your loved ones by road.
Wayanad was once known to house a thriving Jain population, which mysteriously vanished without a trace few hundred years ago. A few, scattered temple ruins across the district are all that remain to prove that the Jains lived in the region at one point.
One such location is the Jain temple ruins at Panamaram which gives travellers a mystical glimpse into the ancient culture of the now untraceable community. Even though the structure has been weathered by time, it still showcases exceptional examples of ancient rock sculpturing tradition, and you must definitely visit it for the love of history.
Soncoya, Ilama, Ugu, Olosapo, Kubal, Bignay, Araza and Yellow Jaboticaba—these are some rare, exotic fruits from across the world that most of us in India would have probably never seen or even heard of.
But if you happen to visit this orchard in the town of Kottarakara in Kerala, you’ll be astounded to find that each of these foreign fruits being grown, just like the unassuming mangoes or bananas.
Not just these, you’d find over 560 varieties of foreign and exotic fruits at Green Grama, an agrarian endeavour, passionately pursued by Dr Hari Muraleedharan, for the last eight years.
When we mention passionate, it is no joke—the man has quite literally, gone to all lengths, to acquire every single fruit-bearing sapling from different parts of the world and successfully nurtured them to bear fruit at his orchard.
It all began when Hari left his job as a senior scientist at the Murugappa Chettiar Research Centre in Chennai and moved to his hometown to take care of his ailing mother.
Courtesy: Dr Hari.
During this time, his attention fell on his ancestral land, which had turned wild from years of neglect.
Having always been interested in farming, he decided to pursue it and got the land cleared. But here, he hit a roadblock, as he wasn’t sure what to grow.
Interestingly, a fruit chart belonging to his child came to his notice. Curious, he decided to study it and realised that he didn’t know most of them.
And thus, the scientist in him began researching different fruits grown across the world and especially those that were grown in climatic zones akin to Kerala.
His intention—to grow these on his own land!
But when he spoke about this to people around for help and guidance, he was met with a lot of discouragement and ridicule.
There were a few farmers in Kerala who were already engaged in exotic fruit farming. Hari reached out to them for advice, but only found disappointment. He also found that a certain monopoly existed in the field.
All these factors would have normally deterred a person but not Hari.
On the contrary, these made him all the more determined to chase his newfound passion. But one thing Hari was adamant about was that he wouldn’t purchase any plants or saplings from local nurseries.
For the next five years, he worked really hard to source in fruit saplings and seeds through every possible channel from Brazil, Ecuador, Cameroon, Senegal, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand.
Courtesy: Dr Hari.Courtesy: Dr Hari.Courtesy: Dr Hari.Courtesy: Dr Hari.Courtesy: Dr Hari.Courtesy: Dr Hari.Courtesy: Dr Hari.Courtesy: Dr Hari.Courtesy: Dr Hari.
“Many of my close friends helped me in this pursuit. If they chanced upon any exotic fruit, they’d make sure to preserve the seeds and send these to me later. One of my friends ran a big fruit farm and compared to him, my initiative was probably nothing. But they believed in me and wished to lend support in every way possible. Their confidence in me kept me going,” Hari tells The Better India.
He adds, “I’ve spent many sleepless nights to hold Skype calls with people from different time zones to gain more knowledge and access seeds and plants. On a global level, people have been more welcoming in helping others share their passion. And I’ve been emulating this practice of sharing as well. My farm is open to people, where farmers, as well as students, can visit and seek saplings and seeds for sale.”
Taking his knowledge and field expertise further, Hari started a Facebook group named ‘Mannum Manasum’ in 2016, which today, has about 50,000 members, including the Chief Minister of Kerala and celebrity chef Lakshmi Nair.
“I share information about all the exotic fruits that I’ve been growing in my farm. People can also connect with others for not just information or guidance but also the exchange of seeds and saplings,” explains Hari.
Interestingly, five years along the way, Hari gained media attention, and before he knew it, his story was being covered by media portals from across the state.
An oasis of exotic fruits. Courtesy: Dr Hari.
Celebrities began to reach out to him and congratulated him on his efforts. However, it was a personal call from legendary singer Yesudas that made him feel like a star.
“For common people like us, a call from Yesudas Sir is like receiving an Oscar award. His words are etched in my memory forever. He had said that if a man can grow and nurture ten trees, his life is filled with piety,” shares Hari.
In this journey as a farmer, Hari has stuck to maintaining the natural equilibrium. Upon bringing more plants and trees in his orchard, he noticed that a lot of birds were also arriving. He decided to install water holes for these feathered beings so that they could quench their thirst during hot days.
One of his greatest achievements is his experimental research in making endemic varieties of cherries in Kerala, sweeter. These are found in most houses in the state, and although they look appealing visually, they aren’t naturally sweet.
In the process, Hari the microbiologist, identified similar cherry varieties from 12 countries and successfully developed a sweeter variety.
Courtesy: Dr Hari.
Switching his vocation to agriculture, Hari finds pride and satisfaction in his remarkable journey. In fact, he calls it a “life-changing experience”.
“Life would have gone on otherwise, but now, I feel I have a purpose. All the people who never really believed in me now call me an inspiration. Farming fruits, especially exotic ones, is something that I believe offers an opportunity for people to get a taste of the world without really travelling. We all wish to see the world, but our financial liabilities don’t let us do so. Through these fruits, the world is at an arm’s reach, and I urge everyone to try everything,” adds Hari.
Using only organic substitutes, including the self-prepared jeevamrutham, Hari has ventured even further by preparing a naturally growth-boosting concoction over a year ago. To continue his venture and his pursuits, he also sells exotic seeds and saplings at a small scale at his orchard.
“I’d identified many components and kept blending the components to get the optimum result. After many hits and trials, I managed to hit the working combination, comprising 26 components. These saplings have showcased remarkable growing speed with this mixture,” shares a happy Hari.
Supporting him in his passion is his wife, Dr Vibha, and their three kids, who are equally passionate about Green Grama.
You can reach out to Dr Hari Muraleedharan at 72007 07222 or write to him at harimnair2001@gmail.com.
The climate in South India in the last few days has taken everyone by surprise. While the days in Bengaluru are quite cool, the nights are freezing. Many parts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu are experiencing severely cold nights and sweltering afternoons. After the devastating Kerala floods and the havoc caused by cyclone Gaja, the dipping temperatures in late December and early January beg the question—is global warming to be blamed for this?
Senthil Kumar is a native of Munnar, Kerala. Speaking to the New Indian Express about this weather change, he said, “After the Kerala floods, the effects of climate change appear to be kicking in here, and Munnar is one of the most affected places. Earlier, the winter season used to be in the months of November and December, but now it has shifted to January.”
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) confirms that this is the coldest January that Kerala has experienced since 2014.
While this is certainly unusual, Pradeep John, popularly known as the weatherman of Tamil Nadu, has some interesting insights. “It is very common to see high pressure dominating the Indian peninsula during the months of January and February. At the same time, the Northeast monsoon has ceased completely since the New Year, and there is no moisture content in the atmosphere. With the absence of moisture, humidity and cloud cover, any heat that comes in is radiated back, leading to low temperatures all over South India,” he told the NIE.
Speaking to The News Minute, Dr Abhilash S, a professor in the Department of Atmospheric Sciences at the Cochin University of Science and Technology said, “It is because the polar vortex has weakened and this causes cold air to blow towards our part of the world. Another reason is caused by the western disturbance coming from the North West as a wave towards the East—towards India.”
The lack of humidity—which works like greenhouse gas and traps heat in lower altitude—has resulted in low temperatures.
IMD director K Santhosh told the Times of India, “There is a northerly wind blowing into the state from North India, which is causing this dip in temperatures.”
“Extreme cold weather conditions are prevailing in Delhi and other parts. We are receiving the cold winds from these northern regions, which is very dry. The reason for the dryness is that the winds come via the Western Ghats. Whatever moisture that the wind has is absorbed by the Western Ghats,” he told NIE.
Adding to this, CK Rajan, a senior atmospheric scientist says, “That is the reason why it is [colder] in Central Kerala, and there is a fall in minimum temperatures of 3-4 degrees Celsius in Idukki, Munnar and some other places. This is not likely to last for more than a couple of days.”
Although experts are saying that the cold in South India is not a direct consequence of global warming, it can have far-reaching consequences.
However, for now, we need to prepare ourselves and stay warm as the cold weather is likely to last for a few more days.
(Edited by Gayatri Mishra)
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In 2001, Rajan Singh was appointed the Police Commissioner of Thiruvananthapuram—one of the youngest ever to hold the post. Among other things, the former commissioner set up a database of all violent criminals in the city.
Today, however, he is helping young students from Tier II, Tier III cities and small towns, who cannot afford expensive science coaching centres or programmes in places like Kota and Hyderabad.
As the founder of ConceptOwl, an online platform with a website and application, Rajan is not merely interested in helping students crack notoriously difficult exams like the JEE and NEET. He wants to give them the necessary tools to actually learn the concepts of science and mathematics and enjoy the process.
At the time of its incorporation, the education start-up based out of Thiruvananthapuram had tied up with Bansal Classes, a Kota-based IIT-JEE entrance coaching company, for tests and practice. That’s no longer the case after they developed their own technological and pedagogical framework.
“We are attacking a specific problem, which is providing a quality learning tool to students from Tier III and Tier II cities. In rural areas, small towns and within smaller cities, learning opportunities are pretty poor, and in a conventional classroom format, the quality of education is completely dependent on the teacher. Since it’s hard to find quality teachers, there isn’t much quality learning,” says Rajan, in a conversation with The Better India.
Conventional policy responses like teacher training offer some incremental impact, but they don’t really change the game.
So, how do you deliver a scalable model which can reach out to potentially lakhs of students and at the same time ensure no dilution in quality?
“Traditional online learning has not worked because learning effectiveness is not just a function of the curriculum. The biggest reason why students continue to attend classroom programmes because they enforce the effectiveness of learning. Students have a calendar, a schedule, and they are forced to go through the learning process. Conventional online programmes are remote, depend on a child’s own enthusiasm to learn whatever they can from a YouTube video and often their interest peters out in weeks. Thus, parents continue to look for classroom programmes,” says Rajan.
While parents want a classroom programme, this requires a live teacher, but when you are unable to get good quality teachers, the problem continues.
“However, we are solving the problem using a different approach—a classroom without a live teacher. So, you have a teaching assistant, who is more like a class manager, but the teaching is done via a combination of videos and digital problem-solving tools in the class, besides a remote instructor who is only present to clear doubts in real time,” says Rajan.
Rajan Singh (Source: ConceptOwl)
The classroom manager is often a science graduate who can engage with students, enforce discipline and manage students. Using a smart television screen and projector, they show videos, pose questions and collect whatever queries the students may have.
If the class manager is unable to solve their doubts, he/she forwards it to a team of ‘real-time remote instructors.’ These instructors send their response immediately or shoot a video that is shared with the class. Tests, homework and assignments are given online. Students enrolled in the startup’s course must have an Android device with an internet connection.
The course currently operates as an after-school programme. Besides the standard school syllabus in Physics, Chemistry, Maths and Biology, the startup also helps them prepare for competitive entrance exams.
“This a new format we have tested and now rolling out. We hope to fine-tune this new format and take it to these remote locations. Internet access isn’t a major hindrance, and people have devices. The fundamental digital infrastructure already exists. Customers already know how to use the technology. We want to leverage this development to change the modality and format of learning subjects like science and maths. I hope that lakhs of students in the future can benefit from this platform by acquiring quality learning at a very reasonable cost,” says Rajan.
Today, the start-up runs two such programmes in private institutions in Thiruvananthapuram. It will soon roll out the programme across 17 schools in Kollam, Alleppey and Thiruvananthapuram districts (and many more coming), according to this YourStory profile. By the end of this year, he hopes to run at least a 100 such programmes. It has received funding up to $500,000.
Their coaching programmes are available at Rs 30,000 per year per student, for classes 11 to 12 and at Rs 20,000 from class 7 to 10, that employ a combination of online and offline tools. Meanwhile, you can download the app for free.
During a ConceptOwl session. (Source: ConceptOwl)
The Road Not Taken
It’s been a unique career progression for Rajan Singh. Although he originally hails from eastern Uttar Pradesh, he has lived all over India. His father had served in the Indian Air Force.
After graduating from school, he wrote the JEE exam, cleared it and completed his BTech in electrical engineering from IIT-Kanpur. Disillusioned by the way engineering was taught, and seeing other students from his batch apply for the civil services, Rajan did the same.
He cracked the exam and joined the Kerala cadre of the Indian Police Service (IPS) in 1997. Serving as an IPS officer for eight years, he quickly climbed to the rank of a police commissioner, where he managed a force of 3,500 personnel.
“However, it became a little monotonous. After spending eight years, I wanted to move on towards newer and different things,” he tells The Better India.
After resigning from service in 2005, he enrolled into an MBA programme at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. After completing the course, he found a high-paying consultancy job with McKinsey and Company, New York. After working there for two years, he joined a $1.5 billion-private equity fund in Mumbai till 2012, a job he found very fascinating.
“As an investor, you come across a lot of entrepreneurs with some fascinating ideas. I didn’t want to stay a professional all my life. In the process, my desire for entrepreneurship just grew stronger. At some point, I decided to leave. Education is a subject close to my heart. That’s how the journey began. Initially, I started an online education platform called CourseBrew. While I was working on it, I got in touch with Bansal Classes, a Kota-based IIT-JEE entrance coaching company, and that’s when ConceptOwl came to life,” he says.
Challenges that lie ahead
In any business, the most difficult hurdles are often psychological.
“On our platform we have someone in class and a remote teacher to clear doubts, but like any innovation, some consumers take their time to adapt. In the long run, when we say run 2000 such programmes, we have to ensure this class manager comes on time and does his/her job properly. This is an operational challenge, I can foresee,” says Rajan.
Thoughts about coaching classes
Coaching programmes targeted at cracking medical and engineering entrance exams have lately received a lot of bad press for their exploitative practices. However, the former IPS officer sees it as a multi-pronged issue and does not lay all the blame on coaching centres.
“Change must come society and parents first. Children must never be pushed into something they do not want to do. These kids shouldn’t be a vehicle for our ambitions. They should be a vehicle for their own aspiration. Not everyone wants to become a doctor, engineer, or pilot,” he says.
In places like Kota and Hyderabad, there are instances of children who haven’t seen daylight for years, studying 14-15 hours a day. This isn’t healthy at all and does little to facilitate learning, acquire skills and knowledge. It should be a personal choice.
The ConceptOwl team. (Source: ConceptOwl)
Where parents or teachers go wrong is that if they enforce their ward to attend intensive coaching classes in places like Kota. The problem, however, goes further down to the school system where the emphasis is on the end result of an exam rather than the learning process.
Rajan also sees a more significant structural problem at play. Apart from certain elite institutions like the IITs, India does not have enough affordable quality educational institutions. If you don’t get into these top tier institutions, career opportunities are limited irrespective of how brilliant you are since valuable industry networks don’t exist in other average Indian institutions.
“It’s a supply-demand problem. There is too much demand and not enough supply. The rat race to getting into the IITs is thus inevitable. However, my biggest concern with coaching centres is the sort of academic pressure they put on children out of a desire to maintain a certain reputation. They cannot ignore the effect this has on the state of their mental health,” he says.
“I’m not a fan of sending children to Kota. Children should live with their parents. So, one of the problems we are looking to address is that we want to bring quality learning to their doorstep. Migration for quality learning often takes a financial and emotional toll on families, and we are looking to offer a viable alternative,” adds Rajan.
Online food delivery services have indeed freed our busy lives from the chore of cooking. However, the fact that each order comes in single-use plastic packaging is a concern that cannot be ignored anymore.
Food delivery services have been functioning in Tier-1 cities for a while now, but are relatively new in Thiruvananthapuram.
Even so, the plastic menace is at an all-time high.
According to Manorama, about 50,000 plastic containers are used on a daily basis in the city, and what is worse, about 90 per cent of these show up in biodegradable waste collected by waste collectors.
In a bid to completely crack down on this disturbing trend, the city corporation of Thiruvananthapuram has come up with a green alternative—plantain leaves for food packaging!
The civic body plans on convening a meeting with various representatives of online food delivery services to discuss the issue and the implementation of these novel alternatives.
Aside from reducing plastic waste, with this move, the authorities aim to alleviate the health concern which arise from packing hot food in plastic containers.
While the plan is yet to be implemented in the city, we pondered over how these simple yet eco alternatives could make all of our lives better—especially in metropolitan cities where the issue is even more serious. While there are quite a few cheap alternatives available these days, the step has to begin with service providers.
Here are five green and safe food-packaging alternatives that delivery providers can start using. Not only will these alternatives decimate plastic from our daily lives, but also help to reduce our collective carbon footprint.
Plates and containers made from arecanut leaf sheaths are perhaps the best examples of economically viable alternatives to disposable plastic plates and cups. Slowly gaining popularity amidst the masses, these can be easily found in departmental stores, and if the same material is utilised for food delivery packaging, imagine the reduction in plastic use!
This effective utilisation of natural resources came to fore when a coconut seller in Madurai started using papaya stalks in place of plastic straws after the blanket ban on plastic was issued in Tamil Nadu. What a revolutionary concept!
3. Biodegradable Polymer film for packaging
Three professors from Delhi University have developed a biodegradable polymer film after years of research to replace the plastic wrap. Their solution includes a plastic film that dissolves in water and soil, in two days and one month, respectively. What is even better, it does not contain any harmful material and is food safe.
Replacing plastic packaging and cutlery quite efficiently, Bagasse disposables are a fantastic solution for online delivery services when it comes to packaging food. Comprising the fibrous remains left behind after extracting sugarcane juice, this option is perfect to pack anything—from burgers to full-fledged meals!
A traditional practice that has saved tribal women of Odisha from impoverishment, plates made from siali leaves have quite a huge fan following across the world. Just the way Kerala is rooting for banana leaves to end single-use plastic issue, the unassuming siali leaves can also be sourced and optimally used for packaging.
In its crusade against plastic, Kerala has been foraying into every possible route and seeking solutions to help its citizens break free from their dependency on plastic.
From government bodies switching to metal food containers to restaurants being directed to offer free drinking water to reduce the sale of single-use plastic bottles, district administrations across Kerala are adopting innovative measures.
The latest suggestion concerns online food delivery services—Thiruvananthapuram’s district administration has requested them to switch to green packaging alternatives like plantain leaves.
What makes innovation central while looking for answers in such situations is that while the resources have always been present, it takes the vision of a few to realise their potential and work out feasible solutions.
And rightfully enough, the ‘giant leaf’ plant is being hailed by researchers in Kerala as the next best alternative to plastic packaging.
Giant Leaf or Macaranga nicobarica. Source: Mathrubhumi.
In fact, a specimen is currently being nurtured at the Vellanikkara campus of the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR) in Thrissur.
“The plant was brought here as an alternative to the use of plastic in Kerala. [It] is also suitable for the climate of the state,” said K Joseph John, head of NBPGR (Thrissur), to Mathrubhumi.
Scientifically known as Macaranga nicobarica, the species is endemic to Andaman and Nicobar islands, and as its name suggests, its leaves have an unusually large dimension—65×60 cm!
Following several visits to the islands to understand the potential of the plant, researchers decided to bring the giant leaf to Kerala two years ago.
Interestingly, the plant is strikingly similar to Macaranga peltata, a woody plant species that is locally known as Vattayila and is found in abundance across Kerala. However, the leaves of former are much larger in comparison.
In December 2017, the Gulf countries had severed diplomatic relations with Qatar. It was alleged that the country was supporting terrorism and destabilising the region with the help of insurgent groups.
Besides having a severely debilitating effect on the local economy, the situation also led to a ban on the entry of all aeroplanes and ships from Qatar to these countries. Additionally, Saudi Arabia blocked the only land crossing.
In such a critical situation, the possibility of finding a donor with an incredibly rare blood group seemed like an implausible idea.
But thanks to the relentless efforts of one man from Kerala, the impossible was achieved, and a mother-baby duo lived to tell the tale.
This unsung hero is Nidheesh Raghunath, a native of Payyam village in Kannur district, who works as a tour coordinator in Qatar. Throughout his life, Nidheesh was told that his blood group, Bombay A+, was rare but this was to change soon.
Nidheesh was an active member of the the Blood Donors Kerala (Qatar Chapter). Two years ago, when he arrived at the Hamad International Hospital in Bahrain to donate blood for a medical emergency, an anomaly was discovered.
His blood group wasn’t Bombay A+ but even a rarer one— Bombay OH. Only two people including Nidheesh have this this blood group in Qatar.
All was well until Nidheesh received a frantic call to donate blood to a pregnant Indian woman in Kuwait. It was a medical crisis as the lady had to undergo an urgent C-section, which was delayed due to the unavailability of a donor.
One could call it divine intervention or merely luck because this message, that was circulated across social media, somehow managed to reach the Blood Donors Forum.
Nidheesh was immediately informed of the requirement, and he agreed to donate his blood.
Unfortunately, there were a few obstacles. First, the blockade on Qatar, and second, the rule that any person who wishes to donate blood in Kuwait, has to be a resident for over three years.
These impediments hardly seemed significant to Nidheesh. He was unwilling to back down because the mother and her child were fighting for their lives at this point.
Together, the collective went the extra mile to receive permission from the concerned authorities, and Nidheesh finally received a special visa.
This meant that the travel ban on Qatar was temporarily lifted!
Nidheesh’s brave act helped save the lives of the duo and turned him into an overnight hero for the expatriates in Kuwait. He was even felicitated by the country’s health department!
As a gesture of goodwill, the Hamad Hospital in Bahrain stocks Nidheesh’s blood every six months. This supply is not for donation but for the man himself, in case of any unprecedented medical emergency.
We salute Nidheesh and the volunteers of Blood Donors Forum. Without their relentless efforts, this unique and rare ‘blood relation’ wouldn’t have been forged.
At 28, this auto-driver has left his mark on hundreds of people across the state of Kerala and beyond. He has proved to the world that to help others, one need not come from a place of privilege or financial stability, but only harness a selfless passion and the courage to initiate change.
With these qualities and the aid of social media, Sushanth, a native of Nilambur taluk, in the Malappuram district of Kerala, has been raising money to help people in need.
Through his efforts, he recently raised Rs 1.5 crore in a month from Facebook. He did so by posting three videos on the social media platform about the individuals in need. Each video contained their struggles and an appeal for help, along with their account details.
But the road leading to success was never really smooth.
“When I began this work, people used to criticise me and taunt me. Many still think that I am mad. But I can’t let people’s negativity spoil the positive work that I am doing,” shared Sushanth with The Better India.
This began around six months ago, when his neighbour, Harris, met with an accident and was in urgent need of money.
Shot on a mobile phone, this was Sushanth’s first video, and it garnered Rs 2 lakh, which helped Harris in his recovery.
One of Sushanth’s videos where he narrates the plight of a child suffering from a rare disease, Photo Source: Sushanth Nilambur/Facebook
Be it the daughters of a widow in Maradu of Kozhikode who received 20 sovereigns of gold (160 grams), or the child suffering from a rare disease in Edappal who received Rs 13 lakh, his virtual initiative has changed real lives.
Speaking to TBI, he shared that the idea for this initiative dawned upon him a few months ago.
“I have been using Facebook for the past seven years, but I have always been very vocal about the issues around me. I used to post videos criticising politicians and the government and got around 300 to 500 views each time. That made me realise the power of social media. I decided to use this traffic for good. Anyone can sit and criticise, but it’s more difficult to go out there and truly take the initiative to change something. And, so I did.”
A resident of Pulikkalodi area, Sushanth does a number of jobs to sustain his frequent trips across the state to bring aid to these people.
His earning as an auto driver, a labourer at the laterite quarry and the coconut plantations, earn him around Rs 500 to 1,000 per day, a majority of which is spent on diesel and other expenses.
“Whatever amount I save, I spend on travelling. Most of the times when I am visiting a new place, I don’t have any money left to get accommodation, so I end up sleeping in a bus or on the railway station,” he said.
After his father died, the lack of finances pushed him to stop his education along with several other sacrifices. A 12th pass Sushanth has since been motivated to help others get all that he or his family couldn’t.
Despite his best efforts, however, he has been a victim of common scepticism.
“As my work is purely based on trust, I did receive some flak. Many would not trust me and considered me and my work a bluff. I was often accused of using the money for my own benefit, even though I always shared the account details of the individuals in need and not mine. But I never let that get to me. There are people who are sceptical, and then there are those who believe that good exists. Fortunately, I am also rewarded with the latter, as they shower me with their support and well wishes,” he added.
But, his trust has not always met with positive outcomes.
He was recently duped by a family with a child in need for a kidney transplant. Although the child’s medical situation was true, the parents misled the donors to swindle more money than they needed for the operation.
“I was shocked when I got to know that they managed to get Rs 20 lakh more than they needed and used it to buy land and a car. Before every video, an informal agreement is signed which states that the extra money needs to go to other such people in need, but they turned on their word,” said Sushanth.
A police case was filed against the couple by their neighbour, he informed.
Due to this mishap, Sushanth is now trying to find another method to check authenticity and is seeking legal help.
“To avoid such incidents in the future, I am also planning to start a joint account for more transparency,” he added.
Undeterred in his efforts, Sushanth stated that this work gives true meaning to his life and such obstacles couldn’t stop his strong-willed initiative.
“If I want people to believe in me, then I need to do the same too. Sometimes trust backfires, but that does not mean we lose faith in humanity. Why abandon the majority for a few rotten individuals!” he concluded.
Organic farming is all the rage these days, in India and across the world. But how often do you come across a police station that has a thriving organic farm within its premises?
Not very often right?
Well, the police officers and staff at the Kurathikad police station near the Mavelikara town in the Alappuzha district of Kerala would beg to differ.
Thanks to an initiative flagged off only 4-5 months ago, there are several rows of banana plants basking in sunlight in a plot adjoining the police station.
The man behind this is Assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Abdul Latheef.
Although he hails from a family of farmers, Latheef’s foray into farming was a recent activity.
“My parents were farmers, and we used to grow kappa (tapioca) and kachil (Chinese yam). As my retirement from the force was approaching, I thought of walking the same path my parents once took. It has been little over two years since I started farming and today, I grow vegetables including long yard beans, pavakya (bitter gourd), padavalam (snake gourd), cucumber and chena (elephant foot yam). I also have a robust production of passion fruit,” says the ASI to The Better India.
The opportunity to transform the station premises came knocking last year when the cops of Kurathikad moved to a new building.
Banana plantations at Kurathikad police station.
Upon noticing that the area had a lot of space that could be put to better use, the Sub Inspector encouraged Latheef to unleash the magic of his green thumb here as well.
“It has been four to five months since I have taken the responsibility of farming in the station precinct and I started out with the banana plant. We are reaping good harvests. I feel more government employees should try pursuing organic farming in their pastime,” says the police officer.
Latheef’s hard work has been successful, and the Vallikunnam Grama Panchayat recognised his dedicated efforts.
Latheef’s harvest.Long yard beans, passion fruit and cucumber.Chena (elephant yam).
They bestowed him with the best farmer award for 2017-18. Additionally, he was also recently felicitated by the Onattukara Farmers Club.
Not stopping at just growing greens, Latheef has also ventured into beekeeping.
After receiving training from ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra (Alappuzha) in Kayamkulam, he has joined the countless people from across the globe, whose collective efforts are giving hope to the survival of the winged creatures.
Latheef gleefully informs us that his drive for agriculture and the abundant harvest inspired many of his friends to take up organic farming.
Courtesy: ASI Latheef.
Today, they are successful farmers in their own right.
“In addition to the fact that I consume chemical-free organic produce that I’ve grown with my own hands, seeing others take inspiration from my efforts makes me very happy. I have little over a year left to retire, and I plan on pursuing farming for as long as I can,” he concludes.
Imagine a shop which is operated by no one, where people can purchase what they want and drop the required amount in a box at the counter.
Now before you jump to state the obvious, i.e., the impossibility of such an arrangement, we’d like to draw your attention to a quaint little shop in the coastal village of Azhikode near Kannur.
Opened on January 1, this ‘self-service’ shop located in Vankulathuvayal, is a pioneering initiative spearheaded by the Janashakti Charitable Trust, an NGO engaged in welfare activities for the differently-abled in the region.
While it is undoubtedly interesting that this shop functions without a shopkeeper, that is not its only unique characteristic.
The shop without a shopkeeper. Courtesy: Sugunan PM.
Every product in the shop has been created by four differently-abled individuals and students of the Asraya Special school in Kannur, and it manages to rake in a minimum of Rs 1000 every day!
You can find products like soap, washing powder, phenyl, toilet cleaner, hand wash, candles, cloth bags, and many other items on offer.
A board at the entrance states that “This shop has no shop keeper or salespersons. You can pick up what you want, check the price tags and deposit the money in the cash box.”
Speaking to The Better India, Sugunan PM, the Convener of the Trust says, “We have been working with the differently-abled community in Azhikode and are very well aware of their lives and struggles. One of our beneficiaries, who is physically impaired from the waist below, used to make utility products and pencils from paper but seldom found buyers. And because of his disability, the possibility of marketing or finding bulk orders seemed bleak. We wanted to change that and give a chance to all such enterprising entrepreneurs. That’s how the idea of the self-service shop came up.”
So how does it work?
Customers on the inauguration day. Courtesy: Sugunan PM.
“Although it was our idea, the initiative has found great support from people across Azhikode. The shop is opened every day at 6 am by the shopkeeper selling vegetables in the adjacent shop and remains open throughout the day. It shuts down at 10 pm. While we have installed a CCTV camera to prevent any untoward activities, the physical presence and support of nearby shopkeepers has been central for the stall’s success,” explains Suganan.
The members of Janashakti Trust have established an excellent working structure as well.
“All the individuals are paid the entire amount in advance for their products when our team goes to their house for procurement. This was done to ensure that low sales do not affect any of our shop partners. But fortunately, we have found great support from day one,” shares Sugunan.
Many people have reached out to the Janashakti Trust from across the Kannur district so that similar shops can be set up in their neighbourhoods.
One of the vendors supplying his products to the shop. Courtesy: Sugunan PM.
“Although we only have this pilot shop functioning at present, plans to open a new shop in the premises of the Kannur Cooperation, are in the pipeline. We are considering other areas too, but currently our resources are limited,” Sugunan concludes.
What a remarkable initiative! We appreciate the efforts of the Janashakti Trust and hope that thus shop inspires similar initiatives across the country.
To get in touch with the Trust or provide any form of aid, you can reach out to Sugunan at 9446161616.
The Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) was in the news over a year ago, when the authorities hired 23 people from the transgender community in housekeeping as well as ticket counter jobs.
Keeping up with the trend of social inclusion and positivity, the authorities have now installed breastfeeding booths at various Kochi stations!
Here is a look at five such impressive features that sets the Kochi Metro apart from other Metros:
A nursing mother does not always get a comfortable, convenient place to feed her baby. Breastfeeding in public is a taboo in India and in the time of need, the poor mother is either compelled to sit with a cloth wrapped around her or wait for the security of her home to feed her child. Read here one such account of a regressive Kolkata mall authority who tried to shame a feeding mother, but got schooled by social media instead.
The Kochi metro, in its bid, to help feeding-mothers out of this dilemma, has installed breastfeeding pods at four of its stations. These pods will not just help the passengers, but also the employees.
“The message that we are trying to send is simple: create safer and more sanitary spaces for the women in our society. This has been done considering how difficult it is for mothers to breastfeed their babies in public. After we launch [the pods] in the first four stations, we will take feedback and then think about expanding it to other stations across the network,” APM Mohammed Hanish, the Managing Director of KMRL told the Indian Express.
A wellness start-up named “I love 9 months” has designed these pods. Costing Rs. 1.5 lakh, each pod is a 4 ft X 4 ft, fibre-reinforced plastic cubicle with comfortable seating for the mothers. Each cubicle is equipped with a fan, hand-sanitizer, adequate lighting and even a charging point. Mothers will also be able to contact the support team from “I love 9 months” by phone in case they face any issues or for feedback.
Ganga Raj, one of the co-founders of the start-up told the publication, “The most challenging part for nursing mothers is to feed in a public space. When they’re travelling, it’s all the more difficult. So, this pod is a safe, private space for a mother to breastfeed her baby. Just before boarding, she has the option to breastfeed her baby and then get into the train. We’re trying to make travelling easier for both mothers and babies.”
2. Ensuring social inclusion by employing transgender people
In May 2017, the KMRL hired 23 people from the transgender community at various posts across their station network. Depending upon the educational qualifications and test performances, the applicants were offered jobs in the housekeeping department as well as at the ticketing counters. Elias George, the then managing director of KMRL told The Hindu, “The metro agency is the first government-owned company in India to appoint them formally. I hope other firms in Kerala give them a fair opportunity to work. Society’s mindset will change only by direct interaction with them.”
But just recruiting people, who identify as transgenders, was not enough, as the KMRL soon discovered. Some of them found it too expensive and difficult to shift in the big city while others faced unwelcome situations at their workplace. But instead of giving up, the metro authorities stepped up their game and devised a plan to include even more transgender people in their workforce, this time, taking care of their overall well-being. You can read the details about it here.
In a male-dominated work-space, the Kochi metro brought a welcome change by recruiting seven women in their 39-member team of loco-pilots. To be appointed, the female graduate applicants had to go through an online as well as a practical test. Additionally, in 2017, KMRL recorded that an astonishing 80 per cent of their staff is female.
Speaking to the Times of India, Vandana VS, one of the recruited loco-pilots said, “After completing B. Tech, I was searching for a job. It was then that I came across this job opportunity at KMRL. Initially, an online test was conducted, which was followed by a psychometric test. Then, there was a medical test. Candidates were selected based on their performance in these tests.”
From housekeeping to locomotive piloting, women are, indeed, the driving force behind the Kochi Metro!
4. Meals on wheels the green way!
In 2018, the KMRL decided to go green while providing meals to their staff. While doorstep delivery has boosted the use of plastic in the food packaging industry, the Kochi metro is using steel tiffin carriers. Staff members can place meal orders at Rs 40 and food will be served to them in steel containers which are more eco-friendly than plastic ones.
Another effort in the pipeline for the KMRL is to decorate 200 pillars of the metro line with vertical gardens with 3000 tonnes of compost used from the municipal waste. While every sixth pillar is set to go green, the others will be used to earn revenue through advertisement.
Along with this, the metro has plans to use solar energy to power 25 per cent of its electricity needs. The panels, installed atop stations and metro coaches are set to make the metro more eco-friendly.
From breastfeeding pods to giving decent jobs to transgender persons and using green energy to power its needs, the KMRL is leading the way and setting an example for others to catch up!
Some of the greatest love stories go unseen, unheard and undocumented, simply because they’re ordinary couples living their lives. So this Valentine’s Day, we try to showcase such stories—everyday people and their extraordinary love!
After completing his undergraduate studies, when Sachin Kumar, native of Kerala’s Pothukal town signed up for an accountancy course in Nilambur, little did he know that he would soon meet the love of his life.
Neither had the young man imagined the lengths he would go—all in the name of love.
“I’d joined the course a month before Bhavya began attending classes. We were friends for about six months before I finally mustered up the courage and told her that I liked her. Perhaps it was the fact that she hailed from a financially weak background, which initially elicited a soft corner in me, and I began looking out for her. When I told her about my feelings, she didn’t say anything, but I understood that she felt the same way. That’s how it all started,” the 23-year-old tells The Better India.
For two months, it was the time of their lives as their love for each other cemented.
Sachin and Bhavya.
But as nothing good in life comes without its share of obstacles, Sachin and Bhavya too faced their share of troubles—in the form of a sharp objection from Bhavya’s family.
“In fact, they were so opposed to the idea of us being together that they even asked Bhavya to leave the house and never come back if we were to get married,” Sachin laughs.
Even Sachin’s family were not too keen about their relationship, but the duo didn’t let any of these oppositions affect them. Shortly after their course ended, Bhavya began working at an institute.
Around this time, she began to complain of back pain.
“We thought that it was because of her daily bus travel to work or the hours she spent sitting in front of the computer. She even went through two weeks of treatment for the same but to no avail. When her pain became unbearable, we went to a doctor for a check-up. The scan showcased a small projection on her bone, and we were recommended to consult much more specialised practitioners,” he recalls.
Without the knowledge of their parents and with the help of their friends, the duo headed to Kozhikode to get Bhavya tested—only to discover that she had stage 4 Ewing’s Sarcoma—a rare type of cancer that affects bones, and particularly the spine.
“The doctor told us that there was no time to waste. She had to start with chemotherapy as soon as possible. It certainly wasn’t financially easy for Bhavya’s family to fund for the sessions as these were expensive, so I teamed up with my friends and did odd jobs to raise money. On March 21, she had her first chemo session,” he says.
Knowing that she would lose all of her long, dark tresses because of the radiation, Bhavya tonsured her head before the session—a decision that Sachin wholeheartedly supported.
At a time when most people would walk away than offer comfort and support to the afflicted, Sachin came to the most important realisation of his life.
“When cancer came unannounced into our lives, I realised how much I loved her, and if there was only so much time left, then I wanted us to spend every second of it, together. Despite opposition from both of our parents, and especially with Bhavya’s precarious condition, we got engaged and that too, on April 1!” says Sachin, with a laugh.
But with the need for regular chemo sessions, the cost became a concern for Sachin, who decided to forsake his dream of going to the Gulf for better prospects.
Instead, he took up a job as a tile-laying daily wage labourer to make ends meet.
Also, a lot of monetary support flowed in through social media which was made possible with the help of their friends.
Five months and six chemo sessions later, in November last year, Sachin and Bhavya got married in the presence of their parents and relatives. Sachin admits that they had spent considerable time convincing them until the very last moment.
Six days after their wedding, when the couple went for a check-up, heartening news awaited them.
“While the initial prognosis ruled out any possibility of the surgical removal of the tumour on Bhavya’s spine because of her advanced stage, our immediate intervention with chemo sessions paid off. The doctors were now confident about removing the tumour from her 10th vertebrae, which had considerably shrunk,” says Sachin.
The surgery was a success and so far, Bhavya has completed 13 sessions of chemotherapy.
Three more sessions remain before the doctors can pronounce her cancer-free, after which, she would only need to continue with regular medication.
“Nobody has given a 100 per cent guarantee, because this is a recurring disease. While we are all praying that it should not happen, there is a chance that the tumour could come back in five years,” adds Sachin.
Interestingly, throughout their journey, cancer wasn’t the only enemy they were fighting. Several people had teamed up in Nilambur to help the young couple crowdfund their medical expenses.
“Earlier this year, rumours started floating that we were misappropriating the money that well-wishers had raised for Bhavya’s treatment by spending it on ourselves. It went to the extent of WhatsApp messages being circulated across the city. We were so heartbroken as we had spent a lot of effort into saving money by not staying in hospital rooms but cheaper ones and through other practical ways. Friendships turned sour, and relatives started calling us names; it has been a tough time, and despite Bhavya’s condition improving, the fight to clear our names is one we are currently struggling through,” Sachin shares, sadly.
It is rare to come across a love story as simple and extraordinary as Sachin and Bhavya’s, for whom nothing was a barrier on the path leading to their union, not even cancer.
“Cancer can’t do us part,” signs off Sachin, and with that, we wish Bhavya a speedy recovery and a life full of happiness for the young couple.
If you wish to provide any form of support towards Bhavya’s treatment, find the details below.
