Harriet Quimby, an American aviator, made history on April 16, 1912, by becoming the first woman to fly across the English Channel, a significant milestone in early aviation. Born on May 11, 1875, in Michigan, Quimby transitioned from a career in journalism to aviation after being inspired by a plane race in 1910.
Harriet Quimby (born May 1, 1875?—possibly in Coldwater, Michigan; died July 1, 1912, during a flight over Dorchester Bay, part of Boston Bay, Massachusetts) was a pioneering American aviator and the first woman to fly solo across the English Channel.
Details about Quimby’s birth date and birthplace remain uncertain—she occasionally claimed she was born in 1884 in Arroyo Grande, California. However, by 1902, she and her family were living in California, where she began her writing career with the Dramatic Review in San Francisco. She went on to write for the San Francisco Call, the Chronicle, and various magazines. In 1903, she moved to New York City to work as a drama critic for Leslie’s Weekly.
Quimby’s interest in aviation was sparked around 1910, particularly after attending an air show at Belmont Park that October. Inspired, she decided to learn to fly and enrolled in the Moisant School of Aviation at Hempstead, Long Island, in the spring of 1911. On August 1 of that year, she made history as the first American woman to earn a pilot’s license (license number 37) from the Aero Club of America, affiliated with the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale. She became only the second licensed female pilot in the world, following France’s Baroness de la Roche.
For a time, Quimby flew with the Moisant International Aviators, a demonstration team from the school. Despite her busy aviation schedule, she continued writing and contributing to various periodicals.
On April 15, 2025, FICCI Ladies Organisation (FLO) launched its first event of the 2025–26 tenure under the dynamic leadership of Chairperson Dr. Rimmi Shekhawat. The much-anticipated event featured a distinguished guest speaker – Mrs. Twinkle Khanna – and was held at the majestic Rambagh Palace, the former royal residence of the Maharaja of Jaipur.
FLO members were thrilled to welcome the multi-faceted Twinkle Khanna – author, producer, columnist, former actress, and founder of Tweak India. Her presence marked a memorable beginning to the new tenure.
Chairperson Dr. Rimmi Shekhawat shared her vision for the year, encapsulated in the motto: “For the Members, Of the Members, and By the Members.” She emphasized, “Women by nature are multitaskers and hence multi-talented. I always envisioned Twinkle Khanna as my first speaker – she truly personifies wisdom with wit, power, intelligence, and success.”
The event opened with a powerful speech by FLO’s Founder Chairperson and the only National President from Rajasthan, Mrs. Neeta Ji Boochra. She extended her heartfelt wishes for the new tenure and stated, “The empowerment of women is the key to unlocking the nation’s potential – and today, we witness a woman who has made a global impact.”
The highlight of the event was an engaging conversation between Twinkle Khanna and Dr. Rimmi Shekhawat. Twinkle candidly shared her life journey, offering deep insights into womanhood, empowerment, and self-discovery. She remarked that while women have traditionally shouldered responsibilities at home, these roles contribute to their exceptional management and leadership skills. “Rather than viewing it as a burden, it’s a strength – a feather in our cap,” she noted.
Twinkle’s relentless pursuit of growth, even after becoming one of India’s top-selling authors, left the audience inspired. Her parting message, “Real growth lies in continuously discovering oneself,” resonated deeply with all attendees.
The event concluded with the unveiling of FLO’s flagship initiative – ‘The Jeevan Rakhsha Vaahan’ (Mammo Vans) – in collaboration with the Health Ministry of Rajasthan. These mobile mammography units will travel across the state, conducting year-round screenings for breast and cervical cancer, especially in remote regions.
The evening was a resounding success and marked a promising start to Dr. Rimmi Shekhawat’s tenure, promising an elevated impacton women’s empowerment, growth, and the celebration of heritage.
India’s most promising young game developers are stepping into the limelight with the announcement of the Top 10 games from the inaugural Road to Game Jam—a major highlight of the Create in India Challenge: Season 1 under the Government of India’s World Audio-Visual Entertainment Summit (WAVES). These standout titles will be showcased at the WAVES Summit in Mumbai from May 1–4, 2025, celebrating the imagination and innovation shaping the future of Indian gaming.
Organized by the Game Developer Association of India (GDAI) in collaboration with Kratos Gamer Network (KGeN), Road to Game Jam falls under Pillar 2 of WAVES, focused on AVGC-XR (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, Augmented/Virtual Reality, and the Metaverse). The initiative aims to spotlight emerging talent, promote collaboration, and strengthen India’s fast-growing game development ecosystem.
Response & Participation
The event received an overwhelming response, with over 5,500 registrations from more than 1,650 colleges across 453 cities and towns in India. Through a series of AMA sessions and hands-on workshops led by industry veterans, participants gained valuable insights into game design, storytelling, and the business of gaming.
After multiple rounds of eliminations, 175+ teams submitted original game prototypes, which were rigorously evaluated by an expert jury comprising experienced professionals from across the gaming industry.
Top 10 Finalists
The Top 10 games selected from Road to Game Jam will be presented live at the WAVES Summit in Mumbai. These innovative titles—developed by student teams, solo creators, and early-stage startups—highlight the rich diversity and creative potential of India’s next-gen developers.
Rewards and Recognition
The Top 10 teams will receive an all-expense-paid trip to the WAVES Summit, where they will showcase their work to an international jury of gaming professionals. The top three winners will also share a prize pool of ₹7 lakh:
First Prize: ₹3.5 lakh
Second Prize: ₹2 lakh
Third Prize: ₹1.5 lakh
Game Jam Themes
Participants created their games based on a set of unique themes designed to challenge conventional thinking and inspire a blend of creativity and technical skill.
India’s Growing Strength in Game Development
India is rapidly emerging as a global force in the game development space. A recent report by Lumikai, the country’s pioneering interactive media and gaming venture capital firm, revealed that India now boasts over 550 million gamers, with 175 million making in-game purchases.
Key enablers of this growth include:
Affordable data access
A mobile-first gaming culture
A digitally savvy youth population (65% under the age of 35)
Beyond sheer numbers, India’s creative strength lies in its engineering and design talent, a thriving indie game community, and increasing support from government and industry. Initiatives in skilling, infrastructure, and funding are gaining momentum, while global studios and publishers are increasingly investing in co-development and partnerships with Indian creators.
Conclusion
The Road to Game Jam has not only spotlighted the creativity and talent of India’s future game developers but also reinforced the country’s potential to lead in global game creation. By bringing together young innovators, industry mentors, and global platforms, this initiative is paving the way for a stronger, more inclusive, and internationally competitive game development ecosystem.
As the Top 10 teams gear up to present their creations at WAVES Summit 2025, their journey represents a broader national aspiration—to position India not just as a booming gaming market, but as a global powerhouse of original, world-class game development
Weddings are often described as once-in-a-lifetime celebrations—a magical blend of joy, ritual, and revelry. But what if the magic could also extend to the Earth? What if a wedding could be not just a celebration of love between two people, but also a love letter to the planet?
That’s exactly what Dr. Poorvi Bhat and Shamanth set out to do. And they did it beautifully.
In the heart of Shivamogga, Karnataka—amid fields of areca palms, the rustle of coconut trees, and birdsong that needed no amplification—this couple rewrote the script on how to throw a wedding that’s big on heart but light on waste.
Rooted in the Past, Grown with Purpose
“We just need to look back a few years ago and draw inspiration from our ancestors,” Poorvi shares, radiating the calm conviction of someone who knows that the old ways still hold magic. “We didn’t innovate, we just followed what our parents have been doing.”
Indeed, there was no need for extravagance or imported opulence when the couple already had something far more precious—a family farm that had nurtured soil and souls for over 40 years.
This wasn’t just a venue. It was a legacy. A lush, living backdrop that needed no artificial dressing.
The Venue: Nature’s Own Mandapam
Poorvi’s family farm, with its canopy of coconut trees and serene patches of green, was a picture-perfect setting. The air itself seemed fresher, perhaps because the farm had always followed organic and sustainable practices.
The wedding pavilion—or mantapa—stood tall, not in glitzy grandeur but in rustic elegance, made entirely of sugarcane. “Reusable steel mantapas are available, but we chose sugarcane because it’s traditionally used in Shivamogga,” Poorvi says. “Plus, our cows love it!”
This wasn’t just thoughtful—it was circular living in its purest form. Decorated with mango and coconut leaves harvested right from the farm, every element could return to the Earth without a trace of guilt.
Zero-Waste, Full-Flavor Feasting
No Indian wedding is complete without a feast, and this one was no exception—except that it fed both bellies and conscience.
There were no disposable plates, cups, or cutlery in sight. Guests were served on banana leaves, a timeless tradition that’s compostable and elegant. Steel tumblers replaced plastic bottles. Water came from large, reusable cans, not a single-use bottle in sight.
Food was served thoughtfully—smaller portions encouraged guests to return for seconds rather than waste. What little remained was packed and shared with neighbors and farm workers in their own steel dabbas, creating a ripple of goodwill far beyond the wedding guest list.
Managing Waste Like a Pro
Waste wasn’t just minimized—it was meticulously managed. All organic waste, from leftover food to banana leaves and floral decorations, was composted in the farm’s vermicompost pits.
Even water was treated with care. The water used for hand washing? Redirected to nourish the farm’s mango trees. Now that’s what we call washing your hands of waste—in the best way possible.
The Outfit: Dressed in Memory
Poorvi walked down the aisle wearing not a brand-new designer saree, but a piece of family history—a stunning silk drape gifted to her grandmother’s best friend five decades ago, now gifted back to her.
“It felt so special,” she smiles. “I wasn’t just wearing a saree—I was wearing stories.”
Even the return gifts echoed this mindful spirit, wrapped in reusable jute bags and housed in boxes that were later recycled.
The Afterglow: A Wedding Without a Trace
When the last song was sung, and the final grains of rice scattered, the farm stood as it had before—clean, quiet, and untouched by the kind of waste weddings typically generate. No crumpled plastic, no wilting thermocol flowers, no landfill-bound leftovers.
Just footprints in the soil and hearts full of memories.
A Template for Tomorrow’s Weddings
Poorvi and Shamanth’s wedding wasn’t about sacrifice—it was about conscious choices. It was about proving that elegance and ethics can go hand-in-hand, that beauty doesn’t need to be synthetic, and that love—when rooted in respect for the planet—can blossom in the most unexpected ways.
In a time when weddings are often about “more,” this one quietly whispered the power of “less, but better.”
So if you’re dreaming of your big day, maybe take a leaf out of Poorvi and Shamanth’s book—preferably a biodegradable one.
Sip of Summer: The Forgotten Sherbets and Coolers of India
As the mercury rises and the country braces for the sweltering months ahead, there’s a quiet ritual that unfolds across India. From bustling cities to sleepy hamlets, metal tumblers are filled with chilled, jewel-toned liquids. They clink with ice, shimmer with flecks of spice or herbs, and transport you—instantly—to cooler, calmer places. This is not just refreshment. This is sherbat—a centuries-old celebration of summer in a glass.
Long before fizzy colas and energy drinks flooded the market, sherbets ruled Indian summers. Their origins lie in the Persian sharbat, a floral-fruit infusion that made its way into India with the Mughals. Legend has it that Emperor Babur would send riders to the Himalayas to bring down fresh ice just to chill his glass of sharbat. In another corner of history, ancient texts attribute the idea of these thirst-quenchers to none other than Pythagoras, the philosopher-mathematician who apparently also dabbled in refreshment.
Whether mixed with fragrant herbs, tangy fruits, or soothing milk, sherbets are more than drinks—they’re cultural heirlooms, lovingly passed from kitchen to kitchen. And while rose sherbet or aam panna may already be on your radar, here are a few hidden gems that deserve a prime spot in your summer ritual:
1. Babri Beol — Jewels in a Glass
In the cool valleys of Jammu and Kashmir, Babri Beol is more than a drink—it’s a nostalgic sigh in a glass. Made with basil seeds (introduced, they say, by Babur himself), this beverage is a dreamy blend of soaked sabja, creamy milk, slivers of almond and pistachio, and sometimes, a snowy whisper of coconut.
In local parlance, it’s known as Kan Sherbat—kan meaning precious jewels—a poetic nod to the swollen, translucent basil seeds floating like pearls. Served chilled and saffron-laced, Babri Beol isn’t just refreshing; it’s regal.
2. Sol Kadi — Coastal Calm in Every Sip
A curious paradox in a glass, Sol Kadi from Maharashtra’s Konkan coast is warm yet cooling, subtle yet spicy. It wears a gentle pink hue thanks to kokum—an astringent coastal fruit—while coconut milk soothes and spices like cumin and green chilies add a peppery intrigue.
More than a digestive, Sol Kadi is an end-of-meal hug. On sweltering days, it’s a portal to coastal breezes, shaded verandahs, and the lull of sea waves.
3. Gondhoraj Ghol — The Royal Lemon Lure
Think buttermilk, but crowned with fragrance. From the heart of Bengal comes Gondhoraj Ghol, a sophisticated twist on the humble chaas. Infused with the juice of Gondhoraj—a long, oblong lemon known for its intense aroma—this beverage elevates simplicity to an art form.
Combined with black salt, sugar, and iced water, Gondhoraj Ghol is both a palate cleanser and a fragrant breeze on a muggy day. It’s no wonder it’s consumed year-round, whenever the prized lemon makes its appearance.
4. Chuak — The Celebratory Brew of Tripura
From the lush, green lands of Tripura comes a drink that’s not just consumed—it’s revered. Chuak is a traditional rice beer, brewed during community gatherings, weddings, and festivals. Fermented from rice and local beer, it’s earthy, slightly sour, and not for the faint of heart.
Usually brewed by the elders of the tribe, Chuak is a sacred ritual as much as a drink. To share it is to share stories, honor traditions, and toast to togetherness.
5. Tikhur Sherbat — Nature’s Patience Rewarded
In Chhattisgarh, where summers are fierce and forests dense, people turn to a drink made from tikhur—a rhizome known scientifically as Curcuma Angustifolia and locally as palo. The preparation is meditative: the root is foraged, pounded into paste, soaked, sun-dried, and finally turned into pearly white globules of starch.
These dissolve into a sweet sherbet said to cool the body and strengthen the bones. It’s a tonic, an elixir, and a testament to the power of slow, intentional nourishment.
6. Nongu Sherbat — The Transparent Treasure
Ever held an ice apple? Called Nongu in Tamil Nadu, Taal in Bengal, and Targola in Maharashtra, this pale, translucent fruit of the palmyra tree is as delicate as it is hydrating. When transformed into sherbet, it becomes a silken, lightly sweet drink that instantly soothes.
Often combined with lime, rose syrup, or mango, Nongu Sherbat is a flavor chameleon. No matter how it’s served, it promises a fleeting moment of bliss—like the monsoon’s first breeze.
Make It at Home: A Taste of Tradition
Craving a glass of heritage? Try these easy recipes:
Babri Beol Recipe
Ingredients:
500 ml boiled and cooled milk
A pinch of saffron strands
1/2 tsp cardamom powder
25 g basil seeds (Babri Beol)
1 cup water
2 tbsp grated dry coconut (or 200 ml coconut milk)
Chopped almonds and pistachios
Sugar to taste
Method:
Soak basil seeds in water for 3-4 hours until gelatinous.
Boil milk and mix in cardamom powder. Cool.
Stir in the soaked seeds, sugar, coconut, saffron, and nuts.
Refrigerate for 5-6 hours and serve chilled.
Tikhur Sherbat Recipe
Ingredients:
2 tbsp tikhur globules
2 blocks of rock sugar (or normal sugar)
2 cups water
Method:
Dissolve tikhur in water with gentle stirring.
Add washed rock sugar and let it sit until dissolved.
Strain and serve over ice.
Savoring Slow: Why These Drinks Matter
In a world that drinks on the go, these sherbets ask us to pause. They are made with care, meant to be sipped slowly, and best enjoyed in the shade—perhaps on a charpoy, under a neem tree, as the sun climbs high above.
They remind us that refreshment doesn’t have to be instant to be perfect. Sometimes, it’s about the wait, the ritual, and the first cool sip of a drink that tastes like home.
So this summer, swap your soda for a sherbat. Let the old-world flavours show you a new way to chill.
Tucked into the mist-laced hills of Panchgani, with the Krishna river quietly snaking through the landscape below, sits a home that feels less like a getaway and more like a gentle reminder of everything we’ve forgotten — stillness, slowness, and the sublime joy of doing absolutely nothing.
This is Avabodha Homestay — not just a place to stay, but a feeling, an awakening. Its name, rooted in Sanskrit, translates to “awareness” or “realisation.” And for many who step onto its earth-toned stones and breathe in its unfiltered air, that’s precisely what it delivers.
But behind this sanctuary is a story — of dreams, defiance, and devotion — carefully built by a mother-daughter duo who turned a shared passion into a living, breathing space that echoes their values and spirit.
A Dream Rooted in Soil and Soul
Before Avabodha existed, Alka Shesha spent decades in the social sector — planting seeds of change in the lives of others. Quietly, she was also nurturing a deeply personal dream: to build a space where people could truly unwind, reconnect, and rediscover themselves in nature’s lap.
Unlike most plans that remain scribbled in old diaries or hidden behind practicality, hers was determined. She saved every bit she could, holding tight to the vision of a home that didn’t just offer comfort, but a sense of coming home — to oneself.
Alongside her was her daughter, Prachi Chaphekar — an explorer at heart and creative by instinct. The two had travelled far and wide, always choosing to stay in homestays over hotels, favouring immersion over indulgence. Their travels had been a living classroom, and over time, the idea of building their own homestay began to take shape.
They searched high and low, from Uttarakhand to Himachal, but the perfect land was, quite poetically, right where their hearts already were — Panchgani, the hill town where Prachi had studied and fallen in love with the misty landscapes and forested charm.
When Alka first saw the plot that would one day become Avabodha, it wasn’t just a piece of land — it was a calling. The view, the solitude, the sheer energy of the place felt almost sacred. It was, as she felt, as if the land had chosen her.
Building More Than Just a House
Alka didn’t want to build just any home — she wanted one that honoured the land it stood on. When tradition called for a construction puja, she chose instead to bow to nature itself, pledging to protect and preserve its raw beauty.
With a fierce commitment to sustainability, she sought eco-friendly architecture. After a long search, she found a like-minded architect in nearby Satara. Though her original dream of building with mud had to be rethought due to local soil limitations, they pivoted to laterite stone — a natural, breathable material. The structure was designed with minimal steel and no columns, in total alignment with the rhythm of the hills.
Inside and out, the house was shaped to be part of the ecosystem — not apart from it. Rainwater harvesting is in the works, solar heaters warm the water, and wet waste is composted into manure for their flourishing organic garden.
Finding Belonging in the Unknown
But dreams, especially bold ones, rarely come easy.
As a single woman investing her life savings into an isolated piece of land, Alka faced more than logistical hurdles. She encountered resistance — skepticism from family, raised eyebrows from villagers, and moments of genuine fear while working on-site, often surrounded only by male labourers and silence.
Yet, she stayed the course. Her quiet courage carved space in the community. And one day, help arrived in the form of Kalpana, who would become the homestay’s caretaker and Alka’s anchor within the local network.
Over time, the once-suspicious community warmed up to Alka’s vision. Today, they not only support her but go out of their way to keep Avabodha thriving.
A Place to Experience Nothing
In a world obsessed with “what’s next,” Avabodha gently offers a more radical invitation: what if you just sat still?
Guests often ask what activities they can do around the villa. Alka smiles and tells them there are none — at least none you can find on TripAdvisor. And that’s by design.
Yes, the homestay offers pottery, stargazing, gardening, bonfires, and even yoga retreats. But above all, it encourages the art of stillness. Sit on the balcony. Sip wine. Watch the sun slip behind the hills. Listen — to birdsong, rustling leaves, your own breath.
Even the architecture supports this quietude. There’s no Wi-Fi in the rooms (by choice), no television to drown out the forest sounds. It’s an intentional space to disconnect from the noise and reconnect with the self.
A Canvas for Creativity and Community
Artists, too, have found sanctuary here. Avabodha regularly hosts retreats where painters, writers, and creators find both inspiration and silence. The walls of the villa now wear their works with pride — canvases gifted by guests who left with lighter hearts and fuller journals.
Prachi, a creative soul herself, curates the branding and aesthetic of the property, balancing her mother’s grounded vision with modern sensibilities. Despite the generational gap, the two complement each other — learning, laughing, and sometimes disagreeing, but always moving forward together.
A Vegetarian Table, A Soulful Meal
Every meal at Avabodha is vegetarian — a conscious choice in harmony with the surroundings. The food, prepared by Kalpana, receives near-universal praise. Even die-hard non-vegetarians have left surprised at how flavourful and fulfilling a vegetarian spread can be.
The ingredients are often locally grown, and the meals are served with care and warmth — much like everything else at the homestay.
Three Rooms. Infinite Peace.
Avabodha isn’t sprawling — it doesn’t need to be. With just three bedrooms, a hall, a kitchen, a bonfire pit, hammock corner, and a lush garden, it offers intimacy and spaciousness in equal measure.
What you wake up to here isn’t a phone buzzing — it’s the call of a peacock, the hum of the forest, and light filtering through dewdrop-covered leaves. The view? The majestic River Krishna, sprawling out like a painted memory.
For the Women Who Dream
Looking back, Alka’s journey wasn’t paved for her — she carved it out herself. Despite doubts and dangers, she stood her ground. And today, her story stands as a quiet revolution.
Her message to women is simple, powerful, and lived: “Go for it. No one can stop you if your will is strong enough.”
Whether you’re looking to retreat, to write, to heal, or simply to be, Avabodha offers something rare — space. Not just physical space, but emotional, mental, and spiritual. The kind that lets you hear your thoughts clearly, maybe for the first time in a while.
So if the chaos of the world feels a little too loud, if your soul is craving silence, and if your heart is yearning for a view that makes it ache a little — you’ll find your place at Avabodha.
Because sometimes, doing nothing is the most powerful thing you can do.
Ready to experience the sweetness of stillness? Avabodha Homestay awaits. Just bring yourself — exactly as you are.
If you grew up in India in the ’90s, summer didn’t start with a date on the calendar — it began the moment school shut for the year. There were no alarms, no scheduled wake-ups, no digital planners. Just slow sun-drenched mornings, the hypnotic whirl of ceiling fans, and cousins arriving like an unexpected festival of fun.
Days were ruled not by clocks but by light. Fingers turned purple from peeling jamuns. Driveways turned into hopscotch boards. Laughter echoed over games of marbles and cricket. Even boredom felt like a blank page — wide open for imagination.
Today, as parents, we can’t help but wonder: can our kids ever know summer like that? With screens blinking from every corner and every free moment logged into structured activity, the carefree magic feels harder to hold onto.
But this summer, something beautiful happened.
From Science Centres to Superheroes — A Portal to the Past
It all began with a visit to the Goa Science Centre in Miramar — a gentle, breezy place filled with hands-on exhibits, a cozy mini planetarium, and an open-air science park. Among the curiosity and quiet learning, a Shaktimaan installation popped into view — the very same superhero who had once ruled Sunday mornings and school corridor debates.
Just one look, and the years dissolved. But more than nostalgia, there was joy in seeing the same wide-eyed excitement mirrored in a five-year-old’s face. A shared spark. Proof that some magic doesn’t age — it just waits to be rediscovered.
And that moment opened a door. What if we could bring back more? What if today’s kids could taste a summer slower, simpler, and just as sun-soaked?
Jungle Trails and Mango Hunts: The Goa Adventure
In Goa, one mother found her summer revival by stepping back into the jungles of her childhood. Wild berry foraging, mango-plucking, and chikoo hunts once filled her school breaks with wonder. Now, she’s passing on that same thrill by leading her children through the lush biodiversity of Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary and along the Mhadei River.
For city days, the Bhagwan Mahavir Bal Vihar Park in Panaji becomes their oasis — a small forest tucked inside the city, rich with native plants, birdsong, and winding green paths that spark curiosity.
Eco-tourism groups like Nature’s Nest Goa make it even more immersive with forest trails that feel like moving storybooks, complete with plant wisdom and real-time wildlife encounters.
Mumbai’s Recipe for Memory: Paint, Pedals, and Kulfi
In Mumbai, one family has turned summer into a series of tactile rituals — making kulfi from scratch, doing yoga on the lawn, painting stones picked up from walks, and riding cycles before the sun hits high noon.
Their version of summer flows through familiar places: the breeze along Marine Drive, the calm of Shivaji Park’s early morning yoga gatherings, and afternoons in parks like Priyadarshini or the Hanging Gardens, where sketchbooks and snacks form the perfect picnic combo.
In the city’s greener corners, places like Aarey Colony provide space to breathe. Families sketch butterflies, watch egrets glide over ponds, or just lie under a flaming gulmohar, tracing shapes in the clouds.
From Borivali’s Sanjay Gandhi National Park — with its canopy trails and toy trains — to the serene mornings at Powai Lake Promenade or the tucked-away beauty of Bhandup Pumping Station, Mumbai offers countless spots where kids can grow memories far from screens.
And for that sweet, nostalgic reward? There’s always malai kulfi from Parsi Dairy Farm. Or better yet, make your own and follow it up with a creative afternoon at Bhau Daji Lad Museum’s family craft workshops.
Gola Trails and Memory Lanes in Delhi
In New Delhi, a mother recently introduced her daughter to barf ka gola — a colourful, syrupy blast from her own childhood. That icy treat was once the unofficial mascot of Indian summer, and its magic clearly lives on.
Across the city, it’s easy to find echoes of that era. Gola vendors still park their carts near India Gate, Dilli Haat, and Old Delhi. The hum of water coolers, the calls of koels, the rustle of comics under ceiling fans — all remain, if you know where to look.
In Gurgaon’s Aravalli Biodiversity Park, families explore the rugged trails with sketchbooks in hand, noting the trees, the birds, and the memory of a wilder Delhi. And in East Delhi, the Yamuna Biodiversity Park becomes the perfect ending to a hot day — lemonade in hand, feet in the grass, and time spent watching the wild grasses sway.
Evenings spent chasing golas, swapping stories, and lying on mats under open skies still have the power to make summer stretch.
Dehradun Diaries: Music, Pen Fights, and Forest Frolics
In Dehradun, summer has become a mixtape of retro melodies and childhood games. A mother and her two kids have revived classics like pen fights and Name, Place, Animal, Thing, setting them against a soundtrack of Lucky Ali, Euphoria, and the Backstreet Boys.
Their playground? The majestic Forest Research Institute — with its endless lawns and grand halls, it transforms learning into an adventure. Whether it’s frisbee under tall trees, hopscotch drawn on old pathways, or simply singing in the shade, the campus brings childhood back to life.
And when the family heads further out to Sahastradhara’s cool springs or enjoys a retro playlist picnic in MDDA Park, every note and every splash becomes a new-old memory.
Cafés like Orchard Café on Rajpur Road provide the perfect throwback setting — soft lighting, old-school hits, and the kind of relaxed vibe where families can sing out loud without shame. For an added touch of vintage, The Vintage Record Store sells classic CDs and vinyls — the same tunes that once blasted from Walkmans and tape decks across the country.
Back to the 90s, One Rasna Sip at a Time
Whether it’s climbing trees in Goa, biking through Mumbai dawns, licking gola syrup off your fingers in Delhi, or belting out Boyzone in Dehradun — families across India are proving that the slow, soulful joy of 90s summers isn’t lost.
In fact, it’s right where we left it — in long games of Ludo, in gulps of Rasna, in paper boats floating through monsoon puddles. It just takes a little effort, and a lot of heart, to bring it back.
So this summer, trade screens for sunlight. Swap schedules for spontaneity. Pull out the comic books, chalk up the sidewalks, and gather the kids around for a game that ends in laughter, not a leaderboard.
Because childhood doesn’t need to be rebooted. It just needs to be remembered.
From Silence to Strength: How Women Like Anita Kamble Are Rewriting the Rules in Rural India
In the arid heart of Maharashtra’s Beed district, where the landscape is harsh and traditions even harsher, a quiet revolution is unfolding — led by a woman who once believed she had no voice.
Here, behind dusty roads and veiled silences, where girls are married off young and widows are expected to disappear into the shadows, Anita Kamble chose to rise — not just for herself, but for hundreds of women whose stories rarely make the news.
Her journey starts at 13 — a child bride, still in Class 7, thrust into adulthood long before she understood what it meant. Tragedy followed swiftly. By 26, she was a widow with two young children, suddenly responsible for navigating a world that had offered her little safety and even less support.
But Anita didn’t break. She built.
“I Did Not Discontinue My Education.”
These six words hold the weight of a thousand silent battles. With grit stitched into every step, Anita worked as a tutor, a daily wage laborer, and even sold clothes door-to-door — every rupee earned a lifeline for her family. But even while carrying the burden of survival, she held fast to a vision that many around her had long abandoned: education.
She earned her master’s in social work. Not for a job. For a purpose.
It was at Yuvagram, a local education center, that Anita discovered something deeper than her own strength — a sense of shared pain and power. Among women like herself — widowed, silenced, yet unyielding — she realized she was never truly alone.
In 2015, that realisation bloomed into Ankur, a grassroots organisation dedicated to supporting widowed and single women — not as victims, but as catalysts for change.
Making a Movement Out of Fistfuls
With no funding and no formal resources, Anita’s work began with the simplest form of donation: a fistful of grains, a single rupee, a neighbour’s kindness. That was her currency of change.
“We didn’t even have enough for a banner,” she recalls. “But I knew expansion was crucial.”
And just when it seemed the weight of the work might outweigh the will, something extraordinary happened.
A New Chapter with Parity Lab
In 2021, Anita joined Parity Lab — a Hyderabad-based non-profit founded by Mathangi Swaminathan, a woman whose own story of trauma, resilience, and global impact would soon intertwine with Anita’s.
Through a year-long, deeply immersive fellowship, Anita gained more than leadership skills. She learned the language of healing, the tools of advocacy, and — for the first time — how to turn her pain into power without being consumed by it.
“They taught me emotional regulation, trauma literacy, and how to hold space for others while protecting my own peace,” Anita shares.
From learning video production to mastering LinkedIn, Parity Lab didn’t just train her — they amplified her.
Today, Anita empowers 300 women across 15 villages in Beed, all while running a digitally active NGO with confidence, creativity, and compassion.
The Story Behind the Story: Mathangi Swaminathan
The roots of Parity Lab trace back to 2017, when Mathangi — then already armed with degrees from ISB and Harvard, and years of global experience — stood in a room of women and shared her own experience of gendered trauma.
To her surprise, one hand after another rose.
“Me too,” they said. Not as a slogan. But as a whisper that turned into a roar — a collective exhale in a world that had taught them to hold their breath.
In the wreckage of the pandemic, as domestic violence rose sharply behind closed doors, Mathangi founded Parity Lab with a radical mission: to heal, to empower, and to help survivors become leaders.
Today, Parity Lab runs multiple fellowships, including the Grameen Jyothi Fellowship for rural women, a Global Fellowship for professionals across sectors, and a soon-to-launch men’s fellowship aimed at nurturing male allies.
From Survival to Leadership
At Parity Lab, women don’t just survive — they transform. In group sessions filled with music, laughter, storytelling, and tears, they unpack years of suppression, build emotional resilience, and slowly reclaim the spaces they were once shut out of.
From boundary-setting workshops to somatic wellness practices, they are learning to stand tall — and then lift others.
Mathangi explains: “Healing is not linear, but it is collective. When one woman stands up, she carries many others with her.”
Stories like Ranjita Pawar, who rose from a nomadic tribe to become a national voice against child marriage, and Pushpa, who now leads a growing team of rural changemakers in Uttar Pradesh, are just two examples of how trauma can be the soil where leadership takes root.
Since its founding, Parity Lab has trained over 100 grassroots leaders and impacted more than 70,000 individuals across India and beyond.
A New Kind of Legacy
What Anita Kamble began in the quiet corners of Beed is no longer a whisper — it’s a movement. And what Mathangi Swaminathan ignited with her truth is now a beacon for survivors everywhere, proving that telling your story isn’t the end — it’s the beginning.
Together, they’re breaking generational cycles of pain and replacing them with purpose.
In their voices, in their hands, in their shared sisterhood — a new India is being built.
Let’s face it — we all want to do something meaningful with our summers. But between sweltering heat and scrolling endlessly through reels, it’s easy to lose track of time. So, what if this year, you could beat the heat and make a difference — one bottle at a time?
Enter: the vertical garden. It’s cool (literally and aesthetically), it’s green, and it’s made of plastic. Not the kind that clogs our oceans — but the kind you rescue from the recycling bin and turn into your very own lush little Eden.
Sounds a little quirky? Maybe. Genius? Absolutely.
Why Vertical Gardens Are the New Green Revolution
Urban living often means sacrificing greenery for square footage. But who said you need a backyard to grow your own patch of paradise? Vertical gardens are the ultimate space-saving, planet-loving solution. Think of them as botanical skyscrapers — neat rows of plants growing upwards, not outwards, turning any blank wall or balcony into a vibrant splash of life.
Plus, instead of tossing those plastic bottles in the trash, you’re giving them a second life as eco-friendly planters. It’s sustainability with a side of style.
A Real-Life Green Makeover
In 2024, students from the Delhi School of Social Work took this idea and ran with it — quite literally. They transformed their campus using upcycled plastic bottles, turning once-ignored walls into vertical jungles. It didn’t just reduce waste; it added colour, cooled down hot surfaces, and sparked conversations across campus.
Now imagine that magic, but on your balcony.
What You’ll Need
Empty plastic bottles (1L or 2L work best)
Scissors or a cutter
A nail and a candle (or a drill) for making holes
Twine, rope, or sturdy wire
A wall, railing, or frame to hang the bottles
Potting soil
Seeds or seedlings — think herbs, leafy greens, or succulents
DIY Guide: Garden in a Bottle
1. Prep the Bottles Remove the labels, rinse them out, and let them dry. Clean bottles mean happy plants.
2. Cut Out a ‘Window’ Lay the bottle horizontally and cut out a rectangle on one side. This is your plant’s new home.
3. Make Drainage Holes Use a heated nail or drill to poke small holes at the bottom. Nobody likes soggy roots.
4. String Them Up Poke two holes near the top of each bottle (on opposite sides) and thread twine or wire through them. If stacking bottles vertically, align extra holes at the bottom to thread a rope all the way through.
5. Add Soil and Plants Fill the bottle about one-third with potting mix. Plant your seeds or saplings, and give them a gentle splash of water.
6. Hang It Up Use nails, hooks, or a strong frame to hang your garden along a sunlit wall or balcony. Instant green decor.
Pro Tips to Keep Your Plants Thriving
Choose shallow-root plants like basil, mint, spinach, lettuce, coriander, or succulents.
Ensure 4–6 hours of sunlight daily.
Water regularly but moderately — plastic bottles retain moisture longer than traditional pots.
Want bonus points? Paint or decorate your bottles before planting. Get creative.
A Small Step, A Big Impact
This isn’t just a DIY project — it’s a statement. By turning waste into beauty, you’re helping reduce the 25,000 tonnes of plastic India generates every single day. You’re also creating a soothing space, improving air quality, and maybe even harvesting your own herbs for that pasta you love.
And next time someone asks what you did this summer, you can casually say, “Oh, I turned trash into a vertical farm. You?”
So, roll up those sleeves, gather your bottles, and start planting. This summer, don’t just grow a garden — grow a greener, smarter, more sustainable you.
After spending over two decades riding the swells of the world’s oceans, most would expect a Merchant Navy captain to settle into a quiet retirement, perhaps by a beach, sipping something tropical. But Captain DC Sekhar had other plans — ones that involved less relaxation and a lot more river sludge.
In 2016, Sekhar came home after 26 years of navigating global waters. What greeted him wasn’t the comfort of land, but a troubling sight that stirred a storm within him. India’s rivers — once lifelines of culture and commerce — were now choked with plastic, garbage, and neglect. The seas he once sailed into were now being polluted by the rivers he had returned to.
For many, it would’ve been an uncomfortable observation, a fleeting pang of guilt. But for Sekhar, it became a mission.
From Ocean Charts to River Maps
Drawing from his extensive maritime experience and a sharp eye for engineering, Sekhar began conceptualizing a solution that was as elegant as it was effective. The problem? Rivers carrying tonnes of waste into the seas every single day. The goal? Intercept that waste before it reached the ocean.
His brainchild was a floating barrier system that looked deceptively simple. Rather than fighting the river, Sekhar’s design worked with it. Installed diagonally across the current, these barriers guided floating waste — plastic, logs, debris — toward a collection system stationed conveniently at the bank. The water flowed freely; the trash didn’t.
No engines. No fuel. No noisy machinery. Just smart design powered by gravity and the natural force of flowing water.
A Disruptive Solution with a Gentle Footprint
In an era dominated by expensive, high-maintenance environmental tech, Sekhar’s system stood out for its minimalism and sustainability. It didn’t just work — it outperformed international models, at a fraction of the cost. In fact, it’s nearly 30 times cheaper than foreign alternatives, making it one of the most scalable cleanup tools for countries with limited resources and massive pollution challenges.
Municipal bodies were quick to notice. His floating barriers now operate in the Cooum and Adyar rivers in Chennai — two water bodies long dismissed as unsalvageable. Yet, thanks to the system, over 20,000 tonnes of waste have already been intercepted.
And this is just the beginning.
Goa’s Grand Cleanup & Ocean Dreams
Sekhar’s most ambitious project is now unfolding in Goa, where barriers are being deployed across all rivers flowing into the Arabian Sea. The vision? Stop the plastic parade before it hits open waters. It’s an audacious plan, but if anyone can pull it off, it’s the man who’s made a career out of reading currents and outthinking the chaos of the sea.
But he isn’t stopping at rivers.
Captain Sekhar is now turning his attention to marine pollution directly at sea, working on designs that could one day float across the ocean, capturing waste before it settles into the planet’s blue heart.
A Captain’s Legacy Beyond the Helm
In a world often overwhelmed by problems that feel too big to fix, Sekhar’s story is a refreshing reminder: sometimes the best solutions are simple, local, and born out of lived experience. He didn’t arrive with a billion-dollar startup or a global nonprofit. Just a background in seafaring, an inventive mind, and a relentless belief that change is possible — if we’re willing to work for it.
As rivers once worshipped now gasp under the weight of pollution, Captain Sekhar offers more than a cleanup system. He offers hope — that innovation doesn’t always need to come from Silicon Valley or Switzerland. Sometimes, it sails back home, drops anchor, and quietly begins to clean.
First Prize: ₹3.5 lakh
Second Prize: ₹2 lakh
Third Prize: ₹1.5 lakh
