ISRO Bags the Space Pioneer Award

The Space Pioneer Award for the year 2015 was presented to Indian Space Research Organization during the 34th Annual International Space Development Conference held at Toronto in Canada. 

Here's why we think it is the most amazing space mission in the world and undoubtedly deserved the merit. 

1. The Mangalyaan mission cost India 450 crores which is even cheaper than an eight-lane bridge in Mumbai and extremely cheaper than the movie Gravity. Ergo, making it the most cost-effective inter-planetary space mission ever.

2. In real terms, when distributed over the population of 1.2 billion, every Indian has contributed Rs.4 per towards the mission.

3. Mangalyaan will observe the environment of Mars and look for various elements like methane (marsh gas), which is a possible indicator of life. It will also look for Deuterium-Hydroden ratio and other neutral constants.

4. The orbiter weighs 1,350-kg, which is even less than the weight of an average sports utility vehicle.

5. The manufacturing of Mangalyaan took 15 months while NASA took five years to complete MAVEN.

6. Mangalyaan is the first spacecraft to be launched outside the Earth’s sphere of influence by ISRO in its entire history of 44 years.

7. ISRO will be the fourth space agency in the world.

8. Considering that Mars is about 670 million kilometers from the Earth, the cost of the ride works out to about Rs.6.7 per kilometre – cheaper than what even autorickshaws charge anywhere in India!

Thus, India has truly excelled as the pioneer of astronomy In all achievable ways.
Read more: http://bit.ly/1uGFIZW

When India and Pakistan had dinner together

How a simple dinner helped bridge ties between India and Pakistan!

Meet Eric Maddox : The man who introduced the virtual dinner project to solve conflicts between two rival countries. 
Maddox, a documentary film maker, came to India for a little break a few months ago, but unable to put work aside, or resist the urge to facilitate connections wherever he travels, he quickly found opportunities towork on the project with local partners.

He recently organized a virtual dinner between citizens from Bangalore, India and Islamabad, Pakistan and had them discuss critical issues of politics and society on a lighter note. By cleverly merging the two agents, Maddox is trying to resolve the complex issues by getting the participants to break bread over the internet in order to encourage camaraderie and understanding.

Imagine a dinner table that starts in one country and extends into another.

The start
The idea first came to Maddox when he was making a documentary film in Palestine and Israel. He realized that while the larger audience will understand the conflict, the people actually involved in the conflict might not be able to see both sides of the issue.

How it works?

A typical virtual dinner consists of two parts. The first part requires the guests to discuss the recent and most prevalent news of the respective countries. The discussion is moderated and the guests are selected from various universities, NGOs and media centres.

Each community is given a topic by the other one and both the teams are expected to go out on the streets, ask the questions from general public and make a small film for the next dinner, which is organized after two weeks. By this time, both the teams are ready with the short films comprising of interesting responses from the people of one country for another.

The documentaries are later uploaded on the official website and Vimeo to make them accessible to everyone.

The challenges

The biggest challenge is to be sustainable. The lack of funds was a big obstacle which Maddox had to fight in the initial days and still does at times. The project, which requires extensive travel, runs with the help of various grants and donations. Another challenge came with the language barrier which resolved by trying to get people who spoke English and is trying to resolve the problem by providing subtitles in the movie.

As this unique dinner project takes off, it gives a way to clear the misunderstandings between the two nations without resorting to the shellings and threats that seem to be the order of the day. With the success of the India-Pakistan we can’t wait to know about Maddox’s next dinner plans. 

The Dream of a Caste less India

The story of three men who are fighting for a caste-less society in India.

Gopinath, Haran Suba and Kishore are the three doting fathers who have decided to free their children from the century-old caste system by simply not choosing to fill a small box in the admission form. 

T. Gopinath is a creative media professional who rejects the doctrines of caste system. He narrates how he stood by his belief during the admission of his six-year old son as he recalls it like it happened yesterday,

“We had just filled the admission form when the lady in charge returned it with a smile, ‘Sir, you have, by mistake, given NA in the caste column. Please check it.’ I replied, ‘No, I didn’t forget it. I don’t know what caste he is.’ She shook her head and said that I need to fill something. ‘If you don’t give a caste then your child will not get any Government benefits slotted for that caste.’ I laughed, ‘He is my child and not the government’s, so I trust I can take care of his future.’ His admission was sealed and hopefully, a new path has been set for my next generation, all thanks to my supportive wife.”

Haran Suba, a 35-year old father with a UGC NET in hand, took the decision of keeping his seven-year-old daughter Surekha out of the caste equation. He knocked the doors of several colleges, only to be turned down by minorities who preferred candidates from their own religion.

When questioned about societal inequality, he says, “In fact, even people from the so-called lower castes treat certain sub-castes within their community as secondary citizens. It is just pathetic.”
He believes that for equality to prevail one has to remove caste-based oppression of every kind.

Haran Suba currently runs his own firm ‘Hello Talent’ academy that encourages extra-curricular activities in children.

Another freethinker is Mr. P. Kishore, a Chennai-based software professional whose origins made him a firm believer of social equality.
“My parents come from different castes and religions and yet that never was a problem at home. I have watched them lead a peaceful life. Social equality is possible; we just need to remove our resistance to change.” -

When asked about his opinion as a father, he says, “My daughter Shauna will not have a caste and I know she needs to compete under the open category without any quota, but so be it. I believe the next generation will change for the better.”

While reservation may be needed till caste-based discrimination is fully erased, these men have taken a small step towards a bigger dream – a society that discriminates none. 

200 Cr water project turns massive

Public contributes Rs 200 crore to Maharashtra government's water project.

A water project that was initiated by the government to resolve water crisis in Maharashtra has now turned massive owing to the proactive endeavor by 6,000 residents who have contributed nearly Rs 200 crore to the effort.

This seems to be the only project that has seen joint collaboration from various political properties including NCP and opposition party such as Peasants and Workers Party. The government however is doing its part by airing the project online.

Of 40,000 villages in Maharashtra, 25,000 have been hit by drought for three consecutive years. Launched by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis four months ago, the project has so far seen 93,447 water conservation works completed in 6,202 villages in the divisions of Nashik, Amaravati, Nagpur, Pune, Konkan and Aurangabad.

But the beauty of this project lies in the unity showed by people from different villages. “The overwhelming response along with their enthusiasm for the work is an eye-opener for the government. People in the villages have started taking up the projects in terms of physical support and also raising funds,” Fadnavis said.

Thus, such endeavors prove the fact that when people unite, wonders do happen.Public contributes Rs 200 crore to Maharashtra government's water project.

The Temple with a Crocodile Guard

This mighty Vishnu temple is guarded by a crocodile day-in and day-out!

Ananthapura Lake Temple in Kasaragod is the only lake temple in Kerala which is known for the legend that a divine crocodile named 'Babia' guards the temple, and when one crocodile dies, another one appears in the lake mysteriously! 

The crocodile that guards the temple is believed to be living here in the pond for over 60 years. After worshipping the deity, the ‘prasad’ by the devotees is given to Babia who eats it only when offered by the temple’s management team. Babia is fed like an elephant by putting food in its mouth. This crocodile is believed to be vegetarian and does not harm anyone, not even other species in the pond.

It is said that in 1945, a British soldier had shot dead the crocodile. The soldier died within a few days by a snake-bite. People believe it to be a revenge by the serpent God Anantha. Soon, another crocodile appeared in the tank and even now, if one is fortunate, one can see it.

“We have a strong belief that this crocodile is a messenger of God and always alerts us when there is any unusual thing about to happen in and around the temple premises,” says Ramachandra Bhatt, a trustee of the temple

The presiding deity, Lord Ananthapadmanabha, is seated on the serpent God Adisesha. Local belief is that the Lord had settled down here originally.

About the temple

The temple is dedicated to Lord Ananthapadmanabha Swamy (Lord Vishnu) and is surrounded by a lake that is 2-acres large and gives a beautiful view of the landscape all around it.
The original idols are of a unique mixture of more than 70 medicinal materials called ‘Kadu-Sharkara-Yogam.’ These idols were replaced by Panchaloha metals in the year 1972. Efforts are now being made to replace them with idols made with ‘Kadu-Sharkara-Yogam.’

The temple’s walls are surrounded by paintings and there is a cave that opens to a water tank where water level remains constant regardless of climatic changes.

Inspiring Trully............. inspringgg

Meet The Paralympic Sportsman Who Broke P.T. Usha’s Records

Sharath Gayakwad: the paralympic who won over 90 medals and is now the first Indian to win six medals in a multi-disciplinary sport event. the Asian Para-games in Incheon, South Korea, 2014. He broke the record of legendary P.T. Usha who had won five medals at the 1986 Asian Games!

Sharath was a born with a deformed hand and took up swimming as a mandatory activity in school and gradually developed a passion for this sport.

After school, Gayakwad continued to pursue swimming as a fitness activity and participated in his first national level competition where he won four gold medals. After that, Gayakwad just went from strength to strength, as he was selected for 2003 FESPIC Youth Games in Hong Kong where he won one Silver and four Bronze medals.

Gayakwad’s passion for the sport and dedication has won him over 39 international medals and 55 national medals so far!
“How many people have a talent that can save someone’s life? Which sport enables you to help others? It is swimming. It is not just a sport activity but a life-saving skill and that is why I am so fond of it,” he says.

The disability is something which he doesn’t think about much now.

“It is a part of me and I have accepted it and even found a way where it doesn’t matter anymore. Yes of course I am at a disadvantage, but it doesn’t stop me from doing anything that I actually want to do,” he says.

Apart from the obvious difficulties, another challenge which Gayakwad faced was financial constraints. Arranging funds for the training, resources, etc. was something Gayakwad had to struggle with.

“I guess, this is the case with most para-athletes and not just me. There should be better facilities available,” he says.

A champion swimmer, Gayakwad is also an amazing coach and trains many students in swimming. An athlete or a coach, which part does he enjoy the most? “Coach!” he responds instantly.

“It gives an immense pleasure that I can pass on this skill to someone else. Of course I enjoy swimming too, but there is a different kind of satisfaction which comes with coaching,” he says.

We congratulate Gayakwad on his achievements. Indeed a charming personality, Gayakwad has inspired many people at such young age and we hope for a great performance from him at the next Paralympics.

Wipro's First Blind Marketing Manager

Meet the man who did not let disability come in his way and is now the Wipro's Marketing Manager

Ankit Jindal lost his eyesight when he was 13 and today he is a successful Marketing Manager at Wipro. From following an ambitious career path and dealing with competition to finding the love of his life, here an amazing story of success.

He was in school when a regular visit to an eye doctor broke this news to his family – that he had been suffering from Retinitis Pigmentosa, a disorder which causes progressive vision loss.

"When I was 13, most of the kids of my age would go out, play, and plan a bright future. But I had to deal with the harsh reality that I would soon be blind,” recalls Ankit Jindal.

By the time Jindal turned 20, he had lost his vision entirely, and was completely dependent on others for even basic tasks.

He started pursuing an MBA from the Faculty of Management Studies, Delhi and when no one found time to handhold him, he would get the notes converted into audio format.It was a college project that got Jindal the recognition that he truly deserved. He led a team which stood at second position at the Tata Business Leadership Awards.

Today he is working as Marketing Manager for Wipro Infotech and is apart of Global Infrastructure Services for three years now and this requires him to travel frequently, meet new people and plan strategies, which he enjoys to the core.

Helping the disabled
Jindal had the desire to do more and reach out to other people with disability to make their life easier. A meeting with an inclusion activist Vidhya Ramasubbam converted into an amazing initiative called Kickstart cabs. Along with Ramasubbam, Jindal launched these cab services in 2013 that catered to the needs of people with disability.

No story is complete without a happy ending in the personal life, and Jindal got that when he met his wife Kanika. A match fixed by Jindal’s parents soon transformed into love and today Kanika is his biggest strength and stands tall with her genius husband. “It was an arranged love,” laughs the couple.

The Future
An adventure enthusiast, Jindal never lets his visual impairment stop him from enjoying his thrills. From white-water rafting to cliff jumping, he has done it all. “I would like to do bungee jumping too,” he says. Content with what life has given him so far, Jindal wants to climb the success ladder even further and become CEO of a company some day.

Willing to continue his efforts in the inclusion sector, he has big plans in store which he promises to reveal only when they take proper shape. We indeed are waiting for this amazing man’s future endeavours and wish him good luck.