Here’s a list of 26 big achievements of India which has held every Indian’s head high with pride.
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26 Biggest achievements of India till 26.1.22
Category Archives: Inspiring People
This 17 years old environmentalist also known as “Green Machine” is “leaving her mark (not footprints)” on this earth by her splendid actions.
“We reap, what we sow” is an old proverb and the credit goes to the parents of a daughter, who is making India proud while staying abroad by leaving her marks (not footprints) on this earth through her passionate green actions.
This is an inspiring story of a 17 years old girl, Arushi Madan who has became a saviour of the environment at such a young age and is making a huge difference from her actions for more than 6 years.
She has made India proud by winning many laurels at national and international levels. Due to her passion for the environment she had been given the title of “Green Machine.” Many leading newspapers and magazines in UAE have featured her story calling her as ‘Green Machine’, ‘Inspirational Teen’, ‘Green Star of UAE’, ‘Green Champ’ etc.
She inspire others by organizing:
- positive environmental campaigns,
- awareness sessions,
- workshops,
- organizing environmental activities and sharing environmental values and achievements through print and social media.
“I am on a mission to inspire and empower more eco-warriors to get into action and lead us into greener future,” says Arushi. She campaigns at malls, supermarkets, labor camp, factories, Toastmasters club meetings etc.
She convey her message with a significant positive impact through the use of:
• Multimedia presentation (video, a short movie, advertisement).
• Awareness campaigns.
• Social media (Facebook, twitter, and Instagram).
• Volunteer work.
She plant trees, make tables from recycled tires, visit schools for Green Talk(sessions), persuade factories to recycle packing material, give motivational presentations to educate women, laborers and children. By organizing many environment events and campaigns, she mobilize youth to work towards environmental protection. By involving them, she had taught them environmental values which they will never forget. “Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn” is what she believes in.
Resident of UAE since more than a decade, and currently undergoing Electronic and Electrical Engineering at University of Birmingham, UK, Arushi aspires to become an Electrical & Electronics Engineer to acquire skills, knowledge and expertise which she can utilize to work on energy projects & contribute to future CLEAN ENERGY WORLD.
Arushi told Discover Indians, “I aspire to play an important role in the future development of a sustainable world.” She further added “I want to study and explore various energy saving technologies and help build a better, smarter, greener and a high tech world.”
She told many instances to us,
Arushi told us that she involved so many people in the campaign “A Dose of Help” through which she collected more than 1000 medicines from 120 different types. These medicines were unused, not expired and would have been thrown to landfill spoiling the environment. She collected them and gave to Emirates Red Crescent (UAE) for the poor patients.
Believing in the saying “Man with words and no deeds is like a garden full of weeds”, she practice and preach. She work at the grassroots level to set an example for others to follow alike by her self -initiated projects “Waste segregation system “and “Energy Saving system” in her community.
She further told, “My “waste segregation system” set up in my building community is being widely used by all 66 families in my building community. It has contributed to proper segregation and management (recycling) of waste which has resulted in reduction of carbon emission and protection of environment. It also very well demonstrated to all the 66 families (in my building) that we need to make simple changes in our daily life style to be able to reduce & recycle waste and help protect environment.”
Through her Earth Hour campaign in India “Save Energy, Save Earth”, she had a positive impact where students learnt the true meaning of Earth hour, they learnt energy saving tips like “candle light dinner”, “LED lamps” etc. which they started practicing at home.
As President and mentor of the youth community group “Students for the Earth” and founder of “Ecoholics” and a supporter of “Save The Mother Earth” community, she involve members and their families in activities like Tree Plantation, Recycling, making best out of waste-which directly benefit the environment.
She visit schools and educate students about environment values like the 3 Rs (Reduce, Reuse & Recycle) with the help of videos, quizzing, Environmental Games and Green Talk sessions. She demonstrate the concept of recycling by her self-made coffee tables from discarded tyres. She also visits various factories and summer camps to educate people. She had linked up many companies having non-working inventory – to recycling agencies.
She organizes educational trips to green sites like “The Change Initiative”, “DEWA building”, “Agricultural Box” to educate people about sustainability. She also write articles on environmental issues/values like recycling, waste management, frugality, energy efficiency etc in various national newspapers to inspire people to be eco-conscious.
She is trying to impact all segments of society as everyone is a stakeholder in environment, she believes. Besides spreading environment awareness among youth, she had also done the same for laborers and women through environment awareness session exclusively for them.
She believes in the saying “If you educate a man, you educate an individual but if you educate a woman, you educate a generation”, that’s why she regularly hold sessions and workshops exclusively for women from different segments (separately for working women & housewives). She had been able to educate the women especially who had no idea about what is happening globally on the environment front and with her session and workshop, those ladies are now inculcating environmental values at their homes, among their families.
Wherever she gets opportunity, she address people and promote environmental values like on the eve of Indian festival where Hindu married ladies gather for a ritual, she addressed 50 women and shared with them simple tips to save energy and reduce waste. She also linked them with recycling companies and the women, subsequently, started segregating waste and giving for recycling.
She believes that trees are the lungs and lifelines for our Mother Earth and hence supports /organises “Tree Plantation” on various occasions. She has been planting trees on her birthdays, her parents’ anniversaries, significant days like Earth Day, Environment Day, International Youth Day etc. She visits primary schools, carry saplings with her and plant them with young kids to involve them in tree plantation and to lay their green foundation.
She is promoting the idea of ‘Birthday Plantation’. “While we have many days to celebrate like Environment day, Earth Day etc. besides these everyone has their own very special day, that is our birthdays,” she adds.
Trees are one of the most efficient ways to combat climate change and global warming. “It would be a big positive move towards environment protection if we all, as a responsible inhabitant of this planet, start planting birthday trees and help promote this idea till it becomes the most trending thing,” she emphasises.
“World population is reaching 7 billion. Imagine, if each of us plant a tree on our birthday alone, this world will be much greener and purer with 7 billion more trees in a year. Imagine if parents plant a tree when their new child is born, take his picture with the tree every year on his birthday. This way watch the tree growing with your child and build a green future,” she adds.
“Change has to begin from us so whoever is reading it, make it a practice to plant a tree from your next birthday onwards and spread the word around till all 7 billion people of this world have at least one tree each,” says Arushi.
Her campaigns and efforts have been positively impacting the environment and influencing others in the youths and wider community.
She says that she had motivated her schoolmates to reduce their environmental footprint and even presented the same in her school awareness sessions, spreading awareness about reducing food waste & it’s harmful impacts on environment.
She had initiated drives in the school to collect “no longer to be used” books and stationary items from the students so that they don’t add to landfill but rather they are used for the poor and needy children.
She had made beautiful serving tables using discarded tyres and is using those tables at her home and also use them to demonstrate how recycling can turn waste items into beautiful, useful and economical stuff saving money as well as environment.
She has taught small factories in Industrial area to fold the cartons and collect them to be given for recycling and also visited food courts, cafes and malls and inspired them to keep collecting recyclables.
She had been able to link many students/their families with environment management companies and recycling agencies thus helping them in disposing their un-wanted inventory in an environmentally friendly manner.
By giving an environment awareness session at a big factory in India, She promoted environmental values to 450 employees and they carried the green message back to their families as well.
There are endless examples of her activities/projects that have not only directly impacted the environment in a positive manner but also transformed people’s attitude towards environment.
She is serving as:
- the Regional Environment Ambassador to the Middle East (appointed by Tunza Eco Generation-venture between UNEP and Samsung Engineering),
- the President and mentor of youth community group ‘Students for the Earth’ (registered under Earth Charter International Youth groups),
- Country incharge of ‘Green Dream Earth’ and Environment Ambassador by Bee’ah.
She was invited to represent the UAE at Global Youth Eco Leadership Summit at Seoul, South Korea. She was the youngest speaker in the first ‘International Women’s Peak Performance Summit’, the guest speaker in SEAA ceremony on World Environment Day 2015 and the special honorary speaker for Brainobrain.
Her eco habits like ‘Birthday Plantation’ and ‘alternate day candle light dinner’ is inspiring so many. “I urge global youth to shed away hesitations and don’t wait for others to initiate, have a “Let me” approach rather than “Why me,” she advocates.
Apart from academics, involve yourself in social and voluntary activities to improve the lives of others, to give back to society and to make this world a better place. Be the change you wish to see in the world. For e.g. if you find a place dirty, please don’t say “the place is dirty”. Rather, clean it and say “It was dirty” show others by examples and that’s what she is demonstrating.
Youth has immense potential to bring about a revolutionizing change, let’s use “Youth Power” and bring a positive change to the environment and to the world. Let’s leave our mark (not our footprint).”
Her efforts had won her many laurels, on national and international levels, listed here:
International Awards and Recognitions
- Won the “International Diana Award” –one of the most prestigious global award with the certificate signed by the then British Prime Minister Mr. David Cameron.
- Was invited and felicitated at Indian Embassy, Abu Dhabi as well as British Council.
- Won International Young Eco Hero Award from US based “Action For Nature” in 2015 and was the only winner from UAE among 10 global winners.
- Honoured as High Achiever Youth by “Commonwealth Youth Council” and featured in “Commonwealth Young Achievers Book” published in 2015.
- Featured as inspirational “Hero” on “Kidsareheroes.org.”
- Member of “National Society of High School Scholars”, USA.
- Featured as inspirational teen on US based website inspiremykids.com.
- Won cash prize for achieving distinction and being the MIDDLE EAST TOPPER in TERI Green Olympiad Contest ( an exam on energy, environment and sustainable development) – accredited by Indian Ministry of Environment & conducted by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI).
- Won the “Best (Environment) Ambassador” & “The Most inspiring Ambassador”award from Tunza Eco Generation (an initiative by UNEP & Samsung Engineering ) among more than 60 global ambassadors.
- Was invited to represent UAE in Global Youth Eco Leadership Summit at Seoul, South Korea in Feb 2014.
- Selected by “Women for Wildlife” as one of the 35 Global Women Visionaries and heroines of today’s world who are passionately devoted to a cause.
- Was interviewed and featured as “Climate Change Activist” by African journalist and member of International Youth Council and featured at Sustainability X published on 5th Feb 2016.
- Recognised and appreciated as South Asian who is making a mark in UAE –by Viacom 18 (owners of leading Indian TV channels-Colors and Rishtey).
- Honoured and featured as “NRI Achiever” by NRI café.
National Awards and Recognitions
- Won the most prestigious & UNESCO recognised “Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum award for Distinguished Student” in 2013.
- Won “Sharjah Award for Educational Excellence” in 2015.
- TWICE Won Ist Prize- Outstanding student in Sharjah Environment Awareness Award (SEAA) in 2014 & 2016 on World Environment Day.
- Won 2nd Best Scholar in World Scholar’s Cup 2014.
- Won Bosch Green energy efficient washing machine as award in Nov 2013 for winning “Green Star UAE” title for my environmental contributions & achievements.
- Won “Dunia Young Leaders Scholar” award as one of the only 20 winners. As an award, she got the scholarship worth 1 year school tution fees.
- Won Big Idea Amazing Star 2015.
Reading all her achievements, can you believe she is just 17?
Yes, she is proving again the saying “age has no bar” and with her efforts making India proud. We wish her more power for her enduring and passionate work. We are sure she will leave her marks (not footprints) on this planet and we wish her good luck in her journey.
Brave 40 years old lady travels 17 kms. every day on her Scooter to save lives at Indo-Pak border.
Sarabjit Kaur, 40 years old is a passionate pharmacist in Naushera Dhalla village, Amritsar serving the nation in her unique way. She is a widow and a mother of three.
Completing her everyday chores she runs her dispensary with a 60 years old helper without failing treating 30 patients daily. After the Uri attacks the area is under the escalating pressure and fear. Still she is assisting and treating villagers who are sick or affected by the strikes.
“On Wednesday afternoon, we received an order from the district administration … our duty hours were extended from 6 to 10, so I come in at 8am and leave by 6pm. The weekly off has been cancelled and we were told to be prepared for night duty at camps where evacuated villagers have been put up,” she says.
The dispensary is hardly 200 mts away from the India-Pakistan frontier. The area is strictly under high-alert and often gets a lot of casualties suffering from bullet injuries.
“I have faced similar tension during the Kargil war. My family refused to vacate the house even though there was military all around,” she said.
We salute to her brave spirit to serve the nation.
Via: HindustanTimes
Age is just a number… Proven once again by this 93 years old incredible women.
V Nanammal :: This 93 years old woman is an incredible Yoga Instructor
Some people are the perfect example to go with the phrase that “Age is No Bar, Because its just a Number”. Not only do they inspire but also strengthen the motivational spirit of other people. Hats off to these people.
V Nanammal is a 93 years old woman who lives in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. The most unique thing about this woman is that even at this age she is as flexible as a person in his youth and in fact so much more that she is a Yoga Instructor.
She teaches yoga to around 100 students per day among which are of the ages like 70 and 60. Her youngest student is 6 years old. She calls her students as her own children.
She won a contest of “Silambattam” which a type of South Indian martial arts when she was 14 years old. She started practicing yoga since she was 10 years old.
She has not went to any doctor or taken any medicine till now which shows her love for YOGA.
Meet Sahla Nechiyil who demanded books as Mehr during her marriage where she can demand gold, jewellery or cash.
There is a tradition in muslim marriage known as “Mehr”, a compulsory payment by the groom to the bride at the time of marriage.
This Malayali muslim bride, Sahla Nechiyil went against the tradition to demand just 50 books where she had every right to demand gold, jewellery or cash as ‘Mehr,’ who hails from Kerala’s Malappuram district.
Sahla told Indian Express, ” I wanted to show the Malappuram Muslims that a wedding can take place without obsessing over the amount of gold transacted between both parties,” giving a hard hitting social message to the gold obsessed Muslim community in her region.
Sahla is a political science post graduate from Hyderabad university, who is now married to Anees Nadodi, who supported her decision. “Mehr is the right of the women, not the generosity of the man,” he added.
Sahla handed Anees the list of the books she wanted and her husband went hunting for them, travelling from Kerala to Bangalore, to fulfill his wife’s desires, despite disapproval from both the families.
“They could not argue for long, because we were not doing anything against the religious texts,” said Sahla. Her book list included Islamic feminist literature, feminist literature, fiction and politics.
“The religious texts allow us to live according to our wish, yet these girls fear to speak up or decide for themselves,” she said. “Ani (Anees) had to struggle a little looking for the books I demanded. Making your husband struggle a little is the idea of mehr, anyway,” she added.
This village is producing electricity in a mud pot with the Cow-dung and discarded battery cells. Here’s how?
You would have heard of Bio-gas plant, but here’s a totally different story.
This story is of village Poorejham Tiwari located on the Sultanpur road 5 kms. from Haidergarh town in Barabanki of Uttar Pradesh.
Brijesh Tripathi, a young farmer in village Poorejham, who is just intermediate passed out has invented this new way of producing electricity in a mud pot with cow-dung and discarded battery cells.
He takes cheap Chinese bulbs used in electric welts, and 3 discarded battery cells. He replaces the cover of those discarded cells and connects the positive and negative wires to it and then dip then in three mud pots filled with cow-dung paste and then he mixes a small quantity of salt and detergent powder to the paste and his process works well to generate electricity.
The village is deprived of electricity and only 2 liters of kerosene oil is distributed per family from the ration stores. In such conditions, the lives of the people of Poorejham village is miserable in the absence of any electricity. Few years ago only pillars for electricity have been installed in the village but no wires or electricity ever came to this village.
Brijesh says he read in the newspaper about the process and he thought of testing the same. When he experimented first the bulb lighted, then he checked it for radio and it worked and next he thought to charge the cellphone and the process worked.
Following Brijesh most of the villagers of Poorejham are producing electricity by his method and making their life easier. Now this formulae of Brijesh has became a hit in his village as well as in most of the nearby villages. Even the children in the village also know the formulae and are happy as they have electricity to carry on their studies.
Villagers are happy and surprised with the experiments that they get some electricity for their daily usage but they don’t know what chemical process goes behind to produce electricity in a mud pot filled with cow-dung and discarded battery cells. They hope when technical people will discover their experiment someday, they will create a better technology using their formulae.
We hope spreading their story can bring a change as well as electricity to their village.
Can you imagine what street children, rag-pickers and labor kids can do?
Delhi’s labor kids, street children and rag-pickers are doing a tremendous job. They are the reporters and publishers of their self – owned newspaper “Baalaknama.” Here’s the story:
“Where there is a will there is a way” or “Age is just the numbers” are all those proverbs which fit accurately to these kids. They have crossed the barriers of their age as well as the misconception what kids cannot accomplish.
It’s the story of these Delhi’s labor and rag-picker kids who are publishing and selling their own newspaper named “Baalaknama”. The story is totally a different and interesting one from what one can expect from any kid.
Chandni, chief editor of Balaknama, started this work when she was just 5. Chandni’s father died when she was quiet young, which made her responsible to feed her family and the circumstances led her to become a rag-picker. But, then she had her own dreams which led her to work this way.
The newspaper publishes the news about child abuse, child crime and child labor. The reporting network is spread across Delhi, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. They have a team of 2 reporters in every area who collect news from their designated areas. Most of the team members are rag-pickers or labors.
The main area of concern is that till now more than 10000 kids have been joined the team as reporters. Those who cannot write narrate their news orally. Those who are 18 years and above are appointed as advisors in the newspaper.
An NGO named Chetna is also helping these kids in accomplishing their mission. At times these kids distribute free copies of their newspaper too so that their news can reach people at large.
The price for the newspaper is set for ₹ 2/- only, which is much cheaper than any other newspaper. These kids are engaged in their initiative towards creativity and journalism which will provide them a healthier life safe from robbery, begging, rag-picking and other child crimes.
Also read a similar story of 9 years old Hilde Lysiak, a self made reporter and a publisher of Orange Street News in Pennsylvania .
Above story also reminds me of 10-Years-Old Ishita Katyal who says, “Instead of asking children what they want to do in future, ask them what they want to do now. Ask them their vision for a better world. Ask them what they are doing to change this world. Ask them the real life problems they are solving. This will allow you all to empower a new generation to go faster than any generation ever has.”
“We can do a lot in this moment, in the present. The problem is our world has many forces working against the dreams of children.” says Ishita Katyal, the youngest Indian Ted-X Speaker.
All these kids are a big source of inspiration to others and we wish them good-luck in all their future endeavors.
“Age is just a number” proved by these ladies who are inspiring millions from their work.
These daredevils in their real life are a source of inspiration for millions. People say their body stops supporting for adventurous activities after the age 40, but here are these girls who are proving the proverb “Age is just a number” right.
Few of them can do mountain climbing at age of 100, and few can do ice skating at age 80. These young girls from heart are inspiring millions to follow them in their adventurous journey.
Shirley Webb is 78 years old and she can deadlift 225 pounds at this age.
Tao Porchon Lynch at age 96 has wowed the judges of America Got Talent, 2015 from her dancing talent and was on the major media. Huffington Post a media major described her as “Fireball”.
Jacqueline Murdock likes modeling at age 82 as well. She was in the news when she caught the eye of Lanvin designer Alber Elbaz, who hired her to model in his fall ad campaign.
Doris Long nicknamed “Daring Doris brook her own world record to become the oldest abseiler at the age of 101. She started at 85 and dreams to break her own record at her age 102 once again next year.
Yvonne Dowlen was a Ice Skater. She loved to skate at age 87 also and was running her Ice Skating School. Unfortunately she died at the age 90. Her school can be reached here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?…4.117409556698
Harriette Thompson of Charlotte, North Carolina, a 92-year-old cancer survivor entered the record books by becoming the oldest woman to finish a marathon in San Diego in 7hr 24min 36sec. She astonished the youngsters across the world.
Hatts Off to their spirit.
Meet this engineer who cleared 37 Kgs of sharp nails in 2 Years off the Bengaluru Roads so that you don’t get a flat tyre.
Following Mahatma Gandhi’s words “Be the change you wish to see in the world,” he did so and for all of us who travel on the roads in Bengaluru. He is an engineer named Benedict Jebakumar, a 44 years old systems engineer working at Intuit Technology Services.
He is combing the roads for nails since July 2014. He combed a record of 1654 nails off the road in a single day. Sometimes his bag gets filled and he has to return without collecting more nails. Till date, he has collected about 37 kgs of nails.
facebook.com/MyRoadMyResponsibility
He said “The main objective is to spread awareness among people. I will not stop till the authorities sit up and take notice”
It all started as he came to Bengaluru in 2012, he used to take the Outer Ring Road (ORR) to travel from his home in Banashankari to his office in Bellandur. His two-wheeler often got punctured on the ORR near Silk Board. Initially he thought of his bike’s tyre quality, but lately he realized that the same is caused due to the nails and most times they are alike and were found close to places near puncture shops.
Initially he started to collect the nails bare hands, but now he uses a foldable magnetic stick. He leaves his home early 7 in the morning, stops at the specific spots and clear up the area. And he repeats the same on his way back home.
He started a Facebook page named `My Road, My Responsibility’ in October 2014, where he documents his daily findings along with a photograph of the nails on weighing scales.
He explained that the authorities were either lethargic or that the problem was not big enough for them to pay attention.”It causes a lot of inconvenience to commuters. They might fall down from the vehicle or even get into accidents,” he pointed out.”Two arrests have been made in the past but miscreants were released within three months and the nails were back on the road.”
He noted that in the absence of CCTV cameras or official validation for puncture shops, it becomes tough to pin people down.
Jebakumar hopes that someday , authorities will find a permanent solution to this menace.”Till then, I will continue as I am helping many people,” he said.
9 years old Hilde Lysiak is a self made reporter and a publisher of Orange Street News
Yes, I’m a nine-year-old girl. But I’m still a serious reporter says Hilde Kate Lysiak
This 9 Years old Pennsylvania girl, daughter of a New York Daily News reporter, Hilde Kate Lysiak is a self made reporter, editor and a publisher of Orange Street News started in 2014. She publishes her own Newspaper from her website and has published more than 100 stories at her website.
“Hilde Lysiak is persistent, confident, a little spunky and not afraid to knock on your door to get the story.” says NBC NEWS, Sept 27, 2015
Whenever she gets information about any news or crime, she reaches to the spot cycling on her bicycle, with her pen, diary and camera ready to shoot and tries to show the real facts behind the incident.
“I didn’t start publishing Pennsylvania’s Orange Street News so that people would think I’m cute. I want to get the truth to people, even if it makes grownups mad” says Hilde.
The Orange Street News devoted to the Selinsgrove area claims to be the only newspaper for the area and showcases the truth about the story before other local media. Hilde has shown that there is no age to find your passion and go for it. Her determination has made her successful and today she is featured in most of the high profile media houses.
Orange Street News Publisher Hilde Kate Lysiak has appeared on NBC TODAY SHOW, The New York Times, TIME MAGAZINE, The New York Daily News, Columbia Journalism Review,Politico, and hundreds of national and international media outlets.
See her story here:
This is what the major media houses have to say about Hilde:
“Watch out Mort Zuckerman! There’s an 8-year-old Pennsylvania girl who’s poised to become the news and media mogul of the next generation.” — New York Times, Sept 15, 2015
“The nation’s most ambitious newspaper publisher rides around her tiny Pennsylvania town in a bright pink bike and plays with Barbie in her spare time.”—New York Daily News, Sept 12, 2015
“A lesson from an eight-year-old girl who proves your never too young to find your passion…I’m in love with this girl. She’s a winner.” — NBC TODAY SHOW, Sept 27, 2015
“I don’t think people should be able to decide for me who I should be and what I should be doing. I never began my newspaper so that people would think I was cute. I started the Orange Street News to give people the information they need to know,” says Hilde.
She further adds, “if adults don’t think we can do something, then it is hard for us to believe that we can. And then how will we have great things in this world? Kids should know that if they work hard, they can do amazing things. Kids can do exceptional things and still be kids!”
In first week of April 2016 she came to popularity after reporting about a murder in the locality and when criticised, she replied to critics in the following words :
Those of you who think I need to mind my place, I’ll make you a deal. You get off your computer and do something to stop all the crime going on in my town and I’ll stop reporting on it. Until then, I’m going to keep doing my job.
Read her full story here.
The world requires such heroes with passion and dedication for their work who can bring real changes in the society’s thinking and make something challenging for the betterment of this world. These young minds have enormous capability for creativity, innovation and new thinking in their own new way.
We wish Hilde goodluck and success in her efforts.
Discover Indians 