Global Indianstory Global Indian ExclusiveMission Kashmir: Teen kickboxer Tajamul Islam brings the winds of positivity to the valley

Mission Kashmir: Teen kickboxer Tajamul Islam brings the winds of positivity to the valley

Written by: Vikram Sharma

(February 19, 2022) If ever under attack, Tajamul Islam can defend herself confidently. The 14-year-old gold-winning kickboxer lands powerful punches, delivers deadly kicks, and knee strikes to take down adversaries. With nerves of steel, her long and short range striking techniques, replete with offensive and defensive movements, stun onlookers. The Kashmiri teen kickboxer’s combat skills are incredible. In short, Tajamul is a born fighter.

People used to tell me that girls have to get married, their only place is in the kitchen and not in sports like kickboxing. I felt they were (being) stupid.

– Tajamul Islam

Kickboxing her way into winning tournament after tournament, Tajamul made India proud after winning the Under-14 World Kickboxing Championship in Cairo in 2021. This was the second time she’d won a gold. “I am now training hard to win gold at the Olympics. I am just 14 now, and will be participating in world championships for the next few years,” smiles Tajamul, speaking exclusively to Global Indian. Children from all over Kashmir have taken to kickboxing because of her.

Teen Kickboxer | Tajamul Islam | Global Indian Sportstar

Tajamul after her win in Egypt

The first Kashmiri girl kickboxer

As the first Kashmiri girl to have represented India and won a gold in 2021, she competed with players from 90 countries. She played four bouts then — two against players from the host country, while her third and fourth were with opponents from France and Argentina, respectively. “My rival was quick in her moves, but I kept my cool, and that led me to victory,” informs the two-time gold medallist, who wore the national flag on her shoulders after winning the championship in Egypt. It was a proud moment for India. As many as 30 players from India participated in various age/weight categories in the mega event.

Born in Tarkpora, a remote village in North Kashmir’s Bandipora district in December 2008, Tajamul was just five when she took a shine to kickboxing. Her first introduction to the sport was when a kickboxing match was organised at school. Thereafter, she watched a few matches on TV, this propelled her interest. One day, while walking back home, she spotted a few youngsters practicing boxing at a local academy and that was the beginning of her kickboxing tryst. “I was instantly drawn to the sport. Like all other sports personalities, I too dreamt of appearing on TV one day. Eventually, I did,” giggles the cartoon-loving teen kickboxer.

Initially, her father Ghulam Mohammed Lone did not give in to his daughter’s kickboxing plea as she was just five. “I pleaded, and even asked my mother to convince him. Finally, he gave me the go-ahead,” recounts the recipient of the Young Achievers Award, 2021. The third of five siblings, her father is a businessman.

Staying on course, despite ridicule

Being a girl, and trying kickboxing was tough. A highly conservative society meant many played spoilsport. Yet Tajamul dedicatedly followed her heart into kickboxing at Ali Sports Academy in Bandipora, under Faisal Ali Dar, a Kashmiri martial arts coach. “People used to tell me that girls have to get married, their only place is in the kitchen and not in sports like kickboxing,” recounts the eighth grader from Army Goodwill School in Bandipora. “I felt they were (being) stupid,” quips the champ. A firm believer in the girls-can-do-better-than-boys mantra, she threw all negativity to the winds. Today, she has silenced her critics aptly.

Tajamul with Major General Sanjiv Singh

Grit and hard work saw the teen kickboxer bag her first gold at a state level kickboxing championship (sub-junior category) in Jammu (2015). The same year, she won another gold in the national kickboxing championship (sub-junior category) in New Delhi. In 2016, she won gold at the World Kickboxing championship in Italy. “I have worked hard to reach where I am today. I am flooded with requests from parents, including those who used to ridicule me, to train their daughters,” smiles the teenager, who is also the brand ambassador of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao — a Government of India campaign.

Giving the valley hope

Growing up in the picturesque Kashmir valley, Tajamul’s entire focus is on kickboxing. The valley, which often witnesses violent protests, terror attacks, and border skirmishes, has not dampened her dreams. “If I ever come under attack, I can fight and take down at least five people,” laughs the champ. She credits her coaches Faisal Ali, a Padma Shri awardee and VS Rawat, a kickboxing coach of the Indian team, for training her, and aiding her victories.

When practice makes perfect

A stickler for routine, this teen kickboxer’s practice begins at 5 am. Two hours later, its school, and then by evening, she is ready for another couple of hours of practice. She also finds time to coach and mentor budding kickboxers at the academy.

“Many girls ask me how I manage the tough routine. I just tell them to focus on the game, put in the hard work and set goals,” advises the teenager.

The kickboxing sensation from Kashmir is undoubtedly an inspiration for many girls in the valley. Having launched Haider Sports Academy along with her father in 2019, hundreds of children aspire to become Tajamul Islam. “They saw what I could achieve, now parents want their children to make a career in sports,” she says proudly.

She laments that Bandipora does not have an indoor stadium, saying, “Kashmir can produce great sportspersons as there is great talent here but the government has to provide facilities.” Tajamul was also congratulated by Lieutenant-Governor Manoj Sinha, J&K, on her win last year. Adding sports infrastructure will help Kashmiris be physically and mentally fit, thus overcoming the negativities plaguing the valley, including drug addiction, she believes.

Break bones, and heal them too

Kickboxing apart, she wants to eventually become an orthopaedic surgeon. “I will continue kickboxing but also work towards becoming a doctor. I want to ensure that when I break my opponents’ bones, I can heal them as well,” she giggles. A huge fan of boxers Mary Kom and Lovlina Borgohain, she loves reading, music, and travelling. “I want to represent India and win a gold in the Olympics,” says the kickboxing sensation, who strengthens her core with a balance of proteins, carbohydrates, and vitamins.

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Published on 19, Feb 2022

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Anoushka Jolly: Youngest entrepreneur on Shark Tank India to win seed fund

(July 31, 2022) The first season of Shark Tank India, a franchise of the American business reality show wrapped up in February this year. It received entries from 62,000 entrepreneurs from across the country, out of which 198 businesses were selected to pitch their ideas to the sharks – investors ready to chip in seed funding. Out of this, only 67 entrepreneurs got successful in raising funds. Delhi girl, Anoushka Jolly was one of them. With a pre-revenue valuation of ₹50 lakh and five lakh funding for her anti-bullying app Kavach (‘shield’ in Hindi) the 13-year-old became the youngest entrepreneur to win funding for her idea on the business reality show. [caption id="attachment_20120" align="aligncenter" width="639"] Anoushka Jolly, founder of Anti Bullying Squad[/caption] “I have been able to educate and impact several thousand school kids and their parents through my anti-bullying initiatives. I have even managed tie ups with one of the largest NGO of India – Bhumi, as well as a Nigerian NGO to eradicate bullying from children’s lives,” says Anoushka in a conversation with Global Indian. How a victim of bullying turned into a changemaker “I was bullied for a year when I was in grade three,” says Anoushka elaborating on what led her

" /> Anoushka Jolly, founder of Anti Bullying Squad[/caption]

“I have been able to educate and impact several thousand school kids and their parents through my anti-bullying initiatives. I have even managed tie ups with one of the largest NGO of India – Bhumi, as well as a Nigerian NGO to eradicate bullying from children’s lives,” says Anoushka in a conversation with Global Indian.

How a victim of bullying turned into a changemaker

“I was bullied for a year when I was in grade three,” says Anoushka elaborating on what led her to work on the cause of anti-bullying. “Two classmates were emotionally blackmailing me and making me feel that I wasn’t capable enough. It affected my self-esteem. I found myself doing things like apologising when it was not required. I used to be upset all the time and formed a habit of looking down upon myself until I gathered courage to talk about it,” she recalls. However, what she describes as the lowest phase in her life, was also “turning point,” one that helped her “identify the purpose of life – to stop bullying and help kids be happier.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ypxq2C4JuY&t=4s

By the time Anoushka reached class six in 2018, she launched her startup, Anti Bullying Squad (ABS), and started conducting seminars and online sessions across the country to make people realise how severe the impact of bullying can get, starting from her own school. Educational institutions, social organisations and experts have all been with her in her endeavour realising there was huge gap in knowledge on this aspect. Her mental health startup has so far been able to reach several thousand students, parents and teachers from 50+ schools.

Kavach – the shield against bullying

The teen social entrepreneur soon realised that seminars and sessions would solve one aspect of the problem but wouldn’t tackle it in its entirety. A real impact, she found, could only be made when incidents are reported. “Bullying continues unabated because there is hardly any intervention in schools. Authorities tend to be largely unaware of the extent of the problem. Students don’t want to report because they don’t want to be known,” remarks Anoushka.

[caption id="attachment_20127" align="aligncenter" width="691"] Putting on a smile and not disclosing bullying will not help[/caption]

Kavach, therefore, is the answer to her idea of a mechanism which enables students and their parents to report bullying incidents anonymously. “Schools can now tactfully intervene and take action,” she believes.

She also runs a one-hour programme which is available on ABS website and YouTube comprising of 10 videos and MCQs to help children and their parents get sensitized about the issue.

Shark Tank India experience

Shark Tank experience is not the only winning moment that has come the youngster’s way. When she was nine, she was part of the Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA), a US franchise that teaches entrepreneurship skills to under-18s. Anoushka had managed third place in the investor panel for pitching ABS. “Most of the students were in their teens, I was only nine at that time and the youngest of all,” she remarks. “The winning amount was about twenty to thirty thousand but it boosted my confidence immensely.” Happy that she could raise funds on her own, without even having to ask her parents, Anoushka had invested the amount in setting up ABS. It brought her recognition among the 'Top 21 for 2021' Innovative Tech-Based Women-Led Startups by ITC & Shecapital.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzsGg23PLI8

Her share of limelight on television has not been limited to Shark Tank. The social entrepreneur was also recognised as a Network18 Young Genius in a reality TV show organised by Network 18. She had received an invitation from the Ministry of Culture on behalf of The Government of India to be a part of the song ‘Mauka Hai’ amongst the 40 youth icons like PV Sindhu, Hima Das and Mira Bai Chanu as part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations.

Bullies are not villains

A lot of kids have reached out to her and shared their stories. “They just wanted a person to listen, and were waiting for someone to talk about it. By finding a listener, fifty percent of the problem vanishes,” she tells. Anoushka is happy about the fact that she has been that listener to so many kids. When people share their stories, it keeps me motivated to work even harder for millions of students who are suffering from the problem,” she says.

[caption id="attachment_20126" align="aligncenter" width="593"] Anoushka shared one of her supporter, Nysha's art work on her social media handle that emphasised on ABS perspective[/caption]

However, Anoushka does not believe that bullies are always villains. “No one is born a bully, they are usually led into it in one way or another. We need to be open to hear their side of the story, be empathetic and forgiving because sometimes peer pressure also leads them to bully. However, the good thing is that we can always lead them back to being good,” she mentions.

Journey ahead…

The daughter of an entrepreneur father, and chartered accountant mother, Anoushka is currently working in the metaverse/gamification space with a focus on mental health. “As a society we do not acknowledge mental health issues of teenagers and since youngsters love immersive experiences, I am combining technology with mental health for a cause,” informs the teenager who loves psychology, biology and Spanish.

She feels she has found her purpose in life and would like to continue the work she is doing but scale up in time. “I want to be very well educated and be a life-long learner.”

Follow Anoushka Jolly on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Follow Anti Bullying squad on its website

Reading Time: 5 mins

Tarush Ramdas, the youngest Aikido black belt in India

(December 24, 2021) His calm mind is a weapon, his patience a strength. At 16, Tarush Ramdas has learnt the art of defeating inner battles while remaining centered with Aikido, a Japanese martial art. What began at age eight, made Tarush the youngest Aikido black belt in India, a feat he achieved recently at an internationally supervised grading event held in Chennai. "Aikido is all about avoiding conflict, and I have practiced all the forms and techniques till they were engraved in my mind. Becoming the youngest black belt in India is the culmination of eight years of hard work and dedication," smiles Tarush, speaking exclusively to Global Indian. Aikido helps Tarush counter any attack and neutralise his attacker without brute force. Attacking is not his style, defending himself from an attack is what he is trained to do. For the teenager, Aikido -- inspired by harmony and intelligent exploitation of human body movements -- is a way of life. Born in Chicago in the US in January 2005, his parents -- Gautam Ramdas and Sharon Suares -- moved back to India when Tarush was just three. Ever since, the family has lived in Chennai. "As a child, I was

India when Tarush was just three. Ever since, the family has lived in Chennai. "As a child, I was energetic and my parents thought I could channelise that into a martial art. It also helped that my dad was a student of Aikido," informs Tarush, an 11th grade student of KC High International School. While his father is the vice-president of the US-based NTIC, his mother is presently the treasurer for the Tamil Nadu Gymnastics Association.

[caption id="attachment_8796" align="aligncenter" width="524"] Tarush Ramdas[/caption]

The art of attack

As a child, one of Tarush's biggest pleasures was reading. "Even now, I love reading books. The more books I get to read, the better," says Tarush, who loves dabbling in robotics and debating too. But it is his training that improves his concentration, self-confidence and makes him calmer. "I go to the dojo (Japanese term for a place where someone practices for purposes of mastery) to train around four to five hours a week. Besides, I exercise thrice a week and do a bit of robotics and art," informs the young Aikido champ. He also has a specific meal plan which includes vegetables and protein which ensures he eats healthy. Junk food is a strict no-no.

The youngster says that the basic principles of the Japanese martial art are not difficult to learn. "It is the mental aspect that is much harder to master. Patience is the key in Aikido, as well as remaining calm in a fight and not getting flustered. This martial art is more non-violent where we do not strike first, and instead use the attacker's energy against them," he explains, adding that whether one is tall, short, young or old, anyone can practice Aikido and take down larger and physically stronger opponents.

Aikido, which translates as "the way of harmonising energy", was used by the ancient Samurai on the battlefield (when they lost their weapons) to take down enemies who were covered in armour. At its deepest level, Aikido is known to be the spiritual path of self-transformation and a non-violent journey. The martial art, which is a comprehensive system of throwing, joint-locking, striking and pinning techniques, is taught to the special armed forces and police across the world.

[caption id="attachment_8797" align="aligncenter" width="677"] Tarush Ramdas with his Aikido teachers[/caption]

"Unlike martial arts like Kungfu and Taekwondo, there are no punches and kicks in Aikido. In this form of martial art, we do not learn how to properly attack people because that goes against its very principles. Instead, we learn only how to defend ourselves," says Tarush, who as an eight-year-old was doing competitive gymnastics, which enabled him to do all the rolls and falls (in Aikido) easily and swiftly. His 15-year-old sister Ameya is also a national level gymnast.

How he mastered the art

An injury while doing gymnastics forced Tarush to explore Aikido. "My parents were incredibly supportive of my choice. Learning to defend oneself is a useful skill. In fact, my sister and cousins also practice Aikido and are on their way to becoming black belts," informs Tarush, who participated in the 2020 Aikido World Summit held in Varanasi.

Tarush also enjoys playing golf and tennis, besides running and exercising. "I started Aikido to learn how to defend myself. It has also taught me mental toughness and helped me get fitter. As you progress in Aikido, you have to perform falls and throws which requires core strength and endurance without which advancing is quite hard," he explains. Importantly, it taught him how to remain calm during a fight.

While there are not many Aikido champs around, Tarush has set goals for himself. "I plan to continue Aikido for a long while and advance in the ranks of black belts from 1st Dan (rank) all the way to the 10th Dan, the highest rank in Aikido which takes decades to achieve," says Tarush, who is currently reading the book Prisoners of Geography by Tim Marshall.

There are several different styles of Aikido that have branched from the original martial art and Tarush follows Aikikai, the original style that is headed by the grandson of the founder of Aikido in Japan. What makes Tarush stand out against his competitors is the fact that he is good at rolls. "I have good stamina which is necessary to continually keep rolling. The fact that Aikido can help me take down much larger opponents is really cool as I have never been a strong kid," smiles Tarush, who is passionate about the environment and had even started the first environmental group at his school.

[caption id="attachment_8798" align="aligncenter" width="519"] Tarush Ramdas[/caption]

Besides Tarush, there were 100 students learning Aikido in the Chennai dojo but membership dropped due to Covid-19 as practicing a contact martial art was not viable.

Does Aikido have good training centres in India? "There are some good Aikido dojos in India. In Chennai, there is the biggest Aikido dojo of south India. There are also dojos in Mumbai and Delhi as well," adds Tarush, who hopes to take up some work related to the environment and protecting the Earth.

Looking back at his journey, Tarush says sticking to Aikido taught him not just how to defend but also patience, dedication and empathy. "Be patient, put in the hard work and have fun because at the end of the day, you must enjoy what you do if you hope to succeed," signs off the Aikido champ, who is a big admirer of Dr Shashi Tharoor, Congress party MP, who speaks eloquently on national and international issues.

Reading Time: 6 min

Anil Kumar Reddy, Sandeep Sharma and Sarang Bobade: Revolutionising the mode of giving through Donatekart

(April 6, 2024) While volunteering during the relief efforts for the 2015 Chennai floods, Anil Kumar Reddy found out that although many people donate goods, their contributions don’t really align with the actual necessities on the ground. It sparked the inception of Donatekart, a platform where donors don't simply give away anything or donate money in the traditional sense, but instead shop for specific items requested by nonprofits, as per the actual requirements of the ground. At the time, Anil was pursuing engineering at the Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology in Nagpur. He made the bold decision to forego a campus job offer from a grocery-tech startup to pursue his social entrepreneurship journey with his venture Donatekart. His friends Sandeep Sharma and Sarang Bobade joined the initiative with a shared purpose, and together, the trio achieved great milestones while positively impacting lives. [caption id="attachment_37036" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Anil Kumar Reddy, founder, Donatekart[/caption] Founded in August 2016, the social enterprise secured ₹25.5 million in seed funding from a consortium of investors led by LetsVenture in its third year. In 2022, Anil, Sandeep, and Sarang were featured in the Forbes 30Under30 list in the social entrepreneurship category. The social enterprise has begun expanding

ocial enterprise secured ₹25.5 million in seed funding from a consortium of investors led by LetsVenture in its third year. In 2022, Anil, Sandeep, and Sarang were featured in the Forbes 30Under30 list in the social entrepreneurship category. The social enterprise has begun expanding internationally with a campaign for the Turkey earthquake in 2023 that killed more than 40,000 people.

The Donatekart model

Donatekart's business model revolves around facilitating donations of supplies that meet the specific needs of beneficiaries. The social enterprise assists nonprofits in launching crowd-sourcing campaigns and outlining the precise products they require, ranging from grocery kits to medical supplies, construction materials, stationery, and educational digital devices.

“When we saw the problem while volunteering for the Chennai floods as students, we realised that no one else has built any solution around the problem. As budding engineers, we felt our idea was good enough to start off as we would be the first people to work in this space.” remarked Anil in an interview with Forbes.

Donors can choose from any products listed on the campaign page while donating to their favourite cause. The donors add their supplies to their online shopping cart the way they do in their other shopping sprees.

[caption id="attachment_37037" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Sandeep Sharma, CMO and Cofounder, Donatekart[/caption]

Donatekart procures the products, delivers them straight to the NGOs without any monetary transactions with them, and furnishes reports to donors detailing the utilization of funds.

Given that these items are typically acquired in large quantities, the enterprise garners an average commission of 10-15 percent per transaction, constituting its primary revenue stream. Additionally, donors have the option to contribute to six percent of their donation value to the platform.

“If you look at the percentage of the population giving to charities in India, it's less than 30 percent but if you look at developed countries like the US and the UK, it's over 70 percent. So, we believe that with our transparent product donation model we can bring in every individual to contribute at least two percent of their annual income to various charitable causes.” Sandeep remarked.

Milestones and expansions

2019 was an eventful year for the social entrepreneurs. Apart from earning Rs 25.5 million in seed funding from a consortium of investors like Shanti Mohan, founder of LetsVenture and former cricketer Yuvraj Singh, the team was invited by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

In 2021, the social entrepreneurs were thrilled to surpass the one billion mark by successfully raising over $1 billion worth of products with support from five lakh donors. Amid the second wave of Covid that same year, they raised $300 million worth of medical products."

[caption id="attachment_37038" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Sarang Bopade, CEO and Cofounder, Donatekart[/caption]

Last year, the social entrepreneurs extended their efforts beyond India to provide rapid disaster response for the Turkey earthquake, which impacted thousands of lives.

“We aim to be a market leader in retail giving across sectors and causes,” remarked Sandeep.

So far, Anil, Sandeep, and Sarang have successfully raised over ₹200 crore impacting more than 1400 NGOs through over 5000 campaigns and counting.

More than 50 brands and companies have partnered with Donatekart on their philanthropic and CSR journey. Additionally, several celebrities have come forward to lend a helping hand and start fundraisers on Donatekart.

The trio

Coincidentally, all three - Anil, Sarang, and Sandeep are currently 28 years old. Apart from Donatekart, Anil Kumar Reddy and Sandeep Sharma are also co-founders of Devaseva. The startup organises authentic pujas online based on the Vedic calendar on auspicious days throughout the year, providing devotees an opportunity to participate in sacred rituals from their homes if they find organising a puja for every occasion challenging.

While Anil and Sandeep were batchmates at Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology in Nagpur, Sarang Bopade pursued his bachelor’s at the Institute of Chemical Technology in Mumbai. They received the Nasscom Social Innovation award in 2018.

[caption id="attachment_37039" align="aligncenter" width="506"] Anil Kumar Reddy, Sandeep Sharma, and Sarang Bobade | Photo Credit: Forbes[/caption]

Looking at future with hope

The social entrepreneurs view Donatekart's growth as a reflection of the increasing trend in online crowdfunding.

“If you look 10 years back, people did not know what crowdfunding or crowdsourcing was.” Anil remarked. “A lot has changed in the last 10 years mostly because of the mobile penetration and the financial inclusion that has happened. Today more than 350 million people do online transactions on a daily basis. On Donatekart we have one million people who have donated to one or the other cause. Our goal is to reach 50 million donors in the next five or 10 years down the line,” he added, looking at the future with hope.

Follow Anil Kumar Reddy, Sandeep Sharma, and Sarang Bobade on LinkedIn
To know more about Donatekart visit its website

Reading Time: 5 mins

Trash to Triumph: Vivek Gurav’s global impact with Pune Ploggers

(November 15, 2023) Imagine being dubbed a ‘Kachra Wala’ while striving to keep your city's river banks clean. This was something that software developer and environmentalist Vivek Gurav faced. With a deep passion for environmental cleanliness, he weathered the initial backlash and founded Pune Ploggers. His community of volunteers engages in ecological rehabilitation through clean-up drives and plogging (combining jogging with picking up litter), and adopting rivers like Mula-Mutha, Indrayani, and Pawana in Pune for rejuvenation. What began as a modest initiative in Pune has blossomed into a movement spanning 32 cities across India with more than 10,000 volunteers, and has also expanded to the United Kingdom, impressing the prime minister of UK, earning the ‘Points of Light’ award and wide recognition in UK’s media. [caption id="attachment_34111" align="aligncenter" width="533"] Vivek Gurav[/caption] Pune Ploggers in the UK After completing his bachelors in computer science engineering in Pune, Vivek went on to pursue a master's in environmental policy and management at the University of Bristol in the UK. Undeterred by cold weather and snowfall, he extended his community-benefit efforts in the United Kingdom as well, and gradually got successful in establishing plogging communities in several cities of the UK with thousands of

anagement at the University of Bristol in the UK. Undeterred by cold weather and snowfall, he extended his community-benefit efforts in the United Kingdom as well, and gradually got successful in establishing plogging communities in several cities of the UK with thousands of volunteers.

Vivek's initiatives earned him the Point of Light award from the UK PM, leading to an invitation to 10 Downing Street. He met PM Rishi Sunak who showed immense interest in the youngster’s plogging initiatives. Reflecting on this journey, Vivek remarked in a speech “What made this small campaign transform into a global voice was the intention to make an impact. My purpose didn’t allow me to sleep, and keep my dreams confined to one location. I wanted to expand and reach out to as many youngsters as possible and build a community that would thrive on the simple idea of change making.”

The life changing journey

In 2014, Vivek moved to Pune from a small village of Maharashtra with aspirations to attain something big in life, oblivious of the milestones he would soon achieve in the sphere of community development. “As a village boy the first thing that caught my attention in the big city was the poor condition of Mula-Muttha river. It was filthy and looked like a drainage.” It stinked and the water was black due to the trash that flowed through the heart of the city. Vivek witnessed the same filthy condition of another river that flowed near his engineering college.

[caption id="attachment_34118" align="aligncenter" width="860"] Pune Ploggers Team[/caption]

“I come from a village where clean rivers flow. We can actually go and drink the clean river water. When I came to Pune I was disappointed to see that rivers of the city in such a polluted state,” said Vivek adding, “People from villages go to cities to study, to build their dreams but the problem in the cities is that people are not mindful enough about their natural resources.” This discovery compelled him start changing the scenario, one step at a time.

Initiating change

In his first year of college, he launched a cleaning drive along the littered river near his campus. To begin with he approached the local municipal council but encountered a blame game between residents and authorities regarding their responsibilities. Frustrated with finger-pointing on each other, he decided to take action on his own. Igniting his inner eco warrior, he started cleaning the river at five am daily, inviting friends to join. Over three months his efforts transformed the once filthy riverside into a clean and popular hangout spot for students. This became a powerful example of an individual initiative and team effort bringing about positive change.

The birth of Pune Ploggers

In 2019, after graduating, Vivek finally transitioned from recognising a problem, working for community around him to launching a city-wide movement—Pune Ploggers. Combining jogging and picking up plastic, a concept originating from Sweden in 2016, the campaign aimed to make a positive impact for the residents of Pune. Volunteers would pick up trash during their morning walk or jog, engaging in a dual purpose - personal fitness and environmental clean-up. “Since our inception in October 2019, Pune Ploggers has evolved into a global community with over 10,000 active participants, spanning four years of dedicated efforts,” Vivek shared.

[caption id="attachment_34119" align="aligncenter" width="685"] Vivek's plogging efforts in the UK[/caption]

Movement to the UK – dream come true

Vivek got so steeped into the cause of tackling climate change by managing garbage that he wanted to gain expertise as a climate scientist and environmental policymaker that he thought was crucial for his non-profit’s growing environmental initiatives.

With no funds and limited financial backing, securing a loan also proved difficult as the only asset that the family could project for guarantee against the loan repayment was a small farm land in the village.

As he had been trained as a software developer, his decision to study a master’s in climate science was also met with rejection from several universities, who said he had no prior academic exposure to the subject. However, the University of Bristol finally recognised his achievements beyond his engineering course and offered him a full scholarship. Vivek Gurav left his IT job and seized the opportunity. “Coming from a humble background with no financial support, securing full scholarship was a boon and strengthened my determination to mitigate the impact of garbage and trash on the climate,” he said.

[caption id="attachment_34114" align="aligncenter" width="663"] Vivek Gurav at BBC's studio, UK[/caption]

The cause in UK

When Vivek moved to Bristol for his studies in 2021, he went on to establish a plogger community there. “When thousands woke up early on weekends, gathering to pick up trash, their collective positive intentions became a powerful force for better environment,” the Global Indian said.

“Against all odds, I found myself in a foreign land, talking to climate scientists, conducting research, and expanding my knowledge. Last year, I undertook a remarkable journey, traveling to 30 cities in the UK in 30 days, facing challenges like snowfall. This journey expanded the plogging community with thousands of active ploggers in the UK.”

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A post shared by Plogman | Vivek Gurav (@theplogman)

Chalk of Shame

To reshape mind-sets, Vivek Gurav and Pune Ploggers team has introduced an innovative initiative called ‘Chalk of Shame’. “Using chalk, we circle cigarette butts and other such litter on the streets, and write sarcastic slogans to make people realise their shameful act,” he says. This creative tool became a nationwide phenomenon, garnering millions of views on social media. It not only tackled the litter problem but also fostered creativity and awareness. The Pune Ploggers community has further expanded its focus on solving problems and encouraging values like equality and diversity, allowing like-minded individuals to thrive in generating ideas and solutions that contribute to positive societal change.

Good intentions can bring change

What began as a small initiative in Pune expanded across 32 cities in India and several cities of the UK, with a significant presence in London. Vivek Gurav’s journey, from a small town to studying climate science, exploring UK as a climate activist, and establishing a global task force, stands as a testament to the power of intentions and the transformative impact of a small yet significant issue of litter management with the big goal of averting climate change.

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A post shared by Pune Ploggers (@puneploggers)

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From Rohtak to International cricket: Shafali Verma’s story sets the right inspiration for budding players

(July 13, 2022) She was quite young when she first stepped on a cricket pitch. Disguised as her brother, who was sick, Shafali Verma played at the under-12 national school championship and ended up winning the Player of the Match award. A first-class cricketer today, this Rohtak girl has carved a niche for herself in the world of cricket. The youngest Indian cricketer to play in an international match, Shafali was just 15 when she was selected to play at the Women’s 20 International Series. Interestingly, the teen prodigy became the youngest Indian half-centurion, while playing against West Indies during her debut series. Her first international series turned out to be a great one. Scoring 158 in just five matches, she became the player of the series, garnering lots of attention for her fantastic performance. [caption id="attachment_19206" align="alignnone" width="1049"] Shafali Verma, Indian cricketer[/caption] By 2021, the 2004-born Haryana girl had built a good repertoire - becoming the youngest player to represent India in all three formats of international cricket at the age of 17 years. Her brilliant performances earned her a place in the Indian team up for the 2022 Women's Cricket World Cup, to be held in New Zealand.

youngest player to represent India in all three formats of international cricket at the age of 17 years. Her brilliant performances earned her a place in the Indian team up for the 2022 Women's Cricket World Cup, to be held in New Zealand. Global Indian looks at the extraordinary journey of this brilliant, young player.

Off her own bat

Daughter of a jewellery shop owner, Shafali has been playing cricket since she was just eight years old. The young cricketer was trained by her father, Sanjeev, who once aspired to be a cricketer himself. A strict mentor, Sanjeev devised a rigorous training schedule for his daughter. However, he would also give her a reward of ₹5 whenever Shafali would hit a sixer at the local ground. Recognising that Shafali could make an excellent cricketer, her father later made her join the Ram Narayan Cricket Club, Rohtak.

[caption id="attachment_19207" align="aligncenter" width="825"] Shafali Verma representing IPL Velocity at a match in Pune[/caption]

Crediting her father for her success, Shafali wrote on her social media, "I am who I am today because of my father. He has always been the most supportive and friendly dad in the world." But, her father wasn't her only inspiration. Not unlike other cricketers, Shafali too idolised one of the greatest cricketers of all times, Sachin Tendulkar. “The reason I took up cricket is because of Sachin sir. My family has just not idolized but worshipped him," she had once mentioned in a post.

[caption id="attachment_19208" align="aligncenter" width="584"] Shafali with her idol, Sachin Tendulkar[/caption]

The journey continues…

A alumna of Mandeep Senior Secondary School, Rohtak registered yet another record to her name becoming the youngest cricketer ever to play in the final of the World Cup. Owing to her game, the cricketer moved 12 places up in the ODI batting rankings, to a career-best 36th rank.

[caption id="attachment_19210" align="aligncenter" width="821"] Shafali with Indian women's cricket team[/caption]

The Indian cricketer, who is a right-handed batswoman, has played a significant role in bringing India a 2-0 lead against Sri Lanka in the ten-team league ICC Women’s Championship (IWC) 2022-25 which is in its third iteration. There are many tournaments on the bay and Shafali is in a good form to make a mark in all the matches ahead.

Even though she is quite busy, the sportsperson always manages to find time between matches and practice sessions, to connect with her fans through social media.

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