"Dream, Dream, Dream! Conduct these dreams into thoughts, and then transform them into action."

- Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam

Preet Upadhyay

Breaking Barriers in Boots: Major Dwipannita Kalita, Assam’s First Woman Paratrooper, Inspires a Nation

As India commemorates years of independence Femina India has chosen a powerful way to honor the nation by featuring remarkable women officers of the Indian Army on its special edition cover Under the theme In the Line of Duty these women represent strength service and sacrifice Among them is Major Dwipannita Kalita the first woman paratrooper from Assam whose extraordinary journey is inspiring countless Indians A Humble Beginning From Dhekiajuli to the WorldBorn into a family in Dhekiajuli a small town in Assam s Sonitpur district Major Kalita s roots are grounded in simplicity and struggle But even as a child she stood out not for privileges but for her dreams She became the first girl from her district to study abroad earning an MBBS degree from the Philippines Her story reminds us that brilliance can emerge from any corner of India and that dreams don t discriminate based on

8 Aug 2025
Star Citizens

Shyok Village’s Green Vision: Ladakh’s First Botanical Garden for Conservation and Community

In the harsh and majestic terrain of eastern Ladakh where the air is thin and the land often unforgiving a quiet revolution is underway The residents of Shyok village situated along the strategic route to the Galwan Valley are planting the seeds of hope quite literally In a groundbreaking initiative hectares of barren community land are being converted into Ladakh s first-ever Botanical Garden This ecological restoration project is not just about planting trees it's about preserving identity harnessing local knowledge empowering villagers and redefining conservation for high-altitude regions What is a Botanical Garden Botanical gardens are special spaces where different varieties of plants from medicinal herbs to fruit trees flowers and shrubs are collected preserved and displayed for scientific educational and cultural purposes Far more than aesthetic green spots these gardens play a vital role in conserving biodiversity promoting ecological balance and supporting research and education Why Ladakh Needs

8 Aug 2025
Wanderlust

Young, Fearless, and Victorious: Vedika Bhansali Puts India on Junior Golf’s World Map

At just nine years old Vedika Bhansali from Bengaluru has achieved what many athletes spend a lifetime chasing She emerged victorious at the US Kids World Championship held in Pinehurst Village North Carolina competing in the Girls category Her exceptional bogey-free final round of -under sealed the championship making her the first Indian in her age group to achieve this feat at one of the world s most prestigious junior golf tournaments This historic win is more than just a trophy it's a defining moment for India s standing in the global youth golfing arena Vedika s calmness under pressure technical skill and mental maturity have drawn widespread praise from Indian golf officials and global enthusiasts alike A Masterclass in Focus and PrecisionVedika s journey to victory at Pinehurst wasn t just about talent it was about discipline and composure Over several intense rounds she remained consistent navigating one of

8 Aug 2025
Star Citizens

Young Minds, Big Impact: Meet the 5 Indian Students Shortlisted for Global Student Prize 2025

The Global Student Prize has announced its top finalists and five inspiring changemakers from India have made it to the coveted list Their work ranges from criminal justice reform and elder care to climate action and rural development With their powerful stories of purpose and innovation these students are redefining leadership and rewriting what it means to be young in a changing world Adarsh Kumar Bihar s Barrier-BreakerFrom scarcity to solution-building Raised in Champaran Bihar Adarsh Kumar s childhood was marked by power cuts poverty and perseverance With just and an old laptop he left home at to chase his dream of education in Kota He couldn t afford coaching classes so he studied using public Wi-Fi and libraries That self-learning spirit birthed Skillzo a platform that has trained over underprivileged youth His earlier initiative Mission Badlao brought vaccines and education to rural Bihar nbsp Adarsh later co-built Sparkle and

8 Aug 2025
Positive Reads

Eight-Year-Old Arishka Conquers Africa’s Highest Peak With Her Mother, Honours Operation Sindoor at 19,341 ft

In an age where most -year-olds are only beginning to explore the world around them little Arishka Laddha is scaling the highest summits of continents Arishka alongside her mother Dimple Laddha reached the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro the highest peak in Africa at feet meters What makes this journey even more powerful is that it wasn t just about reaching a summit it was about carrying a message honoring courage and living a purpose Trekking with a Mission Honouring Operation SindoorUpon reaching the summit the mother-daughter duo held up a banner of Operation Sindoor a mission that deeply resonated with them Launched by the Government of India and led by two daring women officers Colonel Sophia Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh Operation Sindoor was a powerful symbol of strength leadership and service To honor these fearless women in uniform Dimple and Arishka made the symbolic gesture of holding up

7 Aug 2025
Star Citizens

No Bill, Just Blessings: One Man’s Fight for India’s Daughters

In the bustling suburb of Hadapsar Pune a modest hospital named Medicare General and Maternity Hospital is doing something revolutionary Here girls are not just born they are celebrated The man behind this beautiful change is Dr Ganesh Rakh a doctor whose mission goes far beyond medicine Since he has waived all delivery charges for girl children determined to challenge the deep-rooted gender bias that stains Indian society A Childhood of Struggle A Soul Shaped by CompassionDr Rakh s journey is a very beautiful one Born to a coolie father and a maid mother his dreams of becoming a wrestler were soon replaced by his mother s insistence that he study hard and escape the cycle of poverty The path was anything but easy he faced discrimination financial hardship and societal pressure But these very struggles shaped his compassion and his desire to uplift the underprivileged In he founded his

6 Aug 2025
Star Citizens

India’s HOPE Base in Ladakh: A Giant Leap Toward Human Spaceflight

India has made a bold and inspiring leap in its space ambitions with the launch of the Himalayan Outpost for Planetary Exploration HOPE Inaugurated on August by ISRO Chairman Dr V Narayanan this Mars-like astronaut training facility is located in the Tso Kar Valley of Ladakh a place whose harsh terrain mirrors extraterrestrial conditions This cutting-edge initiative is not just a scientific marvel it's a story of human grit vision and the dream of walking on the Moon by HOPE Base India s Mars on EarthThe HOPE base is India's first full-scale planetary analog habitat designed to recreate the environmental challenges of planets like Mars Comprising two modular units an -meter-wide habitation module and a -meter-wide operations module it will host astronauts and researchers in controlled isolation to simulate space mission conditions The site in Tso Kar Valley Ladakh was selected for its close resemblance to Martian landscapes sub-zero temperatures

5 Aug 2025
Good News

India’s Table Tennis Teams Qualify for 2026 WTTC in London After Dominant South Asia Show

In a landmark achievement for Indian table tennis both the men s and women s national teams have officially qualified for the World Team Table Tennis Championships WTTC in London Their ticket to one of the world s most prestigious table tennis tournaments came through a flawless performance at the South Asia Regional Championships held in Kathmandu Nepal Facing stiff competition from Bangladesh Sri Lanka Nepal and the Maldives the Indian teams didn t just win they dominated Every single match concluded with a resounding - victory proof of the depth preparation and unity within the squads In doing so India secured the sole South Asian quota spot per gender joining only three other regional champions from Central South-East and West Asia in booking early qualification to the WTTC Undisputed Supremacy in South AsiaThe tournament followed a five-nation round robin format where consistency was key The Indian men's team comprising

5 Aug 2025
Sports Spirit

Founders First, Friends Forever: How Friendships Are Fueling India's Biggest Startup Dreams

Startups are often seen as combinations of vision capital and strategy But what if the most powerful ingredient is something less tangible like friendship In the fast-paced world of entrepreneurship where every decision can make or break a dream having a trusted friend by your side can make all the difference Friendship goes beyond partnership agreements and investor pitches It means trust without contracts support without conditions and shared dreams that go beyond boardrooms Many of India s biggest startups today were not just companies they were stories of two or more friends who decided to build the future together Let s explore how strong friendships have shaped some of India s most successful startups and why business built on bonds might just be the future nbsp Flipkart Friendship with a Billion-Dollar ExitThe story of Sachin and Binny Bansal is legendary in Indian startup circles Though not related by blood

4 Aug 2025
Positive Reads

Archives