Transitioning from finance to photography wasn’t merely a career shift for Sudeshna; it was a leap of faith into her genuine passion. Her pivotal encounter with Bijaya Kumar, an esteemed wildlife photographer, marked the turning point. Under Bijaya Kumar’s mentorship, Sudeshna not only grasped the intricacies of photography but also internalized the essence of wildlife conservation. She learned to perceive the world through her lens, capturing moments that narrate the raw beauty and fragility of nature.

Sudeshna’s initial ventures into photography at the botanical garden served as the foundation of her artistic journey. Engaging in various competitions, she refined her skills and cultivated a distinctive style that resonates with both art aficionados and conservationists. Her photographs, often described as portals to the natural world, have earned her prestigious accolades like the National Pride Award and the Bharat Bravery Award, acknowledging her contributions to wildlife photography and conservation.

Sudeshna’s work transcends mere photography; it’s a mission to unveil nature’s untold narratives. Through her lens, she advocates for the protection of wildlife and their habitats, reminding us of our delicate balance with nature. Her evocative images are not just visually stunning but also provoke contemplation, encouraging viewers to ponder their relationship with the natural world.

Despite the challenges and uncertainties of forsaking a traditional career, Sudeshna’s odyssey exemplifies the potency of pursuing one’s passion. Her narrative inspires many, illustrating that with resolve and proper guidance, transforming dreams into reality is attainable.

Today, Sudeshna Smaranika is more than a name; she is a beacon of hope and inspiration in wildlife photography and conservation. Her journey motivates others to follow their passions, irrespective of hurdles. With each captured frame, Sudeshna continues to unveil the earth’s splendor, educating and inspiring a new generation to value and safeguard our natural legacy. In the realm of life and photography, Sudeshna Smaranika stands prominent, a true advocate for the magnificence of nature.

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Joining the Indian Postal Service as a Postal Assistant on March 17, 1983, he undertook rigorous training at the Local Postal Training Center in Muzaffarpur. His field postings spanned across multiple locations like Kashipur, Hasanpur Sugar Mills, Pusa, and Dighra, among others. Each posting allowed him to deeply connect with the community and hone his understanding of their needs and challenges.

In July 1987, Singh’s aspiration to serve in the military was realized when he joined the Army Postal Service as a Warrant Officer. He took on challenging assignments, including Thegu FPO on the Nathu La border, contributing to the Army’s communication services in treacherous terrains.

Post his father’s retirement and to fulfill familial responsibilities, Singh returned to the civilian postal service in October 1990. His innovative spirit led to the creation of initiatives like “Janasampark Nirikshak Aapke Dwar” and “Dak Shivir Karyakram,” enhancing the customer service experience and spreading awareness of postal services. The introduction of a postal helpline on mobile phones and his involvement in the India Post Payment Bank awareness program are testaments to his forward-thinking approach.

Singh’s efforts in bringing postal services to the forefront of public consciousness extended to the promotion of electronic items like LED bulbs and fans, distribution of Gangajal, and the Deen Dayal SPARSH Scholarship to encourage philately among students. His “Dak Darshan Program” educated schoolchildren about the postal service’s rich history and operations.

Notably, his initiatives have garnered widespread recognition, earning him multiple awards and accolades from the government, with extensive coverage from major news outlets. His unwavering dedication even after retirement in January 2023 is reflected in his continued management and assistance in postal services, demonstrating that his commitment to the public good endures beyond his formal service years.

Singh’s legacy is encapsulated not only in the services he rendered but also in the impactful programs he spearheaded, which have left an indelible mark on the Indian Postal Service and its beneficiaries. His memoirs, published upon retirement, serve as a beacon of inspiration, illustrating the profound impact a dedicated public servant can have on society.

Singh’s dedication has been recognized with numerous accolades from the government and coverage by prominent media, affirming his role as a transformative force in postal services. Notably, his exemplary service was honored by the Honorable Minister of State for Home Affairs and the respected MP of Ujiarpur, Shri Nityanand Rai, with awards and letters of appreciation. These accolades were presented in a distinguished ceremony at Patna’s Meghdoot Bhawan, attended by the then Additional Director General (Postal) of New Delhi, Smt. Alka Jha Mishra, and recognized by the then Director of Postal Services (Business Development) and the current Chief Postmaster General (Bihar) IPS Shri Anil Kumar, highlighting Singh’s significant contributions to the postal sector. Even after his retirement in January 2023, he continues to lend his expertise, reinforcing his commitment to the nation’s postal system. His published memoirs and ongoing advisory role post-retirement underscore a legacy that continues to inspire and guide the future of India’s postal service delivery.

Disclaimer: The content published on this website, including news articles and write-ups, is not produced by a professional media team. We do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information provided. The main write-ups are contributed directly by the authors themselves. Readers are advised to verify any information they choose to rely on. We do not accept any responsibility for errors, omissions, or inaccuracies contained within the published content, nor for any actions taken based on the information provided on this website.

The post Witness the Epic Journey of Shailesh Kumar Singh: Revolutionizing the Indian Postal Service Through Innovation, Recognition, and Unwavering Commitment appeared first on Rashtriya Pratishtha Puraskar.

करन के लिए लिखना केवल एक शौक नहीं बल्कि एक आवश्यकता थी, जो उन्हें अपने जीवन के प्रति और भी सकारात्मक बनाती थी। करन की किताबों में वह विशेष रूप से उन समस्याओं को उठाते हैं, जिन्हें हमारे समाज आमतौर पर अनदेखा कर देता है। इसके साथ ही, उन्होंने 15 साल की उम्र में ही अपना एनजीओ कैट फाउंडेशन खोल दिया था। इस एनजीओ के माध्यम से, वे समाज के प्रति अपनी जिम्मेदारी का निर्वहन करते हैं।

करन सिर्फ लिखते ही नहीं हैं, बल्कि प्रोफेसर भी हैं। करन युवाओं के लिए पूरे भारत के प्रतिष्ठित इंस्टीट्यूट्स में लगभग 80 से अधिक सेमिनार ले चुके हैं। करन अभी मुंबई में रहते हैं। 22 साल की उम्र में ही वह कई बड़ी उपलब्धियां और अवॉर्ड्स भी अपने नाम कर चुके हैं। टाइम ऑफ इंडिया के द्वारा उन्हें बेस्ट मुंबईकर की लिस्ट में शामिल किया गया था। इसके अलावा उन्हें एमेजॉन ने उन्हें उभरते हुए लेखकों की सूची में भी जगह दी थी। उन्होंने स्मोकिल्स, एंटी रेप कैंपेन और एजुकेशन फॉर ऑल जैसी कई कैंपेन्स में काम किया है।

उनके पढ़ाए हुए कई स्टुडेंट्स आईआईटी, एनडीए और यूपीएससी,सीडीएस में सलेक्ट हो चुके हैं। करन ने सिर्फ सपने देखे ही नहीं, बल्कि उन्हें पूरा करने के लिए जी तोड़ मेहनत भी की और इसलिए आज वह इस मुकाम पर हैं। 

करन तिवारी की कहानी हमें यह सिखाती है कि किसी की भी उम्र, पेशा, या सामाजिक स्थिति को देखकर उनकी क्षमता का अनुमान नहीं लगाया जाना चाहिए। अगर काबिलियत हो, सच्ची लगन हो, मन में कुछ कर दिखाने का हौंसला हो तो फिर मुश्किल से मुश्किल ख्वाब भी हकीकत में बदल सकते हैं।

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An alumnus of St. Joseph’s College, Dr. S. Veeramani pursued his MA and PhD from the same prestigious institution. And, worked as assistant professor of English there for 9 years in his alma mater . And, he is A dedicated educator, Researcher, Soft Skills Trainer, and Multidisciplinary Resource person. he currently heads the Department of English in Government Arts and Science College, [Lalgudi, Trichy District, Tamilnadu 621712].

Dr. S. Veeramani is a recipient of numerous accolades, testifying to his professional and academic excellence. Among these is the Best Teacher Award and the Best Research Paper Publisher award, Kanavu Nayakan Dr.APJ Abdul Kalam Award, Best NAAC Coordinator Award, Recently, he has also been honored with the esteemed Rashtriya Pratishtha Award by the Worthy Wellness Foundation, a testament to his significant contribution to academia and society.

His interest in postmodernism has led him to produce extensive research papers and books on the subject. Postmodernism, as he explains, is a genre that advocates the breaking or rethinking or reconstructing of conventional ideologies, thus allowing for fresh, unrestricted development in society. Dr.S. Veeramani has published research articles on the subject and written books focusing on literary theory, feminism, and diaspora. His work on basic English grammar has also been well-received, all of which can be found on Amazon under his name.

However, his academic curiosity didn’t halt at literature. Venturing into the interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary domain, he has applied his language expertise to the field of Forensic Science, focusing specifically on Forensic Linguistics. His internationally acclaimed paper, published in Iran, explores how language can be employed to identify culprits or criminals, proving invaluable for the justice system and legal practitioners. He has acted as a resource person for’ A workshop on Forensic Linguistics’ for college students with the intention of promoting the language as evidence and tool for legal practitioners.

Dr.S. Veeramani continues to expand his knowledge and proficiency by completing online courses on Psychology, Cyber forensics, forensic psychology. He has completed Postgraduate Diploma in Criminology and Forensic Science(PGDCFS). Despite the difference in field, he believes that his contributions can aid in delivering proper verdicts in legal cases. Moreover, he is an expert in Outcomes Based Education(OBE).

His commitment to sharing knowledge is evident as he conducts workshops for college students on forensic linguistics, shaping young minds and inspiring future scholars.

Dr. S. Veeramani journey, from a scholar of English Literature to a researcher in Forensic Linguistics, is a testament to his unyielding curiosity and desire for knowledge. His work underscores the potential of interdisciplinary or transdisciplinary research in expanding the horizons of knowledge and contributing to society. His journey stands as an inspiring testament to the boundless possibilities of academic exploration.

He has published more than 30 research articles in the national and international journals. He has completed 60 online courses on varied disciplines.

The post The Interdisciplinary Journey of Dr. S Veeramani: A Postmodernism Scholar and Forensic Linguistics Researcher appeared first on Rashtriya Pratishtha Puraskar.

The trees were at least a hundred years old then but still delighted the family with their sweet mangosteen harvest every year during the months of April-May. After devouring the fruits, Merlin collected the seeds and planted them on his one-acre property. Today, the farmer owns a six-acre land with more than 1,000 mangosteen trees from which he harvests at least 28 tonnes of fruit every season.

“A 35-year-old tree can provide up to 350 kg of fruit per year. Since mangosteen is an expensive tropical fruit with several health benefits, it has a market all over the world. While it is sold for a price between Rs 200-450 in Kerala, it earns up to Rs 600 in other states and countries,” says Merlin, who got into farming soon after completing his studies.

The 64-year-old farmer is not carrying out the farming activities alone. He is accompanied by his sons Midhun and Manu Merlin who are the brains behind scaling up the business and selling the products abroad. While Midhun resigned from his accountant job to help his father and took up full-time farming, Manu is a fitness trainer who runs a gym but is engaged in farming-related activities during the harvest season.

Garden nursery and exports

“Kerala’s weather conditions are ideal for mangosteen cultivation. Due to this reason and because the market rates of the fruit are high, more farmers are growing it nowadays,” shares Merlin.

Other than direct wholesale trade in the nearby stores and markets, the trio have tie-ups with third parties who export the fruit to gulf countries including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and UAE. “In India, a lot of sales happen in Mumbai, Hyderabad, Indore and Bengaluru. The rates here are double what we receive in Kerala,” says Manu, who takes care of the marketing of the produce.
He adds that the fruit is sent to other countries via AirCargo and usually, the total fixed amount is received in advance before the produce is exported. “For the sales within India, distributors directly come and procure the fruits and sometimes we send it to them.”

During the season, which starts in April, many people visit the farm. “While some of them are farmers who plan to start similar cultivation, others are digital content creators who give us free promotions,” shares Manu. “We have social media handles too where we give out some content to bring in more distributors and customers. It is great how these platforms are helping traditional farmers expand their sales and reach all over the world.”
“I’m glad that my sons joined the field. It is after their entry that we scaled up. Without their marketing techniques on these platforms, my income would be meagre and I would have been just another conventional farmer restricted to the local markets of the district. While I think about how to produce quality fruits, they come up with ideas for selling them,” says Merlin with joy.

Apart from mangosteen, the trio also grow rambutan and nutmeg on their farm. The saplings of all three trees are sold via their garden nursery named Merlin Nursery, located near the house. “Farmers in and out of Kerala are our major customers. We also take bulk orders from them. While the fruits are available only during the season, saplings are sold all through the year,” gushes Merlin.

The farmer also adds that the life span of a ripe mangosteen fruit is seven days. The tropical fruit originated in Southeast Asia and is a rich source of Vitamins B1, B2, B9, C, minerals and antioxidants. Intake of the fruit daily is said to contribute to weight loss, healthy skin and a better immune system. The white flesh of this juicy fruit can be eaten raw or can be added to smoothies and salads.

The mangosteen farm of Merlin has trees which are aged between 7-140. “In the case of this fruit, the older the trees, the greater the harvest,” adds Merlin.

“The number of customers is growing every year. We are planning to reach more countries and expand the business. We also hope more farmers start growing this fruit,” says Merlin.

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To distract himself, he started an Instagram page called ‘Create Your Taste’. Up here, he shared home decor ideas, gardening videos and simple do-it-yourself (DIY) tips. People loved his content and within a month, Abhinav got a fan following of 10,000.

“I was always a plant parent and my Instagram page was an extension of that passion. Also, with the lockdown being imposed, I did not have anything better to do with my time and energy,” he said.

During the festive season, he began collaborating with local women artisans and shot videos of making macrame, hoops and mandalas. Bamboo baskets, cane planters and jute mats were some other items crafted by them. These were sold through the page too. He received orders even during off-season and requests for setting up a physical store.

By borrowing Rs 5 lakh from his parents in August 2021, Abhinav started a store in Varanasi. But the toughest part was to get the village women, whose families doesn’t want them working, to get into the field with him.

Abhinav is now able to help 50 artisans to earn a decent income from their skills.

The products are available on the same brand name over Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho and Instagram. They receive a revenue of Rs 2 lakh per month.

“We started by selling bamboo-based products and eventually included terracotta, jute and recycled cloth-based products as well,” said the entrepreneur. He is all set to expand his customer base and his product inventory too.

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But then while visiting family in the US, I twisted my ankle and couldn’t walk straight for 3 months. The kids were all married and had kids of their own; no one let me do any work but maine kaam karna nahi chodha. I started sewing. It was good for my legs and kept me busy. But my stamina went down. From doing all the household work to just sewing, it was a big change; my body didn’t take it well. I felt weak; age had started to catch up with me. Eventually, all I did the whole day was read spiritual books.

There came a time when I’d need 5-10 minutes to recover from a walk across the room. Me–a girl who used to be a sports champion!
Things only got worse; about seven months back, I fell from the bed because my bones were weak. I was in pain. Recovery was long…I began to feel like my end was near. But my family stayed strong and my grandson took charge. He’s a gym trainer–he took it upon himself to nurse me back to health.

He did some research and 3 months ago we started weight training. I felt uncomfortable at first but then I started looking forward to my sessions, especially the back exercises– they reminded me of my village days, where I drew water from a well!
Slowly, we moved from the bed to the floor and from water bottles to weights. The swelling from my feet reduced and I regained strength in my arms. With time the joint pain and BP issues faded as well; I started feeling alive!

It’s all in the mind betaji–I feel younger than ever today! Still some people say I shouldn’t lift weights at 82, but my mind is young…I’M young so why shouldn’t I? 82 is just my birth age and this Dadi can lift!”

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But it was easier said than done. After his health scare last year, Bhau was mostly confined to four walls. And now, because of the lockdown, he was robbed of his morning newspaper, the vitthal temple’s aarti and his afternoon chats with our neighbours.

Bhau had a nanny for help; another maid helped Mumma, my grandmother– I strictly prohibited them from stepping out of the house. Twice a week, I’d run errands and buy groceries. Bhau is 93 and diabetic– I didn’t want to take any chances with his health. So, I restricted myself from hugging them or even going near the kitchen.

As time passed, both my grandparents became anxious. Bhau loves a house full of people and even though he can’t hear properly, he’d just look at everybody chit-chat and smile. But now, even my Masi, who lives nearby, wasn’t able to visit us. To distract Bhau, I’d invite him for a game of chess and crack jokes. He’d tell me his childhood stories and tales about his office.

A few weeks back, our help went to the market and 5 days later, she developed a fever. I was terrified! Even before we got her COVID test results, Bhau was burning with a high fever. ‘I don’t want to scare you but let’s be practical; it might be what you think it is,’ Bhau’s doctor said. Bhau and our help, both tested positive.

Bhau was surprisingly calm when I broke the news to him. But when I told him that Mumma and I would be moving to Masi’s for a while, he was shattered. For the last 65 years, Bhau and Mumma have never been apart– just seeing us around reassured him. But we couldn’t risk Mumma’s health, so I lied that Mumma had to go to the doctor for her knee pain.

Over the next 10 days, he’d call us 3-4 times a day and ask– ‘Is Mumma fine?’, ‘When are you coming to meet me?’, ‘Are you coming tomorrow?’ Mumma’s very strong; but this time, I could feel that she was longing to be reunited with Bhau.

Miraculously, Bhau recovered–10 days later, he tested negative. When Mumma and I moved back, he almost ran towards her with a wide smile and touched her head affectionately. Bhau and I hugged each other tightly.

It’s been an emotional rollercoaster but the silver lining in all this is that we got to spend a lot of time together. We’ve become closer; I’ve learnt to read their silences. And he keeps saying this to me, ‘I’m at least going to hit a century; not going to leave you so soon!’’
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Some days, after school when I’d get complaints from my teacher, I’d tell Didi to somehow save me from Maa and Baba’s scolding. I’d say, ‘Didi main chota hu, bacha lo na please!’ That excuse would always melt Didi and she somehow never let me get into trouble. She’d talk to them and make excuses for me. If I ever got into fights with kids in the neighbourhood, Didi would say, ‘Arindam ne kuch nahi kiya.’

I was quite protective of Didi myself– sometimes our cousins would make fun of her and take her toys away. Then I’d say, ‘Mere se maar khaoge agar Didi ko tang kiya,’ and make them give the toys back. Sometimes while travelling in trains, people refused to give up their seat for Didi, even after they were told that she couldn’t stand for long– I’d explain until they gave in. I attended all her dance performances, sports events and special needs classes. We’re thick as thieves.

And Didi never failed to surprise us. She studied hard and became a special educator teaching assistant at the age of 18. She earned a small amount, but it made her so happy that she could treat us with her earnings. Some days she’d bring home sweets, other days chicken fried rice. Then she’d say, ‘Aaj sab meri taraf se’. Then we’d all rejoice and say, ‘Aaj Didi ki taraf se party!’

Ever since we started working, we’ve spent less time together but that hasn’t changed anything. Till date, when I visit home, Didi gets so excited to discuss shows and even boys with me! No matter how many relatives are around, Didi and I will find time to sit beside each other and talk.

We’ve missed the last 3 Bhaidooj celebrations because I was away for work. Before that, for every Bhaidooj, I was always the first one to get mithai from her. For the 3 years that I was away, she’d call me and cry telling me how she wished I was there, and I’d say, ‘Didi, meri taraf se do mithai khaalo’. This year, we’re together, so I can finally say, ‘Didi, main chota hu…pehle mujhe mithai do!’’

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