Edcom_naarm

  Everyone is a hero in their own life, with stories that stay etched in their hearts forever, stories that define who they become. This is a story of a person who embodies resilience, purpose, and the spirit of never giving up. Once upon a time, he dreamed of becoming a cricketer. That dream, however, never went beyond the boundary of his imagination. After completing his intermediate education, he began his graduation with little interest in academics. At that point, he had no clear direction or purpose - just a sense of drifting through each day without meaning. Then, one afternoon, while wandering around campus, he came across the college ground - and in that moment, something clicked. His seniors were playing cricket. Not the casual street cricket he was used to, but professional cricket - the kind he had only watched on television. The energy, the shots, the field placements - everything was magnetic. Driven by curiosity and excitement, he walked up to them and asked, “Can I ...

Step into Janavi’s world for a moment. Imagine standing in her apartment - an ordinary city home - but look closer and you’ll notice something different. She wants you to see how small actions can spark big change. Start at the sink. Instead of regular taps, you find water-efficient spray ones from Greenly Waters and Seva Sustainable Solutions that save liters each day without you even realizing it. That tiny adjustment nudges you to wonder: what if all homes in this block did the same? In the corner, you notice two bins placed neatly - wet and dry. Janavi explains how she began segregation in her flat, and soon the idea caught on in the building. She shows you jars of citrus peel cleaners she makes herself. The scent is fresh, the surface clean, and you find yourself asking, “Could I do this at home too?” Now walk with her to the grocery store. She hands you a cloth bag, as if it’s second nature. Together, you choose local produce over shrink-wrapped imports. At a zero-waste counter, ...

  A sudden loud sound broke Brinda’s sleep. The window beside her bed banged against the pane due to a gust of wind. She sat up to close the window, but the sky wouldn’t let her. It was a typical August morning, cloudy and relentlessly raining. For a moment, she felt how lucky the clouds were; they show their sorrow whenever they feel heavy. We humans are deprived of this liberty, as we need a ‘suitable’ time for everything, to cry, to live a little, even to say, “I can’t take it anymore.” The chilling wind made Brinda shiver, and she rubbed her palms to warm up a little. As her thumb brushed over her wrists, a thought crossed her mind, “What if I slit it? What if I put a stop to everything? What if life lies in death itself? Then there will be no tomorrow, there will be no deadlines!” She didn’t realise that tears had carved a path down her cheeks in the meantime. Her alarm, for the first time, gave a wake-up call to an awakened Brinda, maybe to a Brinda too tired to live anymor...

  In a quiet corner of her botanical research lab, Savitha carefully adjusted the sensors attached to the leaves of a small Mimosa pudica plant. She had always been fascinated by the silent world of plants, a realm so often dismissed as passive and lifeless. But as she delved deeper into her research, she discovered something extraordinary - plants were not as silent as they seemed. They had their own secret language, a complex system of communication that operated beneath human perception, shaping the world in ways few had imagined. Her fascination with plant communication had begun during childhood when she first encountered the ‘touch-me-not’ plant, which folded its leaves at the slightest touch. It seemed almost alive, as if reacting to her presence. Years later, as a botanist, she found that plants indeed had ways to sense, respond, and even "talk" to one another. Not through spoken words, but through biochemical signals, electrical impulses and even sound vibratio...

  Beyond the Basket: Why Will the Next Revolution in Retail Focus on Growing Food In-Store Rather Than Shipping It? A transformative wave is sweeping through the grocery industry, turning ordinary supermarkets into vibrant hubs of sustainable food production. During a recent conversation, a friend who visited Amsterdam described an extraordinary sight: crisp greens and aromatic herbs thriving inside the store, ready for harvest on demand. This innovation bears the signature of ‘SweGreen’, a pioneering Swedish Agri-tech startup redefining urban food systems. Introducing ‘SweGreen’: Revolutionizing In-Store Farming Founded in Stockholm, SweGreen has developed advanced vertical farming solutions that are seamlessly integrated into supermarkets across Sweden, Germany, and other European markets, utilizing hydroponics—a soil-free method using rockwool and nutrient-rich water. SweGreen’s cultivation platforms grow up to 100 varieties of crops, including lettuces, herbs, and even fruit-be...

  The Paradox of Choice; Are too many choices making us unhappy Sowmya, a ten-year-old girl with curious eyes and a pocket full of saved coins, had been counting down the days to this moment. For weeks, she had skipped buying chocolates after school, ignored the lure of colourful hair clips at the market, and tucked away every spare rupee. All for one reason, ice cream. Not just any ice cream, but a treat from the most famous shop in town, a place everyone spoke of with a twinkle in their eyes. They called it magical. People said stepping inside felt like stepping into a fairy tale. When she finally pushed open the pastel-blue door, the air inside was sweet and cool, carrying scents of vanilla, caramel, berries, and chocolate so thick she could almost taste them. The shop glowed with warm light, and behind the counter stretched a rainbow of frozen dreams. She had imagined this scene many times—walking in, spotting her favourite flavour instantly, and ordering without a se...

  It all began with a joyful rendezvous on a day filled with laughter. We were indulging in hot wings and chicken nuggets, accompanied by fizzy Coke, making our time together even more enjoyable. We were blissfully unaware of the waste we were creating until Sahana, my companion for the day, suddenly found a feather in her chicken wings. Disgusted, she abruptly stood up and dumped the food into the trash. I was puzzled by her reaction until she explained her discovery.  That’s when our conversation took a turn, and the topic of the residents of Happy Land in Manila, Philippines, came up—people who survive by consuming recycled, scavenged meat, known as “PAGPAG,” which translates to "shake off the dust." Due to inflation and poor living standards, they are unable to afford a simple, healthy meal. This forces them to scavenge meat from the leftovers found in trash bins. Some people collect waste from fast-food chains, sorting and cleaning the partially eaten food. They strip th...

  Kannan, a 15-year-old boy, was riding his bicycle on one pleasant evening when he noticed a farmer carrying feed for his cattle. Offering to help, Kannan took the feed and dropped it at the farmer’s home. There, he noticed several pits filled with soil and manure. Curious, Kannan asked the farmer what these pits were and why they filled with soil. The farmer, smiling, explained, “Most people see earthworms as tiny, slimy creatures wriggling through the soil. But they don't realize that these little fellows are one of the best friends a farmer can have. They work tirelessly underground, acting like tiny engineers to enrich and nurture the soil, making it fertile and ready for planting.” The farmer bent down, picking up a handful of soil, and explained, "Earthworms transform the ground beneath us, making the soil richer, softer and healthier for crops to grow. They do this by breaking down organic material and leaving behind nutrient-rich castings." He continued, “That’s ...

  In the quiet corners of a meadow of vibrant wildflowers, a gentle hum fills the air- it's the sound of bees, the unsung heroes of our ecosystems. In a world increasingly driven by technology and human innovation, the tiny yet mighty bee remains an essential player in maintaining the health of our planet's biodiversity. But the importance of these buzzing creatures goes far beyond their ability to produce honey. It’s a story of survival, balance and interdependence, where the fate of countless species is tied to the fate of bees. Enter the world of a passionate ecologist named Siddharth. He spent years studying the delicate web of life that sustains our ecosystems and during one of his field trips, he finds himself captivated by a thriving colony of bees in a remote forest. But this isn’t just any ordinary visit- Siddharth is about to uncover the untold story of how bees are integral to the survival of our planet’s biodiversity. With his magnifying glass in hand, Siddharth wat...

  Sita, an engineering graduate passionate about sustainable living, was on a trip to Mumbai to catch up with her friends on a bright, sunny afternoon. As they strolled through the bustling streets, they were on the lookout for a place to have a snack, Sita suddenly felt a gentle breeze brush against her face. She stopped and looked up, only to find something truly unexpected—a small forest nestled right in the middle of the metro city. "Is that a forest... here?" Sita exclaimed, her eyes wide with surprise. Her friends were just as shocked. "In a city like Mumbai? That’s impossible!" But there it was—a lush, green patch of trees and plants, standing in stark contrast to the concrete jungle surrounding it. Unable to contain her excitement, Sita urged her friends to explore the mysterious greenery. As they ventured inside, they encountered Mr. Narayanan, a kind and knowledgeable man who owned the land. “Hello! I want to know, what is this mysterious greenery doing he...

 India’s Path Through Trump 2.0 As Donald Trump is ready for his second term as U. S President, India finds itself at a crossroads. The first term brought a mix of strategic gains and diplomatic challenges, and “Trump 2.0” promises to be no less eventful. For India, this potential presidency offers opportunities to strengthen alliances and boost growth, but also demands careful navigation of protectionist policies and geopolitical uncertainties.   Opportunities: A Stronger Bond When Trump took office, U.S.-India relations took a strategic turn. Defense cooperation flourished under his administration, marked by agreements like BECA (Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement) in 2020 and India’s designation as a “Major Defense Partner.” These milestones were not just paperwork—they symbolized a growing partnership. By 2020, defense trade between the two nations had surged to $21 billion from negligible levels in 2008.   Trump’s tenure also saw bilateral trade rise ...

  On a beautiful day, Rahul's family arrived in Bangkok for a long vacation. They were excited to visit the markets, admire the temples, and explore the street food scene. While browsing the street food stalls, they were surprised to find crickets, mealworm protein shakes, bug fries, and silkworm pupae paste alongside traditional Thai dishes. Curiously, 13-year-old Simran asked, “Dad, do people really eat bugs here? Why?” Before her father could respond, a voice interrupted with a friendly smile. It was Mr. Susheel Kumar, an environmentalist, “You would be surprised at how common this is in many countries like Africa and China. Insects are not only part of Thai culture but are also considered a significant protein source globally.” In fact, the global edible insect market is projected to reach USD 4.63 billion by 2027, driven by applications in both human food and animal feed. By 2050, the world population is expected to exceed 9.5 billion, with India alone accounting for appro...

  I n a small farming village in India, Ramesh and his family tended their cotton fields, as they had done for generations. The fields stretched as far as the eye could see, but pests and unpredictable weather constantly threatened their livelihood. One evening, as Ramesh joined a gathering of local farmers, talk turned to genetically modified (GM) crops, a subject of heated debate in their community. Dr. Megha, an agricultural expert was present in the gathering and took the opportunity to address the group, she explained that GM crops are plants modified through genetic engineering to introduce traits like pest resistance, improved nutrition, and tolerance to extreme conditions. “These crops,” she said, “are also called genetically engineered (GE) or biotech crops and have been cultivated globally since the 1990s. By 2023, they were grown on 206.13 million hectares across 27 countries, with soybean, maize, and cotton leading the pack. India, though primarily focused on Bt cotto...

On a bright and sunny afternoon, Ram and I decided to head to our local market to pick up some groceries. As we wandered through the lively stalls, a disturbing sight caught our attention: a vendor was handling raw meat with his bare hands. Moments later, he used the same hands to serve fresh vegetables to a customer. Ram and I exchanged worried glances, recognizing the risk of cross-contamination. Such unsanitary practices could easily turn otherwise safe food into a health hazard. As we continued our shopping, we came across a heap of fruits that had been left exposed to the sun for an extended period. Flies swarmed around the fruits, and several had begun to decay. In another part of the market, we noticed the coconut vendor using his hands to handle money, cut coconuts, and wipe his sweat. This practice raised concerns about the potential contamination of the coconut's drinking part. It was disheartening to see so much food wasted due to inadequate storage and handling. Ram s...

  Yash and Pooja Kapoor, a couple in their mid-thirties, were at a turning point with their family farm, Aranya Fields, which had been passed down for generations. Tucked away in the peaceful hills of Nainital, the farm had once flourished with crops and livestock, providing for their family and supplying the local markets. But as big agribusinesses expanded and costs rose, Yash and Pooja watched their profits decline. Despite long hours and tireless work, they were barely breaking even, and the future of Aranya Fields seemed increasingly uncertain. One crisp autumn evening, Pooja stumbled upon an article in an agricultural magazine about agritourism. The article described how some farmers had begun welcoming visitors by offering unique experiences like harvest festivals, farm-to-table dinners, and educational tours. Curious, she imagined what it would be like to open Aranya Fields to guests- inviting urban families to explore the countryside, see how food was grown, and take a p...