Ashok Rathod’s Oscar Foundation Transforms Kids’ Lives
When Ashok Rathod was 18, he began gathering children from Mumbai’s Ambedkar Nagar slum for weekend football matches. At the time, he had no great plan — just a desire to keep kids away from addiction, child marriage, and dropping out of school, which had consumed many of his own friends. What started as a […]
The IAS Getting Kids To Swap Screens With Sports
#thebetterindia From coding at Infosys to leading flood relief, IAS officer Prem Krishan S has seen it all. Today, he’s tackling a new crisis—kids trading play for screens. His district-wide “Swap Your Screen for a Sport” challenge has revived playgrounds in Pathanamthitta. Football, cricket, laughter, and teamwork are back! Proof that change starts with play. […]
I risk my life to save 1500 stray from Punjab’s floods
#thebetterindia Amid Punjab’s floods, Sonia Chowdhary risked her life to save the voiceless. Every day, her family, 20 volunteers & cook wade through flooded lanes, and feed 1500+ strays. From abandoned puppies to injured mothers, each one is healed, loved & sheltered at Voiceless Voice Foundation. Together, we can save them. Will you join them […]
14-YO Coimbatore Boy Gains Global Honour at Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025
More than 60,000 entries. From a pink flamingo caught mid-scratch to a top shot of an Asian elephant navigating its way through toxic waste, the photographs in the Natural History Museum’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025 competition capture the astonishing beauty, diversity, and complexity of our natural world — and humanity’s deep connection to […]
Expert Toolkit To Prevent Suicide Among Youth
Trigger warning: mentions of suicide. This feature discusses suicide, suicidal thoughts, and mental health challenges. Please read with care, and take a break if you need to. If you or someone you know is struggling, we encourage you to reach out for support. “Mujhse nahi ho paya (I couldn’t do it). I am sorry, Papa.” […]
Why Indian Grandmothers Planted Marigolds in October
Feature image courtesy: Shutterstock On October afternoons, when the monsoon loosens its grip and the air smells faintly of drying earth, gardens across India quietly prepare for a burst of colour. If you grew up in an Indian home, you might remember this season not by calendars but by your grandmother’s hands, busy pushing tiny […]
Rat Snake Rescued from Delhi School by Wildlife SOS
Heavy monsoon rains had drenched South Delhi when panic rippled through a school campus. In the storeroom of Kendriya Vidyalaya, NMR, staff stumbled upon an unexpected guest — a large snake coiled in the corner. Instead of fear turning into chaos, what followed was a lesson in calm and coexistence. Acting swiftly, Principal Chandan Kohli […]
US colleges are now offering TikTok classes but do they count?
Universities Embrace TikTok Education: How Influencer Courses Are Shaping the Future of Learning Universities are increasingly integrating TikTok-style influencer education into formal curricula. For example, the “Building Global Audiences” class at Duke University is colloquially known as the “TikTok Class” and it is reportedly a full-credit undergraduate offering housed in the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Institute. […]
Could AI chatbots become conscious?
Over the last few years, chatbots have permeated practically every aspect of our digital existence, encompassing customer service, mental health support, entertainment, and education. Powered by sophisticated artificial intelligence (AI) models, these conversational agents can generate remarkably human-like responses, sometimes almost indistinguishable from real people. This swift progression in natural language processing frequently raises a […]
How Hrushikesh Dhane Built a Rs 3.5 Crore Aloe Vera Business in Maharashtra
The interviews and reporting for this story were conducted in August 2024. In the drought-prone Satara district of Maharashtra, farmers were largely dependent on rain for irrigation. Often without any regular irrigation facilities, they would be forced to leave their crops at the mercy of nature. Nearly two decades back, farmers in Padali village were […]