Latest news with #Bakshi
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Vargab Bakshi joins GoKwik as chief growth officer
GoKwik , India's e-commerce enabler , has onboarded Vargab Bakshi as chief growth officer . With a strong pedigree in building and scaling internet-first businesses, Bakshi is set to drive GoKwik's next phase of growth through brand, partnerships, international expansion, and ecosystem building. He will lead GoKwik's entire growth charter, including marketing, GTM, global partner ecosystem, and product-led growth (PLG) across the company's suite of software products, including those on the Shopify App Store and beyond. Before joining GoKwik, Bakshi held key leadership roles at Shopify and Wix. At Shopify, he was a founding member of the India team and played a pivotal role in establishing Shopify's presence in the country. He built and led the go-to-market strategy for India and emerging markets, launched and scaled the entire APAC partner ecosystem, and positioned Shopify as a go-to brand for Indian D2C entrepreneurs and developers. At Bakshi served as VP and country head for India, where he was responsible for the brand's regional presence across marketing, enterprise sales, partnerships, and product localisation. He also led the developer ecosystem and significantly grew brand adoption, particularly among non-tech users and digital agencies. Bakshi is also the creator of GrowKwik, a D2C-first, content-first, influencer-led education channel by GoKwik, aimed at empowering ecommerce entrepreneurs. The platform has garnered over 500,000 cumulative followers across Instagram and YouTube and continues to serve as a high-impact marketing and learning channel. Commenting on the new addition to his leadership, Chirag Taneja, co-founder and chief executive officerof GoKwik, stated, "Vargab brings a rare blend of ecosystem thinking, product-led growth and global GTM expertise with a strong empathy for merchants from his Shopify days. As we scale our presence across borders, his leadership will be key in building a growth engine that is brand-led, product-first, and global by design. We're excited to have him onboard." Bakshi expressed his enthusiasm, saying, "After years of helping ecommerce businesses scale at Shopify and Wix, joining GoKwik felt like a natural next step. GoKwik sits at the intersection of data, AI, consumer behavior, and commerce enablement — building truly India-first, yet globally scalable solutions for online merchants. With deep insights from 130 million shoppers in our network, we're uniquely positioned to create powerful software that drives growth for merchants. I'm excited to bring my experience in go-to-market, ecosystem building, and commercial strategy to help GoKwik become the most loved growth-tech company in ecommerce."
Time of India
20-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Oriental Cup school football tournament from July 21-29
Ambedkar Stadium The third season of the Oriental Cup, a school football tournament in the national capital, will be held from July 21-29, the organisers said on Thursday. Started by student-athlete Fareed Bakshi, the tournament will take place at the Ambedkar Stadium, bringing together 36 teams from schools across Delhi. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! There will be 24 teams in the boys' (U-15) category and 12 in the girls' (U-19) category. The 2025 edition will have a three-stage format, starting with the qualifying rounds followed by the league phase and the finals for both boys' and girls' category. Air Force School, Subroto Park, and Apex School have claimed the boys' titles in 2023 and 2024 editions respectively, while Sanskriti School has maintained a dominant presence in the girls' division, winning on both occasions. Co-founder Bakshi emphasised the tournament's larger mission, saying, "The Oriental Cup goes beyond just competition. It's about building a space where school athletes across Delhi can play, grow, and feel a sense of community through football . "We're excited to welcome new teams and continue expanding the legacy we began just two years ago." Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
News18
17-07-2025
- Sport
- News18
Oriental Cup school football tournament from Jul 21-29
New Delhi, Jul 17 (PTI) The third season of the Oriental Cup, a school football tournament in the national capital, will be held from July 21-29, the organisers said on Thursday. Started by student-athlete Fareed Bakshi, the tournament will take place at the Ambedkar Stadium, bringing together 36 teams from schools across Delhi. There will be 24 teams in the boys' (U-15) category and 12 in the girls' (U-19) category. The 2025 edition will have a three-stage format, starting with the qualifying rounds followed by the league phase and the finals for both boys' and girls' category. Air Force School, Subroto Park, and Apex School have claimed the boys' titles in 2023 and 2024 editions respectively, while Sanskriti School has maintained a dominant presence in the girls' division, winning on both occasions. Co-founder Bakshi emphasised the tournament's larger mission, saying, 'The Oriental Cup goes beyond just competition. It's about building a space where school athletes across Delhi can play, grow, and feel a sense of community through football. 'We're excited to welcome new teams and continue expanding the legacy we began just two years ago." PTI AH SSC SSC Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
14-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Class apart: Sidewalks pave way for big dreams
Thanks to their selfless mentors, children from the fringes of society in Ahmedabad are finding empowerment and life goals Two girls are playing chase at a municipal garden near Gyan Mandir Society in the Vasna area of Ahmedabad. One realises it's time to go home. The other one hollers, 'Bye, bye, see you,' to her — in English. The two, aged around 10, are from the nearby Sorai Nagar slums and have picked up the language at the evening class for underprivileged kids by Tresna Foundation. From 4.30 to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday, a portion of the park transforms into an open-air classroom, where hope blooms alongside flowers. Around 100 kids from Classes 1 to 8 gather here. Among them sits 15-year-old Chandni, a house help who never went to school. Hands that once scrubbed floors now hold a pencil. Tresna, the brainchild of Rangoli Bakshi, was born eight years ago out of her desire to spend time on a worthy cause. 'Tresna started with education for the underprivileged and grew to cover women's health and skill development,' says Bakshi. You Can Also Check: Ahmedabad AQI | Weather in Ahmedabad | Bank Holidays in Ahmedabad | Public Holidays in Ahmedabad Here, children from govt and semi-govt schools find more than just academic support. "They learn all subjects, from English to mathematics, but more importantly, they discover their potential,' says Jalpa, who has been nurturing these young minds for six years. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cách giao dịch ETH/USD mà không cần nắm giữ Ether IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo Jalpa talks about the teething troubles. "Getting children to attend was an uphill task. We went house to house. Parents didn't see any value in it. When we started out with just five children, even that seemed like a big victory,' she says. The initiative has led to a change in the community. Mothers who once hesitated to send their children to the class are now volunteers themselves. And then there are student volunteers from colleges and those from well-to-do homes. 'Because the children get good exposure, learn good values, and have role models, they feel motivated to come here without fail,' says Bakshi. Even rain can't throw a wet blanket on their determination. Studies stop when it pours mid-class, but the students regroup when the skies clear. The transformation of the children is visible in stories like Sunny's. He joined as a third grader. Now in Class 10, he monitors and mentors younger students while nurturing a dream. "I want to join the army," he says, confident that his dreams are within reach. The (Foot)Path to Progress Virat Shah, an instrumentation and control engineer from Ahmedabad's LD Engineering College, was 45 when he decided to quit his high-paying job in the UAE in 2010 to return to his city. 'People's lives have three aspects — social, professional, and personal. I replaced my job with social work. I had earned enough to pursue my dream of educating slum children.' One sees his vision in the bustling streets of Vatva, where dozens of underprivileged children sit attentively, their eyes fixed on their teacher. This makeshift classroom represents Shah's remarkable journey. What began in 2012 as a single class on a pavement with 10 students has evolved into the Sarvodaya Group Trust, an organisation that has provided supplementary education to approximately 1,800 children from migrant families and pavement dwellers over the past 13 years. Does it get tough during monsoons? 'We scurry under any roof that we find when it rains. We have run classes from a nearby gurdwara, even someone's front yard to keep the momentum alive despite the seasonal challenges,' says the now 56-year-old. Early on, Virat could only persuade a few parents living in the slums near Isanpur crossroads. Many would skip classes to be at places where they would get food. 'It wasn't their fault as their priority was the next meal, not long-term academic or career goals.' Shah started serving them meals, gave each of them hygiene kits and uniforms. Shah's dream was shattered many times, but he pieced it together every time. Soon, he was running nine centres. Wanting to do more, in 2015 he took them to a nearby municipal school for admissions. The principal refused because of a lack of documentation. Not to be deterred, Shah became their legal guardian in cases where families did not have papers. Shah even studied LLB to understand legal aspects and help them. Shah's momentum doesn't end at municipal school admissions. 'I feel that these schools don't share my vision of a qualitative outcome. Our trust wants to mould the children for society, shaping them into responsible citizens with ethics, values, education, and skills and neutralise the disadvantages of their being born into poverty or growing up on the streets.' Last year, the trust started an English-medium pre-school. 'This is not for supplementary education.' Encouraged, Shah and his team are now building their state-board-affiliated primary school up to Class 8 for formal education. 'I started to do what I, or any parent, would want for their children — education, strong moral values, and discipline,' he concludes. Success Amid Dust and Din It's around 5.30pm and Kamal Parmar, 79, is sitting outside his automobile-cum-metallurgy workshop in Bhudarpura, chopping onions, unaffected by the pressure washer hissing in the background, the rain and the cacophony of the traffic around him. The onions will go into a hot snack being cooked nearby. What has this got to do with the story of the man whose footpath school has given direction to hundreds of children? 'For 25 years, a hot snack or a small meal has remained the big draw for hundreds of slum children to continue their supplementary education at my class,' he says. It all began with Parmar's interaction with some children from the nearby slums returning from school. It revealed a disturbing truth — despite being in Class 7, these children could barely answer basic questions. This sparked Parmar's mission that would change hundreds of lives. 'They were like blank sheets of paper. We worked on them, and as we started seeing progress, began grouping those with similar talents together. ' Starting with just one blackboard and 10 children, Parmar's footpath school, which runs every evening from 7-9pm, has grown to accommodate students from Classes 3 to 12. 'For the first five years, I spent my own money on benches, blackboards, notebooks and snacks. As word spread, people and organisations came forward to help,' he says. Amid the din and grime of the footpath, there has been success. Today, his former students hold good posts in banks, and some have moved abroad — success that seemed impossible for children who once saw no future beyond their parents' struggles. Among them is Ronak Solanki, who joined Parmar's school in 2004 as a fourth grader, and is now a goods loco pilot for Indian Railway's South Western division. 'My maths teacher herself didn't know how to find the area of a circle. Such was the situation at my govt school.' Parmar gave him wings, even sponsoring his education at a private school from Classes 8 to 12. 'In Class 10, I scored 97 in maths and 93 in science. Soon, I acquired a degree in mechanical engineering and here I am,' says Solanki. His current residence, a three-bedroom apartment near Parmar's home, contrasts sharply with his humble beginnings in a 10x12-foot rooftop dwelling. Meanwhile, Parmar's energy seems boundless even today. 'I am doing God's work,' he simply says. Despite offers to move to a larger space, Parmar insists on keeping the school at its original location. 'If I move, the purpose will be lost. The class must be accessible to children from these slums.' Under A Flyover, Dreams Take Flight Under the Gyan Shakti Marg flyover, an unusual classroom comes alive each evening. Here, opposite the heritage campus of the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIM-A), the Smile initiative (Student-Mediated Initiative for Learning to Excel) is quietly transforming the lives of underprivileged children from Vastrapur and nearby areas. Founded by Padma Shri awardee Prof Anil Kumar Gupta, this collaborative venture between IIM-A and the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation serves as more than just a supplementary education centre. It offers comprehensive support for academic foundations, life skills and career counselling to these children from Classes 6-12, covering science, arts and commerce. Among their bright students is Harsh Panchal, son of a carpenter living in Vastrapur with his two siblings. Harsh joined Smile when he was in Class 9. In Class 12 boards, he scored 82%, and inspired by the IIM-A team, is currently pursuing an integrated MBA from KS School of Management, Gujarat University. And then, there is Mahima Kotaliya, whose father runs a small grocery store from their home. She aspires to graduate from a prominent college and thereafter, study hard and crack the civil services exam. What started with 20 students has now grown to 120 regular attendees, though the journey has not been without its challenges. 'Every child deserves access to quality education and opportunities for growth. We at Smile have faced obstacles like dropout rates and foundational knowledge gaps but the resilience and determination of our students and team have been inspiring,' says Smile project head Priyanshi Vora, adding, 'The transformative power of education is evident in our 100% result rate across all standards.' The volunteer force, comprising IIM-A's postgraduate students, has doubled from 20 to 40, reflecting the programme's growing impact. These volunteers don't just teach — they mentor, motivate and nurture talents through various activities including music, dance, drama and arts and crafts. 'We are extremely proud of our students who have excelled and achieved 100% results in Class 10 and 12 board exams for the second straight year,' said Prof Sunil Maheshwari, dean, alumni and external relations, IIM-A, adding that it would not have been possible without the sponsor, IIM-A Alumni Association Mumbai Chapter. A unique aspect of Smile is its Buddy Project, where volunteers engage in year-long, one-on-one interactions with students and their families, creating deeper understanding and support systems. The initiative, supported by IIM-A's Alumni & External Relations Office, organises activity camps in July and December, providing additional opportunities for learning and engagement. 'Challenges ranged from clashes in our schedules to the language barrier, but the most difficult one was the huge grade level gap among the students. For this, we conducted grade-level assessment tests and modified our pedagogy accordingly,' said Ishita R Sachan, Smile student coordinator and a PGP student of the 2023-2025 batch. As evening falls and the flyover traffic rumbles overhead, Smile continues its mission, one student at a time. Another IIM-A initiative is Prayaas, a student-run effort that aims to empower underprivileged children living around the campus. Established in 2003 by students of the then PGP batch, the initiative now supports over 100 students. The IIM-A community also supports these children in gaining admission to nearby public schools.
Hindustan Times
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
FIR filed over video that blamed Pramod Sawant for decline in Goa's forest cover
Panaji: The Goa Police on Tuesday registered a first information report (FIR) against activist Gaurav Bakshi for a video that held Goa chief minister Pramod Sawant responsible for the decline in the state's forest cover. Gaurav Bakshi was previously arrested for allegedly blocking a vehicle of Goa's Fisheries Minister Nilkanth Halarnkar, which was subsequently quashed by the court. (PTI) The FIR was registered based on a complaint lodged by deputy conservator of forests in the state forest department Aditya Madanpotra. He complained that 'the allegations made in the post are baseless and misleading, as orders of the Supreme Court and other courts are scrupulously followed and complied with by the State government.' 'The issue regarding finalisation of private forests in Goa is dealt with strictly as per the norms/guidelines fixed by the State government and the directions of the various judicial forums in this regard,' Madanpotra added. In the video uploaded on Instagram and Facebook, Bakshi spoke about how areas that had been provisionally and finally marked as private forests were 'denotified by the state government during the time the Forest portfolio was held by the chief minister.' Also Read: Actor Gaurav Bakshi arrested over parking row with Goa minister The police have registered a case against Bakshi under sections 196(1) (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) and 352(1) (inciting public mischief) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Bakshi, who was previously arrested for allegedly blocking a vehicle of Goa's fisheries minister Nilkanth Halarnkar—which was subsequently quashed by the court—said, 'This is not the first time Sawant has done so in his capacity as home minister. In the past, his vindictive and malicious actions against me were demolished by the courts and, as per the High Court, would even amount to an abuse of the process of the court. I have approached the magistrate for an anticipatory bail.'
