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Indian Express
2 days ago
- General
- Indian Express
How an Indore man transformed barren land into a thriving forest
Written by Disha Gupta Eighteen years ago, a 22-acre hillock outside Indore in Madhya Pradesh was nothing but a barren piece of land filled with stones. Today, the same land is a living forest with 40,000 pesticide- and fertiliser-free trees—a testament to the persistence of scientist-turned-environmentalist Dr Shankar Lal Garg. 'It was a fully barren, rocky hillock. There were no trees at all,' 75-year-old Garg recalls, adding that he first purchased the land in 2007 while he was working as a college principal. His dream was to build a university after retirement, he says. But by December 2015, reality struck. 'It would take Rs 50 crore to Rs 100 crore to build a college, and I did not have so much money,' he explains. Friends urged Garg to sell the 'useless' land, but he refused. When the monsoon clouds gathered in June 2016, Garg says, he made a decision. 'Let me try planting trees. If I fail, I still have the option to sell, I thought,' he says. The local villagers were not as optimistic as they thought it was a waste of time to plant trees when there was no water on the hill. But Garg was determined, he says. He drove 45 km from home daily and planted the first neem and banyan saplings. Within a year, Garg says, the transformation into 'Keshar Parvat' began. Tiny roots split boulders, trapped dust, and 'converted stones into soil', he says. Water followed. Garg says he trusted the sky more than fertilisers, and the gambit paid off. 'Monsoon comes with nitrogen and sulphur. That is enough for the whole year,' he explains. Not a single gram of pesticide has ever been sprayed on the hill. 'Let the insects and birds eat…that is their right,' he says. Garg's approach has been stubbornly low-tech: acclimatise saplings for 10 days before planting, place two species side by side like siblings, keep watering sparse so roots grow deep, and above all, maintain the trees. Over the years, a variety of trees have been planted on the land, including olives, Mexican date, dragon fruit, apple, cashew and saffron. Now, 500 species of trees lend their shade to Keshar Parvat, says Garg. Where wells once had to be drilled 600 feet deep, fresh groundwater now rises at 300 to 350 feet. A pond dug on the slope fills during rains and feeds a drip grid during the dry months, he adds. The green cover does more than enhance the scenery; it cools and hydrates the entire neighbourhood. On a May afternoon, Indore may sizzle at 43°C, but under Keshav Parvat's canopy, thermometers read 37°C, says Garg. 'Stand beneath five trees and you will not feel that it is hot. For nine years, we have not seen a drought. Trees attract rain,' he adds. With water tables rising, water pumps have begun to run for fewer hours, and electricity costs decreased, says Garg. Plastic water bottles that once came by the crate are less common now. Visitors drink from clay cups or refill their flasks at taps fed by the new well, he adds. With shade and water, the animals and birds followed. 'Hyenas, jackals, nilgai, rabbits and plenty of snakes and scorpions,' Garg rattles off a list. Bird-watchers have logged 30 species, and lepidopterists, 25 kinds of butterflies, he claims. Growing a forest without plastics or chemicals has not come cheap. Garg says he has invested more than ₹8 crore and still spends ₹3 lakh each month on maintaining the forest. Yet the land that cost ₹2 lakh per bigha in 2007 is now valued at ₹70 lakh, he points out. 'We do not sell the fruits. People come, eat whatever they like. God has helped me, why should I commercialise it?' he asks. The real profit, he insists, is in setting an example: a forest can rise on rock; rain can return; food can grow without fertiliser or pesticide. 'People say I have made heaven. I simply feel one with God here,' Garg adds. On World Environment Day, Keshar Parvat teaches an important lesson on how stones can be turned into soil even as Garg dreams of a future filled with trees. 'Every Indian must plant 125 trees,' says Garg, adding that he aims to plant 10,000 more trees on empty corners of the hill and guide local farmers to free their orchards of plastic and chemical sprays. 'One should take care of the future generation. You can only save the future generation if you grow more and more forests. If a tree is there, animals are there, insects are there…humans are doing well. Just start…nature always gives back more,' he adds.
Indian Express
24-05-2025
- Indian Express
No storage on your iPhone? 10 preinstalled apps you can delete without worry
There are many apps that come pre-installed on a brand-new iPhone, when you first unbox it and turn it on, which is generally a good thing. Without going to the App Store and downloading a slate of new apps, pre-installed apps help users quickly start using the web, checking their emails, streaming music, taking notes, and more. However, not everyone is going to make use of all of these pre-installed apps. Hence, by uninstalling the apps you don't actually need, you can save space on your phone and bandwidth as well, without app updates. Apple has made an increasing number of apps optional in recent years, so you can now remove more apps than you might have thought possible. The App Store makes it simple to download them, in case you find you are in need of these apps again. – Books: If you don't want to read any digital books, you can delete Apple's e-book library from your iPhone. It has been a part of iOS since 2014. – Compass: If you're sure you won't need it, you can safely uninstall this lesser-known app. The app was launched in 2009 along with iOS 3. – Freeform: It is an Apple-developed virtual brainstorming app that first became available in iOS in 2022. It is safe to remove from your iPhone without causing any issues. – Home: The Home app was initially introduced for iPhones in 2016. But you can remove this app without any problems as Apple's smart home platform hasn't been its biggest success. – Journal: Since 2023, Journal has been available on iPhones, enabling users to document recollections on a daily basis. But you can remove this app if journaling isn't for you or if you've discovered a better alternative. – Magnifier: Although it may have gone unnoticed on iOS, the Magnifier app has been a stand-alone, preinstalled app on iPhones since 2020. – Measure: Since iOS 12, this utility app has been included free of charge with every iPhone. It can be taken off if you don't need to measure anything on your iPhone. – News: You can easily delete this if you're not getting your news fix via Apple's News app. The first time it appeared in iOS was in 2015. – TV: All of your Apple films and television series are available through the Apple TV app, which has been available as a stand-alone app since 2016. But if you don't have an Apple TV subscription, you have the option to remove the app. – Reminders: Reminders, which have been a part of iOS since 2011, can be removed if you're utilising a different app for this purpose. While other apps such as Health, Mail, Maps, Contacts, Notes, Playground, Passwords, Podcasts, Shortcuts, Stocks, Tips, Translate, Watch, and Weather can also be uninstalled, these pre-installed apps could end up coming in handy. Hence, it would not be a good idea to uninstall them unless there is no other option to increase storage on your iPhone. (This article has been curated by Disha Gupta, who is an intern with The Indian Express)
Indian Express
23-05-2025
- Science
- Indian Express
Four asteroids, including a stadium-sized one, speeding towards Earth
Earth is set to witness the close, but safe, passage of several massive asteroids in the coming days. According to NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, four asteroids will fly by Earth between May 23 and May 25, 2025. The largest of the group is asteroid 387746 (2003 MH4), measuring approximately 1,100 feet, which is roughly the size of a stadium. On May 23, asteroid 2025 KC, which is almost the size of a house, will fly by Earth at a safe distance of 636,000 km, posing no threat to the planet. On May 24, two more asteroids – 2025 KL and 387746 (2003 MH4), will make their closest approaches, passing at 1,910,000 km and 4,150,000 km respectively. Finally, 2025 KM will skim past Earth on May 25, with its closest approach estimated at 960,000 km. Asteroids, also known as planetoids, are rocky objects that orbit the Sun. While many originate within our solar system, formed during its early years, some may come from interstellar space. Although these space rocks frequently pass Earth, most reside in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. While the majority of asteroids are harmless, a collision with a massive one could cause significant destruction. Asteroid spotting is a routine part of modern space observation. Owing to advanced telescopes and monitoring programs like NASA's Near-Earth Object Observations, scientists regularly monitor thousands of space rocks to assess any potential threats. Most of these asteroids pass harmlessly, but spotting them early is important for planetary defence. This data also aids researchers in understanding the solar system's history. Tracking these space rocks allows for precise orbital calculations, and in rare cases of potential impact. Most importantly, it gives us time to prepare or deflect the threat in advance. NASA reports that car-sized meteorites strike Earth roughly once a year. Meanwhile, football-field-sized asteroids pass by about once every 2,000 years. The damage from an asteroid impact depends on its mass, speed, angle of entry, and the location of impact. Fortunately, most space rocks are statistically more likely to fall into oceans or uninhabited regions. (This article has been curated by Disha Gupta, intern at The Indian Express.)
Indian Express
22-05-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Gold Today Rate, 22 May: Check 18, 22 and 24 carat gold prices Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and other cities
Gold Today Rate: As of today, the price of gold in India is as follows: ₹9,791 per gram for 24 karat gold, ₹8,975 per gram for 22 karat gold, and ₹7,344 per gram for 18 karat gold. Recently, gold experienced a decline of approximately $300, falling by more than 3% after the US-China trade agreement, which occurred after it reached an all-time high of $3,500 on April 22, according to Financial Express. Despite these fluctuations, gold has historically been regarded as a reliable hedge against inflation and has become an increasingly important investment for many investors. Gold Price in Delhi Today: 18 carat gold is priced at ₹7,356 per gram in Delhi today. Yesterday, it was available for ₹7,319 per gram in the market. 22 carat gold is priced at ₹8,990 per gram in Delhi today. Yesterday, it was available for ₹8,945 per gram in the market. 24 carat gold is priced at ₹9,806 per gram in Delhi today. Yesterday, it was available for ₹9,757 per gram in the market. Gold Price in Mumbai Today: 18 carat gold is priced at ₹7,344 per gram in Mumbai today. Yesterday, it was available for ₹7,307 per gram in the market. 22 carat gold is priced at ₹8,975 per gram in Mumbai today. Yesterday, it was available for ₹8,930 per gram in the market. 24 carat gold is priced at ₹9,791 per gram in Mumbai today. Yesterday, it was available for ₹9,742 per gram in the market. Gold Price in Bangalore Today: 18 carat gold is priced at ₹7,344 per gram in Bangalore today. Yesterday, it was available for ₹7,307 per gram in the market. 22 carat gold is priced at ₹8,975 per gram in Bangalore today. Yesterday, it was available for ₹8,930 per gram in the market. 24 carat gold is priced at ₹9,791 per gram in Bangalore today. Yesterday, it was available for ₹9,742 per gram in the market. Gold Price in Chennai Today: 18 carat gold is priced at ₹7,395 per gram in Chennai today. Yesterday, it was available for ₹7,360 per gram in the market. 22 carat gold is priced at ₹8,975 per gram in Chennai today. Yesterday, it was available for ₹8,930 per gram in the market. 24 carat gold is priced at ₹9,791 per gram in Chennai today. Yesterday, it was available for ₹9,742 per gram in the market. Gold Price in Hyderabad Today: 18 carat gold is priced at ₹7,344 per gram in Hyderabad today. Yesterday, it was available for ₹7,307 per gram in the market. 22 carat gold is priced at ₹8,975 per gram in Hyderabad today. Yesterday, it was available for ₹8,930 per gram in the market. 24 carat gold is priced at ₹9,791 per gram in Hyderabad today. Yesterday, it was available for ₹9,742 per gram in the market. (This article has been curated by Disha Gupta, who is an intern with The Indian Express.)
Indian Express
08-05-2025
- Indian Express
How can AI help you in your exam preparation? 6 useful study tips
Students consider final exams to be challenging, requiring long nights and intense research sessions. AI might be able to help lighten some of that workload. Since its burst in popularity, generative AI has mostly been viewed negatively in the field of education, with many thinking it compromises academic integrity and standards. However, AI can also be a helpful assistant that can help students make the most out of their study material. However, it's important to remember that AI tools are prone to generating inaccurate or misleading information without any credible sources. Students must also use such AI tools in compliance with their university's guidelines regarding AI usage. When AI is used responsibly, it can enhance your study routine without replacing critical thinking. Many professors assign end-of-semester papers that match the difficulty level of a final examination. Because of their weightage in terms of your grade, these papers might require high levels of analysis and research. AI can be useful in this situation. You can use it to support your writing, including to create essay outlines, find sources, and brainstorm essay ideas. Exam preparation often involves the challenging work of sorting through a semester's worth of notes and figuring out the most important points to study. In this case, you can ask an AI chatbot to arrange or summarise your notes for you rather than doing it yourself. Users can upload any information they have and use Google's NotebookLM Audio Overviews tool to make an interesting podcast out of it, with two AI hosts talking about the material. This can be especially helpful if you want to make the most of your study time by listening to your notes and test materials in a conversational manner when you are commuting, cooking, exercising, or going for a walk. Sometimes, no matter how much you read or study, the topic might just not make any sense. In those situations, you can use an AI chatbot to help you understand complicated phrases by breaking them down into smaller, simpler sections. Nowadays, the majority of AI chatbots are multimodal. They are able to produce images, charts, and other visual elements, in addition to other types of outputs. The GPT-4o image processing upgrade within ChatGPT significantly improved the quality of its images. It can now generate charts and other visualisations as well as realistic text and photographs. Like AI models, your brain learns best through active recall. Use AI tools to generate flashcards, practice questions, and teach-back concepts. Reviewing errors helps you adjust, just like training algorithms. This sharpens memory and boosts retention for exam week. (This article has been curated by Disha Gupta, who is an intern with
