Latest news with #OmPrakashSahu
Time of India
27-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
From guns to gills: Modi hails Gumla's Blue Revolution started by ‘rebel'
Gumla: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday named Gumla's Om Prakash Sahu for "leaving illegal revolution and taking the country's 'Blue Revolution' to new heights". Interestingly, Prakash took to "revolution" as a member of the outlawed PLFI, a breakaway faction of CPI(Maoist), but over a decade and a half later, he has become the poster boy for the silent Blue Revolution in Gumla and the country. In 2008, Basia Block's Sahu was one of the local Gumla youths who took to arms when extremism was at its peak here. On Sunday, PM Modi in his monthly 'Maan ki Baat' talk show, cited how many people like Sahu have shunned the path of violence and are playing a big role in fish farming. Opening his talk show, Modi said, "Sometimes the most radiant light emerges from where darkness dwells the most. One such example is the Gumla district of Jharkhand. There was a time when this area was known for Maoist violence. The villages of the Basia block were getting deserted. People lived in the shadow of fear. There was no possibility of employment, lands were lying vacant, and the youths were migrating… but then, a change began quietly. A young man named Om Prakash Sahu ji left the path of violence. He started fish farming. Then he inspired many friends like himself to do the same." He added, "His efforts had an immense impact. Those who were taking to guns have now taken up fishing nets. "Friends, Om Prakash Sahu ji's beginning was not easy. There were protests and threats, but his courage did not wane. When the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana was launched, he gained new strength. He received training from the govt…and help in making ponds… and within no time, the fishery revolution started in Gumla. " He added, "Today, more than 150 families of Basia block have joined fish farming. Many people were once Naxalites, but they are now living a life of respect in their villages and even providing employment to others. This journey of Gumla teaches us – if the path is right and there is trust in the mind, the lamp of development can be lit even in the most difficult circumstances."
New Indian Express
27-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
PM Modi highlights Gumla youth's remarkable shift from extremism to fish farming in 'Mann Ki Baat'
RANCHI: In the 124th episode of 'Mann Ki Baat' on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spotlighted the inspiring transformation of a youth from Jharkhand's Maoist-affected Gumla district, who left behind a life of extremism to embrace fish farming and inspire hundreds to do the same. The Prime Minister's remarks referred to Om Prakash Sahu, whose journey from a 'red rebel' to a 'blue warrior' was earlier reported by The Morning Standard in its July 6 edition. The PM praised Sahu for rejecting violence and becoming a catalyst for social change and employment in his village. 'Sometimes the brightest light emerges from where there is the most darkness. The best example of this is Gumla district of Jharkhand, where there was a time when this area was known for Maoist violence. The villages of Basia block were becoming deserted… people were living in the shadow of fear, there was no possibility of employment, lands were lying vacant and the youth were migrating... But then, quietly and with a lot of patience, a change began," said PM Modi. "A youth named Om Prakash Sahu ji left the path of violence and started fish farming. Then he inspired many friends like him to do the same… his efforts had an impact… those who earlier held guns are now holding fishing nets,' added PM Modi. He noted that Sahu's beginning was not easy. 'There were protests and life threats, but he did not lose courage. When Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) was introduced, he got new strength, received training from the government, and within no time, the blue revolution started in Gumla,' the Prime Minister added. According to PM Modi, more than 150 families in the Basia block of Gumla are now engaged in fish farming, many of whom were allegedly once associated with Maoist organisations. 'Now, they are living a dignified life in their own village, creating employment for others,' he said.
New Indian Express
06-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Red rebel turns blue warrior
JHARKHAND : They say, true revolution stems from necessity, and a strong sense of justice. Om Prakash Sahu's decision to exit the Maoist organisation came out of the realisation that they were being exploited by the top leaders, which paved the way for a small revolution among fellow ex-Maoists, who joined together to form a fish farming community in Gumla, Jharkhand. 'It was danger at every step when I left the organisation. Several attempts were made to kill me, but I survived each of them and fought on, with a group of 18-20 people. About 8-10 of my supporters got killed by the Maoists, but I did not lose hope and moved on with my stone crusher business. The government later banned the stone crusher business in 2017, which left me unemployed' said Om Prakash Sahu. 'During this phase, my friend Jyoti Lakra, already a fish farmer, encouraged me to take up fish farming,' said Sahu. More than 200 families of the Basia Block of Gumla are indebted to Sahu for helping them with a livelihood. 'More than 150 ex-Maoists are directly or indirectly engaged with me in fish farming' said Sahu. Locals asserted that he wore his life on his sleeves and helped drag out Maoists from the region, which brought peace to the region. 'The training given by the fisheries department proved to be a turning point in my life,' said Sahu. Later, in 2024, he received assistance under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) for six ponds with advanced Recirculatory Aquaculture System (RAS) technology Ishwar Gope, 42, an ex-Maoist and friend of Sahu, now harvests eight quintals of fish worth `2,50,000 annually from a government pond. Likewise, Lakhan Singh, 51, had been doing fish farming traditionally in his own pond, but after meeting Sahu, started doing it in an organised way in the five ponds he owns and is making a good profit. Singh returned home after several years as a daily wage labourer, due to Sahu's efforts- he had to leave more than 150 acres of ancestral land when Maoist menace hit peak.
Time of India
04-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Lion dies in Ranchi Zoo
Ranchi: Shashank, a hybrid male lion inmate of the Bhagwan Birsa Biological Park in the city lost his long fight with cancer and succumbed to the tumour on Thursday, zoo authorities said. The 15-year-old big cat, a cross-breed between African and Asiatic lions, had a tumour in his stomach. This is the second death of a lion in the zoo within two months. Shashank had been under continuous medical supervision for the past month because of his health complications. Zoo officials said it had been showing signs of weakness and reduced appetite for some time. He was brought from Bengaluru's Banarghatta National Park in 2014. Birsa zoo vet Dr Om Prakash Sahu said the lion was undergoing treatment. "It gradually started avoiding food from the last few days and finally died on Thursday afternoon. An autopsy examination revealed that the lion was suffering from a cancerous tumour in the stomach, resulting in its death. Samples of the tumour have been sent to the Ranchi Veterinary College for a pathological test and a detailed examination," Sahu added. Ranchi: Shashank, a hybrid male lion inmate of the Bhagwan Birsa Biological Park in the city lost his long fight with cancer and succumbed to the tumour on Thursday, zoo authorities said. The 15-year-old big cat, a cross-breed between African and Asiatic lions, had a tumour in his stomach. This is the second death of a lion in the zoo within two months. Shashank had been under continuous medical supervision for the past month because of his health complications. Zoo officials said it had been showing signs of weakness and reduced appetite for some time. He was brought from Bengaluru's Banarghatta National Park in 2014. Birsa zoo vet Dr Om Prakash Sahu said the lion was undergoing treatment. "It gradually started avoiding food from the last few days and finally died on Thursday afternoon. An autopsy examination revealed that the lion was suffering from a cancerous tumour in the stomach, resulting in its death. Samples of the tumour have been sent to the Ranchi Veterinary College for a pathological test and a detailed examination," Sahu added.
Time of India
22-04-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Electrolytes, fruit-rich diet, air coolers for zoo animals to beat soaring mercury
Ranchi: The management of Ranchi's Bhagwan Birsa Biological Park has introduced a summer diet plan for all its animals from April 1 to help them beat the heat. Zoo officials said while air-coolers and fans have been set up in enclosures which house lions, tigers, leopards and both Himalayan and Sloth bears, the modified diet plan will be in effect till July to prevent heat related ailments. "Bears are being given fruits with high water content such as cucumber, watermelon, sweet lime, and mangoes, in addition to their regular diet of bread, bananas, and milk. The felines are being provided drinks enriched with glucon-D and electrolyte powder to prevent dehydration," Dr Om Prakash Sahu, vet at the zoo, said. Besides the animals, birds are being fed seasonal fruits such as papaya, cucumber, apples, and bananas, along with multivitamins. Besides sprinkling water on enclosure windows, elephants are being bathed twice a day to help them beat the heat.
