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Time of India
18-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Meet the Indian royal princess who became Queen Victoria's ‘goddaughter' but forgotten legacy of empire
Source: The Better India At just 11 years old, Princess Gouramma of Coorg became the goddaughter of Queen Victoria, symbolizing what many in Britain viewed as a triumph of empire and civilizing mission. But behind the fanfare was a much darker truth. Her life—rooted in royalty, torn by war, and reshaped by colonial expectations—ultimately became a somber lesson in cultural erasure. Born to the last king of Coorg, Gouramma's journey from South India to Victorian England was filled with symbolic conversions, emotional betrayals, and tragic isolation. Her story remains a powerful case study of how colonialism often demanded the costliest sacrifices from those it claimed to protect. Queen Victoria 's goddaughter Princess Gouramma's journey from Coorg royalty Princess Gouramma, daughter of Chikka Virarajendra, was born into the royal household of the Kodagu (Coorg) kingdom. Her privileged life came to an abrupt end in 1834 when the Coorg War resulted in her father's defeat and the annexation of the kingdom by the British East India Company. Branded a political prisoner, her father spent over a decade in exile in Benaras. In 1852, with dreams of justice and integration, the deposed king traveled to England with Gouramma. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Flexible MBA by SRM—Apply Now! SRM Online Apply Now Undo His aim: to seek restitution and secure his daughter's future. Their arrival marked a historical milestone—they became the first known Indian royals to visit Britain. The king prioritized finding protection for Gouramma in the Christian world, paving the way for her introduction into elite British society. Source: The Better India How Princess Gouramma became part of Queen Victoria's royal circle The young princess caught the attention of Queen Victoria, who formally baptized her and renamed her Victoria Gouramma of Coorg. While this adoption appeared as an embrace, it actually transformed her into a symbol of imperial conquest. Her conversion to Christianity and integration into aristocratic life were seen as the 'civilizing' of an exotic other—a living endorsement of the British imperial agenda. According to scholar Chandrica Barua, Gouramma's life was shaped more by cultural estrangement than courtly affection. Stripped of her language, identity, and heritage, she was groomed to fit Victorian norms. Raised under the guardianship of Major and Mrs. Drummond, she lost touch with Kannada and could no longer speak to her father. Queen Victoria's diaries, often referring to her as the 'poor little princess,' hinted at both affection and underlying racial condescension. Princess Gouramma's lonely marriage and fading royal dream in Victorian England Though celebrated in social circles for her manners and elegance, Gouramma never found true acceptance. Her godmother, Queen Victoria, tried to arrange a marriage between her and Maharaja Duleep Singh, another Indian royal raised under British influence. That union never materialized. Instead, Gouramma married Colonel John Campbell, a man nearly 50 years her senior—an arrangement that later revealed itself as more financial than affectionate. Her marriage brought little comfort. Gouramma, now a mother to a daughter named Edith, was left emotionally and physically alone. Campbell showed little interest in either her or their child. Health complications, particularly tuberculosis, began to take a toll. Historian Dr. Priya Atwal later revealed that Queen Victoria forbade Gouramma from seeing her father, fearing his 'heathen' influence—further severing the few ties she had to her past. Princess Victoria Gouramma's forgotten grave and the rediscovery of her legacy Victoria Gouramma died in 1864 at just 22 years old. Her passing was quiet, her grave in Brompton Cemetery overlooked for decades. Many believed her lineage ended there—until author C.P. Belliappa uncovered that Gouramma's descendants, including Robert Yardley, live on in Australia. Rare family photographs later surfaced, shared by a descendant of Colonel Campbell's first wife, restoring some humanity to a life so often told through colonial lenses. Princess Gouramma's story is not just a tragic tale of a displaced royal—it is a profound commentary on the costs of assimilation, the illusion of imperial acceptance, and the racialized hierarchy masked by politeness. Celebrated as a model of colonial success, she was ultimately abandoned by the very empire that had once championed her. Her legacy is a quiet warning about the price paid by those who are forced to trade identity for acceptance and heritage for survival. Also Read | Kristin Cabot's old LinkedIn post goes viral after Astronomer CEO Andy Byron caught in alleged affair at Coldplay concert; 'I win trust with CEOs…'
Indian Express
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
‘India's first painter dog': Once abandoned, Dali the labrador now paints to raise money for injured strays
Once abandoned and left tied up at just 45 days old, a Labrador named Dali is now winning hearts as a budding artist. With a brush in her mouth and a purpose behind every stroke, Dali – named after the iconic Spanish surrealist Salvador Dali by her humans – is using her talent to support stray dog rescue efforts. And she's doing it in style. 'She used to snatch the brush from my husband, who is an artist,' Hoi Choudhury, who adopted Dali, told the Press Trust of India (PTI). 'She'd run off with it playfully. One of our friends joked that maybe it's her way of protesting, maybe she actually wants to be part of it. So we let her try, and when she touched the canvas, we were overjoyed. It was like she was saying, 'I want to paint too!'' she said. That moment sparked something beautiful. Dali now creates expressive abstract paintings using a custom-designed, dog-friendly brush that Snehangshu Debnath, Choudhury's partner, made at home. 'We did some research and realised we needed a dog-friendly brush, something she could hold comfortably in her mouth. So, we made one at home using a wooden block, carefully carved to fit her jaw,' he told PTI. Dali's colourful creations eventually led to the launch of a limited-edition calendar featuring twelve of her most popular works. 'We thought we would sell these paintings worldwide and the entire money would go for the rescue and treatment of stray dogs. And it happened and people appreciated it and purchased it,' Debnath said. VIDEO | Meet Dali, the #Hyderabad Labrador who paints. This 2-year-old Labrador is named after the renowned Spanish artist Salvador Dali, and for good reason. She loves dabbling with brushes and paint to create abstract artworks that have captured public attention. A Hyderabad… — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 12, 2025 According to The Better India, Dali's paintings have already helped raise Rs 35,000, which has been directed towards the medical care of injured and abandoned strays. A post shared by The Better India (@thebetterindia) Her story has since gone viral, touching thousands online. One user wrote, 'I will never understand how people can hurt or abandon a pet.' Another commented, 'She is a sweetheart. God bless the couple who adopted her.' An Instagram user who bought Dali's calendar, said, 'I'm so glad to have your calendar with some of your paintings!!! Beautiful works of art!!' 'Cutest painter I have ever seen,' said another Instagram user. Today, Dali even has her own Instagram page with nearly 50K followers, where she's lovingly described as 'India's 1st Painter Dog.'
India.com
17-07-2025
- Science
- India.com
Meet IAS Saumya Jha who is solving biggest problem, using AI to help ...., is now posted at...
Certain IAS officers have made significant contributions to society, and Saumya Jha is one of those IAS officers. Saumya Jha, as the IAS officer in charge of the Tonk district, was instrumental in launching the 'Padhai with AI' initiative to revolutionize education in Rajasthan. By combining advanced technology with excellent community engagement, it aims to make learning more interactive, inclusive, and effective for students. When Saumya visited local schools in the district, she gleaned some information. This creative project was born out of this realization, when she recognized the alarming gap between students' aspirations and their actual academic performances. According to The BetterIndia report, Saumya stated, 'I was pleasantly surprised by their responses. Beyond the usual dreams of becoming doctors or teachers, many aspired to work with cutting-edge technology like AI, robotics, and drones. But I noticed a troubling gap — very few were opting for science streams, largely due to low confidence in core subjects like mathematics, which is most aligned with their ambitions.' IAS officer Saumya Jha noted that students' academic achievements in Tonk were impacted by various reasons: first, inconsistent classroom teaching, which was often an outcome of teachers being assigned election work; and second, fluctuations in attendance that typically occur when families are involved in farming (e.g., now during the Rabi season). Families are drawn toward agricultural work, especially during the Rabi season, which effectively steals their children's learning when students should be focusing on preparing for exams. To address the learning gaps in Tonk, IAS officer Saumya Jha initiated the 'Padhai with AI' scheme in September, which uses artificial intelligence to engage students in a new way and to bridge the gaps in education. The core of 'Padhai with AI' is an intelligent bilingual AI tutor that helps students learn difficult topics with ease. It answers textbook questions in real time and re-answers the question with different explanations with refresh. It allows the teacher to create unlimited practice tests with variations of question types and various difficulty levels. Saumya, a 2017-batch IAS officer, has taken to calling the programme her 'brainchild', which has stemmed from her own experiences, insights, and professional journey herself. The first phase of the programme was launched in September 2024, and with the launch of Version 2 in January 2025, hit a major upgrade away from the pilot model in September. Version 2 includes a structured teaching calendar, active weekly assessment of students, advanced performance analytics, etc. Saumya also has the AI portal highlight the top performing students, which in turn encourages students to improve their performance as well. At present, the programme is running in all 353 government senior secondary schools across the district.
Time of India
16-07-2025
- Lifestyle
- Time of India
Meet Abhishek Reddy: 25-year-old influencer who quit Rs. 1.5 crore job to start farming in Manali
Abhishek Reddy, a man from Andhra Pradesh, had quit his job at a prominent Hyderabad start-up to come to the peaceful forests of Manali to start farming. The 25-year-old had planned his life out in two parts. He wanted to work till he was 35 and then take an early retirement and partake in his bucket list thereafter. However, life took an unexpected turn, and Abhishek gave up the Rs 1.5 crore per annum job to settle in Obulapuram village near Pamidi town. He ran a farm with his mother and sister, and the 25-year-old was living his best life. He told reporters that his "Life is bindaas". He became the symbol for all the corporate employees who had dreamed of living a life filled with solitude, happiness, and freedom. Abhishek Reddy has now moved to Manali Recently, The Better India reached out to the idol of 'corporate slaves' and found out that he is now residing in the dense forests of Manali. He learnt the principles of permaculture (A design system for creating sustainable human settlements and agricultural systems by mimicking natural ecosystems), and implemented them to build a farm healthy enough for the environment. He made layers in the farm with tall canopy trees and produced fruits like mangoes, guava, and jackfruit. Abhishek's success on Instagram brought him two new disciples to his place in Manali. One is an artist from Kerala, Ponni M Nath, and another is his 38-year-old friend, Rency. Ponni M Nath told The Better India about how Abhishek truly cares about the ecosystem and works diligently to build a sustainable future for everyone. She said, "He approaches farming as an art form, blending intuition with science. I spent the day learning about permaculture principles, how every plant, every section of the land, is part of a carefully balanced ecosystem. He walked slowly among the crops, adjusting branches with care and even talking to the plants, as if each one had its own story to tell. And the meal he prepared for me, made entirely from produce grown on the farm, was the freshest and most delicious I have ever tasted'. Abhishek Reddy's journey from corporate hustle to being an influencer Abhishek Reddy has become a known face over social media for his educational videos on permaculture practices and sustaining a healthy environment. Howver, his journey was not easy. He gave up the typical 'Indian dream' job to partake in his interests. "First, I had started my own web designing company in Hyderabad, where I would also offer creative branding ideas to companies. One of my clients liked my work so much that they offered me a Rs 1.5 crore per annum job, and since it was an exciting prospect, I took it up only to end up working about 15 hours a day in the office," Reddy told Moneycontrol in 2024. He left the job soon enough to move to his hometown in Andhra Pradesh and buy a farm to settle with his family. After a few months, the 25-year-old got significantly popular on Instagram, sharing his agricultural journey with his 753k followers. Additionally, he also shares reels on historic facts about Manali's forests, dos and don'ts for tourists, and other educational videos. He goes by the name Silly Sensei on Instagram. This 25-year-old man had defied all odds and given up a lavish, materialistic life to breathe fresh air under the bright sun. His journey from the top of the corporate world to being a significant environmental influencer in dense forests is one of the inspiring stories our young generations must know. The stressful and challenging corporate world will grow without Abhishek Reddy, but who will step up like Abhishek to pursue their dream? The question remains, and the new generation must step out of the 'corporate race' bubble and choose what they truly want to be remembered for in their life.
News18
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
DYK Panchayat 4 Fame ‘Bhushan' Durgesh Kumar Went To NSD? His ID Card Goes Viral
Last Updated: Durgesh Kumar aka Banrakas' ID card from the National School of Drama has been making rounds on the internet. Durgesh Kumar, aka Bhushan, from the popular web series Panchayat, is one of the most favourite characters in the comedy drama. Also known as Banrakas, the actor's character has carved a niche of his own in the four seasons of the series with his quick liners like 'Dekh rahe ho, Binod?" and others. Despite not being the lead, Durgesh's acting stint indeed lit up screens. But did you know about his journey in the world of glam and glitz? Recently, his ID card from the National School of Drama went viral. Durgesh Kumar got training at the National School of Drama before embarking on his acting journey in both theatre and on the silver screen. Now, a picture of the actor's identification card from the time he used to get training at the National School of Drama has been making the rounds on the internet. The actor, who has won many hearts with his mischievous stunts, sly humour and unforgettable nature in all four seasons of Panchayat, looked unrecognisable in the ID card. The picture featured the image of a young Durgesh, full of enthusiasm and hope to make it big in the industry. It was issued on July 25, 2012 and was valid till July 14, the following year. Check out Durgesh Kumar's ID card, which had resurfaced on the internet after multiple years: View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Better India (@thebetterindia) Reacting to it, one user said, 'The acting is far better than what I've seen in the Indian film industry." Another mentioned, 'We need such talent to be on top." 'Aapka bhi comeback ho gya," read a hilarious comment. Someone mentioned, 'Abki baar Banrakas sarkar." One more person added, 'So happy to see the growth! Congratulations." The 40-year-old actor, who had come a long way in his career, also shared yet another photo from one of his identification cards on Instagram. Alongside the photo, he wrote, 'Jab mein chota bachcha tha National School of Drama, New Delhi, India 2008 to 2011." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Durgesh Kumar (@ Coming to Durgesh Kumar's journey in the world of glam and glitz, the theatre veteran underwent many struggles before bagging a prominent role. As per The Better India, born in Darbhanga, Bihar, Durgesh moved to Delhi back in 2001. Initially, he left his hometown with dreams of becoming an engineer, but destiny had other plans for him. He couldn't clear the entrance exams and got enrolled in a course at IGNOU. This is when he found his calling in theatre and street plays. Eventually, he began his training at the National School of Drama and kept taking up roles that came his way, no matter how small they were. Finally, it was his casting in Panchayat that helped him rise to immense stardom. Talking about the same in a conversation with TOI, he said, 'People only see the success of Panchayat, but the truth is, I've struggled for 12 years to reach here." Talking about Panchayat, the latest instalment of the web series stars Jitendra Kumar as Abhishek Tripathi, Chandan Roy as Vikas, Sanvikaa as Rinki, Neena Gupta as Manju Devi Dubey, Faisal Malik as Prahlad, Ashok Pathak as Binod, Durgesh Kumar as Bhushan, Sunita Rajwar as Kranti Devi, and Pankaj Jha as the corrupt MLA Chandra Kishore Singh, among others, all set for yet another round of compelling storyline. First Published:
