Latest news with #UdayKumar
News18
3 days ago
- General
- News18
Meet Uday Kumar, The Jharkhand Man Who Trained 40,000 Girls For Karate Free Of Cost
Last Updated: Uday Kumar has trained 40,000 rural girls in free Karate over 32 years, empowering them with self-defence skills, confidence, and a chance to shine nationally Uday Kumar, a respected Karate instructor from Hazaribagh district in Jharkhand, has spent the past 32 years providing free Karate training to girls from rural areas. His mission: to help them become self-reliant, confident, and capable of defending themselves. Training Thousands, Creating Champions Throughout his career, he has trained nearly 40,000 girls. Many of his students have gone on to win medals at both state and national levels, bringing immense pride to the region. Inspired by Childhood and Trained Across Borders Speaking to Local18, Uday shared that his passion for Karate began in childhood. He trained under several seasoned instructors in India and abroad before returning to Hazaribagh to teach. His motivation stemmed from a deep understanding of the social challenges faced by girls, including harassment and safety concerns. He saw Karate as a way to build not just physical strength, but self-confidence and resilience. From Resistance To Recognition Initially, Uday faced resistance from rural communities. Convincing families to let their daughters train was a major hurdle. But with time and growing trust, more and more girls joined his programme, and some now teach Karate themselves in other villages. Uday Kumar believes that while urban areas often have access to sports and training facilities, rural girls are left behind. This gap fuelled his determination to travel to villages and provide training where it was needed most. A Lasting Legacy Of Empowerment Uday Kumar's initiative has become a shining example of how dedication and a service-minded approach can transform lives. His unwavering commitment continues to inspire change across rural Jharkhand and beyond. view comments First Published: 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
22-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Soon, wait in AC bus shelters at four locations
Chennai: Weary commuters will get air-conditioned bus shelters at four locations in the city: Kolathur, Royapuram, Wall Tax Road, and Perambur. Tenders have been floated by the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA)to execute the 8 crore project. Announced during the Budget session of the state assembly, the shelters will have 78 seats each at Kolathur, Royapuram, and Wall Tax Road, and 54 seats at Perambur. Toilets for men and women and a borewell for water supply will also be provided. The built-up area ranges from 1,265sqft. at Perambur to 1,754sqft. at the other three locations. CMDA has set a four-month timeline for completion from the date of handing over the site to the contractor. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai "With Chennai's summers, air-conditioned bus stops will significantly improve the daily experience for commuters. When public spaces are thoughtfully designed, people are more likely to use public transport. This will have a big impact on sustainable mobility," said a senior CMDA official. While the move has drawn praise, commuters say it's incomplete without restoring air-conditioned bus services. "I take the bus to Royapuram every day. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Up to 70% off | Libas Purple Days Sale Libas Undo An AC shelter is welcome, but we hardly see AC buses anymore. Earlier, services ran from Perambur to Besant Nagar, Avadi to Tambaram — even from Central to Thiruvanmiyur. The city needs them back," said Uday Kumar, a commuter. "The key challenge will be maintenance. Without proper upkeep and commuter discipline the facilities may not last. The city's first air-conditioned bus stop in Asargana, opposite Alandur Metro station, is now defunct. It was opened to the public in 2015 and was built for 1.25 crore," said M Somasundaram, member of a voluntary consumer group for MTC.
NDTV
17-07-2025
- Sport
- NDTV
Top Defence Official Meets Mountaineering Team That Scaled Everest, Kilimanjaro
New Delhi: Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh on Thursday formally flagged off mountaineering expeditions to Mount Everest and Mount Kilimanjaro, saying these two achievements have set a new benchmark for youth in leadership in adventure sports activities. "By successfully summiting Mount Everest and Mount Kilimanjaro, the teams have set new benchmarks to inspire young mountaineers across the country and the world at large," he said. The expedition to Mount Everest was conducted to commemorate 60 years of the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM), Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand. It was organised in collaboration with the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI), Darjeeling, West Bengal and Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering and Winter Sports (JIM&WS), Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir. Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh today flagged-in the successful mountaineering expeditions to Mt #Everest and Mt #Kilimanjaro, undertaken by teams from premier MoD institutes including NIM, @HMIDarjeeling, @jimwsofficial and NIMAS. The Kilimanjaro expedition featured a… — Ministry of Defence, Government of India (@SpokespersonMoD) July 17, 2025 The expedition to Mount Kilimanjaro (Africa's highest peak) was organised by HMI and undertaken by a team comprising a Divyangjan member, Uday Kumar, having a 91 per cent above-knee amputation. In his address, the Defence Secretary lauded the indomitable spirit, determination and courage of both the teams, emphasising that these missions were not just about scaling the peaks, but also about showcasing India's mountaineering excellence and leadership in adventure sports activities. Rajesh Kumar Singh added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has always emphasised the importance of youth empowerment, self-reliance and adventure as a source of building a strong, resilient and fearless India. He termed the four mountaineering institutes of the Ministry of Defence - HMI, NIM, JIM&WS and National Institute of Mountaineering and Adventure Sports (NIMAS) - as shining examples of this vision. The expedition to Mount Everest was led by Principal, NIM Col Anshuman Bhadauria. The other team members were Col Hem Chandra Singh (Deputy Leader) and instructors from the three institutes, Rakesh Singh Rana, Sub Bahadur Pahan, Hav Rajendra Mukhiya, Nk Thupstan Tsewang and Pasang Tenzing Sherpa. The team climbed through the Khumbu Valley and summited Mount Everest, the world's highest peak, on May 23, 2025. This expedition was aimed at providing first-hand Everest experience to instructors, enabling them to inspire and train future generations of mountaineers. The Mount Kilimanjaro expedition was led by Principal, HMI, Darjeeling Group, Capt Jai Kishan. The other team members were Captain Shruti, Sub Mahendra Kumar Yadav, Pawel Sharma and Sulaxchana Tamang. On August 8, 2024, the expedition team set a world record by displaying the largest national flag atop Mount Kilimanjaro. Subsequently, the team displayed the national flag underwater at a depth of 35 feet in the Indian Ocean off Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, followed by the first-ever tandem skydive by a Divyangjan team on the African continent. This expedition set milestones across all three domains, land, water and air, proving that no frontier is beyond reach.
News18
16-07-2025
- Business
- News18
Who Designed Rupee Symbol? The Story Of 2 Architects — One Rose To Fame, Other Forgotten
Last Updated: Until 2010, India didn't have an official currency symbol. People just used "Rs"—a plain abbreviation with no real identity. Most of us see the Indian rupee symbol (₹) every day. It appears on shop boards, banknotes and digital screens. It feels so familiar now that we rarely think about where it came from. But the story behind its design is far more layered than most people know. An Instagram video has gone viral tracing the 'Behind the Scenes' story of this symbol that gave India's currency a new face. Until 2010, India didn't have an official currency symbol. People just used 'Rs"—a plain abbreviation with no real identity. That changed when the government held a National Design Competition to find a new symbol. The winning design was created by a young architect named Uday Kumar. His symbol was a beautiful mix of the Devanagari 'Ra' (र) and the Roman 'R', crossed with two horizontal lines. It was simple, modern and instantly recognisable. Naturally, Uday got the spotlight. His symbol became the face of Indian currency. But there's more to this story. The creator said, 'Five years before the competition, another architect—Nondita Correa-Mehrotra—had the same idea. In 2005, she asked a basic but powerful question: Why doesn't India have a proper symbol for its currency?" She noticed how symbols like the dollar, euro, and yen carried more than just value. They carried pride, identity, and global presence. So she sketched her version—a Devanagari 'Ra' (र) with two small horizontal lines near the top. She didn't keep it to herself. She sent the design to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and even the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). She never heard back. In 2010, when the official competition was announced, something interesting happened. Many of the top designs looked very similar to Nondita's 2005 sketch. She even entered the competition again and made it to the top five. The video concluded saying, 'Let's be honest: Uday Kumar's design was clean, clear, and deserved to win. But Nondita's early effort may have sparked the idea in the first place. She helped start a conversation long before it was trendy or official." It's no surprise that both of these designers were trained architects. Architecture isn't just about buildings. It's about systems, symbols and how design can shape a country's identity. view comments First Published: July 16, 2025, 09:38 IST 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
13-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Kushalnagar municipality begins legacy waste treatment
Madikeri: Kushalnagar municipality has started the treatment of legacy waste, marking a significant step towards clearing the long-standing waste accumulation in Bhuvanagiri. The municipality waste processing facility in Bhuvanagiri village under Kudige gram panchayat is witnessing substantial progress in various projects under the Swachh Bharat Mission , including essential legacy waste treatment operations. Following the completion of tender procedures, the project received approval with a budget of Rs 3.50 crore. The facility, which was overwhelmed with waste for 15 years, posed health risks through infectious diseases, causing significant concerns for nearby residents. Madikeri constituency MLA Manthar Gowda brought this matter to govt attention, initiating waste treatment under the Swachh Bharat scheme. The project receives funding from municipal resources alongside central and state govt contributions. Besides, four new waste processing units will be established at Rs 75 lakh, with auxiliary equipment costing Rs 33 lakh. The facility will employ technology to segregate waste into wet, dry, plastic and other categories. Health officer Uday Kumar said additional development works at the waste processing facility has also started.
