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Hans India
2 days ago
- General
- Hans India
How curiosity and creativity are transforming rural education in India
For Adhirath Sethi—author, entrepreneur, and trustee of the Agastya International Foundation—the journey of capturing Agastya's evolution into a movement of transformation was deeply personal. His book, 'The Moving of Mountains', is not just a commemoration of Agastya's 20-year journey; it is a compelling narrative of how access to curiosity and creativity can uplift entire communities. 'Access to science and creativity,' says Sethi, 'is not just about conducting experiments—it's about unlocking identity.' In rural India, where under-resourced schools often limit learning to rote memorisation, the idea of hands-on science can be alien to most children. 'When a mobile science lab rolls into a village, it's not just delivering lessons—it's delivering permission to imagine,' he reflects. 'It tells a child, 'You are allowed to ask questions, to think differently, to dream.' That's a powerful shift.' Agastya's approach begins with sparking curiosity but goes far beyond. Its educational model places equal emphasis on caring and confidence. 'What we realised,' says Sethi, 'is that children didn't just need tools to learn—they needed someone to believe in their ability to think. Curiosity leads to confidence, and confidence leads to action.' This model has proven especially powerful for girls. Over 424,000 of them have directly benefited from Agastya's programs, learning to code, innovate, and lead. But as Sethi explains, the path isn't easy. 'Systemic barriers like early marriage, limited mobility, and gender stereotypes often restrict a girl's potential before she even has a chance to explore it,' he says. 'Agastya flips that script by creating opportunities for girls to lead—especially through initiatives like the Young Instructor Leader (YIL) program.' In this program, girls are trained to teach others, instantly shifting them from learners to leaders. 'That transition—from being told what to do, to being looked up to—is profound,' Sethi says. 'It transforms not just the individual girl but also how her family and community perceive her.' One powerful story from 'The Moving of Mountains' features a young girl whose family was on the verge of selling their only cow after her father lost his job. Drawing on the problem-solving mindset she had gained through Agastya, she convinced her family to hold on. Shortly after, the cow gave birth to three calves. The resulting income helped stabilise the household, and the girl went on to pursue engineering. 'That wasn't just book learning,' says Sethi. 'It was applied intelligence, grounded empathy, and belief in one's ability to navigate crisis. Stories like this are what make Agastya's model so impactful.' For Sethi, 'The Moving of Mountains' is also a 'blueprint for change'—a phrase he uses intentionally. 'If we want to lift communities out of poverty, we have to stop seeing creativity as a luxury,' he asserts. 'It's foundational. Policymakers and educators must realise that mindset matters more than materials.' He draws an analogy from cricket. 'India has always had talent, but in the past, we judged players purely by statistics like batting averages. That didn't always produce match-winners. As we began to evaluate players more holistically, we saw real champions emerge.' Likewise, Sethi argues, education systems focused solely on marks fail to recognise children's real-world potential. 'Agastya shows us that when you look beyond the surface—beyond grades—you uncover hidden strengths. That's how you nurture children who become match-winners in life.' Sethi's deep-dive into the workings of Agastya involved conversations with everyone—from grassroots educators to senior leadership. What stood out, he says, was the organisation's soul. 'Despite having impacted over 25 million children, Agastya carries no air of self-congratulation,' he observes. 'There is a pervasive humility—an ethos of learning, not arrival.' He shares a memory of a mobile lab instructor who, even after years of service, confessed to feeling nervous before every session. 'He said he wanted to give his best to the children, every single time. That kind of quiet, unmeasured integrity—that's the heartbeat of Agastya.' Writing 'The Moving of Mountains' changed Sethi's own perspective on education and poverty. 'I used to think education was about information delivery,' he admits. 'But I've come to realise it's really about identity formation. The essential question isn't, 'What did the child learn?'—it's, 'What did the child come to believe about themselves after learning?'' He adds, 'Poverty is not just a lack of resources. It's a lack of opportunity to think freely, to ask 'why,' to express curiosity without fear. Agastya creates that opportunity. And that, to me, is where meaningful change begins.' Ultimately, 'The Moving of Mountains' is not merely a tribute to a successful NGO. It's a resonant call to educators, innovators, and changemakers across India. As Sethi writes, transformation doesn't come through grand reforms alone—it comes from one curious child, in one remote village, daring to think beyond their circumstances.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Bofors to boom with desi designed, developed ‘made in Nagpur' ammo
Nagpur: Nearly 40 years after the 155mm Bofors Howitzers were purchased, India is finally close to having entirely indigenously designed and developed ammunition for the famed guns that boomed in the Kargil war. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Though the gun itself was indigenized and inducted in 2019, the shells, though made domestically, were based on a South African design. The Indian 155mm ammunition has been designed by Armaments Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), an arm of the Defence Research and Development Organisation ( ). The new shells will be manufactured by Yantra India Limited (YIL) at its flagship unit — the Ordnance Factory Ambajhari at Nagpur. YIL is a public sector undertaking (PSU) formed out of the erstwhile Ordnance Factories in 2021. From the private sector, Anil Ambani's Reliance Infrastructure Ltd will also be making the shells, becoming the first private company to enter the segment. Reliance Infrastructure is planning to set up a manufacturing plant at Ratnagiri with an investment of Rs5,000 crore. All the new versions are expected to be inducted by 2026, said sources in the know of the development. Only YIL has been making these shells — since the pre-PSU days. These are based on a transfer of technology (TOT) sourced from Naschem, a South African defence manufacturer. The recent global conflicts have also triggered a major demand for the 155mm calibre shells. ARDE has developed four indigenous versions of the ammunition — high explosive (HE), smoke, illumination, and cargo. The HE shell is the basic variant. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The smoke version can provide a screen against detection by the enemy, while the illumination shells can light up the entire area after hitting the target. The cargo version has bomblets shooting out of the main shell, explained sources. User trials of the Indian high explosive version were conducted recently. The other three versions — smoke, illumination, and cargo — are at different stages of evaluation too, said sources. YIL will replace the existing extended range full bore (ERFB) version shells of Naschem design, which had nubs, an additional component fixed in the shells to ensure aerodynamic stability within the gun's barrel, said top sources. The Indian design does away with the need for fixing a nub. The shape was designed in such a way that the shell will be able to achieve stability on its own and even achieve a range of up to 36km. This is slightly longer than the shell made so far, said sources. As Yantra will be making empty shells, its sister PSU — Munitions India Limited — will fill them up with explosives. Around 10 Indian companies are part of Reliance's supply chain. The company hopes to get orders of Rs10,000 crore in 10 years, said a source. Box Imported to indigenous in 40 years After Swedish Bofors artillery guns were purchased in 1986, even the initial lot of ammunition came with it. Ordnance Factories then continued to make the M-107 ammunition based on Swedish technology. In 2000, a new design was adopted based on a transfer of technology with South African defence manufacturer Naschem Corporation. The factories continued to depend on Naschem for a base-bleed, a key component, until the mid-2000s. The supply was stopped after the company was blacklisted in around 2005. Eventually, the Ordnance Factories indigenized the base-bleed, which gives an extra thrust to the shell, though manufacturing continued as per the South African design. TNN
India Today
21-05-2025
- Business
- India Today
THE LOWDOWN: Are Sonia Gandhi, Rahul in trouble in the National Herald case?
News: The Enforcement Directorate has told a Delhi court that a prima facie case of money laundering was made out against senior Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case. On May 2, notices were issued to the accused, including Young National Herald case is an ongoing investigation involving allegations of financial irregularities, money laundering, and related offences against Sonia Gandhi, her son Rahul Gandhi, and other Congress leaders. The case originated from a private complaint filed in 2012 by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy in a Delhi accused Sonia and Rahul Gandhi of cheating, criminal misappropriation, and breach of trust in the acquisition of Associated Journals Limited (AJL) by Young Indian Limited (YIL).The Enforcement Directorate (ED) intensified its money laundering probe in November 2023, attaching assets worth Rs 751.9 crore linked to AJL and YIL. What is the National Herald?The National Herald newspaper was founded in 1938 by Jawaharlal Nehru and others to support India's independence newspaper was published by Associated Journals Limited (AJL), a not-for-profit company incorporated in 1937, which also published Qaumi Awaz (Urdu) and Navjeevan (Hindi).In 2008, AJL ceased publication of the National Herald and its sister publications due to financial difficulties, including significant are the roles of Sonia and Rahul Gandhi?In November 2010, Young Indian Limited (YIL), a not-for-profit company, was incorporated with Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi as majority shareholders, each holding 38% of the shares (totalling 76%). The paid-up capital of YIL was Rs 5 owed Rs 90.25 crore to the All India Congress Committee (AICC) as an interest-free loan to sustain its 2010, the AICC assigned this loan to YIL for Rs 50 lakh. AJL issued 9.02 crore equity shares (face value Rs 10 each) to YIL, making YIL the majority shareholder with 99% ownership of AJL. While AJL legally remained an independent entity, YIL effectively controlled did the AICC transfer the loan for Rs 50 lakh?The AICC stated that AJL was unable to repay the Rs 90.25 crore loan. The AICC agreed to write off the loan after receiving Rs 50 lakh from YIL, treating it as a settlement due to AJL's financial such a transfer of debt and conversion to equity a normal practice?Debt assignment or conversion to equity is a common practice in corporate restructurings. However, such transactions typically occur under regulatory oversight, such as by the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) in India. The AICC's transfer of the loan to YIL was not supervised by any regulatory the Congress lose money in the deal?The Congress claims the AICC did not incur a financial loss, as the loan to AJL was interest-free and intended to support a not-for-profit venture aligned with the National Herald's ideological goals, not to generate Young Indian pay Rs 50 lakh for a bankrupt company?AJL was not bankrupt but had significant debt and ceased newspaper publication in 2008. AJL owned high-value real estate assets in cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Lucknow, and others. By acquiring 99% of AJL's shares, YIL gained control over these assets, which can generate revenue through leasing or other Swamy alleged in his 2012 complaint that AJL's assets were worth over Rs 2,000 the asset valuations accurate?In November 2023, the ED attached AJL assets valued at Rs 751.9 crore, including immovable properties (Rs 661.69 crore).Herald House, Delhi: A multi-story building on Bahadur Shah Zafar Property, Mumbai: A nine-story building with two basements, approximately 15,000 square Building: A property on Bisheshwar Nath Plot, Haryana: A 3,360-square-meter plot allotted in 1982 and re-allotted in properties exist in cities like Patna and the ED has attached equity shares worth Rs 90.2 Congress disputes the ED's valuation, claiming the assets are worth approximately Rs 350 are the allegations against the Gandhis?advertisementThe ED, in its 2023 attachment order and April 2025 chargesheet, alleges that the loan transfer and equity conversion constituted a money-laundering agency claims AICC funds (including public donations) were used to fraudulently transfer control of AJL's assets to YIL, beneficially owned by Sonia and Rahul ED further alleges that AJL, YIL, and AICC cheated AJL's original shareholders and Congress donors by transferring assets to Young Indian Ltd and the Gandhis own these assets?The Congress maintains that AJL retains ownership of its assets, and YIL, as a not-for-profit company, was created to revive the National Herald, not to acquire assets for financial gain. YIL cannot pay dividends, and the Gandhis derive no direct financial happens if the charges are proven?If convicted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the accused could face imprisonment of up to seven the Gandhis in trouble?The acquisition of AJL's shares by YIL for Rs 50 lakh raises questions about the transaction's propriety, including the lack of regulatory Congress has to explain why the ownership of AJL was given to a company in which the Gandhis have a 76 per cent are many other questions: What was the process for selecting Young India Ltd for the debt buy-out? Why was the approval of the original shareholders of AJL not taken?But, does this qualify as a case of money laundering? The ED's case relies on circumstantial evidence, such as shareholding patterns and loan conversions, rather than direct proof of the Gandhis siphoning funds. Courts often require concrete evidence of intent and personal gain in cases of alleged money laundering. The Gandhis' defense that they derived no financial benefit could test the prosecution's InMust Watch
Time of India
05-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Biting the bullet: Big ammo needed, no pressure on cartridge makers
Nagpur: If emergency buttons were pressed at ordnance factories like Khamaria and Chandrapur, where larger calibre ammunition and bombs are made, units making bullets continue to operate below capacity. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now There's more scope to scale up the production of small calibre rounds like the 5.56 mm or 7.26 mm, which go into rifles. Even after entirely meeting orders for the armed forces, over 25% of the capacity of these units remains unutilised. And there's no panic in YIL because it has already dispatched its quarterly quota of cartridges and shells of all types of rounds to Pune-based PSU — Munitions India Limited (MIL). Since there is no pending work at Yantra, no emergency measures like cancellation of leaves have been taken, said senior officials here. Bullets are not required in a full-blown war, said a defence expert. There is a huge global demand for larger ammunition, especially the 155 mm artillery shells, keeping the machines engaged. However, there are not many exports of the smaller ammunition, even as factories are keen to utilise the idle capacity, said officials here. The empties are made by Yantra India Limited (YIL) and its factories are spread across eight locations. The small calibre rounds are made in two of the units. YIL makes empties of a whole gamut of rounds ranging from bullets to artillery, tank shells, and even rockets. These are filled with explosives and finally delivered to the armed forces by Pune-based PSU — Munitions India Limited (MIL). Two factories at Khamaria and Chandrapur, where leaves have been cancelled, come under MIL. After the corporatisation of the ordnance factories, the process of making ammunition has been split between two independent corporations. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now YIL makes the empties and other mechanical items, and MIL fills them up with explosives to complete the ammunition. As corporations, each of the PSUs has to achieve profitability. As much as 90% of YIL's orders come from MIL. Yantra India Limited (YIL), which is diversifying into other sectors, has cleared plans to set up an additional unit to make railway axles. The factory is already utilising its capacity to make axles. The board has approved plans for the new plant, entailing a capital expenditure of Rs 60 crore.
