Category: National

New Delhi (India), February 23: Adopt farmers, a noble initiative focusing on building an ecosystem for farmers by building a community, seeks to connect marginalized farmers from India with donors worldwide.

The platform launched by Adopt Farmers Inc, a nonprofit 501c3 with connected ground operator ArSquare Development Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore, has started with Karnataka, spreading across Andhra Pradesh, successfully signing up 200 plus farmers onto the platform.

“We want to ensure that a farmer does not fail in their farming endeavors for want of funds. Our platform is working relentlessly to cross-connect the stakeholders to reduce financial anxiety on one side and promote meaningful relationships on the other,” said Mr. Dev Kumar Thappala, CEO, Adopt farmers. “We will be able to stay accessible to every needy farmer across the country, regardless of their location.”

Needy farmers are boarded onto the platform after registering them through a vetted process. The platform has field researchers who personally interact with needy farmers and handhold the registration process. After the farmers receive the approval, they can specify their financial needs for agricultural purposes. Tech-driven transparency and research-driven quality can be experienced by visiting the Adopt farmers portal. The portal is designed as Adoptfarmers.in for Indian donors and Adoptfarmers.com for International donors.

Meanwhile, any individual/ organization wanting to be a donor can register on the portal and adopt farmer/s of their choice. After such adoption, the donor can donate. Thus, the platform is able to bridge the gap between the needy farmers and the hands that want to help them.

GANGTOK (Sikkim) [India], February 23: Gramin Vikas Trust has conducted two residential training programmes under Jal Jeevan Mission-KRC programme of Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India at Hotel Green Leaf, (Pelling ) District Gyalshing The training was conducted in two batches from 9th to 12th February 2022 and the second batch from 14th to 17th February 2022, with total of 138 participants (61 participants from the first batch and 77 participants from the second batch). The participants were from SIRD & RMDD (Rural Management and Development Department), Junior Engineers from BACs/GPs, Barefoot Engineers from GPs, and Gram Panchayat/ VWSC members.  The 1st batch training was inaugurated by Director JJM Sikkim Shri Bishal Mukhiya & the 2nd batch training was inaugurated by Shri A Rohan Ramesh – IAS. Additional Commissioner, Gyalshing Shri Surat Sharma delivered the key note address to the participants. BDO Gyalshing Shri Mukesh Dahal and Joint Director SIRD Sikkim Smt Yangchen Lepcha also addressed the participants and stated that ‘’Truly Inspiring, Kudos to our JE Shri .Sachin Thatal for taking this initiative and congratulation to the entire GVT Team for an effective training’’. Shri Emmunal Rai District Engineer, Gyalshing was also present at this occasion. Shri Rajiv Kumar (Course Coordinator from GVT), welcomed the participants and motivated them to learn maximum from this training. The team GVT on the ground initiated pre-training exercise as well as preparatory actions. To get the practical knowledge during the training pre visit on 07TH February was done where, 3 teams visited 8 villages in 3 Gram Panchayat Unions to know about the existing water supply schemes and to set up meetings for participants to do field studies during the trainings. The field study was carried in Darap and Nambu villages in the Darap GPU, Singyang, Chumbong, and Naku villages in the Chumbong GPU, and Bhaluthong and Omgulp villages in the Bhaluthang GPU.

GVT has trained Engineers and community representatives on various aspects of JJM, including- providing Functional Household Tap Connection (FHTC) to every household and institutions such as Schools, Anganwadi Centers, Health Centers, Gram Panchayat Offices and other village level institutions with 55 lpcd drinking water of prescribed quality (BIS: 10500:2012) on a regular basis with a sustainable source for long term at affordable service. During the training, JJM was thoroughly explored like vision, objectives, components, various approaches of water supply (Pre & post-independence), as well as subjects such as water security, water quality monitoring, water harvesting, scheme design, the role of the Gram Panchayat, VWSC, and digital governance. Village water supply/security action strategy, including operation and maintenance, was also discussed. Shri Shiv Shanker Singh, Chief Executive Officer (GVT) said “I am overwhelmed with the success of the KRC training with such a dynamic participation. We all will be contributing to the JJM Mission with the best of efforts to achieve the vision of Har Ghar Jal’’ .The participants through transect walk conducted sanitary survey of the water sources and supply pipe line of surroundings. The transect walk through villages was also done to see the status of Har Ghar Jal, Grey water management and impact of water quality on the health of the people.Various water quality indicators were discussed and tested along with demonstration of Field Test Kit (FTKs) and discussed the outcome on the last day of training. The training was successfully carried out with a participatory approach.

To further motivate the participants’ success story videos on water, sanitation & development sector was shown to the participants. Smt Tripti Khanna ( Head Program, GVT) shared “ GVT will certainly look forward to learn and explore avenues at the ground level for community strengthening & deploying better services in JJM space’’. The key findings were that training to the GP members/ VWSC members/ SHGs/User Groups for JJM and various tool to enhance community participation, launch massive IEC campaign for creating awareness amongst the community was necessary, they got ready to give 5% contribution and user charges/ water tariffs provided, they got aware of JJM through training and IEC and to speed up capacity building of various stakeholders. The training was concluded in presence of SDM Mr. Gopal K Chhetri. The feedback of overall training quality was also taken from the participants. The training program concluded with the valedictory address by Course Coordinator KRC-L3, GRAMIN VIKAS TRUST, Bermiok lower, Gyalshing, West Sikkim, Sikkim Shree Rajiv Kumar and distribution of certificates to the participants with group photograph was done and he also stated that the given training is very important and the participants should apply the skills acquired during the training for sustainability of JJM.  For more information visit https://gvtindia.org/

15.25 feet high Rudraksha Shivling unveiled in surat district before Maha Shivratri

Surat (Gujarat) [India], February 22: Noted Rudraksha expert Batuk Vyas has added another feather to his cap. Vyas, who has been setting up massive Rudraksha Shivling each year ahead of Maha Shivratri, has been awarded a patent for the Rudraksha Shivling, a rare achievement in the field of spirituality.

“A method for preparing a cylindrical object for worshipping made from Rudraksha beads and the cylindrical object thereof,” reads the patent certificate granted to Vyas by the Indian government’s Patent Office. The patent certificate acknowledges that Vyas pioneered the making of the Rudraksha Shivling.

Lakhs of Rudraksha beads are joined together by Vyas and his followers by hand to make the unique Shivling in the run-up to the festival of MahaShivratri every year. The unique Shivling attracts lakhs of visitors each year. Vyas has found a place in the prestigious Limca Book of Records four times for the Rudraksha Shivlings.

“We are happy to receive the patent for the method of preparing the Rudraksha Shivling. We were not sure if we had the sole rights on preparing the Rudraksha Shivling. There were also other questions that were bothering us. We are happy to receive the patent certificate, which establishes that we are the pioneers of the Rudraksha Shivling. We have received the certificate after a process that went on for 6-7 years,” said Vyas, adding his ultimate aim is to generate greater devotion towards Lord Shiva.

Vyas began his journey of setting up large Rudraksha Shivlings from Dharampur in the tribal-dominated Valsad district 36 years back. Each year we add- develop different Methods to prepare such Rudraksha Shivling …and after so many years 2015, we have developed a novel method of Rudraksha breading to crate cylindrical objects look like Rudraksha shivling Over the years, in the Year 2021, the patent office has granted exclusive rights to prepare the Rudraksha shivling with such an innovative novel method. Such types of Rudraksha  Shivlings have been set up in Mumbai, Surat, Vapi, Rajasthan, Gir-Somnath, Ahmedabad, and Bhuj after the patent has been applied.

This year, a 15.25 feet high Rudraksha Shivling has been set up at Nani Dhamdod (Ena) village in Surat’s Bardoli taluka. Made of 9 lakh Rudraksha beads, the Shivling was opened for public darshan at 6:00 pm on Monday, February 21.

Unveiling the Rudraksha Shivling in the presence of a large number of devotees, villagers, and saints, respected Pankaj Vyas, said, “I pray for peace, prosperity, wellness, and health of everyone around the world. I pray for happiness, peace, and prosperity in every corner of the country.”

The reading of Shiv Mahapuran Katha will take place on all afternoons, while a special aarti of the Shivling will be held at 6:00 pm daily until March 1. The Katha and prayers will be led by Batuk Vyas, while Pankaj Vyas will remain present on all days.

While inaugurating the summit, the Honourable Prime Minister,  Shri Narendra Modi, highlighted the Govt’s commitment to environmental sustainability and climate justice.

New Delhi (India), February 21: A consortium of leading National and International organisations present research findings and discuss the policy implication of the research on ‘Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs): Regulatory and Policy Implications for India’ and ‘Reducing plastic and chemical pollution to the marine environment’ as different thematic tracks at the World Sustainable Development Summit, 2022 organised by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI). The summit’s focus was Towards a resilient planet: Ensuring a Sustainable and Equitable Future. It was inaugurated by the Honourable Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, who highlighted India’s commitment to environmental sustainability and climate justice. Highlighting the need for adequate financing for successful climate actions, PM Modi called for developed countries to fulfil their finance and technology transfer commitments.

The thematic track titled ‘Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs): Regulatory and Policy Implications for India’, was organised on February 16, 2022, by The Energy Resources Institute (TERI) in partnership with the Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Mu Gamma Consultants Pvt. Ltd. (MGC), SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST), Research Centre for Toxic Compounds in the Environment (RECETOX), Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO), Toxics Link (TL) and Bharat Learn (BL). This study was supported by the Research Council of Norway (RCN).

It commenced with an inaugural session with Dr. S K Sarkar’s welcome address, followed by the screening of the documentary ‘EDCs in Indian Food- Findings & Recommendations’, a unique address by Dr. Andrea Terron from the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) and a keynote address by Smt. Roli Singh, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. This was followed by the release of the Policy Brief titled ‘Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in food and drinking water in India, Sate-of-affairs and Recommendations’. The technical session, moderated by Dr. Girija Bharat from MGC, included deliberations by Mr. Satish Sinha from Toxics Link, Dr. Luca Nizzetto from NIVA, Dr. Paromita Chakraborty from SRMIST, and Dr. Brij Mohan Sharma, from RECETOX. The results of the discourse led to suggestions on actionable steps, including (1) the requirement of risk analysis frameworks based on sources of EDCs and their impacts, (2) the development of a collaborative platform between ministries to monitor and regulate chemical substances, (3) the necessity for advanced research on EDCs to generate robust datasets, (4) the promotion of quality labelling systems for EDCs in food, (5) the strengthening of the regulatory framework by continuous improvement based on global benchmarks, and (6) the strengthening of institutional capacity by infrastructural, technological and knowledge enhancement of concerned institutions.

The thematic track titled ‘Reducing plastic and chemical pollution to the marine environment’ was organised on February 18, 2022, by TERI in partnership with NIVA, MGC, Central Institute of Petrochemical Engineering & Technology (CIPET), Toxics Link (TL), and SRMIST, the project partners of the Indo-Norwegian project on Capacity building on reducing plastic and chemical pollution (INOPOL). This study has been supported by the Royal Norwegian Embassy in New Delhi, India, and the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD).

Dr. Suneel Pandey, Director (Environment & Waste Management Division), TERI welcomed the distinguished guests, panellists, and participants to the event. Keynote addresses accompanied the inaugural session by Dr. Rajeshwara Rao, IAS, Special Secretary, NITI Aayog, Government of India, Dr. Marianne Olsen, Research Director, NIVA, and Mr. ErlendDraget, Senior Advisor, Norwegian Ministry of Climate and Environment, providing policy and regulatory authority perspectives. The panel discussion witnessed eminent Scientists and experts deliberations on their scientific findings and views on plastic pollution and chemical pollution caused by Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). The discussions centred on the need for better solid and plastic waste management to reduce plastic pollution in the ocean. The panellists also stressed India’s need for a more substantial commitment and action plan to implement the Stockholm Convention for managing POPs in the environment, which impacts human and animal health. Chemical registries, which require firms to report on the chemicals they use, produce, or import, could be an essential lesson for India to learn from the European countries, especially Norway. Experts also stressed the need for strategic collaboration between analytical laboratories, research institutions, and regulatory authorities to make science-informed policy recommendations in India’s managing plastic and chemical pollution.

New Delhi (India), February 19: According to the news articles, there was misinformation circulating on the internet about Bangladeshi legend players’ complaints to the media over unpaid salaries for the “Road Safety World Series Edition.”

This information is completely false, and the players have indicated that they never discussed the payments with any media outlet. There’s somebody who spreads false information all across the world.

A Bangladeshi journalist who covered the event in Raipur stated that no such narrative about the incident appeared in the Bangladeshi media. The League has suffered a great deal as a result of this fake news, and the players are disappointed with the misinformation going on. In addition, no complaints were recorded.

‘’I had a great time playing for Bangladesh Legends last year, and I am very excited to play this year as well in the road Safety World Series,” commented Mehrab Hossain, Former Cricketer of Bangladesh Cricket Team.

February 17: “True courage results in some extraordinary outcomes, something which we hope for deep down in our hearts but don’t expect in our practical life and yet life surprises us with some beyond imaginable out-turns, only because of our courageous and bold decisions!”

The stories in this thrilling novel are very sensitive and are born out of some very personal and intimate experiences of the Author. The Author, who is an Indian Army, has spent over three-decade in the Indian National Army as a Commissioned Officer.

The Author, Colonel Hemant Saxena, is a soldier-scholar and an Indian Army veteran. He is best described as a wanderer on his journey to be a published author with a collection of stories titled ‘Olive Diaries’ (https://www.amazon.in/dp/9354464092). Colonel Saxena has many stories to share with his readers that are based on his personal experiences spanning over three decades in the Indian Army. A civil engineer by education, Colonel Saxena had started his career as a Sapper in the Indian Army in 1984 and later during 1991; he transited to the Military Intelligence branch, where he served there until superannuation in 2015. This stint helped him to get a rare insight into the finer nuances of World’s second oldest profession shrouded in the mystery of cloak and dagger, which is also reflected in his writings.

This book, Olive Diaries by Author Hemant Saxena, is a collection of some very sensitive stories from the lines of fire which a soldier experiences on the battlefields. These stories rise above the stereotype projection of military heroes and their lives in a predictable manner where the characters are often seen wearing patriotism on their sleeves.

There are a total of “7 Thrilling Chapters” in this book, and they serve the readers with those precious moments from the lives of the ordinary people and their extraordinary deeds. Moreover, the chapters in this book had made an attempt to highlight the bravery of our Veer Jawaans, who never complains when it comes to serving the nation. This book is for all those readers who are not afraid of breaking the myths and stereotypes that have been built around the sentinels of our great nation!

The title of this book, “Olive Diaries”, is most certainly a catchy title, and this is something that makes the book even more interesting as the title itself compels you as a reader to pick up this book for a read. You would feel a longing urge to dive inside the chapters of this book and try to understand the stories from the Author’s own perspective!

Well, without any shred of doubt, Author Hemant Saxena has completely succeeded in choosing a perfect Title for his book, and his writings, too, had fully justified the title. Therefore, I must mention that it is a very apt title for this book, and the Author had been extremely wise to go for this title!

Readers Connect: Through this book, Author Hemant Saxena has very vividly painted an immortal picture of the exceptional bravery and courage of the faceless heroes who put out their heart and soul into each and everything that they do for their nation. These stories very gently reveal to the readers the finer nuances of the lives of our real heroes while they live their qualifying acts. The book very clearly highlights the role of our brave-hearted soldiers who go on doing what they think they ought to be doing, unmindful of the fact that it invariably remains much beyond the call of their duties.

The book “Olive Diaries” is something purely incredible; in addition, these stories present the readers with enough reasons to shift their focus towards the lives of our mighty soldiers who are the real protector of our nation!

Verdict: A Book like “Olive Diaries”, Published by Evincepub Publishing, is for sure a Must-Read one and deserves a chance since you do not get to read a book like this every now and then in the market. The way Author had penned down his experiences through these seven sensitive, as well as marvellous chapters in his book, certainly deserves an appreciation. His work is praiseworthy as he has succeeded in painting an immortal picture of our Veer Jawaans through his writings.

Moreover, if you are looking for something truly worthy and out of the box to read, then this book is the perfect fit for you. The chapters are indeed reading worthy, and Author Hemant Saxena is a promising Author who is very honest with his writings, which the readers can feel through his spectacular writings!

Mount Parashar is a mini-Switzerland in India

8km Strenuous Trekking on 5-10 ft deep snow for a continuous 8-hour struggle is worthy of achieving it

ODIA CA. Sudhir Kumar Dash has this rare achievement

February 19: Mount Parashar is located above 10,000 ft from sea level is the rare beauty of Himachal Pradesh, India. Situated 45 km from Mandi towards the North is famous for the Parashar Lake. It is believed that the Lake is the Holy Place of Saint Parashar, who worshipped there and wrote the Holy Astrology Book there. The Lake is unique, having a floating Iceland in it.

Come winter; the whole mountain is covered in deep and heavy snowfall. At many places, more than 20 ft of snow are found. The connecting route is just invisible. Due to the adverse weather and no support infrastructure, the local authorities declare it unsafe and restrict visits and trekking. One has to do with a life and death really experience to reach there.

Amazed by the abundant beauty and the challenge of the height and elevation, CA. Sudhir Dash led his two companions to the Top. On the fateful 6th February 2022, we started from the base village Baggi. From Baghi to the Top of Mt. Parashar is an 8 km track covering river beds, bushy lanes and rocky uphills covered with deep snow.

On the way, we were at times panicked for no sight of any life and human habitats. Finding the deserted mud house for animal shelter and sheltering there for a few minutes, We had our share of the struggle, especially in the last leg of 3 kilometres, with deep snow and 90 degrees uphill with complete unaware ways. You have to check the depth of the snow and create a point to place your foot a step ahead. The other just have to follow the step left by the lead. Many place its life and death challenge, yet the surrounding beauty and the zeal to reach all costs kept us motivated. The moment of getting to the Top is an experience of a lifetime. We were lucky that we didn’t have to face any rain that day. The Parashar lake is barely 500 ft from the Top; we had a visit there to pay our homage to the Lord Parashar Temple.

One night spent there in the Forest Guesthouse, with the sole member up keeper Mr. Veer Singh with no electricity and light is a memory of a lifetime. The Have moon and bright stars were enough good light available. Thanks to the reflection in glazing snow all around.

The struggle didn’t end here; coming down the next day was more dreadful, as it became more slippery with hard snow on the step marks left by us. Carrying the bodyweight while coming down is way too risky but thank God we survived with minor falls at a few places.

We have seen in various travel blogs the scenic beauty of Switzerland. Must we mention here, this place is far way ahead beautiful with the demographic surrounding. Tall trees, high mountains, natural springs, and the unbelievable frozen Parashar lake is a poetic beauty to make you lose in total attraction.

Visiting Parashar Lake is no costly affair; local Bus Connectivity is there till the Village Baghi. Interstate bus services are available to the Commercial towns of Mandi in Hamachal Pradesh. Baghi is barely 25 km from Mandi.

We are so touched by the place that we will love to visit once every year for the beauty and, of course, not to forget the Oxygen Therapy for free worth millions of Dollars.

My adventure is unnatural of a CA but not unbecoming of a CA, laughingly says CA. Sudhir Kumar Dash.

February 19: “I am the General Secretary of the largest and the most trusted trade union in the Central Railway, the National Railway Mazdoor Union, which is a non-political trade union whose sole agenda is to organize and agitate for the welfare of the employees of the Central Railway. My organization’s motto is ”Sarva Dharma Samabhav ”, and we proudly endorse and practice this ideal in our organization. Being a central government employee, I am neutral in my political beliefs. As the leader of this noble organization, my interaction and association with people from all sections of society is the biggest highlight of my life. Working for my people and my cadre has brought clarity and strength to my character and career.”

The above observation is made by the charismatic leader and the General Secretary of the august organization, the National Railway Mazdoor Union (NRMU), the largest trade union in the Central Railway. Com. Venu .P. Nair is the undisputed leader of his trade union, and it is no secret that his inspired leadership has taken the union to great heights. He is well known for his simplicity and accessibility, unlike leaders who crave power and position,  Com. Venu  Nair’s sole agenda is the welfare of all the employees, permanent or contractual. He believes in social activism, and this is reflected in his organization’s involvement in various social and charitable initiatives. His magnetic personality and his relentless crusade for labour rights and social justice have endeared him to all sections of society. In conversation with us, he spoke of his experiences and his struggles, his passions, and his dreams of a society that delivers justice to its working class.

1. 8 hours per day or 48 hours per week for adult workers.
2. Parity of pay to permanent and contract workers for identical nature of the job.
3. Work from 6 am to 7 pm for female workers, ensuring a conducive working environment and other basic facilities which could be relaxed to 9.30 pm upon explicit permission with all the safety measures taken for a transportation facility.
4. Mandatory weekly holiday and maximum working hours fixed to 12 hours on any given day.
5. The working hours for child workers are limited to 4.5 hours a day.

Ensuring these rights are recognized and implemented is the crux of  Com.  Nair’s concern. Motivating the employees and working to meet their needs and expectations are his responsibilities. He ensures that no discrimination of any kind is practised anywhere and women and youth are given their rightful place within the professional sphere: a  proficient        leader, Com. Nair successfully juggles his professional and social responsibilities to the utmost satisfaction of the members of his Union.

Com. Nair believes that a united workforce is essential to enforce labour rights in the real sense. A strong trade union is a platform that organizes and educates the working class. His immense faith in his own capabilities and that of his trade union is reflected in his utterances.  While discussing with us his life‟s work and beliefs, he said, “The working class and the farmers are pillars of our society. A truly just society cannot exist if these two classes are deprived of their dues. I strongly believe that the unity of the working class can bring about real changes in society. This is the awareness that I wish to create amongst my people. I hope my work inspires everyone around me to strive for a truly inclusive and egalitarian society and in procuring justice for the working class.”

John Quincy Adams said, „If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more and do more, you are a leader.” Com. Venu P Nair is a leader in the same mould. With his integrity and extraordinary determination to ensure the effective implementation of labour rights within the Central railways, he is a visionary leader in the field of trade unionism. May his tribe spread across colourfully in the canvas of trade unionism in the country.

February 18: A CA by profession and an active social worker by heart, CA Mukesh Shukla is empowering the youth of India to become self-reliant and self-employed. The main objective is to develop Entrepreneurship in the country and help the Indian economy achieve the goal of Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan.

“I believe that the growth of entrepreneurship skills in today’s youth is going to be the key for the overall growth of various sectors in the Indian economy. This is why I aim to do as much as I can to make the youth of the nation self-reliant,” says CA Mukesh Shukla, the President of Samadhan Group and Chairman of IID.

Samadhan is a prestigious social initiative that the Samadhan Group took to develop essential skills and entrepreneurship amongst Indian citizens, especially the youth of India. The industry is successfully reaching out to millions of Indians in association with the Government of India under the Public-Private Partnership mode. And as the President of Samadhan Group, CA Mukesh Shukla is only taking this a step further by being vocal for locals.

Samadhan Samiti is yet another initiative taken by the social enterprise Samadhan Group that aims to educate, train, and update the rising Indian entrepreneurs. By bringing them up close with the latest schemes, latest technology, processes, business planning, and much more.

IID or Institute for Industrial Development is an incubation centre, a specially dedicated unit of Samadhan Samiti. The incubation centre with the Ministry of Micro, Small, Medium Enterprises, and India’s Government also have their start-up department in Uttar Pradesh.

As the Chairman of IID, CA Mukesh Shukla believes there is a lot he has to work on to make India a developed country. He is stringently working with a team of 150+ employees and 1000+ associate experts to achieve IID’s goals and objectives.

On 17th September 2019, Udyami India also extended their hands to maintain its functioning with IID. As one of the most critical projects of MSME and the Government of India to make India AtmaNirbhar, the hard work of CA Mukesh Shukla was witnessed by MSME, Udyami, and the government.

The e-portal can be accessed at https://www.udyami.org.in

CA Mukesh Shukla also personally looks after the social media platforms of Udyami, a government-led online Entrepreneurship Development Training portal. The aim of Udyami India is to help applicants with pioneer EDP training solutions along with SAMADHAN for PMEGP beneficiaries and non-PMEGP beneficiaries.

CA Mukesh Shukla is the Director of OLEXPERT, online teaching and learning inclusive platform that provides education to all deserving candidates. Established in April 2020, the rising e-learning portal has helped educate and train thousands of young Indian minds so far. With their interactive learning content and live doubt clearing sessions, the OLE experts ensure the Indian youth has the useful skills and acquired knowledge to be future-ready.

He is the Founder of Entrepreneur India TV, a renowned business-oriented YouTube channel that has come a long way since its inception on 14th September 2017. A devotee of almighty, CA Mukesh Shukla is the Managing Secretary and Trustee of Bharat Mata Mandir, situated in Haridwar, for over 12 years. He is also a partner with Marks & Associates.

Born on 30 September 1972 in Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh, CA Mukesh Shukla is surely a man with big dreams. He passed his Chartered Accountant examination in 1999 under the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. With over 30 years of experience as a Chartered Accountancy and his presently ongoing ventures, we are sure he will stand tall on his mission to make the youth of India self-reliant.

February 17: The birth of a dream

Is it better to swim against the tide or to follow a safe mundane path? A boy from a small but beautiful rural area in Ernakulum, Kerala, struggled with this dilemma from a tender age. Brought up in a big joint family that functioned in a bureaucratic manner.

Growing up in close proximity to the natural beauty of his surroundings programmed in him a default setting to respect and nurture the environment. The fields were his playground, the stories narrated by his grandparents were teachings in morals and integrity.

He was groomed to follow a career path as directed by the family. But the boy was a dreamer. His biggest thrill was to climb the tallest tree and gaze at the sky, lost in thought in a deep meditative trance. He loved the transitions in the sky, from tranquil blue with cotton white fluffy clouds to spectrums of orange, pink and purple of the on setting dusk.

“I wonder if the sky looks different from other places.”

The turning point

This gnawing curiosity infected him with a burning desire to travel. After passing out of degree college, he was unsure about his career path. It would be safe to simply take up a job. But his inner voice said otherwise. Destiny intervened in the form of his cousin, who introduced him to a prominent Travel Agency in Thiruvananthapuram. The boy was inspired. He found his calling.

He envisioned his own company in a business that could help millions of people realize their travel dreams. He would help them see what the sky looked like from different places.

The boy becomes the Man

Dr.P.B.Boss was that young boy who established Osaka Air Travels in 1993. He operated from a small rented room in Angamaly. The beginning was humble and full of struggles and difficulties. However, by his side was his pillar of strength Mrs. Bissy Boss, his spouse and partner. A teacher by profession, Bissy was soon to become an integral contributor to the business.

Kochi International Airport was soon to be inaugurated. Dr.Boss saw a gleaming opportunity and procured a loan from his father. He expanded his company and took on additional staff. His plan was bold and needed immediate action. He singled out areas inhabited primarily by NRIs. They literally knocked on doors, personally informing them about the services offered by Osaka Air Travels. This move was the key that determined the success of the Osaka Group of companies.

His main aim was to provide the best services available and establish a reliable and trustworthy relationship with the customer. Word-of-mouth did the rest, and soon, Osaka Group was recognized as the agency with the highest visa submissions in Southern India.

Osaka Group provides comprehensive services and holistic assistance like visa services, global air ticketing, insurance, passport services, tour packages and itinerary creation, foreign exchange, study abroad and other miscellaneous services. Its primary objective; making travel easy and stress-free for the customer.

“A person’s novelty is determined by their conduct.”

Getting to know Dr.P.B.Boss was inspirational and enlightening. A holistic personality, his integrity and character prominently surfaced in this interview. Here is what he had to say to some of the questions asked.

Whom do you consider as your inspiration/Idol?

Sri. Ratan Tata is one of the most prominent and responsible Indian leaders. He built a vision that is socially responsible and deals with people. This strong visionary still strives to improve the quality of the communities we live in.

Mr. Bill Gates used his intelligence and excellent business skills to improve the world.

Mr. Stephen Hawkins’ life has been highly motivational for me. He helped me understand that no matter how bad our situation is, there is always a way out.

Mr. Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX. All the history of failure in rocket launches didn’t stop him from dreaming high. Falcon 9 first-stage booster that landed successfully is one of the greatest innovative contributions made by him.

What life lessons do you follow?

Being in the customer service sector has helped me to learn about myself and how humble our existence is. I have learnt not to dwell on mere ideas and thoughts. Instead, the right ideas need to be backed by prompt decisions and actions to manifest a great product or service in the market.

Also, I believe in smart work along with hard work. Dedication, desire and rational optimism are other values that I protect to the core.

What makes you unique as a person?

Business is a unique platform that offered me a sufficient level of freedom, autonomy and flexibility. This has pushed me to grow into an initiator rather than a procrastinator.

People skills and networking have been some of my strengths, essential in any business endeavour. Interactions in this cosmopolitan society have helped me to think out of the box and to be persuasive about my target goals.

I believe that new ideas, methods and solutions require smart and creative thinking. This is why I try to incorporate qualitative features from conventional methods and adopt innovative and transformational approaches from contemporary developments.

People first…I am a strong believer in developing a goodwill business model to improve people’s lives. My company is developed on the goodwill idea of helping people who require travel assistance and support. We will spare no effort to ensure you have a memorable and problem-free experience.

A person’s novelty is determined by their conduct. – Dr.P.B.Boss