Star Citizens

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Unbelievable Acts of Kindness: A Mumbai Street Vendor's Remarkable Story

In the lively streets of Sion, Mumbai, amid the hustle and bustle of everyday life, stands Satish Gupta, a humble vada pav vendor. He stands out for his remarkable generosity. Growing up in a financially constrained family, he had to abandon school after the 7th grade. Later, he navigated a path through various low-paying jobs, barely scraping by to support his family of five. Yet, adversity didn't crush Satish's spirit. On the contrary, it fueled in him an innate empathy for those facing similar struggles. With the help of his son, he established a vada pav stall, offering this Mumbai street food favorite at an unbelievable price of ₹5, specifically catering to students.  Satish reflects that his own children have experienced hardships, and he believes that kids from similar low socioeconomic backgrounds might be facing similar challenges. He aims to alleviate their struggles as much as he can. His generosity extends beyond discounted meals for students. His stall attracts a diverse clientele, from office-goers to locals, all contributing to his humble earnings.Through sheer perseverance, Satish's efforts have borne fruit, transforming his family's once-struggling life into one of comfort.  In a city celebrated for its culinary delights, Satish Gupta isn’t just a mere vada pav vendor; he's a symbol of hope and generosity. Although he lacked financial stability and formal education, his dedication to his family and community elevates him as a hero. He truly embodies the indomitable spirit of Mumbai's resilient souls.

15 Nov 2023

Star Citizens

This Vada Pav Vendor May Not Have Big Pockets, but He Definitely Has a Big Heart

Sanjay Gupta and his family had been through trying times in the past and that only strengthened his will to help others as much as he could. He reminisces about the times when his children would come home from school hungry and ask for food. So he would promptly go out and buy a vada pav and distribute it among his children. One day, it dawned on him that there might be many more children out there craving food and he didn’t want them to go to bed hungry. So he opened a vada pav stall at Sion in Mumbai. What sets him apart is that he doesn’t care much about money. All he wishes is to feed the hungry and poor who couldn’t afford even a single meal. He sells vada pav to school students for just Rs 5. Satish himself had studied only till the seventh standard and then had to drop out due to lack of funds. He did many menial jobs to support his family of six. He is extremely grateful to his elder son who had to quit school but helps him in running the stall. His family never questions him as they all know the joy of giving. Sanjay states that he doesn’t mind giving 10-50 vada pavs free as he derives greater joy when people come to his stall and eat to their satisfaction.  

25 Nov 2022

Star Citizens

Global News

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Next-Gen Geothermal Breakthrough Paves the Way for Clean Energy Revolution in Nevada

Fervo Energy announced a record production of geothermal energy in northern Nevada after successfully completing a commercial pilot project. The project, called 'Project Red', utilized Fervo's drilling technology to produce commercial geothermal energy, a major breakthrough in the renewable energy industry. The 30-day well test, which achieved a flow rate of 63 liters per second at high temperature, enabled 3.5 MW of electric production, setting new records for both flow and power output from an enhanced geothermal system. This achievement confirms the commercial viability of Fervo’s drilling technology and establishes Project Red as the most productive enhanced geothermal system in history. Fervo’s drilling technology, adapted from the oil and gas industry, has reduced drilling risks and enabled the production of 24/7 carbon-free energy resources in new geographies across the world. In 2021, Fervo partnered with Google to develop the next-gen plant with the goal of powering Google’s Cloud servers in Las Vegas with an “always-on,” carbon-free resource that will reduce the company’s hourly reliance on fossil fuels. Geothermal technology produces electricity by pumping cold water underground, where it is heated up by the Earth’s temperature and brought back to the surface without emitting carbon or other harmful pollutants. Currently used in 26 countries, geothermal technology has the potential to supply over 20% of U.S. power needs and compliment wind and solar to achieve a fully decarbonized grid. Fervo's breakthrough in geothermal technology removes technological barriers to geothermal deployment and ushers in a new era of sustainable, carbon-free energy production.

1 Aug 2023

Global News

Good News

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Know More About This Wonderful Movie Where All Actors Are Speech and Hearing Impaired

For an ordinary person, it is difficult to get a message across a person who is speech and hearing impaired. Imagine the efforts of a film director who made a movie with around 200 actors who were speech and hearing impaired. The Malayalam movie “Mounaksharangal‘ has been released and all its actors have brought its characters to life with excellent acting skills. Dedication Of The Film Crew It was the utter dedication and perseverance of the director and the film crew that led to the successful completion of this unique movie. Many people had warned the director Devadas Kalluruty against casting unknown actors who were speech and hearing impaired. However, the Director wanted to bring a change in society and make it more inclusive, went ahead with his dream and achieved it. The movie was released in 15 theatres across Kerala. Hard Work Bore Fruits The crew visited special schools and the actors for the film, ‘Mounaksharangal’ were selected by audition. There were two trained people in sign language who helped the Director and his team coordinate with the actors. With proper training and effort, they also managed lip-syncing in the movie. The effect is so good that actors appear to be uttering the dialogue in the movie. The movie is not based on differently-abled people, but it is basically about people who can speak and hear. The Director and his team deserve appreciation for making a movie that renders the message of inclusiveness in society.

25 Oct 2019

Good News

Positive Reads

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The Vadakkumnathan Temple - the Pride of India

Temples and monuments are abound in India, but their upkeep and conservation demands intense efforts done with dedication.The Vadukkamnathan Temple in Kerala is an example of the concerted efforts taken by authorities to preserve the pristine beauty of the temple. It is no wonder then, that the 1,200 year old Vadakkumnathan temple bagged the UNESCO Asia- Pacific Heritage award for Cultural Heritage Conservation this year. The majestic temple is a sheer marvel in wood and stone which stands in the centre of Thrissur district. The unique fact about this temple is that its mural paintings, wood carvings and idols and massive gateways facing all four directions have remained the same as reflected in the hundred year old photograph. It is a miracle, how the temple which is made of wood could withstand termites as well as the weather, Kerala being a state  that receives heavy rainfall during the monsoons.  It was a herculean task for the team of archaeologists, craftsmen and others to renovate the temple and restore it to its original glory. Normally, with cement and concrete taking over the construction, the national monuments got a ' modern facelift'. The dwindling number of skilled craftsmen were also a matter of grave concern. Therefore, most of the monuments were in ruins.  The same was the case of the Vadakkumnathan temple until the Archaeological Survey of India took over its maintenance in 1997 and started part by part renovation of the temple. A private company also sponsored the renovation. The temple was bestowed with the award for conservation which employed age old rituals and conservation techniques drawn from Vaastu Shastra that ensured that the spirit of the place resonates through the site.  Traditional method of conservation known as ' Jeernodharana' was adopted. All ritualistic principles were followed and conservation was carried in an authentic manner after consulting astrologers and keeping in tune with Vaastu Shastra. The use of cement, ceramic tiles or paint was out of question as it has led to the ruin of many historical monuments in the country. Therefore, original materials such as, a mixture of lime, jaggery and materials like kadukka and oonjal valli ( a creeper which is soaked in a particular mixture and later used in construction material). The damaged wood was meticuluosly reconstructed by skilled craftsmen and it was coated with a special oil made up of eight ingredients to protect wood from termites. Utmost care was taken to keep the original structure in tact. Detailed research was carried out and a separate strategy was chalked out for each shrine. Around 300 craftsmen worked for a decade, as work on each part of the temple took three months and at times years to bring it to its actual state. Apart from the beautiful murals, the temple also has an idol of Shivlinga which nobody has seen as it is covered in a mount of ghee which is 9 feet tall. Another interesting fact is that 'Koothambalan', situated within the temple is made entirely of wood, but there is not a single nail. The structure has made use of slots. Now that the temple has got the most coveted award, it has come into the international arena. The award will also motivate the temple authorities to maintain the temple up to its standards as conservation is a continuous process. This temple in God's own country has really made every Indian proud.    

2 May 2017

Positive Reads