People First

'The Man Who Gave Dignity In Death To Thousands Who Perished In COVID | Meet Jitender Shunty'

'India was hit terribly by the second COVID wave, the fatal Delta Wave. There were several fatalities, and the contagion was ever more powerful. In such a scenario, loved ones couldn't even properly bid goodbye to those they lost. Jitender Singh Shunty shone as a COVID warrior then, cremating several of those who were isolated even in their last moments.' Read more

'Meet Reshma Pathan | Fierce, Feisty, Fabulous | The Leading Lady For All Leading Ladies'

'“Teri Shaadi Nahin Hogi Shaadi kisko karni hai?” The spunky and fierce Reshma Pathan is a force on and off the screen. Besides being India’s first stunt woman, she exemplifies what happens when you stand your ground and fight for your rights. She joined the industry when she was 14 and has had an illustrious career doing stunts for even Hema Malini in the epic movie Sholay. Her father was initially against her choice of career, but she fought hard for it, and today, she has worked in 400 movies!' Read more

'Meet Abdul Gaffar | A Record-Breaking Flag Maker Whose Own Life Is No Less Than Extraordinary'

'Abdul Gaffar Jhandewala started his Tiranga journey during the Emergency. The time he says was tense, and shopkeepers wanted to protest the emergency by putting a tiranga jhanda outside their shops. Abdul Gaffar learnt tailoring when he was a child to help his father out a bit, and today he sports the record of making 1000 flags in a day! But what he fondly remembers still are the 500 rupees he made 60 years ago when he had just started making flags!' Read more

'The Not So Bashful Bride | Meet Shilpa Sreekumar, Who Became Viral For Playing Chenda At Her Wedding'

'In a world of bashful brides, with stereotypes of being demure, Shilpa Sreekumar – an engineer, became an overnight sensation when she donned the role of the new-age drummer girl. Playing the chenda – a traditionally male instrument – to her heart’s desire at her wedding. Sreekumar has been playing the chenda for 12 years, and when it was time for her to play it at her wedding, she didn’t find it unusual at all but says that she didn’t anticipate a small act of joy would spark such an impact for young girls!' Read more

'The Story Of A Brave Mother's Brave Son - Lt Gen Tiny Dhillon'

'Lt. Gen KJS Dhillon, known almost exclusively as Tiny Dhillon, has had an illustrious tenure in the Indian Army spanning almost 40 years, having helmed successful strategic operations such as Operation Maa, an operation that worked with mothers of youths who joined militancy and requested them to come back home. Lt. Gen’s own mother had a role to play in this, wonder what? When he was just 3 years old, he lost his mother as she protected his father from the attack of a vicious wild animal, an attack that immemorialised her as the SherMaarMa.' Read more

'Meet The Powerlifter Who Shun All Stereotypes'

'Majiziya Bhanu’s story is an inspiration. Having grown up listening to slurs about her religion and identity, she didn’t let the naysayers deter her passion. Instead, she shut all her critics by excelling at powerlifting – a feat no one around her thought she would achieve. Her inspiration though? Her mother – who asked her to go for her dreams, being the wind beneath her wings! From a difficult childhood to being a world champion – this is her extraordinary story.' Read more

'People First | Shekhar Krishnamoorthy'

'Shekhar Krishnamoorthy was a father who didn’t scold his children ever when they were alive, and in death, there is a calmness to his anger, because he wants to remember them fondly and be a rock to his wife. The Krishnamoorthys went through something entirely too unimaginable, something that parents even shudder to think about. Neelam and Shekhar Krishnamoorty fought a long, arduous, heartbreaking legal battle seeking justice for their children – Ujjwal and Unnati who died in the Upahaar Movie Hall Fire.' Read more

'People First | Ginni Mahi'

'Ginni Mahi is a 24-year-old Dalit musician from Punjab, and her music is an act of resistance, one that is all about her identity and busting archaic notions people have about her caste and her individuality. When she was in school, Ginni was asked a question by a fellow student that made her reclaim her lineage, one she took extreme pride in. Enter – the song Danger Chamar. This is her story of grit & glory, making art out of what is used by others to belittle you.' Read more

'People First | Cdr Abhilash Tomy'

'A love for solitude prepared him for possibly the toughest ordeal life could put anyone through. Commander Abhilash Tomy is a retired Indian Navy Officer, who also doubles up as a naval aviator and a yachtsman! However, in a crazy twist of fate, in 2018, Commander Tomy while participating in the Golden Globe Race, got injured when his boat was caught in a violent storm. The accident left him with a broken spine, but not a broken spirit, eventually recuperating, and coming second in that very race the next year!' Read more

'People First | Akkai Padmashali'

'Akkai Padmashali, a trans activist, attempted suicide at the age of 12. Theurs is a journey of struggle; for the world to accept their identity and authentic self. Today, they stands call as an activist striving for a more inclusive society – having been honoured with Karnataka’s highest civilian award. They are also the first trans person to register their marriage in Karnataka. Akkai Padmashali, believes in the power of being a good human, and not just in being a father or a mother.' Read more

'People First | Ashwani Kathpalia'

'The moment summer comes a-knockin', the need for cold coffee increases exponentially - and this is when the demand for Dilli's apni cold coffee takes centre stage! But who is the man behind a coffee empire that is important to many Delhiites? Meet him here!' Read more