2016 vs Now: From a Child Picking Plastic in Dal Lake to Receiving an Honour From the Prime Minister

Scroll through Instagram today, and timelines feel like a time machine. Grainy photos resurface, awkward hairstyles return, and memories from 2016 flood screens as people jump on the viral ‘10 years ago’ challenge. It’s playful, personal, and deeply nostalgic — a reminder of who we once were.

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But beyond selfies and glow-ups are stories where the change runs far deeper than appearances.

While social media looks back for sentiment, we chose to look back for significance. What were some of India’s young changemakers doing in 2016 — before recognition, awards, and headlines?

A decade ago, they were children with oversized dreams, teenagers testing uncertain paths, and individuals taking tentative first steps towards impact. Today, they are environmental warriors, global innovators, award-winning achievers, and symbols of perseverance.

This is their ‘then vs now’ — and the journeys their 2016 selves could never have imagined.

Jannat Patloo: From a child on a boat to Kashmir’s young environmental voice

2016:

At just four years old, Jannat Patloo could be seen sitting beside her father on a small boat in Dal Lake, gloves slipping over tiny hands as she helped pick plastic from the water. There were no headlines then — just a child following her father’s quiet resolve to protect Kashmir’s lifeline.

Now:

Today, 14-year-old Jannat is recognised nationally for her environmental work, including an honour from the Prime Minister of India. Yet her mission hasn’t changed. Every Sunday, she is still out on Dal Lake, net in hand, leading her campaign ‘Dal Lake for the Sunday’ — inspiring citizens, activists, and even government bodies to act.

Her guiding principle remains a line her father once told her as a child: “Love your home through your actions, not just words.”

Arup Kumar Ghosh: From Rs 3,500 a month to a Rs 7-crore flower empire

2016:

In 2016, Arup Kumar Ghosh was far from the successful entrepreneur he is today. Having dropped out of college, he spent long days at Hyderabad’s Gudimalkapur Flower Market, earning just Rs 3,500 a month and learning the trade from the ground up. That year, he returned to his village in West Bengal, experimenting with marigold farming on small, leased plots.

Now:

A decade later, Arup runs AKG Nursery and Seeds — one of West Bengal’s most successful marigold enterprises. His business supplies flowers across multiple states, generates an annual turnover of Rs 7 crore, and provides employment to several local farmers.

What began as a quiet experiment in 2016 has bloomed into a thriving livelihood ecosystem.

Yeshwanth Kumar Umasankar: From a teen learner to a global medal-winning chef

2016:

At 13, Yeshwanth Kumar Umasankar was already on an international stage — but just getting started. That year, he represented India at the International Culinary Olympics in Germany alongside his father, learning the art of fruit and vegetable carving and earning a diploma from the jury.

Now:

By 16, Yeshwanth returned to the Culinary Olympics — this time winning four silver medals against chefs from nearly 59 countries. Today, he shares his craft through YouTube and Instagram, creates intricate culinary showpieces, and trains aspiring chefs in Chennai.

From a curious teen competitor to a globally recognised culinary talent, his rise reflects what a decade of discipline can build.

Mannat Kaur: From a water shortage to a world stage

2016:

Eight-year-old Mannat Kaur didn’t encounter India’s water crisis in a classroom — she experienced it firsthand. When Delhi’s water supply was disrupted for two days, families in her neighbourhood were forced to search for water, pot in hand. The moment stayed with her.

Now:

At 18, Mannat is the first Indian to represent the country at the Stockholm Junior Water Prize. Her innovation — a Decentralised Greywater Collection and Recycling System — can recycle up to 50% of household water, saving 5,000–6,000 litres a month for a family of four.

What started as a childhood inconvenience in 2016 has grown into a globally recognised solution.

Ten years ago, these changemakers were just beginning — unnoticed, uncertain, and uncelebrated. Today, their journeys stand as proof that the most powerful transformations don’t always start with a spotlight.

Sometimes, they begin quietly — long before the internet is watching.

Sources

‘City chefs carve their niche at international culinary art event’, Published by DT Next on 8 November 2016