Maharashtra

Inspired by William Laurie Baker, Maharashtra-based ABHA Architecture, by Praveen and Vidya, uses eco-conscious material palettes and passive cooling strategies to build cost-effective, durable and disaster-resistant homes.

Dr Ujjwal Chavan, Joint Commissioner of Income Tax, Mumbai, has run a massive water conservation initiative to rejuvenate the river and improve groundwater tables in several Maharashtra villages, including Dhamangaon, where he is originally from. His efforts have benefited around 30,000 farmers so far.

Shraddha Dhawan from Nighoj village in Ahmednagar scaled the family dairy business, selling 450 litres of milk from milking 80 buffaloes in a two-storey cattle shed

70-year-old Kanchan Parulekar helms Swayamsiddha, a Kolhapur-based organisation that, in the last 28 years, has worked to create women entrepreneurs. The businesses range from bakeries to food processing units, bag manufacturing units, beauty parlours and handicrafts.

Hindustani Classical vocalist Hirabai Barodekar of the Kirana Gharana was a recipient of the Padma Bhushan and paved the way for female artists at a time when they were not allowed to perform on stage. Her immense talent and popularity earned her several awards and disciples, including Padma Shri winner Prabha Atre, Vrinda Limaye, Bakul Pandit, Saraswati Rane and many more.

Born to specially-abled farm labourers, IRS officer Vishnu Auti from Maharashtra grew up amidst poverty and famine but that did not stop him from cracking UPSC CSE without any coaching.

From khakhras to nippattu, khichiya, kasundi and kuzhalappam, The State Plate has tied up with nostalgia-inducing local brands to provide their customers with a variety of food from their home states.

Vijayanand Shembekar from Maharashtra is one of those passionate people who go to office by day and create breathtaking masterpieces out of waste coconuts by night.

All sourcing is volunteer-based. The cost of the initial 15 days or so was borne by Wadhwa and his friends. But as the operation grew, various communities and volunteers were more than willing to help out.

In an effort to popularise the cultivation of the fruit in Maharashtra, Desai has raised a nursery as well.