Changemakers

When Rajeev Ranjan left Europe to return to Jharkhand, it wasn’t for comfort — it was to revive tribal art forms like Sohrai, Khovar, and Dokra, empowering over 300 rural women artisans.

In rural Maharashtra, S for Schools is turning classrooms into mobile libraries, giving first-generation learners colourful books and the confidence to dream.

In Kerala, the sea was long reserved for men. KC Rekha defied stigma, picked up the nets, and became India’s first licensed woman deep-sea fisher.

Two Pune doctors left their city to start MASUM — a movement that has empowered over 10,000 rural women to understand their bodies and access reproductive healthcare.

Meet Dr Ranjitsinh Jhala — the man whose vision brought cheetahs back to India and reshaped wildlife conservation.

In Tonk, Rajasthan, an AI-led programme is helping students beat math fear and boost exam scores. IAS officer Saumya Jha’s ‘Padhai with AI’ now runs in 350+ schools.

Born to a tailor and farm labourer, IAS Vijay Amruta Kulange rose from poverty to become Odisha’s beloved ‘People’s Collector’, known for his pro-people reforms.

In Dumka, IFS officer Satwik Vyas turned a weekend book circle into a free library.

Shocked by a road accident victim bleeding to death, Leo Mavely invented Axiostat — a bandage made from shellfish that halts bleeding in minutes.

In Chennai’s Anakaputhur, a handful of weavers are reviving their looms with banana fibre and agri waste — creating eco-friendly sarees and garments.