12 July,2026 08:23 AM IST | Mumbai | Team SMD
(From left) Arpika Bhosale, Nasrin Modak Siddiqi, Akshita Maheshwari, Aastha Atray Banan, Debjani Paul, Tanisha Banerjee, and Junisha Dama pose with the certificate of recognition given to the team by mid-day management
Sunday mid-day Editor Aastha Atray Banan chooses her favourite page 1 stories
For me, every edition is a special one. But, sometimes, on a Sunday morning, I am especially amazed by the tenacity, resourcefulness and ingenuity of this team. In the past year, these are the three stories that have stood out for me.
The Indian wheelchair rugby team had just won their first international medal. But as Assistant Editor Debjani Paul pointed out, it's very hard for athletes in wheelchairs to train. Due to spinal cord injuries, many of them find it hard to sweat, which makes it harder for them to practise in the heat of Mumbai. And there are few training facilities that exist for them. Paul told their story with empathy and highlighted their grit and resilience.
As we have discovered in the last two weeks, it's very easy to die in this country, and this city. You may be going to work, and a tree will fall on you, or you may fall into an open manhole. It's a video game, this city. Arpika Bhosale did a story where she featured Mumbaikars and the different innovative ways they were navigating this maze. The one who stood out was Richard Fernandes, who uses a skateboard to cut through traffic every morning. Talk about courage!
Stories done from the field are truly special. These are the stories that take us to a different place, and help us understand an issue in a better and deeper way. When a 28-year-old government doctor was found dead in Phaltan, in Satara district, a Pandora's Box opened up about the systemic failures in the sugarcane belt of Maharashtra. She was known to protect, and treat her patients, despite pressure from powerful entities, and she herself fell prey to the system. Bhosale's reportage from the ground was sensitive and full of nuance.
Debjani Paul writes about three pioneers who have made waves in women's health, and animal welfare
Name: Anusha Mendonsa and Jhanvi More
We Wrote About Them In: July 2025, when the co-founders of Gym Girls Club hosted India's first deadlift party solely for women
Why They Inspire Us: When we first came across the Gym Girls Club, co-founders Anusha Mendonsa and Jhanvi More had just started building a tribe of women who lift, and were a few days shy of hosting the country's first ever deadlift party for gym girlies in Mumbai in July 2025.
Both are certified trainers who have seen the same story repeating across the city and country - women nervously entering gyms packed with men pumping iron, wondering if everybody is staring at them, if they look "thin enough", if they look "too buff", if their form looks unconvincing, and so on.
Anusha Mendonsa lifts 60 kg on the barbell as Jhanvi More coaches her on form, while other gym girlies cheer her on. Pic/Nimesh Dave
Men always hype each other up and even spot one another when they lift, but they often approach women in the gym with the intention to chat them up, rather than cheer for them. "This is exactly why we started Gym Girls Club," says Mendonsa, "We wanted the same sense of community for women too."
Cut to today: the club has 30,000 followers on Instagram (@gymgirls.club) and has hosted lifting parties for women across 12 states, including in several tier-2 cities and in the Northeast (Shillong and Guwahati). "Over the past year, we've realised that many women want to begin their lifting journey, but just need a community to get started. One of the women who joined us in Guwahati had travelled all the way from Arunachal Pradesh and had just started gymming 15 days before, inspired by our event," say Mendonsa and More, who now hope to take the movement across all the states by the end of the year.
It's not without reason they say women are stronger together - "One participant was lifting 20 kg barbell until she came to our event and went all the way to 120 kg. Jhanvi and I coach all the women on form - once you have the right form, you can lift much better. That's how much it helps to have other women cheer you on."
Name: Richa Singh Choudhuri, Founder, Bowsome Senior Dogs India Foundation
We Wrote About Them In: January 2026, for carrying out a complicated medical rescue of an abandoned dog
Why They Inspire Us: RICHA Singh Choudhuri has been rescuing dogs for nine years now, working with dogs of all kinds and across all age groups. But about four years ago, she realised that senior dogs always get the worst of the bargain - they are more likely to be abandoned, less likely to adopted, and it is less likely for NGOs to spend on their treatment if they suffer from complicated medical issues.
Earlier this year, Richa Singh Choudhuri rescued Gumbo, an 11-year-old abandoned Labrador retriever who went on to become the first documented dog in the world to survive complete removal of his lower jaw. Pic/Shadab Khan
"Everything starts and ends with: âThis dog is already so old. How long will he or she live anyway?'" says the Thane resident, who established Bowsome Senior Dogs India Foundation, the country's first rescue organisation for senior dogs.
In the four years since its establishment, they have rescued 482 senior dogs from across the country. All but one have been adopted. "I don't want any senior dog to live out their live in a kennel. All of them deserve loving homes. Whether it takes a few weeks or a year, we patch them all up and find them families. The only dog we have not put up for adoption yet is a wild dog who is not suited to a domestic life," she tells us.
At the heart of her mission is dignity. "Many in India still don't understand that love is about dignity, not pity. We want dignity for ourselves, for our old parents, for our own elderly pets. But when it comes to adopting senior rescues, people look at it as a favour and say they will keep the dog in their farmhouse or cattle shed."
Her goal, then, is to set a benchmark for care. She leaves no stone unturned for their nutrition, their walks, and medical treatment. "Once you see a senior dog treated with so much respect and love in a shelter, no one can come and say, âI will adopt and keep the dog in my cattle shed'. You can only take them from us if you will give them even more love and care."
Name: Rachel Kurien, Founder, Menopausal Mates
We Wrote About Them In: May 2026, for founding a support group for menopausal and perimenopausal women on WhatsApp
Why They Inspire Us: Long before menopause, perimenopause, hormone replacement therapy, and bio-HRT even became buzzwords in the wellness sphere, it was Rachel Kurien who handheld so many women in their 30s and 40s who were confused about what was happening to their bodies.
Kurien, founder of Rachel's Reflexology Clinic, would see woman after woman coming in with the same complaints - hot flashes, mood swings, anxiety, insomnia, brain fog. Their doctors and mothers all told them the same thing: "This is normal".
Rachel Kurien's Menopausal Mates has hundreds of members on WhatsApp across several cities. Pic/Ashish Raje
Kurien founded Menopausal Mates, a WhatsApp community where hundreds of women have found not only community, but also answers and solutions that have been life-changing (To join, visit https://tr.ee/aKm0_hOaf8). The group is a safe space for women to share their experiences and support each other, as well as a source of expert insights on hormones, treatment options, nutrition, and mental health and emotional regulation.
"The problem is the lack of awareness - if women don't know that what they're experiencing is a result of menopause, they're not empowered to ask for help," Kurien says.
Junisha Dama writes about Shilpi Kapoor and Jignesh Barasara who are fighting for more inclusivity both online and on the ground, while Tanmaya Shekhar and Molshri lead the way in democratising films
Name: Tanmaya Shekhar and Molshri
We Wrote About Them In: February 2026. We looked into how indie filmmakers are making films despite any studio backing. That's how we discovered Tanmaya Shekhar and Molshri, a new vanguard of independent filmmakers in India who are bypassing traditional studio gatekeepers to bring their stories directly to the public
Why Do They Inspire Us: THEIR DIY approach to filmmaking, born from a desire to address the stark inequalities they witnessed between elite institutions and the extreme poverty of surrounding neighbourhoods, serves as a blueprint for creators who refuse to wait for permission to be heard.
After all, their film Nukkad Natak, a social drama, did manage to hit the big screen. It's a film they wrote, directed, starred in, and raised money to take to the theatres.
Shekhar and Molshri have managed to transform filmmaking into an act of direct, grassroots engagement. They navigated the immense hurdles of independent production - from crowdfunding to managing local vendors without a backing studio - with a refreshingly practical mindset. As Shekhar explains, "It was written very practically, keeping in mind lean budgets. I think every stage, the day we finished shooting, the day we didn't have money to pay everybody, we had to go on a fundraising spree."
Crucially, they realised that for an indie film to survive, the filmmaker must also become a content creator. They didn't just market a product; they documented their struggle, turning their journey into an open-source guide for others. By sharing their raw, behind-the-scenes reality, their aim was to lower the barrier to entry for the next generation.
They believe in the power of the individual creator to bypass traditional hierarchies. Shekhar says, "I feel like this is a new trend where the new generation of filmmakers who grew up on the Internet are figuring out how to connect with their audience."
By proving that an authentic story can build its own momentum, they have managed to democratise cinema, and teach peers that if you can build a genuine connection, you can build a movement.
The two are working on new projects now, independently. While also still bringing behind-the-scenes content on how to enter Bollywood without any backing.
Name: Shilpi Kapoor
We Wrote About Them In: December 2025. We spoke to the founder and CEO of Barrier Break on how the Internet is not the same for everyone. This was after a report revealed that 64 per cent of Indian websites were inaccessible to users with disabilities
Why Do They Inspire Us: Kapoor has spent over two decades as a pioneer in digital accessibility, shifting the conversation from charity to fundamental human rights and economic inclusion.
Through her leadership, she's working on bridging the gap between corporate technology and the needs of the disability community.
Kapoor refuses to accept the status quo of a digital world designed only for the typical user. She challenges the corporate sector to look beyond aesthetics and understand that true innovation is inclusive.
Her perspective on consumer independence is a wake-up call for every business. She says, "The challenge is when are we going to look at them [people with disabilities] as consumers and as people like you and me who have a full life... Today, I think the disabled community is tired of saying we are not charity and we are not well-trained. So how do they add to the economy? By being consumers."
Her future plans are driven by a massive, structured effort to scale expertise. Recognising that accessibility is a technical skill often missing from engineering curriculums, she is spearheading initiatives to train the next generation of coders. She says, "We have to create this energy on the ground that the younger generation, the developers, the coders, the designers, all take on accessibility as something we all have to do in our own jobs."
Kapoor's advocacy reminds us that accessibility isn't a "nice to have" feature, rather it is a necessity that benefits everyone, from the 85-year-old grandmother struggling with small icons to the digital native who relies on live captions. Or as she puts it, "Think of it as designing for the future... make them welcome, make them come into the door so that they want to shop with you, they want to be your customer."
Name: Jignesh Barasara
We Wrote About Them In: January 2026, when we followed marathoner and trustee at Heed India, Jignesh Barasara
Why Do They Inspire Us: His commitment to his community is best reflected in his personal journey as a buddy runner for a 100 per cent visually impaired marathoner, Penav Mota.
He views this not as a charitable chore, but as an opportunity for mutual growth: "If I am able to go train with him to achieve what he wants to achieve it will be the biggest gift I can give to myself and to him."
PIC/ASHISH RAJE
Barasara was fundamental in launching a programme that paired long-time marathoners with visually impaired runners. His efforts led 12 visually impaired runners to run the Tata Mumbai Marathon in January this year.
Barasara's transition from a successful corporate banker to a dedicated social entrepreneur serves as a blueprint for how professional experience can be pivoted to serve the community. His unique approach to public health and grassroots sports development caught our attention.
Barasara embodies the dare to dream philosophy he preaches to the underprivileged children he serves. His commitment to creating a level playing field has him focusing on how sports like kabaddi, Taekwondo, boxing, and athletics can be made more inclusive. He told us he purposefully avoids commercial sports to ensure the underserved have access to disciplined, systematic coaching.
Now, his plans aim to scale his public health initiatives, specifically his digital healthcare reach into remote villages. He says, "We want to increase that space also because we believe in plugging the critical gap between rural patients and tertiary hospitals."
Tanisha Banerjee writes about coaches using football to help children escape drug abuse, Mumbai's unstoppable women rappers, and thespians keeping regional theatre alive
Name: Manivarane âMani' Kounder
We Wrote About Them In: August 2025, to highlight Total Football Academy who is using football to help children escape drug abuses
Why Do They Inspire Us: WHEN I first spoke to Manivarane "Mani" Kounder, I thought I was walking into a story about football. Instead, I walked into a story about hope. Growing up in Juhu's Nehru Nagar slum, Kounder had witnessed the same drug abuse and hopelessness that many of the children around him continue to face today. He could have chosen to leave that life behind. Instead, he chose to return.
Manivarane âMani' Kounder
That decision is what stayed with me long after the story was published. Through Total Football Academy, Kounder did more than coach children to play the game. He decided to show them that their circumstances do not have to define their future. Every football he hands a child is an alternative to addiction and with every opportunity he creates a reminder that dreams can begin even in the narrowest lanes. Today, the academy has helped young players earn scholarships, represent districts and states, and even pursue football careers abroad.
As a journalist, we often meet people solving problems. Kounder reminded me that the most powerful changemakers are sometimes those who have lived the very realities they are trying to change. His dedication to turn around the curse in his neighbourhood was one of the bravest ventures I have seen a person I have featured take.
Name: Pranavi Gunti
We Wrote About Them In: October 2025, in an article highlighting women and queer rappers of Mumbai
Why Do They Inspire Us: I spoke to Pranavi Gunti, stage Name Pranaviii, for my story on Mumbai's women and queer rappers. I was struck by how determined she was. In a scene where visibility often comes only after years of persistence, she was committed to finding her voice and telling her story through music. That sincerity stayed with me long after our conversation ended. She continued to send her music to me and was always eager for any feedback I had to share.
What makes her journey particularly inspiring is that it hasn't stopped with the publication of the article. Since then, Gunti has moved to Germany to pursue her master's degree while continuing to create music, proving that artistic ambition doesn't have to be put on hold when life takes you elsewhere. Recently, she also performed live in Germany for the very first time. This milestone speaks volumes for an independent artiste who began by carving out space in Mumbai's underground rap community.
For me, Gunti represents the countless young artistes who keep showing up, creating, and evolving without the spotlight constantly being on them. Success for independent musicians is often measured in small but significant victories, and every new release, every new audience, and every new stage is hard-earned. Watching her journey unfold makes me proud of her and serves as a reminder to me to never stop writing.
Name: Ajeet Singh Pallawat
We Wrote About Them In: November 2025, in an article highlighting regional theatre in the city
Why Do They Inspire Us: I REALISED that preserving a language is about far more than keeping its words alive when I featured Ajeet Singh Pallawat for an article on Mumbai's regional theatre movement. It's about protecting the stories, humour, music, and cultural memory that come with it. Through his work with Marwari theatre, Pallawat has been doing exactly that in a space where an often-overlooked language can continue to find audiences in a city as fast-changing as Mumbai.
PIC/INSTAGRAM@ajeetsingh004
What has stayed with me is his willingness to keep experimenting while remaining rooted in tradition. Since our story, Pallawat has continued directing new productions, including Mithyasur, while also exploring performances that blend music, storytelling and qawwali. All these forms feel increasingly rare in today's theatre landscape.
His journey reminded me that cultural preservation doesn't always happen inside museums or archives. Sometimes, it happens under stage lights, with an audience laughing, singing or listening to a story told in their mother tongue. Pallawat's passion towards keeping his culture alive makes us look at why regional theatre matters as a living archive of identity.
Nasrin Modak Siddiqi speaks to the culinary world maestros who are great at multitasking and are working towards building a legacy
Name: Pinky Chandan Dixit
We Wrote About Them In: January 2026, after she hosted the book launch of Chutney at Aamchee
Why Do They Inspire Us: At the panel of Khatta Meetha, hosted by Masque, Gaggan Anand and Culinary Culture, it was refreshing to see Pinky Chandan Dixit put forth a strong argument on âWhy Indian Food Should Be Affordable? And she did it in her quintessential calm style.
The culinary queen of Babulnath has earned respect over more than two decades since she opened Soam at Chowpatty, helping redefine regional vegetarian dining. Their seasonal menu is unmatched. The Hotel Management graduate from Sophia Polytechnic with a diploma from Le Cordon Bleu, London, Dixit spent over eight years researching recipes and working on cookbooks with culinary icon Tarla Dalal before building a food empire rooted in homestyle Indian cooking. All of this and zero airs.
Today, she is the force behind Soam, its delivery extension Soam at Home, Aamchee, and most recently Varsoo, which shines a spotlight on India's rich regional culinary traditions. Her expertise has made her one of India's most respected voices on regional cuisine. Yet, away from the restaurants, she remains a hands-on mother who has always managed to balance her business with her family.
Ask her what keeps her going, and the answer is refreshingly simple. "I love my work, but I also want to enjoy my family life," she says. The balance comes from making time to recharge through good sleep, taking small breaks, and carving out moments for herself. Looking back, the one thing she wishes she had learnt earlier is the ability to say no. "I find that the toughest. I'm still learning."
Her advice for anyone trying to juggle work and life reflects the same grounded approach that defines her food: "Smile and trust the process. Trust your team. And switch off work when you get home." The last one, she admits with a smile, is still a work in progress.
Name: Hussain Shahzad
We Wrote About Them In: May 2026, after he shared a recipe from his Eid special menu
Why Do They Inspire Us: We have a video of Hussain Shahzad in which he is putting his head down and cooking while guests at the media table try to interact with him. He has come a long way from his shy-chef image, winning praises and accolades all along but never once chasing it. For him, every dish begins with a simple question: how do you make Indian produce and flavours speak a global language without losing their soul?"
As Executive Chef at Hunger Inc. Hospitality, Shahzad has helped shape some of India's most celebrated restaurants, including The Bombay Canteen, O Pedro, Veronica's and, most recently, Papa's, the intimate 12-seater chef's counter that earned a place on TIME's World's Greatest Places 2025. An alumnus of Eleven Madison Park and former private chef to Roger Federer, Shahzad returned to India in 2015 after a chance meeting with the late Floyd Cardoz inspired him to rediscover his culinary roots.
Today, he is recognised as one of India's leading chefs, with honours including Chef of the Year at the NDTV Food Awards and Condé Nast Traveller India's Top Restaurant Awards, the No. 1 spot on Culinary Culture's FoodSuperstars list, recognition at The Best Chef Awards 2025, and a place in The Economic Times' 40 Under Forty.
Despite the accolades, his approach to leadership remains remarkably grounded. "I believe in compartmentalising everything I do; so one responsibility doesn't cloud another," he says. Some days are for creativity. Others are for execution, operations and building teams. "When I'm creating, I'm in my own world. When I'm executing, that's my only focus."
Calm, he says, is one of the most important lessons he has learnt. "My team looks to me for direction. They deal with the day-to-day challenges. My job is to stay composed and make the right decisions." One lesson from his mentor, late Floyd Cardoz, continues to guide him: "You're never as good as your best review, and you're never as bad as your worst one."
For Shahzad, failures are never personal; they are opportunities to improve the process. "As long as my conscience is clear and I can sleep peacefully at night, I know I've done the right thing." Looking back, the only thing he would change is spending a little more time in the United States before returning home.
Name: Garima Arora
We Wrote About Them In: November 2025, after she launched her resturant Banng in Bandra
Why Do They Inspire Us: Garima Arora has never been one to stand still. The first Indian woman to earn two Michelin stars, she put Indian fine dining on the global map with Gaa in Bangkok, and now Yaari, her newest venture set to open at the Waldorf Astoria Kuala Lumpur later this year. Beyond the kitchen, Arora has become one of the country's most influential culinary voices, from mentoring young chefs and judging MasterChef India, where many first discovered her, to representing Indian gastronomy on the world's biggest stages. Despite building an international restaurant empire, she remains a fiercely hands-on mother and a professional, known as much for her discipline as for her warmth.
What keeps her going, she says, is "the pure, unfiltered adrenaline of creation". Watching a guest's face light up after the first bite never loses its magic. These days, however, her greatest motivation is her children and her team. "Watching my kids grow gives me perspective on time and purpose; watching my kitchen crew master a technique or take ownership fires me up. Knowing I'm building a legacy for my family and creating a space where my team can thrive gets me out of bed, even on four hours of sleep."
If she could change one thing, it would be slowing down in her twenties. "I wish I'd spent more time collecting skills, working in more kitchens and finding a mentor before taking on the responsibility of running my own spaces. It would have helped her navigate the intense pressures of fine dining and avoid the mistakes that only experience can teach.
Balancing multiple restaurants with motherhood, she says, is less about finding perfect balance and more about managing "beautiful chaos". Her approach is built on three principles: creating dependable systems both at work and at home, being fully present wherever she is, and protecting her own physical and mental wellbeing. "When you're with your kids, be entirely there. Put the phone down. This industry is a marathon, and motherhood is too. You cannot pour from an empty cup. You have to actively prioritise getting stronger, eating well, and giving your body the fuel it needs to sustain this level of energy. Taking care of your physical and mental wellbeing isn't a luxury; it is a professional and personal requirement so that you can show up at 100 per cent for your team and your family, every single day."
Akshita Maheshwari writes about filmmakers, women, and cafe owners whose hatke spirit makes ours the city of dreams
Name: Aarav Ramnani
We Wrote About Them In: October 2025, in an article about whether Mumbai University's 75 per cent attendance was an outdated rule
Why Do They Inspire Us: Aarav Ramnani was juggling a full-time job at a renowned production house with college. Eventually it all became too much for him, and he had to drop out of college.
Aarav Ramnani. FILE PIC/SAYYED SAMEER ABEDI
When I had spoken to him last year, Ramnani was a wide-eyed kid with big dreams on his shoulders. Now he's an award-winning cinematographer. When I dialled him up again last week, lots had changed. "It's been a hell of a year," he tells me, "We started our own production house, Khopcha Films, last year. When we started, we knew the industry was going slow. We thought we'll do maybe six projects in six months. We ended up doing six projects in a single month."
Their big break was ESWY, a music video that featured Jaaved Jaaferi, and looks more like a short film than a music video. Ramnani won the Young Cinematographer of the Year award from Good Ads Matter for this. "We won in two of the three categories we submitted for, which we didn't expect at all. It's all been so surreal." On the college front, Ramnani says, "I was actually invited as a guest speaker at the same college I had dropped out of. It was hilarious."
The college he went to requires students to collect extra-curricular points through attending guest lectures. That's the lecture he conducted. "Afterwards, I went to collect my transfer certificate, because I still want to finish my degree. But they refused to give me the certificate because I didn't have enough extra-curricular points. That irony is just insane," he laughs.
For me, Ramnani is very inspiring because he is proof that the conventional path isn't the only one. At just 21, he is wise beyond his years. I'm excited to see what he comes up with next.
Name: Rohan Phanse
We Wrote About Them In: February 2026, for an article about the city's café culture
Why Do They Inspire Us: When I was doing this article, we noticed every other day there is a new café, Bandra is just line after line at this point, and no one is doing anything hatke. And then we came across Rohan Phanse, who was running a coffee cart Named Sowaka Café very close to the mid-day office, here in Government Colony, Bandra.
Rohan Phanse
Phanse's motto is keeping things simple. He has a straight menu, with a straight concept - to provide BKC office-goers their morning fuel on their way. Now, he's opened a brick-and-mortar store. "With the cart, we kept running into issues with the BMC or the buildings around. So, I thought it's time to take the leap," he says, "The initial days were very hard. I wanted to find the perfect location. Thankfully, I found exactly what I had in mind." The new café is close to the old cart, in Government Colony itself.
It's been three months since the opening. "Things are going very well. It was hard in the first month, but things have settled down now," he says.
Phanse, who was a teacher at a barista school, still holds baristas very close to his heart. "I want my baristas to be the best in the business and keep learning," he says. Another close cause is animal care. "I donate a certain percentage of my profits to taking care of abandoned pets. According to me, it is a very small amount, but I hope I can keep donating more and more every year."
That's the most inspiring part about Phanse for me. He remains humble and dedicated to helping others. He doesn't just want success for himself, but for everyone who helped along the way too. I'm glad to have been part of his journey.
Name: Anshika Kushwaha
We Wrote About Them In: November 2025, for an article highlighting âsafety tax'
Why Do They Inspire Us: I HAD interviewed Anshika Kushwaha for an article about the price women pay for safety. The official term is "safety tax". It's when a woman spends extra money on a taxi instead of just walking at night, or books a more expensive hotel just to make sure she is safe for the night. When we spoke to Kushwaha, who is extremely devoted to the cause of women's issues, she told us she spends as much as 40 times more on private transport because she feels unsafe in public transport.
Kushwaha has taken this devotion and turned it into a tangible thing with Decoding Draupadi. It's a nation-wide women's only network that connects working women with job opportunities. "The WhatsApp community alone consists of 10,000 women," Kushwaha tells me, "The Instagram page has also grown to over 20,000 followers."
Other than jobs, Kushwaha is also helping women connect with other women in general. "Here in Mumbai, I conduct at least one event a month, where women from this online community come offline and meet each other. We have some regulars of course, but of late I have been seeing a lot of fresh faces. People really want to meet other cool people. I'm just glad to be able to connect them," says Kushwaha.
A project she is especially proud of is their latest photo walk. "I wanted to see how women see the cities they live in. We found volunteers in 30 major cities in India. We came up with prompts for the participants to take pictures," she says, "Around a 1000 women came out to the streets, in 30 different cities, at the same time, and then captured their cities through their own lens. And we got some very interesting responses."
For me, Kushwaha is inspiring because she is not only taking up space as a woman, but creating it for others too. "I want Decoding Draupadi to be a woman's best friend," she says. We hope many find their besties there too.
Arpika Bhosale writes about Shrishti Khanna, whose activism came at a personal cost, Balram Vishwakarma helping fellow neurodivergents, and Raj Kanaujiya, who always uplifts queer folk
Name: Shrishti Khanna
We Wrote About Them In: January 2026, about the gig worker protest on New Year's Eve, 2025
Why Do They Inspire Us: Shrishti Khanna had broken down the gig worker and labour concerns in a way that most influencers hadn't. Her take was nuanced and there was nothing too flashy or the production or editing on it was not like some influencers have tried. Just a girl in front of her small fuzzy mic, and we loved it. A school teacher by profession, Khanna has also been open about her health challenges and has had to leave her job as a result. "Right now, I am freelancing with some publications and have been trying to make ends meet that way," says Khanna.
Shrishti Khanna. FILE PIC/SATEJ SHINDE
Her ability to keep hitting important points, and maybe her experience as a teacher, has given her an insight into how to break down an issue and explain it in a massy way. What really does inspire is that Khanna is often at the receiving end of threats, ranging from death to rape, but has never backed down. Her views on Palestine also meant that she had a target on her back, but that hasn't deterred her.
When we ask how and where the strength and her activism come from she adds, "I am asked this by a lot of people but I really don't have an answer - it just does," she says. We feel that it is people like Khanna who respectfully critique how we conduct ourselves, support, and finally vote, is always a sign of a healthy democracy.
As this article is going to print, Khan is dealing with - for the second time - the doxxing of her account. "As the order came from the government, I intend to pursue the legal avenues. I am not optimistic but I believe it is important to have the matter examined through due process," she tells us. Khanna, like most of us, including journalists, doesn't enjoy the financial luxury of being without a job. The activist keeps going despite the great personal cost.
Name: Balram Vishwakarma
We Wrote About Them In: October 2025, in a story about how the neurodivergent cannot take injustice lying down
Why Do They Inspire Us: Balram Vishwakarma aka @andheriwestshitposting became famous due to his takes on Mumbai's flailing infrastructure, but a year ago Vishwakarma transcended to getting his elbows greasy for the neurodivergent.
Balram Vishwakarma
In August last year, Vishwakarma started a neurodivergent self-help group that meets up every Sunday. As someone who has closely seen the challenges a neurodivergent person experiences, we were inspired by this initiative. As time ticked by, we realised that the group was still going strong and were extremely happy to hear it. "We haven't missed one Sunday until now and next month, we will celebrate a year," says Balram.
Balram's journey to balance his neurodivergence with his mental health, while giving back to the city makes him one of our favourite persons in the city. It also helps that he has one of the most warm and welcoming personalities.
Name: Raj Kanaujiya
We Wrote About Them In: June 2023, for manufacturing and sourcing chest binders for LGBTQIA+ folk going through gender dysphoria or gender-affirming surgery
Why Do They Inspire Us: THE first time we came to know about Raj Kanaujiya was back in 2023, when we were trying to address the lack of chest binders for those in queer community undergoing gender dysphoria. Chest binders at the time had even lesser manufactures than now.
Raj Kanaujiya
Oftentimes, those who had done their top surgery while transitioning, or those who did not identify with the gender assigned at birth, would use binders to ease their dysphoria. Kanaujiya works with providing affordable options to those in the community. As a transman himself, he understood the effect of gender dysphoria. "I have now moved on to another project that takes on more of my time but that doesn't mean that if someone needs any help, I will not make it happen," he says.
Kanaujiya now works with another organisation in the health space for the queer community of Mumbai."The work I do in the health space for me is very important because a lot of times many people from economically weak backgrounds do not know what is happening to their bodies," he says.
Kanaujiya reminds us of a grassroot social worker who knows everyone and doesn't get the credit they are due, but is the kind of person that you should look up to because they have had their feet squarely planted on the ground.
