21 reasons to be inspired: Here are some of the best stories in the last year

Editorrsquos pickSunday midday Editor Aastha Atray Banan chooses her favourite page 1 storiesFor 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 meOf a team and its gritThe Indian wheelchair rugby team had just won their first international medal But as Assistant Editor Debjani Paul pointed out itrsquos 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 resilienceHow to stay alive in MumbaiAs we have discovered in the last two weeks itrsquos 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 Itrsquos 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 courageA report from Satararsquos heartStories 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 28yearold government doctor was found dead in Phaltan in Satara district a Pandorarsquos 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 Bhosalersquos reportage from the ground was sensitive and full of nuanceDebjani Paul writes about three pioneers who have made waves in womenrsquos health and animal welfareUPlifting womenName Anusha Mendonsa and Jhanvi MoreWe Wrote About Them In July 2025 when the cofounders of Gym Girls Club hosted Indiarsquos first deadlift party solely for womenWhy They Inspire Us When we first came across the Gym Girls Club cofounders Anusha Mendonsa and Jhanvi More had just started building a tribe of women who lift and were a few days shy of hosting the countryrsquos first ever deadlift party for gym girlies in Mumbai in July 2025Both are certified trainers who have seen the same story repeating across the city and country mdash women nervously entering gyms packed with men pumping iron wondering if everybody is staring at them if they look ldquothin enoughrdquo if they look ldquotoo buffrdquo if their form looks unconvincing and so onAnusha Mendonsa lifts 60 kg on the barbell as Jhanvi More coaches her on form while other gym girlies cheer her on PicNimesh DaveMen 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 ldquoThis is exactly why we started Gym Girls Clubrdquo says Mendonsa ldquoWe wanted the same sense of community for women toordquoCut to today the club has 30000 followers on Instagram gymgirlsclub and has hosted lifting parties for women across 12 states including in several tier2 cities and in the Northeast Shillong and Guwahati ldquoOver the past year wersquove 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 eventrdquo say Mendonsa and More who now hope to take the movement across all the states by the end of the yearItrsquos not without reason they say women are stronger together mdash ldquoOne 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 mdash once you have the right form you can lift much better Thatrsquos how much it helps to have other women cheer you onrdquoDog blessName Richa Singh Choudhuri Founder Bowsome Senior Dogs India FoundationWe Wrote About Them In January 2026 for carrying out a complicated medical rescue of an abandoned dogWhy 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 mdash 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 issuesEarlier this year Richa Singh Choudhuri rescued Gumbo an 11yearold abandoned Labrador retriever who went on to become the first documented dog in the world to survive complete removal of his lower jaw PicShadab KhanldquoEverything starts and ends with lsquoThis dog is already so old How long will he or she live anywayrsquordquo says the Thane resident who established Bowsome Senior Dogs India Foundation the countryrsquos 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 ldquoI donrsquot 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 liferdquo she tells usAt the heart of her mission is dignity ldquoMany in India still donrsquot 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 shedrdquoHer goal then is to set a benchmark for care She leaves no stone unturned for their nutrition their walks and medical treatment ldquoOnce you see a senior dog treated with so much respect and love in a shelter no one can come and say lsquoI will adopt and keep the dog in my cattle shedrsquo You can only take them from us if you will give them even more love and carerdquoHot flashes Girl theyrsquove got youName Rachel Kurien Founder Menopausal MatesWe Wrote About Them In May 2026 for founding a support group for menopausal and perimenopausal women on WhatsAppWhy They Inspire Us Long before menopause perimenopause hormone replacement therapy and bioHRT 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 bodiesKurien founder of Rachelrsquos Reflexology Clinic would see woman after woman coming in with the same complaints mdash hot flashes mood swings anxiety insomnia brain fog Their doctors and mothers all told them the same thing ldquoThis is normalrdquoRachel Kurienrsquos Menopausal Mates has hundreds of members on WhatsApp across several cities PicAshish RajeKurien founded Menopausal Mates a WhatsApp community where hundreds of women have found not only community but also answers and solutions that have been lifechanging To join visit httpstreeaKm0_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 regulationldquoThe problem is the lack of awareness mdash if women donrsquot know that what theyrsquore experiencing is a result of menopause theyrsquore not empowered to ask for helprdquo Kurien saysJunisha 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 filmsFrom small budget to big screenName Tanmaya Shekhar and MolshriWe Wrote About Them In February 2026 We looked into how indie filmmakers are making films despite any studio backing Thatrsquos 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 publicWhy 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 heardAfter all their film Nukkad Natak a social drama did manage to hit the big screen Itrsquos a film they wrote directed starred in and raised money to take to the theatresShekhar and Molshri have managed to transform filmmaking into an act of direct grassroots engagement They navigated the immense hurdles of independent production mdash from crowdfunding to managing local vendors without a backing studio mdash with a refreshingly practical mindset As Shekhar explains ldquoIt was written very practically keeping in mind lean budgets I think every stage the day we finished shooting the day we didnrsquot have money to pay everybody we had to go on a fundraising spreerdquoCrucially they realised that for an indie film to survive the filmmaker must also become a content creator They didnrsquot just market a product they documented their struggle turning their journey into an opensource guide for othersBy sharing their raw behindthescenes reality their aim was to lower the barrier to entry for the next generationThey believe in the power of the individual creator to bypass traditional hierarchies Shekhar says ldquoI 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 audiencerdquoBy 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 movementThe two are working on new projects now independently While also still bringing behindthescenes content on how to enter Bollywood without any backingShaping an Internet thatrsquos accessible by allName Shilpi KapoorWe 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 disabilitiesWhy 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 inclusionThrough her leadership shersquos working on bridging the gap between corporate technology and the needs of the disability communityKapoor 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 inclusiveHer perspective on consumer independence is a wakeup call for every business She says ldquoThe 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 welltrained So how do they add to the economy By being consumersrdquoHer 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 ldquoWe 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 jobsrdquoKapoorrsquos advocacy reminds us that accessibility isnrsquot a ldquonice to haverdquo feature rather it is a necessity that benefits everyone from the 85yearold grandmother struggling with small icons to the digital native who relies on live captions Or as she puts it ldquoThink 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 customerrdquoMaking a more inclusive world in the long runName Jignesh BarasaraWe Wrote About Them In January 2026 when we followed marathoner and trustee at Heed India Jignesh BarasaraWhy 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 MotaHe views this not as a charitable chore but as an opportunity for mutual growth ldquoIf 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 himrdquoPICASHISH RAJEBarasara was fundamental in launching a programme that paired longtime marathoners with visually impaired runners His efforts led 12 visually impaired runners to run the Tata Mumbai Marathon in January this yearBarasararsquos 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 communityHis unique approach to public health and grassroots sports development caught our attentionBarasara 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 coachingNow his plans aim to scale his public health initiatives specifically his digital healthcare reach into remote villages He says ldquoWe want to increase that space also because we believe in plugging the critical gap between rural patients and tertiary hospitalsrdquoTanisha Banerjee writes about coaches using football to help children escape drug abuse Mumbairsquos unstoppable women rappers and thespians keeping regional theatre aliveGiving a second chanceName Manivarane lsquoManirsquo KounderWe Wrote About Them In August 2025 to highlight Total Football Academy who is using football to help children escape drug abusesWhy Do They Inspire Us WHEN I first spoke to Manivarane ldquoManirdquo Kounder I thought I was walking into a story about football Instead I walked into a story about hope Growing up in Juhursquos 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 returnManivarane lsquoManirsquo KounderThat 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 abroadAs 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 takeThe girl that didnrsquot stopName Pranavi GuntiWe Wrote About Them In October 2025 in an article highlighting women and queer rappers of MumbaiWhy Do They Inspire Us I spoke to Pranavi Gunti stage Name Pranaviii for my story on Mumbairsquos 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 shareWhat makes her journey particularly inspiring is that it hasnrsquot stopped with the publication of the article Since then Gunti has moved to Germany to pursue her masterrsquos degree while continuing to create music proving that artistic ambition doesnrsquot 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 Mumbairsquos underground rap communityFor 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 hardearned Watching her journey unfold makes me proud of her and serves as a reminder to me to never stop writingPreserving language one play at a timeName Ajeet Singh PallawatWe Wrote About Them In November 2025 in an article highlighting regional theatre in the cityWhy 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 Mumbairsquos regional theatre movement Itrsquos 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 oftenoverlooked language can continue to find audiences in a city as fastchanging as MumbaiPICINSTAGRAMajeetsingh004What 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 todayrsquos theatre landscapeHis journey reminded me that cultural preservation doesnrsquot 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 Pallawatrsquos passion towards keeping his culture alive makes us look at why regional theatre matters as a living archive of identityNasrin Modak Siddiqi speaks to the culinary world maestros who are great at multitasking and are working towards building a legacyA woman in a manrsquos worldName Pinky Chandan DixitWe Wrote About Them In January 2026 after she hosted the book launch of Chutney at AamcheeWhy 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 lsquoWhy Indian Food Should Be Affordable And she did it in her quintessential calm styleThe 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 airsToday she is the force behind Soam its delivery extension Soam at Home Aamchee and most recently Varsoo which shines a spotlight on Indiarsquos rich regional culinary traditions Her expertise has made her one of Indiarsquos most respected voices on regional cuisine Yet away from the restaurants she remains a handson mother who has always managed to balance her business with her familyAsk her what keeps her going and the answer is refreshingly simple ldquoI love my work but I also want to enjoy my family liferdquo 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 ldquoI find that the toughest Irsquom still learningrdquoHer advice for anyone trying to juggle work and life reflects the same grounded approach that defines her food ldquoSmile and trust the process Trust your team And switch off work when you get homerdquo The last one she admits with a smile is still a work in progressThe chef whose table you craveName Hussain ShahzadWe Wrote About Them In May 2026 after he shared a recipe from his Eid special menuWhy 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 shychef 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 soulrdquoAs Executive Chef at Hunger Inc Hospitality Shahzad has helped shape some of Indiarsquos most celebrated restaurants including The Bombay Canteen O Pedro Veronicarsquos and most recently Paparsquos the intimate 12seater chefrsquos counter that earned a place on TIMErsquos Worldrsquos 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 rootsToday he is recognised as one of Indiarsquos leading chefs with honours including Chef of the Year at the NDTV Food Awards and Condeacute Nast Traveller Indiarsquos Top Restaurant Awards the No 1 spot on Culinary Culturersquos FoodSuperstars list recognition at The Best Chef Awards 2025 and a place in The Economic Timesrsquo 40 Under FortyDespite the accolades his approach to leadership remains remarkably grounded ldquoI believe in compartmentalising everything I do so one responsibility doesnrsquot cloud anotherrdquo he says Some days are for creativity Others are for execution operations and building teams ldquoWhen Irsquom creating Irsquom in my own world When Irsquom executing thatrsquos my only focusrdquoCalm he says is one of the most important lessons he has learnt ldquoMy team looks to me for direction They deal with the daytoday challenges My job is to stay composed and make the right decisionsrdquo One lesson from his mentor late Floyd Cardoz continues to guide him ldquoYoursquore never as good as your best review and yoursquore never as bad as your worst onerdquoFor Shahzad failures are never personal they are opportunities to improve the process ldquoAs long as my conscience is clear and I can sleep peacefully at night I know Irsquove done the right thingrdquo Looking back the only thing he would change is spending a little more time in the United States before returning homeThe chef who inspires the ladiesName Garima AroraWe Wrote About Them In November 2025 after she launched her resturant Banng in BandraWhy 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 countryrsquos most influential culinary voices from mentoring young chefs and judging MasterChef India where many first discovered her to representing Indian gastronomy on the worldrsquos biggest stages Despite building an international restaurant empire she remains a fiercely handson mother and a professional known as much for her discipline as for her warmthWhat keeps her going she says is ldquothe pure unfiltered adrenaline of creationrdquo Watching a guestrsquos face light up after the first bite never loses its magic These days however her greatest motivation is her children and her team ldquoWatching my kids grow gives me perspective on time and purpose watching my kitchen crew master a technique or take ownership fires me up Knowing Irsquom 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 sleeprdquoIf she could change one thing it would be slowing down in her twenties ldquoI wish Irsquod 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 teachBalancing multiple restaurants with motherhood she says is less about finding perfect balance and more about managing ldquobeautiful chaosrdquo 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 ldquoWhen yoursquore 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 isnrsquot 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 dayrdquoAkshita Maheshwari writes about filmmakers women and cafe owners whose hatke spirit makes ours the city of dreamsFrom college dropout to guest lecturerName Aarav RamnaniWe Wrote About Them In October 2025 in an article about whether Mumbai Universityrsquos 75 per cent attendance was an outdated ruleWhy Do They Inspire Us Aarav Ramnani was juggling a fulltime job at a renowned production house with college Eventually it all became too much for him and he had to drop out of collegeAarav Ramnani FILE PICSAYYED SAMEER ABEDIWhen I had spoken to him last year Ramnani was a wideeyed kid with big dreams on his shoulders Now hersquos an awardwinning cinematographer When I dialled him up again last week lots had changed ldquoItrsquos been a hell of a yearrdquo he tells me ldquoWe started our own production house Khopcha Films last year When we started we knew the industry was going slow We thought wersquoll do maybe six projects in six months We ended up doing six projects in a single monthrdquoTheir 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 ldquoWe won in two of the three categories we submitted for which we didnrsquot expect at all Itrsquos all been so surrealrdquoOn the college front Ramnani says ldquoI was actually invited as a guest speaker at the same college I had dropped out of It was hilariousrdquoThe college he went to requires students to collect extracurricular points through attending guest lectures Thatrsquos the lecture he conducted ldquoAfterwards 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 didnrsquot have enough extracurricular points That irony is just insanerdquo he laughsFor me Ramnani is very inspiring because he is proof that the conventional path isnrsquot the only one At just 21 he is wise beyond his years Irsquom excited to see what he comes up with nextFuelling the city from carts and now storesName Rohan PhanseWe Wrote About Them In February 2026 for an article about the cityrsquos cafeacute cultureWhy Do They Inspire Us When I was doing this article we noticed every other day there is a new cafeacute 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 Cafeacute very close to the midday office here in Government Colony BandraRohan PhansePhansersquos motto is keeping things simple He has a straight menu with a straight concept mdash to provide BKC officegoers their morning fuel on their way Now hersquos opened a brickandmortar store ldquoWith the cart we kept running into issues with the BMC or the buildings around So I thought itrsquos time to take the leaprdquo he says ldquoThe initial days were very hard I wanted to find the perfect location Thankfully I found exactly what I had in mindrdquo The new cafeacute is close to the old cart in Government Colony itselfItrsquos been three months since the opening ldquoThings are going very well It was hard in the first month but things have settled down nowrdquo he saysPhanse who was a teacher at a barista school still holds baristas very close to his heart ldquoI want my baristas to be the best in the business and keep learningrdquo he says Another close cause is animal care ldquoI 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 yearrdquoThatrsquos the most inspiring part about Phanse for me He remains humble and dedicated to helping others He doesnrsquot just want success for himself but for everyone who helped along the way too Irsquom glad to have been part of his journeyA working womanrsquos bestieName Anshika KushwahaWe Wrote About Them In November 2025 for an article highlighting lsquosafety taxrsquoWhy Do They Inspire Us I HAD interviewed Anshika Kushwaha for an article about the price women pay for safety The official term is ldquosafety taxrdquo Itrsquos 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 womenrsquos issues she told us she spends as much as 40 times more on private transport because she feels unsafe in public transportKushwaha has taken this devotion and turned it into a tangible thing with Decoding Draupadi Itrsquos a nationwide womenrsquos only network that connects working women with job opportunities ldquoThe WhatsApp community alone consists of 10000 womenrdquo Kushwaha tells me ldquoThe Instagram page has also grown to over 20000 followersrdquoOther than jobs Kushwaha is also helping women connect with other women in general ldquoHere 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 Irsquom just glad to be able to connect themrdquo says KushwahaA project she is especially proud of is their latest photo walk ldquoI 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 picturesrdquo she says ldquoAround 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 responsesrdquoFor me Kushwaha is inspiring because she is not only taking up space as a woman but creating it for others too ldquoI want Decoding Draupadi to be a womanrsquos best friendrdquo she says We hope many find their besties there tooArpika Bhosale writes about Shrishti Khanna whose activism came at a personal cost Balram Vishwakarma helping fellow neurodivergents and Raj Kanaujiya who always uplifts queer folkCourage with no backupName Shrishti KhannaWe Wrote About Them In January 2026 about the gig worker protest on New Yearrsquos Eve 2025Why Do They Inspire Us Shrishti Khanna had broken down the gig worker and labour concerns in a way that most influencers hadnrsquot 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 ldquoRight now I am freelancing with some publications and have been trying to make ends meet that wayrdquo says KhannaShrishti Khanna FILE PICSATEJ SHINDEHer 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 hasnrsquot deterred herWhen we ask how and where the strength and her activism come from she adds ldquoI am asked this by a lot of people but I really donrsquot have an answer mdash it just doesrdquo 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 democracyAs this article is going to print Khan is dealing with mdash for the second time mdash the doxxing of her account ldquoAs 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 processrdquo she tells us Khanna like most of us including journalists doesnrsquot enjoy the financial luxury of being without a job The activist keeps going despite the great personal costBuilding community from scratchName Balram VishwakarmaWe Wrote About Them In October 2025 in a story about how the neurodivergent cannot take injustice lying downWhy Do They Inspire Us Balram Vishwakarma aka andheriwestshitposting became famous due to his takes on Mumbairsquos flailing infrastructure but a year ago Vishwakarma transcended to getting his elbows greasy for the neurodivergentBalram VishwakarmaIn August last year Vishwakarma started a neurodivergent selfhelp 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 ldquoWe havenrsquot missed one Sunday until now and next month we will celebrate a yearrdquo says BalramBalramrsquos 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 personalitiesA communityrsquos healthName Raj KanaujiyaWe Wrote About Them In June 2023 for manufacturing and sourcing chest binders for LGBTQIA folk going through gender dysphoria or genderaffirming surgeryWhy 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 nowRaj KanaujiyaOftentimes 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 ldquoI have now moved on to another project that takes on more of my time but that doesnrsquot mean that if someone needs any help I will not make it happenrdquo he saysKanaujiya now works with another organisation in the health space for the queer community of MumbaildquoThe 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 bodiesrdquo he saysKanaujiya reminds us of a grassroot social worker who knows everyone and doesnrsquot 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