These people in Egypt are enjoying what looks like a normal concert. But this group is actually singing a lighter form of ritual for exorcism. Umm Sameh, lead singer of Mazaher, is doing an ancient ‘zar' ritual.

People in Egypt are performing lighter version of ‘zar’ ritual - a traditional exorcism

Marilyn Monroe’s painting sold at a record price. It’s a painting by pop artist Andy Warhol called ‘Shot Sage Blue Marilyn’. The silk-screen portrait of Monroe was sold for $195 million! The portrait was made by Warhol in 1964, two years after Monroe’s death.

This Marilyn Monroe painting by Andy Warhol was sold for record price!

Mexicans in this Zitlala are fighting with each other. Men and women were dressed as tigers and whipped each other mercilessly. It is a traditional ceremony, but for what?

Mexicans are fighting each other dressed as tigers, but why?

As China is reeling under the Covid-19 wave, with its cities facing strict restrictions, this couple’s plan was put on hold due to Covid. The couple in Shanghai went ahead with what they had in mind with a different approach.

Love during Covid: What this Shanghai coupled did during lockdown

As the Russian invasion continued in Ukraine with several reported killed and thousands displaced, Kyiv took down a monument which stood as a symbol of Ukraine-Russia friendship. The monument in Kyiv was dismantled as Ukrainians watched and cheered.

After Russian invasion, Ukraine takes down this historic monument in Kyiv

Researchers have claimed that a certain type of grass can help curb climate change. Researchers also claim that this grass can bring down earth’s temperature by 1 degrees Celsius. Is it really possible?

This grass can help battle climate change, researchers claim

Its Carnival time in Rio de Janeiro again! The Carnival officially started on April 20 as mayor Eduardo Paes handed over symbolic keys of the city to the fictional King Momo. People gathered to celebrate the Carnival as King Momo danced next to his samba-dancing entourage.

Carnival kicks off in Rio de Janeiro, mayor hands over city keys to King Momo

Thousands of Elvis Presley fans rejoiced as Parkes Elvis Festival returned after two years. Several people dressed up as Elvis Presley to celebrate the festival. The festival attracts around 25,000 people.

Elvis Presley fans gather to celebrate Parkes Elvis Festival

High temperatures during scorching summers affect not just humans but animals too. This Mexican zoo came up with a cold surprise to help animals beat the heat. Workers at Animaya Zoo prepared popsicles for animals. Jaguars, tigers, and monkeys got popsicles as temperature rose up to 38° Celsius.

What this Mexican zoo is doing for animals to beat the heat

A dragon-horse was spotted in France! But this dragon-horse is made of wood and steel. It breathes fire and spits water too. Long-Ma blows smoke from the nostrils and even growls. Long Ma is created by François Delaroziere & the Compagnie La Machine. The dragon has previously been in Beijing, Ottawa, Nantes, & Calais. Crowd of several thousand people gathered to watch the 45-ton dragon. There are multiple operators controlling Long Ma, the mechanical dragon-horse.

This 45-ton dragon-horse amazes crowd in France. How does it work?

This Kebab almost made it to space! A spicy Turkish kebab was sent off into space. The kebab flew to space with the help of a large helium balloon. A restaurant owner & crew of local entrepreneurs in the Turkish city of Adana made it possible.

This Turkish kebab almost made it to space

People in a city in El Salvador dressed as devil. The Salvadorans were celebrating a traditional ceremony. Salvadorans celebrated the Easter season dressed as devils. The celebrations were put on halt last year due to Covid-19.

Salvadorans celebrate Easter dressed as 'devils', whip people in streets

Reports claimed the US undertook helicopter flights to extract people from the base and transported them directly to Kabul airport.

Eagle Base: US secret base outside Kabul airport revealed

The reason behind using names of storms, cyclones and hurricanes have always puzzled people. WION explains the logic behind it.

Declassifying the mystery behind names of storms

<p lang="EN-US">Shanti&nbsp;Raghavan, founder&nbsp;EnAble&nbsp;India,&nbsp;is working to transforming attitudes towards employing the&nbsp;disabled.&nbsp;Raghavan&nbsp;has been working to further the&nbsp;cause of economic independence and dignity of the disabled for more than nine years.&nbsp;Till December 2016, she has helped more than 4,500 differently-abled people with their livelihoods, while securing jobs for about 10,000.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;<br />
<strong>Q. What prompted you to help the differently-abled?&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><strong>A.&nbsp;</strong>The journey started after my husband,&nbsp;Dipesh,&nbsp;and I experienced disability at close quarters with my brother, Hari, who started growing blind at the age of 15 due to a degenerative eye condition. We learned a lot while rehabilitating him. In the process, we decided to help others, ultimately coming up with&nbsp;EnAble&nbsp;India. Today, my brother is a manager at IT major Dell and is doing very well.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Q. What are the systemic flaws preventing employment opportunities for the disabled in India?&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><strong>A:</strong>&nbsp;The primary reason would be the lack of knowledge management. There are many non-governmental bodies doing good work. But they have not&nbsp;documented&nbsp;their&nbsp;experiences with finding solutions&nbsp;which can&nbsp;then&nbsp;be replicated&nbsp;elsewhere. There is also a lack of human capital and processes.&nbsp;Our effort as an&nbsp;organisation&nbsp;is to fill these gaps.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Q. How does your&nbsp;</strong><strong>organisation</strong><strong>&nbsp;help&nbsp;the disabled?&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><strong>A.</strong>&nbsp;Before Enable India started in livelihoods, most&nbsp;with disabilities were getting jobs through reservations (in&nbsp;the public sector). We opened up the private sector and made companies understand the business value in hiring persons with severe sensory disabilities. We impact livelihoods across 11 disabilities, including visually impaired, physically disabled, autism spectrum disorder, mental illness, learning disability, audio-visual impairment.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false"><img alt="" draggable="false" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/case%20study2-20170216075700.png" />
<div class="media-description">
<p>The disabled do not need sympathy - they need a supportive environment to grow and fulfil their needs, potential and dreams. (WION)</p>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="javascript:void(0)" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Q. How is the training done?&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><strong>A.</strong>&nbsp;We&nbsp;emphasise&nbsp;on encouraging candidates to develop an attitude to work. This is followed by making candidates aware of the skills necessary to succeed in any job role such as working with quality. Next&nbsp;is facilitating candidates to increase knowledge about their disability so that they speak about it using positive language and learn about using tools to work at par with the non-disabled. And finally, we strengthen workplace readiness &ndash; enabling candidates to get ready for the job that matches their educational qualification and skills.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Q.&nbsp;What are&nbsp;the pros and cons of being a social entrepreneur?&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><strong>A.</strong>&nbsp;I see only pros.&nbsp;I have to work on my self-development and my values constantly to ensure that the vision is delivered. Innovation is a must.&nbsp;As we solve pieces of the puzzle, you&nbsp;realise&nbsp;how&nbsp;much more you need to do. I&nbsp;have been able to evolve to higher&nbsp;degrees of focus and energy by cutting out negativity, ego, judgment and more.&nbsp;There are no cons because this is what I want to do and would not have it any other way.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Q.&nbsp;What are some challenges that you have faced and how did you overcome them?&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><strong>A.&nbsp;</strong>Challenges vary from demand creation to opening up of jobs, developing&nbsp;the skills of&nbsp;candidates to barriers in environment&nbsp;to those&nbsp;with disability.&nbsp;We have come up with an innovative employability training, a division for demand creation, different workplace solutions to open up jobs which hitherto did not exist for&nbsp;the&nbsp;disabled.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Q.&nbsp;What keeps you&nbsp;motivated?&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><strong>A.</strong>&nbsp;Every occasion when we have felt bereft of answers or have lost steam, we have seen the power of intent. I also draw inspiration from every person I meet. I wonder about how different people work in tough sectors with&nbsp;low income, how homemakers manage without any recognition,&nbsp;marginalised&nbsp;women&nbsp;in&nbsp;construction work to house work, transgenders and much&nbsp;more.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;<br />
<strong>Q.&nbsp;How can a common man contribute in the initiative?&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><strong>A.</strong>&nbsp;We come across disabilities in our day-to-day lives&nbsp;in the form&nbsp;of accidents, illnesses and stress factors. If we build something in our sphere of influence keeping these disabilities in mind,&nbsp;a&nbsp;world will be&nbsp;created&nbsp;to benefit them. People will see inclusion as a way of life. Inclusion is a process which will make each person feel valued and accepted for who they are.&nbsp;</p>


One-fifth of humanity face significant disabilities. They are more likely to experience lower education and poorer levels of employment

Shanti Raghavan, founder EnAble India, is working to transforming attitudes towards employing the disabled. Raghavan has been working to further the cause of economic independence and dignity of the disabled for more than nine years. Till December 2016, she has helped more than 4,500 differently-abled people with their livelihoods, while securing jobs for about 10,000. Q. What prompted you to help the differently-abled? A. The journey started after my husband, Dipesh, and I experienced disability at close quarters with my brother, Hari, who started growing blind at the age of 15 due to a degenerative eye condition. We learned a lot while rehabilitating him. In the process, we decided to help others, ultimately coming up with EnAble India. Today, my brother is a manager at IT major Dell and is doing very well. Q. What are the systemic flaws preventing employment opportunities for the disabled in India? A: The primary reason would be the lack of knowledge management. There are many non-governmental bodies doing good work. But they have not documented their experiences with finding solutions which can then be replicated elsewhere. There is also a lack of human capital and processes. Our effort as an organisation is to fill these gaps. Q. How does your organisation help the disabled? A. Before Enable India started in livelihoods, most with disabilities were getting jobs through reservations (in the public sector). We opened up the private sector and made companies understand the business value in hiring persons with severe sensory disabilities. We impact livelihoods across 11 disabilities, including visually impaired, physically disabled, autism spectrum disorder, mental illness, learning disability, audio-visual impairment. The disabled do not need sympathy - they need a supportive environment to grow and fulfil their needs, potential and dreams. (WION) × Q. How is the training done? A. We emphasise on encouraging candidates to develop an attitude to work. This is followed by making candidates aware of the skills necessary to succeed in any job role such as working with quality. Next is facilitating candidates to increase knowledge about their disability so that they speak about it using positive language and learn about using tools to work at par with the non-disabled. And finally, we strengthen workplace readiness – enabling candidates to get ready for the job that matches their educational qualification and skills. Q. What are the pros and cons of being a social entrepreneur? A. I see only pros. I have to work on my self-development and my values constantly to ensure that the vision is delivered. Innovation is a must. As we solve pieces of the puzzle, you realise how much more you need to do. I have been able to evolve to higher degrees of focus and energy by cutting out negativity, ego, judgment and more. There are no cons because this is what I want to do and would not have it any other way. Q. What are some challenges that you have faced and how did you overcome them? A. Challenges vary from demand creation to opening up of jobs, developing the skills of candidates to barriers in environment to those with disability. We have come up with an innovative employability training, a division for demand creation, different workplace solutions to open up jobs which hitherto did not exist for the disabled. Q. What keeps you motivated? A. Every occasion when we have felt bereft of answers or have lost steam, we have seen the power of intent. I also draw inspiration from every person I meet. I wonder about how different people work in tough sectors with low income, how homemakers manage without any recognition, marginalised women in construction work to house work, transgenders and much more. Q. How can a common man contribute in the initiative? A. We come across disabilities in our day-to-day lives in the form of accidents, illnesses and stress factors. If we build something in our sphere of influence keeping these disabilities in mind, a world will be created to benefit them. People will see inclusion as a way of life. Inclusion is a process which will make each person feel valued and accepted for who they are.

Finding jobs for disabled ? creating enabling mindsets

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<p dir="ltr">Usually, in the race of life and in the middle of all the chaos, one ignores small things. Things like where your last meal was grown and how it could be contaminating your system. <strong>S Madhusudhan</strong>, a marketing veteran, stopped to re-evaluate his own fast-paced lifestyle and food habits after a health scare. His findings not only turned him into an organic farmer&nbsp;but also gave birth to <a href="https://www.back2basics.farm/">Back2Basics</a>, a venture that is now distributing fresh farm produce to several parts of the world.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h3 dir="ltr">Kazimi: You often talk of organic farming as an art. How does growing food resemble art?</h3>

<p dir="ltr"><strong>Madhusudhan: </strong>Growing food is certainly just as fulfilling as creating art and just as therapeutic.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h3 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h3>

<h3 dir="ltr">Kazimi: &nbsp;What are your eating habits?</h3>

<p dir="ltr"><strong>Madhusudhan:</strong> I believe in the healthy way of living and I am a consumer of my own produce. I am a strict vegetarian and avoid foods that are either too sweet or too spicy. I am also a teetotaller and avoid cold drinks as well due to their high sugar content.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h3 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h3>

<h3 dir="ltr">Kazimi: What&nbsp;motivated you to start the venture?</h3>

<p dir="ltr"><strong>Madhusudhan:</strong> Following a brief yet serious health scare, I was compelled to take a break from my busy life to evaluate how it had started affecting my&nbsp;health. During my recovery, my doctor had suggested that I indulge in gardening, which also happened to be one of my favorite hobbies. I subsequently decided to turn my passion for gardening into something more, and began researching on organic farming and various agricultural practices.</p>

<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>

<h3 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h3>

<h3 dir="ltr">Kazimi: What were your findings?</h3>

<p dir="ltr"><strong>Madhusudhan:</strong> After nearly four years of research on&nbsp;the organic farming segment and meticulous market research, I found that almost 90% consumers had no idea about the source of their produce. They usually bought fruits and vegetables which looked farm-fresh, and considered the quality of products to be secondary. Consequently, this lack of awareness has led to many long-term health issues for individuals, as they indirectly ingest harmful chemicals through these products. Inspired by this study, I wanted consumers from all walks of life to buy chemical-free, farm fresh produce that is delivered to their homes as soon as they are harvested. That is when the idea of my company came into being.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h3 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h3>

<h3 dir="ltr">Kazimi: &nbsp;What do you enjoy as an entrepreneur?</h3>

<p dir="ltr"><strong>Madhusudhan:</strong> My favorite part about being an entrepreneur is the simple fact that every day is a new adventure and a new challenge &ndash; it is truly an exhilarating feeling, as each new day brings with it a new learning experience.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h3 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h3>

<h3 dir="ltr">Kazimi: Some challenges you&#39;ve encountered?</h3>

<p dir="ltr"><strong>Madhusudhan:</strong> The biggest challenge faced by me was when I had just started out. I was attempting to set up a farm without any background in agriculture. However, following years of research and self-study, I was finally prepared to build my business further, and have not looked back since.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h3 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h3>

<h3 dir="ltr">Kazimi: &nbsp;How is it to work with your daughter?&nbsp;</h3>

<p dir="ltr"><strong>Madhusudhan: </strong>My daughter&nbsp;Bhairavi was initially skeptical of joining me as she had no prior experience in organic farming. However, after observing every aspect of this business and inspired by my work, she decided to utilize her industry experience within the company and started investing her expertise to help this business grow. She has played a key role in making the venture gain more financial stability by developing a special algorithm to change the pricing structure. This&nbsp;helped increase the company&rsquo;s profits by 54 percent within 16 days.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h3 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h3>

<h3 dir="ltr">Kazimi: How big is your team?</h3>

<p dir="ltr"><strong>Madhusudhan:</strong> We are like one big family. Each person regardless of their job function is an important member. We employ over 450 laborers in our farms&nbsp;and manage a small but dedicated corporate team.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h3 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h3>

<h3 dir="ltr">Kazimi: What is an experiential farm like?</h3>

<p dir="ltr"><strong>Madhusudhan:</strong> Quite literally, an experiential farming process invites people to visit its farms and witness high-quality organic production for themselves. Through its contemporary farming practice, we hope to establish a dialogue about the &lsquo;organic&rsquo; way of living. Furthermore, it hopes to promote a healthier lifestyle by educating consumers and their families on the benefits of organic farm fresh produce. We love how people enjoy to pluck produce from the farms and eat it there itself.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h3 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h3>

<h3 dir="ltr">Kazimi: What do you do with the produce unused?</h3>

<p dir="ltr"><strong>Madhusudhan:</strong> We try to produce only what is ordered. But in cases when the produce does not match a certain quality standard, it is sent to liquidation channels that develop it as natural compost and are further utilized in the farming soil to generate more value.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h3 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h3>

<h3 dir="ltr">Kazimi: &nbsp;You are based out of India, a country where 70% of the population indulges in agriculture.&nbsp;What would you say are some loopholes in the industry?</h3>

<p dir="ltr"><strong>Madhusudhan:</strong> While the organic farming industry in India has witnessed significant growth over the years, it still remains at a nascent stage. Many agronomists still doubt the sustainability of growth and the future of this sector mostly due to lack of awareness, and consequent lack of branding and promotion for higher realization. Furthermore, while certain efforts have been taken by the central government to create more awareness about organic farming in India, the state government should also announce some subsidies that can benefit both farmers and the organic farming industry in the long run.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h3 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h3>

<h3 dir="ltr">Kazimi: Can we feed the entire world with organic food?</h3>

<p dir="ltr"><strong>Madhusudhan: </strong>While it certainly sounds like an ambitious initiative, attempting to feed the entire world with organic food can take years to be put into effect, if it ever happens. In theory, it can be said that promoting organic farming can certainly fill some gaps within the conventional agricultural space, which usually witnesses production of chemical laden high-yield crops. With more land dedicated to organic farming, people all over the world will certainly have more access to organic produce. However, for now, the focus should be on developing this segment further by introducing comprehensive technology and better infrastructure that can sustain its growth in the future.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h3 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h3>

<h3 dir="ltr">Kazimi: &nbsp;How do you unwind?</h3>

<p dir="ltr"><strong>Madhusudhan: </strong>When I do get some free time, I enjoy spending it with my family and our pets (we have 3 dogs, 4 cats and 35 birds). I also enjoy traveling and indulging in extreme sports.</p>

<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>

<p dir="ltr">(Coordinator &amp; Editor: Devanshi Verma)</p>


S Madhusudhan is an organic farmer who wants people to go back to the basics

Usually, in the race of life and in the middle of all the chaos, one ignores small things. Things like where your last meal was grown and how it could be contaminating your system. S Madhusudhan, a marketing veteran, stopped to re-evaluate his own fast-paced lifestyle and food habits after a health scare. His findings not only turned him into an organic farmer but also gave birth to Back2Basics, a venture that is now distributing fresh farm produce to several parts of the world. Kazimi: You often talk of organic farming as an art. How does growing food resemble art? Madhusudhan: Growing food is certainly just as fulfilling as creating art and just as therapeutic. Kazimi: What are your eating habits? Madhusudhan: I believe in the healthy way of living and I am a consumer of my own produce. I am a strict vegetarian and avoid foods that are either too sweet or too spicy. I am also a teetotaller and avoid cold drinks as well due to their high sugar content. Kazimi: What motivated you to start the venture? Madhusudhan: Following a brief yet serious health scare, I was compelled to take a break from my busy life to evaluate how it had started affecting my health. During my recovery, my doctor had suggested that I indulge in gardening, which also happened to be one of my favorite hobbies. I subsequently decided to turn my passion for gardening into something more, and began researching on organic farming and various agricultural practices. Kazimi: What were your findings? Madhusudhan: After nearly four years of research on the organic farming segment and meticulous market research, I found that almost 90% consumers had no idea about the source of their produce. They usually bought fruits and vegetables which looked farm-fresh, and considered the quality of products to be secondary. Consequently, this lack of awareness has led to many long-term health issues for individuals, as they indirectly ingest harmful chemicals through these products. Inspired by this study, I wanted consumers from all walks of life to buy chemical-free, farm fresh produce that is delivered to their homes as soon as they are harvested. That is when the idea of my company came into being. Kazimi: What do you enjoy as an entrepreneur? Madhusudhan: My favorite part about being an entrepreneur is the simple fact that every day is a new adventure and a new challenge – it is truly an exhilarating feeling, as each new day brings with it a new learning experience. Kazimi: Some challenges you've encountered? Madhusudhan: The biggest challenge faced by me was when I had just started out. I was attempting to set up a farm without any background in agriculture. However, following years of research and self-study, I was finally prepared to build my business further, and have not looked back since. Kazimi: How is it to work with your daughter? Madhusudhan: My daughter Bhairavi was initially skeptical of joining me as she had no prior experience in organic farming. However, after observing every aspect of this business and inspired by my work, she decided to utilize her industry experience within the company and started investing her expertise to help this business grow. She has played a key role in making the venture gain more financial stability by developing a special algorithm to change the pricing structure. This helped increase the company’s profits by 54 percent within 16 days. Kazimi: How big is your team? Madhusudhan: We are like one big family. Each person regardless of their job function is an important member. We employ over 450 laborers in our farms and manage a small but dedicated corporate team. Kazimi: What is an experiential farm like? Madhusudhan: Quite literally, an experiential farming process invites people to visit its farms and witness high-quality organic production for themselves. Through its contemporary farming practice, we hope to establish a dialogue about the ‘organic’ way of living. Furthermore, it hopes to promote a healthier lifestyle by educating consumers and their families on the benefits of organic farm fresh produce. We love how people enjoy to pluck produce from the farms and eat it there itself. Kazimi: What do you do with the produce unused? Madhusudhan: We try to produce only what is ordered. But in cases when the produce does not match a certain quality standard, it is sent to liquidation channels that develop it as natural compost and are further utilized in the farming soil to generate more value. Kazimi: You are based out of India, a country where 70% of the population indulges in agriculture. What would you say are some loopholes in the industry? Madhusudhan: While the organic farming industry in India has witnessed significant growth over the years, it still remains at a nascent stage. Many agronomists still doubt the sustainability of growth and the future of this sector mostly due to lack of awareness, and consequent lack of branding and promotion for higher realization. Furthermore, while certain efforts have been taken by the central government to create more awareness about organic farming in India, the state government should also announce some subsidies that can benefit both farmers and the organic farming industry in the long run. Kazimi: Can we feed the entire world with organic food? Madhusudhan: While it certainly sounds like an ambitious initiative, attempting to feed the entire world with organic food can take years to be put into effect, if it ever happens. In theory, it can be said that promoting organic farming can certainly fill some gaps within the conventional agricultural space, which usually witnesses production of chemical laden high-yield crops. With more land dedicated to organic farming, people all over the world will certainly have more access to organic produce. However, for now, the focus should be on developing this segment further by introducing comprehensive technology and better infrastructure that can sustain its growth in the future. Kazimi: How do you unwind? Madhusudhan: When I do get some free time, I enjoy spending it with my family and our pets (we have 3 dogs, 4 cats and 35 birds). I also enjoy traveling and indulging in extreme sports. (Coordinator & Editor: Devanshi Verma)

Konversations: This self-taught farmer wants to change how we eat

<p>Living paintings, breathing portraits, life on a canvas - describing<a href="http://www.alexameade.com/"> Alexa Meade</a>&#39;s art is an art in&nbsp;itself. Her subject is the painting in the true essence. In her art, 2D and 3D become one, leaving you wondering what is real and what is paint. A self-taught artist, when not working, she spends her time dreaming.</p>

<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>

<h3 dir="ltr">Kazimi: Did you always want to become an artist?</h3>

<p dir="ltr"><strong>Alexa:</strong>&nbsp;As a kid, I was always told that art was a hobby, not a career, and I better be ready to find a job when I&rsquo;m a grown-up. While my passion was art, I hadn&rsquo;t really entertained the possibility that it was a viable career option.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h3 dir="ltr">Kazimi: What was the pivotal moment in your life when you turned to art?</h3>

<p><strong>Alexa:&nbsp;</strong>Growing up in Washington, DC, I was immersed in the world of politics. I studied political science in college, and I wrote my thesis on the Obama campaign where I&rsquo;d served as press staffer in 2008. Working on the side of the campaign that dealt with spin and PR, I became really fascinated by how we interpret information and the mismatch between what is said and what is heard.</p>

<p>When I graduated from college in 2009, I realized that art was more than a passion, it was meant to be my life, and I stepped away from politics. However, I carried my interest to spin into my art, prompting me to explore the different ways that visual perception can be manipulated.</p>

<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>

<p dir="ltr"><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<h3 dir="ltr">Kazimi: How would you describe your art?</h3>

<p dir="ltr"><strong>Alexa</strong>: I believe in creating an installation that must be experienced live, in person, rather than something tangibly mediated by video or photography.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h3 dir="ltr">Kazimi: What are some prominent elements of your work?</h3>

<p><strong>Alexa:&nbsp;</strong>I first came across this body of work through my fascination with shadows, and I would say that they are one of my major sources of inspiration. I like that the absence of light can sometimes be more descriptive in our understanding of the world around us than the presence of light.</p>

<p>I&rsquo;m experimenting with an entirely new body of work that&nbsp;continues with an exploration of perceptions of space through light and shadow. Like my main body of work, there is a play on the expectations of media, and there is not a digital component to manipulate the in-person experience of the performance. However, at the present stage of the project&rsquo;s evolution, paint, portraiture and photography are not major elements.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/H60SRG2OoBA" width="970"></iframe></p>

<h3 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h3>

<h3 dir="ltr">Kazimi: Does the model determine the piece or is it the other way around?</h3>

<p dir="ltr"><strong>Alexa:&nbsp;</strong>I paint portraits of people directly on top of themselves, in a one-to-one ratio. Rather than painting them to blend into a background or turn them into something they&rsquo;re not, I amplify what they already are, but to the extent that they become transformed into something else altogether. They perceptually turn into a flat painting, seemingly pure representation, yet also maintaining their &quot;subject hood&quot; beneath it all. The effect is quite uncanny as background, foreground, and subject seem to be compressed into one continuous space absent of depth.</p>

<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>

<h3 dir="ltr">Kazimi: Artists that inspire you?</h3>

<p dir="ltr"><strong>Alexa:&nbsp;</strong>While I was teaching myself how to paint as I was inventing this new style of painting on 3D objects, I drew a lot of inspiration from portrait artists Lucien Freud and Alice Neel. I also looked at a lot of paintings by Jenny Saville and Cezanne.</p>

<h3 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h3>

<h3 dir="ltr">Kazimi: What is brewing in your artistic pot lately?</h3>

<p dir="ltr"><strong>Alexa:&nbsp;</strong>These days I&rsquo;m really inspired by mirrors, prisms, and other optical toys. When I first started out, I was highly inspired by the book &ldquo;Seeing is Forgetting the Name of the Thing One Sees&rdquo; about 1970s California minimalist artist Robert Irwin, who played with light and shadows to manipulate the perception of space.</p>

<h3 dir="ltr">Kazimi: Your dream project?</h3>

<p dir="ltr"><strong>Alexa: </strong>To&nbsp;paint&nbsp;Obama&#39;s portrait</p>

<p><br />
(Coordinator and Editor: Devanshi Verma)</p>


'I amplify what they already are, but to the extent that they transform into something else altogether'

Living paintings, breathing portraits, life on a canvas - describing Alexa Meade's art is an art in itself. Her subject is the painting in the true essence. In her art, 2D and 3D become one, leaving you wondering what is real and what is paint. A self-taught artist, when not working, she spends her time dreaming. Kazimi: Did you always want to become an artist? Alexa: As a kid, I was always told that art was a hobby, not a career, and I better be ready to find a job when I’m a grown-up. While my passion was art, I hadn’t really entertained the possibility that it was a viable career option. Kazimi: What was the pivotal moment in your life when you turned to art? Alexa: Growing up in Washington, DC, I was immersed in the world of politics. I studied political science in college, and I wrote my thesis on the Obama campaign where I’d served as press staffer in 2008. Working on the side of the campaign that dealt with spin and PR, I became really fascinated by how we interpret information and the mismatch between what is said and what is heard. When I graduated from college in 2009, I realized that art was more than a passion, it was meant to be my life, and I stepped away from politics. However, I carried my interest to spin into my art, prompting me to explore the different ways that visual perception can be manipulated. Kazimi: How would you describe your art? Alexa: I believe in creating an installation that must be experienced live, in person, rather than something tangibly mediated by video or photography. Kazimi: What are some prominent elements of your work? Alexa: I first came across this body of work through my fascination with shadows, and I would say that they are one of my major sources of inspiration. I like that the absence of light can sometimes be more descriptive in our understanding of the world around us than the presence of light. I’m experimenting with an entirely new body of work that continues with an exploration of perceptions of space through light and shadow. Like my main body of work, there is a play on the expectations of media, and there is not a digital component to manipulate the in-person experience of the performance. However, at the present stage of the project’s evolution, paint, portraiture and photography are not major elements. Kazimi: Does the model determine the piece or is it the other way around? Alexa: I paint portraits of people directly on top of themselves, in a one-to-one ratio. Rather than painting them to blend into a background or turn them into something they’re not, I amplify what they already are, but to the extent that they become transformed into something else altogether. They perceptually turn into a flat painting, seemingly pure representation, yet also maintaining their "subject hood" beneath it all. The effect is quite uncanny as background, foreground, and subject seem to be compressed into one continuous space absent of depth. Kazimi: Artists that inspire you? Alexa: While I was teaching myself how to paint as I was inventing this new style of painting on 3D objects, I drew a lot of inspiration from portrait artists Lucien Freud and Alice Neel. I also looked at a lot of paintings by Jenny Saville and Cezanne. Kazimi: What is brewing in your artistic pot lately? Alexa: These days I’m really inspired by mirrors, prisms, and other optical toys. When I first started out, I was highly inspired by the book “Seeing is Forgetting the Name of the Thing One Sees” about 1970s California minimalist artist Robert Irwin, who played with light and shadows to manipulate the perception of space. Kazimi: Your dream project? Alexa: To paint Obama's portrait (Coordinator and Editor: Devanshi Verma)

Konversations: Your body is her canvas

<p>As a 13-year-old, he was diagnosed with&nbsp;Hodgkin&rsquo;s disease - a severe blood cancer. Being in the fourth and final stage, doctors declared that he will not live for more than ninety days. However, he fought and survived. At 16, another&nbsp;golf ball-sized cancerous tumor was discovered in his lung. After removal of the Askin&rsquo;s tumor, Sean Swarner was expected to live for only fourteen days. But he survived again to astonish the medical world.</p>

<p>A decade later and with only one fully functioning lung, Sean became&nbsp;the first cancer survivor to climb Mount Everest, proving to others that nothing is impossible when your&nbsp;determination is rock solid. The journey didn&#39;t end there; he completed the Ironman Championship and made it to the top of the Seven Summits, the highest peaks of the seven continents. He is also an author of two inspirational novels and the founder of CancerClimber Association, a non-profit organization for cancer survivors.</p>

<p><strong style="color: rgb(255, 97, 37); font-family: &quot;Libre Baskerville&quot;, serif; font-size: 18px;">Kazimi: What was your state of mind when you were first&nbsp;detected with cancer?</strong></p>

<p dir="ltr"><b>Sean:&nbsp;</b>Since I was only a 13-year-old, I didn&rsquo;t fully understand how devastating it would be to my life. Being so young, I don&rsquo;t think I had a full grasp on the concept of life versus death, but I knew I was sick and that if I lost the will and hope to live, I wouldn&rsquo;t survive.</p>

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<p>Sean Swarner at age 13, when he was diagnosed with cancer (WION)</p>
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<p><strong style="color: rgb(255, 97, 37); font-family: &quot;Libre Baskerville&quot;, serif; font-size: 18px;">Kazimi: How did you deal with it the second time?</strong></p>

<p><strong>Sean:&nbsp;</strong>I knew what I was getting into much better than before because I had been through a year of hell with the chemotherapy, treatments, bloating, loss of hair&nbsp;and everything else that I&rsquo;d never wish for my worst enemy. I was more scared the second time because I understood what was about to happen &ndash; my life was going to be put on hold until I was better again.</p>

<p>I went through the first one, and I sure didn&rsquo;t want to go through another! I mentally told myself either to fight for my life or give up and die.</p>

<p><strong style="color: rgb(255, 97, 37); font-family: &quot;Libre Baskerville&quot;, serif; font-size: 18px;">Kazimi: What were some thoughts occupying your mind?</strong></p>

<p dir="ltr"><strong>Sean:&nbsp;</strong>It was difficult in the beginning, I kept asking myself &ldquo;why me?&rdquo; Eventually, I realized that it WAS ME and I cannot change the fact that I had cancer,&nbsp;but I could change my thoughts about cancer. In the process of self-healing, I used to picture&nbsp;myself killing&nbsp;cancer in my veins.</p>

<h3 dir="ltr"><strong style="color: rgb(255, 97, 37); font-family: &quot;Libre Baskerville&quot;, serif; font-size: 18px;">Kazimi: So&nbsp;you believe&nbsp;the human mind has the power to heal?</strong></h3>

<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>

<p dir="ltr"><strong>Sean:&nbsp;</strong>The power of the&nbsp;human mind is often underestimated.&nbsp;It can heal on many levels, including emotional, physical and psychological.&nbsp;You always have the freedom to&nbsp;choose how you want to perceive the world. No one can make you feel in a certain manner or force their thoughts upon you unless you want to. You always have a choice. It boils down to perspective &ndash; instead of seeing a challenge as a challenge, see it from a different angle and look at it as an&nbsp;opportunity.</p>

<p><strong style="color: rgb(255, 97, 37); font-family: &quot;Libre Baskerville&quot;, serif; font-size: 18px;">Kazimi: How would you define hope?</strong></p>

<p><strong>Sean:&nbsp;</strong>I believe it&rsquo;s more than words could ever describe. It&rsquo;s the feeling we get when we expect&nbsp;a certain outcome&nbsp;and sense an unsaid but unwavering assurance for it to happen. To quote Emily Dickinson, &ldquo;Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul&nbsp;and sings the tune without words, and never stops at all.&rdquo;</p>

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<p>&quot;Being so young, I don&rsquo;t think I had a full grasp on the concept of life versus death, but I knew I was sick, and that if I lost the will to live and if I lost hope, I wouldn&rsquo;t survive&quot; (Source: Facebook, Sean Swarner) (Facebook)</p>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong style="color: rgb(255, 97, 37); font-family: &quot;Libre Baskerville&quot;, serif; font-size: 18px;">Kazimi: Who has shared&nbsp;hope with you?</strong></p>

<p><b>Sean:&nbsp;</b>My friends and family are my greatest strength. I also make an effort to grasp something from everyone I meet.&nbsp;We have two ears and one mouth for a reason&nbsp;and if we listen we can learn something new each day.</p>

<p><strong style="color: rgb(255, 97, 37); font-family: &quot;Libre Baskerville&quot;, serif; font-size: 18px;">Kazimi: You are the first cancer survivor to conquer Mt. Everest- What inspired you?</strong></p>

<p><b>Sean:&nbsp;</b>After surviving cancer twice, I wanted to spread hope among those struggling with the disease. I literally wanted the highest platform in the world to scream hope. I developed&nbsp;interest in mountain climbing only eight months before I went for the Everest.&nbsp;People touched by the disease are fighting for their lives; I can struggle through being cold&nbsp;and a little altitude sickness.</p>

<p><strong style="color: rgb(255, 97, 37); font-family: &quot;Libre Baskerville&quot;, serif; font-size: 18px;">Kazimi: When did you decide to do the Seven Summits?</strong></p>

<p><b>Sean:&nbsp;</b>I could see the impact my first expedition had made, and I didn&#39;t want to stop there.&nbsp;After coming home from Everest, I figured that the rest of those mountains on every other continent couldn&rsquo;t be harder than Everest, so I went for it.</p>

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<p>Sean during his expedition to Antarctica (WION)</p>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong style="color: rgb(255, 97, 37); font-family: &quot;Libre Baskerville&quot;, serif; font-size: 18px;">Kazimi: What was the scariest moment?</strong></p>

<p dir="ltr"><b>Sean:&nbsp;</b>I&#39;ve had a number of them and going through cancer definitely is one. Another would be when&nbsp;I was climbing Mt. Denali&nbsp;and&nbsp;fell from a height of 100 feet. I was roped&nbsp;to my climbing partner when I slid 50 feet below him, then another 50 feet below, rocketing down a glacier on the highest mountain in North America.</p>

<p><strong style="color: rgb(255, 97, 37); font-family: &quot;Libre Baskerville&quot;, serif; font-size: 18px;">Kazimi: What impact have you been able to&nbsp;make with your organization?</strong></p>

<p><b>Sean:</b>&nbsp;We raise funds for cancer survivors who are interested in adventure sports and take them to&nbsp;Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa. These survivors reach out to their own communities and share their survivorship story to inspire others to climb their own proverbial mountains to make more out of their lives.</p>

<p><strong style="color: rgb(255, 97, 37); font-family: &quot;Libre Baskerville&quot;, serif; font-size: 18px;">Kazimi: What is the overall message?</strong></p>

<p><b>Sean:&nbsp;</b>Even though I speak about different causes in different places, the underlying message is all about &ldquo;Redefining Your Impossible&rdquo; and living a life that matters.</p>

<p><strong style="color: rgb(255, 97, 37); font-family: &quot;Libre Baskerville&quot;, serif; font-size: 18px;">Kazimi: Please share a memory&nbsp;when your story&nbsp;impacted others</strong></p>

<p dir="ltr"><b>Sean:&nbsp;</b>At a conference after my presentation,&nbsp;I was addressing the audience. I could tell that the next woman in the queue&nbsp;had been crying because her mascara was running down her face and her nose was red. She came up to me, hugged me, buried her face in my chest and started sobbing. I hugged her back and held her until she was ready to talk. She told me that in the past 6 months, she lost her husband and son to cancer and now she&nbsp;herself, had been diagnosed with the disease for the third time. She had planned on committing suicide and&nbsp;had a suicide note written in her hotel room. She said that my talk changed her mind and that I saved her life. It made me believe that I could make a difference.</p>

<p><strong style="color: rgb(255, 97, 37); font-family: &quot;Libre Baskerville&quot;, serif; font-size: 18px;">Kazimi: Out of all your milestones, which one do you consider your highest?</strong></p>

<p dir="ltr"><b>Sean:&nbsp;</b>I feel the highest milestone&nbsp;is yet to come,&nbsp;maybe it will be when I get married and have a family.</p>

<p><strong style="color: rgb(255, 97, 37); font-family: &quot;Libre Baskerville&quot;, serif; font-size: 18px;">Kazimi: Any words for those going through a hard time in life?</strong></p>

<p><b>Sean:&nbsp;</b>&ldquo;This too shall pass,&rdquo; because it does. Embrace the positive, enjoy everything you can when life is good&nbsp;and know the bad times are going to pass. People get big muscles by pushing against massive weight. In the same way, people build their mental character and strength by pushing through the tough times.</p>

<p dir="ltr">(Coordinator and Editor: Devanshi Verma)</p>


'I knew I was sick and that if I lost the hope to live, I wouldn?t survive'

As a 13-year-old, he was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease - a severe blood cancer. Being in the fourth and final stage, doctors declared that he will not live for more than ninety days. However, he fought and survived. At 16, another golf ball-sized cancerous tumor was discovered in his lung. After removal of the Askin’s tumor, Sean Swarner was expected to live for only fourteen days. But he survived again to astonish the medical world. A decade later and with only one fully functioning lung, Sean became the first cancer survivor to climb Mount Everest, proving to others that nothing is impossible when your determination is rock solid. The journey didn't end there; he completed the Ironman Championship and made it to the top of the Seven Summits, the highest peaks of the seven continents. He is also an author of two inspirational novels and the founder of CancerClimber Association, a non-profit organization for cancer survivors. Kazimi: What was your state of mind when you were first detected with cancer? Sean: Since I was only a 13-year-old, I didn’t fully understand how devastating it would be to my life. Being so young, I don’t think I had a full grasp on the concept of life versus death, but I knew I was sick and that if I lost the will and hope to live, I wouldn’t survive. Sean Swarner at age 13, when he was diagnosed with cancer (WION) × Kazimi: How did you deal with it the second time? Sean: I knew what I was getting into much better than before because I had been through a year of hell with the chemotherapy, treatments, bloating, loss of hair and everything else that I’d never wish for my worst enemy. I was more scared the second time because I understood what was about to happen – my life was going to be put on hold until I was better again. I went through the first one, and I sure didn’t want to go through another! I mentally told myself either to fight for my life or give up and die. Kazimi: What were some thoughts occupying your mind? Sean: It was difficult in the beginning, I kept asking myself “why me?” Eventually, I realized that it WAS ME and I cannot change the fact that I had cancer, but I could change my thoughts about cancer. In the process of self-healing, I used to picture myself killing cancer in my veins. Kazimi: So you believe the human mind has the power to heal? Sean: The power of the human mind is often underestimated. It can heal on many levels, including emotional, physical and psychological. You always have the freedom to choose how you want to perceive the world. No one can make you feel in a certain manner or force their thoughts upon you unless you want to. You always have a choice. It boils down to perspective – instead of seeing a challenge as a challenge, see it from a different angle and look at it as an opportunity. Kazimi: How would you define hope? Sean: I believe it’s more than words could ever describe. It’s the feeling we get when we expect a certain outcome and sense an unsaid but unwavering assurance for it to happen. To quote Emily Dickinson, “Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tune without words, and never stops at all.” "Being so young, I don’t think I had a full grasp on the concept of life versus death, but I knew I was sick, and that if I lost the will to live and if I lost hope, I wouldn’t survive" (Source: Facebook, Sean Swarner) (Facebook) × Kazimi: Who has shared hope with you? Sean: My friends and family are my greatest strength. I also make an effort to grasp something from everyone I meet. We have two ears and one mouth for a reason and if we listen we can learn something new each day. Kazimi: You are the first cancer survivor to conquer Mt. Everest- What inspired you? Sean: After surviving cancer twice, I wanted to spread hope among those struggling with the disease. I literally wanted the highest platform in the world to scream hope. I developed interest in mountain climbing only eight months before I went for the Everest. People touched by the disease are fighting for their lives; I can struggle through being cold and a little altitude sickness. Kazimi: When did you decide to do the Seven Summits? Sean: I could see the impact my first expedition had made, and I didn't want to stop there. After coming home from Everest, I figured that the rest of those mountains on every other continent couldn’t be harder than Everest, so I went for it. Sean during his expedition to Antarctica (WION) × Kazimi: What was the scariest moment? Sean: I've had a number of them and going through cancer definitely is one. Another would be when I was climbing Mt. Denali and fell from a height of 100 feet. I was roped to my climbing partner when I slid 50 feet below him, then another 50 feet below, rocketing down a glacier on the highest mountain in North America. Kazimi: What impact have you been able to make with your organization? Sean: We raise funds for cancer survivors who are interested in adventure sports and take them to Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa. These survivors reach out to their own communities and share their survivorship story to inspire others to climb their own proverbial mountains to make more out of their lives. Kazimi: What is the overall message? Sean: Even though I speak about different causes in different places, the underlying message is all about “Redefining Your Impossible” and living a life that matters. Kazimi: Please share a memory when your story impacted others Sean: At a conference after my presentation, I was addressing the audience. I could tell that the next woman in the queue had been crying because her mascara was running down her face and her nose was red. She came up to me, hugged me, buried her face in my chest and started sobbing. I hugged her back and held her until she was ready to talk. She told me that in the past 6 months, she lost her husband and son to cancer and now she herself, had been diagnosed with the disease for the third time. She had planned on committing suicide and had a suicide note written in her hotel room. She said that my talk changed her mind and that I saved her life. It made me believe that I could make a difference. Kazimi: Out of all your milestones, which one do you consider your highest? Sean: I feel the highest milestone is yet to come, maybe it will be when I get married and have a family. Kazimi: Any words for those going through a hard time in life? Sean: “This too shall pass,” because it does. Embrace the positive, enjoy everything you can when life is good and know the bad times are going to pass. People get big muscles by pushing against massive weight. In the same way, people build their mental character and strength by pushing through the tough times. (Coordinator and Editor: Devanshi Verma)

Konversations: The cancer survivor who climbed Everest

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<h5>May your trash become someone else&rsquo;s treasure</h5>
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<p>This thought-provoking statement became the motto of a young man from India.</p>

<p>From chemical imports, mushroom farming, graphic designing to fast food chains,&nbsp;<strong>Ramakrishna Iyengar</strong>&nbsp;did it all. But his calling was a greater purpose in life, he wanted to address the concerns of depleting natural resources and increasing landfills. He came up with<i>&nbsp;</i><strong><i>Pass It On</i></strong>, a non-profit platform that promotes the concept of freecycling, or free recycling - an act of giving away usable, unwanted items to others instead of discarding&nbsp;them. He intends to&nbsp;help NGOs, orphanages and old age homes benefit from the process.<br />
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The 24-year-old is a hardcore computer gamer and sometimes spends&nbsp;5 hours a day only playing online games to de-stress. Apart from this, he loves to&nbsp;play the guitar and travel.</p>

<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Kazimi: When did you realize that your concerns for the environment were so strong?</h3>

<p><strong>Ram: </strong>I have been concerned about the environment right from my childhood. The earth is our home, and we are only dirtying and damaging it. The expanding carbon footprint and uncountable landfills tell us so much about the situation. I wanted to take a&nbsp;stand for the ongoing crisis and raise more awareness.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Kazimi: What triggered you to start a venture about freecycling?</h3>

<p><strong>Ram: </strong>Eventually, I realized that more than lack of awareness, people have little direction on how to help out in improving the situation. Almost everyone has unwanted but useful items in their homes, like books, clothes, toys, gadgets, etc., and are stuck in a dilemma of whether to throw them away or to give them to someone. However, these days no one has the time to go out and search for people or organizations to donate their items to.</p>

<p>I have seen wealthy people throwing away usable things that could have been freecycled and channeled to someone who could not afford it. I wanted to change the way people get rid of useful but unwanted items.</p>

<h3>Kazimi: So how does your company help to resolve the problem?</h3>

<p><strong>Ram:</strong> The idea is for people to donate on one end and help struggling organizations to receive the donations on the other end. The&nbsp;key here is using technology to ease the process. We offer an online platform for people to declutter their house in a meaningful way. We have partnered with several NGOs, orphanages and old-age homes, which will be the direct recipients of these items. This is where we come in - the team does pick-up and delivery of products without levying any charges.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Kazimi: Any instance that has stayed with you?</h3>

<p><strong>Ram:</strong> From small items like books and clothes people have been putting up high-value items such as televisions, furniture and smartphones on the site for donation. I was really moved when a lady had put big bags of cat food for donation since her cat died recently and she wanted to give it away to anyone who has a cat. You can find so many similar items on our website that would have ended up in a trashcan otherwise.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Kazimi: What are the challenging facets of the job?</h3>

<p><strong>Ram:</strong> It is quite hard to change the traditional mind-set of people where they would rather throw away their belongings or sell them at dirt cheap prices. Putting human values before profit, applying commercial strategies to maximize human and environmental well-being is not&nbsp;for the weak minded. It&rsquo;s not a regular money-making venture.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Kazimi: What keeps you motivated when feeling low?</h3>

<p><strong>Ram:</strong> I have my own mantras to keep myself going. Don&rsquo;t pay heed to people who try to bring you down. The most important skill a human being needs is that of overcoming failure. Always follow your heart and have the guts to chase your dream. Take risks; even if it doesn&rsquo;t work out, you will still gain experience.</p>

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<h5>Take risks, even if it doesn&rsquo;t work out, you will still gain experience.</h5>
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<h3>Kazimi: What are some issues that need urgent attention?</h3>

<p><strong>Ram: </strong>A better waste management system. The world should take inspiration from Sweden. They convert all their garbage into usable energy, so much so, that they run out of garbage and have to import it from other countries. Energy crisis is one of the biggest economic challenges the world is facing right now, and it is linked to all other crises, such as poverty, starvation, etc. A huge chunk of the&nbsp;population doesn&#39;t have basic access to renewable energy.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Kazimi: What can the common man do to address the ongoing crisis?</h3>

<p><strong>Ram: </strong>We collectively have to reduce our dependency on fossil fuels and move on to cleaner energy sources, Global warming is not just a theory anymore. It is happening, ice caps are melting faster than ever. It is the&nbsp;time we all start implementing environment-friendly measures, otherwise nature will take over us. If each individual does their part, such as using energy efficient products, planting a tree or carpooling, the collective impact will be massive. The smallest of things can make a difference.</p>

<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>

<p dir="ltr">(Coordinator and Editor: Devanshi Verma)</p>


Sometimes, the simplest ideas are the greatest

May your trash become someone else’s treasure × This thought-provoking statement became the motto of a young man from India. From chemical imports, mushroom farming, graphic designing to fast food chains, Ramakrishna Iyengar did it all. But his calling was a greater purpose in life, he wanted to address the concerns of depleting natural resources and increasing landfills. He came up with Pass It On, a non-profit platform that promotes the concept of freecycling, or free recycling - an act of giving away usable, unwanted items to others instead of discarding them. He intends to help NGOs, orphanages and old age homes benefit from the process. The 24-year-old is a hardcore computer gamer and sometimes spends 5 hours a day only playing online games to de-stress. Apart from this, he loves to play the guitar and travel. Kazimi: When did you realize that your concerns for the environment were so strong? Ram: I have been concerned about the environment right from my childhood. The earth is our home, and we are only dirtying and damaging it. The expanding carbon footprint and uncountable landfills tell us so much about the situation. I wanted to take a stand for the ongoing crisis and raise more awareness. Kazimi: What triggered you to start a venture about freecycling? Ram: Eventually, I realized that more than lack of awareness, people have little direction on how to help out in improving the situation. Almost everyone has unwanted but useful items in their homes, like books, clothes, toys, gadgets, etc., and are stuck in a dilemma of whether to throw them away or to give them to someone. However, these days no one has the time to go out and search for people or organizations to donate their items to. I have seen wealthy people throwing away usable things that could have been freecycled and channeled to someone who could not afford it. I wanted to change the way people get rid of useful but unwanted items. Kazimi: So how does your company help to resolve the problem? Ram: The idea is for people to donate on one end and help struggling organizations to receive the donations on the other end. The key here is using technology to ease the process. We offer an online platform for people to declutter their house in a meaningful way. We have partnered with several NGOs, orphanages and old-age homes, which will be the direct recipients of these items. This is where we come in - the team does pick-up and delivery of products without levying any charges. Kazimi: Any instance that has stayed with you? Ram: From small items like books and clothes people have been putting up high-value items such as televisions, furniture and smartphones on the site for donation. I was really moved when a lady had put big bags of cat food for donation since her cat died recently and she wanted to give it away to anyone who has a cat. You can find so many similar items on our website that would have ended up in a trashcan otherwise. Kazimi: What are the challenging facets of the job? Ram: It is quite hard to change the traditional mind-set of people where they would rather throw away their belongings or sell them at dirt cheap prices. Putting human values before profit, applying commercial strategies to maximize human and environmental well-being is not for the weak minded. It’s not a regular money-making venture. Kazimi: What keeps you motivated when feeling low? Ram: I have my own mantras to keep myself going. Don’t pay heed to people who try to bring you down. The most important skill a human being needs is that of overcoming failure. Always follow your heart and have the guts to chase your dream. Take risks; even if it doesn’t work out, you will still gain experience. Take risks, even if it doesn’t work out, you will still gain experience. × Kazimi: What are some issues that need urgent attention? Ram: A better waste management system. The world should take inspiration from Sweden. They convert all their garbage into usable energy, so much so, that they run out of garbage and have to import it from other countries. Energy crisis is one of the biggest economic challenges the world is facing right now, and it is linked to all other crises, such as poverty, starvation, etc. A huge chunk of the population doesn't have basic access to renewable energy. Kazimi: What can the common man do to address the ongoing crisis? Ram: We collectively have to reduce our dependency on fossil fuels and move on to cleaner energy sources, Global warming is not just a theory anymore. It is happening, ice caps are melting faster than ever. It is the time we all start implementing environment-friendly measures, otherwise nature will take over us. If each individual does their part, such as using energy efficient products, planting a tree or carpooling, the collective impact will be massive. The smallest of things can make a difference. (Coordinator and Editor: Devanshi Verma)

Konversations: He turns your trash into treasure

<p>According to a&nbsp;<a href="http://unstats.un.org/unsd/gender/chapter4/chapter4.html">United Nations</a>&nbsp;study, only 50 per cent&nbsp;of women are in the workforce, compared to 77 per cent of men. The numbers in India are much lower.</p>

<p>&quot;Where are the working women? Do they&nbsp;doubt their own skills or is it the fear of affecting their families?&nbsp;Do women in India face an identity crisis?&quot; These were some questions that kept bothering Sairee Chahal, an entrepreneur&nbsp;who has been conscious about the theme of women in the workforce.</p>

<p>She doesn&#39;t just talk&nbsp;about the problems but also takes charge. In 2014, she came up with the idea for&nbsp;<em>Sheroes</em>&nbsp;- a platform that helps women with mentorship, career resources, skills development, jobs and work from home options. With her start-up, she aims to&nbsp;put a million women in the&nbsp;workforce in the next&nbsp;coming years.</p>

<h3><strong>Kazimi:</strong> You are based in India. What is the status of women employment in the nation?</h3>

<p><strong>Sairee: </strong>India has some startling numbers, which are hard to ignore. We have only 17 per cent women in the&nbsp;formal GDPed workforce, only 5 per cent women in leadership and our gender ranking globally is at 113 out of 136 countries.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false"><img alt="" draggable="false" src="http://wion.azureedge.net/photos/slide_1-20170103072317.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
<p>Out of the total women population, the age group of 30-49 years constitutes the highest proportion of working women. (WION)</p>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="javascript:void(0)" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h3><strong>Kazimi: </strong>Do you feel this is because of the lack of educational opportunities for women in India?</h3>

<p><strong>Sairee:&nbsp;</strong>India&nbsp;has the maximum number of women graduates in the world, so there are more women who study and far less who work in the formal workforce.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h3><strong>Kazimi: </strong>So where do you feel the problem lies?</h3>

<p><strong>Sairee: </strong>Almost 48 per cent women drop out of work before reaching mid levels and most do not come back. The problems are of all kinds ranging from</p>

<ul>
	<li>lack of support system at homes</li>
	<li>loss of financial independence</li>
	<li>doubts about their own abilities to unavailability of opportunities</li>
	<li>battle with issues of identity and confidence.</li>
</ul>

<p>We are a complex nation; women own and run the caregiving economy &ndash; babies, eldercare, weddings, big festivals, family - the list goes on and on. In that process, a woman&rsquo;s career becomes nobody&rsquo;s business, sometimes not even hers.</p>

<h3><br />
<strong>Kazimi: </strong>So how does your initiative make a difference?</h3>

<p><strong>Sairee:</strong>&nbsp;The idea is simple. We partner every woman to stay on a career path of her choice and excel at it &ndash; be it that of a first-time intern, work-at-home mom or a top corporate strategist or an entrepreneur. We are attempting to help urban women find choices that work for them, do well in the career they choose, turn entrepreneurial or make effective career comebacks. The core of our philosophy is to help women navigate career stages and find work that fits their life.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false"><img alt="" draggable="false" src="http://wion.azureedge.net/photos/slide_2-20170103073422.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
<p>Proportion of women working in rural areas is almost double that of urban areas. (WION)</p>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="javascript:void(0)" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h3>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;<br />
<strong>Kazimi:</strong> What should be done to bridge the gender pay gap?</h3>

<p><strong>Sairee:&nbsp;</strong>To reduce the gender pay gap, what could be done is - being more transparent about the pay-out for a specific role, companies should start looking at them as talent resource and not female employees and women must stop being shy to ask for what they think they deserve.</p>

<h3><br />
<strong>Kazimi: </strong>What was the initial response to your ideas?</h3>

<p><strong>Sairee: </strong>Initially, it was tough convincing everyone that women&rsquo;s careers matter and that small changes can make big impact when it comes to gender diversity, remote work, entrepreneurship and women in leadership.</p>

<p><br />
Being able to create business alignment with what will be financial value plus social impact has been a challenge. When you are at an early stage of a category, you are written off easily. Or being a bootstrapped start-up with a big audacious goal is not easily acceptable.</p>

<h3><strong>Kazimi: </strong>What keeps you going in the lows?</h3>

<p><strong>Sairee:&nbsp;</strong>I have&nbsp;an amazing team, a vibrant community and a goal worth chasing &ndash; giving every Indian woman a dream of the career of her choice. Very able mentors and partners also support the venture. One can either make way for fear and regret or one can be open and stay charged. We take charge.</p>

<h3><br />
<strong>Kazimi: </strong>&nbsp;How do you think the role of women in society has evolved over the years?</h3>

<p><strong>Sairee:</strong>&nbsp;The role of women is changing from being nurturers and caregivers to disruptors, creators and growth hackers. While women have come a long way, they still have a long way to go. Corporates are adapting to newer forms of work engagements, being more inclusive and building up a supportive ecosystem. It will take time, but we are moving in the right direction.</p>

<blockquote>
<p><strong>The role of women is changing from being nurturers and caregivers to disruptors, creators and growth hackers</strong></p>
</blockquote>

<h3>&nbsp;</h3>

<h3><strong>Kazimi:</strong> What impact have you been able to make with Sheroes?</h3>

<p><strong>Sairee:</strong>&nbsp;Once a priest&rsquo;s wife from a small village in the state of Bihar called asking for career help. She had studied before getting married and never worked. Now she was an empty nester, with kids settled overseas. She wanted to find herself an identity, a career and we managed to help her with an opportunity. Millions of women across the country have similar stories and they share them with us. That is why we are a community, where one comes in when you might be just curious or inclined.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false"><img alt="" draggable="false" src="http://wion.azureedge.net/photos/slide_2-20170103073422.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
<p>Proportion of women working in rural areas is almost double that of urban areas. (WION)</p>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="javascript:void(0)" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h3><strong>Kazimi:</strong> What advice would you like to give to women struggling with their careers?</h3>

<p><b>Sairee:</b>&nbsp;Ask for help. Reach out. Talk. There is always somebody who will be able to show you the way.</p>

<p>(Coordinator and Editor: Devanshi Verma)</p>


Sairee from Sheroes aims to put a million women in the workforce

According to a United Nations study, only 50 per cent of women are in the workforce, compared to 77 per cent of men. The numbers in India are much lower. "Where are the working women? Do they doubt their own skills or is it the fear of affecting their families? Do women in India face an identity crisis?" These were some questions that kept bothering Sairee Chahal, an entrepreneur who has been conscious about the theme of women in the workforce. She doesn't just talk about the problems but also takes charge. In 2014, she came up with the idea for Sheroes - a platform that helps women with mentorship, career resources, skills development, jobs and work from home options. With her start-up, she aims to put a million women in the workforce in the next coming years. Kazimi: You are based in India. What is the status of women employment in the nation? Sairee: India has some startling numbers, which are hard to ignore. We have only 17 per cent women in the formal GDPed workforce, only 5 per cent women in leadership and our gender ranking globally is at 113 out of 136 countries. Out of the total women population, the age group of 30-49 years constitutes the highest proportion of working women. (WION) × Kazimi: Do you feel this is because of the lack of educational opportunities for women in India? Sairee: India has the maximum number of women graduates in the world, so there are more women who study and far less who work in the formal workforce. Kazimi: So where do you feel the problem lies? Sairee: Almost 48 per cent women drop out of work before reaching mid levels and most do not come back. The problems are of all kinds ranging from lack of support system at homes loss of financial independence doubts about their own abilities to unavailability of opportunities battle with issues of identity and confidence. We are a complex nation; women own and run the caregiving economy – babies, eldercare, weddings, big festivals, family - the list goes on and on. In that process, a woman’s career becomes nobody’s business, sometimes not even hers. Kazimi: So how does your initiative make a difference? Sairee: The idea is simple. We partner every woman to stay on a career path of her choice and excel at it – be it that of a first-time intern, work-at-home mom or a top corporate strategist or an entrepreneur. We are attempting to help urban women find choices that work for them, do well in the career they choose, turn entrepreneurial or make effective career comebacks. The core of our philosophy is to help women navigate career stages and find work that fits their life. Proportion of women working in rural areas is almost double that of urban areas. (WION) × Kazimi: What should be done to bridge the gender pay gap? Sairee: To reduce the gender pay gap, what could be done is - being more transparent about the pay-out for a specific role, companies should start looking at them as talent resource and not female employees and women must stop being shy to ask for what they think they deserve. Kazimi: What was the initial response to your ideas? Sairee: Initially, it was tough convincing everyone that women’s careers matter and that small changes can make big impact when it comes to gender diversity, remote work, entrepreneurship and women in leadership. Being able to create business alignment with what will be financial value plus social impact has been a challenge. When you are at an early stage of a category, you are written off easily. Or being a bootstrapped start-up with a big audacious goal is not easily acceptable. Kazimi: What keeps you going in the lows? Sairee: I have an amazing team, a vibrant community and a goal worth chasing – giving every Indian woman a dream of the career of her choice. Very able mentors and partners also support the venture. One can either make way for fear and regret or one can be open and stay charged. We take charge. Kazimi: How do you think the role of women in society has evolved over the years? Sairee: The role of women is changing from being nurturers and caregivers to disruptors, creators and growth hackers. While women have come a long way, they still have a long way to go. Corporates are adapting to newer forms of work engagements, being more inclusive and building up a supportive ecosystem. It will take time, but we are moving in the right direction. The role of women is changing from being nurturers and caregivers to disruptors, creators and growth hackers Kazimi: What impact have you been able to make with Sheroes? Sairee: Once a priest’s wife from a small village in the state of Bihar called asking for career help. She had studied before getting married and never worked. Now she was an empty nester, with kids settled overseas. She wanted to find herself an identity, a career and we managed to help her with an opportunity. Millions of women across the country have similar stories and they share them with us. That is why we are a community, where one comes in when you might be just curious or inclined. Proportion of women working in rural areas is almost double that of urban areas. (WION) × Kazimi: What advice would you like to give to women struggling with their careers? Sairee: Ask for help. Reach out. Talk. There is always somebody who will be able to show you the way. (Coordinator and Editor: Devanshi Verma)

Konversations: How can she go from a caregiver to a disruptor?

<p>I met Rajat at an event where he had set-up a booth to talk about his&nbsp;start-up. His recently launched&nbsp;travel app has been getting an overwhelming response.&nbsp;His excitement to share his story was infectious and I was one of the honored victims.</p>

<p>A marine pilot smitten by the travel bug, Rajat Kishore wandered from one city to another for otherworldly sites, cultural exploration, meeting new people, self-discovery, and everything else that comes along. But he was not just any other traveller. He liked losing himself to the city, absorbing the&nbsp;colours and vibes of the place. He made friends with the locals; he lived like them, each destination&nbsp;becoming his home. He left a part of himself in the places he visited, and now carries a part of each place in himself. But there was something that kept bothering him - he felt the commercialisation of the travel industry keeps people from experiencing the true nature of each destination. He wanted to change that.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Kazimi: What is your idea of travel?</strong></p>

<p>Rajat: I believe in serendipity. When I travel, I only choose the destination and let the place decide what it has for me. I love interacting with locals and seeing their perspectives. They are the ones who form the spirit of the place and truly know it inside out. There are instances when I made such good friends that they came to my rescue during troubled times. I like to be flexible to experience the unmentioned.&nbsp;</p>

<p><br />
<strong>Kazimi: Share one such incident that has stayed with you.</strong></p>

<p>Rajat: I was on the way to Leh Ladakh on my motorcycle when the weather got unexpectedly bad. Sudden heavy snowfall shook me to the core and I couldn&rsquo;t see any trace of humans nearby. Just when I was losing hope for my survival, a biker named Tenzin passing by stopped to help me out. He took me to his village (Jispa, 30km from the spot I was at) and gave me shelter in his house. Tenzin and I are still great friends and I treasure the moments I spent with him.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Kazimi: So you just started Lokaso,&nbsp;what is your initial plan of action?</strong></p>

<p>Rajat: Our aim is to change the notion of travel in the minds of people. We want people to explore the destination according to one&rsquo;s own taste and interests, instead of blindly following a pre-planned itinerary that only has touristy offerings. As of now, we are only&nbsp;emphasizing&nbsp;on spreading the word about our start-up.</p>

<p><strong>Kazimi: What hurdles do you think you&#39;ll face?</strong></p>

<p>Rajat: Getting the right people on board. With the boom of technology and the ease to reach out to masses through social media channels, everyone wants to make their idea bigger and better. So we see a new start-up coming up every other day. While we seek self-motivated unconventional thinkers to help us out with the project, most of them are busy making something of their own.</p>

<p><strong>Kazimi:&nbsp;What about personal challenges you&#39;ve faced thus far?</strong></p>

<p>Rajat: I&rsquo;m a social person - spending time with my family and friends has always been a priority for me. With the responsibilities that come with taking care of a start-up, it&rsquo;s challenging to have a work-life balance.</p>

<p><strong>Kazimi: What are your thoughts about the digital revolution in the&nbsp;travel industry?</strong></p>

<p>Rajat: The benefits of technology are uncountable. My biggest concern is that people should not become so involved in the virtual world that they forget about the real world. Even in a regular cafe, you find more people talking to their gadgets than with each other. We conducted a survey to understand how travellers fetch information when exploring any place. The results showed that 90% of them rely on the Internet. I feel they don&rsquo;t realize that several big brands spend billions of dollars to optimize their searchability on the Internet so that they can drive the audience to content that may be biased in a manner that it promotes the sales of their brand.</p>

<p>(Coordinator and Editor: Devanshi Verma)</p>


'When I travel, I only choose the destination and let the place decide what it has for me'

I met Rajat at an event where he had set-up a booth to talk about his start-up. His recently launched travel app has been getting an overwhelming response. His excitement to share his story was infectious and I was one of the honored victims. A marine pilot smitten by the travel bug, Rajat Kishore wandered from one city to another for otherworldly sites, cultural exploration, meeting new people, self-discovery, and everything else that comes along. But he was not just any other traveller. He liked losing himself to the city, absorbing the colours and vibes of the place. He made friends with the locals; he lived like them, each destination becoming his home. He left a part of himself in the places he visited, and now carries a part of each place in himself. But there was something that kept bothering him - he felt the commercialisation of the travel industry keeps people from experiencing the true nature of each destination. He wanted to change that. Kazimi: What is your idea of travel? Rajat: I believe in serendipity. When I travel, I only choose the destination and let the place decide what it has for me. I love interacting with locals and seeing their perspectives. They are the ones who form the spirit of the place and truly know it inside out. There are instances when I made such good friends that they came to my rescue during troubled times. I like to be flexible to experience the unmentioned. Kazimi: Share one such incident that has stayed with you. Rajat: I was on the way to Leh Ladakh on my motorcycle when the weather got unexpectedly bad. Sudden heavy snowfall shook me to the core and I couldn’t see any trace of humans nearby. Just when I was losing hope for my survival, a biker named Tenzin passing by stopped to help me out. He took me to his village (Jispa, 30km from the spot I was at) and gave me shelter in his house. Tenzin and I are still great friends and I treasure the moments I spent with him. Kazimi: So you just started Lokaso, what is your initial plan of action? Rajat: Our aim is to change the notion of travel in the minds of people. We want people to explore the destination according to one’s own taste and interests, instead of blindly following a pre-planned itinerary that only has touristy offerings. As of now, we are only emphasizing on spreading the word about our start-up. Kazimi: What hurdles do you think you'll face? Rajat: Getting the right people on board. With the boom of technology and the ease to reach out to masses through social media channels, everyone wants to make their idea bigger and better. So we see a new start-up coming up every other day. While we seek self-motivated unconventional thinkers to help us out with the project, most of them are busy making something of their own. Kazimi: What about personal challenges you've faced thus far? Rajat: I’m a social person - spending time with my family and friends has always been a priority for me. With the responsibilities that come with taking care of a start-up, it’s challenging to have a work-life balance. Kazimi: What are your thoughts about the digital revolution in the travel industry? Rajat: The benefits of technology are uncountable. My biggest concern is that people should not become so involved in the virtual world that they forget about the real world. Even in a regular cafe, you find more people talking to their gadgets than with each other. We conducted a survey to understand how travellers fetch information when exploring any place. The results showed that 90% of them rely on the Internet. I feel they don’t realize that several big brands spend billions of dollars to optimize their searchability on the Internet so that they can drive the audience to content that may be biased in a manner that it promotes the sales of their brand. (Coordinator and Editor: Devanshi Verma)

Konversations: Is there something wrong with the way we travel?

<p><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<p dir="ltr">She is a London School of Economics graduate and went on to work with Goldman Sachs. But five years later, the entrepreneurial bug bit Swati Bhargava, and she left her corporate career to create something of her own.</p>

<p>Together with her husband Rohan, she founded&nbsp;<em>Pouring Pounds</em>, one of UK&rsquo;s leading cashback and voucher websites,&nbsp;bringing in&nbsp;3,000 popular brands like Tesco,&nbsp;Expedia and Argos. In 2013, she&nbsp;returned to India to implement the same concept for a whole new market. The new&nbsp;venture was aptly named:<em> <a href="http://www.cashkaro.com">CashKaro</a></em>. The platform has become India&#39;s&nbsp;largest reward&nbsp;site receiving funding from&nbsp;Kalaari Capital &amp; investor&nbsp;Ratan Tata.</p>

<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-d6785556-aa14-f155-1215-b74d0685c538">Kazimi: </b><b id="docs-internal-guid-184cb501-b917-951d-0049-2f35eed3cbdd">Of all the ideas out there, why this idea for a startup?</b></p>

<p><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<p><strong>Swati: </strong>We picked up this idea because Rohan&nbsp;and&nbsp;I&nbsp;are users of cashback sites ourselves and personally believed in the concept.</p>

<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-d6785556-aa14-f155-1215-b74d0685c538">Kazimi<strong>: </strong></b><b id="docs-internal-guid-184cb501-b917-c9b4-e7ac-8516e7c3219c">It is a crowded space. So any inspiration from an existing player? </b></p>

<p><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<p><strong>Swati:</strong> While coupon and deals&nbsp;model was&nbsp;doing well in 2013, we were sure the cashback model, which was a proven, tried &amp; tested model in the West, can bring value and sweeten the deal for the conscious Indian online shopper. We were inspired by the success of Ebates.com, largest US cashback site and Fanli.com, the former being acquired&nbsp;by Rakuten for $1 Billion and the latter becoming&nbsp;China&#39;s&nbsp;largest cashback site with $1 Billion valuation.</p>

<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-d6785556-aa14-f155-1215-b74d0685c538">Kazimi:&nbsp;</b><b id="docs-internal-guid-184cb501-b918-2039-c3cd-c63533ca62a4">Any startup effort is riddled with challenges. What were yours?</b></p>

<p><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<p><strong>Swati: </strong>When Rohan &amp; I started out, only coupon sites existed in India. We had to ensure that our concept was understood by partnering e-retailers and customers both. A lot had to be put in process&nbsp;to ensure retailers paid commission on time and played fair, so that users get paid on time.</p>

<p>Secondly, hiring has been and remains a huge challenge. For any business, especially for a start-up to succeed, it is important to build a team that shares the same passion. Similar to other start-up ventures, talent availability and retention are major hurdles.</p>

<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-d6785556-aa14-f155-1215-b74d0685c538">Kazimi<strong>: </strong></b><b id="docs-internal-guid-184cb501-b918-67a1-0646-a7f89560ebdd">How has the market responded to your venture?</b></p>

<p><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<p><strong>Swati:</strong> We enjoy a savvy 1.5 million user base and have credited close to $5 million as cashback to our users till date and expect to credit over $6&nbsp;million in the next few months.</p>

<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-d6785556-aa14-f155-1215-b74d0685c538">Kazimi: </b><b id="docs-internal-guid-184cb501-b918-a2b4-66ee-3f9738b947e1">What keeps you going -- when faced with challenges? </b></p>

<p><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<p><strong>Swati: </strong>Perseverance is the essence. My mom taught me to always keep going no matter what from an early age. When it feels too difficult to push forward, I always remind myself, &#39;This too shall pass,&#39; and then I redouble my efforts.</p>

<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>

<blockquote>
<p dir="ltr">&quot;Perseverance is the Essence&quot;</p>
</blockquote>

<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>

<p><b>Kazimi: What would you say is the one common quality between all your team members?</b></p>

<p><strong>Swati:&nbsp;</strong>One common quality between all our employees would be the energy and zeal that they work with. It&rsquo;s very important to have people on board who share the same passion and enthusiasm and I think we are quite lucky on that part.</p>

<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-d6785556-aa14-f155-1215-b74d0685c538">Kazimi: </b><b id="docs-internal-guid-184cb501-b918-e9b7-b767-de40a88b08f1">Do realize that you are inspiring other women by breaking gender stereotypes?</b></p>

<p><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<p><strong>Swati: </strong>Dealing with stereotypes that question a woman&rsquo;s ability to work in tech or finance, or simply her stability at work continues to be one of the major challenges in a male dominated industry. By breaking gender stereotypes, it gives women an amazing opportunity to strive to be better, fight harder, be stronger and bring to life the incredible feats a woman is capable of!</p>

<p>However, I believe that at the end of the day, your work should speak for itself, and at that point, it doesn&rsquo;t matter whether you are a man or a woman!</p>

<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-d6785556-aa14-f155-1215-b74d0685c538">Kazimi: </b><b id="docs-internal-guid-184cb501-b919-33e9-97d9-14ae5a0b7389">Do you think you have evolved as a person in this journey?</b></p>

<p><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<p><strong>Swati: </strong>The entire experience has been exhilarating and has imbibed in me positivity, patience and to learn from my failures.</p>

<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-d6785556-aa14-f155-1215-b74d0685c538">Kazimi: </b><b id="docs-internal-guid-184cb501-b919-7acc-7430-f110f735a7b4">What do you look forward to, for your venture and the company?</b></p>

<p><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<p><strong>Swati: </strong>Going forward, we aim to make our company&nbsp;the No.1 online destination for all kinds of discounts, offers, vouchers, etc., and expand to South East Asia in the next two years.</p>

<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-d6785556-aa14-f155-1215-b74d0685c538">Kazimi: </b><b id="docs-internal-guid-184cb501-b919-aaf6-02ee-6882e505262b">What is the mantra you want to share with other budding entrepreneurs? </b></p>

<p><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<p><strong>Swati: </strong>Work hard and have faith in what you have set out to achieve. You&rsquo;ll only be able to do justice if you really believe in the idea and your ability to execute it! If you feel that the going is getting too tough&hellip; just stay at it. It&rsquo;s not been easy for anyone who was there before you too. Sometimes people are successful just because they lasted.</p>

<blockquote>
<p dir="ltr">&quot;Sometimes people are successful just because they lasted&quot;</p>
</blockquote>

<p dir="ltr">(Coordinator and Editor: Devanshi Verma)</p>


'At the end of the day, your work should speak for itself, and at that point, it doesn?t matter whether you are a man or a woman.'

She is a London School of Economics graduate and went on to work with Goldman Sachs. But five years later, the entrepreneurial bug bit Swati Bhargava, and she left her corporate career to create something of her own. Together with her husband Rohan, she founded Pouring Pounds, one of UK’s leading cashback and voucher websites, bringing in 3,000 popular brands like Tesco, Expedia and Argos. In 2013, she returned to India to implement the same concept for a whole new market. The new venture was aptly named: CashKaro. The platform has become India's largest reward site receiving funding from Kalaari Capital & investor Ratan Tata. Kazimi: Of all the ideas out there, why this idea for a startup? Swati: We picked up this idea because Rohan and I are users of cashback sites ourselves and personally believed in the concept. Kazimi: It is a crowded space. So any inspiration from an existing player? Swati: While coupon and deals model was doing well in 2013, we were sure the cashback model, which was a proven, tried & tested model in the West, can bring value and sweeten the deal for the conscious Indian online shopper. We were inspired by the success of Ebates.com, largest US cashback site and Fanli.com, the former being acquired by Rakuten for $1 Billion and the latter becoming China's largest cashback site with $1 Billion valuation. Kazimi: Any startup effort is riddled with challenges. What were yours? Swati: When Rohan & I started out, only coupon sites existed in India. We had to ensure that our concept was understood by partnering e-retailers and customers both. A lot had to be put in process to ensure retailers paid commission on time and played fair, so that users get paid on time. Secondly, hiring has been and remains a huge challenge. For any business, especially for a start-up to succeed, it is important to build a team that shares the same passion. Similar to other start-up ventures, talent availability and retention are major hurdles. Kazimi: How has the market responded to your venture? Swati: We enjoy a savvy 1.5 million user base and have credited close to $5 million as cashback to our users till date and expect to credit over $6 million in the next few months. Kazimi: What keeps you going -- when faced with challenges? Swati: Perseverance is the essence. My mom taught me to always keep going no matter what from an early age. When it feels too difficult to push forward, I always remind myself, 'This too shall pass,' and then I redouble my efforts. "Perseverance is the Essence" Kazimi: What would you say is the one common quality between all your team members? Swati: One common quality between all our employees would be the energy and zeal that they work with. It’s very important to have people on board who share the same passion and enthusiasm and I think we are quite lucky on that part. Kazimi: Do realize that you are inspiring other women by breaking gender stereotypes? Swati: Dealing with stereotypes that question a woman’s ability to work in tech or finance, or simply her stability at work continues to be one of the major challenges in a male dominated industry. By breaking gender stereotypes, it gives women an amazing opportunity to strive to be better, fight harder, be stronger and bring to life the incredible feats a woman is capable of! However, I believe that at the end of the day, your work should speak for itself, and at that point, it doesn’t matter whether you are a man or a woman! Kazimi: Do you think you have evolved as a person in this journey? Swati: The entire experience has been exhilarating and has imbibed in me positivity, patience and to learn from my failures. Kazimi: What do you look forward to, for your venture and the company? Swati: Going forward, we aim to make our company the No.1 online destination for all kinds of discounts, offers, vouchers, etc., and expand to South East Asia in the next two years. Kazimi: What is the mantra you want to share with other budding entrepreneurs? Swati: Work hard and have faith in what you have set out to achieve. You’ll only be able to do justice if you really believe in the idea and your ability to execute it! If you feel that the going is getting too tough… just stay at it. It’s not been easy for anyone who was there before you too. Sometimes people are successful just because they lasted. "Sometimes people are successful just because they lasted" (Coordinator and Editor: Devanshi Verma)

Konversations: Swati Bhargava, the woman behind two leading reward platforms

<p>Most races are tests of speed and/or endurance. But there are some that go beyond that. These are gruelling experiences that only the most daring attempt.</p>

<p>Here&rsquo;s our list of the most challenging races that you can attempt if you wish to stray away from the beaten path:</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h2 dir="ltr">Patagonian Expedition Race</h2>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="490" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FMerrellAdventureAddicts%2Fphotos%2Fa.283949791678965.67752.149201771820435%2F1009603895780214%2F%3Ftype%3D3&amp;width=500" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" width="500"></iframe></p>

<p>The annual endurance race defines itself as an adventure at the end of the world.</p>

<p>The 10-day event involves co-ed teams of four members each. The teams engage in trekking, sea kayaking, orienteering, and mountain biking. The race takes place on a different course each year, with competitors using a map and compass to navigate through an unknown terrain.</p>

<p>The race aims to raise awareness about the fragile environment of Chilean Patagonia. It promotes the area&rsquo;s unique and pristine wilderness, as well as its rich cultural heritage, as attractions for a viable sustainable tourism destination.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h2 dir="ltr">Jungle Ultra</h2>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="499" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FBeyondtheultimate%2Fposts%2F1277238938976432%3A0&amp;width=500" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" width="500"></iframe></p>

<p dir="ltr">It is 230-km race through the jungle trails, rugged mountain roads and village tracks. The participants make their way from Cloud Forest and down 10,500 feet to the Amazon jungle below - experiencing dense forests, diverse wildlife in this 5 stage event. Participants have to carry their own hammocks, sleeping bags and food for the entire race, replenishing water bottles only at base camp and checkpoints.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h2 dir="ltr">Alaska Mountain Wilderness Challenge</h2>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="766" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FOCRFIT%2Fposts%2F1612708679021018%3A0&amp;width=500" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" width="500"></iframe></p>

<p>This adventure challenge started in 1982 as a 240-km wilderness expedition across various mountain ranges throughout Alaska.</p>

<p>The most common form of transportation is by foot and packraft, although bicycles, skis and paragliders have been used by intrepid participants. Beginning in 2004, participants have been required to carry satellite phones to facilitate emergency rescues.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h2 dir="ltr">Ironman Triathlon</h2>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="492" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fironmanjonkoping%2Fposts%2F1206002186129230%3A0&amp;width=500" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" width="500"></iframe></p>

<p>This one is beyond the calibre of any ordinarily fit people. You need to know how to swim, ride a bicycle and run. Doesn&rsquo;t sound challenging enough? This one means swimming for 2.4 miles, cycling for 112 miles and running for 22 miles! Still sounds doable? Do all of this back-to-back, without a break! Bow down to the masterminds behind the race at the World Triathlon Corporation.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h2 dir="ltr">North Pole Marathon</h2>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="440" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fnpmarathon%2Fphotos%2Fa.527034007347419.133796.506867436030743%2F938615012855981%2F%3Ftype%3D3&amp;width=500" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" width="500"></iframe></p>

<p dir="ltr">This is recognized as the northernmost marathon on Earth by Guinness World Records. It is a run on a small, 4.2-km loop which is made of 12-feet thick frozen ice from the Arctic Ocean. Participants are required to run 10 rounds along the loop, with the frozen track being the only barrier between the contenders and the 12,000 foot depth. Not a single section of this marathon covers land.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h2 dir="ltr">Dragon&rsquo;s Back Race</h2>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="589" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FDragonsBackRace%2Fphotos%2Fa.920681507988437.1073741835.184892204900708%2F920683774654877%2F%3Ftype%3D3&amp;width=500" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" width="500"></iframe></p>

<p dir="ltr">As cool as it sounds, this 5-day and 300-km-long castle to castle race covers 16,000 metres of wild, trackless, remote and mountainous terrain. There are checkpoints along the way, but how racers get to each one is their own voyage.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h2 dir="ltr">6633 Ultra</h2>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="486" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2F338843102882974%2Fphotos%2Fa.338848146215803.1073741827.338843102882974%2F750923705008243%2F%3Ftype%3D3&amp;width=500" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" width="500"></iframe></p>

<p>This is one of the most difficult ultramarathons in the world. One has to be a real daredevil to participate, let alone win this 350-mile race. 23 miles into the race, one enters the Arctic Circle. There onwards, participants drag their gear on sleds through the mountainous terrain, dealing with the chilly wind blowing at 200 km/h. &nbsp;Runners must complete the course in 8 days. As of 2016, only 19 people have been able to complete this brutal footrace in Canada&rsquo;s northern territory.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h2 dir="ltr">Mount Everest Marathon</h2>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="381" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Feverestmarathon%2Fposts%2F1271521389541906%3A0&amp;width=500" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" width="500"></iframe></p>

<h2><meta charset="utf-8" /></h2>

<p dir="ltr">The Guinness Book of Records listed this one as the highest marathon in the world. The 42-km race commences from Gorak Shep at a height of 5184 meters (17,000 feet), close to Everest Base Camp in Nepal. The first one to make it to the Sherpa town of Namche Bazaar at 3446 meters (11,300 feet) is declared as the winner of this frigid competition.</p>

<p dir="ltr">(Contributions by : Shashwat Mittal and Devanshi Verma)</p>


Just reading about them can give you jitters

Most races are tests of speed and/or endurance. But there are some that go beyond that. These are gruelling experiences that only the most daring attempt. Here’s our list of the most challenging races that you can attempt if you wish to stray away from the beaten path: Patagonian Expedition Race The annual endurance race defines itself as an adventure at the end of the world. The 10-day event involves co-ed teams of four members each. The teams engage in trekking, sea kayaking, orienteering, and mountain biking. The race takes place on a different course each year, with competitors using a map and compass to navigate through an unknown terrain. The race aims to raise awareness about the fragile environment of Chilean Patagonia. It promotes the area’s unique and pristine wilderness, as well as its rich cultural heritage, as attractions for a viable sustainable tourism destination. Jungle Ultra It is 230-km race through the jungle trails, rugged mountain roads and village tracks. The participants make their way from Cloud Forest and down 10,500 feet to the Amazon jungle below - experiencing dense forests, diverse wildlife in this 5 stage event. Participants have to carry their own hammocks, sleeping bags and food for the entire race, replenishing water bottles only at base camp and checkpoints. Alaska Mountain Wilderness Challenge This adventure challenge started in 1982 as a 240-km wilderness expedition across various mountain ranges throughout Alaska. The most common form of transportation is by foot and packraft, although bicycles, skis and paragliders have been used by intrepid participants. Beginning in 2004, participants have been required to carry satellite phones to facilitate emergency rescues. Ironman Triathlon This one is beyond the calibre of any ordinarily fit people. You need to know how to swim, ride a bicycle and run. Doesn’t sound challenging enough? This one means swimming for 2.4 miles, cycling for 112 miles and running for 22 miles! Still sounds doable? Do all of this back-to-back, without a break! Bow down to the masterminds behind the race at the World Triathlon Corporation. North Pole Marathon This is recognized as the northernmost marathon on Earth by Guinness World Records. It is a run on a small, 4.2-km loop which is made of 12-feet thick frozen ice from the Arctic Ocean. Participants are required to run 10 rounds along the loop, with the frozen track being the only barrier between the contenders and the 12,000 foot depth. Not a single section of this marathon covers land. Dragon’s Back Race As cool as it sounds, this 5-day and 300-km-long castle to castle race covers 16,000 metres of wild, trackless, remote and mountainous terrain. There are checkpoints along the way, but how racers get to each one is their own voyage. 6633 Ultra This is one of the most difficult ultramarathons in the world. One has to be a real daredevil to participate, let alone win this 350-mile race. 23 miles into the race, one enters the Arctic Circle. There onwards, participants drag their gear on sleds through the mountainous terrain, dealing with the chilly wind blowing at 200 km/h. Runners must complete the course in 8 days. As of 2016, only 19 people have been able to complete this brutal footrace in Canada’s northern territory. Mount Everest Marathon The Guinness Book of Records listed this one as the highest marathon in the world. The 42-km race commences from Gorak Shep at a height of 5184 meters (17,000 feet), close to Everest Base Camp in Nepal. The first one to make it to the Sherpa town of Namche Bazaar at 3446 meters (11,300 feet) is declared as the winner of this frigid competition. (Contributions by : Shashwat Mittal and Devanshi Verma)

8 of the world's most gruelling races

<p><a class="twitter-moment" href="https://twitter.com/i/moments/803465461140635649">WION at IFFI &amp; Film Bazaar</a> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>


Here's a behind the scenes glimpse and the highlights of the grand event

In moments: Goa hosts the International Film Festival Of India and Film Bazaar

<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1OQdWyjRWJA" width="970"></iframe></p>

<p><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<p dir="ltr">The 47th edition of&nbsp;the International Film Festival of India is taking place in Goa. The first edition of this prestigious festival took place in Mumbai in 1952 and has been growing stronger and grander ever since.&nbsp;The event boasts of interactions with award-winning filmmakers,&nbsp;open-air movie screenings,&nbsp;astonishing performances, tribute sections,&nbsp;impromptu music concerts and contemporary photography and fashion bazaars. With more than 300 movies from 90 countries, this one indeed is a celebration of cinematic art.</p>


It is a celebration of cinema with the best of movies, workshops and masterclasses.

The 47th edition of the International Film Festival of India is taking place in Goa. The first edition of this prestigious festival took place in Mumbai in 1952 and has been growing stronger and grander ever since. The event boasts of interactions with award-winning filmmakers, open-air movie screenings, astonishing performances, tribute sections, impromptu music concerts and contemporary photography and fashion bazaars. With more than 300 movies from 90 countries, this one indeed is a celebration of cinematic art.

Video: What is the International Film Festival Of India?

<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Dah-bA99t_w" width="970"></iframe></p>

<p><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<p dir="ltr">Sufism is a mystical Islamic practice to find the truth of divine love &amp; knowledge that originated in around the 9th and 10th centuries.&nbsp;The most popular known tradition of Sufism is Sufi Whirling. From symbolic&nbsp;clothing to the unique body movements, everything about this dance has deep symbolism attached to it.</p>


Everything about Sufi Whirling has a deep spiritual meaning.

Sufism is a mystical Islamic practice to find the truth of divine love & knowledge that originated in around the 9th and 10th centuries. The most popular known tradition of Sufism is Sufi Whirling. From symbolic clothing to the unique body movements, everything about this dance has deep symbolism attached to it.

Video: The mystical and meditative dance of Sufism

<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/88lVUJwdiS0" width="970"></iframe></p>

<p>The Maeklong Railway Market in Thailand might look like your average farmers market, but amidst the hustle-bustle&nbsp;lies&nbsp;something unique - an active railway track. A train slowly makes its way through the market eight times a day, with food piled up to the track&#39;s edge. A&nbsp;warning bell goes off just a few minutes before the train arrives. Within a&nbsp;minute&nbsp;of&nbsp;the warning, vendors pull back their produce and with equal agility put it back on&nbsp;display right after the train&nbsp;departs. Market visits were never so adventurous!&nbsp;</p>


It is not your average marketplace, there is an active railway track located right in the midst of a farmers market

The Maeklong Railway Market in Thailand might look like your average farmers market, but amidst the hustle-bustle lies something unique - an active railway track. A train slowly makes its way through the market eight times a day, with food piled up to the track's edge. A warning bell goes off just a few minutes before the train arrives. Within a minute of the warning, vendors pull back their produce and with equal agility put it back on display right after the train departs. Market visits were never so adventurous!

360? Video: Thailand's railway market

<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6zcR8lAtpfY" width="970"></iframe></p>

<p><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<p dir="ltr">Meet&nbsp;Karsten Becker, the German scientist who is preparing for a race to the space - The Google Lunar XPRIZE. The finish line, believe it or not, is the moon. It is a challenge that aims to&nbsp;inspire engineers, entrepreneurs and innovators from around the world to develop low-cost methods of robotic space exploration. To win the race, the team must be the first to successfully place a spacecraft on the moon&rsquo;s surface, travel 500 meters and transmit high definition videos and images back to the earth. What you see here is Becker&rsquo;s spacecraft - ALINA that is preparing for this out of the world race. It has a 4-wheel configuration with a stereoscopic image camera and a tele lens, which is actually capable of looking at different wavelengths,to do some material composition analysis on the moon. It aims go to Apollo 17, the lunar rover vehicle standing on the moon to see how it has been doing after 40 years exposed to the lunar surface.</p>

<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>


Meet Karsten Becker, the German scientist who is preparing for a race to the space - The Google Lunar XPRIZE. The finish line, believe it or not, is the moon. It is a challenge that aims to inspire engineers, entrepreneurs and innovators from around the world to develop low-cost methods of robotic space exploration. To win the race, the team must be the first to successfully place a spacecraft on the moon’s surface, travel 500 meters and transmit high definition videos and images back to the earth. What you see here is Becker’s spacecraft - ALINA that is preparing for this out of the world race. It has a 4-wheel configuration with a stereoscopic image camera and a tele lens, which is actually capable of looking at different wavelengths,to do some material composition analysis on the moon. It aims go to Apollo 17, the lunar rover vehicle standing on the moon to see how it has been doing after 40 years exposed to the lunar surface.

360? Video: German scientist preparing for space race to the moon

<p>Islam is the official religion of Afghanistan,&nbsp;practiced by over 99 per cent of&nbsp;citizens. Apart from Muslim, there are&nbsp;Sikh&nbsp;and Hindu&nbsp;communities&nbsp;as well.&nbsp;However,&nbsp;most other communities left the country during the times&nbsp;of war and&nbsp;migrated&nbsp;to India and other nations.&nbsp;In&nbsp;1994, the country&nbsp;became the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan from the earlier Democratic Republic of Afghanistan, which imposed fierce religious rules and restrictions on the citizens. As per the Constitiution of Afghanistan,&nbsp;Article Three states that&nbsp;no law shall contravene the tenets and provisions of the holy religion of Islam in Afghanistan. &nbsp;</p>

<p>An Afghan girl reads the Quran at a mosque in Kabul,&nbsp;during the holy month of Ramadan.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false"><img alt="" draggable="false" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/16-20161103071737.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
<p>Source (AFP)</p>
</div>
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<p>An elder Afghan devotee&nbsp;prays at the biggest mosque of Kabul, Eid Gah.</p>

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<p>Source (AFP)</p>
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<p>Afghan women pray during Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, in Herat.</p>

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<p>Source (AFP)</p>
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<p>Afghan Muslims wash themselves before attending prayers on the first day of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan at the Paul-e-Khishtee mosque in Kabul.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>Source (AFP)</p>
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<p>Afghan girls offering prayers at a mosque during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan in Kandahar.</p>

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<p>Source (AFP)</p>
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<p>An Afghan elderly man reads the Quran during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan at a mosque in Herat province.</p>

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<p>Source (AFP)</p>
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<p>Sikh devotees perform prayers before a gathering with former Afghan&nbsp;foreign affairs minister at a Sikh temple in Kabul.</p>

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<p>Source (AFP)</p>
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<p>Afghan men sit on the ground waiting for Eid al-Adha prayers to commence&nbsp;at the Shah-e Do Shamshira mosque in Kabul.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>Source (AFP)</p>
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<p>An Afghan man prays at the mosque during the Islamic holy fasting month of Ramadan in Herat province.</p>

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<p>Source (AFP)</p>
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<p>Afghan men offer Eid-al-Adha prayers at the Eid Gah Mosque in Kabul. Afghans have started celebrating Eid al-Adha or the Feast of&nbsp;Sacrifice.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>Source (AFP)</p>
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<p>Afghan children study the Quran during a lesson at a mosque in Ghazni.</p>

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<p>Source (AFP)</p>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>


The religious traditions of Islam in Afghaistan

Islam is the official religion of Afghanistan, practiced by over 99 per cent of citizens. Apart from Muslim, there are Sikh and Hindu communities as well. However, most other communities left the country during the times of war and migrated to India and other nations. In 1994, the country became the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan from the earlier Democratic Republic of Afghanistan, which imposed fierce religious rules and restrictions on the citizens. As per the Constitiution of Afghanistan, Article Three states that no law shall contravene the tenets and provisions of the holy religion of Islam in Afghanistan. An Afghan girl reads the Quran at a mosque in Kabul, during the holy month of Ramadan. Source (AFP) × An elder Afghan devotee prays at the biggest mosque of Kabul, Eid Gah. Source (AFP) × Afghan women pray during Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, in Herat. Source (AFP) × Afghan Muslims wash themselves before attending prayers on the first day of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan at the Paul-e-Khishtee mosque in Kabul. Source (AFP) × Afghan girls offering prayers at a mosque during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan in Kandahar. Source (AFP) × An Afghan elderly man reads the Quran during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan at a mosque in Herat province. Source (AFP) × Sikh devotees perform prayers before a gathering with former Afghan foreign affairs minister at a Sikh temple in Kabul. Source (AFP) × Afghan men sit on the ground waiting for Eid al-Adha prayers to commence at the Shah-e Do Shamshira mosque in Kabul. Source (AFP) × An Afghan man prays at the mosque during the Islamic holy fasting month of Ramadan in Herat province. Source (AFP) × Afghan men offer Eid-al-Adha prayers at the Eid Gah Mosque in Kabul. Afghans have started celebrating Eid al-Adha or the Feast of Sacrifice. Source (AFP) × Afghan children study the Quran during a lesson at a mosque in Ghazni. Source (AFP) ×

The main religion of Afghanistan: Islam

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<p>In the summer of 2015, SS Rajamouli&#39;s epic period drama <em>Baahubali: The Beginning</em> took the box office by storm. The movie was not just a runaway hit in India but was also the highest grossing Indian film across the world. Baahubali&rsquo;s US collections reached an astonishing $800,000 only through advance bookings. The movie was made on a massive budget of&nbsp;2500 million Indian Rupees&nbsp;&nbsp;($37 mn), making it the most expensive film ever produced in the Indian subcontinent.</p>

<p>The film&rsquo;s trailer earned 4.05 million views on YouTube; in fact, the Telugu and Hindi trailers crossed 1 million views each within 24 hours of being posted online.</p>

<p>Now, the movie&rsquo;s makers are once again ready&nbsp;to break records and raise the bar with the second part of the series - Baahubali: The Conclusion, which will release in April 2017. Recently, at the JIOMami Mumbai Festival, the team shared footage of the sets of the upcoming sequel in virtual reality domain. Through this, fans can enjoy experiences of being virtually present on the sets.</p>

<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hR1mNJ11ycU" width="970"></iframe></p>

<p><tt><small>Source: Baahubali Movie</small></tt></p>

<p>The team also plans to invest &nbsp;250 million Indian Rupees&nbsp;($3.7 mn) in virtual reality booths all across India to give&nbsp;fans a one-of-a-kind experience.</p>

<p>(Contribution: Devanshi Verma)</p>


A sneak peek into the sets of India?s biggest film ever

In the summer of 2015, SS Rajamouli's epic period drama Baahubali: The Beginning took the box office by storm. The movie was not just a runaway hit in India but was also the highest grossing Indian film across the world. Baahubali’s US collections reached an astonishing $800,000 only through advance bookings. The movie was made on a massive budget of 2500 million Indian Rupees ($37 mn), making it the most expensive film ever produced in the Indian subcontinent. The film’s trailer earned 4.05 million views on YouTube; in fact, the Telugu and Hindi trailers crossed 1 million views each within 24 hours of being posted online. Now, the movie’s makers are once again ready to break records and raise the bar with the second part of the series - Baahubali: The Conclusion, which will release in April 2017. Recently, at the JIOMami Mumbai Festival, the team shared footage of the sets of the upcoming sequel in virtual reality domain. Through this, fans can enjoy experiences of being virtually present on the sets. Source: Baahubali Movie The team also plans to invest 250 million Indian Rupees ($3.7 mn) in virtual reality booths all across India to give fans a one-of-a-kind experience. (Contribution: Devanshi Verma)

Take a virtual reality journey into the sets of Baahubali

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<p>While social media has led to increased access to a range of content, sifting through the thousands of pieces of information to sort out material that one would want to read can be a cumbersome task.</p>

<p>To address this issue,&nbsp;Delhi-based start-up, HubHopper has developed a personalized social news magazine that gives you a daily dose of your interests.</p>

<p>It is a gateway to just about everything with a one-of-a-kind digital remote that helps users tailor-make their experience in real time.</p>

<p><em>WION Edge interviewed the Founder and CEO&nbsp;of</em><i>&nbsp;</i><em><a href="http://www.hubhopper.com/">HubHopper</a><a href="http://www.hubhopper.com">.com</a>,</em><i>&nbsp;</i><strong><i>Gautam&nbsp;Anand</i></strong><em>, to understand how the content aggregator&nbsp;works. </em></p>

<p><em>Excerpts:</em></p>

<p><strong>What was the inspiration behind launching HubHopper?</strong></p>

<p>The inspiration behind launching HubHopper was this need of getting relevant content according to one&rsquo;s mood. It was born out of the frustration of seeing&nbsp;spam and irrelevant posts on mainstream social and content platforms. These platforms don&rsquo;t take into account how dynamic a person&rsquo;s interests might be and that was a problem I had to solve. There just had to be a better way to discover content, people and trends that are most relevant to you.</p>

<p><strong>If you had to mention the best feature of your product, which one would it be?</strong></p>

<p>The best feature of our product would be the remote that allows you to control of your feed in real time.</p>

<p><strong>The next stage of growth?</strong></p>

<p>We plan on adding more varied interests, languages and opening up the platform to content publishers and creators.</p>

<p><strong>What is your opinion about the digital revolution in the news industry?</strong></p>

<p>Reading attitudes have changed; people have a limited attention span and no time for anything that doesn&rsquo;t interest them. The content has shifted from lengthy opinion pieces to listicles and short-form articles.</p>

<p>The newspaper industry as a whole still hasn&rsquo;t quite figured out how to cope with this migration from offline to online and how to make a substantial profit from it. Paywalls and subscriptions only work with original, high-quality content. Publishers are struggling to reach the right people for their content and consistent visibility.</p>

<p>Monetizing digital content in any form will only work if the content is relevant and offers great value to users.</p>

<p><strong>How has the digitisation of news impacted youth participation in current affairs and helped in them making an impact?</strong></p>

<p>Trends on social media platforms are influenced by the youth, as the largest proportion of users is below the age of 30. Youth participation in news affairs establishes which story gets maximum reach; they are actually playing a part in setting trends as never before. What happens on digital platforms is now the news. For example &ndash; the &lsquo;Sehwag vs Piers Morgan Fight on Twitter.&rsquo;</p>

<p>A lot of publishers focus their content strategy according to what&rsquo;s trending online, and the youth have a loud voice in deciding what that is.</p>

<p><strong>With the plethora of content flowing over the Internet, how are you able to differentiate your content?</strong></p>

<p>To quote Mitchell Kapor - &lsquo;Getting information off the internet is like taking a drink from a fire hydrant.&rsquo;</p>

<p>Firstly, our content is interest based and appears as bite-sized summaries of detailed web articles. Secondly, the articles or &lsquo;doses&rsquo; as we like to call them, disappear in 7 seconds unless you show interest by tapping them.</p>

<p>A user saves times, stays informed and has a fun experience in consuming this form of content.</p>

<p><strong>What is the future of the news industry?</strong></p>

<p>Digital and traditional publishers will need to have fast paced omni-channel content with a robust technological infrastructure. News is going to be consumed in new formats and platforms. The challenge for publishers will be to figure out how much to invest in these channels and whether the return on investment is promising enough. Publishers that embrace the continuously advancing technology and adapt to changing user behaviour will continue to thrive.</p>

<p>(Contributions by Tanmai Relwani and Devanshi Verma)</p>


The Delhi-based start-up has developed an adaptive social network that allows users to access materials relevant to them

While social media has led to increased access to a range of content, sifting through the thousands of pieces of information to sort out material that one would want to read can be a cumbersome task. To address this issue, Delhi-based start-up, HubHopper has developed a personalized social news magazine that gives you a daily dose of your interests. It is a gateway to just about everything with a one-of-a-kind digital remote that helps users tailor-make their experience in real time. WION Edge interviewed the Founder and CEO of HubHopper.com, Gautam Anand, to understand how the content aggregator works. Excerpts: What was the inspiration behind launching HubHopper? The inspiration behind launching HubHopper was this need of getting relevant content according to one’s mood. It was born out of the frustration of seeing spam and irrelevant posts on mainstream social and content platforms. These platforms don’t take into account how dynamic a person’s interests might be and that was a problem I had to solve. There just had to be a better way to discover content, people and trends that are most relevant to you. If you had to mention the best feature of your product, which one would it be? The best feature of our product would be the remote that allows you to control of your feed in real time. The next stage of growth? We plan on adding more varied interests, languages and opening up the platform to content publishers and creators. What is your opinion about the digital revolution in the news industry? Reading attitudes have changed; people have a limited attention span and no time for anything that doesn’t interest them. The content has shifted from lengthy opinion pieces to listicles and short-form articles. The newspaper industry as a whole still hasn’t quite figured out how to cope with this migration from offline to online and how to make a substantial profit from it. Paywalls and subscriptions only work with original, high-quality content. Publishers are struggling to reach the right people for their content and consistent visibility. Monetizing digital content in any form will only work if the content is relevant and offers great value to users. How has the digitisation of news impacted youth participation in current affairs and helped in them making an impact? Trends on social media platforms are influenced by the youth, as the largest proportion of users is below the age of 30. Youth participation in news affairs establishes which story gets maximum reach; they are actually playing a part in setting trends as never before. What happens on digital platforms is now the news. For example – the ‘Sehwag vs Piers Morgan Fight on Twitter.’ A lot of publishers focus their content strategy according to what’s trending online, and the youth have a loud voice in deciding what that is. With the plethora of content flowing over the Internet, how are you able to differentiate your content? To quote Mitchell Kapor - ‘Getting information off the internet is like taking a drink from a fire hydrant.’ Firstly, our content is interest based and appears as bite-sized summaries of detailed web articles. Secondly, the articles or ‘doses’ as we like to call them, disappear in 7 seconds unless you show interest by tapping them. A user saves times, stays informed and has a fun experience in consuming this form of content. What is the future of the news industry? Digital and traditional publishers will need to have fast paced omni-channel content with a robust technological infrastructure. News is going to be consumed in new formats and platforms. The challenge for publishers will be to figure out how much to invest in these channels and whether the return on investment is promising enough. Publishers that embrace the continuously advancing technology and adapt to changing user behaviour will continue to thrive. (Contributions by Tanmai Relwani and Devanshi Verma)

Interview: Can the India-based HubHopper help declutter the Internet?

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