In a bold move against convention, a woman from Rajasthan, Annu Kanawat, chose to pursue farming, a field often dominated by men. Attendees of the India Today Conclave 2024 panel 'When India Grows, India Shows' were treated to stories of such inspiring individuals on the second day. From a woman creating a hockey revolution in Jharkhand's Simdega district to an IAS officer opening space observatories in village schools, each tale is a testament to undaunted spirit and innovation.
Simdega becomes a hotspot for hockey excellence
Manoj Konbegi from the Simdega district, Vice President of Jharkhand's hockey association, recounted how in 2010, the district's women's hockey team competed for the first time in Delhi's Nehru Hockey tournament. Despite their loss, they were determined to procure an AstroTurf field for their district. By 2015, their persistence paid off with the construction of the AstroTurf and today, four players from Jharkhand, including two from Karangagudi, are proudly a part of the Indian women's hockey team. Panelist and hockey player Sanjana shared that it was the movie 'Chak De India' that propelled her to play the sport and shine on the national stage.
Women salute telescopes after star gazing
IAS Abhishek Pandey opened space observatories in village schools, an initiative now hailed as 'Astro Revolution' in Bulandshahr. He got the idea during the pandemic shutdowns, which caused a significant learning gap among students. The star-gazing events turned into heartwarming moments as women, upon viewing stars, would accidentally misalign the telescopes by paying their respects to the enchanting celestial bodies. Rihan, a young 'Space Ambassador' on the panel, shared his dreams of becoming a space scientist and his experience observing Saturn, Titan, Jupiter, the Moon, and its craters through a telescope.
'Learning never ends'
Gaurab Kumar Das, a tea farmer from Dibrugarh, Assam, emphasized that learning is an ongoing process. Despite being part of a family business, he continues to educate himself, explaining the difference between common tea and orthodox tea, the latter having higher antioxidant properties and health benefits.
Seeing farmers exit BMWs disrupts sleep
Annu Kanawat was speechless upon witnessing the prosperity of farmers who arrived at 'Gift City' in Gujarat, created by then Chief Minister Narendra Modi, in their BMW cars. This opulence, built through agriculture, kept her awake for three nights. Today, Annu leads a movement connecting thousands of women in mushroom farming.
