Quote of the day: After Plato (his mentor) died, Aristotle left Athens and, at the request of Philip II of Macedon, tutored his son Alexander the Great beginning in 343 BC. Quote of the day: Famous ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle was mentored by Plato and later went on to become the guide of
For many women, surviving breast cancer is only part of the story. What follows treatment is an equally important, often under-discussed phase rebuilding confidence, restoring a sense of normalcy, and learning to feel comfortable in one's body again. As breast cancer survival improves in India
For generations of Hindi cinema lovers, Vinod Khanna remains frozen in memory – tall, charismatic, effortlessly stylish, and always larger than life. But behind the screen persona was a man who quietly fought some of the toughest health battles of his life, long before the world knew
The Mumbai–Pune Expressway “Missing Link" project is a 13.3-kilometre bypass that has been designed to ease congestion and improve safety on the corridor that connects the two cities. It will help travellers in bypassing the steep, accident-prone 19-km Khandala Ghat
Three days after Hasina fled to Delhi, toppled by mass protests, an interim government was sworn in to lead Bangladesh. Headed by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mohammad Yunus, the ministry had the difficult task of stabilising a post-revolution Bangladesh as well as holding polls to bring in a new
The Congress on Tuesday questioned Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma after sharing a photograph purportedly showing him with a Bangladeshi Islamic scholar, asking “when and why the meeting took place and what its purpose was." Congress leader Pawan Khera, in a post on X
The Netflix film Ghooskhor Pandat, produced by Neeraj Pandey and starring Manoj Bajpayee, made headlines for all the wrong reasons following backlash over its title. Social media heavily slammed the makers for choosing a title that allegedly defames the Brahmin community. Following the title reveal
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued fresh summons to industrialist Anil Ambani and his wife, Tina Ambani, in a money laundering case linked to an alleged SBI bank fraud, sources said on Tuesday. The anti-money laundering probe agency said Tina Ambani has been summoned for February 17
How an education activist made over two million girls return to school in more than 30,000 villages
Based on research, we estimated that there were well over 7 million primary-aged girls who were missing from India's classrooms and who should have been in school. If we wanted to make sure we weren't going to lose another generation of girls to poverty and illiteracy, we had to act fast and identify where the problem was greatest – where did a majority of the out-of-school girls live? I wanted to use the government's gender gap list to help me decipher where to start.
The World Economic Forum first published an annual report that looked at the gender gap in 2006 and studied four dimensions: economics, education, health and politics. It's perhaps no coincidence then that when I first started looking for data, this is what we were talking about. And the ‘gender gap' in education was quite simply the gap in enrolment numbers between girls and boys in primary school. Essentially, in many areas, there was a 10–20% gap between the number of girls and the number of boys going to school. And of course, the number of girls going to school was a lot lower than the number of boys.
Heeding the MHRD minister's advice, I went to meet the Rajasthan state education minister in Jaipur, and together we decided to officially start in the district of Pali, one of the worst of the nine. These nine districts on the government's list formed a “V” shape if you plotted them on a map, and at the centre and lowest point sat Pali, somewhat like a pendant hanging on a necklace. If I started in Pali, a kind of hotspot or epicentre, I could then move in both directions, north-east and north-west, and cover the next eight districts with ease. This was my thinking.
Administrative districts in India are further divided into “blocks” before you then get down to the village Gram Panchayat level. So, within Pali, the education minister allocated three of these areas, deemed as “development blocks”, in which to start work, work that had his valuable approval. These were areas where rain-fed agriculture was the major source of income, but as a drought-prone area, infertile soil and a shortage of water forced large numbers of people to migrate all the way to Madhya Pradesh or Gujarat for six to eight months every year. This focus area also had a population overwhelmingly from what was first described in 1980 as OBC, the population that still makes up 40–45% of India's 1.4 billion people. When I first went to Pali, the government told me that a mere 44% of women in the district were able to read. And in my mind's eye, I could immediately see the other 56%. As I write this now, I can see Jassi's mum, who nearly lost her savings to the bank she thought she could trust, and Poonam, who lost her land to a scheming nephew, all because she couldn't read. This plan was for them.
I had, in just a few pivotal meetings, confirmed that Rajasthan was the right state in which to expand this work, the state with a majority of the country's most gender-unequal districts. It might seem unbelievable, but this is how government meetings go sometimes. Meeting the right person at the right time with the right introduction can work magic. I had been given enormous insight into the districts in which we should start our work, and then the government data even showed me the right blocks in which to start outreach! This was about as strategic as it got and, most importantly, it was a plan backed by the government!
But as the gaps in Mr Shankar's list showed us, neither a list of out-of-school girls nor a list of gender gap districts was going to be all we needed.
We were in a white Mahindra Commander jeep, and beginning to wonder if it had any functioning suspension at all. Conversation was erratic, and our knuckles were white. 12 of us were crowded into the open-top vehicle, and two by two we dropped off the teams at the edge of each village where they were to start their school information campaign. Having left the tar road, we were now bumping along a pitted and dusty track, baked hard in the sun. Rajasthan was eight months away from the last rains, and it was still perhaps a month before the monsoon would break, so the track was sparing no one, the land was hard and thirsty.
Despite growing up in Delhi, India's most populous city and the second-largest city in the world by population, I'm really a rural girl at heart, by necessity rather than privilege. As a full-time working mum, my mother was unable to care for me when the school doors were shut. Her village friends and relatives were far more likely to be able to accommodate me than neighbours in the city. So I was packed off on most holidays. But never was I happier than in these far-flung places, Pilibhit or Clutterbuck Ganj near Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh or Ramnagar near Corbett National Park. So many summers and monsoons were spent in those places. Simple village life had shaped my difficult childhood, despite the fact that I was essentially a city-dweller, and I was excited to be going back now, on a mission.
As you enter any village in India, you are likely to see a school building quite soon. This village was no different, and we pulled up to the low boundary wall. Peering over, we could see the children, straight-backed and seated in rows on striped rugs laid out on a polished veranda that ran the length of the building, a couple of steep steps above the dusty playground, almost like a stage. Others spilled out from the classroom, making the most of the natural light, rather than relying on the small bare light bulbs that dangled and swayed with the breath from the fan that nonchalantly moved the hot air around. Today, the fan fanned and the light was lit. But on other days when there was a power cut, the classrooms were airless and dark.
We had come to this village to start building our village profile. The principal secretary of education had allocated fifty schools in these three development blocks, and this was where we were starting our very first programme (25 in Pali and 25 in the neighbouring Jalore district). The job at hand now was to understand the current status of the schools and of the girls. We were going to record details about the school size, teachers, availability of learning materials and midday meals. We would list the state of the infrastructure: Did it have electricity, running water or a playground, was there a functioning toilet and a separate one for girls? How were the children's grades?
But most importantly, we were going to look at the enrolment numbers, and as we sat there with the head teacher, the first thing she did was hand us a list before we had even asked. This felt easy! She opened up a slightly scruffy-looking A4 exercise book with a marbled cover and pale green lined pages, and as she ran her finger down the page, she explained that to the best of her knowledge, this list accounted for the girls in the village who had either dropped out or never been enrolled.
These were the lists that we used for the first year or so as we slowly made our way around the first few blocks in Pali and Jalore. We had lists, we found girls, we enrolled girls – we certainly thought the system was working.
Excerpted with permission from Every Last Girl: A Journey to Educate India's Forgotten Daughters, Safeena Husain, HarperCollins India.
Source: Scroll
Related Posts: UK PM's Chief Of Staff McSweeney Resigns Over Mandelson Links To Epstein Sensational Suryakumar Yadav Leads India To 29-Run Victory Over USA In T20 WC Two killed in latest US strike on alleged drug boat in Pacific Krrish 4 delayed over Rs 500 crore vs Rs 350 crore budget conflict between Hrithik Roshan and Aditya Chopra – report Sweet, Simple And Made With Love Can Students Now Go Overseas For School Two new western disturbances to hit northwest India Education Ministry's Bharat Bodhan AI Conclave 2026 Scheduled For February 12-13 Congress files police complaint against Sarma over ‘point-blank shot’ video Over 10,000 Users Not Able To Access Their Posts And Accounts
The International Cricket Council has seen a significant rise in digital engagement for the 2026 T20 World Cup. Video views have jumped by 53 percent after the initial six matches. This growth is particularly strong in countries like Nepal, UAE, and USA
Just now
Actor Vijay is contemplating his first electoral run in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, focusing on two constituencies in Chennai: Velachery and Virugambakkam. Actor-turned-politician Vijay is considering two Assembly constituencies in Chennai for his maiden electoral contest in the upcoming
Just now
Thane district is getting ready for a major travel boost as a new metro line moves closer to launch. Mumbai Metro Line 5, being built by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), will soon connect Thane, Bhiwandi and Kalyan. The line will cover nearly 25 kilometres
Just now
Former US President Donald Trump claimed he prevented an India-Pakistan conflict in May 2025, asserting tariffs were the key to de-escalation. He stated the Pakistani Prime Minister acknowledged his role in saving millions of lives. India, however, has consistently refuted these claims
Just now
Based on research, we estimated that there were well over 7 million primary-aged girls who were missing from India's classrooms and who should have been in school. If we wanted to make sure we weren't going to lose another generation of girls to poverty and illiteracy
Just now
BS6 emission standards update: The Indian government has announced a significant change in the existing BS6 emission standards, it will be applicable from April 1, 2027. BS6 emission standards update: The Indian government has announced a significant change in the way vehicle emissions are tested
Just now
Despite international pressures, Russia is strengthening its ties with India. Moscow is set to provide thousands of work permits to Indian professionals. Last year's record numbers are expected to multiply this year, offering a major income opportunity for Indian workers
Just now
Maharashtra is set to launch a new statewide government recruitment system to fill over 70,000 positions in phases, with approximately 50,000 managed by the Maharashtra Public Service Commission. This decision was made during a meeting chaired by Devendra Fadnavis, focusing on governance reforms
Just now
Tata Steel Share Price: Tata Steel shares climbed 4.5 per cent in intraday trade on February 10, hitting a fresh all-time high of Rs 211 apiece. The rally extended for a second consecutive session as investors cheered the company's better-than-expected Q3FY26 performance
Just now
IMD weather update: IMD issued an alert as two new Western Disturbances hit Northwest India today. Expect rain and snowfall in J&K, Himachal, and Uttarakhand on Feb 11, 14, and 15. IMD weather update: India's weather is changing as two Western Disturbances (WD) get ready to affect the Western
Just now
Following the directions of the Supreme Court, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has formed a six-member Special Investigation Team (SIT), to be headed by an officer of the rank of Additional Director, to probe money-laundering cases registered against the Anil Ambani Group of companies
Just now
Warning: This story contains distressing details Shaheen Malik, an acid-attack survivor and disability rights activist in India, is fighting an uphill legal and social battle to secure justice and rehabilitation for others like her - and says she will not give up despite the odds
Just now
You've probably seen ads that say “Instant loan on Aadhaar.” It sounds simple. Upload Aadhaar, get cash. In reality, Aadhaar just helps with identity verification. It speeds up KYC. That's all. Lenders will still check your age, income or repayment capacity, and bank account details
Just now
For Indian students dreaming beyond the home country, a new generation of scholarships is turning global classrooms into real possibilities, starting as early as Classes 11 and 12. Quality education has always been seen as the bridge to opportunity. Over the years
Just now
A sequel to the Brad Pitt blockbuster F1 is officially in the works, the film's producer Jerry Bruckheimer has told the BBC. The film, co-produced by seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, is nominated for four Oscars this year – including best picture. Pitt, 62, stars as veteran driver
Just now
Even as the state continues to come to terms with the tragic death of former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, fresh questions have been raised by his nephew and MLA Rohit Pawar, who has called for a deeper and more transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the
Just now
Microsoft, OpenAI and Perplexity were blocked from running their AI chatbots on WhatsApp after Meta decided to restrict access to third-party business APIs on the messaging app for all these rivals. The start of January 2026 has spelled the end of AI bots that are available on WhatsApp for billions
Just now
Amazon MGM Studios is rolling out new artificial intelligence tools to streamline filmmaking and television production. Led by veteran executive Albert Cheng, the initiative aims to reduce costs, accelerate workflows, and expand creative possibilities while keeping human creators at the centre of
Just now
Buying groceries is a routine task for everyone, often requiring two or three trips a month. During festival seasons, the rush only increases. Now, to simplify this everyday chore, the country's first grocery AI agent has entered the market. The AI sales agent, named SCAl
Just now
Who am I? She worked with famous South actor-comedian in many movies. Later, the duo got married in 1992 at Town Hall, Ernakulam. Who am I? Today, in this feature, we will dig deeper about an actress who worked predominantly in the South and after featuring in several hit movies
Just now
A "menacing" Disney advert featuring a severed body has been banned by the advertising regulator, which said it was likely to frighten and cause distress to children. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) found the entertainment giant had broken its rules with its advert for the Predator
Just now
Weight-loss medications have been around for decades, but earlier drugs primarily acted on the brain to suppress appetite or worked on the stomach to reduce hunger signals. According to Dr. G. Moinoddin, Director, Bariatric & Metabolic Surgery, Manipal Hospital (South India Region)
Just now
Michael Bracewell has been replaced by off-spinning all-rounder as travelling reserve in New Zealand's squad for the ongoing Men's T20 World Cup. New Zealand have been forced to make a change to their squad during their ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 campaign as off-spin all-rounder Michael Bracewell
Just now
Bollywood stars Salman Khan and Sanjay Dutt surprise fans with swag-filled cameo appearances in the trailer of Saudi action drama 7 Dogs. Riyadh: Bollywood superstars Salman Khan and Sanjay Dutt are set to surprise their fans by playing cameos in the upcoming Saudi action drama film '7 Dogs'
Just now
Imran Khan's lawyer, Salman Safdar, on Tuesday met the former prime minister at Adiala Jail in Pakistan's Rawalpindi and confirmed that Khan was “completely fit and well." The meeting, which lasted nearly three hours, came after the Supreme Court of Pakistan granted Safdar full access to Khan
Just now
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick admitted to meeting Jeffrey Epstein twice after his 2008 conviction. This contradicts his earlier statements. Lutnick downplayed his relationship with the disgraced financier. He described their contact as a few emails and two meetings years apart
Just now
New Delhi: Delhi private schools have released the second merit list for nursery admissions for the 2026–27 academic session. While some children have secured seats many applicants have been placed on waiting lists. The third and final confirmation list which will be published on March 5
Just now
