We reach adulthood in a short amount of time, eager to strengthen both ourselves and the world around us. Although from a biological standpoint, our growth might not be so rapid, for the world in a subtle sense, we grow up quickly. We go to school and college, graduate, and then take the next step, which is looking for work. In a nutshell, you could say that when our official schooling ends, a new search begins. Find a suitable and rewarding career. There are various pupils, and each one has unique requirements and expectations, as well as varied career preferences. Finding a suitable career is not an easy task. Some people choose to work in the defence sector, while others choose to work in the private sector or in business. It is undoubtedly difficult to evaluate oneself from so many perspectives and in light of so many employment opportunities. Being certain about anything, in particular, is the hardest aspect of this quest. Sometimes we make decisions, but life leads us down alternative pathways, and we end up finding something that is better for us. Sometimes we fall in love with things that may not be our typical professional choices, but they are beneficial for us in terms of our fulfilment. Above all, though, we must never lose sight of the fact that each and every profession and line of work offers a unique opportunity to transform the world, to alter the very foundations and forms of things. In a way, the careers we choose say a lot about who we are as people. Our character is put to the test in every way. Students are moulded in the crucible of their interests and leadership responsibilities, and they pave the road for future generations to fulfil their moral obligation. I believe it is not wise for students to make such significant decisions on their own, and I advise seeking advice from our parents, instructors, and career counsellor. Career counsellors must be available in schools so that kids can get the right guidance when deciding on a career that suits their preferences. Children can receive accurate assessments of their skills and capabilities through career counselling. Teachers can show to be an excellent helping hand even though we may not be able to accurately identify our strengths and weaknesses. There are countless careers, and students pursue them for the wrong reasons, such as social approval, financial gain, etc. In the end, pursuing these goals is not a bad thing because they are the only things that matter to the majority of people today. However, it is a bad idea to pursue these goals in a hasty manner without developing any necessary skills. Students won't get anything from this strategy, which will be awful. I want to conclude by saying that life is more than only our work and careers; it is also full of colours, wishes, love, and aspirations. We should constantly seek to improve on yesterday. And trust me, if we work more, we can improve our circumstances and quality of life. I appreciate the patience of the crowd. About Dr Pratik Mungekar 1) He is the first Indian to be appointed as the planetary Minister of Sustainable Development of Newly emerging The Kingdom of Atlantis (a Decentralized Sovereign Kingdom) 2) He is the first youngest Indian whose book Introduction to Sustainable Development Goals (Non-Academic) is now part of the Atlantean Education program. 3) He is the first youngest Indian to receive 250+ Honorary Doctorates from all over the world. 4)He is the first youngest Indian professor who taught more than 8000+ Students & Career guided 4000+ Students to date & the count is still on. 5) He is the first Indian who has 700+ International, National & State Awards at the age of 28 for his contribution to the field of Teaching & Research. 6) He is the youngest Indian to receive 125+ Honorary High Degrees across the Globe. 7) He is the first Indian to be appointed by 35+ International organisations in various High-positions at the same time. 8) He is the first youngest Indian to be appointed as an Ambassador by 36 organizations of many countries in almost all disciplines. 9) He is the first Indian youngest professor to start teaching at the age of sixteen, the age of twenty Seven He has completed twelve years of Teaching. 10) He is the first Youngest Indian to receive Royal &Prestigious Titles such as 1)Lecturus Magnificus (L.M.), 2) H.R.H. 5* Duke. 11) First Youngest Indian to receive Mendeleev’s Fellowship ( United Kingdom’s Highest Academic Honour). 12)First Indian to receive the distinguished title “Professor Wisdom” from Institución Cultural Colombiana Casa Poética Magia y Plumas ,Colombia South America. Today, the name of Prof. Dr Pratik Rajan Mungekar is no longer common but is emerging as a distinguished Scientist, Professor, World Educationist, Published Writer, Counsellor, Social Worker and an International Speaker Instagram Id: https://www.instagram.com/drpratikmungekar/ Facebook id: https://www.facebook.com/Pratikmngkr7

Mrs Saravjeet Kirad a personality who is a firm believer in "good education begins with a positive relationship between the educator and the learner " A management postgraduate, veteran educator and entrepreneur believes in the justifying purpose of existence is that she wishes to lead a life filled with the desire to serve, uplift, and empower people from all walks of life. She is one who redefined learning methods about early education under her brainchild "scholars tree educare private limited ". On June 26th, June 2022 ScholarsTree Educare Private Limited and Eduthon- Education Beyond Syllabus got the opportunity to support the biggest event in the Pune city at JW Marriott named IGNITE MERAKI-22 empowering the generations. It was the kind of event which has given opportunities to more than 300 students from 28 schools to participate and win in different categories of competition such as fashion show, fashion styling, face makeup, photography, art and craft, Slam poetry, law, management, graphics, science technology etc. It was a fantabulous event organised by Nidhi Mithil Bhandare, Regional Head , Ignite India Education and team Ignite India to arrange such a great regionalin Pune The event was inaugurated by the honourable Mr Amitabh Gupta commissioner of police and Shivaji Shinde sir from Panchgani. Inspired by the thought of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam this event has given numerous windows of opportunities to create awareness and gain knowledge about the modern career aspects and take the hands-on experience of the same. The event has given a platform for students to participate and win exciting prizes, goodies, vouchers and awards. Schools from different corners of Maharashtra got an opportunity to come forward to showcase their student's talent in front of eminent professionals who have given their input to improve and grow in that particular field. About Mrs Saravjeet Kirad Mrs Saravjeet Kirad is one of the founder members of eduthon who led this milestone through her leadership skills. Through this page, they impacted social media with variety of themes like sports and fitness, art literature, aparajita awards to pay tribute to womanhood, Kidzmania etc More than 6 conferences were held till now with proud viewership from more than 8 countries and proud expansion of team within Pune, Mumbai, Nagpur and different corners of Indiato Apart from this, Mrs Saravjeet Kirad was awarded on various occasions for her entrepreneurial skills, vision for a better tomorrow and habit of taking everyone along to grow together She also runs an NGO known as Vedgunn Foundation which works at the Grass root level to help less privileged children to access quality education. They are trying to provide Education, Guidelines, Training and Directions for children from lower-income community groups.

Sunday, 26 June 2022 is a day that 30+ Schools & Colleges with 250+ student participants will fondly remember as the day when Meraki 2022 came to Pune City. JW Marriot Hotel, where the event was held, was filled with a festive vibrancy and youthful exuberance. The Chief Guest, Shri, graced this one-day design and fashion fiesta. Amitabh Gupta, the Pune Police Commissioner and the Special Guest of Honour, Mr Shivaji Shinde, Chairman of Blossom’s Academy, who specially came from Panchgani to spend time with the principals, teachers, parents, and the dear children. Mr Sheetal Patil, a founder of Yashwant institute and Director of Takalkar Classes, was the second special guest of honour. There were many dignitaries and speakers from various fields such as. Utkarsh Nemade (Writer /Director / World Record Holder in 1 calendar year )Dr Shekhar Bhaskar ( Author / Entrepreneur / Mentor) Neel Deshpande, (Film Critic, Writer, Digital Marketing Strategist), Dr, Pratik Rajan Mungekar (Scientist, Author, Global Educator and Speaker) Ram Zond Sir, a famous photographer celebrating 50 years of his career also graced the event. Ignite India Education conducts Meraki – Design & Fashion Fiesta annually to celebrate creativity and provide a solid platform for youngsters aiming to make a mark in the design & fashion industry. Established in 2006, Ignite India is inspired by the former President of India, Bharat Ratna Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam’s vision of ‘India Beyond 2020’ and wishes to fulfil his vision by empowering the society and transforming India into a developed nation through education. Ignite India COO, Mr Krishna Nandsingh expressed that ‘’The Energy of the Pune Youths was electrifying, and they will surely help lead the nation forward with their innovative ideas.’’ Close to 10 Award Categories, 1Lakh+ Cash Prizes, interaction with Design Educators and curated workshops with leading Design Schools saw enthusiastic participation not just from the students but also from the parents & teachers. Mrs Nidhi Mithil Bhandare, founder of Mindlancer , Regional Head (Western Region), Ignite India Education and a leading Educator & certified Family Therapist noted that ‘’The Meraki Design Festival was a perfect amalgamation of students, parents, teachers and educators coming together to emphasise the importance of creativity and empowering youth voices.’’ The competitive friendly spirit of the students was appreciated by all gathered. City Pride Junior College was the Overall Winner of Meraki 2022, and the various Award Category Award Top Prize Winners include MsMr Angel Bhatia (Symbiosis Junior College), Mr Tejas Lokhande (SNBP International School), Mr Abhay Mutha (The Icon Public School), Ms Anjali Madasa (SNBP International School), Mr Saartha Bhandari & Ms Shreya Maslekar (VK Patil Memorial School), Mr Nikunj Laad & Ms Modini Swarankar (City Pride Jr. College), Mr Pronit Samal (Abhinav Public School) and Mr Rudraksha Warda & Mr Saksham Kopnar (The Icon Public School) (>>Nidhi ma’am – Do include Fashion Events>>) The 1 Day Carnival closed with a bang as Ignite India Education introduced various opportunities for the students to further their aspirations and Mr Anson Andrews, a reputed public speaker, fondly reminded all in attendance that, ‘’The fire in a child is a tremendous gift of God and we all have a responsibility to protect and nurture it’’ Meraki 2022 truly left an indelible impression on the minds of all the students, parents, teachers and educators.

After reading this, I’m bewildered as to who inspired who. In our life, there are many people who have inspired us. But who has inspired you the most? These inspiring people could be our parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters, friends, uncles, teachers, etc. But not only the person whom we know personally could inspire us but also the great personalities such as famous Indian people, freedom fighters, political leaders, cricketers, actors, industrialists, writers, etc. can inspire us. Inspiration stirs us to additional opportunities by permitting us to rise above our standard encounters and constraints. Inspiration impels an individual from lack of care to probability and changes the manner in which we see our own abilities. inspiration may now and again be neglected in light of its slippery nature. Its set of experiences of being treated as otherworldly or heavenly hasn’t helped the circumstance. Be that as it may, as ongoing exploration shows, inspiration can be initiated, caught, and controlled, and it majorly affects significant life results. inspiration has three principal characteristics: inspiration, amazing quality, and approach inspiration. Consistently in our life, we get motivated by something or by various individuals in our day-to-day existence. In spite of being roused by numerous things, we as a whole have someone in our lives that motivates us the most. This decision may contrast from one individual to another. We as a whole are going ahead in our life to get fruitful. It is just the motivation that has an incredible effect on our considerations and assists us with accomplishing our objectives and getting achievements. At the point when we notice some great characteristics in others, we need to do likewise in our life. It adjusts our point of view of living. This can possibly happen when we get propelled by individuals or things that make us think positively just as inspiring us to accomplish something. We need it most when we are discouraged or miserable by some disappointment or incredible misfortune throughout everyday life. It is the motivation just that makes us solid again to take on the conflict of our life. Motivation is that thought that can change the existence of numerous individuals. We are known for our considerations and activities. Motivation is a thought that can form our contemplations and carry a change to our activities that may unquestionably lead us towards progress. My message to my dear flood victims and readers.. Every year natural disasters like floods take away many homes and many lives. And those who are left behind are in complete chaos and challenges around. Floods can wash away everything but they cannot wash away the hope in your heart. I pray to God to give you all the strength to fight out these tough times. I know you have lost a lot in these floods but I just pray that you have not lost the confidence in yourself and your faith in the Almighty. Though the floods have washed away so many things out of your life they cannot wash away the strength and positivity you have. We have no control over natural disasters but we do have control over our minds. Let us not give up to these challenging times. Please accept my deepest sympathies for your loss in this natural disaster. You and your family will always be in my prayers. We cannot fight against nature but we can always fight against the circumstances we are surrounded with. About Dr Pratik Mungekar Today, the name of Prof. Dr Pratik Rajan Mungekar is no longer common but is emerging as a distinguished Scientist, Professor, World Educationist, Published Writer, Counsellor, Social Worker and an International Speaker 1) He is the first Indian to be appointed as the planetary Minister of Sustainable Development of Newly emerging The Kingdom of Atlantis (a Decentralized Sovereign Kingdom) 2) He is the first youngest Indian whose book Introduction to Sustainable Development Goals (Non-Academic) is now part of the Atlantean Education program. 3) He is the first youngest Indian to receive 250+ Honorary Doctorates from all over the world. 4)He is the first youngest Indian professor who taught more than 8000+ Students & Career guided 4000+ Students to date & the count is still on. 5) He is the first Indian who has 700+ International, National & State Awards at the age of 28 for his contribution to the field of Teaching & Research. 6) He is the youngest Indian to receive 125+ Honorary High Degrees across the Globe. 7) He is the first Indian to be appointed by 35+ International organisations in various High-positions at the same time. 8) He is the first youngest Indian to be appointed as an Ambassador by 36 organizations of many countries in almost all disciplines. 9) He is the first Indian youngest professor to start teaching at the age of sixteen, the age of twenty Seven He has completed twelve years of Teaching. 10) He is the first Youngest Indian to receive Royal &Prestigious Titles such as 1)Lecturus Magnificus (L.M.), 2) H.R.H. 5* Duke. 11) First Youngest Indian to receive Mendeleev’s Fellowship ( United Kingdom’s Highest Academic Honour). 12)First Indian to receive the distinguished title “Professor Wisdom” from Institución Cultural Colombiana Casa Poética Magia y Plumas ,Colombia South America. Instagram Id: https://www.instagram.com/drpratikmungekar/ Facebook id: https://www.facebook.com/Pratikmngkr7

I had the honour to attend a stupendous event held in Pune on 26th June 2022. Ignite Meraki, organized by Ignite India, witnessed great success with over 300 students and 28 schools participating. Ignite India: Education for all is a leading educational service provider, nurturing and preparing students to pursue careers in the fields of Architecture, Design, Fashion, Fine Arts, Interiors, Law, Hotel Management and many other new-age careers. Often these fields do not get much attention in the regular school curriculum and consequently, there is a lack of awareness amongst the youth regarding new-age careers. Under such circumstances, events like Ignite Meraki provide a window for students to look past traditional courses and career choices. At Ignite Meraki, not only did the students gain awareness about careers in Design (which is more than Fashion and Interior Design), but they also participated in many activities to showcase their skills and talent. It also provided a great platform for educationists and academicians to come together and exchange ideas. The panel of eminent speakers from different walks of life, such as Dr Pratik Rajan Mungekar and Dr Shekhar Bhaskar presented live examples of successful non-conventional career choices. Dr Mungekar is a multi-faceted, internationally renowned academician, author, counsellor and trained musician. He is also one of the brains behind of the world’s biggest online university, IIU. Dr Shekhar Bhasker is a well-respected author and activist with an interest in policy-making. While enthusiastic participation by students, institutes, educationists and leading members of the society made the event highly relevant and successful, greater involvement and participation of parents would have been greatly welcome. In our country, where parents are still the main influencers and decision-makers for their children’s academic and career choices, the real buy-in to new-age careers has to be with the parents. Something as big as a career choice has to be a joint decision and there has to be active participation from all the stakeholders. Parents also need to be made aware of the varied career choices available to students outside STEM careers. Eduthon is striving to bridge this gap by creating awareness about education that lies beyond the syllabus. To empower the next generation, everyone must come together and pool their skills and expertise. The sky is the limit for our children if their talent is nurtured in the right manner and we support them unconditionally in the pursuit of their dreams. Events like Ignite Meraki are a great starting point in this direction. More power to Nidhi Bhandare of Ignite India, Saravjeet Kirad and Bhawana Gupta of Eduthon and Prachetan Potdar of Stay Featured to have organized and promoted this event. I hope there will be many more to follow. The need of the hour is to break from the convention and create an ecosystem that fosters and encourages creativity, innovation and out-of-the-box thinking. The sooner we start, the better it will be for future generations. For more guidance and information on new-age parenting, you can get in touch with me on 7798307094 or write to me at jaspriya@mindscapes.co.in. Parenting is an ever-evolving role and getting a little help to deal with all the new responsibilities that keep getting added goes a long way in raising well-rounded, happy and successful children.

if you love to read remember this, "Good books can inform you, enlighten you, and reading them will lead you in the right direction. There cannot be any better companion than a good book." The Library of Poona College was jam-packed with students attending the Institution Level Seminar on “Read to Lead” organized by the Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC), the Department of Library and Information Science, and the Department of English and Postgraduate Centre. Mrs Kajal Chhatija, Executive Director of Gayatri Group of Schools and Founder of EduDrone – We Connect, was invited as a resource person. She highlighted the importance of reading and writing in leading one’s personal and professional life. Herself a creative writer who has three books to her credit, she explained the process of creative writing and elaborated on how reading and writing help one not only to live life meaningfully but also to make living. The student-participants were highly motivated to continue their interest in reading and writing. The seminar attracted an overwhelming response from the students. Under the able guidance of Prof. Dr Aftab Anwar Shaikh Principal, Poona College, Dr Shaikh Iqbal IQAC Coordinator, Mr Khan Moinuddin Vice-Principal (Arts), the seminar was coordinated successfully. "Ms Zeenat Merchant, Head, Department of English and Postgraduate Center presented a report comprising the co-curricular and extracurricular activities organized by the Department at the state, National and International levels. Dr Shaikh Muhammad Zuber A.M. (Coordinator and Librarian Department of Library and Information Science) presented the theme of the seminar. They were assisted by Mr Asif Khan, Mr Zameer Sayyed and Dr Ashwini Purude. Miss. Nazneen Shikalgar, a student of FYBA recited a few verses from the Holy Quran, Miss. Masuma Khan, a student of SYBA introduced the keynote speaker and Miss. Reem Sayyed, a student of FYBA proposed the vote of thanks.

DiAS Driving Aspiration presents Its FIRST MULTIDISCIPLINARY INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE (DFMIC)2022 is all set for Talking Across Generations on Reimagining Education and various topics by all means As a featuring partner of this event, We're thrilled to announce the first International conference for this year. DiAS Driving Aspiration presents Its FIRST MULTIDISCIPLINARY INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE (DFMIC)2022. DiAS's first International Multidisciplinary Conference is happening on 25th and 26th June from 6:00 PM IST onwards. 50 eminent speakers from 18 Countries are participating in this Conference. When hard work meets teamwork miracle happens. It's bound to happen. Kudos to Dr.Pratik Mungekar,Dr Archana Burman and Selvame Pazhany. Together we can create history. Dias is not just a speaker’s forum but its Mission is to inspire, Motivate, help the educator support their mission vision and give them a new platform to explore their wings worldwide. DiAS's goal is to bring together bright minds to give talks that are idea-focused, and on a wide range of subjects, to foster learning, inspiration and wonder-and provoke conversations that matter. At this conference, many global issues, Problems, UNSDGs, Solutions, Implementations, and Challenges would be discussed by our eminent Keynote Speakers across the globe. The topics are as follows: • Advance Research Strategy for Sustainable development • Combination - Transforming Business and Ethics in the context of Sustainable development • Hybrid Model of Sustaining and Digital platform • Challenges opportunities and innovation for sustainable development • Advance tools and techniques for research methodology • Post Covid business strategies, prospects and challenges • Sustainable development is a dire need in today's time • Health Wealth and growth • Emerging trends in multi-disciplinary research and innovation • Self-management • The new world order post-Covid • Resilience to revamp We believe your voice would be an important addition to the DIAS platform. Date: 25th- 26th June 2022 Platforms: Zoom, Facebook YouTube and DiAS Facebook page and other social media platforms. At this international conference 18 Countries such as India, Nigeria, Afghanistan, Pakistan, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Croatia. , Canada, Greece, USA, USA, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Indonesia, Italy, Georgia Bangladesh, Macedonia and 50 eminent personalities, International Speakers, and Global Educators from all over the world are participating. The list is as follows: Dr Sheetal M.Randhir, Dr Krishna Singh Arya, Smily Mukta G, Patricia Gonde., Prof. Dr Suraiya Bano, Dr Prof. Pratik Rajan Mungekar, Prof. Husnain Mukhdoom, Prof.Nada Ratkovic, Naveen Gupta, Edward Probir Mondol, Dr Kalpana Dixit , Chandani Kinger, Dr. Eng.Neyara Radwan, Mr.Haridas Mukherjee, Rania Lampou, Gloria Ifeyinwa Ayogu, Von Eric Tandoc, H.E.Mr Ikramuddin Himmat Yar, Arun Kumar Rana, Dr Dragan Jovanov, Dr.Supriya Kumaravelan, H.EDr Simeon Peter Olusola Gbeleyi, Vikas Paul, Monalisa Kar, Col. Tarun Kumar, Sudhir Velraj, Shaik Amanulla Sharief, Oloruntoyin Sefiu Taiwo, Sasmita Beura, Prof. Faisa Fayyaz, Vijayalakshmi R, Dr. Sudhakar Umale, Dr.Archana Burman, Mr Selvame Pazhany, Dr. Shelly Bisht, Melissa Esposito, Mr.Rishikesh Kumar, Lika Baiashvili, Herdiana Dewi Nurfika, Savitha P, Suryakant khandelia, Vasant Variar, Avul Ahmed Ibrahim, Dr.Sumeet Bansal, Prof.Dr.Huma Shah, Nur Ahmed, Dennis Musembi, Dr.Anitha Raju, Adeogun Oluwakayode. Masters of the ceremony Dr.Shelly Bisht,Dr.Anitha Raju H.E. Nur Ahmed & Mr.Selvame Pazhany would be the moderators for this conference. Prof. Dr organises this conference. Pratik Rajan Mungekar, Dr.Archana Burman and Mr. Selvame Pazhany H.E. Dr. Sandeep Marwah Chancellor & Founder AAFT University Noida Film Industry, India & Mr Sanjeev Kapoor Chairman of The Sportsgrail Pvt. Ltd. would be the Chief guests and Mr Suresh Adiga would be the Guest of Honour for this conference. Media Partners Mr Sagar Patil Sp News, Mr Parchetan Potdar StayFeatured, Harshada Potdar AimSolute & Neel Deshpande are going to cover all conference News from their respective Platforms. We wish a great success & looking forward to it.

Solo travel is a necessity at least once in your life. The concept is gaining popularity today due to its spontaneous nature. It is also sought by those looking to discover themselves and/or seek spiritual guidance. India has the best destinations for solo travel – from north to south and from east to west, there are several places you can stop on your journey to seek what you want. Read on to find out about the best places to travel solo in India. Manali, Himachal Pradesh The best time to visit Manali in the state of Himachal Pradesh is from October to June. It is at this time that there are thick, lush green forests and a gushing river, that appears to emerge directly from books. The two main seasons in Manali are summer and winter. Some of the best places to visit in Manali are hot springs, monasteries, temples, and German bakeries. This place is a haven for adventurers, with activities like paragliding, mountain biking, and trekking. It is a great place for solo travel in India. Rishikesh, Uttarakhand Rishikesh is located at the foothills of the Himalayas, in the state of Uttarakhand, seated along with the convergence of the Ganga and the Chandrabhaga Rivers. It is known for its ancient temples. You can visit this place at any time of the year. White water rafting is the best sport that Rishikesh has to offer. If you have never tried it before, this is the place to begin! Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh Tawang is a charming hill station located in the state of Arunachal Pradesh, to the north of the Tawang Chu river valley. It is home to the largest Buddhist monastery in India—making it one of the tourist attractions in India. Many backpackers seeking knowledge about the distinct Indo-Tibetan culture are drawn to this place in India. There are several other tourist stops here to visit, such as SangestarTso (Madhuri Lake), Dolma LhakangLumlaTawang, Chagzam Bridge, and War Memorial Tawang. Alleppy, Kerala Located in the state of Kerala, Alleppy (now, Alapuzha) is a lovely backwater destination, known as the Venice of the East. Here, you can witness picturesque canals, exotic beaches, and lovely blue lagoons. The must-try here is the houseboat; the houseboats of Alleppey have remodelled versions of the Kettuvalamsof the olden times. This Malayali term translates to “living boats”, i.e. boats on which to live. These boats today are remade to get the feel of hotel rooms. Kutch, Gujarat Kutch is one of the best places to visit for solo travellers in India. A place in the state of Gujarat, it is gifted in all areas—by geography, wildlife, history, and pilgrimage. It is surrounded by the lovely blue Arabian Sea. Here in Kutch, you can witness the tribal culture of this region, the events of the Rann Utsav, visit ancient temples, attractive palaces, and rugged forts, and procure beautiful costumes and tribal jewellery. Kutch is known for the existence of the sites of the ancient Indus Valley Civilization, one of the first in the world. You can also visit the Sharad Bagh Palace, Aina Mahal, Hamisar Lake, and the Lakhpat Fort. Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu Also called Mamallapuram, Mahabalipuram is a small temple-town, about 60 km from Chennai, located on the Coromandel Coast along the Bay of Bengal, in the state of Tamil Nadu. It is best known for its finely carved rock-cut temples and caves. It was a major seaport of the ancient Pallava Kingdom. It is one of the best places for solo travel in India. In 1984, 37 years after independence, Mahabalipuram has declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Today, these temples and caves still exist to tell us the story of the ancient and medieval Indians based in the southern part of the subcontinent. The scripts on these structures tell us about their culture, their politics, their rulers, and their traditions. It is a great place for history buffs to expand their knowledge. The main places you must see here are the Shore Temple, the Five Rathas, and the Crocodile Bank. One very fascinating thing about Mahabalipuram is what people call “Krishna’s Butterball”, a large granite boulder resting on a short downward slope. What is wonderful about this rock is, that despite its position, it neither falls off on its own nor is moved when forced to with a great amount of pressure! Hampi, Karnataka Hampi is located in the Vijayanagara district of Karnataka, near the Tungabhadra River. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site today and a great place for art and history enthusiasts to visit. It was once fortified and the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire in the 16th century CE. More than 500 ancient temples and monuments are strewn across this place. It was, at the time, the second-largest city in the Indian subcontinent. Hindus and Muslims lived here in harmonious unity. In Hampi, you must visit the Virupaksha Temple, the Lotus Palace, Queen’s Bath, and the YantrodharakaHanuman Temple. You can also see Jain and Muslim religious monuments here. These are some of the best places to travel solo in India. Whether you’re seeking adventure or spirituality, or simply peace of mind from your personal and/or career pressures, India has the best destinations that have something for everybody. You can book your flights from SFO to COK now with Indian Eagle.

Women account for half the population, and addressing their health and safety concerns is the paramount duty of society. To ensure menstrual health and hygiene, the government is providing much-needed policy reforms and provisions through the Menstrual Hygiene Scheme (MHS) which targets reducing or eliminating taxes on menstrual hygiene products, regulation of quality standards and easy access to these products. Earlier public conversations about a fundamental and natural bodily function like menstruation were unthinkable but today NGOs, SHGs and manufacturers of menstrual hygiene products are educating society regarding menstruation and its best practices. This is an important step to initiate public dialogue about menstruation, which is the need of the hour. It also helps in breaking myths surrounding menstruation and periods. In urban India, discussions and initiatives have helped women to change, from using rags to choosing from a variety of healthy and hygienic options including sanitary napkins, tampons, cloth pads, menstrual discs and menstrual cups. These products have given women immense reasons to rejoice - ease of use, easy disability and comfort, among others. However, with the advent of these products and their immense popularity in urban areas, Menstrual Waste Disposal has become a mammoth issue for civic bodies. An estimated 1 billion sanitary pads have to be disposed of every month in our country. A city like Bengaluru alone generates 90 tons of sanitary napkins a day! Sanitary waste management in a hygienic, environmentally friendly manner is a problem that needs to be addressed. Like any other garbage, sanitary waste ends up in landfills. Incineration is an easy option to dispose of this huge pile of used sanitary napkins. However , Super Absorbent Polymers (SAP) which constitute the primary material in a napkin break down into micro-plastics as it degrades and contaminates soil, water and air. The released poisonous chemicals/toxic fumes like dioxins, phones and other carcinogenic compounds may even enter the food chain of animals and humans. According to Menstrual Health Alliance India, one napkin takes 500-800 years to decompose thus leaving a very high environmental footprint. Hence in every aspect of the product life-cycle, from the choice of raw materials to design innovations, the sustainability factor - minimizing the negative impact of the product's existence on the environment- must be the primary driving force. On the other end, individual management of sanitary waste needs to be streamlined. At home, women dispose of menstrual products in domestic waste. In public toilets, they flush them in toilets unaware of the consequences of choking. At a fundamental level, garbage segregation at the source is the first big solution to garbage management. Segregating menstrual waste is the responsibility of every household. However, this step is only a beginning and not a holistic solution to sanitary waste disposal. Reducing the generation of toxic menstrual waste is the only viable solution. Course Correction As part of conscientious awareness of the environmental impact and corporate social responsibility, manufacturers in the menstrual hygiene space must proactively seek ways and means to manufacture eco-friendly sanitary napkins. Eco-friendly raw materials can replace petroleum-based ones to achieve sustainability in the menstrual hygiene space. Besides, manufacturers can start the process towards sustainability by offering biodegradable disposable covers for sanitary napkins. Manufacturing sanitary pads from sustainable, renewable materials and making them accessible to women in every nook and corner of the country/world will ensure a cleaner environment. The key here is how menstrual hygiene products are used. Girls and women have very less or no knowledge about the reproductive tract infections caused due to ignorance of personal hygiene during menstruation time. Awareness Building In addition to making efforts towards manufacturing eco-friendly sanitary napkins that are also affordable to a large number of women, manufacturers must take the responsibility of proactively engaging themselves in empowering the women community in rural areas with activities geared towards education and awareness building about menstruation, menstrual hygiene management, the importance of toilets at homes, hand washing, diseases related to reproductive tract due to poor hygiene, and so forth. Girls and women should be made aware of the consequences of disposing of used menstrual products in the open or flushing them in toilets. Dustbins with proper lids should be placed in the toilets. If possible, incinerators should be installed at schools and community levels. Ignorance, misconceptions, unsafe practices, and illiteracy of the mother and child regarding menstruation are the root causes of many problems. So, there is a big need to encourage adolescents at school levels to practice safe and hygienic behaviour. Myths and prejudices about menstruation, its health and hygiene and menstruating women abound, particularly in Indian society and hence must be discussed in public forums and platforms. Free distribution of sanitary napkins, educating women and girls about menstrual hygiene and its disposal, spreading information about a variety of affordable and sustainable menstrual hygiene products, medical camps and other initiatives must be spearheaded by businesses operating in the menstrual hygiene space. All these efforts are geared towards empowering women and the communities around them as well as towards sustaining and protecting the already fragile natural ecosystem of planet Earth! After all, leading a life of dignity is every woman’s right! Author Credits - Amar Tulsiyan , Founder and CEO, Niine Hygiene and Personal care About Author - A social entrepreneur by profession, Amar comes with a wealth of experience in textile, mouth fresheners, real estate, hospitality, and oral hygiene industries. Amar has been passionate about improving menstrual hygiene conditions for girls and women in India and is focused on making a marked change with Niine.

Team Stay Featured recently got an opportunity to interact with a name among Asia's Top 50 Content Marketing Professionals none other than Sonali Brahma -Brand Strategist and Creative Consultant. Let's have a look at her lessons for us with these answers. 1 Share about the decision-making journey for choosing this career. My switch from marketing to advertising happened because of a new role bestowed on me by life – that of a mother. This was back in the mid-90s. I was young, only 26 when my baby was born premature and he needed extra personal care. I decided to break away from corporate life. I entered advertising at the young age of 29, as a mother of a 4-year-old boy. In less than a year I won 14 State awards for my agency and became a sort of a rockstar, in-demand writer. I quit a national agency and started on my own as an independent Brand Consultant. There has been no looking back ever since. 2 From where did the thought come to share about" Unstoppable mothers, Unstoppable Achievers? I have always loved being a mother. Back then when my child was younger, I had this tagline – 100% mother. 100% professional. Those days, people thought twice before hiring mothers of young kids in corporates; I had a tough time getting into my agency for the same reason. Mothers used to be side-lined because they were mothers; and because, people thought that they would not be committed to their work/jobs/careers; a big bias! Those who know me, know that I have been great at both- motherhood and professionalism/professional work. Over the years, I was happy to meet so many great mothers who also made great and successful professionals/CXOs. This year, I featured these wonderful Mom CEOs in a campaign. I featured those who I have seen and know up close and personal. That’s how this campaign of mine ‘Unstoppable Mothers. Unstoppable Achievers.’ came about. It was a major success and I am happy about it. 3 What was the major change you observed within brands post-pandemic? Let me speak about the good changes – brands are more open to experimenting and leveraging online brand-building efforts. The Zooms of the world changed everything; borders opened up and people are willing to do business across borders; global talent and global markets are a reality; while we love physical meetings and presence; we still value online meetings; brands have started thinking about purpose; which is amazing. People have become more aligned to living fully; because of the big shake-up by the pandemic. There is more talk and more effort on sustainable brands and sustainable living. There is now a deeper need to find meaning, joy, peace, and calm; to be more real, authentic, genuine and kind. We all now realise the value of life and cherish our time here on earth. 4 Whether a branding consultant is supposed to storyteller or what? if yes then why? A brand consultant essentially is someone who helps you build a brand, helps you grow it, sustain it and reinvent it. She is there with you through your brand journey, ideally. A brand consultant’s job is not over till the strategy sees the light of the day and translates into GTM plans and executions – read brand identity, content, design etc. This is when storytelling comes in. If a brand consultant is a great storyteller, it is a cherry on the cake. A strategic thinker and a creative mind are a great combo to have, as my clients tell me. And it’s true. I can think end-to-end and help them with what’s good for the brand. 5) You're Among Asia's Top 50 Content Marketing Professionals, What's your perspective about such achievements or recognitions? A pat on the back from a credible source is always welcome and helps in not just building your brand, but also motivates you to do better every single time. I hold this award close to my heart because I know that I deserve it. I also won the Best CMO Award in 2017, for our emerging start-up, which is also precious. I have won several awards in my journey and each is a reminder of the good work done and of the work yet to be done. However, my biggest award has been when the campaign met objectives and gave results to my clients. I am against ‘Pay-so-much-and-win-an-award’. It’s business for them, but I would never go for one. 6. Why do brands need to refocus on good content? Content means messaging. It is a message from the brand to its customers. Good content is about the right message to the right audience at the right time through the right platform. Of course, brands need to focus on effective content. Effective content is good content. Brands need to ask themselves: Is my content conveying my brand’s promise, and strength, to customers with words that they recognize, in a likeable way that resonates with them? Brand building cannot happen without good content. Examples are Zomato, Swiggy, etc. 7) Want to share some quick tips on How to level up your brand? Personal Branding is becoming the need of the day. People do business with people. Hence, if you want them to do business with you, you need to show up in the right way. Personal branding must always be: Authentic: You must be, say, show what you are. The moment you try and show up in a way that you are not, you will be ineffective Be consistent in your presence Be helpful, give value Be a good networker – build genuine relationships Remember your strengths and build on them 8) Any message for our readers? Also, share some of your services and links to connect you on social media. My message is to be genuine and kind always. Live for your dreams as well as you do for others; establish boundaries, learn to say ‘No’; don’t forget that YOLO (You Only Live Once). The important message also is: People are not fools; they will see through your fake stuff! So be genuine! My services: For Corporate brands, product brands, service brands and personal brands: Brand Strategy, Brand Consultancy (One-on-One Sessions) Content Strategy and Consulting Customized Corporate Training and Workshops LinkedIn Personal and Business Page Coaching and Management. Keynote Speaker | Professional Speaker at National and International Events Connect with me at www.linkedin.com/in/brandcoachsonalibrahma or reach out at sonali@sonalibrahma.com

“Ignite Meraki 2021 -22, Empowering The Millenials is a platform created for students, to raise awareness about various new age career aspects through hands-on experience. Last year, Ignite Meraki was a great success with participation from more than 84 schools and over 10,000 students to win great prizes and vouchers up to Rs. 1 lakh. Students can win exciting prizes up to Rs. 1 Lakh of cash, vouchers, goodies, and special category awards for schools taking part! Team Stay Featured Recently Interacted with 2 eminent personalities who confirmed their presence at an event Mrs Aradhana Rana, founder and director of Icon Public School shared these words "Ignite India is inspired by Honorable Dr Abdul Kalam’s vision of ‘India Beyond 2020’.They aim to fulfil his vision by empowering society and transforming India into a developed country through education. Ignite India Education is organizing Meraki – Beacon of Light* To provide a platform to raise awareness and encourage budding minds about various new-age career aspects through hands-on experience. Various events like Fashion Shows, Styling, Make-up, Science & Technology, Graphic Design photography and video-making competitions are being organized. The participants get an opportunity to win over 1 lakhs worth of cash prizes, vouchers, goodies and other benefits along with a scholarship at Ignite India Education! Ignite India helps students to make an informed career choice and learn something of value in the process. They have invited experts, working professionals, reputed professors and teachers of various institutes, who are not only jury members but are also competent to enlighten the participants with their knowledge in their respective fields. Honoured to be invited as a guest to the event and happy to have over 30 young Icons participate in various competitions. I have a deep appreciation for these kinds of events that are exciting for young students where they interact with students from other schools and learn from one another. It is tremendously educative because it gives them exposure to a plethora of opportunities in the world. Many are inspired by the illustrious personalities who speak to them and share their knowledge and experience. It is must-do participation for students and I am bringing my school students 150 km to give them raise wonderful opportunity. I thank the organizers for taking all these efforts and making a difference in the lives of youth." Author Kajal Chhatija, Executive Director, Gayatri Group of Schools and Founder EduDrone- WE CONNECT made some a valuable addition during this interaction 'I feel excited and look forward to join in Ignite Meraki Festival on 26th June 2022. I appeal to school heads to encourage their students in high school and college to participate and explore the opportunities open to them. The festival will bring a lot of educational engagements and competitions. So come and get to know about the latest career trends and various career opportunities. See you all there! ' At the end of this media interaction, Nidhi Mithil Bhandare, regional head added her words "This event aims at exposing them to various career aspects and celebrating creativity among students from different parts of the country. This event provides a platform to showcase their talent in front of industry professionals, who will not only judge their work but also give them valuable inputs that will help them improve. We highly anticipate your presence and participation. The event this year will be taking place on 26 th June, 2022 in Pune at J.W Marriott. We request you to send your students of 10 th, 11 th and 12 th who are interested in arts, Design and management to be a part of this event." Event Links: 1. Registration link (Interested) https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1XyJ3Mg7GVxKQowDzmpejO09L7DFHwttNUVTCf3WjZTc/edit The same has been updated on the poster with a short link. Categories with Individual participation, need not register again. Only the category of the events that require team members will be required to fill out a separate form. 2. Fashion Show https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1hxe2DexCeMu5yZAIWROSe05oTg7vhRae1BpKiMOKq9w/edit 3. Fashion Styling https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1SMspCaXtI8CviUVuqx9lXUKlnh4aJ4LuxteiQQ_yxHo/edit 4. Face Make-up https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1uTgOZQbdTHFKYhwvHfRy23KZGz8VTBVCNKmDjAXYycA/edit 5. Law https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1LoSLnZQTz2K2CtUFcsThyyJo2xTM6HJnx75d9PEvRvI/edit 6. Architecture https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1XUL1cdVDt3oGLOTLVn7GZm2epb7OFdSVOhYRO5_y2-4/edit 7. Management https://docs.google.com/forms/d/16jen2MIjde3ZP4HP8bVpVMoDpObxh-RTppAAzOmraHY/edit

A few days ago, I came across a video by an internationally renowned life coach, motivational speaker and author, discussing cheating and infidelity in relationships. The lady made three points about how to view and handle being cheated on. Without getting into much detail, I will list these points: 1. Look within yourself to see if you missed or ignored the signs that your partner might have a bit of a roving eye. Did you turn a blind eye to your partner's less-than-loyal behaviour? 2. Examine the environment around yourself and your relationship. Did you create an environment where your partner did not feel comfortable discussing their concerns? 3. Use this (cheating) episode to strengthen your relationship. Don't be bitter, but have open communication to develop an understanding of what led your partner astray. Work on eliminating those reasons. All these points sound very profound and evolved however, for someone who has been cheated on, these cannot be more hollow and meaningless. If you read deeply, you'll notice that the onus of preventing or driving one's partner to cheat lies with the one who's been cheated on. How is that fair? A person who has been betrayed struggles with low self-esteem questions everything and in most cases believes that somehow it was their fault. Instead of helping, such statements, as made by the expert I mentioned, only reinforce the belief that somehow the blame lies with the person who has been cheated on. Here are my counter-points to the 3-step advice mentioned earlier: 1. People who cheat take utmost care to not get caught. They, usually, are quite discrete and even if their partner senses something and questions them, they circumvent the questioning. Often, they counter by making their partner feel guilty about not trusting them. Some even use this as an excuse to end the relationship. The easy way out, blame your partner for lack of trust. 2. Again, asking someone to introspect if they created a hostile environment for their partner implies that it was their fault. Even if the environment was not open and encouraging honest dialogue, it does not give a free pass to anyone to betray the trust placed in them. If you find a relationship claustrophobic, if you don't feel heard, valued or respected, you end the relationship, not cheat. 3. When trust is broken, and there's no bigger betrayal in a relationship than infidelity, it is nearly impossible to breach that gap. It's entirely the couple's prerogative if they want to move past it. Each relationship is unique because both the individuals in it are unique, so they will different feelings about what infidelity means to them. No relationship is more important than the self-respect and dignity of an individual. Cheating is not acceptable or justifiable under any circumstance unless you are upfront about it with your partner and they have no objection. If one is not happy in a relationship, one should have the courage and decency to end it. If one only reflected on how they would respond or lime to be treated if the situation was reversed, the answer would be very clear. Always remember - you can't have your cake and eat it too.