FROM SHADOWS TO STARS: The Rise of the Ordinary

  Born in 1961 in Roperkheda, a small village in Maharashtra, Kalpana Saroj’s early life was marked by hardship and discrimination. Belonging to a Dalit family, she faced social exclusion from a young age. At just twelve, she was married off and sent to Mumbai, where she endured an abusive marriage and crushing poverty. After being rescued by her father, she returned home, determined to rebuild her life from the ground up. Kalpana began working in a garment factory, saving every rupee she could. She later took a government loan under the Mahila Udyog scheme and started a small furniture business. That decision marked the beginning of her transformation. Her sharp instincts, relentless work ethic, and quiet courage turned small ventures into major successes. Over time, she expanded into real estate, film production, and industry, eventually taking over the struggling Kamani Tubes company and reviving it into a profitable enterprise. Her story is not just one of economic success bu...

  Arun Krishnamurthy’s story begins in Chennai, where his love for the environment was shaped by the city’s fading lakes and disappearing green spaces. After completing his education at the University of Madras, he started his career at Google. Although the job brought prestige and stability, Arun felt a deep void. He longed to do something meaningful for the environment that had nurtured him. In 2011, he made a choice that changed his life. He left his corporate career and founded the Environmentalist Foundation of India (EFI), a non-profit organisation devoted to ecological conservation and lake restoration. What started as a small local effort soon evolved into a national movement. With the help of students, volunteers, and citizens, EFI began reviving neglected lakes and ponds across India. Each project became a symbol of collective responsibility and environmental hope. Under his guidance, the foundation worked with scientific accuracy and community involvement. The process ...