Despite being blind from birth, 40-year-old Aijaz Ahmad Ahangar from Kulgam district, Jammu and Kashmir, impresses people with his musical talent. Aijaz developed an interest in singing at the age of ten. He also learned to play the Sarangi by the time he was 17 years old. He has composed over 56 songs but is unable to write them down or use technology to preserve them as he is not literate. He hopes that he will get some help for doing so.
The initiative named ‘Umbrella by the Differently Abled’, was started by a government schoolteacher in Kollam, Kerala, in 2015, to provide livelihood opportunities to people with severe disabilities, and empower them. Started as a WhatsApp group, the initiative now has 70 members in 14 districts of Kerala. The members train differently abled individuals to make umbrellas, pens and paper bags and market their products, so that they become financially independent.
World Nature Conservation Day is observed annually on 28 July. The day is marked to spread awareness about the importance of protecting the environment and the necessity of conserving natural resources. On this day, NGOs and educational institutions organise several events to educate people about the challenges of climate change and the risks of depleting natural resources.
9-year-old Hamsika Besetti from Visakhapatnam, earned a name in the ‘Worldwide Book of Records’, for being the youngest child to perform Kuchipudi dance with hula–hoop spins, for the longest time. She performed for 2 minutes and 11 seconds to set the world record. Hamsika started learning Kuchipudi at the age of five and the art of hula–hoop from the age of eight.
Eight years ago, the auto-drivers in Bhubaneswar formed a group named, ‘Smart City Online Auto Association’ to help auto drivers in need and to improve customer experience. The members of the association provide free rides to differently–abled passengers and ensures free medical treatment to drivers injured in road accidents. The welfare works of the association have also been appreciated by the public on many forums.
World Embryologist Day, also known as ‘World IVF Day’, is observed annually on 25 July, to spread awareness among people about the contribution of Embryologists in reproductive science and the process of Invitro fertilisation (IVF). On this day, various seminars, workshops, and conferences are held globally to address the challenges of infertility and to explain how invitro IVF helps in overcoming them.
Indian badminton player Lakshya Sen defeated Li Shi Feng from China, to claim the men’s singles title at the Canada Open 2023, on 9 July, 2023. Sen secured a straight-game win, 21-18, 22-20, over Li Shi Feng, in 50 minutes. The final match was held in Calgary. This is Lakshya’s second Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour title, with the first being the India Open title in January, 2022.
Dr Shivranjani Santosh, a consultant paediatrician from Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, says that one out of six deaths can be prevented by giving the right first aid at the right time. Shivranjani has been providing first-aid training to various individuals through workshops, for the past 14 years, free of charge. Apart from first aid and CPR training, she also gives guidance on breastfeeding techniques.
Four women from Bhubaneswar, Odisha, have found a sense of purpose in giving dignity to unclaimed dead bodies. Madhusmita, a former nurse, started carrying and cremating dead bodies along with her husband. She was later joined by three friends Smita, Swagatika, and Snehanjali. The four have bought an ambulance and pick up unclaimed bodies from railway tracks too and get them cremated.
World Chocolate Day is celebrated annually on 7 July, to commemorate the anniversary of chocolate’s introduction to Europe in 1550 and to bring people across the world closer together, in celebration of the world’s most favourite treat. On this day, people treat themselves to variety of chocolates, watch chocolate-inspired movies and share chocolates with their loved ones.
