21, Jul 2025
India Achieves 12 Guinness World Records in Yoga
India Achieves 12 Guinness World Records in Yoga: Akshar Yoga Kendraa Marks Historic Milestone After 70 Years
Bangalore, July 21, 2025 – In a landmark achievement that has brought global recognition to India’s ancient wisdom, Akshar Yoga Kendraa, headquartered in Bangalore, has been officially awarded 12 Guinness World Records in Yogasana. This unprecedented accomplishment not only places India firmly on the global map of excellence in yoga but also marks history after 70 years in the Guinness World Records’ legacy—making it the first time such a vast number of global records have been awarded in a single day to a yoga institution.
The announcement was formally made at a grand event organized in Bangalore today, in the presence of spiritual leaders, yoga practitioners, athletes, and members of the press from around the world. This recognition follows the mega event held on 21st June 2025, International Yoga Day, where 2,500+ participants from different walks of life namely Indian Army, Air Force, CRPF, CISF, Karnataka State Police, KSRP, Specially abled and NCC came together under the guidance of Himalayan Siddhaa Akshar, Founder of Akshar Yoga Kendraa to create a legacy through unity, discipline, and devotion to the yogic path.
The records include:
New Guinness World Records – Official First Attempts:
• Bhadrasana (Gracious Pose) – 550 participants
• Adho Mukha Shvanasana (Downward Dog Pose) – 864 participants
• Salabhasana (Locust Pose) – 539 participants
• Garudasana (Eagle Pose) – 522 participants
• Ubhaya Padangusthasana (Double Toe Hold Pose) – 461 participants
• Eka Pada Padangusthasana (Pistol Squat Pose) – 514 participants
Broken World Records – Surpassing Previous Records:
• Setu Bandha Sarvangasana (Bridge Pose):
Previous Record – 1,682 (Puducherry, 2019)
→ Akshar Yoga Kendraa: 1,692 participants
• Sarvangasana (Shoulder Stand):
Previous Record – 1,134 (Chennai, 2017)
→ Akshar Yoga Kendraa: 1,633 participants
• Virabhadrasana II (Warrior II Pose):
Previous Record – 1,011 (Hong Kong, 2019)
→ Akshar Yoga Kendraa: 1,634 participants
• Utkatasana (Chair Pose):
Previous Record – 623 (Shanghai, China, 2019)
→ Akshar Yoga Kendraa: 1,695 participants
• Eka Pada Rajakapotasana (Mermaid Pose):
Previous Record – (Rishikesh, India, 2019)
→ Akshar Yoga Kendraa: 863 participants
• Virabhadrasana III (Warrior III Pose):
Previous Global Record – 387
→ Akshar Yoga Kendraa: 529 participants
Each of these records is not merely a statistical milestone but a celebration of India’s timeless yogic lineage—an offering from Bharat to the world.
This auspicious event witnessed the august presence of Param Pujya Atithi His Holiness Sri Sri Sri Vishwaprasanna Teertha Swamij – Pejavara Mutt, Param Pujya Atithi His Holiness Sri Sri Sri Shivarudra Swamiji – Beli Mutt, Sri Seemanth Kumar Singh – Police Commissioner, Bangalore, Dr. C N Ashwath Narayan – MLA, Malleshwaram and Former Deputy Chief Minister and Sri Jose Mohan – Inspector General, Central Industrial Security Force during the event.
Speaking on this historic occasion, Himalayan Siddhaa Akshar, founder of Akshar Yoga Kendraa, shared:
“Yoga is India’s gift to humanity— its power flows through postures and leads to transformation. These 12 Guinness World Records are a tribute to our sages, gurus and scriptures. This is a proud moment for every Indian. Through this achievement, we are taking our lineage to the world and reinforcing yoga as the foundation of global wellness.”
This grand success also signals a larger vision—to promote Yoga as a competitive sport and a part of the Olympic movement, aligning ancient Indian practices with contemporary global platforms. It showcases India’s leadership in building a global wellness ecosystem, and the potential of yoga as a unifying force for mental, physical, and spiritual wellbeing.
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- By Neel Achary
21, Jul 2025
Cohesity Gaia Integrates with Microsoft 365 Copilot to Simplify and Expand Access to Valuable Enterprise Data
INDIA – July 21, 2025 – Cohesity, the leader in AI-powered data security, today announced the availability of its Cohesity Gaia integration with Microsoft 365 Copilot. The integration allows knowledge workers across an organisation to tap into Cohesity backup data directly from the Microsoft 365 Copilot interface to gain insights and inform better business decisions.
“Massive business insights lie dormant in organisations’ backup data. Before Cohesity Gaia, it was virtually impossible to extract that data and use it to draw any actionable conclusions. Now that customers can mine this resource with ease, we believe these deeper insights will be transformational,” said Gregory Statton, vice president of AI solutions, Cohesity. “By unifying Cohesity Gaia with a widely adopted tool like Microsoft 365 Copilot, we’re helping customers make the most of their stored data, empowering use cases enterprise wide.”
A first-to-market innovation for unlocking the potential of backup data, Cohesity Gaia combines generative AI, large language models, and retrieval augmented generation techniques. As part of the integration with Microsoft 365 Copilot, users can simply enter conversational questions via their Microsoft 365 Copilot interface. Cohesity Gaia searches across vast amounts of backup data effortlessly, pinpoints critical information quickly, and surfaces actionable information for any department or job function. Granular, role-based access controls limit responses to align with user permissions, protecting sensitive data.
“Generative AI has created a tipping point for enterprise AI deployments. The next phase of this journey will involve more AI-to-AI communications and expectations for transformative business outcomes,” said Chantrelle Nielsen, group product manager, Microsoft 365 Copilot, Microsoft. “Microsoft 365 Copilot integration with Cohesity reflects this progression, giving enterprises more ways to take advantage of AI from the convenience of a single interface with a consistent user experience.”
“Cohesity and Microsoft continue to build on their partnership, working together to safeguard data and strengthen organisations’ cyber resilience. This integration extends the value proposition even further to bring new benefits by instantly putting high-quality backup data at the fingertips of users across the enterprise,” said Jared Crowley, senior director of Security & Software Partners, SHI International Corp. “The end result is faster, better decision making and fresh opportunities for maximising customers’ investments in Cohesity and Microsoft.”
“In fast-growing markets like India and SAARC, enterprises are looking to maximise the value of every data asset while advancing their AI strategies,” said Mayank Mishra, regional sales director for India & SAARC, Cohesity. “The integration of Cohesity Gaia with Microsoft 365 Copilot offers a powerful advantage—enabling users to surface critical insights from backup data through a familiar interface. This is a transformative leap for business agility, resilience, and AI-led innovation in our region.”
Cohesity Gaia is a subscription-based service. Access to Cohesity Gaia capabilities within the Microsoft 365 Copilot is currently available at no additional cost for subscribers of both Cohesity Gaia and Microsoft 365 Copilot. For more on the integration and key benefits, visit the Cohesity blog and tune into the Cohesity Tech Insights podcast episode “Unlocking AI powered insights with Agents and Frontier Models.”
21, Jul 2025
The Belgian Waffle Co Closes National Waffle Day with 7 Lakhs Footfalls Across the Country
“National Waffle Day is always a landmark moment for The Belgian Waffle Co. This year, as we celebrate 10 incredible years of the brand, it held even greater significance for us. The massive response across our 660+ stores country-wide reflected not just the growing love for our waffles, but also the enthusiasm with which our customers embraced the idea of celebrating rituals and indulgence in a way that felt uniquely personal. It’s a celebration of our loyal community, our partners, and the culture we’ve built together. This massive success year-after-year is humbling and encourages us to remain committed to product quality, consistency and customer delight,” said Ankit Patel, Executive Director and CEO at The Belgian Waffle Co.“This year, we repositioned the National Waffle Day to the third Wednesday of July, shifting away from a fixed day which our consumers were quite aware about. The overwhelming response to that shift is a testament to the strong emotional connect the brand shares with our community. With the #WhatsYourDrill campaign, we wanted to give our community a platform to express themselves in fun, meaningful ways, to build a movement around rituals and shared joy. From user-generated content to on-ground engagement, the enthusiasm we witnessed reaffirmed our belief in creating experiences that go beyond the product and connect emotionally with our audience.,” shared Vrushali Parab, Marketing Head.
21, Jul 2025
Kokand University, Andijan Launched for Indian Students in a Special Ceremony Held in India
New Delhi, 21st July, 2025: In a strategic move to offer Indian students global avenues in medical education, Kokand University, Andijan (Uzbekistan), was formally introduced to the Indian academic landscape during an exclusive launch event held in India. The initiative is supported by the GTTCI Trade Chamber to promote cross-border educational collaboration.
With the vision of the President of Uzbekistan to position the country as a hub for Indian medical students, the university is building a dedicated Indian Medical City in Andijan, spread over 55 acres. This facility is specially designed to cater to Indian students, offering a curriculum aligned with the National Medical Commission (NMC) guidelines and taught by both international and Indian faculty.
The event in India served as an official introduction to the university’s offerings, showcasing its infrastructure, curriculum, and student support systems to prospective Indian students and stakeholders. The university aims to blend international quality standards with Indian academic sensibilities—ensuring that students benefit from a secure, affordable, and culturally familiar environment.
The collaboration has been strongly supported by Dr. Rashmi Saluja, Chairperson of GTTCI, and the leadership of Kokand University. Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, under the leadership of Dr. Ajay Swaroop, has also extended its support to the initiative. Speaking at the launch, on behalf of Dr. Swaroop, Dr. Katoch conveyed, “India and Sir Ganga Ram Hospital stand firmly committed to supporting this transformative journey. We are proud to be partners in this shared vision to build a world-class academic and healthcare infrastructure that will not only empower Indian students but also enhance the healthcare landscape of Uzbekistan.”
Admissions are now open for Indian students aspiring to pursue MBBS in a globally connected yet culturally rooted setting.
21, Jul 2025
Who Am I… The Ultimate Question on the Path to Enlightenment
By – AiR Atman in ravi – Happiness Ambassador and Spiritual Leader
Enlightenment is realizing the truth about who we are. It is eliminating the darkness of ignorance that we live in. It is about going within on a journey of self-discovery. It begins with the single most important question that we can ever ask and find an answer to — Who am I? The answer to this question holds the key to a life of peace, love and bliss. Realizing ‘Who I Am’ or self-realization leads to God-realization, and ultimately to Moksha – liberation from the cycle of death and rebirth, the ultimate goal of human life.
So, who are we? From the moment we are born, society assigns us labels. ‘You are John,’ they say, but that is merely a name. ‘You are British,’ they add — that’s nationality. ‘You’re a doctor,’ they proclaim but that’s a profession. We accumulate identities, accolades, possessions and roles. But none of these truly define who we are. These are what we have or do, not what we are. And so, the question remains, elusive yet essential: Who am I?
Ironically enough, human beings have reached astounding heights in science and technology — from exploring the ocean’s depths to launching probes into space. Yet, in all this external discovery, we have forgotten the most important discovery of all: the self. A journey that is not outward but inward. It is only when man discovers himself, experiences a spiritual awakening that leads him to self-realization and God-realization, that he will be able to live with true joy.
We think that we are ‘me’. But who is this ‘me’? The best way to find out who or what we are, is to discover what we are not. Are we this body? But just like we have a car and a house, but are neither of these, we also have a body but are not the body. The body came later. It was formed over 9 months in a mother’s womb. We were born before that, as a single cell that ultimately divided to become 25-billion cells and arrived in this world as baby. When we die, people will burn or bury our body and say that he or she has departed. Who departed?
If not the body, then we must be the mind. But when we try to find the mind, we cannot find it. The mind doesn’t even exist! If we are not the body and the mind, then we could be the ego. But the ego is invisible and intangible. It is an illusion. Then, how can we be the ego? Clearly, we are the ones who have an ego, mind and body but we are different from these. We say, ‘my body, my mind, my ego’ — doesn’t that imply a separate me that owns all of these? There remains only one unanswered question after we know what we are not – ‘Who am I?’
Not the body. Not the mind. Not the ego. We are the Soul – a Spark Of Unique Life, a part of the Supreme Immortal Power we call God. We are all manifestations of the Divine. Scientifically, when the smallest particles in the cells of the human body are examined under sophisticated instruments, they are proved to be nothing but energy. And that is our truth too. We are Energy. The Life Energy that causes our breath and without which, there would be death. In fact, everything is Energy — the animate and the inanimate.
But knowing this is not enough. Enlightenment is not the gathering of information — it is the dawning of realization. It is evolving from living in darkness to living in light, from ignorance to wisdom. And to walk this path, we need not only contemplation, introspection but also the guidance of a realized spiritual master, one who has crossed the ocean of illusion and can show others the way.
The moment we realize who we truly are, we become free from the triple suffering — the pain of the body, misery of the mind and agony of the ego. In this realization lies peace. In this realization lies liberation. This is Enlightenment, spiritual awakening. In the moment of death, we attain Moksha, Liberation from the cycle of death and birth as we become one with the Divine.
21, Jul 2025
52-Year-Old Recovers from Severe Heart Attack at Wockhardt Hospitals, Mumbai Central
Mumbai, 21st July 2025: In a miraculous turnaround that underscores the power of timely intervention and expert cardiac care, a 52-year-old Mumbai resident survived a massive heart attack despite being given just a 1% chance of survival . His life was saved through the efforts of Dr. Parin Sangoi, Interventional Cardiologist at Wockhardt Hospitals, Mumbai Central, and his dedicated cardiac team .
The patient was brought to the hospital in extremely critical condition he had suffered a major heart attack, had dangerously low blood pressure, and was placed on ventilator support. A detailed evaluation revealed two major blockages on the left side of his heart one was completely blocked (100%) , and the other was 90% blocked . His heart’s pumping efficiency (ejection fraction) had dropped to a critical 10-15% , and his weight, exceeding 100 kg, added further complexity to the case.
The medical team promptly initiated a complex angioplasty ( Primary PCI ) and inserted an IABP (Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump) to support the failing heart. “It was a high-risk case with all odds stacked against him,” said Dr. Parin Sangoi. “But with advanced intervention and constant monitoring in our ICU, we focused on giving him the fighting chance he deserved .”
What followed was a gradual, steady recovery. The IABP was successfully removed , blood pressure support medications were tapered off, and eventually, the patient’s heart function began to improve . After days of meticulous care in the ICU, he was finally discharged walking on his own a moment of triumph for both the medical team and his family.
This case is a powerful reminder of the critical importance of rapid, expert cardiac care in heart attack patients even in the most severe scenarios. Wockhardt Hospitals continues to stand at the forefront of interventional cardiology, offering hope and healing when it matters most.
19, Jul 2025
Eastern India’s aluminium extrusion sector emerges as growth engine
ALUMEX India 2025 to spotlight regional potential and industrial transformation
Kolkata 19th July 2025: India’s ambition to achieve self-reliance in critical manufacturing sectors is set to gain a major boost with ALUMEX India 2025, the nation’s first and only dedicated platform for the aluminium extrusion industry. Organised by the Aluminium Extrusion Manufacturers Association of India (ALEMAI), and supported by Hindalco, Vedanta, and JNARDDC, an autonomous body under the Ministry of Mines, the three-day event will take place in New Delhi from September 10 to 13 and showcase the strength and potential of domestic extrusion manufacturing.
With more than 200 exhibitors and 12,000+ expected visitors across the globe, ALUMEX India 2025 will bring together leading industry players, MSMEs, technology providers, and policymakers to explore the future of aluminium extrusion across mobility, infrastructure, green energy, aerospace, electronics, and other sectors. The participation of global metal and metal recycling leaders will boost the quality and exports of Indian manufacturers.
Eastern India, particularly West Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar and Assam, is poised to play a pivotal role in the growth of the aluminium extrusion sector. The region is home to around 25 manufacturing facilities, having a combined production of 10,000 metric tonnes per month. Of these, ten units are located in West Bengal.
These plants are supported by Odisha’s abundant primary aluminium supply, providing cost advantages for downstream processing. They also benefit from demand from the industrial zones of Hooghly, Howrah, and Kharagpur, driven by urban infrastructure projects such as metro rail expansion, electric mobility, and solar power plants. Regional export activity is also on the rise, with producers in East India supplying to markets in Europe, the Middle East, and North America.
Jitendra Chopra, President of ALEMAI, said, “Eastern India holds immense strategic value for the aluminium extrusion industry. With rich mineral reserves, proximity to smelters, robust industrial corridors, and improving connectivity, it is a significant contributor to the sector. Eastern India will play an important role in reducing dependence on aluminium imports and driving the next chapter of growth in India’s aluminium extrusion sector.”
“ALUMEX India 2025 reflects our belief in India’s domestic manufacturing strength and offers a unique platform to showcase our capabilities before the world. It will enable collaboration, drive innovation and unlock new growth opportunities for Indian companies,” Mr. Chopra added.
Despite its unique advantages, Eastern India continues to face challenges such as high energy costs, limited access to advanced machinery, and a shortage of skilled CNC operators and metallurgists. Regulatory delays around environmental approvals and land allocation also hamper industrial expansion.
ALUMEX India 2025 will address these barriers through sessions on PLI schemes, technology localisation, green extrusion practices, and policy support for MSMEs. Business matchmaking and buyer-seller meets will facilitate collaboration across the extrusion value chain.
Out of approximately 400-450 aluminium extrusion plants in India, more than 225 are members of ALEMAI. Ranging from MSMEs to Nifty 50 companies, they have a combined production of 2.1 million tonnes per annum.
19, Jul 2025
Galaxy Z Fold7, Flip7 Pre-Orders Rival S25 Series in India
GURUGRAM – July 19, 2025 – Samsung, India’s largest consumer electronics brand, today announced that it’s recently-launched – Galaxy Z Fold7, Galaxy ZFlip7 and Galaxy Z Flip7 FE smartphones – have received record pre-orders, signaling huge consumer demand and excitement for the brand’s seventh generation of foldable smartphones. Galaxy Z Fold7, Galaxy ZFlip7 and Galaxy Z Flip7 FE secured 210,000 pre-orders in the first 48 hours, breaking previous records, and nearly equaling the pre-orders received for Galaxy S25 series earlier this year.
“The record pre-orders for our ‘made in India’ foldable smartphones reinforce our belief that young Indian consumers are quick to adopt latest technology. Galaxy Z Fold7 delivers our most advanced smartphone experience yet – powerful, immersive, intelligent, and portable all in one. Galaxy Z Flip7 adapts, anticipates and empowers users, unlocking a smarter, more intuitive way to engage with the world. Powered by the new One UI 8 and Android 16 right out of the box, the new devices deliver true multimodal AI experiences. The success of the new devices are a stepping stone for our larger goal – the mainstreaming of foldable smartphones in India,” said JB Park, President and CEO, Samsung Southwest Asia.
Galaxy Z Fold7 seamlessly blends precision engineering and powerful intelligence to elevate everyday interactions – all in its thinnest and lightest design to date. At just 215 grams, Galaxy Z Fold7 is even lighter than Galaxy S25 Ultra. It is just 8.9 mm thick when folded and 4.2 mm thick when unfolded. It delivers the premium performance and experience of an ultra smartphone, while unlocking new levels of efficiency and productivity with a larger, more immersive display when unfolded.
Galaxy Z Flip7, a compact AI phone with multimodal capabilities, is powered by a new FlexWindow. Small enough to slip into a pocket, yet powerful enough to deliver the handiest assistance, it melds Galaxy AI with a new edge-to-edge FlexWindow, a flagship level camera and an ultra-compact and iconic design. From intuitive voice AI to the best selfie capabilities, Galaxy Z Flip7 is an intelligent pocket-sized companion built for seamless interaction and everyday reliability. Weighing just 188 grams and measuring only 13.7mm when folded, Galaxy Z Flip7 is the slimmest Galaxy Z Flip yet.
While Galaxy Z Fold7 is available in stunning colours such as Blue Shadow, Silver Shadow and Jet Black; the Galaxy Z Flip7 comes in Blue Shadow, Jet Black and Coral Red. Galaxy Z Flip 7FE comes in Black and White colours. Apart from this, consumers buying the Galaxy Z Fold7 and Galaxy Z Flip7 through Samsung.com will have an additional colour to choose from – Mint.
Both devices bring multimodal AI capabilities, delivering experiences that maximize the benefits of the expansive foldable display of the Galaxy Z Fold7 to boost productivity. Designed as a true multimodal agent, One UI 8 seamlessly combines large-screen multitasking with intelligent tools that understand what users’ type, say and even see. Thanks to Google’s Gemini Live, users can share their screen in real time while speaking with the AI assistant — enabling contextual requests based on what’s visible. In addition, One UI 8 brings enhanced privacy to personalized AI experiences with the new Knox Enhanced Encrypted Protection (KEEP). KEEP creates encrypted, app-specific storage environments within the device’s secures storage area, ensuring each app can access only its own sensitive information and nothing more.
The main display on Galaxy Z Fold7 is 11% larger than the previous generation. The 8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X main display offers ultra-rich contrast, true blacks and vibrant detail that makes everything pop. It also gets Vision Booster and up to 2,600 nits of peak brightness.
The Armor FlexHinge on Galaxy Z Fold7 is thinner and lighter, thanks to an enhanced water droplet design and newly implemented multi-rail structure that reduces visible creasing. The cover display is made with Corning® Gorilla® Glass Ceramic 2, a new glass ceramic that has crystals intricately embedded within its glass matrix. Advanced Armor Aluminum in the frame and hinge housing increases strength and hardness by 10%. The main display is restructured to be thinner and lighter — yet stronger. This was achieved by implementing the Titanium plate layer. Additionally, Ultra-Thin Glass (UTG) was increased to be 50% thicker, making the display tougher.
Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy, Galaxy Fold7 delivers stupendous performance boosts of 41% in NPU, 38% in CPU, and 26% in GPU compared to the previous generation. This power fuels Galaxy Z Fold7’s ability to process more AI experiences on-device without compromise. In addition, with the first 200MP wide-angle camera in the Galaxy Z series, it captures 4x more detail, producing images that are 44% brighter. In addition, Samsung’s next-generation ProVisual Engine processes images faster.
Galaxy Z Flip7 comes with a stunning FlexWindow display, which brings essentials front and center and makes it easy to type out quick messages. The 4.1-inch Super AMOLED FlexWindow is the largest ever on a Galaxy Z Flip7, with edge-to-edge usability that enables users to see and do more on the cover screen. With 2,600 nits of peak brightness, the FlexWindow gets an upgrade with Vision Booster, enhancing outdoor visibility so users can stay connected wherever they are. The main display is a 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, built for an ultra-smooth, immersive experience.
The cover and back of Galaxy Z Flip7 are protected by Corning® Gorilla® Glass Victus® 2. The Armor FlexHinge is thinner than the hinge on the previous generation and features a restructured design and high-strength materials for smoother folds and long-lasting durability. A robust Armor Aluminum Frame provides a tough exterior for resilience. The 4,300mAh battery is the largest ever on a Galaxy Z Flip, delivering up to 31 hours of video play time on a single charge.
Galaxy Z Flip7 FE features a 6.7-inch Main Display for an immersive viewing experience. The 50MP FlexCam enables high-quality selfies and video in Flex Mode, letting users capture content hands-free, without even opening the device.
19, Jul 2025
Second Chances: The Power of Education on Nelson Mandela Day
By – Shreya Kumari Kedia, 4th-year student at the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, and a Design Researcher.
How clay, design, and education are quietly reshaping lives inside prisons.
Every year on July 18th, people around the world come together to honor Nelson Mandela’s legacy and it’s not just through words, but through action. His belief that “education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world” has never felt more relevant than it does today. As someone who has seen the impact of education, however small, in an unexpected environment, I can say this with some certainty. As a student of design, with a keen interest in using design as more than just aesthetics, I took on a project that introduced ceramics to inmates. Ceramics in carceral spaces seemed like a theory worth exploring, but my experience convinced me it’s a strength like no other. One of the very first workshops I conducted inside the prison blew my mind. The engagement was amazing, but the responses were even better. There were questions about future engagement, about opportunities after release. But there were also quiet, honest statements like:
“This is the first time we felt like we were not inside a prison.”“These two hours were probably the only time during my stay here that I haven’t thought about home or my case.”
One story that stayed with me was about a man who sat through the entire first workshop without touching the clay. No matter how much we encouraged him to just try, he refused. The guards had told us he was newly convicted, depressed and didn’t participate in any activities. They didn’t expect much and they just wanted him to be around people and activities.
When we returned the next day, we were surprised to see him again. This time, he quietly picked up some clay. Within half an hour, he had skillfully replicated the demo bowl we had passed around. Then he asked for more clay and made another one. Later, he came up to us smiling, proudly showing what he’d made. When we returned to deliver the fired pieces and certificates, he was excited, chatting, and holding his finished piece like it meant something. And it did! It was just two bowls, but they carried so much weight. This moment spoke volumes about the impact of ceramics. But this is about more than clay. It is about the opportunities inside prison. Education and the right to access it is important everywhere. Education is often someone’s first step toward a second chance or even a first one. Initiatives like better life prison school, Aashayein: one of the Jail Shops, where products made by inmates are sold, TJ’s the pickle making and selling brand by the Tihar inmates are a few examples of successful education and vocational training programmes.
Many people in these spaces are there because they didn’t have access to the same resources as many of us. They never got the chance to find their footing in the world and for most that becomes even harder after incarceration. These programmes are opportunities that can make the difference. Many of us take our opportunities for granted. But for those inside prison walls, even the chance to sit with clay and create something meaningful can be life-changing.
Through this work, I realized that education is an important tool in whichever way and has impact in ways one can only imagine. This Nelson Mandela Day we should all be working to make those steps possible not just for ourselves, but for others in whichever way we can.
19, Jul 2025
TATA Starbucks Unveils Its First Experiential Store in South India, in Hyderabad
Hyderabad, 19th July 2025: Following the successful launch of Starbucks India’s coffee experiential stores in Punjabi Bagh, Delhi and at Dhanraj Mahal, Mumbai, the coffeehouse has announced the opening of its newest coffee experiential store in Khajaguda, Hyderabad, the first in South India.
This launch reaffirms the brand’s commitment to delivering unparalleled coffee, craftsmanship, culinary innovation, and warm, personalized experiences. This store marks another milestone in bringing Starbucks globally celebrated coffee storytelling closer to Indian consumers, offering an immersive journey into the world of coffee.
A Tribute to Hyderabad’s Evolving Coffee Culture
The new experiential store brings to life Starbucks design language of storytelling, with the thoughtfully designed Espresso Zone and Brew Bar where customers can interact with Starbucks baristas and immerse themselves in the art and science of brewing. As Hyderabad continues to evolve as a vibrant cultural and culinary destination, this new experiential store brings an elevated coffee experience featuring origin inspired brews and immersive design.
Crafted with the Flavours of India
The Khajaguda store presents a curated line-up of exclusive Starbucks specialty beverages infused with Indian ingredients like jaggery, coconut, tamarind, chilli, and shikanji. Customers can savour signature handcrafted options including the Cinnamon Jaggery Latte, Malabar Coconut Cream Latte, Cocoa Birds Eye Chilli Latte, and the Tamarind Red Peroo Shikanji Cold Brew.
Curated Coffee Experiences, Global Craft Meets Indian Heritage
Rooted in the belief that every cup tells a story, this store invites coffee enthusiasts to embark on a journey of discovery, from bean to cup, across India and the world. Through this experiential space, Starbucks brings to life its global coffee narrative. From smallholder farms to expansive estates, Starbucks meticulously sources only the finest Arabica beans, each shaped by the soil, climate, and distinct characteristics of its origin. These carefully curated beans come together to deliver unmatched depth, flavour, and craftsmanship in every cup served at the Khajaguda store.
To further elevate the coffee experience of every coffee enthusiast, the store will also feature the Black Eagle, a sleek, refined, manual espresso machine that provides Coffee Masters full control over every stage of brewing and extraction. This one-of-a-kind equipment allows baristas to personalize each cup with precision.
Exploring the world with Starbucks one bean at a time
Expanding the palate further, the store also offers an extensive range of coffee selections featuring five exclusive espresso bean choices and thirteen whole bean variants from renowned growing regions including India, Kenya, Sumatra, and Latin America. For a truly exceptional experience, the store presents a globally curated selection, including Starbucks Willow Blend, Starbucks®
Single-Origin Zambia, Starbucks® Single-Origin Colombia, Pike Place Roast, and Starbucks® House Blend, appreciated by coffee connoisseurs worldwide.
Sushant Dash, ceo, TATA Starbucks, said, “The launch of our third experiential store in India is a testament to our commitment to redefining how Indians experience coffee. Hyderabad’s vibrant cultural and culinary evolution makes it an ideal destination for a concept that brings together global coffee craftsmanship and regional heritage. At Khajaguda, we’re creating immersive, memorable moments for our customers – one cup, one connection at a time.
The new experiential store at Khajaguda, Hyderabad will be open daily from 8 AM to 11 PM, inviting customers to explore, connect, and celebrate the love of coffee in a uniquely designed environment.
