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The debut edition of Echoes of Earth’s 3-city tour celebrated local ecosystems and its conservation via music, art, conversations and collaborations

  • The first stop of the 3-city tour was Jayamahal Mahal Palace in Bangalore before heading to Mumbai’s Mehboob Studios and 1AQ in Delhi
  • The British nu jazz collective, The Cinematic Orchestra also toured alongside Echoes across the three cities

NEW DELHI and MUMBAI, India and BANGALORE, India, April 21, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Conservation stories and lore from the unexplored ecosystems of Bangalore, Mumbai and Delhi were brought to life last weekend by India’s greenest music festival, Echoes of Earth, in its 3-city concert India tour. The festival took over the metro cities along with the British nu jazz collective, The Cinematic Orchestra, to celebrate local ecosystems and their conservation via vehicles of music, in each city across a span of three days – 14th, 15th and 16th April 2023.

Extending the theme ‘Circle of Life’, the tour offered a glimpse of the unparalleled Echoes experience in each city while highlighting their unique ecosystems and the importance in living in symbiosis with the natural world through engaging storytelling sessions, informative panel discussions, photo exhibits, sustainable installations, artistic workshops and curated food and flea markets for attendees to indulge in. By collaborating with its conservation and knowledge partner WWF India, as well as content partners such as Roundglass Sustain and Mongabay India, along with the Ministry of Mumbai’s Magic, Echoes of Earth was able to enhance the overall experience by incorporating insightful and credible information.

The tour started on 14th April in Bangalore’s iconic Jayamahal Palace, where Bangaloreans (re)discovered the Keres (lakes) and Kuntes (ponds) their city is home to, in a new light via an engaging discussion with prominent experts like Dr Subramanya (Ornithologist & Scientist), Usha Rajagopalan (Writer & Lake Conservationist), Sandesh Khadur (National Geographic fellow and wildlife filmmaker) and more. The discussion also stressed the need to conserve urban lakes and their rich biodiversity. Furthermore, Vikram Sridhar (Performance Storyteller & Theatre Practitioner) highlighted the vital role of diverse art forms like channapatna, kinhal, and kalamkari in conservation and preservation. At the same time, he drew the attendees into the conservation lores from rescue and rehabilitation incidents through an immersive storytelling session.

Moreover, the endeavour to bring Bangaloreans closer to the ecosystem they are an intrinsic part of also translated into a larger-than-life sustainable stage, which focused on the nearly-threatened bird species, the Oriental Darter (Anhinga Melanogaster). And culminating the evening on this stage was a mesmerising musical performance by The Cinematic Orchestra. Opening for the collective were Nush Lewis and Premik, who captivated the attendees with their soulful tunes and powerful electronic beats.

Taking the tour to Mehboob Studios in Mumbai on 15th April, Echoes celebrated the city’s magical coastlines that house the rich mangrove ecosystem and its inhabitants via a discussion in association with WWF India with speakers like Malhar Kalambe (Environmentalist & Founder of Beach Please) and Dr Sheetal Pachpande (Deputy Director – Projects of Mangrove Foundation), amongst others. Meanwhile, Freishia B (Co-founder of Carter Cleanup), Ganesh Nakhawa (Director at Karanja Fishing Co-operative Society), Prachi Shevgaonkar (Climate Entrepreneur and the founder of Cool The Globe App), and more engaged Mumbaikars in an immersive workshop about the city’s rich biodiversity and how they can contribute in its preservation in association with Ministry of Mumbai’s Magic. 

Likewise, the Mumbai stage was sustainably designed to bring attention to the migratory bird Lesser Flamingo (Phoeniconaias minor) and was christened ‘Flamingo’ in the same light. Opening on this stage were Sijya, who moved the audiences with her untamed synth layers and Sahil Vasudevan, who moved the audience with his unique blend of modern piano and electronica sounds. And the Cinematic Orchestra brought the evening to a close with their truly enthralling performance.

The last stop of the tour was Delhi’s 1AQ on 16th April. Here, speakers like Rohan Chakravorty (Cartoonist, Illustrator & Creator of Green Humour), Chetan Agarwal (Conservationist and Environment Analyst) and Neha Sinha (Conservation Biologist, Author & Newspaper Columnist) spotlighted the capital city’s beautiful and thriving urban jungle ecosystem as well as emphasised the need to protect its diverse bird species in an engaging discussion. At the same time, Niharika Rajput (Wildlife Artist & National Geographic Explorer) conducted a workshop on ‘Art for Conservation’, where attendees hand-crafted house sparrows while learning their significance in the ecosystem.

And highlighting the city’s native Sarus Cranes (Antigone antigone), the tallest flying bird in the world, was the sustainable stage where the Cinematic Orchestra concluded their tour with a captivating musical performance and a surprising collaboration with Khalid Ahamed (Lead singer of Pavraaz) with Sahil Vasudevan and Sijya opening for them.

Roshan Netalkar, Festival Director of Echoes of Earth, mentioned, “A host of ecosystems and wealth of biodiversity have made their homes in urban cities. And touring across Bangalore, Mumbai and Delhi, we intended to support our audiences to re-connect and explore these local ecosystems that they are an integral part of but know very little about via an unforgettable Echoes experience.”

He further added, “At the same time, we strived to nurture a community of more evolved and conscious audiences to promote greener and cleaner art experiences to look forward to. We did this by harnessing the power of contemporary off-centre music and art to express ideas of sustainable change for generations to follow. The three days witnessed an incredible passion of over 6000 people who kept the ethos of Echoes alive, standing testament to the fact that the future of art and music in India is green.”

Besides this, 3-city concert tour was an unforgettable culinary journey, thanks to its collaboration with a handpicked list of food and beverage partners, including Brick Oven, Phobidden Fruit, Boss Burger, Mossant Craft Konnection, Blue Tokai, Good Flippin’ Burgers, True Falafel, Crusty Culture, Thai Mama, and T.OO.K, amongst others. At the same time, the flea market at the concert tour was a haven for shoppers. Attendees indulged in sustainable and ethically crafted fashion from Re Charka, a brand specialising in upcycled handwoven Kabir clothing. Besides this, Echoes and WWF merchandise products also offered unique and meaningful fashion choices. And adding a touch of artistic flair to the event was the renowned Lotus Child, curating instant personalised poetry for poetry connoisseurs, making it a truly immersive experience for the attendees.

This tour came after the successful fifth edition of Echoes of Earth on its home turf Bangalore last year. More than a music festival, its unique format provided a much-needed platform to showcase the efforts of local eco-warriors protecting and preserving local ecosystems in these cities and educate the audience about the same through interesting knowledge transfer activities. The festival has always been a much-needed step towards starting an inclusive sustainability dialogue with a call for responsible celebration through the lens of conservation and sustainability across the country starting off with these 3 metro cities.

About Echoes of Earth

Taglined “India’s greenest music festival”, Echoes of Earth is a multi-genre two-day event that celebrates the environment. Launched in 2016, it features stages and installations made from recycled and upcycled materials. No plastic or flex materials are used and a sapling is planted for every ticket sold.

Around 150 artists have performed across the festival’s four editions so far. The headliners have included international and Indian electronic acts such as Arjun Vagale, FKJ, Kohra and Mathame. Among the activities and attractions are the solar-powered Big Tree stage, a flea market selling organic and sustainable products, and music and wellness workshops.

Over the years, Echoes of Earth has won several live event industry awards including the 2019 EEMAX Global Award for Best Stage and Environmental Design and the 2020 WOW Asia Award for Festival of the Year – Art/Culture/Lifestyle. The festival, which was on hiatus in 2020 and 2021 owing to the pandemic, will return in December. The line-up will feature over 40 artists.

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Harper Collins Publishers India is Delighted to Announce the Recent Publication of ‘People We Love’ by Preeti Shenoy

NEW DELHI, June 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — HarperCollins Publishers India is delighted to share the recent publication of People We Love by bestselling author Preeti Shenoy. At once tender and sharp, this collection of stories offers intimate, truthful and relatable portraits of the people we cherish, the ones we lose, and the people we become.

ABOUT THE BOOK

The people we love never truly leave our story…

In these tender yet piercing stories, Preeti Shenoy returns to some of her most beloved characters to reveal who they were before they appeared in her bestselling novels It’s All in the Planets and The One You Cannot Have.

Aniket, a coder, carries the weight of a longing for Trisha that he cannot bring himself to act on. Nidhi abandons her corporate life to teach pottery, only to discover that clay is far more forgiving than the people she loves. A quiz competition sparks an unlikely romance between Aman and Shruti, one that must withstand parental disapproval and class divides. And Anjali, a journalist, is so busy chasing stories that she almost misses the one unfolding in her own life.

Set against the pulse of contemporary India, People We Love explores the tug-of-war between duty and desire, family and freedom, who we are and who we dare to be. Intimate and deeply felt, these are stories about love that stays, leaves and almost slips away … love that quietly and irrevocably shapes the people we become.

Preeti Shenoy, author, says, “People We Love is a collection of three long stories, prequels to my bestsellers It’s All in the Planets and The One You Cannot Have. If you have read those books, you already know how these characters’ stories unfold. But what you don’t know yet is where it all began, the loves they carried, the choices they made, and the people they were before life shaped them into who you met on those pages. Writing these prequels felt like returning to a home I hadn’t realised I missed, and discovering rooms I had never been in before.”

Rashmi Menon, Associate Publisher – HarperCollins India, adds, “Preeti Shenoy has an extraordinary gift for finding the heartbeat of ordinary lives. People We Love is a warm, wise and deeply humane collection of short stories that reunites readers with favourite characters from her bestselling novels It’s All in the Planets and The One You Cannot Have, weaving them into fresh, deeply satisfying narratives. These characters feel like people you know, and their journeys will move, comfort and surprise you. This uplifting, thought–provoking collection reminds us why we turn to stories in the first place. We couldn’t be more excited to share it with our readers.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

Preeti Shenoy is among the highest-selling authors in India. She was featured on the Forbes longlist of the most influential celebrities in India. Her books include When Love Came Calling, Wake Up Life, Is Calling, Life Is What You Make It, The Rule Breakers, A Hundred Little Flames, It’s All in the Planets, Why We Love the Way We Do, The Secret Wish List, The One You Cannot Have and many others. Her work has been translated into many Indian languages. Preeti is also a motivational speaker, an avid fitness enthusiast, and an artist specializing in portraiture and illustrated journalling. Preeti lives in Bengaluru, Karnataka.

ABOUT HARPERCOLLINS PUBLISHERS INDIA

At HarperCollins Publishers India, we believe in telling the best stories and ensuring they reach the widest readership. We publish around 250 new books every year across 10 imprints, adding to a diverse catalogue of more than 3,000 titles in print and digital formats, with an array of genres and voices that ensure there is a book for every reader. Our authors have won some of the most prestigious literary awards, and we are proud to publish many acclaimed writers, alongside new and emerging voices shaping contemporary literature. We are also the publishers of The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga, winner of the Booker Prize 2008, and Girl in White Cotton by Avni Doshi, shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 2020, and HarperCollins India itself has been awarded “Publisher of the Year” several times. In addition, we represent some of the finest global publishers such as Harvard University Press, Lonely Planet, Oneworld, Nosy Crow, Usborne, and National Geographic Children, bringing Indian readers access to world-class books and ideas. We are also proud to be certified as a Great Place to Work for two consecutive years, a recognition of our culture, people, and values that make HarperCollins India a truly inspiring workplace. 

PRESS CONTACT:

Nandini Tripathi, Manager – Marketing (Commercial)

Email: nandini.tripathi@harpercollins.co.in | Mobile: +91 9718928839

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Fulfilling PM Modi’s Dream of Atmanirbhar Bharat: India’s AI Writing Startup Kreativespace Incubated at IIT Kharagpur

  1. Kreativespace, an Indian AI-powered writing platform founded by Vinet Kakadea, has been incubated at IIT Kharagpur and recognized by SVNIT University, Ministry of Education under Bodhan AI Conclave also through the NVIDIA Inception Program, AWS Startup Program, and DPIIT under Startup India.
  2. The platform unifies 8 AI-powered writing tools, along with AI Humanizer and Message AI feature being the latest addition into a single ecosystem, so you can generate and refine content all in one place.
  3. The company reports more than 50,000+ signed-up users, 75,000+ anonymous users, and roughly 100,000 monthly website visitors, positioning itself as the only Indian company operating at scale in the global AI writing market.

SURAT, India, June 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Kreativespace, an AI-powered writing platform, is building out its position as the only homegrown alternative in a market long dominated by international tools such as Grammarly and QuillBot. Founded by Vinet Kakadea and incubated at IIT Kharagpur, the company has aligned its growth with the broader push behind Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) initiative, which encourages indigenous technology development capable of competing on a global scale.

Kreativespace Incubated at IIT Kharagpur

As AI adoption accelerates across India’s education, research, and enterprise sectors, Kreativespace is among a small group of Indian startups building writing technology designed to compete directly with established international platforms.

Kreativespace’s progress has been recognized by several institutions central to India’s startup and technology ecosystem. The company has been incubated at IIT Kharagpur, selected under SSIP 2.0 through SVNIT University, and chosen by the Ministry of Education to present its work at the Bodhan AI Conclave. It has also been accepted into the NVIDIA Inception Program and the AWS Startup Program, and holds DPIIT recognition under the Startup India initiative.

Where many writing-tool users rely on separate subscriptions for content generation to refinement for grammar correction, paraphrasing, plagiarism checking, citation generation, and editing, Kreativespace brings these functions into a single platform as a super-app for AI writing tools. The company says its approach centers on affordability and accessibility alongside performance, aiming to make advanced AI writing assistance available to a wider range of users regardless of geography or budget.

The idea for Kreativespace took shape while founder Vinet Kakadea was studying at New York University and Marymount University in the United States, where he experienced firsthand how students, researchers, and professionals often need multiple paid subscriptions to cover writing-related tasks. That fragmented experience led him to build a super-app offering each of these capabilities together, at a more accessible price point.

Kreativespace combines 8 AI-powered writing tools with AI Humanizer and Message AI feature being the latest addition, allowing users to generate, rewrite, refine, and humanize content without moving between separate platforms. The product is available via web platform, mobile apps on the App Store and Google Play, browser extensions for Chrome, Mozilla, and Edge, and a Google Docs add-on.

Vinet Kakadea, Founder of Kreativespace, said, “Kreativespace’s vision is to digitalize the entire Indian education ecosystem to support PM Modi’s Atmanirbhar Bharat scheme.”

About Kreativespace

Kreativespace with the Motto of Making Writing Accessible for Everyone: Kreativespace is an AI-powered writing platform built to make AI writing tools accessible, affordable, and effective for students, researchers, educators, professionals, content creators, startups, and enterprises. Founded by Vinet Kakadea, the company is incubated at IIT Kharagpur and has been recognized by AWS Startup Program, the NVIDIA Inception Program, and DPIIT under Startup India. For more information, visit kreativespace.com.

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Santokbaa Humanitarian Award 2026 Marks 20 Years of Compassion and Service

SURAT, India, June 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Santokbaa Humanitarian Award 2026, instituted by Shree Ramkrishna Knowledge Foundation (SRKKF), the philanthropic arm of Shree Ramkrishna Exports (SRK), marked 20 years of honouring individuals who have made a lasting difference through compassion, service and leadership. The awards were presented recently in Surat.

This year’s Santokbaa Humanitarian Award was conferred on Padma Shri Dr. Gullapalli N. Rao, renowned Indian ophthalmologist and Founder-Chair of the LV Prasad Eye Institute, and Padma Shri Smt. Reema Nanavaty, development worker and Director of the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA). Their work has touched millions of lives through healthcare, empowerment and community development.

In a significant addition this year, SRKKF introduced the Social Entrepreneur Award to recognise leaders who combine business excellence with measurable social impact. The inaugural award was presented to Shri Srikanth Bolla, Founder of Bollant Industries, a sustainable manufacturing company known for disability-inclusive employment and environmentally responsible practices.

The event was graced by Chief Guest Shri Harivansh Narayan Singh, Hon’ble Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha and Guests of Honour Shri Harsh Sanghavi, Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister of Gujarat; along with several other distinguished personalities.

Established in 2006 by Shri Govind Dholakia, Founder & Chairman Emeritus of Shree Ramkrishna Exports Pvt. Ltd. and SRKKF, the award reflects the legacy of compassion and selfless values embodied by his mother, Santokbaa. Over the past two decades, it has become a platform to honour individuals whose lives and work continue to inspire society.

The awardees are selected through a rigorous and transparent process led by an independent jury comprising leaders from diverse fields. The 2026 jury included Shri Govindan Rangarajan, Director, Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru; Shri A.S. Kiran Kumar, Former Chairman, ISRO; Admiral R. Hari Kumar (Retd.), Former Chief of the Indian Navy; Shri Rishabh Shroff, Partner, Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas; and Shri Shreyans Dholakia, Entrepreneur and Brand Custodian, SRK.

Addressing the gathering, Chief Guest Shri Harivansh Narayan Singh said that the SRK Foundation is carrying forward Santokbaa’s legacy to the next generation by celebrating service, sacrifice and compassion over wealth or fame. He added that the family’s effort to connect this legacy with social entrepreneurship reflects the values of nation-building.

Shri Harsh Sanghavi said the Santokbaa Award reminds us that true achievement lies not only in personal success, but in bringing light and happiness to others. Shri Govind Dholakia said his mother Santokbaa spent her life guided by truth, love and compassion, and that her values continue to inspire the family’s work. He added that the award’s 20-year journey is a tribute to changemakers whose efforts have strengthened communities across the country.

Speaking on the honour, Dr. Gullapalli N. Rao said it was a privilege to receive the recognition on behalf of all those working to expand access to quality eye care. He said restoring sight restores dignity and opportunity, and praised SRK’s world-class operational systems. Smt. Reema Nanavaty said the award belonged to the millions of women whose resilience and entrepreneurial spirit continue to inspire SEWA’s mission. She noted that when women are empowered, they become agents of change for their families and communities. Shri Srikanth Bolla said his journey has shown that limitations often exist more in perception than reality, and that the award is a reminder that with the right support, every individual can contribute meaningfully to society.

Over the past 20 years, the Santokbaa Humanitarian Award has honoured 20 of India’s most distinguished humanitarian and social leaders, including Shri Ratan Tata, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Dr. Sudha Murty, Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla, Shri Shiv Nadar, Dr. Abhay Bang and Dr. Rani Bang, Dr. Verghese Kurien, Shri Kailash Satyarthi and Shri A.S. Kiran Kumar. With the introduction of the Social Entrepreneurship Award in 2026, the milestone celebration reaffirmed the importance of empathy, service and purposeful leadership in building a better future.

About Santokbaa Humanitarian Award:

Over the past 20 years, the Santokbaa Humanitarian Award has honoured 19 of India’s most distinguished humanitarian and social leaders, including Shri Ratan Tata, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Dr. Sudha Murty, Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla, Shri Shiv Nadar, Dr. Abhay Bang and Dr. Rani Bang, Dr. Verghese Kurien, Shri Kailash Satyarthi and Shri A.S. Kiran Kumar, among other eminent personalities. In 2026, SRKKF also instituted the Santokbaa Social Entrepreneurship Award, with Shri Srikanth Bolla becoming its inaugural recipient.

As the Santokbaa Humanitarian Award completed a remarkable 20-year journey, the milestone celebration reaffirmed the enduring importance of empathy, service and purposeful leadership in shaping a better future. The journey endures, contributing to nation-building through compassion, innovation and service to humanity.

For more information, visit: https://srk.foundation/honours

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