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Open Heart', Bangalore (2026)

12/07/2024

In a bustling world, where each second counts the line between life and death drawn by swiftness and precision, there exists a group of unsung heroes, silently steering the chaos to save lives. Among them is that of an ambulance driver, whose dedication, sacrifice, and resilience are overshadowed by blaring sirens and flashing lights. Let me take you on a journey through the eyes of one such ambulance driver, dedicating over seven years of his life to this noble profession.

“Before becoming an ambulance driver, I was a social worker with a political party where my leader had entrusted me with this job. For me, this is not just an employment but a service to humanity.”

Every day, he serves the sense of duty and compassion knowing that lives depend on his response. For him, the whole of 24 hours own him completely, any day, anytime, anywhere.

“One particular incident that stands out in my memory is the day I saved a young girl’s life from a venomous snake bite. I managed to reach her just in time, making the difference between life-and-death with just 5-10 minutes, almost as if I was racing against time.”

He also mentioned some of the challenges they face. Despite their best efforts, they often face hostility and indifference from both the public and officials. In moments of tragedy, they find themselves unfairly blamed and penalized, even while adhering to traffic rules. A harsh reality that shows the sacrifices they make, often at the expense of their personal and family lives.

He felt really upset talking about how the public makes their job harder. With traffic getting worse each day, it’s tougher than ever to get patients to hospitals on time. He can’t go faster than 80 kmph, adding to the difficulty of reaching destinations quickly.

From my conversation with him, it is clear that the life of an ambulance driver is one of selflessness and dedication. It is time we recognize and appreciate their tireless efforts, for the guardians of life on road.

Covered by

28/06/2024

Today and every day, we stand together to celebrate the diversity and strength of the LGBTQIA community.

Let's continue to promote equality, respect, and love for all.
+ # Pride 🌈

22/03/2024

“I am Manoranjan Byapari, currently serving as the MLA for Balagarh, West Bengal, and this is my Open Heart Story.

If I have to recall, my journey has been quite diverse; I started as a gatekeeper in a crematorium in Kanker in Chhattisgarh, worked as a laborer, and even ran a tea stall. But my motivation to change my life came from a tragic incident - when I watched my elder sister die due to hunger.

I then ventured into cities like Darjeeling, Guwahati, Lucknow, and Banaras, where I did labor work but felt unfulfilled. I eventually returned to Kolkata and became a sociopolitical activist. Despite not having formal education, I gained global acclaim for my Dalit literature. In the Naxal movement, I served time in prison, where I found inspiration from fellow inmates and a guard to study and write.

In Kolkata, I started by pulling a hand rickshaw and later transitioned to driving one. A chance encounter with Mahasweta Devi, a renowned writer who fought for the rights of tribals, transformed my life. Sparking a conversation, I asked her the meaning of the word “jijivisha”. She not only explained the word to me but also took an interest in my story and struggles. She asked me to write a piece for her journal, 'Bartika'. This meeting with Mahasweta Devi marked a turning point in my life.

After my articles in 'Bartika' gained attention, I became recognized across Bengal. Joining the Left Party to advocate for laborers, I later left due to unacknowledged concerns and joined the TMC while working as a librarian.

The Chief Minister recognised my impact on the people of my area, and offered me an opportunity to represent them. Now, as the MLA of Balagarh, I am humbled by the trust and support of the people in my constituency. Had I not crossed paths with Mahasweta Devi on that fateful day, perhaps I would still be driving a rickshaw in Kolkata today. I can proudly say that my journey has been one of resilience and transformation, and I am committed to making a difference in the lives of those I serve.”

Credits:

22/11/2023

On our latest edition of My Open Heart Story: A Testament to Perseverance, Overcoming Adversity, and Finding Fulfillment in a Lifelong Passion for Football.

Here's the story of P.G. Raju, a retired football player and a dedicated coach for AGORC FC, and his inspiring story of being on the field for over 3 decades!

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cz6CoFFK1H6/?igshid=ODhhZWM5NmIwOQ==

13/12/2021

Hello Josephites!

We at Open Heart, are thrilled to announce that we’ve partnered up with Tipplr!
Tipplr is here to bring you the best deals and discounts from the best food and drink joints in the city!
We’re excited for us, are you?

Design Credits : ._.rajpal

#2021

31/01/2021

AGE IS JUST A NUMBER, AND WHAT WE DO WITH THAT NUMBER IS ALL THAT MATTERS.
Aditya Arora-The FAAD guy, a man of many hats, who began his journey at 17 from being an intern to an entrepreneur, and with his constant perseverance has been nominated as ‘India’s Youngest Padma Shri Nominee’.
"Learning everything at a young age wasn’t that easy, as people consider. I belonged to a normal family that has no entrepreneurs. My parents wanted me to either pursue a masters or MBA. Convincing my parents and managing this job along with college was difficult for me. I have multiple priorities to focus on. Not even in my wildest dream did I think of becoming the CEO of FAAD. I started working with FAAD as an intern, but as time passed, I started conducting events with FAAD and was growing with this network and became the face of FAAD. In 2017, our company shifted to investments. We invest in startups, thus helping young entrepreneurs to get a chance to bring a change in the society. As I started working, I realised the importance of education, this made me start my most famous campaign of ‘Education Yatra’, a campaign aiming to enhance a child’s abilities, with a holistic approach. Starting this campaign wasn’t easy, I had to work extra hours, I used to do stand up comedy in order to fund this initiative. In a short period of time I taught 1500 children in 50+ villages and sub districts of South Delhi. I was awarded with Microsoft Top 15 Changemakers in the country below the age of 20, received Duke of Edinburgh’s International and Meritorious Award from Mrs Sumitra Mahajan for Education Yatra. In 2019, I was awarded with REX Karamveer Chakra by UN & iCongo after which I joined Delhi Government’s scheme for Entrepreneurship named Entrepreneurship Mindset Curriculum, as one of the Ambassadors. 8 lakh children studied about entrepreneurship under this scheme. In 2020, I was nominated for Padma Shri Award by the Government of Delhi, for the same. My inspiration to start all this, was to do something different. I wanted to explore more as every experience added in creating who I am today".

04/01/2021

"DO NOT WHINE, TAKE PAIN & THERE COMES THE SUCCESS"
Its been 7 years in the music industry where I was able to fit between styles and shred genres which always created an ambience of celebration for all music lovers. I am Rubesh who is also known as DJ QUINIXO from a small nuclear family, born and brought up in Bangalore, literally the City of celebrations. Being a DJ has always been my career goal. When I was 12, I used to download songs and keep it idle, until I was motivated to grow my knowledge in the field of music to be a crazy DJ. When I started my career as a DJ I was mocked by people and had to go through many hardships although my music spread positivity. My idea of being a DJ totally changed after I knew more about the use of social media. With the great response received from crowds, my path was laid to becoming DJ QUINIXO.
I have been a DJ for the past 4 years with the support of my co-partner named padmanabhan and have played at clubs like TAJ, SHERLOCKS, HYATT CENTERIC, ROYAL ORCHID and many more. We spin tracks for schools and colleges like St.John's high, Presidency University, St.Joseph's College , East point engineering college, MLAC, MES college and various other institutions across south India. The best response received so far were at 2 college fests held at St.Joseph's which gave me my deserved recognition and worked as a reminder to those very people who mocked me once, now seen cheering for me. The toughest battle was knowing I have the potential but not able to but not getting an opportunity from convincing organizers to push passes. "Everyone in this world has ups and downs in life, but I always relate this to my music because when the music goes down, I know it's time to drop the beat"

20/12/2020

Goa Chitra
Goa Chitra is an ethnographic museum situated in the coastal village of Benaulim in Goa—founded by artist/curator/restorer Victor Hugo Gomes. Victor was inspired to restore the culture and heritage of the area by the stories his blind grandmother narrated. Victor was a student of restoration in Lucknow for three years. In 1992, Victor returned when the Indo-Portuguese houses were being demolished for concrete monstrosities, where they abandoned most of their old furniture, stone grinders, stone rollers etc. He started collecting them and other architectural castaways for Goa Chitra, with his collection being from antique dealers mainly. He still found a lot more from the different homes he restored. One of the most shocking things he found in a few of the houses were skeletons, bones and foetuses saved and probably kept by the mother in the memory of the child. The first-ever piece that he collected was an old grinder, it earned up, and he had to grout it to the ground to fix it, with which he built his first shed to restore it, later becoming a museum. He spent every last penny on objects and even whent to the extent to sell his properties and cars but still couldn’t manage to collect over a thousand items. All the objects that Victor collected were derived from natural substances, which would die someday. He stated that his museum is an old home and he is just prolonging the death of these objects. His idea is to develop and make miniatures of these objects with similar knowledge and technology so that they last for another 200 years, for a researcher or a student to have an adultered story. One of the dreams of Goa Chitra is to create things which go to back to the soil, after all, we are its custodians, and we should restore for future generations, not just the objects but also the culture. He has opened two more museums after Goa Chitra with a dream to convert it into a School of Culture.

Like to know more details about the place ? watch "A potrait of a Goan collector"

07/12/2020

“Try. Try as many times as it takes to succeed”

The journey to where I am today was long and it was not easy. I belonged to a financially weak family and so I could not afford to buy boots or gear to play. I used to have one ball, battered and beaten up that I used to take everywhere. I started out being a ball boy for football tournaments in the region and eventually I started playing for my school team and this is where my life turned around.

I had failed for a subject in my 12th standard because I was busy playing and following my dreams. My failure never stopped me. I used my hobby of photography to pay my college fees and buy playing equipments. In college I became a part of Kerala University Football Team and the India University Football Team as well. After my degree in Mar Thoma College, Thiruvalla, I studied physical education in YMCA College under the Madras University. Later, I went on to pursue M.Phil and received Doctorate in Physical Education in 2002. I learned physical education at a time when it was not popular and there was no hope of getting a stable job. However I was able to get a job at the very college that I studied my degree in and retired from there in 2016 as the HOD of the Physical Education department.

I was able to form the first women’s football team in my district. From there on I received a lot of recognition in the field of sports. Today I am the President of the District Football Association, I have been deputed as the Assistant Technical co-ordinator of 35th National Games in Kerala in 2015 and I am also a member of state Olympic Association Committee. I still coach kids who come to me through summer camps and train the state team as well.

Standing where I am today and looking down at the trail I feel that I have achieved everything I dreamt of only through sheer hard work and perseverance. Always have faith in your own abilities and do not let any other person tell you that it’s impossible.

14/11/2020

The ceaseless music of the myriad falls and the hush of the densely wooded forest surrounding it lend a special charm to the small hamlet of Athirapally which has been drawing holidaymakers and filmmakers. The Athirapally Waterfalls are situated about 76 km from the city of Kochin ,easily accessible via road. There are three major options for one to take while going to the falls: Chalagudi, Valparai and Angamaly. All these three roads lead to the Athirapally Falls.

Remember Aishwariya Rai dancing in the rains to the famous song ‘Barso re megha megha’? Or the song ‘Behne de’ from Raavan where much of the first few shots are dominated by the mesmerizing falls in the background? Both of the songs are shot against the backdrop of the Athirapally falls. The scenic road winding along the backwaters of the Sholayar Dam is equally fascinating. Mudalvan, Guru, Raavan and Baahubali were other blockbusters filmed in these pristine surroundings.

Athirappilly Waterfalls is fondly called as “The Niagara of India”. It is also the largest waterfalls in Kerala. Interestingly, the region is a home to four kinds of Great Indian Hornbill. The forest reserve is also a habitat of elephants, bisons, tigers, leopards and many other animals. The place resonates with birdsong, orchestrated by hundreds of winged creatures, especially the mellifluous song of the Malabar Whistling Thrush. The protected lush green regions around Athirappilly is famous for jungle safaris. The diverse species of birds and animals along with the tourist places like Vazhachal Falls, Thumboormuzhy Dam and Athirappilly Falls make it a best eco-tourism spot. This magnificent falls also formed the enchanting visuals of Kerala Tourism’s ad campaign in the late eighties beckoning all and sundry to God’s Own Country.

There have been times when hydroelectric projects were being sanctioned in the region which would have completely cut off the source of the falls, leading to the decimation of a true wonder of nature. Thankfully the locals fought tooth and nail and reversed the decision of the government, thus helping preserve the falls intact with all its forest cover.

Open Heart'

12/07/2024

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