A Tamil Nadu boy was denied access to a library in his own neighbourhood; years after he helped open one in Coimbatore, the number of graduates in his community has risen from just 4 to 30

Photo courtesy: The New Indian Express When V Selvakumar was five years old, books had already become an important part of his life. He would visit a library in another part of his village in Tamil Nadu, drawn to the world that opened up through its pages. But years later, when he tried to ensure…

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Halloween Rituals: The Halloween ritual that claimed to reveal your future spouse: Halloween was once a night to predict whom you would marry, using nothing but an apple

Before costumes and candy, Halloween was a night for peering into the future. According to reports and folktales prevalent in several parts of the world, young people across the British Isles once used ordinary apples to answer one burning question: who will I marry? A long peel tossed over a shoulder, a bite at the…

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From blending initials and syllables to choosing names with a similar meaning, these creative ideas help parents honour dad while giving their little one a distinctive identity

Plenty of parents want a baby’s name to carry a little of the family with it, and dad’s name is often where the search begins. Naming a child exactly after him can get confusing at home, though, with two people answering to the same call. A gentler option is to weave in a thread, a…

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Afro-Asian Sand Snake: A snake last recorded in Gujarat’s Kutch in 1872 has been spotted again after more than 150 years, drawing attention to the region’s biodiversity and the rare reptile’s remarkable rediscovery

A routine evening patrol in Kutch has turned into one of the more unexpected wildlife stories of the year. According to the Gujarat Forest Department and reports by India Today, forest officers near Bhuj stumbled on a slim, fast-moving snake that hadn’t been conclusively recorded in the region for over 150 years. The reptile is…

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Alnwick Poison Garden: Inside England’s Alnwick Poison Garden, hundreds of dangerous plants grow behind locked gates, and visitors are warned not to touch, smell or taste them

Most gardens invite you to wander, sniff the roses and pick a flower. One of the most famous gardens in England does the exact opposite. Tucked away next to Alnwick Castle in Northumberland, the Poison Garden sits behind black iron gates that stay locked, and you can only go in with a guide. According to…

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David Attenborough Wildlife Documentary: Bristol woman’s garden features in David Attenborough’s wildlife documentary; cameras capture fox cubs, hedgehogs using hidden garden highways and frogs, revealing the extraordinary wildlife thriving in an ordinary urban backyard

You don’t need a nature reserve to see wildlife at its most fascinating. Sometimes all it takes is a small city garden, a pond and a few gaps in the fences. A Bristol woman named Louise, known as Lou, has found that out in the most spectacular way. Her garden stars in the second episode…

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Quote of the day by Vincent Van Gogh: “Occasionally, in times of worry, I’ve longed to be stylish, but on second thought I say no-just let me be myself-and express rough…”

Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh (Photo via Canva) Vincent van Gogh was a Dutch painter popularly known today for his works of art like The Starry Night and Sunflowers, made with the use of special and unique bold brushstrokes that continue to inspire art even today.He took up art seriously in his late twenties…

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Psychology study explains why people struggle to give away their grandparents’ old belongings, even when they no longer use them |

A cupboard full of unused crockery, an old grandfather’s watch or a stack of books inherited from a grandparent can take up space for years. The items may no longer fit into everyday life, yet the thought of donating them can feel surprisingly difficult. Even when families are trying to declutter, some belongings remain untouched…

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