Category: Cover Story

Rakhi Poddar, a 47-year-old artist and founder of Devtaru, is celebrated for her vibrant, emotion-driven paintings that capture the strength, equality and resilience of women.

 

Poddar also works as a spokesperson and is noted for her, often, themes surrounding femininity and art.As she says,” My relationship with art began long before I understood what art truly was. It emerged quietly and instinctively in childhood, at a time when colours spoke to me more deeply than words ever could. Some of my earliest and most cherished memories are tied to festivals, especially Diwali, when the floors of our home became open canvases. I would spend hours creating rangolis with vibrant powders, completely absorbed in the rhythm of colours flowing through my hands. Each finished design brought joy, and every smile or word of appreciation planted a small seed of confidence, affirming that this language of colour belonged to me.”

From a very young age, Rakhi was constantly drawn to blank spaces white paper, empty corners, any surface that invited expression. ” I was particularly fascinated by women’s faces and their emotions. The strength hidden within softness, the stories reflected in eyes, and the quiet power of expressions pulled me towards portraiture.” Alongside this, she developed a deep love for black and white. Charcoal, with its rawness and depth, fascinated her. She still remembers her first charcoal pencil, gifted by her mama from America.

With it, she began sketching women’s faces strong yet gentle, expressive yet silent.” As she remembers, ” To my surprise, these works were appreciated by everyone around me, and my skills gradually began to evolve.”

 

Experimentation became an essential part of her journey. She loved exploring new materials, understanding textures, and mastering light, shade, contrast, and tonal depth through sketching. As she grew older, her commitment to art deepened. She actively participated in school competitions, learning discipline, patience, and observation. As she quips,” My mother played a significant role in shaping my artistic outlook. Though out a science student, her precise diagrams taught me that creativity and structure can beautifully coexist.

 

Driven by passion, I pursued formal art training in Delhi—a transformative phase that refined my technique and broadened my vision. Art became not just something I practiced, but something I lived. Life later brought a pause through marriage and responsibilities, yet art never left me. When I finally picked up the brush again, it felt like a rebirth. By then, my practice of Nichiren Daishonin Buddhism had infused my work with deeper intention, positivity, and purpose.”

AWARDS & ACCOLADES

Over time, her journey was recognised through meaningful milestones, including the Savvy Excellence Award (2017), Kala Gaurav Award (2018), participation as a spokesperson at the Women’s Summit (2019), and the Society Achiever Award in 2025. “Today, I work primarily with acrylics, creating vibrant, meditative, and nature-inspired paintings that bring calm, balance, and positivity into living spaces. My journey continues not only as an artist, but as a guide for aspiring creatives believing that art, like life, is not about perfection, but about sincerity.”

(For more details  follow Rakhi Poddar at Instagram :devtarubyrakhi)

Delhi, 26 Oct 2025:

The Indo-British Friendship Celebration Conclave organized in New Delhi by Prime Communication and mentored by Guru ji Shrii Arnav of Gemstone Universe was a super successful & significant move towards building up a new relationship between the young minds & entrepreneurs of both the nations.

 

 

Held at the Executive Club & Resort in New Delhi, the conclave was conceptualised to celebrate the 4th anniversary of the “Indo-British Friendship Forum”, which was founded by Preeti Puja in 2021, who is also the co-founder of Prime Communication Media.

 

 

🎙️ Key Note Speakers present at the conclave-

* Guru Ji Shrii Arnav, who shared his valuable thoughts on Indo- British Relationship (virtually)

* Present on the dias were-

*Sonia Gupta, world-renowned Relantionship & Divorce Mentor ( London)

* Professor Dr. Parin Somani (CEO, LOSD, UK)

* Bollywood Celebrity Dietitian Shikha Agarwal Sharma

* Founder of Naad Foundation, Nishi Singh

* President Award Winner Dr. Bharti Taneja, Founder Alps Beauty Group

* Dr. Rita Gangwani, International Beauty Pageant Groomer & Lifestyle Coach.

 

 

🤝 Key Conclusions and Proposals-

A significant conclusion was reached that the collective activities of successful entrepreneurs from both countries across various fields will further strengthen the friendship between India and the UK, and at the same time, play a decisive role in the direction of empowering youth at the global level.

It was also stated that successful entrepreneurs in India and the UK possess both achievements and a vision for the future for empowerment.

 

Dignitries who were present at the conclave & participated in the Indo-British talk & Power Walk –

 

Officials from the Embassy of the USA, K L Ganju from Union of Comoros, Tajakistan DCM, Dr Mazin CDA Arab League Mission, Lady Singham Kiran Sethi, BJP Leader Ruby Yadav, Global Bharat Brand Ambassador & BJL Leader Dr Vijay Jolly, Dr Gaurav Gupta, Dr Rashmi Saluja, Asma Gulzar, Nikita Arya, Celebrity Influencer & Actress DK, G S Chhabra, Dolly Chhabra & Sylvie Rodgers to name a new.

 

Says Guru ji Shrii Arnav, ” This gathering is not merely ceremonial — it is symbolic of the bridges we are building across continents, rooted in wisdom, dharma, and leadership. Events like these are seeds for a better world order — one where East and West walk together, with mutual respect and shared legacy.”

 

 

Few highlights of Indo – British Relationship from history –

When science from London meets silence from Varanasi

When Queen Elizabeth welcomes Dr. Radhakrishnan

When Phantom and Vikram-Betaal laughed at colonial confusion

When we realize that Jekyll and Hyde were only catching up to Shiva and Shakti

Shahnaz Husain is the first women in 104 years to receive the ‘World’s Greatest Women Entrepreneur Award’ from the Success Group, USA.

 

When people hear the name Shahnaz Husain, they don’t just think of cosmetics; they think of heritage, vision, and an unwavering belief that ancient traditions could speak to modern beauty seekers around the globe.

 

Born into a family deeply rooted in culture and learning, Shahnaz Husain dared to dream differently. At a time when synthetic creams and chemical-laden lotions filled the shelves, she turned to Ayurveda, India’s age-old system of healing, believing that real beauty should be natural, holistic, and therapeutic. What began as a small experiment blossomed into something extraordinary.

 

Today, as the Chairperson and Managing Director of the Shahnaz Husain Group of Companies, she leads a global empire that includes salons, spas, beauty training academies, retail outlets, and over 380 carefully crafted formulations. Her products, enriched with herbs, flowers, precious minerals, and oils, have redefined luxury for countless customers across the world.

Yet, Shahnaz Husain’s story isn’t just about business success; it’s about conviction and courage. Unlike most brands that thrive on glossy ad campaigns, she chose a path rarely taken. Relying on word-of-mouth, genuine results, and her own charisma, she built an international brand without commercial advertising — a feat so remarkable that it became a Harvard Business School case study. Today, management students at Harvard study her journey as part of their “Emerging Markets” curriculum, while she has also shared her story at places like the University of Oxford, London School of Economics, MIT, and even in the historic halls of the British Parliament.

 

From treating common skin and hair concerns to developing the Chemoline range — products designed to soothe and heal the effects of chemotherapy, which she donates to cancer patients free of cost — Shahnaz’s work is as compassionate as it is innovative. Her luxury lines, like the 24-Carat Gold, Diamond, Pearl, and Plant Stem Cell ranges, have enchanted customers everywhere, while her Germ Fight and Just Me collections bring nature-inspired wellness into everyday lives.

 

But the secret to her brand’s global success is more than what’s inside the jar — it’s the story behind it. When Shahnaz first stepped into the international market during the Festival of India in London, her products sold out so quickly that the team had to send an urgent shipment from India to refill empty shelves. At Galeries Lafayette in Paris, faced with a sales target to secure a permanent counter, she flew in Kashmiri carpets from Delhi, offering them as gifts to customers who purchased a certain amount. The result? A buying frenzy and a permanent spot in the iconic store. These stories aren’t just anecdotes; they capture the fearless creativity that has defined her journey.

Beyond her products, Shahnaz has always believed in empowering others. Decades ago, she pioneered vocational beauty training in India, making professional education accessible to thousands of women long before formal beauty schools existed. She encouraged housewives to open salons from their homes, giving them a chance at financial independence. Through her free training courses, she’s helped the visually and hearing impaired, acid attack survivors, and countless underprivileged women transform their lives. Her book on beauty has even been published in Braille.

 

Her dedication has earned her countless accolades: from the Padma Shri, awarded by the Government of India, to being named the “World’s Greatest Woman Entrepreneur” by Success, a U.S. business magazine — the first woman in 104 years to receive the Honor. She has also received the Kotler Award from the World Marketing Summit, the IWEC Award for Global Woman Entrepreneur, and multiple Honors in the British Parliament, to name just a few. Today, Shahnaz Husain’s products sit proudly on the shelves of luxury stores like Harrods and Selfridges in London, Galeries Lafayette in Paris, Bloomingdale’s in New York, and the Seibu chain in Japan. But what truly makes her brand special is not just where it is sold, but what it stands for: a belief in nature, heritage, and the power of staying true to your roots.

 

After more than five decades, the name Shahnaz Husain remains more than just a brand — it’s a testament to vision, resilience, and the idea that one person’s faith in their culture can make the world listen.

Akassh K Aggarwal, has broken these forced norms, and expresses himself unequivocally as a TEDXSPEAKER, ” He is an LGBTQIA+ Rights Activist, who through the power of his heart rendering “LifeStories” has helped the society identify and confront its biases towards the community.

 

During many years of his work in Social Empowerment, he has made significant impact through his policy work in past with NHRC, Police Departments and many other Educational Institutions. He represents voice of the LGBTQIA+ community through his guest appearances in various TV debates and National Public Events….a well known social media Influencer, Bollywood Accessory Designer worked with Various Celebrities such as SushmitaSen, Gauhar khan , Swara Bhaskar, Mandira Bedi, Zeenat Aman, Laxmi Aggarwal and various other on many #Feminist Inspired Fashion Shows….Is now Currently Running an Initiative- #PRIDEINDIA ”

 

Being an active and vocal LGBT person, I always like to enhance public knowledge and sensitivity towards our community says Designer Aggarwal.

 

“self-acceptance is the key to fighting all the battles in the journey of those in the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) community. He also feels people must not seek any approval or acceptance while coming out of the closet, he Further Adds – am as mainstream as anyone else in our society. It’s enough that the LGBT people have been sidelined…. Coming from a land as diverse as India, I am so proud of my identity,” Aggarwal told Our Editor in an interview here. “Self-acceptance is a key to fight all the battles in a journey of an LGBT person. When you are sharing who you are, you are just expressing your sexuality, so don’t seek approval or acceptance. Be willing to give them (others) their Space and time to understand you, Be kind to the ignorant Cis- gender society and understand the world will not be kind enough to you buy tht should not make h a bitter person, instead work from the space of empathy and move forward asserting your choices like never before…

Lastly Akassh Says-

It Can be Lonely, But it’s All Worth It!!!

 

Own- up to who you are and how you wish to be, breaking stereotypes and normative Binnary World’s Myth, #BeeYou..Even if No One believes in You- YOU DOO….
Loving yourself can help you in your #Internal journey toward #happiness #Gratification and #acceptance …In fact, you can think of #selflove as a form of #selfcare , which is often underrated in its impact,”…

 

From poets like rupikaur to icons like madonna sushmitasen and oprah, these people are powerful becoz they Practice self-love and Tht makes them #unique and winning in every #situation they have in life….

 

“It’s all about falling in love with yourself and sharing that love with someone who #appreciates #you, rather than looking for love to compensate for a self love deficit.”….
I now see how owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing that we will ever do to ourselves- LETS DO IT TOGETHER….
I am Very much proud of my identity as an Indian and equally stand by my orientation as a Queer person and will fight for equal citizenship Rights in this great Nation till the last living hours so tht the coming generationcan have a more equal opportunity tht they have missed on….of social construct can be difficult, lonely and tiresome tooo… but Trust mee It’s All Worth it..
Remember never to compromise with your self worth!!!

There is No way forward without you believing in yourself…. Aekla chalo re!!!!

Beauty & The Best Miss/Mrs/Mr India Title Winner Mr. India 2023 Saksham Kapoor

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Meenakshi Mohanty is a Delhi-based fitness enthusiast and a mentor, who has been dabbling in holistic fitness for numerous years. She has been responsible for transforming the definition of fitness for clients ranging from millennials to homemakers, among others. Her unique training style combines a gamut of exercises across paradigms to promote the most comprehensive and healthy lifestyles amongst the conscious-dwellers. As a fitness expert, she advocates the importance of a collaborated approach to establish a connection between the mind, body, and spirit, and inculcates the same in her fitness regimen.

Mohanty is responsible for combining her in-depth knowledge and on-ground expertise in Pilates, Calisthenics, Functional training, Aerobics, Kick-boxing, Resistance/Strength Training, and Power Yoga to create – “An ideal workout that builds rejuvenation instead of exhaustion.” Her customised regimens help her aspirants cultivate physical strength with a focus on core-building, flexibility and posture, alongside a resounding mental awareness. Her innovative approach has empowered women who weighed more than 70 kgs to reduce naturally without any machines or medicines.

 

Menakshi Mohanty self-practices a sincere lifestyle that helps her mentees self-affirm body positivity and adopt self-acceptance. Hailing from Odisha, she firmly believes that “fitness enthusiasts need to work towards attaining a deeper understanding of their own body, and adopt an inside-out approach that builds one’s mental health while it sculpts the body, instead of aping fads followed by others.”. Her motto and vision are assisting individuals – youngsters, homemakers, new moms, and a myriad of others – to embark upon a novel journey of self-discovery and acceptance by combining a plethora of fitness regimens.

 

As an honour to her exemplary work in the field of fitness, Meenakshi has been conferred with Awards for outstanding achievement for excellence in Fitness Training by WEAA India Awards 2020, Fitness Designer & Social Activists by Trendspire in 2020, Award of Honour by MentorX 2020 and 2021, 5th Dr.Sarojini Naidu International Awards for women in 2021 and Influential Indians Awards, 2021 by Crazy Tales, Women Prestige Awards 2021 by Lions Club Delhi Veg, She was also been nominated for the very prestigious Nari Shakti – India’s top 100 women’s conclave and awards 2020. In 2021, she received the prestigious WoWomen from MentorX, a global recognition and in 2023 she was honoured with the COWE International Women’s day Award When she’s not eating, breathing, and sleeping fitness, Meenakshi is driven by her commitment towards holistic socio-economic upliftment. She is associated with an NGO, which is focussed on girl-child development. Very recently, she was invited by an NGO, namely Ray of Hope to be Jury member for their unique initiative – Ms India Cancer Warriors. Furthermore, she also took multiple struggling families in Delhi and Mumbai under her wings and nurtured them during the lockdown.