IndianGaurav

Mann Ki Baat · 26 July 2026

Episode 136

Episode 136 highlighted craft and music revivals in Kashmir and Tripura, a women's herbal tea brand from Bijnor, a Kerala teacher using football to teach Sanskrit, a Manipuri astrophysicist and hornbills returning to Gir.

4 people · 1 group · 1 place highlighted. Read the official English transcript.

Person · South Chittoor, Ernakulam, Kerala

Abhilash

A school teacher who runs a Sanskrit club. His project, Aksharakanduk, explains the letters of the Sanskrit alphabet through football terms, so pupils enjoy learning the language.

As described in Mann Ki Baat

Person · Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir

Ghulam Hussain and Tanzila

A father and daughter from Srinagar reviving the vagu, a Kashmiri floor mat hand-woven from marsh reeds and paddy straw that keeps rooms cool in summer and warm in winter. Others have joined them and the mats now sell beyond Kashmir.

As described in Mann Ki Baat

Group · Lakhiwala, Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh

Lakhiwala women's self-help group

Women from a self-help group in Lakhiwala village created Vidur Prerna, an herbal tea of lemongrass, giloy, liquorice, tulsi, raw turmeric and spices. Begun with one lakh rupees, the brand drew interest at the Prayagraj Mahakumbh and a food festival in Delhi.

As described in Mann Ki Baat

Place · Gir forest, Gujarat

Grey hornbills return to Gir

The Indian grey hornbill is nesting in Gir forest again after nearly 60 years, thanks to years of conservation and habitat restoration. Hornbills spread the seeds of the fruit they eat, helping new trees grow.

As described in Mann Ki Baat

Person · Manipur

Ronaldo Laishram

An astrophysicist from Manipur working in Japan, part of a team that found a huge cluster of young galaxies. He named it the Loktak Proto-cluster after Manipur's Loktak Lake, known for its floating islands of vegetation called phumdis.

Read the full profile →

Person · Tripura

Suraj Kumar Debbarma

A musician reviving the chongpreng, a three-stringed bamboo instrument of Tripura's tribal communities that young people had been losing interest in. He plays it alongside other traditional instruments and loves Kokborok folk songs.

As described in Mann Ki Baat