The Rise of a Teenage Tech Titan

In Kochi, 15-year-old Uday Shankar is transforming the world of artificial intelligence. As the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Urav Advanced Learning Systems Pvt Ltd, Uday’s journey from a school dropout to an AI innovator is a thrilling tale of passion, perseverance, and impressive achievements.

The Summer of Choices

Imagine 10-year-old Uday standing at a crossroads between swimming lessons and robotics classes. “It all started during my summer vacation,” Uday recalls with a grin. “My mom gave me a choice, so I chose robotics.” Instead of relaxing with a typical summer pastime, Uday plunged into the world of tech. That summer decision? It was like choosing between a splash and a leap into the future.

Turning a Pandemic Pause into a Fast-Forward Play

When the world hit pause due to the pandemic, Uday hit fast forward. With schools closed, he immersed himself in Python programming, learning from YouTube tutorials and a Bellary Institute professor. He also completed the Certificate of Completion of Prerequisite Course for Serious Game Development with AI from MIT and the Certificate in Python for Machine Learning Neural Networks and Deep Learning from IIT Kanpur. His drive led to groundbreaking projects like 3rDi 4 All, an app designed to assist the visually-impaired, which was selected for the Kerala Government’s Young Innovator Programme. For Uday, what seemed like the world closing doors was an invitation to innovate.

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As the dawn breaks over the vibrant tapestry of India, the first rays of sunlight illuminate the dreams and aspirations etched on the faces of millions of young Indians. As we approach International Youth Day on 12 August and our 78th Independence Day on 15 August, it’s time to reflect on these dreams — dreams that pulse with hope but are often threatened by the harsh realities of our society.

Breaking Societal Shackles

Our youth are ensnared in a web of stereotypes and societal expectations that equate success solely with white-collar jobs. This narrow definition stifles creativity and smothers innovation, forcing countless young minds into paths that do not align with their passions. Picture Priya, a vibrant soul with an artist’s heart, coerced into the rigid confines of engineering because it’s deemed more ‘respectable’. Her palette of dreams is muted, her aspirations silenced. It’s time to shatter these shackles and celebrate diverse careers that honour individual talents and passions.

Cultivating Policies: From Blueprint to Reality

Imagine a garden, lush with potential, yet marred by the choking weeds of inadequate policies. Government initiatives, despite their noble intentions, often wither in the face of poor implementation. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 promises a revolution in education, but without proper execution, it remains a blueprint gathering dust.

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Imagine this: you’re lying back on a cool night, gazing up at the stars, when suddenly, a streak of light zooms across the sky! But wait, it’s not just any shooting star, it’s a UFO! Buckle up, because we’re about to embark on a journey into the mysterious world of Unidentified Flying Objects.

So what exactly is a UFO? It’s anything up there in the sky that leaves you scratching your head. From bizarre lights flickering in the darkness to saucer-shaped spacecraft whizzing past, UFOs have fascinated us for eons, raising the age-old question: Are we truly alone in the vast cosmos?

In 2020, the Pentagon dropped a bombshell, releasing three Navy videos showcasing unidentified aerial phenomena. These jaw-dropping clips set tongues wagging, hinting at something beyond our comprehension.

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World Day Against Child Labour is an annual event observed on 12 June every year. It is dedicated to raising awareness and taking action against the exploitation of children in the workforce. The theme for the 2024 campaign, “Let’s Act on Our Commitments: End Child Labour!”, underscores the urgent need to fulfill our promises and obligations to eradicate child labour globally.

This significant day commemorates the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the ILO (International Labour Organization) Convention No. 182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labour in 1999, a landmark treaty that became the first ILO Convention to be universally ratified in 2020. This convention represents a crucial step towards eliminating the most egregious forms of child labour and ensuring the protection of children’s rights.

Child labour is defined as the exploitation of children through any form of work that deprives them of their childhood, interrupts their education, or harms their physical, mental, or social development. It remains a pressing issue worldwide.

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