** Bilingual affair: Kerala woman enters India Book of Records for writing unique novel

When young writer Anju Sajith decided to utilise the pandemic-induced lockdown creatively, little did she know that her attempt would get her name etched on the prestigious India Book of Records. 


Recently, the Palakkad-native shared the Book of Records with the Tamil poet and writer Bho Manivannan, for developing a novel uniquely.

The duo wrote the chapters of the novel- Ven Tharishu Nilangal- in each other’s mother tongue. Anju penned some in Malayalam, and Manivannan wrote a section in Tamil as well. Within a month both of them released the full book in their regional language as well. Anju claims that the novel was an attempt to revive the art of writing during the lockdown days.

** For better or for verse

Having published 61 poems as part of her book, Echoes of Soulful Poems, this city-based 12-year-old has been conferred the title of ‘Youngest Poetess in India’ by the India Book of Records.

The lockdown due to the pandemic gave many opportunities to children to hone their creative skills. Some like Amana, a Class 8 student studying in Bishop Cotton Girls’ School, utilised the time to create a record in the field of literature.

The Bengaluru girl now holds the title of the  ‘Youngest Poetess in the India ’ by the Book of Records for publishing a book Echoes of Soulful Poems containing 61 poems, at the age of 12 years, five months and 10 days. Her work has also gotten recognised in the Asia Book of Records for which she has been given the title of the ‘Grand Master’ for writing poems at a young age. Her entry into the India Book of Records and Asia Book of Records were confirmed on July 26 and July 27, 2021, respectively.

** In a first, five women officers granted Colonel (Time Scale) ranks

The five women officers selected for Colonel (Time Scale) rank are Lieutenant Colonel Sangeeta Sardana from the Corps of Signals, Lieutenant Colonel Sonia Anand and Lieutenant Colonel Navneet Duggal from the Corps of EME and Lieutenant Colonel Reenu Khanna and Lieutenant Colonel Ritcha Sagar from the Corps of Engineers, the Army added.

** Indian yoga teacher in UAE sets 3 world records during COVID pandemic

She has set two records in the India Book of Records and one in the Canada Book of Records.

Bhagya Puttalingappa, a native of Karnataka, has been practising yoga since the age of eight and her childhood passion earned her not only a double place in the India Book of Records, but she also earned a spot in the Canada Book of Records.

In the India Book of Records, Bhagya holds one record for performing Shirshasana (head standing pose) on a chair for one minute and seven seconds and another record for performing the maximum yoga poses standing on her head for one minute.

** Junior World Championships: Indian grapplers return with a rich haul of medals

Indian girls won five medals including three silver medals.

In the 61kg category, Ravinder was the lone Indian to make it to the final only to lose Iranian rival Rahman Amouzadkhalili 9-3. Ravinder beat Levik Mikayelyan of Armenia 12-2 in the semifinals.

Yash (74kg), Gourav Baliyan (79kg), Pruthviraj Patil (92kg), Deepak (97kg), Anirudh (125kg) utilized the full use of the repechage round and went on to win bronze medals.