Ajay Chaturvedi

While many 'newsmakers' are catapulted to almost celebrity status overnight for doing hardly anything of acclaim, many others languish in the shadows despite living for others and helping change the lives of the underprivileged. Many of them remain mere footnotes to history, their extraordinary work almost snuffed out before the gale force of petty sensationalism that the world seems to find more 'interesting'. So here is an attempt to honour those who have done some extraordinary and selfless work in the society, bringing joy to hundreds of lives. This is a salute to the unsung heroes of 2012.

By Tenzin Yangdon | Yahoo! India News – Mon 26 Nov, 2012 4:05 PM IST

For an average person making tons of money to give it all up is tough. But ex-Citibanker Ajay Chaturvedi took a gamble and it is paying off.  In the two years since he started HarVa, which means 'Harnessing Value', he's already a name to reckon with in the social enterprise sector.

In a mad rush to succeed in the corporate world, what people don't see is the immense business opportunity in the less developed areas of India. Ajay was astute enough to sense the potential rural India offers. That's why he gave up a comfortable life, making loads to money in the West to return to India.

HarVa helps farmers in every aspect of farming- from understanding their land to what crops is cultivable to financial and logistical assistance. Ajay also started an all-woman BPO close to Gurgaon, providing them with a livelihood they never imagined. With its success, Ajay introduced another BPO in Rajasthan where the employees are the least you'd expect see- the ghoonghat-clad women.

Flashback 2012 »

  • Narendra Modi

    Narendra Modi

    From shaking up the very foundations of the Indian government to stirring up unseemly controversies, from showing incredible courage in the face of extreme adversities to losing a reputation built over years of hard work in just a blink of an eye, from setting the electoral hustings afire with golden speeches to getting into trouble for not speaking at all, there were many 'newsmakers' in 2012 who caught the common man's imagination. Some made it for stellar reasons, others for all there is wrong with the society. Here are 12 'newsmakers' that deserve a mention. More »

  • Kutch, Gujarat

    Kutch, Gujarat

    Trying to pick twelve travel destinations in India is a little like choosing the twelve best feathers on a peacock’s train, but pick we must. The most dramatic phenomenon we’ve observed in 2012 is the rising number of Indians choosing their own country for a great holiday. At one end of the spectrum, they are hitchhiking and backpacking. At the other they are patronising the most luxurious hotels and resorts once reserved for tourists brandishing wads of foreign exchange. Keen to experiment, they are experiencing everything from scuba-diving to cycling. Many are taking to wildlife and landscape photography with a passion. Here’s our selection of the 12 most captivating Indian holiday destinations of 2012. Feel free to argue but, most importantly, get up and pack! More »

  • Tendulkar’s 100th century

    Tendulkar’s 100th century

    Like any other year, this one too had its highs and lows, moments that captured the imagination for contrasting reasons. Here's a lowdown on what happened in the world of cricket in 2012. More »

  • Coalgate scam

    Coalgate scam

    It was an eventful year in the world of finance and business, one that actively involved all three actors: the government, people and even the common man. From violent employee agitations to controversial reform proposals and volatile economic indicators, we compile the twelve defining news events of 2012. More »

  • Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan

    Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan

    There was seldom a day which passed by without these celebs hogging the limelight. Here’s what they did More »