Surabhi: The Fragrance That Turned Postcards into a National Phenomenon

In the 1990s, when Indian homes had just one television set and Sunday mornings belonged undisputedly to Doordarshan, a gentle voice would announce: "Namaste… swagat hai aapka Surabhi mein."  

And with that simple greeting from Siddharth Kak and Renuka Shahane's warm smile, millions of Indians were transported into a weekly celebration of their own country's astonishing diversity.

Surabhi was never just a television programme. It was a national movement disguised as a cultural magazine show.

From remote villages in Manipur to fishing hamlets in Kerala, from the apple orchards of Himachal to the tea gardens of Assam, people sat down on the floor in front of black-and-white sets (or the prized new colour ones) to watch ordinary Indians doing extraordinary things with their heritage. A potter in Kumartuli shaping Durga idols. A Theyyam dancer in full trance. A Baul singer lost in ecstasy. A master weaver in Kanchipuramaking silk speak. Surabhi didn't just show India to Indians – it made every viewer feel that the entire country was one large joint family.

And the family wrote back. In lakhs.

In 1993, a single week saw 14 lakh postcards flood the Surabhi office – a deluge so massive that the Andheri post office in Mumbai ran out of storage space. Siddharth Kak later recalled getting frantic calls from postmasters: "We have no place to keep them, no vans to deliver them!" He ended up hiring tempos himself to ferry sacks of mail. The humble 15-paise inland letter and postcard, meant originally for farmers' schemes, was being "misused" on an industrial scale by an entire nation desperate to participate in a TV quiz.

India Post, in an unprecedented move, created an entirely new category: the ₹2 Competition Postcard, specially designed for quiz shows and contests. It remains one of the few instances in world postal history where a television programme literally forced a national postal service to invent a new product.

That record-breaking 14 lakh letters in one week earned Surabhi a proud entry in the Limca Book of Records – still unbeaten for the highest documented viewer response in Indian television history.

What makes the phenomenon even more extraordinary is that nobody planned it.

There were no marketing budgets, no SMS voting, no social media campaigns, no TRP anxiety, no celebrity endorsements (except the utterly butterly delicious Amul girl who quietly sponsored the show for years). There was only sincere storytelling, two hosts who treated viewers like extended family, and content so rich that people felt compelled to respond – with ink, paper, and a 25-paise stamp (later ₹2).

Every week the show ended with Renuka Shahane reading out letters: a child from Nagaland sending a drawing, a grandmother from Rajasthan sharing a folk recipe, a college student in Shillong suggesting a topic. Winners received prizes as simple as a book or a cassette, yet the joy of seeing your name on national television was priceless. Surabhi turned passive viewers into active participants in cultural preservation.

The show ran gloriously from the early 1990s to 2001 (with a brief pause in 1991), clocking over 415 episodes – making it the longest-running cultural programme in Indian television history. It moved homes from Doordarshan to Star Plus in its final years, but its heart remained firmly in that simple DD studio where Siddharth Kak and Renuka Shahane sat cross-legged on the floor, as if they were in your living room.

Today, when algorithms decide what we watch and outrage travels faster than light, Surabhi feels like a gentle reminder of a kinder time – when a television show could unite a billion people not through controversy, but through curiosity, pride, and love for their own culture.

On World Television Day, we salute Surabhi – the fragrance that still lingers in the hearts of everyone who ever rushed to buy a postcard on Sunday evening, carefully wrote their quiz answers in the best handwriting they could manage, and posted it with a prayer on Monday morning.

Because somewhere in this country, there are still cupboards and old trunks where yellowing Surabhi postcards are kept like treasured family heirlooms.

And that, more than any TRP or award, is the real record that will never be broken.

#WorldTelevisionDay #Surabhi #IndianCulture #Nostalgia #Doordarshan #SiddharthKak #RenukaShahane #ClassicTV #IncredibleIndia

Kyoto: The Eternal Heart of Japan That Still Whispers to the Soul

In a country that races toward the future with bullet trains and towering skylines, Kyoto remains the quiet, unbreakable thread connecting modern Japan to its ancient soul. With 17 UNESCO World Heritage sites, over a thousand temples and shrines, and traditions that have endured for centuries, this former imperial capital is where time slows down and beauty becomes almost overwhelming. Here, golden pavilions shimmer on mirror-like ponds, vermilion torii gates climb sacred mountains, and geiko (the correct Kyoto term for geisha) glide through lantern-lit alleys as they have for generations.

Whether draped in delicate pink cherry blossoms in spring or ablaze with crimson maples in autumn, Kyoto is Japan at its most poetic.

Your Perfect 7-Day Kyoto Journey

 Day 1 – Arrival & First Taste of Magic

Land at Kansai International Airport (KIX) and take the speedy Haruka Express straight to Kyoto Station – an architectural marvel in itself. Drop your bags and head immediately to Fushimi Inari Taisha. Arriving in the late afternoon means you'll catch the famous thousands of vermilion torii gates bathed in golden hour light with far fewer crowds. Begin the climb through the tunnels of gates; even if you only go halfway up Mount Inari, the atmosphere is spellbinding. End your first day with a gentle walk through Southern Higashiyama – the streets of Ninenzaka and Sannen-zaka feel like stepping onto the set of a samurai film, with wooden machiya houses and tiny shops selling everything from matcha sweets to handmade ceramics.

 Day 2 – Bamboo Cathedrals and Riverside Serenity

Rise early for Arashiyama on Kyoto's western edge. The moment you step into the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove at opening time, you'll understand why it's one of the most photographed places in Japan – sunlight filters through towering green stalks, creating an otherworldly cathedral of bamboo. Visit the UNESCO-listed Tenryu-ji Temple and its sublime garden, then cross the iconic Togetsukyo Bridge. A short hike up to the Iwatayama Monkey Park rewards you with mischievous snow monkeys and panoramic views over the city. In the evening, wander narrow Pontocho Alley – one of the most atmospheric dining streets in Japan – where lantern-lit restaurants overhang the Kamogawa River and the air smells of charcoal-grilled yakitori.

# Day 3 – Golden Splendor and Zen Mastery

No visit to Kyoto is complete without witnessing Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion. Its top two floors are completely covered in gold leaf and its reflection in the mirror-like pond is one of Japan's most iconic images. From there, a short taxi ride brings you to Ryoan-ji, home of the world's most famous rock garden – fifteen stones arranged so that only fourteen are visible at once, inviting centuries of contemplation. Continue to the elegant Ninna-ji temple complex before ending your day with a peaceful walk along the Philosopher's Path, a cherry-tree-lined canal named after the 20th-century philosopher Nishida Kitaro who meditated here daily.

Day 4 – Geisha, Views, and Temple Nights

Wake before dawn and position yourself quietly in Gion's Hanamikoji Street – if you're lucky and respectful, you may glimpse geiko and maiko hurrying to early appointments in full traditional dress. Then climb to Kiyomizu-dera Temple, whose massive wooden stage juts out over the hillside offering sweeping views across Kyoto. In the evening, visit nearby Kodai-ji Temple for its spectacular night illuminations (available spring and autumn) – the gardens, tea houses, and bamboo grove are lit dramatically, and the reflection of the moon on the pond is pure magic.

Day 5 – Nara: Kyoto's Ancient Neighbor

Take a 45-minute train ride to Nara, Japan's first permanent capital. Walk through Nara Park where over a thousand semi-tame deer bow for treats. Marvel at Todai-ji Temple and its colossal bronze Great Buddha (Daibutsu) – one of the largest in the world – housed in the largest wooden building on earth. Stroll beneath thousands of stone and bronze lanterns at Kasuga Taisha Shrine, then return to Kyoto in the late afternoon, pleasantly exhausted from a perfect day trip.

 Day 6 – Silver Serenity and Mountain Temples

Explore northern Kyoto beginning with Ginkaku-ji, the Silver Pavilion. Though it was never actually covered in silver, its understated elegance and exquisite moss garden embody wabi-sabi beauty. Wander to the tiny, tranquil Honen-in Temple (often missed by tour groups), then take a bus to Ohara, a rural valley north of the city. Sanzen-in Temple here is pure paradise – sit on the veranda overlooking gardens of moss and maple while sipping matcha and listening to monks chanting in the distance.

Day 7 – Final Flavors and Fond Farewells

Spend your last morning at Nishiki Market – Kyoto's 400-year-old "kitchen." Sample everything from baby octopus stuffed with quail egg to freshly roasted tea and handmade yatsuhashi sweets. If time allows, join a traditional tea ceremony experience or simply wander the covered arcades one last time. From Kyoto Station, the airport express will whisk you back to Kansai International in under 75 minutes.

When to Go

Late March to early April for cherry blossoms that transform the entire city into a dreamscape of pale pink, or November when the autumn foliage turns Kyoto into a blazing palette of red, orange, and gold. Both seasons are peak, so book accommodations six to twelve months in advance.

Kyoto is not just a destination – it is a feeling. It's the sound of wooden geta sandals on stone paths at dawn, the scent of incense drifting from ancient temples, and the quiet realization that some beauty is so profound it can bring tears to your eyes.

In Kyoto, ancient Japan doesn't just survive. It breathes, deeply and eternally.

Cashaa Introduces a New Era in Digital Asset Banking: Unveils Deobanking Whitepaper

Cashaa defines a new self-sovereign financial ecosystem built on user ownership and autonomy
The whitepaper presents Cashaa's next-generation Deobanking infrastructure designed to replace custodial banking with an autonomous user-controlled model

New Delhi, 19^th November 2025: Fintech pioneer Cashaa has released its whitepaper on the Deobanking solution, presenting a structured approach to decentralized finance built on regulatory compliance, user control, and transparency. The paper outlines the company's evolution from business banking services to a model centered entirely on self-sovereign finance enabled through Cashaa's Deobanking self-sovereign wallet infrastructure.

"Cashaa is continuing towards its original mission to build a decentralised self-sovereign financial system where no company, no bank, no government and no custodian can decide whether you can access your own money. This next era is called Deobanking (Decentralised Autonomous Banking) and Cashaa is leading it," said Amjad Raza Khan, Founder and CEO of Cashaa.

The Deobanking model introduced in the whitepaper details a non-custodial wallet system that allows users to manage both crypto and fiat currencies while retaining full ownership of their private keys. It offers a secure and inclusive structure that blends the discipline of regulated banking with the independence of decentralized finance, borderless remittances to over 130 countries and Visa-powered crypto cards for spending at 100+ million merchants worldwide.

"Today BlackRock, Fidelity, global banks and sovereign governments are all in crypto. Crypto companies can finally get banking directly from institutions which gives us a sense of closure. Now we need to empower end users therefore with Deobanking we are putting ownership back in the hands of individuals. This whitepaper shows how decentralized finance can be transparent secure and rewarding for every user. We must remember that the only financial system that cannot collapse is one where users hold their own keys." added Amjad Raza Khan.

Cashaa already provides its flagship Earn program which delivers up to 26 percent annualised returns on stablecoins and up to 18 percent on crypto for top-tier participants, while the Borrow program offers instant collateral-backed loans with LTV ratios up to 90 percent, giving users flexibility and control during the transition toward a fully autonomous model. These benefits are structured through a loyalty system where users' CAS token holdings determine their tier, enabling access to higher Earn yields, preferential Borrow rates, and additional fee waivers.

In the new Deobanking ecosystem CAS token will witness an increase in its utility through tiered cashbacks, spending limits on crypto card spends, fee discounts on global remittance and much more.

The whitepaper also outlines the issues with traditional banking and centralized crypto exchanges, how Cashaa intends to address these issues through its Deobanking infrastructure, along with plans to broaden asset support, enhance CAS token utility, apart from introducing decentralized finance tools like self-sovereign wallets, Visa-powered crypto cards and borderless remittances. Through this publication, Cashaa contributes to the broader dialogue on how regulated frameworks can coexist with decentralized financial systems, aiming to set a benchmark for secure and transparent participation in the digital economy.

Download the full whitepaper at
https://cashaa.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cashaa-Whitepaper.pdf

 

Cashaa was founded in 2016 with a simple yet powerful belief that people should truly own their money. It began by using Bitcoin to make cross-border transfers instant and accessible across emerging markets in Asia and Africa, and quickly grew into a platform reimagining how individuals interact with global finance. Cashaa has supported over 500 companies, including some of the biggest platforms in the world like Binance, Paxful, Nexo and others across Asia, Africa, Europe, and LATAM providing them access to banking rails when no bank would even allow them into the lobby. Today, Cashaa with its Deobank model, is building a secure non-custodial wallet infrastructure that lets users control their private keys, manage both crypto and fiat seamlessly, and transact across more than 130 countries, merging the discipline of regulated banking with the independence of decentralized finance. To know more, visit: https://cashaa.com/

BPE Strengthens Leadership with Pallavi Mishra as Chief People Officer

New Delhi, November 19, 2025: BPE (Best Power Equipments), a trusted leader in power solutions for over 25 years, has officially announced the appointment of Ms. Pallavi Mishra as Chief People Officer (CPO). This strategic onboarding underscores BPE& commitment to building a world-class enterprise by attracting top talent in HR, as it expands and fosters a people-first culture during a period of rapid growth.

Ms. Mishra has a distinguished 22-year career dedicated to transforming human resources in global companies. She is competent in all phases of HR, particularly with client transitions, internal and external audits, vendor management, and managing complex legal and POSH matters. A significant milestone in her career involved the HR operations & transition from a manual to a fully automated and streamlined process.

She has dealt with all the HR functions across well-known global brands such as Hewlett-Packard, Oracle, NTT DATA, Thoughtworks, and CBRE. Ms Mishra brings all these past skills and experiences with her to provide strategic and operational value for even greater organisational excellence for BPE.

Amitansu Satpathy, Founder and Group Managing Director, BPE, noted, "Ms. Mishra & demonstrated ability to navigate HR transformation, paired with her extensive experience leading organisations around the world, aligns well with BPE & vision for an engaged, agile, future-focused workforce. Her leadership will be absolutely critical to developing talent, enhancing operational effectiveness, and delivering against our aggressive growth plans." 

Upon her appointment, Ms. Mishra stated, "This is a thrilling time to be joining BPE in its evolution. The company & focus on innovation, quality, and customer success is palpable. I am excited to bring my experience in developing high-performing teams and simplified HR structures to BPE. Together with BPE & talented professionals, we will strive - create a culture of excellence that fuels long-term success"

As Ms. Pallavi Mishra joins the team, BPE continues to accelerate its mission to enable mission-critical applications, with an emphasis on people being the focal point of its global growth strategy. The company is committed to providing innovative, reliable power solutions and maintaining long-term partnerships around the world.

About Best Power Equipment's (BPE):
Best Power Equipments (BPE) is a pioneering Indian MNC providing end-to-end strategic power solutions for the past two and a half decades. Founded by Mr. Amitansu Satpathy in 2000, at a time when power was one of the biggest issues grappling India, the company has over the years expanded its footprint to at least 14 countries. One of the largest suppliers of UPS solutions worldwide, the INR 500-crore company is also a go-to destination for end-to-end data center capabilities. With a complete suite of Made-in-India products and end-to-end power solutions, BPE has been serving leading names from across industries and sectors, such as Axis Bank, ICICI, HDFC, Airtel, Dominos, Reliance, Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum, Airtel etc. With product lines including UPS (range 600VA up to 8MW), Precision Air Conditioner, Power Distribution Units, Server Cabinets, Smart Racks, Battery EnergyStorage System (up to GW) as well as Power Environmental Monitoring System, Best Power Equipments has created an indelible mark across verticals such as BFSI, Industrial & Manufacturing Applications, Government projects, Telecommunication, Medical, Retail, Data Centres and IT Network Servers.

NEWME becomes 1st Fashion brand to launch quick commerce exclusive collection

~ZIP exclusive collection is a major boost for quick commerce, and the brand expects it to positively impact the fashion industry~

Bengaluru, 17th November, 2025: NEWME today announced two significant updates to its quick-fashion service, NEWME Zip, making Bengaluru the first city in India to access round-the-clock delivery and an exclusive limited-edition fashion drop created only for ZIP users.

The 60-minute delivery service, which has grown steadily since its launch in Bengaluru, saw a sharp rise in late-night orders over the past few months. Many users asked if they could receive their outfits before stepping out the next morning — a pattern that kept repeating across ZIP's data and consumer feedback. In response, NEWME has extended ZIP to a 24x7 service in Bengaluru. All orders placed until 10 PM will now be delivered before 10 AM.

"Gen Z doesn't shop on a schedule. They browse at midnight, make plans at the last minute, and expect fashion to match their pace," said Sumit Jasoria, Co-Founder and CEO, NEWME. "We started seeing a lot of early-morning fashion urgency — people wanting a new outfit before college, work, or an event. Extending ZIP to 24x7 was the natural next step, and we've rebuilt parts of our ops to make it work sustainably."

To support the extended hours, NEWME has reworked its operational model using smart batching, dynamic routing, and intelligent allocation across its dark-store network. These updates aim to maintain delivery speed without pushing up operational costs — a common challenge in quick commerce.

Alongside the service expansion, NEWME has launched the first-ever ZIP Exclusive Collection, a limited-edition set of trend-forward designs released only on NEWME ZIP and available in very small quantities: 5 designs, 50 pieces each. The drop is rooted in a strong Gen Z insight — the desire to own statement pieces that feel personal, limited, and culturally relevant.

The collection is available only in Bengaluru for now, and NEWME says it will explore similar drops in other ZIP cities based on demand and relevance.

"With this drop, we wanted to celebrate the culture of our community — the thrill of owning something unique, and the excitement of getting it instantly," Jasoria added.

NEWME Zip currently offers over 1,500 styles for near-instant delivery and is part of the brand's broader strategy to build India's most responsive, youth-first fashion ecosystem.

About NEWME:

Founded in 2022 by Sumit Jasoria, Vinod Naik, Shivam Tripathi, and Himanshu Chaudhary, NEWME targets more than 500 Mn Gen Z customers in India and Southeast Asia. NEWME believes in the transformative power of technology to enhance designs and solve for accessibility and affordability in fashion. The brand genuinely celebrates the spirit of self-expression and individualism among youth and offers thousands of designs and trends to choose from every day. The carefully curated collection of trendsetting products, released weekly, aims to empower youthful, raw, and high-energy consumers, meeting their desire to be their 'NEWME' every day.

New Cyclone Threat Looms Over Bay of Bengal: Next 48 Hours Critical, Says IMD

DNCA News Desk

18 November 2025

A new weather system brewing in the Bay of Bengal has put coastal regions of eastern India on high alert, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) warning that the next 48 hours will be decisive in determining the intensity and track of a potential cyclonic storm.

According to the IMD, a low-pressure area currently over the southeast Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify further as it moves west-northwestward over the next two days. The system is expected to concentrate into a depression and possibly a cyclonic storm, drawing energy from the warm sea surface temperatures typical of the region in November.

"The coming 48 hours are extremely crucial. During this period, it will become clear how intense the system will become and which coastal states will bear the maximum impact," an IMD official stated.

Coastal areas of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha** are likely to experience heavy to very heavy rainfall accompanied by strong gusty winds in the coming days. Rough to very rough sea conditions are anticipated, with wave heights expected to rise significantly if the system intensifies into a depression or beyond.

Fishermen have been strictly advised not to venture into the sea along the east coast until further notice.

The IMD highlighted that November cyclones in the Bay of Bengal often undergo rapid intensification due to favorable oceanic and atmospheric conditions. Recent examples of fast-developing storms have prompted authorities to remain extra vigilant.

"Many systems formed in the Bay of Bengal have turned into severe cyclonic storms within just a few hours. Keeping this in mind, we have advised all coastal states to strengthen advance preparedness," the weather department said.

The low-pressure system was marked on November 22, and critical updates regarding its development and probable landfall zone are expected within the next 24 to 48 hours.

The entire nation is closely monitoring the evolution of this new weather system and its potential impact on the eastern coastline.

Further updates from the IMD are expected shortly. Coastal residents are urged to stay tuned to official weather bulletins and follow instructions from local authorities.

Stay safe, stay informed.

Chaos at Ahmedabad Airport: 180 Furious Passengers Chant "Hai Hai SpiceJet" After Dubai Flight Cancelled Twice!

DNCA REPORTER, AHMEDABAD:In a massive uproar at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, around 180 frustrated passengers raised slogans of "Hai Hai SpiceJet" and vented their anger as their Dubai-bound flight was cancelled not once — but effectively twice in one night due to technical glitches and massive delays.

The nightmare began with SpiceJet flight SG015, originally scheduled to depart at 4:20 PM for Dubai. The aircraft, arriving from Kolkata, landed over 2 hours and 10 minutes late at 6:30 PM. Exhausted passengers were finally boarded — only to sit inside the plane for nearly 30 minutes before being informed of a technical snag. The flight was abruptly cancelled, and all 180 passengers were deboarded and brought back to the terminal.

Fuming passengers, many of whom had been waiting since afternoon, erupted in anger, shouting slogans against the airline and accusing SpiceJet of irresponsible and unreliable service.

As if that wasn't enough, the airline arranged an alternative flight from Varanasi scheduled to depart for Dubai at 10:30 PM. But even after 11 PM, the replacement aircraft hadn't arrived. Check-in and boarding hadn't even started, leaving passengers stranded for over 7-8 hours.

Among the affected travellers were three friends from Naroda, Ahmedabad — Jaymin Patel, Ankit Joshi, and Amit Patel — who were excitedly travelling to Dubai for the first time on vacation. Speaking to the media, they expressed deep disappointment and anger over SpiceJet's "careless and faulty" service.

This incident comes shortly after Ahmedabad passengers faced similar harrowing experiences on London-bound flights, once again putting SpiceJet under severe criticism for poor operational reliability.

Passengers are now demanding answers, compensation, and better accountability from the budget airline.