Latest news with #Chandwani
Hans India
18 hours ago
- Hans India
The Man Who Defies Silence: How Nikhil Chandwani Is Rescuing Pakistan's Forgotten Hindus, One Family at a Time
In a world that moves on from tragedy with a swipe, Nikhil Chandwani chose to stay. Not to sympathize from a distance, not to tweet his outrage, but to fight. Quietly, relentlessly, and often alone. He's not a politician. He doesn't run an NGO. And he has never begged for headlines. Yet, since 2017, he's rescued over 2,000 Hindu and Sikh families from the religious hellscape that Pakistan has become for minorities. It began with one desperate message—from a Hindu shopkeeper in Sindh, Pakistan. His daughter was being stalked by local extremists. A forced conversion was imminent. When he went to the police, they laughed. His village turned its back. But Nikhil didn't. He arranged shelter. Paid for passports. Helped them legally cross borders. And in that moment, a movement was born. 'Pakistan Is a Graveyard for Hindus' For the past decade, Chandwani has built a rescue network that runs without press releases or photo ops. And it operates in places most governments wouldn't even acknowledge. 'Pakistan is not a country. For Hindus and Sikhs, it's a rogue land,' he says. 'Girls as young as nine are kidnapped, raped, forcibly converted, and married off to men four times their age. Parents are left with nothing but grief—and silence.' In Sindh's interiors, Hindu children are denied education. Temples are desecrated. Police officers participate in abductions. Those who speak out disappear. This is not a dystopian script. This is daily life for Hindus in Pakistan. And yet, international bodies stay mute. Global newsrooms don't blink. They wait for buzzwords like 'Israel' or 'Gaza' to appear in the headline before they care. A Parallel System of Hope What Nikhil has done in response is extraordinary. He's created a quiet resistance—a parallel support system made up of doctors, lawyers, landlords, and teachers who work on trust, not contracts. They've helped girls heal from rape trauma, guided children back to school, secured Long-Term Visas for families, and found homes where none existed. Every life he rescues is a civilizational victory against erasure. In one case, a father in Sindh had to bury his daughters underground at night to protect them from abductors. That family now lives safely in Punjab, India. The girls chant the Hanuman Chalisa every Saturday—something they were never allowed to do in Pakistan. Funded by Firewood and Dharma Unlike big-budget charities, this movement runs on grit. Almost 90% of the rescue funds come from Chandwani's own business—a biomass pellet factory in Nagpur. The rest comes from small, quiet contributions. No corporate grants. No government subsidies. Just raw belief. His company, Santerra Industries, converts agricultural waste into clean-burning bio coal. The profits? Used to rescue Hindus from across the border. 'We turn farm waste into energy. I use that energy to bring our people back from hell,' Nikhil says. A Dream of a Home, Not a Shelter The rescues are just the beginning. Nikhil's long-term vision is a dedicated settlement for rescued Hindu families—complete with homes, schools, clinics, community halls, and temples. 'A safe place where no one knocks on your door in the middle of the night to take your daughter away. Where your children aren't punished for praying to Ram. That's the dream.' He's already in talks to acquire land for this project. Until then, he continues—one girl, one boy, one family at a time. No Medals, No Megaphones. Just Action. He's faced threats, online hate campaigns, and even fatwas. Pakistan-based accounts often try to discredit his work. Some Indian liberals call it 'politically motivated.' But he doesn't care. 'I don't need awards. I need more people. A teacher for one child. A lawyer for one case. A landlord for one month. Just one. That's all I ever ask.' Look Away, and You Become the Problem What's happening to Hindus in Pakistan is not just persecution. It's cultural annihilation—slow, systematic, and ignored by the same international institutions that scream for every other cause. And yet, in the middle of that silence stands a man—unfunded, uncelebrated, unstoppable. In the end, Nikhil Chandwani's story is not about heroism. It's about responsibility. Because when governments fail, it is people like him who carry civilization forward—with empty pockets, heavy hearts, and an unbreakable spine.
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
AI in legal education: Industry experts highlight need for AI literacy in law schools
The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into legal education is becoming increasingly essential as the Indian judiciary grapples with persistent case backlogs. With a government allocation of ₹7210 Crore for the e-Courts Phase III project, which includes ₹53.57 Crore specifically for AI and Blockchain technologies, the legal landscape is set to undergo significant transformation. AI technologies such as Machine Learning (ML), Natural Language Processing (NLP), and Predictive Analytics are being utilised to automate administrative tasks, enhance case tracking, and improve crime prevention efforts. This shift is not limited to the judiciary; top law firms in India are also adopting AI tools to streamline research, drafting, and due diligence processes. However, this raises critical questions about ethics, bias, and the future of legal education. To prepare students for an evolving job market where AI plays a crucial role, law schools must update their curricula to include AI literacy. Students should learn how to adapt technology while preserving core legal principles and enhancing their critical assessment skills. The Hindu hosted a webinar titled 'Gamechanger: Teaching AI to Law Students and Lawyers' on July 5 at 5:00 p.m. It featured experts like Shouvik Kumar Guha from NUJS and Sonam Chandwani from KS Legal & Associates. The discussion will focus on how law schools can implement these changes effectively. How are law firms using AI? According to Ms. Chandwani, AI is very beneficial for students aiming to join law firms, as law firms have evolved, and so have their expectations from new hires. She emphasized that legal education must become more aligned with practical industry needs. Ms. Chandwani stressed the need for AI literacy. She said that students should learn AI basics in plain terms, like how machine learning can dig through court rulings or predict outcomes, or how natural language processing speeds up reading contracts under the Indian Contract Act. She said that students don't need to be tech geniuses, as that's not their forte, but just understand how AI helps firms save time and win clients. On the uses of AI at a law firm, she said, 'We use AI when we are unable to find the relevant judgments or are unable to do research within the specified time. Ms. Chandwani said these skills make new hires valuable as firms use AI to cut costs on big cases. She added, 'AI comes in handy while conducting due diligence, preparing the checklist, or going through the contract review.' Ms. Chandwani said AI can make mistakes, like giving wrong judgments. It is very important to understand and read the subject and ensure that the outcomes are efficient. Highlighting data sensitivity, she said firms handle private clients' data, so they face hefty fines in case there is any slip-up. She added, 'Students also need to learn how to spot and fix these biases to keep firms out of trouble. End-to-end job will never be possible to be done through AI.' Exploring different teaching techniques According to Mr. Guha, the legal field is changing, and once technology gets introduced in a certain field, you cannot keep tech out of it forcibly. Pointing to the limitations in current educational structures, Guha observed, 'There are law schools with over 800, 900 students in a batch. How is a teacher supposed to give personalised feedback and prepare these students specifically? This gap is something which we can try to bridge with technology.' Also Read: AI in law: Students need to sharpen critical assessment skills to make best use of technology Mr. Guha said that AI-powered tutors by no means whatsoever are a substitute for faculty, but they can guide students with additional, specific feedback. However, he said, 'Completely unregulated and unsupervised use of AI tools, especially at a formative age for law students, has the disadvantage of robbing them of some of the critical thinking power'. Mr. Guha stressed that with the advent of AI, the traditional methodology of giving students a piece of essay to write as an assignment won't work. 'Because it's too much of a temptation to just give a prompt to ChatGPT and get a 5,000-word essay in ten seconds. One of the alternative solutions that Mr. Guha explored is that he can ask the students to submit a line-by-line critique of the assignment that the large language model has produced. Also Read: Justice Unplugged: 'Law students must stay rooted in legal knowledge, not solely rely on AI' Mr. Guha elaborated, 'Students can see whether the cases which have been used are to be used in those case scenarios, whether there is an extra case the model has missed, whether there is a jump in logic that AI has made in the way it has talked about certain provisions. Are those provisions applicable here?' He added, 'So I ask for a line-by-line critique of that. And if I intend to help the student research, help the student learn about the problem more—that can get sorted that way.' Mr. Guha also pointed to the limitations of current teaching methods, stating that one of the biggest issues that we face is the lack of innovation and imagination inside classrooms. 'If I am teaching students about a certain scenario, I can use AI to come up with multiple different case studies or multiple different possible ways in which the students can attack a problem. You know, simulation techniques. There can be hundreds of different things.' Can AI perpetuate inequalities in law education? Mr. Sharma said we need to ask who has access to these tools. He highlighted disparities among Indian law schools, stating, He added that AI risks entrenching deeper academic disparities. He said, 'People who know about AI can build their resume using it. They can write articles through AI and then get them published through sham publication formats.' Moreover, he pointed out systemic divides even within the teaching staff. 'Some of the faculties are also training in AI, especially in the premier law schools, which have access to the best AI tools—they are training their students for future employment', he said.
India Today
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Avika Gor's fiance calls her heroine of his story in sweet birthday post
Actor Avika Gor, best known for her iconic role as young Anandi in 'Balika Vadhu', is celebrating her 28th birthday today, June 30, with love from her fiance, Milind Chandwani. The former 'MTV Roadies' contestant shared an emotional note on Instagram along with an unseen photo from their engagement ceremony to wish his lady love. He called Gor the 'heroine' of his story and thanked her for choosing him as his Chandwani posted a joyful picture of the two holding their beloved pet dog his adorable post, he wrote, 'Happy Birthday, my love! O @avikagor To the kindest soul, the heroine of my story, and the woman who makes life SO MUCH FUN!! Thank you for choosing your forever (and sharing your madness) with me. Shiroo didn't just approve of me - he celebrated me. With tail wags, sloppy kisses, and that look in his eyes that said, 'Ladka toh badhiya choose kiya hai aapne! Kya massage deta hai! Kya walk karaata hai! Kya khaana khilaata hai! Waah! (You've chosen a great guy! What amazing massages he gives! Takes me on such good walks! Feeds me so well! Wow!) (sic)." Take a look at the post here: advertisement He continued, 'I promise to keep giving him a million more reasons to keep rooting for us from up there. Because you? You deserve a love that's loud, loyal, and a little extra just like him. And I'm the luckiest man alive, not just because you said yes, but because you are YOU! I love you!!! (sic)." Earlier this month, the couple shared pictures from their engagement ceremony. The duo is set to appear together in the upcoming web series 'Pati Patni Panga'.The two met in Hyderabad in 2020 through mutual friends, and their bond grew from friendship into Gor has enjoyed a successful acting career on television, Chandwani has carved his path as a social entrepreneur. An alumnus of IIM Ahmedabad and a former software engineer at Infosys, he is the founder of Camp Diaries, an NGO dedicated to empowering underprivileged children through creative learning experiences.- EndsTrending Reel
The Hindu
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
‘Balika Vadhu' star Avika Gor announces engagement to Milind Chandwani
Actor Avika Gor, known for her role in the television show Balika Vadhu, has announced her engagement to longtime partner Milind Chandwani. The couple shared the news on social media on Wednesday, posting engagement photos along with a caption from Gor describing the moment. 'He asked.. I smiled, I cried (in that order)... and screamed the easiest YES of my life,' she wrote on Instagram. Gor and Chandwani have been in a relationship for over five years. She first introduced him to the public in 2020. In past interviews, Gor has spoken about their relationship, revealing that they met through a mutual friend in Hyderabad. She described being sure about her feelings early on, though Chandwani initially took a more cautious approach. 'He is a 9-5 corporate guy, who also runs an NGO. He is not from the industry,' Gor said in an appearance on a podcast hosted by Bharti Singh and Harsh Limbachiya. Chandwani is the founder of Camp Diaries, a non-profit organization that works with underprivileged children. He also participated in the reality show MTV Roadies Real Heroes. Despite coming from different professional backgrounds, the couple has spoken about how they complement each other. Avika Gor rose to fame as a child actor with Balika Vadhu and later starred in Sasural Simar Ka. As of now, the couple has not shared any details about wedding plans.
India Today
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Who is Milind Chandwani, actor Avika Gor's soon-to-be husband?
Actor Avika Gor recently got engaged to her partner Milind Chandwani. She shared the pictures of their intimate engagement on social media with a heartfelt is an IIM-Ahmedabad graduate and also the founder of an NGO called Campus Diaries dedicated to the upliftment of underprivileged started his professional journey at the Indian multinational technology company Infosys, after pursuing his MBA (Masters of Business Administration) from The entrepreneur-activist shot to fame after appearing on 'MTV Roadies Real Heroes' in 2019. Chandwani, who has always been inclined towards community service, has also served as an assistant school 'Balika Vadhu' actor, while sharing her engagement post on her Instagram handle, expressed excitement about her special day with "full filmy - background score."Gor wrote, "He asked, I smiled, I cried (in that order) and screamed the easiest YES of my life! I'm full filmy - background score, slo-mo dreams, mascara running and all. He's logic, calm, and 'let's carry a first-aid kit just in case (sic).""I manifest drama. He manages it. And somehow, we just fit. So when he asked, the heroine in me took over - arms in the air, tears in my eyes, and zero network in my brain. Because real love? It may not always be perfect. But, It. Is. Magical (sic)," she and Chandwani first met in Hyderabad in 2020 through mutual friends. The duo has been in a relationship for almost five years. The actor has often joked that she was "married to him in (her) head" long before their feelings became from 'Balika Vadhu', the actor has also acted in the popular Hindi television show 'Sasural Simar Ka'. She later ventured into films and featured in Vikram Bhatt's '1920: Horrors of the Heart' (2023) and 'Bloody Ishq' (2024).Gor was last seen in the Telugu crime-thriller 'Shanmukha' (2025).Must Watch
