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Compiled By: Asim Deb, 1977 Electronics & Tele-Communication Engineering

200-year-old Shekhawati haveli was restored without a single machine or chemical. Across three years, more than 50 craftspeople gradually revived a dream. Might restoring an ancestral home in a small Shekhawati town, where most havelis are in disrepair, be an unprecedented act of love?

The Shekhawati Haveli refers to the grand, fresco-covered mansions scattered across the Shekhawati region of Rajasthan (primarily the Sikar, Jhunjhunu, and Churu districts). Often called the “open-air art gallery of the world”, these homes feature vibrant, intricate murals both inside and out.

The Merchants: These lavish mansions were built between the 17th and 19th centuries by wealthy Marwari merchants, and Shekhawat kings who established trade routes across northern India. It has structures, including houses, temples and stepwells.

Over the last couple of years, the Shekhawati Haveli has gained immense attention in the Rajasthan tourist circuit. Shekhawati regions rank quite high among the places to visit in Rajasthan. Traditionally Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, and Jaisalmer have been the main attractions of Rajasthan tourism industry. Places like Pushkar, Mount Abu, Ranakpur, and Ranthambore joined much later to complete the offering. Now Shekhawati region completes the offering. It is one of the most popular short weekend trips from Jaipur.

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Colonel Mitali Madhumita: The First Woman Officer to Receive Sena Medal for Gallantry

Colonel Mitali Madhumita, Sena Medal (Gallantry), stands as one of the most inspiring figures in the history of Indian Army. A serving Colonel in the Army Education Corps, she etched her name in the annals of military valour when, as a Major in 2010, she displayed extraordinary courage during a terrorist attack in Kabul, Afghanistan. Her fearless actions in rescuing injured personnel during fire earned her the Sena Medal for gallantry in 2011, making her the first woman officer in the Indian Army to receive this prestigious honour for gallantry.

Roots of Courage: Early Life and Formative Years
Born in 1976 in Rourkela, Odisha, Mitali Madhumita grew up in a family steeped in military tradition. Her grandfather had served in the Indian Army, and her father served as a religious teacher in the armed forces. Her mother, Anjali Dass, a retired Economics lecturer, provided strong support and encouragement.

Academically accomplished, she is a Bachelor of Arts in English Honours, followed by a Master’s degree in Linguistics and English Literature. She also obtained a postgraduate diploma in Human Rights. As an NCC cadet in the Air Force wing during her college years, she learned to fly gliders and won an all-India gold medal in aero-modelling.

Answering the Call to Serve
Colonel Madhumita briefly worked as an English teacher at Kalinga Academy, preparing young aspirants for military careers, and in a short stint in the corporate sector. In 1998, she cleared the Combined Defence Services Examination, and joined the Officers Training Academy (OTA) in Chennai in 1999 and was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Army Education Corps in 2000.

A Career of Distinguished Service
She served as an instructor at the Defence Services Staff College, teaching English to foreign officers. Her most significant overseas assignment came in 2009 when she was posted to Kabul, Afghanistan, as Project Director and Team Leader of the Indian English Language Training Team. In this capacity, she trained personnel of the Afghan National Army, including its first women officer cadets, as part of India’s support to Afghanistan’s security forces.

She has also served in sensitive operational areas, including Jammu & Kashmir and the Northeast, gaining valuable experience in challenging environments.

The Defining Moment: Bravery Under Fire in Kabul
On the morning of 26 February 2010, while posted in Kabul, she was awakened by urgent news of a terrorist attack on Indian facilities, including guest houses in the diplomatic enclave. A car bomb and subsequent militant assault, involving gunfire, grenades, and a suicide bomber, had struck the area where her colleagues were staying. Despite being from a non-combat arm and with her team operating unarmed and in civilian attire, Major Madhumita quickly made her way through dangerous streets toward the site of the attack. Entering the rubble-strewn premises amid ongoing crossfire and explosions, she searched through debris and helped rescue multiple injured Indian and foreign personnel. Her calm presence and decisive actions under extreme duress played a vital role in saving lives. Her conduct in the face of mortal danger exemplified the highest traditions of the Indian Army.

Appearing in the premiere TV episode of ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati, Col. Mitali Madhumita recalled her rescue mission in Kabul that won her a Sena Medal for her valour and earned her the distinction of being the first woman Indian Army officer to receive a gallantry award.

“I ran there without any weapons or even my uniform. In the crossfire, we conducted a rescue operation and brought people to a secure place. We also sent the injured to different hospitals,” the brave colonel added. Hearing her, the show’s megastar host, Amitabh Bachchan, stood up and saluted her for her courage and commitment towards her mission.

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Ultra-marathon runner Sufiya Sufi has started one of the toughest runs of her career, a 5,000-km journey from Kanyakumari to Karakoram to honour India’s Armed Forces. Known for holding multiple Guinness World Records, the Rajasthan-based runner is crossing 11 states in 88 days while battling heat, humidity and long distances every single day.

Sufiya, from Ajmer in Rajasthan, is one of India’s best-known ultra-marathon runners. She has already created several world records in long-distance running and high-altitude marathons. This latest challenge, titled “Run for Dreams: Kanyakumari to Karakoram,” is also reportedly being seen as her attempt at a sixth Guinness World Record. She wrote, “When dreams are right and efforts are true, the right people show up As I am about to attempt something no one has ever done before – India’s Most Extreme Endurance Run from Kanyakumari to Karakoram – Run for Dreams, starting May 12.”

On May 12, Sufiya officially began her journey from Sunrise Point at Kanyakumari Beach. Sharing pictures and videos from Day 1, she wrote, “Day 01 of The Fastest Run Across India (Kanyakumari – Karakoram) Run for Dreams – An Official World Record Run to Tribute to our Armed Forces Bravehearts who sacrifice themselves for us. Run Flagged-off from Sunrise Point, Kanyakumari Beach. Thank you so much everyone for their best wishes. Onwards to Day 02 with 52 KM tomorrow Tirunelveli.”

Her Day 3 update showed just how physically demanding the challenge has become. The video captured her eating a small meal early in the morning before heading out again for another long-distance run. During the route, she stopped briefly for water and food before continuing once more.

Over the years, she has completed several extreme endurance runs. In 2019, she became the fastest woman to run from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, covering around 4,000 km in 87 days, 2 hours and 17 minutes, as per reports.

In 2020, she created another Guinness World Record by completing the 6,000-km Golden Quadrilateral route connecting Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai in 110 days, 23 hours and 24 minutes. She also became the first and fastest woman to complete the 480-km Manali to Leh ultra-marathon in 2021. Internationally, she completed a 200-km run across Qatar in nearly 30 hours, another feat recognised by Guinness World Records.

“I’m planning a circumnavigation in 2024. I want to cover the globe on foot, which is almost 30,000 kilometers. This is going to be my biggest project and I’ve already started my preparations for that,” she says.

If we look at her past records, Sufiya’s last entry into the Guinness books was for her latest expedition, the Manali-Leh stretch on foot last year. She completed a distance of 486 km in 6 days, 12 hours and 6 minutes, making her the fastest female to cover the distance.

Before becoming a full-time runner, Sufiya worked for nearly 10 years as ground staff in the aviation industry. She later turned to running as a way to handle stress. What began with short 3-km runs slowly became her passion, and in 2017 she reportedly decided to pursue it professionally.

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