Entertainment

Anke Gowda, who in the beginning had the humble job of checking bus tickets and then temporarily working at a sugar factory, spent nearly 80% of his earnings to quietly amass a library of over 2 million books in more than 20 Indian and foreign languages. That lifelong zeal for learning was acknowledged last Sunday when the Union government not only decided to award him the Padma Shri in 2026 but also acknowledged his pioneering work as the founder of one of the largest free access libraries in India.

This year, Gowda along with two others who received the Padma Shri awards from Karnataka are Dr. Suresh Hanagavadi, a doctor, who brought a revolutionary change in the haemophilia care system in the state, and Dr. S. G. Sushilamma, a social worker who has devoted almost half a century to the cause of women and children.

Brought into the world in a farming family in the Mandya district, Gowda, now 75, started his book collection when he was only 20 and also worked as a bus conductor. He had very few reading materials around him when he was a child and during his college life his love for books reached a new height when a professor, Anantharamu, encouraged him.

Gowda never stopped buying books. As a result, he ended up with a master's degree in Kannada literature and worked at a sugar factory for nearly 30 years. He used to invest around 80% of his salary in books.

He sold his house in Mysuru to fund the purchase of more books and set up Pustaka Mane or "Book House", a library in a village called Haralahalli near Srirangapatna in Mandya district.

The library is situated on an area of land in rural Karnataka, and it contains over 2 million books in more than 20 Indian and foreign languages. The books cover a variety of topics such as literature, science, technology, philosophy, mythology, and history.

Among the collection are rare documents from 1832, almost 5, 000 dictionaries, and a vast number of magazines and historical publications. Despite limited staff and resources, Gowda personally cleans, sorts and maintains the library every day.

He now lives within the library premises with his wife, Vijayalakshmi, sleeping on the floor and cooking in a small corner of the building. Along with his son, Sagar, he is working to formally organise the growing collection under the Anke Gowda Jnana Pratishthana foundation. The library’s scale has also been recorded in the Limca Book of Records.

Another Karnataka awards recipient, Dr. Suresh Hanagavadi who is a professor of pathology at JJM Medical College, Davangere, has been giving utmost consideration to the improvement of the lives of haemophilia patients for nearly forty years a patient himself with this condition. Dr. Hanagavadi is the founder of the Karnataka Hemophilia Society in Davangere and has treated people from all over the state. He conducted a massive outreach campaign accessing the most distant villages. Dr. Hanagavadi, with the contribution of the public, philanthropists and the government, has ensured that haemophilia medicines which are very expensive are provided free of charge at government district hospitals throughout Karnataka. He was one of the main movers and shakers in setting up a Hemophilia Treatment Centre in Davangere which provides services to various blood disorders inherited from one parent only. Support in various forms was extended to the society's work which included one from the late playback singer S. P. Balasubrahmanyam also.

Reacting to the announcement, Dr. Hanagavadi described the award as unexpected.

“This is the result of our nearly four decades of efforts to get recognition for hemophilia at the national level,” he said. “I am hopeful that this award would help hemophilics get quality healthcare across the country.”

The third Karnataka recipient, Dr. S. G. Sushilamma, has been engaged in social service since 1975, focusing on the welfare of women and children. She founded the Sumangali Sevashram, which runs programmes ranging from children’s libraries and spiritual education to self-employment initiatives for destitute women.

Her work also includes community development projects and campaigns against alcoholism and female foeticide. In 1987, she launched the Children’s Union, aimed at nurturing leadership and civic awareness among young people.

Dr. Sushilamma has been awarded with two honorary doctorates and an international award from Japan for her services in environmental protection.

Eight persons in Karnataka were felicitated with Padma Awards for their work in various fields this year. Shatavadhani R. Ganesh was awarded the Padma Bhushan for his distinguished work.

Prabhakar Kore, Shashi Shekhar Vempati and Shubha Venkatesh Iyengar were some of the Padma Shri awardees from the state. T. Jagannath was also awarded the Padma Shri posthumously for his contributions to commerce and industry.

Viral Penguin from 2007 Documentary Titled, "Encounters at the End of The World"

Wonder why a penguin is going viral on social media? It’s just one penguin who walked away from everyone and everything. And yet this small clip from Antarctica has stimulated the emotional chord on the internet, particularly among students. Referred to as the “Nihilist Penguin” on the internet, this clip has been shared millions of times with captions about living alone, solitude, leadership, academic burnout and career confusion. What surfaced as a short clip from a nature documentary has now become one of the most recognizable symbols of 2026 because for many people, especially students, that penguin doesn’t look lost… it looks familiar, it reflects their internal void. 

What Is the Nihilist Penguin Meme?

The Nihilist Penguin meme is actually a video of a lone penguin walking away from its colony towards the icy interior of Antarctica where there is only death in mountains, and not towards the sea where there would be food. The penguin story was given a metaphorical identity on social media platforms, where the penguin in question was given the identity of a person who has stopped asking “what’s the point?” and just keeps moving. The penguin story went viral on Instagram, X (Twitter), Reddit, and college groups.

On social media, people are posting memes, stories, and reels answering the question Werner Asked in the clip, “but why?” As per the trend, currently people are resonating it with either nihilism or stupidity. Some people are claiming the penguin is the chosen one, some are saying he represents the true meaning of life, while others are saying the penguin consciously made the choice. 

A recent viral reel is claiming "it took people 20 years to understand a penguin’ because the documentary was released in 2007, which is acting as an acceleration to assumptions and resonance. The comment section of such emotional, existential crisis-themed, motivational and philosophical reels are brimming with opinions on the true meaning of life. And the ones commenting are who? The majority are genZ, students, who are seeing through the penguin. 

Where Did the Penguin Viral Story Come From?

The original video is taken from a penguin 2007 documentary called “Encounters at the End of the  World,” narrated by Werner Herzog, who has previously talked about instances where penguins would walk away from their colonies. The video itself is not new, but it re-emerged during a time when students around the world were dealing with uncertainty, and that is why it became relevant. The internet not only observed the penguin, but it also attributed meaning to it.

What Happened to the Penguin After it went towards the Mountains?

The documentary doesn't provide a clear outcome, leaving viewers to interpret the penguin's actions. Even Werner leaves the audience with a question: “But Why?” However, it was certain that the little creature was moving towards its death even before it could reach mountains 70km ahead of it.

Why the Nihilist Penguin Resonates So Strongly With Students

The students were able to relate to this meme because it is a representation of their collective emotional experience. The pressure of studies, the need for competitive exams, the lack of a clear career path, and the constant comparison have left many students feeling lost. The penguin does not panic or go back; it just walks. This is what the students do when they no longer feel motivated to study.

Academic Burnout and Silent Exhaustion 

The search trends for “burnout in students” have been on the rise, and the Nihilist Penguin has become a symbol of this burnout. Students feel stuck in a cycle that they never really chose to be in, preparing for a result that they do not believe in. This meme represents the emotional moment when the effort is still there, but the reason is not.

“Did I Choose the Wrong Stream?”: A Student Fear Made Viral

Right from engineering and medical aspirants to competitive exam takers, students have often realized mid-stream that the stream they have chosen to pursue does not match their interests. The penguin walking in the “wrong” direction has become a symbol of taking up a stream under pressure and dealing with the aftermath. It wasn’t mocked but understood... perhaps deeper than anyone thought.

The Meaning Behind the Word “Nihilist”

Nihilism is the idea that life has no meaning in itself. The internet dubbed the penguin “nihilist” not because the penguin experiences despair, but because the viewers recognized themselves in the penguin. Students who doubted the point of grades, degrees, and predestined success recognized the penguin as a representation of emotional truth rather than failure.

The Scientific Explanation Behind the Penguin’s Behavior

From a factual perspective, penguins do not deliberately leave life. This is explained by scientists as being a rare occurrence, possibly due to disorientation, illness, or neurological problems. The existential message is purely human interpretation, but this is what made the video go viral. Additionally, some people are claiming the penguin looked conscious enough  to choose its path, which is being interpreted in tens of thousands of ways.  

Why Does This Meme Matters Beyond Social Media?

The popularity of the Nihilist Penguin illustrates the change in the psychology of students. Today’s students are not merely concerned about employment; they are also concerned about meaning, fulfillment, and long-term stability. Search terms such as “nihilist penguin meaning,” “viral penguin meme explained,” and “student burnout meme” illustrate that it is not merely entertainment, it is emotional reflection.

What GenZ Really Took From the Nihilist Penguin

Interestingly, many GenZ and students did not find the penguin tragic. They found it honest. Walking away from noise, expectations, and pressure at least in the mind. For some, the meme was a relief, a reminder that being lost does not mean failure.

Feeling Lost Is Not the End of the Journey 

The Nihilist Penguin became a viral sensation because it expressed something that students never really want to admit: “I’m still moving, but I don’t know why.” And that’s not a weakness but  awareness. In a world that’s absolutely obsessed with certainty, maybe the first step to finding a better path is to question the path that you’re on.

In a world of rushed deadlines and unread messages, a Delhi University professor just reminded everyone what teaching really looks like — and the internet is loving it.

Dr Kavita K, a professor at Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi, achieved viral fame when she shared on her LinkedIn a very emotional post about expressing how very difficult it is to say goodbye to students at the end of every semester. Being that the semester system is such a fast, moving one, she thought that teachers hardly get the time to truly know their students before it is already time to move on.

Saying goodbye to students at the end of every semester is never easy, she wrote in a post adding that the older annual system allowed deeper bonds, more understanding, and stronger academic relationships.

However, the thing that melted most hearts was the WhatsApp message that she had sent to her students after their final exam.

In that message, she commended them for finishing what she called a long paper, appreciated their effort throughout the course, and wished that their diligence would reflect in their results. Besides, she disclosed that she would not be dealing with any general elective courses in the forthcoming semesters, hence, making the note even more special.

Her message ended with simple but powerful wishes: confidence, happiness, and success in life.

Social media users were quick to react, calling it a reminder of the emotional labour teachers put in — often silently — while navigating the fast-paced semester system. Many said the post made them nostalgic about their own college mentors who shaped not just their careers, but their lives.

Interestingly, this isn’t Dr Kavita’s first viral moment. Last year, she drew attention for replying to a student's text message that was sent at 3:49 am with an ingenious message, thus once again confirming that some teachers really go beyond class in their care.

Her warm message was like a light in the darkness of school life which is mostly regarded as a simple business, thus pointing out that teaching is primarily about caring and connecting with the students, not just about the syllabi.

What began as an ordinary lunch break turned into an extraordinary fight for dignity for two Indian PhD students in the United States. Aditya Prakash and Urmi Bhattacharyya, two students of the University of Colorado Boulder, recently became the leading story after a $200, 000 (around 1.8 crore) civil rights settlement over what they claim was discrimination at the institutional level, all started by the smell of Indian food.

And you are not mistaken. Palak paneer.

Prakash who was then a Ph.D. student in the Department of Anthropology of the university, happened to go to his microwave to warm up his lunch when in September 2023, it was alleged a staff member complained about the strong smell and ordered him not to use the appliance. Prakash argued that it was a common space and that different cultural groups will consider various smells good or bad, it is all subjective.

“My food is my pride,” he later told the media. “How many people do you know who face racism because they eat broccoli?”

The disagreement, however, didn’t end in the kitchen. According to the couple, things soon spiralled into something much more serious. Prakash was allegedly called into repeated meetings with senior faculty, accused of making the staff member feel “unsafe.” Bhattacharyya, who stood by him, said she was abruptly removed from her teaching assistant role—without explanation.

Then came the real shocker. The university allegedly withheld the master’s degrees that PhD students usually receive en route to completing their doctorate. Students around the world have particularly resonated with this caseas well as international students trying to figure out alien systems. It does not only touch on food but also belonging, identity, and the daily struggles that students far from home have to endure.

Occasionally, the start of a revolution is marked by a single microwave... and a bowl of palak paneer. I will not be silent,” she wrote.

Students around the world have particularly resonated with this case as well as international students trying to figure out alien systems. It does not only touch on food but also belonging, identity, and the daily struggles that students far from home have to endure.

Occasionally, the start of a revolution is marked by a single microwave... and a bowl of palak paneer.

Kerala’s Education Department has decided to do away with the row-based layout of classrooms to abolish the concept of backbenchers from the next academic year. It has also decided to take measures to reduce the weight of schoolbags.

Education Minister V Sivankutty on Thursday said the state Curriculum Steering Committee has ratified the draft report of the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), which looked into introducing the two changes.

“We want to make the schools more child-friendly and democratic. Accordingly, there is a recommendation to reduce the weight of the schoolbags. There will be steps to scientifically reduce the weight after factoring in the physical fitness of the students. Besides, back benches in classrooms will be abolished to ensure that all students get equal attention and there is a democratic academic atmosphere in the classes. Accordingly, seating arrangements in classrooms will undergo changes,” Sivankutty said.

The minister said both recommendations will be implemented from the next academic year, starting June 2026. The draft recommendations of SCERT will be made public to enable all stakeholders to air their opinions, which will be taken into consideration, he said.

Inspired by film

Early this academic year, certain schools in Kerala had decided to go for a “horseshoe” seating arrangement in classrooms. A few schools in Kannur, Thrissur and Kollam districts have introduced the horseshoe, or semi-circle, seating arrangement in which students are seated in the perimeter of the classroom, facing each other. The teacher is also able to have a face-to-face interaction with all students who happen to sit in such a layout, with the teacher moving in the middle of the room.

The new seating arrangement in some of the schools was inspired by a 2024 Malayalam film, Sthanarthi Sreekuttan. The film, directed by Vinesh Viswanathan, tells the story of a backbencher, Sreekuttan, who revolts against the traditional classroom arrangement. In the climax of the movie, the row seating in the classroom is replaced with a U-shaped arrangement.

The RCC Lower Primary School at East Mangad in Thrissur district was one of the first schools in Kerala to introduce the new seating arrangement in classrooms.

Headmistress Liji C R had said a few months ago, “From the outset of the academic year, there have been informal discussions about improving the learning standards of students. Some of the teachers then mentioned the film and recalled their own experience as backbenchers. We thought about abolishing the backbench system, starting with class 1. Accordingly, seats were arranged in the U-shape.”

In 2025, India didn’t just watch screens — it lived inside them. From families gathering around connected TVs for weekend binge sessions to millions of thumbs endlessly scrolling through reels during metro rides, screen time became both entertainment and education, escape and excess.

Long-form OTT content continued to be India’s comfort zone. The future of TV is neither in pixels nor in fullscreen format, but rather through "On-Demand" (OTT) services. The TOI Habit Index indicates that last year, 39% of screen time was spent on OTT platforms, signifying an increase in people's interest towards on-demand cinematic storytelling in India. According to the TOI Index, for the same period, over 60% of OTT viewership was attributed to Netflix and YouTube respectively, while many people used these platforms as social experiences. People shared their experiences of watching the tiger show with colleagues and friends, discussed the latest twists of their favourite shows at work, went to the cinema together to see regional films, and shared stories about how the stories on these platforms reflected their everyday lives.

While OTT services acted as the main source of entertainment in their living rooms, short-form video services, such as Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts, became the go-to source for entertainment by viewers on the go. Both services accounted for approximately 14% of total digital consumption in India, primarily due to the high level of interest among the younger demographic. An estimated 650 million people in India will consume short-form video content on a daily basis by 2025. The average duration of this daily consumption is expected to be approximately one hour. Typical content viewed will include comedy skits, exam preparation, health tips/recommendations, recipe videos & other forms of instructional video content.

Instagram and YouTube have blurred the lines between education and entertainment for both content creators and consumers. As a result, they have changed how creators use video to engage audiences and help people grow professionally.

Why do Indians keep returning to screens? For 43% of users, it was about unwinding — comedy and light entertainment offered relief from long workdays and academic pressure. Another 29% logged in to stay informed, with social platforms like Instagram emerging as unexpected news classrooms for the digital generation. Explainers on geopolitics, finance, and science now sit comfortably between dance reels and memes.

But the year also exposed a growing discomfort with digital excess. More than half of users admitted they wanted to reduce screen time, especially the habit of mindless scrolling. Parents worried about children glued to phones, while young adults spoke of “reel fatigue” — the feeling of being entertained yet exhausted.

Traditional television, once the undisputed king, continued to fade, now accounting for just 11% of viewing time. In its place, connected TVs, mobile screens and personalised algorithms reshaped how content is consumed — anytime, anywhere.

India’s digital media economy crossed $10 billion in 2025, but the real story lies beyond numbers. Screens became classrooms, companions and coping mechanisms. As India moves forward, the challenge isn’t choosing between OTT or reels — it’s learning how to watch consciously, scroll mindfully, and let screens enrich life without quietly taking it over.