Entrepreneur Stories
Meet Mujeeb: A Man Using Water Hyacinths To Make Handicrafts And Provide Livelihood To Poor Women
Shaik Abdul Mujeeb is a common man in India who chose an uncommon profession of collecting weeds from water bodies and making handicrafts out of them. Ultimately, it is all about providing occupation to poor women in the Southern region of India.
On his way to college in Andhra Pradesh, Abdul noticed the enormous growth of water hyacinth in lakes. Later, he observed many ponds and lakes too were filled with these hyacinth weeds.
Abdul is very much aware of the damage caused by these weeds. Lakhs of rupees are spent every year by the government to clear these weeds, as these weeds are known to block the exit points of the water bodies. In a span of 45 days, they decay and contaminate the water making aquatic life a bit difficult to survive.
Shaik Abdul Mujeeb’s journey started by collecting these plants, cut their stems, drying them in the sun and making hats out of them. During this process, he learned that a similar practice was going on in Assam too. Seeking help from the Manager of NEDFi, he visited some places in Assam and learned the art of making various handicrafts.
In October 2014, he started a social enterprise and named it Allika that provides sustainable lifestyles to poor women who beautifully handcraft various products from water hyacinths.
Allika was started initially with six women, and now is supporting 70 women. It trains them to create handicrafts from water hyacinths. A wide range of products can be created like handbags, caps, hats, baskets, home decors, dining mats and much more. These products have a shelf life of about 10 years.
‘Allika’ also provides an opportunity to generate income for 30 men who are employed to collect weeds from various locations of Andhra Pradesh. These people especially women raised their standard of living and also provide education to their children.
“We make sales through our Facebook page and some exhibitions in our city. We still need to meet the demand and we are trying to expand and make new products,” says Abdul.
Abdul shared his future plans saying that he wants to put the entire plant of water hyacinth to use. It’s roots and leaves to be used for organic manure. And also make sanitary pads from the fiber of the water hyacinth.
Apple has unveiled the new MacBook Air with M5 chip, starting at $999 for 13-inch and $1,299 for 15-inch models. The MacBook Air M5 boasts a 2nm M5 chip with 12-core CPU, 18-core GPU, and 50 TOPS Neural Engine for seamless AI tasks like real-time translation and 8K editing. Up to 22 hours of battery life, Thunderbolt 5, and Wi-Fi 7 make it the ultimate ultraportable, now 10% thinner at 0.44 inches with fanless cooling.
Key MacBook Air M5 features include Liquid Retina XDR display (500 nits, nano-texture option), 12MP Center Stage camera, and six-speaker Spatial Audio. Colors like new Sky Blue join Midnight and Starlight. Pre-orders are live today, with macOS Sequoia 15.4 enhancing Apple Intelligence and iPhone Continuity for students, pros, and remote workers.
Why buy MacBook Air M5 now? It outpaces Snapdragon X Elite rivals with ecosystem magic and future-proof performance, eyeing top 2026 laptop sales. CEO Tim Cook calls it “more capable than ever.” Visit apple.com for M5 MacBook deals and specs.
Delhi NCR-based gaming startup Zupee has acquired Mumbai-based microdrama platform Vertical TV in a deal valued under INR 40 Cr. This move strengthens Zupee Studio, its short-video arm launched in September 2025, by integrating Vertical TV’s expertise in bite-sized dramas like romance and thrillers.
Facing challenges from India’s 2025 real-money gaming ban, Zupee valued at $1 Bn after raising $120 Mn has pivoted to non-gaming content, including recent layoffs of 40% of its workforce. The acquisition builds on its November 2025 purchase of Australian AI firm Nucanon for interactive storytelling, targeting its 200 Mn+ users with engaging, mobile-first formats.
This deal underscores the rising microdrama trend in India, helping Zupee diversify amid regulatory pressures and compete in the short-video space dominated by quick, shareable content for on-the-go audiences.
T.N. Seshan’s name stands tall in India’s history as the man who transformed the nation’s electoral system with extraordinary courage and integrity. Born in 1932 in Kerala, Seshan grew up with values of discipline, education, and service to the nation — virtues that shaped his illustrious journey. From his early brilliance at Madras Christian College to his advanced studies in public administration at Harvard University, Seshan’s path reflected rare determination and intellect. Joining the Indian Administrative Service in 1955, he built a reputation as a no‑nonsense officer committed to efficiency and honesty, serving in key roles such as Secretary of Defense and overseeing vital national programs.
As the Chief Election Commissioner of India in 1990, T.N. Seshan sparked a new era of electoral integrity. In a system once marred by corruption, violence, and malpractice, Seshan brought order, fear, and respect through his groundbreaking reforms. He introduced voter ID cards, imposed strict spending limits on campaigns, and insisted on transparency at every level of the election process. Despite criticism from political circles that labeled him dictatorial, his relentless pursuit of fairness empowered every citizen to vote fearlessly. Under his leadership, the Election Commission became a symbol of strength and integrity in Indian democracy.
Seshan’s passing in November 2019 marked the end of an era, but his message continues to resonate across generations. Leaders from every corner of the country mourned the loss of the man who restored faith in free and fair elections. His enduring legacy reminds us that true leadership lies not in wielding power, but in serving people with honesty, courage, and conviction. T.N. Seshan’s life remains a timeless inspiration a reminder that democracy thrives only when its citizens are vigilant, responsible, and fearless.
Apple MacBook Air M5 Launched: M5 Chip, 22-Hour Battery in India
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