An Old Facebook Memory and the Journey That Changed My Life
A few days ago, Facebook showed me a post from 11 years ago. It was a photograph taken in Old Delhi, near the Fatehpuri railway station temple. At first, it felt like a simple memory from the past. But the more I looked at it, the more it reminded me of where my journey truly began.
At that time, I had one clear dream. I wanted to become a journalist. I wanted to tell real stories from the ground and listen to people whose voices were often ignored. I did not start in a big newsroom or media company. My first steps came through work with children and community organisations.
That beginning shaped everything that came later.
Learning Journalism from Children
My early experience in media came through Delhi Children’s Times, known as India’s first newspaper by children. This newspaper is special because children themselves report, write, and edit the stories. Adults guide them, but the voices are entirely their own.
Working with Delhi Children’s Times helped me understand journalism in its simplest form. Children reported what they saw around them—school life, problems in their neighbourhoods, and issues that mattered to them. There was no pressure to impress. The focus was on truth and clarity.
From this experience, I learned that good journalism does not need complicated language. It needs honesty and the courage to ask questions.
Speaking Through Radio: Butterflies Broadcasting Children
At the same time, I worked with Butterflies Broadcasting Children, also known as BBC, which is India’s first radio show made by children. The programme is run by the organisation Butterflies, which works for children’s rights.
Here, children plan and record radio programmes themselves. They interview people, discuss social issues, and share their views on life around them. The idea is simple: children have the right to speak, to be heard, and to understand the world.
This experience taught me how powerful listening can be. On the streets of Delhi, with a microphone in hand, I learned to give people space to speak freely. These lessons stayed with me long after the radio shows ended.
Finding My Voice Through Photography
During this time, photography slowly became a part of my life. I started using my camera to capture moments that words could not fully explain. Faces, emotions, and everyday life became stories in themselves.
Photography helped me see people more closely. It taught me patience and respect. Over time, my work as Sheru Photography became closely connected with my journalism. I realised that images can help people feel a story, not just read it.
Building an Independent News Platform
Years later, in March 2021, I started my own digital news platform, TheTrendingPeople.com, based in New Delhi. The idea was to create a space for simple, human-focused journalism.
The platform covers politics, entertainment, sports, health, business, biographies, and current affairs. But its main goal is clear—to share news in a fair, balanced, and easy-to-understand way, while also highlighting stories that do not always find space in mainstream media.
I work as the Founder, Director, and Chief Editor. I am supported by a small and dedicated team, including Miss Parvati Kurakula, Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief, and Manish Khouriwal, Managing Editor. Together, we try to keep journalism honest and close to the people it serves.
The platform also allows individuals to share their own stories and opinions. In many ways, it continues the same idea I learned years ago—media should include people, not speak over them.
The Role of YouthKiAwaaz
Platforms like YouthKiAwaaz have also been important in my journey. Writing here gave me a chance to share my experiences with a wider audience. It reminded me that personal stories can help others find courage and direction.
YouthKiAwaaz believes in voices from the ground. That belief matches the values I learned at the very start of my career.
Looking Back with Gratitude
That old Facebook post did more than bring back memories. It reminded me that my journey started with small steps—listening, learning, and observing. It began with children who believed their voices mattered.
Today, when I work as a journalist and photographer, those early lessons guide me. Journalism, I have learned, is not about being loud. It is about being honest. It is about telling stories in a way people can understand and trust.
Sometimes, looking back helps us understand how far we have come—and why we began in the first place.
