UDAIPUR, India — Udaipur-based Palash Khandelwal and his partner, Devesh Verma, have earned national recognition for their efforts to highlight inspiring stories of social change through their initiative, The Savage Humans.
Khandelwal and Verma were among 51 changemakers selected from across India for the National Changemakers Meet 2026, held in Gujarat. The event brought together representatives of social organizations, grassroots activists, innovators, creators and individuals working to bring about positive change in society.
The event was organized as a platform for changemakers to share their experiences, exchange ideas and learn from initiatives being carried out across different parts of the country.
The initiative was part of The Changemakers Network, with Dr. Jigar Inamdar playing an important role in bringing the participants together.
More than 4,000 stories brought to the public
Founded in 2019, The Savage Humans has used social media as a platform to bring stories of inspiring individuals and grassroots social initiatives to a wider audience.
The team led by Khandelwal and Verma has so far featured more than 4,000 stories of social impact and inspiration. Its digital platforms have built a community of more than 1 million people, while its content reaches more than 100 million people every month, according to the organization.
The initiative aims not only to publish stories but also to help individuals and organizations gain recognition for work that often remains outside the mainstream spotlight.
Khandelwal and Verma believe that in the social media era, a well-told story can help a person or initiative gain visibility, support and new opportunities.
Sharing the power of storytelling
At the National Changemakers Meet, Khandelwal and Verma also conducted a special session titled “The Power of Storytelling — From Social Impact to Social Recognition.”
During the session, they explained how effective storytelling can help social initiatives reach wider audiences while creating opportunities for recognition, collaboration and support.
Using examples from their work, they demonstrated how an inspiring social initiative can be transformed into an engaging story that communicates its message effectively and increases its potential social impact.
Honored at national platform
Khandelwal and Verma were also honored during the event for their contribution to social storytelling and for taking positive stories to audiences across the country.
They received the honor from Dr. Ajay Ranka, chairman and managing director of Zydex Group, and Bhupendrasinh Chudasama, former education minister of Gujarat.
Khandelwal and Verma said an effective story can do more than introduce people to meaningful work. When it reaches the right audience, they said, it can help an initiative gain recognition, attract support and multiply its social impact.