After nearly three hours of driving from Kochi through lush, biodiverse Kerala—past swaying palms and the occasional tea-and-chips stall—the concrete sprawl of Coimbatore comes as a jolt. The greenery gives way to flyovers and factory facades. Yet just as the first impression threatens to harden, the early-morning walkers—already filling the streets with quiet purpose—soften it. They move with an ant mindset: industrious, disciplined, and collective. It’s a fitting welcome to