Recent floods in the northern districts of Karnataka as well as in the state of Andhra Pradesh have caused an unprecedented damage to life and property. The death toll in Karnataka alone went up to 192 and as many as 17 million people were affected in some way or the other by the rising waters. Over [...]
This is an account of the state of education of children from the extremely backward communities in Bihar. Education has generally not been a priority for the parents or children here. However times are changing with the efforts from the present government and its emphasis on primary education for all. Motivating the parents to send [...]
Cambodia, a country already struggling with high rates of poverty and malnutrition, is one of the world’s AIDS hot spots, with more than 100 new HIV infections estimated to take place every day. With the highest HIV infection rate in Asia, Cambodia’s booming commercial sex industry is largely to blame with studies showing that more [...]
One of my earliest childhood memories is of a recurring dream that involved a train speeding through the corridors of the Malleswaram market in Bangalore. I never managed to figure out the Freudian implications of that dream but as I see it now, it was a fusion of two of my eternal fascinations. In either [...]
Kulasekarapattinam is a heritage town in Thoothukkudi (Tuticorin) district, tracing its history back as a minor port to have commercial relations with Sri Lanka. Along the seashore, the 300 year old Mutharamman Temple is known for its version of a colorful Dasara festival. Every year, about a million people including folk artists swarm this small [...]
