how IIT Grads Helped A Mechanic’s Son In Kanpur Get Full Scholarship To Attend MIT
Ayush Sharma, undergraduate at MIT, class of 2019! Sounds like nothing exceptional, right? Well what this does not reveal is the amazing story full of hardships that were overcome to turn wishes into reality. Read on to know more about the incredible mechanic’s boy who never gave up on his dreams.
All of us have dreams. Most of us work hard to pursue them. Some of us are fortunate enough to have the resources to fulfill them, while the rest have to give up due to lack of resources. But, a few work so hard that this constraint is just a shallow pit which can be easily overcome. One such example is Ayush Sharma of Kanpur.
A mechanic’s son, Ayush is one of three people from India who will be heading to the world famous MIT in September this year with a full scholarship! Surprised? Here’s how he made this possible.
Ayush was in seventh class when he first heard about MIT but thought he didn’t have enough resources to make it there.
Photo: Facebook
Ayush’s father is a mechanic in UP Public Works Department and his mother retired as a constable from Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). Sitting in front of the computer on March 14, 2015, Ayush gave out a loud shriek which got his mother running into the room. It was then that Ayush broke the news to his parents, and the smiles have been stuck on the faces ever since.His parents, who have themselves never been to a degree college, are beaming with pride for their son to be the first one in their family to go to a ‘proper college!’ “God has blessed us that our child will now study in a prestigious college,” says the proud mother, Manju Sharma.
Ayush had heard about MIT when he was in class seven. He says he would read about the research being carried out by the faculty and students of MIT but never thought he would be applying there as it seemed out of reach. Ayush was a student of Kendriya Vidyalaya.
In class 11, when most of his classmates were enrolling themselves in different coaching centers for preparation of engineering entrance exams, Ayush wasn’t too keen in doing that. The idea of learning equations by the rote method did not interest him. He had heard about Avanti, a social enterprise run by IIT alumni, which emphasizes on peer learning as the education technique and gives affordable coaching to students. Their idea appealed to him and he got himself enrolled in Avanti in 2013.
Ayush initially had no idea how applications to US schools worked. When the end of class 11 was nearing, Avanti’s foreign application’s program leader, Taylor Gregoire-Wright helped Ayush apply to Yale Global Scholar’s Program, a two-week summer course at Yale.
The first challenge came in at this stage. Ayush had poor communication skills in English and both he and Taylor were in doubt of his selection to the summer program. However, Ayush not only got selected to the program, but also got a full tuition waiver from the Ivy League school.
But, he required travel funds for getting there and, through an amazing crowd-funding program, he was able to garnr $1500 (INR 90,000) in barely 6 hours! While his parents had always been very supportive, they had no idea about what their son was trying to do during his preparations for admission.
Ayush dedication and passion has made him reach here.
Photo: Huffpost India
“I was diverting time into something quite different from just IIT preparation,” he says. “They were unfamiliar with what I was doing and were apprehensive about the entire process.” However, it was his father who took Ayush to Lucknow to appear for TOEFL examination and then to Delhi for SAT.“Ayush returned from Yale completely transformed. He was more articulate, had a broader world view and was convinced that he wanted to go to MIT or another top US university for his undergraduate studies,” says Varun Varma, a Michigan alumnus and sales head at Avanti, whom Ayush credits for getting the opportunity to study abroad.Ayush feels that the changes in him will now always be there in his life. He feels he has become better at communicating with people and can express his ideas and explain concepts in a more impactful way. “I’ve also developed the ability to take on challenges and risks and now I can do something which is not entirely familiar to me,” he says confidently.
However, overcoming the obstacle of not knowing English was not easy for Ayush. He had never previously been exposed to an environment where most people spoke in English. Therefore, he says that he kept speaking to himself in the alien language and constantly persevered to improve.
Ayush has in fact also been selected at the Columbia University as a John Lay Scholar, but he is more keen in joining MIT.
“What’s incredible about Ayush is his determination to make things happen for himself. Despite having seemingly few resources available, he is always ingenious, optimistic and focused. He is incredibly well-spoken and intellectual despite his modest background and limited exposure,” says Kavita Mehta, co-founder of The Red Pen, a Mumbai-based admissions consulting company that helped Ayush with identifying colleges, writing essays and resume, and the like.Ayush broadly plans to pursue Physics at MIT with no definite ideas in his mind yet and wants to explore the area as much as he can. He wants to work on the education system of developing countries. This is partly due to his own experience in India and the positive learning environment at Avanti.
“The level of science education in India is just not good enough. Many students don’t really get to appreciate what science means,” says the 17-year old smiling boy.
Like this story? Or have something to share? Write to us: contact@thebetterindia.com, or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter (@thebetterindia).
About the Author:
Although a Ph.D. student at IIT Kanpur currently, education and women
development related issues are dearer to Shruti Mehrotra. Trained in
Kathak, Bharatnatyam and Karate, she is a voracious reader &
her hobbies include writing, art skills & playing badminton &
table tennis. Working for TBI helps her pursue her love for reading and
writing and also coming across the challenges people are facing daily
and their solutions. Follow her blog: shrutiwrites.blogspot.in or twitter: @mshruti_iitk
Fortified Cooking Oils In Madhya Pradesh Are Helping In The Fight Against Malnutrition
Asha Soni is a happy woman these days. Her four children are hale and hearty and she has a secure job in a factory in her hometown Indore in Madhya Pradesh. Asha has been employed with the packaging unit of Keshav Industries, a leading manufacturer of soyabean oil in the state, for last three years.
“Not only do I earn a stable income that enables me to adequately provide for my family of eight but, more significantly, I am now aware of an affordable way to keep them in good health. At the factory, we manufacture soyabean oil enriched with vitamin A and D, which boosts immunity, strengthens the bones and keeps the family away from disease,” she says with a beaming smile.
Asha, who has been using fortified refined oil in her own kitchen for the past one year, has every reason to be upbeat about what she does for a living. After all, she lives in a state where nearly 50 per cent of the population suffers from malnutrition.
Asha
Soni, who works in the soyabean oil packaging unit of Keshav
Industries, firmly believes in the merits of fortified oil and feels
that it is truly an inexpensive solution to her family’s
health problems.
Considering the scale of this public health crisis in the state, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan had launched the soyabean oil fortification initiative in June 2013. Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), an international development agency working towards reducing malnutrition, has provided financial and technical support to the Oil Fortification Initiative, with Community Economics and Development Consultants Society (CECOEDECON), a grassroots civil society organisation in the region.
Indeed, fortification of staple foods has long been regarded as a panacea for nutrient deficiencies in the general population. In the 1950s, fortification of vanaspati with vitamin A and D was mandated by law in India as poor communities were unable to consume dairy products to meet their recommended daily requirements of these vital nutrients. However, with refined oil replacing vanaspati as the preferred cooking medium, a change in strategy was in order.
In MP, soyabean oil has emerged as a viable alternative as it is one of the largest producers of soyabean in the country. Moreover, 78 per cent people in rural areas and 63 per cent in the urban pockets use it for everyday cooking.
Thanks
to the active participation of the soyabean oil manufacturers in MP,
fortified oil is now reaching 42 million consumers in the state.
According to Dr Rajan Sankar, Country Manager, GAIN, “At the outset, we decided to helm a situation analysis that closely looked at the prevalence of malnutrition in the state, the total soyabean oil produced as well as the capacity and the interest of the industry in fortification. The findings clearly pointed to the feasibility of soyabean oil fortification as an effective means for reducing malnutrition. Around the same time, the State Fortification Alliance was also formed, where, apart from other stakeholders, several soyabean oil manufacturers came on board. Their response has been tremendously positive. Fortified soybean oil is now reaching 42 million consumers in the state.”Soyabean oil manufacturers, like Kriti, Dammani, Ruchi Soya Industries, Keshav Industries and Prestige Agrotech Limited, among others, have conscientiously taken on the responsibility of making fortified oil available to consumers across the state. “Since the last 18 months we are value-adding the oil with vitamin A and D. Not only has it translated into better sales, it has enabled us to play a part in reducing these nutritional deficiencies that are rampant in the population today,” remarks Sanjeev Razdan of Ruchi Soya.
To make it easy for edible oil companies to transition to producing the fortified variant, CECOEDECON, with technical support from GAIN, has designed a special capacity building programme.
The
modestly priced handy packs introduced by Prestige Agrotech have
enabled even poor daily wage workers to get the benefits of the vitamin
enriched oil.
Informs Razdan, “The CECOEDECON team answered all our queries regarding oil fortification – its feasibility, whether there would be any change in the physical appearance of the product, how we should encourage our distributors to persuade people to opt for it, and so on. Additionally, practical demonstrations were held and quality standards were clearly explained. We are now selling fortified oil pan India.”Similar advantages spurred Keshav Industries – where Asha is employed – to lend its support. “We started fortifying soyabean oil from June 2013 and currently we are helping hundreds of thousands of families eat vitamin enriched food,” says Navneet Garg, Director, Keshav Industries.
Even as CECOEDECON consistently provides assistance to companies and aggressively advocates to make the intervention a success, innovative thinking from within the industry has given a fillip to its efforts.
Prestige Agrotech has introduced handy 50 ml, 100 ml and 200 ml packs, modestly priced at Rs 10, Rs 15 and Rs 20, respectively, so that daily wagers, too, can afford to cook in fortified oil.
Varieties of Soyabean. Source: www.wikipedia.com/Scott Bauer
Did the manufacturers face any difficulty in introducing their “new and improved” product in the market?
Garg and Jain admit, “It was challenging to convince the consumer to accept the changed product.” Adds Hemant Vijayvarghi, a distributor for Ruchi Soya in Indore: “People came up with queries regarding fortification and the benefits of vitamin A and D. The biggest advantage was that without any change in the cost of the oil or its taste and appearance, the consumer was getting added nutritive value. With increased awareness and acceptance our sales have been steadily rising.”
So, can soyabean oil fortification be sustainable in the long term?
After
using the fortified oil, Vajayanti Chopra, a mother of three, saw signs
of improvement in her youngest child, who had earlier been diagnosed
with vitamin D deficiency.
“This intervention should carry on for at least a decade so that there can be a notable improvement in people’s health. The industry is conscious of this fact. In the last one-and-half years, 16 industry partners have collectively invested around 6 crores (USD 1 million) to create awareness on the merits of using fortified oil to combat under nutrition. At present, soyabean oil retails at Rs 70 per litre and it only takes seven paisa to fortify it. For us, the cost is negligible and the rewards immense,” says Razdan.
Ruchika Sachdeva, Technical Specialist and Programme Manager-Food Fortification, GAIN, shares, “In the last 18 months, the project has reported Rs 7.5 crore (around USD 1.25 million) as social return on investment from the industry. It is encouraging to see the private sector keen to make a difference.”
Photo for representation purposes only. Source: www.eatright.org
Malnutrition is complex, multi-dimensional and inter-generational in nature. While there can be no single strategy to wipeout this widespread malaise, soyabean oil fortification is definitely a workable approach. “At a larger level, the plan is to engage with the government to create awareness on the proven interventions and to advocate for conducive policy changes to make fortification of staple foods mandatory,” shares Sharad Joshi, Secretary, CECOEDECON.Like Asha Soni, another Indore resident Vajayanti Chopra, a mother of three, is sold on the merits of fortified oil. “I have been cooking with it since the last seven months and my youngest child, who has severe vitamin D deficiency, has started showing signs of improvement. My husband is a tailor so we can’t afford to keep going to doctors. Fortified oil is truly an inexpensive solution to our health problems,” she signs off on an optimistic note.
Like this story? Or have something to share? Write to us: contact@thebetterindia.com, or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter (@thebetterindia).
Written by Aditi Bishnoi for Women’s Feature Service (WFS) and republished here in arrangement with WFS.
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How a Few Inches Of Your Hair Can Rebuild The Lost Confidence Of A Cancer Patient
Seeta (name changed on request), a 19-year old girl from Tanjore, Tamil Nadu, was struck by cancer. She was brought to Chennai for treatment at the Adyar Cancer Institute. After several painful sessions of Chemotherapy, Seeta gradually returned to normalcy. She had already missed two years of college due to the chemotherapy sessions. Adding salt to the wound was the fact that she had gone bald due to the treatment.
Even though her cancer had been cured, she was not confident enough to walk into the outside world and lead a normal life due to her looks. She underwent a long period of trauma as she just could not come to terms with it. She did not want the world to know that she had cancer. One fine day came the solution to her problem – a natural hair wig – that was given to her, free-of-cost, at the Cancer Institute. She is now resuming her education with a lot of self-confidence and leading a dignified life.
Seeta, is just one of the many beneficiaries of Tangled – a hair donation initiative of the Rotaract Club at the Women’s Christian College (WCC), Chennai.
The all-girls team has launched the initiative to donate hair for a cause.
“The salon cuts and collects hair free of cost from the donors. More than 600 stylists are trained to collect a minimum of 10 inches of hair without changing the customer’s look. It takes atleast 6-8 ponytails to make one wig,” says Gopalakrishnan, the Business Head of the salon chain.
Why natural hair wigs?
Synthetic hair wigs that are usually worn are extremely uncomfortable, itchy and expensive. The cost of one such wig is about Rs.25,000 to Rs.30,000 and most patients, after spending lakhs on the treatment, hesitate to spend such a huge amount on a wig. Natural hair wigs, meanwhile, come at price of approximately Rs.17,000.Raj Hair Intl. Pvt. Ltd., the wig-making partner of Tangled, gives the natural hair wigs to them at a price of Rs. 4,500 per wig. These wigs are then distributed for free to the underprivileged cancer patients of the Cancer Institute. The cost of wig-making is borne by the sponsors whose generous contributions make this possible.
r The salon also gives a haircut without changing the style for free.
Says Rennee Sara, the brainchild behind the initiative: “The main idea was to do a project in my final year of college that would have a positive impact on the common public. When I started looking out for ideas, I came to know about this initiative called – LOCKS OF LOVE based in USA. They also helped supply free natural hair wigs to cancer patients. I then searched if such organizations existed in India as well. I came to know that very few exist and among those, very few were functioning due to lack of funds. People were unaware of hair wigs here. Moreover, cancer patients are unwilling to disclose that they were infected and end up quitting their jobs. That is when I decided to start this drive”.Their campaign message reads as follows-
“You’ll be shedding few inches of a dead organ. Fortunately, you are aware that it will grow back. What you are unaware of is the fact that this could boost the self-confidence of another person and can in many ways cure the agony of cancer”.
The beginning
“It began last year, 2014, on the 4th of February which is marked as World Cancer Day. People were encouraged to donate their hair for a noble cause. Campaigns, social media, newspapers, magazines and private news channels were used as media for publicity. The Cancer Institute also agreed to receive the wigs. The team thought that it would be difficult to convince girls to donate their hair. We even faced criticism; many questions arose such as – “will any girl be willing to donate?”, “will her parents agree?” and many more. But to our pleasant surprise, on Day One of our drive, 160 women came forward to donate their hair! Last year alone, 2549 donors came forward to donate their hair and the net weight of the hair collected was 83 kg during the two-week drive!” says Shashwathi, the Vice President of the club, beaming with joy.
Last year, the drive happened at Chennai, Coimbatore, and some parts of Bangalore while this year it was extended to New Delhi, Hyderabad and Vellore. The drive happened from 4th February to 18th February this year.
Donors enthusiastically donate their hair.
How is it done?
The hair that is being cut, is stored in zip lock covers and is given away to the wig making partner. There, it is dried, cleaned using hot water, classified based on the texture, permed and then hand woven into wigs.As and when the wigs are made, they are given to the people in-charge at the Cancer Institute, who after further testing and a round of counselling give it to the underprivileged cancer patients, who are really in need of them. It takes about three months to make 20 wigs.
Many people including kids and adults have come forward to show their support.
The impact
“The impact has been very satisfying. When we get calls from the beneficiaries, it brings us tears of joy. 220 wigs have been made till now and about 120 of them have been given to the Cancer Institute,” says Shashwathi.Rennee further explains that the psyche of a person plays a very important role in health. If it gets affected, it leads to various other diseases. Especially when children go bald, it affects their self-esteem and depresses them. Due to lack of awareness on hair donation, there are very few hair donors in India. People donate their hair, knowing that it would be used for someone who needs it.
“The cost of 220 wigs comes up to 9 lakhs. We are extremely thankful to our ever enthusiastic sponsors, but we would really appreciate it if more organisations and well wishers come forward,” tells Shashwathi.
The team posing with the award SAADHANAI PENGAL – Women Achiever Award for Outstanding Contribution towards social service
The team has received about 14 awards since its inception.
Shashwathi explains: “Our main aim is to make women, young girls and children affected by cancer psychologically confident, give them a feeling that they are no way lesser than the rest, that they are neither ugly nor inferior and that they have to move on, to be a better person, to make a positive impact and most importantly, to obtain the willpower to lead their lives with self-esteem. While most of us dream of fancy cars and houses, a little girl somewhere, fighting cancer, dreams of having her hair again.”
The natural wigs are cheaper and more comfortable.
So what keeps them going?
“I believe that when you really want to do something for someone, money will not be an issue; things will automatically fall in place. We are able to put a smile on people’s faces – there cannot be a joy greater than that!” signs off Rennee.Several celebrities from the Tamil Film Industry have come forward to support the cause. To sponsor and to know more about this initiative, visit their Facebook page. Or mail them at – rcwcc1415@gmail.com
Like this story? Or have something to share? Write to us: contact@thebetterindia.com, or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter (@thebetterindia).
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MY VIEW: #IAmSuzette And This Is What God Said To Me
February 2012 changed the life of one girl. A girl called Suzette Jordan. A free, lively, independent woman. A woman who we want our daughters to be – liberated. A woman we can all relate to. A woman who could have been one to live her life on her own terms, taking care of her family and having no regrets.
But rather, she became the “Park Street Rape Victim”. And her life changed forever. She spent her entire life fighting for justice, raising her voice against the wrong done to her, not ready to give up till her last breath. Sadly, she left this world half way through her journey, when on March 13, 2015, she died at the age of 40 due to meningoencephalitis in a Kolkata hospital.
She could not get justice while she was alive, but Jordan is not just a woman anymore. She has become a voice. A voice for all women.
If she were alive, she would have raised her voice yet another time. But as she knocked at the door of heaven, this is a letter she would have sent back to all of us on earth –
11th March, 2015
Hi #IamSuzette,
You know me more as the ‘Park street rape victim/survivor’. Though till my last breath I wanted to tell each one of you that #IamSuzette – Suzette Katrina Jordan!
My soul left this world on 13th March 2015. When I stood at the door of heaven, no one denied me entry, no one judged me because my body was raped. I was used to the cross questions for the last 3 years of my life and so I was prepared to be questioned on my character here too.
But God welcomed me with two open arms because I am not that body anymore… #IamSuzette.
Before the ugly night of 6th February 2012, I was a mother, a daughter, a working woman whose family was dependent on her, a joyful friend whose friends are still fighting for her plight after she is gone.
But after that night people wanted me to be only ‘the park street rape victim’. The rapists are still called ‘Sumit Bajaj’, ‘Ruman Khan’ and ‘ Nasir Khan’. Then why me? Yes #IamSuzette.
God asked me to sit just next to him. I was surprised – why would he do that? He said, he loves me and appreciates the way I led my life. I was confused. I thought he would hate me too, like everyone else did, for what I am. “But God, I led my life just doing what I wanted to do, just living as I wanted to live, just being me,” I said.
“And how many can do that, my child?” asked God.
Today, 11th April 2015, is the final hearing of Suzette Jordan’s case. Her friend Harish Iyer has appealed to each one of us to support her by using the hashtag #IamSuzette in as many articles and social media mentions as possible.
Suzette always believed in living her life to the fullest and letting others live their’s. Please pray that her last wish to get justice is granted. Please pray for her soul to rest in peace. Please pray that every man respects and every woman has the courage to stand for #IamSuzette.
– Manabi Katoch
Photos: Facebook
Like this story? Or have something to share? Write to us: contact@thebetterindia.com, or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter (@thebetterindia).
About the author:
A Mechanical engineer, Manabi Katoch has been brought up listening to
Tagore’s poems and stories, so she is kind of an emotional person
within. She loves writing poems and stories on social and political
issues. Few of her poems can be viewed on www.poemocean.com and satires on www.mindthenews.com. She has worked with Wipro, Frankfinn and Educomp in the past.
This Part-Time Course Can Help You Kickstart Your Social Sector Journey In Just Four Months
Akhila Ramesh, an architect, wanted to use her professional skills for social change but was clueless on how to take the plunge. When she joined Centre for Social Initiative and Management (CSIM), Bengaluru, an institute that trains people who want to create social impact, she not only found the best way to utilise her knowledge and resources but also managed to start her own initiative. Ramesh now works with affordable community-based housing and helps the marginalized design their houses through her organization, Nivasa.
Ramesh’s story is a perfect example of how the right guidance can help you take some of the hardest decisions of your life with confidence.
Just like Ramesh, how often have we wondered if we could do something more substantial and meaningful with our lives? But most often, it is the same old responsibility of paying bills and rents that makes us stick to our jobs. What stops us from taking that plunge? Is it just the comfort of a well-settled job (even if we aren’t quite satisfied with it) or a lack of knowledge about the new field we want to explore?
The social sector sure seems like a field that gives you both job satisfaction and helps you earn a living. But starting an altogether new career in this field is often not as easy as it looks. From choosing the right model to raising funds and finding the right resources, it is always better to prepare yourself for the long haul before you take that first big step.
How great would it be if you could get a hands-on experience of this field before you jump into it? The Centre for Social Initiative and Management (CSIM) is giving exactly that to help you get prepared for the social sector.
CSIM team gives exposure to the social sector.
When P.N Devarajan retired from his long stint in engineering, he realized the need of social entrepreneurship in India and decided to start CSIM in 2001 in Chennai with the sole objective of giving direction to those who are looking at a career in the social sector.
Gradually the idea picked up and the team opened its Bengaluru chapter in 2007 led by Aruna Subramanian, who was earlier a student at CSIM.
The experts in social sector field take various sessions.
“We have students from different background and age groups. The important thing is their passion for an idea and their interest in it,” says Subramanian.
CSIM’s Social Entrepreneurship Outlook Programme, a four-month part-time programme, makes the students aware of the requirements of a social enterprise and gives them an idea of how to manage their own initiative.
CSIM’s SEOP program is a weekend program which helps working professionals to get a glimpse into the field.
“We have a great team of professionals who are already successful in this field as faculty and counsellors. This gives students a good idea of the challenges and what works here,” Subramanian says.CSIM also awards some outstanding performers with an annual award “Nayananda” which provides the winner financial and technical support. CSIM has awarded 100 such prizes so far.
Thanks to CSIM’s unique model, 200 students have been successfully trained so far and have gained a close look at the industry.
Thanks to CSIM, many people have got good idea of how to start a career in this field.
“We also organise various campaigns and events to keep the discussion going and engage more people,” says Subramanian.The institute, that runs with the help of donations, has a team of four who manage to take care of everything.
“In case you would like to start something in this sector, I would just advice you to take the plunge. Everything else follows,” says Subramanian.If you want to utilise the resources of CSIM or contribute in any way, you can enrol for their course, become a volunteer for some of their events or just spread the word.
To know more, check out their website.
Like this story? Or have something to share? Write to us: contact@thebetterindia.com, or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter (@thebetterindia).
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TBI TRAVEL: 7 Awesome Ideas For Active And Adventurous Vacations In India
“We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures that we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.” – Jawaharlal Nehru
With a diverse topography including verdant woods, snow-laden mountains, azure waters and much more, India serves as an epicenter for adventure activities. To get drenched into an utter feeling of excitement and explore nature’s pulchritude, adventure buffs from all around the blue planet visit this country. With various adventure options like trekking, rafting, sky-diving, motor-biking, etc., India is one-stop destination for all adrenaline junkies. If you also want to conquer your stress and plunge into rejuvenation and exhilaration, here are the top seven ideas for active and adventurous vacations in India:
1. River Rafting in Rishikesh
Image by Erik Meldrum via Flickr
One of the most popular adventure activities in India, river rafting is all about tingling the nerves in the midst of nature’s exquisiteness. Rishikesh serves as the river rafting capital of India. The turquoise waters of Rishikesh call the hardcore adventurers and family vacationers from all round the globe to soak in the nature’s bounty. The imposing sight of the Garhwal Himalaya while paddling in the gushing streams is simply spellbinding. With a variety of rapid grades ranging from easy to strenuous, Rishikesh is an ideal spot for novice and veteran rafters.Related reading: A complete guide to River Rafting in Rishikesh
Best time: From March to April and then from late September to Mid-November
2. Trekking in Ladakh
Ladakh is considered a heaven for the travelers in quest of thrill. It is one of the most famous trekking regions in India. The region is endowed with stunning topography incorporating hilly terrains, verdant meadows, rocky cliffs and snow covered soaring peaks. Ladakh offers numerous trekking routes such as Lamayuru Darcha Trek, Frozen River Trek, Padum Darcha Trek, Ripchar Valley Trek, Lamayuru to Alchi Trek, etc. These less trodden trails attract trekkers from all around the world to discover the undulated beauty of nature.
Best time: Depends upon the trek you choose. For instance, Chadar Trek is carried out in winters while summer is the best time for the general treks.
3. Jeep Safari in Corbett
Photo: www.corbettsafari.com
An abode to an assortment of exotic flora and fauna species, the Jim Corbett National Park is no less than an empyrean for the wildlife lovers. The park also boasts an incredible population of tigers. Corbett Jeep Safari is the best and safest way to explore this park in minimum time. Jeep Safari in Corbett also allows more flexibility in planning an itinerary. Tracking the wild animals in the trail blessed with verdant woods takes the thrill to a different level.Best time: The months of November through June
4. Motor biking in Himachal Pradesh
Photo: thrillomania.com
Bequeathed with magnificent panoramas making quixotic surroundings, Himachal Pradesh offers thrilling options for adventure activities. Mountain Biking is considered one of the most preferred adventure activities to carry out in HP. With snow-laden mountains, luminous streams and mesmerizing valleys, this stunning state is no less than a delight for adventurous bikers. Adventurers can relish the excitement of biking on the secluded valleys and explore the grandeur of nature.Best time: From Mid-April to October
You might also like: Some Of India’s Best Trekking Routes For Every Season
5. Skiing in Gulmarg
Image by Colin Tsoi via Flickr
Positioned at the periphery of the world’s highest mountains, Gulmarg is an intact and breathtakingly beautiful region in Jammu and Kashmir. Skiing in Gulmarg is a real retreat of the winter snow. During the winter months, a horde of adventure enthusiasts swarms at Gulmarg to enjoy the enthralling adventure of skiing in the midst of fascinating panorama. The varied slopes for skiing in Gulmarg makes it a perfect skiing destination for novice and veteran adventurers alike.Best time: During the months of December to February
6. Scuba Diving in Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Image by Sankara Subramanian via Flickr
Diving is undoubtedly an invigorating adventure filled with thrills and spills. No matter if an adventurer is a novice or an expert, scuba diving has the scope for memorable vacations for everyone. Every time the adventurers visit Andaman and Nicobar Islands for carrying out Scuba Diving, he is welcomed by a unique and unmatched sense of excitement. The azure waters around Andaman and Nicobar Islands mesmerize the adventurers with the clouds of hued fishes. The remains of sunken ships evoke curiosity while breathtaking panorama underwater makes an adventurer rejuvenated. Scuba diving in Andaman and Nicobar is once in a lifetime experience. The water surrounding theses islands is the house of one of the most affluent coral reef ecosystem around the world. The reefs are intact from the human activities.Best Time: From December to April
More about the Andamans: 5 Days In Andamans That Showed Me Why It Is Truly The Jewel Of The Sea
7. Dune bashing in Rajasthan
Photo: www.travelworldexperiences.com
Also known as desert safari in India, dune bashing refers to exploring the sand dunes in Rajasthan. Jaisalmer, in particular, is the ideal place to find the sand dunes. Bashing the dunes gives a sheer excitement to the adventure junkies. The barren beauty of the desert mesmerizes the travelers along with rendering a unique sense of adrenaline rush. In addition to this, dune bashing also lets the adventurers come close to the desert life. One can enjoy dune bashing with the family as well.Best time: Winter months of October to February
So what are you waiting for? Pack you rucksack and put your steps towards experiencing a thrilling and never-to-be-forgotten sabbatical in nature’s lap.
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MY STORY: “She Called Me Papa”
In the
MY STORY section, we present some of the most compelling and pertinent
stories and experiences shared with us by our readers. Do you have
something to share? Write to us: contact@thebetterindia.com with “MY
STORY” in the subject line.
A regular man who irons clothes for a living could not contain his happiness when his 3 year old daughter called him Papa. Read along to know why it was so special.
This is Raju, the man who irons our clothes each day. He comes on his cycle whistling away. Today there were stars in his eyes and he was beaming.
“Something wonderful happened! She called me Papa!”
“Risha, our 3 year old!”
“I thought you had a son who teaches karate and computers and a daughter who gives tuitions.”
“Yes. But my wife’s sister died two years ago leaving behind 2 little girls. We adopted Risha who was then one and my wife’s other sister adopted the other girl who was three.”
He added proudly, “My daughter teaches her each day so she doesn’t lag behind in class and my son filmed her dancing in school. Shall I ask him to email it to you? Isn’t it wonderful, she actually called me Papa!”
(Top
left) Raju’s daughter who teaches Risha so she can catch up in studies.
(Top Right) Risha receiving a prize at school. (Bottom) Risha at a
school function
The reason why this country continues to survive in spite of corrupt politicians and greedy bureaucrats. The joint family that protects the weak and nurtures the strong who then do their bit for the entire team, strengthening the family fabric.
God bless Raju. May his tribe increase.
Maybe someday all of us will see the world not in fragments, but as one large joint family. All God’s creations…
– Kumkum SomaniLike this story? Or have something to share? Write to us: contact@thebetterindia.com, or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter (@thebetterindia).
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Events To Attend This Week (10/04/15 – 16/04/15)
1. The ELLE Carnival for a Cause – Bengaluru
Where fashion joins hands against breast cancer. Hosted by the Taj West End Hotel, join them for an afternoon full of Fashion, Fun and Food – all for a good cause. Great discounts on designer wear, high – street fashion brands, fabulous beauty products and super – stylish accessories all at fabulous discounts. Featuring the popular Silent Auction on luxuries brands like Chanel, Dior, Gucci and Louis Vuitton. All funds raised go to charity. Know more.
When: 12th April
Where: The Taj West End, Racecourse Road, High Grounds, Sampangi Rama Nagar, Bengaluru.
2. Madivala Kere Habba – Bengaluru
A day full of events like Bird Watching Session, Sketching, Cycling around the lake, Working with the Hands using Clay, Talk on Waste Management, Lake Talk, Photography contest, Story Telling, Hoop Rolling, Community Dance and Music. More details.
When: 11th April
Where: Madivala Lake
3. Pinkathon – Chennai
It is a multi city running event for women, which is held annually to spread awareness of women’s fitness and about Breast Cancer. This event was held in Bangalore, Delhi, Pune & Mumbai in 2013. It has now been a part of Bengaluru, Hyderabad & Chennai. More details.
When: 12th April
Where: Island Grounds, Chennai
4. Gateway Art Show 2015 – Mumbai
The Gateway School of Mumbai is a non-profit school with a vision to
provide quality education to children with special needs. This year’s
showcase will focus on Gateway school’s children’s creative
representation of Mumbai as a city and the people that make it ‘Mumbai’.
They have over 40 pieces of visual art on display that represent the
diversity in media and styles that the children have been exposed to. More details.When: 9th and 10th April
Where: Somaiya Centre for Lifelong Learning, Somaiya Bhavan, 2nd floor,Mahatma Gandhi road,Fort, Mumbai
5. “Trees” photography exhibition – Delhi
Art Alive Gallery presents ‘Trees’ an exhibition of renowned photographer Raghu Rai. The show will be accompanied with a book release entitled ‘TREES’.
Nature in all its glory has been photographed time and time again. The exhibition ‘Trees’ showcases photographs of one of nature’s oldest guardians captured by the well known photographer Raghu Rai. The show also showcases coloured photographs that have never been exhibited before. More details.
When: 14th to 30th April
Where: Art Alive Gallery, S-221, Panchsheel Park, New Delhi
Want to include your event in the list? Mail us at – contact@thebetterindia.com
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21 Padma Awardees of 2015 You Probably Haven’t Heard Of But Definitely Should Know
Yes, we all know that Amitabh Bachhan, Prasoon Joshi and LK Advani were recipients of the Padma awards this year. Well deserved as they might be, they are still some of the most popular and media savvy names among the 104 winners of 2015. There might be many you do not know much about or have never even heard of! We have curated a list of 20 such deserving names who have done incredible work in their respective fields and yet remain relatively unknown to Indians at large. Perhaps it’s time for us all to know them a little better?
1. Vijay P. Bhatkar
Photo: www.ignitingminds.org
This Indian computer scientist is considered to have played a crucial role in shaping India’s IT industry. He developed India’s first supercomputer – the PARAM – in 1991. Based on the PARAM series of supercomputers, he built the National PARAM Supercomputing Facility (NPSF) which has been now made available as a grid computing facility through Garuda grid on the National Knowledge Network (NKN) providing nationwide access to High Performance Computing (HPC) infrastructure. He has proposed the National Mission on Development of Exascale Supercomputing Capability, Capacity and Infrastructure on National Knowledge Network. This will transform India’s computing prowess and accelerate India’s leadership in science. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan.2. Chewang Norphel
Photo: Athar Parvaiz
Chewang Norphel, a 79-year-old civil engineer, put his engineering skills to a better use and created artificial glaciers to provide water in the cold and dry mountainous region of Ladakh. His efforts have increased the agricultural production, thereby increasing the income of the locals. This has also reduced the migration to cities. His simple technique has brought water closer to the villages, and most importantly, made it available when the villagers need it the most during the cultivation cycle. Here’s how he did it. He was awarded the Padma Shri.3. Jadav Payeng
Photo: Bijit Dutta (Wikimedia Commons)
Jadav Payeng saw an increasing number of reptile deaths in Assam and started planting Bamboo in an area that had been washed away by floods. Today, that same land hosts 1,360 acres of verdant jungle called Molai Forest, named after Jadav “Molai” Payeng, the man who made this possible single-handedly! That forest also has several thousand trees and is now home to Bengal tigers, Indian rhinoceros, over 100 deer and rabbits, besides apes and several varieties of birds, including a large number of vultures. Know more about his work here. He was awarded the Padma Shri.4. Arunima Sinha
Photo: www.gettyimages.co.uk
Arunima Sinha, a former national level volleyball player from Uttar Pradesh, lost her leg when some robbers pushed her out of a moving train. Two years later she became the first woman amputee to climb the Mount Everest. From battling the difficult days in the hospital to chasing her dreams of scaling the highest peak, Sinha’s story is all about courage, passion, dedication and respect. She was awarded the Padma Shri.5. Kharag Singh Valdiya
photo: wikimedia/Ravald
This Indian Geologist is internationally recognized for his contributions in the field of Geodynamics. He has made some path-breaking contributions in the Himalayan region through a sustained and comprehensive study of the Kumaon region. He did research on natural hazards and land form changes in relation to neotectonism, geohydrology of mountain springs, palaeocurrent patterns and reconstruction of palaegoeography, and cyanobacterial-built stromatolites that led to assigning ages to the then undated rocks in the Himalayan and Vindhyan domains. He also conceptualised and developed various institutes related to this field in India. He received the Padma Bhushan for his work.6. Naresh Bedi
Photo: cmsvatavaran.org
Bedi is a second generation member of three generations of Wildlife photographers and filmmakers. His achievements include being the first Asian to receive a Wildscreen Panda Award and the first Indian to receive a nomination for the British Academy Film Awards. He has captured some of the most rare wildlife moments like the first recording of the reproduction of gharials; nursing, multiple mating and leopard hunting of tigers and breeding of bar-headed geese. Apart from this, he is also known for making a 10 feet tripod for filming predatory animals. He has been awarded the Padma Shri in recognition for his work.7. Satpal Singh
Photo: kushtiwrestling.blogspot.com
He is a wrestling coach and a former international level wrestler of
India. A Gold Medalist in the 1982 Asian Games and a Bronze medalist in
the 1974 Asian Games, he is now better known as the coach of two-time
Olympic medal winner Sushil Kumar. He also runs an Akhada for coaching
of wrestling in Chhatrasal Stadium in Delhi. He was awarded the Padma
Shri in 1983 and is a recipient of the Padma Bhushan award this year.8. Manjula Anagani
photo: linkedin
She is an Indian gynecologist and obstetrician specializing in
minimally invasive surgeries. She has several innovations to her name in
minimally invasive surgeries on neo-vagina formation. She pioneered the
art of Laparoscopy in late 1990s, at a time when Laparoscopy was still
an emerging technology and it was primarily still a man’s world wherein
all the techniques and equipment that came about were designed to suit
the ergonomics of the male surgeon. She also came up with new Entry
Technique to make surgery less complicated and easier for surgeons.
Anagani is famous for her work in primary amenorrhea (i.e., absent
menstrual cycles) as well. She was awarded the Padma Shri.9. Subbiah Arunan
Photo: tamil.oneindia.com
An Indian scientist, Arunan is known for his role in the Mars Orbiter Mission of Indian Space Research Organisation. He was the project director of Mars Orbiter Mission, informally called the Mangalyaan, in 2013 when it was launched into space. He was awarded the Padma Shri.10. Sarungbam Bimola Kumari Devi
Photo: www.prokerala.com
She is Chief Medical Officer of Imphal west region in Manipur. She has been working in the strife-ridden state and giving her valuable contribution since 1979. She mostly works in rural areas and even headed the food safety office during two visits of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the state. She was awarded the Padma Shri.11. A. Kanyakumari
Photo: events.fullhyderabad.com
A famous Carnatic music violinist, Kanyakumari is known for many
creative innovations. She has experience in this field for over four
decades. She developed the “Vadya Lahari” which is a new combination of
the Violin, Veena and Nadaswaram. She also innovated “Tristhayi
sangamam” which is a confluence of 3 violins playing in different
octaves portraying a special dimension. Dedicating her life to music,
she has recently composed seven ragas bearing the names of the 7 hills
of Thirumala. She has been awarded the Padma Shri.12. Rahul Jain
Photo: www.shangrilahawaii.org
Jain is a textile designer, art historian and an author. He has been extensively working on the revival of the dying art form of silk weaving on traditional Indian drawlooms. He also founded ASHA, a textile workshop to promote the traditional Indo-Iranian weaving techniques in Varanasi in 1993. He has authored several books on textile. Jain has been awarded the Padma Shri this year.13. Mahesh Raj Soni
Photo: udaipurtimes.com
Soni is a craftsmen who specializes in Thewa, a traditional
Rajasthani art of jewellery-making using glass and gold leaves, one of
the surviving exponents of the art form which has roots in Pratapgarh,
Rajasthan. He is also a cancer survivor and has been featured in the
Limca Book of Records in 2011 for his extraordinary work. He was awarded
the Padma Shri.14. Dr. Dattatreyudu Nori
Photo: weillcornell.org
Dr. Dattatreyudu Nori is a renowned Indian Radiation Oncologist. He
was once named one of the top doctors in America for the treatment of
cancers in women by the women’s magazine The Ladies’ Home Journal. He
also developed the transperineal brachytherapy technique, a non-surgical
approach for seed implantation, which improved the quality of life for
men with prostate cancer. His work has been recognized with a Padma
Shri.15. Dr. Manjul Bhargava
Photo: wikipedia/RayAYang
This Indian-American mathematician is best known for his contribution to the number theory. His PHD thesis generalized Gauss’s classical law for composition of binary quadratic forms to many other situations. His research also includes fundamental contributions to the representation theory of quadratic forms, to interpolation problems and p-adic analysis, to the study of ideal class groups of algebraic number fields, and to the arithmetic theory of elliptic curves. He was also awarded “for developing powerful new methods in the geometry of numbers, which he applied to count rings of small rank and to bound the average rank of the elliptic curve”. He has several awards to his name, including the Padma Shri this year.16. S. K. Shivkumar
Photo: news.jagranjunction.com
This Indian scientist was part of the team that developed the telemetry system for Chandrayaan-I, India’s first lunar exploration mission. He was also involved in the development of the 32-meter dish antenna that can communicate with satellites millions of miles away. Shivkumar holds the position of the director of ISRO Satellite Centre at Bengaluru. He has been awarded the Padma Shri.17. Bimla Poddar
Bimla Poddar (extreme left)
18. Ashok Seth
Photo: www.fortishealthcare.com
This Indian Cardiologist is famous for his contribution to Interventional Cardiology across the globe. He has performed over 50,000 angiograms and 20,000 angioplasties, which has been included in the Limca Book of Records. He is the first cardiologist in the region to perform an angioscopy and directional atherectomy. He is also reported to be the first to use Impella heart support device and Drug-eluting stents, Bioresorbable stents and thrombectomydevices in India. He has been awarded the Padma Bhushan.19. Prafulla Kar
Photo: www.odisha360.com
This Oriya Musician, Singer, Lyricist, Writer and Columnist is famous for his contribution to Oriya music for over four decades. He has given music to over 70 Oriya films and several Bengali films. He is currently reseraching on Odissi Music to establish it as a recognized classical music form of India. He is also bringing out the young talented singers of the state through his institution “Sanskar”. He was awarded the Padma Shri.20. Randeep Guleria
Guleria is head of the Department of Pulmonology and Sleep Disorders at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). He is responsible for establishing India’s first centre for pulmonary medicines and sleep disorders at AIIMS. His research on pulmonary diseases have been recorded by way of 36 book chapters and 268 articles. Since 1998 he has been a personal physician to former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He has been awarded the Padma Shri.
21. Kottayan Katankot Venugopal
Photo: Wikipedia/Bellarybrother
Venugopal is a famous Indian constitutional lawyer and a senior advocate in the Supreme Court of India. He has been part of many high profile cases and was even appointed as the chief advisor for the drafting of the Constitution of Nepal. He recommends that Courts of Appeal be established in the four regions of the country, which will finally decide on appeals from the High Court judgments and relieve the burden on Supreme Court. He has been awarded the Padma Vibhushan this year in recognition for his work.Like this story? Or have something to share? Write to us: contact@thebetterindia.com, or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter (@thebetterindia).
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MY STORY: I Met A Man Who Rejected A Lucrative Bank Job To Keep The 350-Year Old Yakshagana Art Alive
In the
MY STORY section, we present some of the most compelling and pertinent
stories and experiences shared with us by our readers. Do you have
something to share? Write to us: contact@thebetterindia.com with “MY
STORY” in the subject line.
This man turned down a lucrative bank job to dedicate his life to preserving the ancient folk art form of Yakshagana string puppetry. TBI reader Sharath Ahuja meets Bhaskar Kamath and tells us how he is taking this art to global platforms.
Welcome to Gombe Mane or puppet House in the tiny coastal hamlet of Uppinakudru in Kundapura District of Karnataka, where a shy bespectacled legend master puppeteer, Bhaskar Kogga Kamath, resides.
I visited Puppet House and met Kamath. His house is a veritable treasure trove of Yakshagana puppets, masks, puppets-in-the-making and a trunk-full of odds and ends required for a stage show. His eyes light up when he picks up a puppet and gives me an impromptu demonstration. Dexterously manipulating the strings, he makes the puppet come alive.
Bhaskar Kamath is the sixth in the generation of master puppeteers and a young flag bearer of the traditional puppetry form of coastal Karnataka – the Uppinakudru Yakshagana Gombeyaata Folk Art form.
Bhaskar Kamath with a string puppet.
‘Yakshagana’ is a popular folk theatre form of Karnataka with a long history of nearly four hundred years. It is a unique harmony of musical tradition, eye-catching costumes, and authentic styles of dance, improvised gestures and acting, with its extemporaneous dialogue holding a wide appeal.
In truth, it is a vibrant and vigorous living form of theatre art.
The colourful puppet mask.
Kamath is like a magician. Weaving his fingers skillfully, he brings his puppets to life, keeping his audiences spell bound – both the young and the old. He intersperses his narration with wit and humour, keeping his audiences enthralled. His sonorous voice, accompanied by folksy music, enlivens the performance.
Kamath does not restrict his narration to stories from the epics alone. Blending with the changing times, he uses his puppets to drive home the pressing issues of deforestation, climate change, preserving our dwindling natural resources and water conservation.
Yakshagana Puppet Masks.
Kamath explains: “The wooden puppets we use are about 18 inches tall. Their costumes are exactly like those worn by the characters from Yakshagana Bayalata, with the same elaborate make-up, high and colourful head gear and heavy jewellery.”The masks, puppets and the stage are designed by Kamath with the help of about a dozen assistants who are part of his troupe. He adds, “The person who infuses life into the puppet and makes it come alive, by dexterous manipulation, is the Puppet Master, known as the ‘Sutradhara’.“
Puppet House is a veritable treasure trove with over 1,000 puppets and masks. Kamath has a tiny mechanical workshop where he works to painstakingly design and meticulously craft the various masks and puppets. He has also innovated techniques of movement and manipulation of puppets by using rods and strings.
He has introduced puppet animals and birds, new techniques in the stage-craft, new light and shade techniques, songs and narrations (interpretations) in Konkani and Hindi for the benefit of different audiences.
POSTER announcing a performace in Franace.
Kamath and his troupe have traveled the world giving performances. His house in Uppinakudru is overflowing with certificates and awards he has received from around the world. For one so popular, he is extremely modest; he would rather allow his puppets do the talking.
The Master Puppeteer turned down a lucrative bank job and decided to dedicate himself to preserving this ancient folk art form of his forefathers. He is currently in the process of establishing a permanent Yakshagana Puppet Academy and Memorial Hall in Uppinakudru.
Uppinakudru Yakshagana String Puppets.
Mr. Bhaskar Kogga Kamath
Shri. Ganesha Yakshagana Gomeyata Mandali
PUPPET HOUSE
Post: Uppinakudru 576 230
Kundapura (Udipi District)
Tel: 08524 – 238402
Mobile: +91-9448437848.
Email: puppeteerkamathbk@yahoo.com
– Sharath Ahuja
Like this story? Or have something to share? Write to us: contact@thebetterindia.com, or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter (@thebetterindia).
About the author:
Sharath Ahuja works at the Indian Institute of Science, plays
badminton, billiards and snooker and is also an amateur photographer.
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What It Takes For A Single Team To Save One Of India’s Most Exotic Biodiversity Hotspots
While most 12 year olds were out playing cricket in the gullies, Nirmal Kulkarni was out and about looking for snakes. An avid lover of the outdoors, Kulkarni’s grandfather often took him on walks around their home and acquainted him with the extant wildlife. These were just the first of many exploratory walks to come in Kulkarni’s life.
Ophidian adventures
As Goa was going through a transformation in the 80s and 90s, green pockets were becoming more and more dispensable. Huge chunks of Goa’s forests were hacked to give way to plantations, hotels, highways and the likes. Given this scenario, it wasn’t a surprise that wildlife went astray and found refuge in the backyards and houses of the Goans. It was here that Kulkarni was needed most for his snake handling skills.Kulkarni, from a very young age, developed a fascination for these cold-blooded, unfortunately, infamous reptiles, and it seemed to be the only thing that gripped his attention.
Kulkarni is happiest when in the company of snakes.
From a young teen handling snakes for the thrill and glamour, Kulkarni grew into a serious student of herpetology. Spending most of his vacations as a research assistant or working in snake parks, Kulkarni honed his skills and gathered firsthand knowledge in his younger days.
Journey into the Western Ghats
That there was rich biodiversity in the Goan Western Ghats was common knowledge. However, nothing more was known. There had been very little biodiversity documentation or mapping exercises carried out in the Goan forests and this was reason enough for Kulkarni to take it on himself and his colleagues to do so.Accompanying renowned historian and environmentalist Mr. Rajendra Kerkar into deep forests, Kulkarni assisted the first documentation efforts in Mhadei Bio Region of the Ghats.
The Chorla Ghats of Goa in all their summer beauty
“The Mhadei region is home to tigers, leopards, gaur, chital, sloth bear, critically-endangered bats and scores of other species. This habitat is contiguous with many Wildlife Sanctuaries (WLS) and is part of a crucial biodiversity vault of the threatened Western Ghats”, explains Kulkarni.
These forays into the forests, many self-funded, kept Kulkarni and his dedicated team lured, and helped compile comprehensive data on the biodiversity of Mhadei – particularly lesser known animal species like reptiles and amphibians, insects and spiders.
Mhadei is home to many exotic species like the Slender Loris and the tiger.
In a study carried out in 2008¹, the Wildlife Institue of India (WII) has pointed out that the Protected Areas (PA) of Goa and their contiguous forests in Karnataka and Maharashtra are possibly some of the best potential tiger habitats in the Western Ghats region.
Kulkarni has been instrumental in the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary being declared as a Proposed Tiger Reserve.
The Mhadei Bio Region is also a Proposed Tiger Reserve
This extraordinary region, however, is not free from developmental threats. The Mhadei Dams Project, a project to construct 12 dams within Mhadei, puts the region at high risk.
“The forests that will be affected due to diversion of waters are confirmed king cobra habitats. Also, the forests that are slated to be submerged due to the dam are a niche habitat to lesser-known endemic mammals of the Western Ghats of India including the brown civet and the small Indian Travancore flying squirrel. Any scarcity of water will impact these fragile ecosystems and their denizens.”
Moreover, the riverine diversity supports most fishing communities down river who stand to lose gravely in the event of the dams being built.
There is no resting for Kulkarni and the team.
Saving the last wildernesses
Kulkarni has donned many a hat over the last decade, all to ensure the survival of this exotic hotspot. As a field biologist, he has documented the secrets of Mhadei to ensure it is safeguarded for generations to come. The Goan Jungle Book, a book focusing on the lesser known wildlife, is a testimonial of his decade long work.As an activist, he has provided critical data to environmentalists like Kerkar who have fought the government to attain a stay order on the dams set to come up in Mhadei. These cases still continue at various levels of Judiciary and Tribunals.
‘Save the Frogs’ campaign, initiated and led along with co-campaigner, Clinton Vaz and the Goa Forest Department has helped reduce the consumption of the Indian Bull Frogs in Goa.
Kulkarni and team installing camera traps in the Mhadei Bio Region.
Working as a Director (Ecology) of the Wildernest Nature Resort in Chorla, Goa, Kulkarni has developed a pragmatic model of eco-tourism, and has helped conserve and revive 450 acres of degraded forests.
The recovery of the forest on the Wildernest Property over a six year period.
One of Kulkarni’s most singular contributions to the region has been
that of establishing the Mhadei Research Centre (MRC). His six year
effort resulted in the creation of Goa’s first research centre right in
the heart of Mhadei, nestled in the rolling hills of the verdant Western
Ghats. The centre is used to document the biodiversity of the region
and alongside, gives young researchers a platform and an opportunity to
learn and contribute.
The lengthy process of setting up research stations and taking up the documentation process of Mhadei has rewarded Kulkarni and his team.
For all of Kulkarni’s exceptional work, he has been recognized
through several prestigious awards and invited on the boards of various
organisations. He has the likes of the Carl Zeiss award for conservation
and Sanctuary Asia Wildlife Award to his name. Also, Kulkarni is
affiliated to the Goa State Wildlife Advisory Board, Goa Heritage Action
Group and South Asian Reptile Network IUCN amongst a list of
organisations that goes on for half a page.
Like it is with most conservation projects in India, funds remain low and support from governmental agencies and the greater public is lacking. Even so, Kulkarni has worked through it all. Deceiving as his young years may be, he has ambitious plans for Mhadei and the research centre for which he quietly and tenaciously works away.
The lengthy process of setting up research stations and taking up the documentation process of Mhadei has rewarded Kulkarni and his team.
They have the discovery of three species, Goan caecilian (Gegeneophis goaensis), Mahdei caecilian (Gegeneophis mhadeiensis), Chorla Giant striped Ichthyophis (Ichthyophis davidi), to their credit.
The Mhadei Research Station
Like it is with most conservation projects in India, funds remain low and support from governmental agencies and the greater public is lacking. Even so, Kulkarni has worked through it all. Deceiving as his young years may be, he has ambitious plans for Mhadei and the research centre for which he quietly and tenaciously works away.
¹ Publication by Wildlife Institute of India: Status of Tigers, Co-Predators and Prey in India 2008 (Authors: Yadvendradev V. Jhala, Rajesh Gopal, Qamar Qureshi)
Like this story? Or have something to share? Write to us: contact@thebetterindia.com, or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter (@thebetterindia).
About the author:
After a degree in Banking, Pooja Choksi took off for South America to
follow her passion — teaching. However, her love for the Indian outback
brought her home to work on the Education-Base project with Conservation Wildlands Trust
in the Pench Tiger Reserve. Her interests are conservation, education
and travel that includes tents and no cell phone reception. She
continues to play Capoeira and lend her voice to matters close to heart.
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7 Incredibly Smart Indian Women Scientists Who Make Us All Proud
Teaching is a profession dominated by women, but when asked to name a scientist, we immediately think of Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein, CV Raman or APJ Abdul Kalam. When specifically asked to name a female scientist, Marie Curie is at the tip of our tongues but when we are asked for the name of an Indian woman scientist, we most often draw a blank. The problem is not that there aren’t enough women in the field of science in India, but that they are not well recognized and not credited for their accomplishments. Here are seven female Indian scientists who we ought to be proud of –
1. Janaki Ammal
At a time when women were regarded as ornaments of society and were confined to the four walls of their houses, Janaki Ammal certainly broke the stereotype when she pursued a career in scientific research. She was a botanist who studied cytogenetics and phytogeography. She lived in England for a few years, conducting chromosome studies on a wide range of garden plants, but soon returned to India and became the Director General of the Botanical Survey of India. She was awarded the Padma Shri in 1957.
2. Anandibai Joshi
Anandibai Joshi is the first Indian woman to have obtained a degree in western medicine. She was married at the age of 9 and gave birth to a son at the age of 14, who, unfortunately, died soon after. Her own poor health and the death of her son inspired her to start studying medicine. She studied at the Women’s Medical College in Pennsylvania and worked in the Albert Edward hospital after her return to India. Anandibai is a true inspiration to all girls to achieve academic success and follow their dreams. (Read more about Anandibai Joshi here.)
3. Asima Chatterjee
Asima Chatterjee was a chemist who is greatly reputed for her contributions to organic chemistry and phytomedicine. She is well known for her development of cancer medicine, anti-epileptic and anti-malarial drugs. She was the first woman to be named a Doctor of Science by an Indian university. She studied at the University of Calcutta and wrote several volumes of work on the medicinal plants of the Indian subcontinent. She was nominated by the president of India as a member of the Rajya Sabha. She has inspired women to follow in her footsteps and pursue careers that are not normally expected of women.
4. Sunetra Gupta
Sunetra Gupta is a novelist and a professor of Theoretical Epidemiology at the University of Oxford. She studies infectious diseases, like the flu and malaria, using mathematical models. She received her undergraduate degree at the Princeton University and earned her doctorate from the University of London. She has been awarded the scientific medal by the zoological society of London and the Royal Society Rosalind Franklin award for her scientific research.
5. Dr. Indira Hinduja
Dr. Indira Hinduja delivered India’s first test tube baby. She has pioneered the gamete intra-fallopian transfer leading to the birth of India’s first GIFT baby. She is a gynecologist, obstetrician and infertility specialist based in Mumbai. Dr. Hinduja’s research has resulted in several papers published in national and international medical journals.
6. Dr. Aditi Pant
Dr. Aditi Pant is a well known oceanographer who was the first Indian woman to have visited the icy terrain of Antarctica in 1983. She was a part of the third Indian expenditure to Antarctica and received the Antarctica award along with three of her colleagues for their contributions to the project. She worked in the National Institute of Oceanography and the National Chemical Laboratory.
7. Dr. Suman Sahai
Dr. Suman Sahai was the founder of the Gene Campaign in India, an organization working on food, nutrition and livelihoods. She is a recipient of the Padma Shri, the Borlaug and the outstanding woman achiever awards. Her name appears in the list of successful women scientists of India because of her single-minded determination to achieve her goals, which forced the Government to finally take notice of the effects of genetically-modified crops and address the problems faced by the farmers of India.
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About the author:
Niharika Jadeja is a sixteen year old who recently graduated from
Ebenezer international School. She is an avid reader and enjoys writing
as well as playing the piano.
A School That Takes Care Of Visually Impaired Girls From Education To Careers And Even Marriage!
Ayesha, a visually impaired grade 10 student, talks about her ambitions in fluent English and shares how her life has changed over a period of time. “I knew nothing. I could not even speak properly. From alphabets to basic communication, I struggled with everything,” she says.
She joined Andh Kanya Prakash Gruh (AKPG) and you can see the change for yourself. Not only does she sound confident but she openly talks about her ambitions and dreams. “I love reading and want to become an English teacher!” she exclaims.
Andh Kanya Prakash Gruh has a huge ground where students can play and excercise.
Started by Nilkanth Rai Chatrapati in 1954 when he saw the poor state of education for visually impaired girls, AKPG’s main objective is to impart quality education and make the girls lead an independent and responsible life. What started with just four students is now a huge residential school that hosts around 200 girls and has a well furnished building in one of the best locations in Ahmedabad city.
“It was a humble attempt to start something for visually impaired girls with a donation of Rs. 10,000 by Mr. Chatrapati. But it is overwhelming to see how much it has grown and the way the girls have turned out,” says Smita, project coordinator at AKPG.
A residential school till standard eight, AKPG educates the girls through Braille and also helps them develop various life skills that can make them self-dependent.
Imparting life skills is an important part of the school.
The girls make mouth-watering chikkis (sweet bars) – within two moths they were able to sell chikkis worth Rs. 6,00,000. Not only sweets, the girls also make amazing diyas (lamps) on Diwali and are getting trained in beauty parlour work
The girls who joined school under depression and various debilitating circumstances are now going places, some of them even enjoying enviable careers in banking, teaching, etc.
Girls have given several performances and even won many prizes.
Some students pursue vocational courses available in local institutes where they can learn physiotherapy, beauty care, use of Braille computers and telephone operating skills.
The 10,000 ward building has sufficient space for a hostel building, a place of worship, a playground with a reasonably large lawn and a special park where the children can enjoy nature, play games, do free-hand exercises, take yoga lessons and partake in cultural activities.
Picnics and exposure visits are regular activities and the school also helps the girls to find suitable life partners when they are of marriageable age.
AKPG also finds suitable life partners for the girls when they are of marriageable age.
While initially it was a challenge to keep the students engaged, the school has now become a loving home where girls feel free and liberated and can experiment with various interests and skills.
“In certain jobs, our girls do face a challenge because of their disability. Like in beauty care jobs, they give amazing massages but cannot do eyebrows. These girls are really talented and we constantly look for the right opportunities to make them self-dependent,” says Smita.
AKPG’s goal is to make the girls understand they there is nothing that they cannot do. “We advise each one of the girls to believe in herself and to know that she can do everything, and that we are here to help her out with that,” says Smita.
The residential school takes care of all the needs of the girls.
To know more about the school’s work, check out their website.
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VIDEO: How The Simple Bindi Can Save Millions Of Lives
Anytime you happen to be in an Indian village and see the women there, one thing you will almost certainly notice on their forehead is a bindi, a small round dot which has several meanings in the Indian context, from religious to spiritual to even cosmetic.
But did you know that the same small bindi can serve as an iodine patch and provide the important mineral to millions of women in rural India, helping them lead healthier lives?
Thanks to Singapore-based Grey Group, the bindi can now become much more than just a small dot. They have come up with an idea of the life saving dot, the “Jeevan Bindi”, that can address the widespread issue of iodine deficiency among rural Indian women.
“Millions of women in rural India suffer from life threatening diseases due to lack of iodine in their bodies. They are not even aware of it and don’t even use iodized salt. This idea can address the deficiency in a very simple and effective way,” says Prachi Pawar, President, Neelvasant Medical Foundation and Research Centre.
Though there are medical supplements to fill this deficiency but most women in Indian villages cannot afford it. Hence, the idea to convert bindis into iodine patches can be revolutionary.
To test this idea and give it a shot, Grey Group’s not-for-profit arm Grey For Good partnered with Maharashtra-based NGO, Neelvasant Medical Foundation and Research Centre to develop an iodine patch bindi under the Talwar Bindi brand in March 2015.
The Talwar bindi has been distributed to several taluks in Maharshtra and Delhi along with tribal areas in Nepal. The team has received an overwhelming response with more and more women showing interest in the unique dot.
The bindi does not have any side effects or cause skin rashes and can be worn for many hours at a stretch. After the iodine of the bindi is absorbed by the body, it becomes a regular dot.
“We distributed the samples in the villages and got an response. It is just an idea right now. They were specially designed to test the success of such a product. So if someone wants to manufacture it, they can. The idea is out there in the market,” says Pawar.Now a bindi need not be just a beauty dot but can serve as an everyday product that can save million of lives. That’s the power of ideas!
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India Evacuates 3300 Nationals From Yemen And Is All Set To Help 26 Other Countries Now!
India has always proved that she’ll go an extra mile when it comes to her people. Be it the Gulf War evacuation or rescuing stranded citizens from Jammu and Kashmir during the horrific floods, the country has never disappointed her citizens when it comes to rescue and relief.
And yet again, in the last week India has impressed the world by evacuating thousands of its countrymen from the war-entangled country of Yemen.
India has successfully evacuated over 3,300 Indians in the past couple of days and is all set to wrap up the evacuation operation “Rahat” in the next few days.
Operation Rahat is a perfect example of how India’s pro-activeness and responsiveness is at its best when it is needed the most.
India’s efforts have been so successful that other countries have sought its help to rescue their citizens as well. In just a few days, the Ministry of External Affairs brought together the Indian Navy, the Air Force, and Air India to rescue thousands of nationals stuck in Yemen’s war zone.
Related read: Did You Know That The Largest Air Evacuation In History Was Done By India?
As reported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, requests from 26 countries including Germany, Iraq, Egypt, Nepal, USA, Sri Lanka, Singapore, etc. were received for Indian assistance in evacuation from Yemen.
Meanwhile, the Indian Embassy in Paris reported that India has evacuated over 200 people from other countries including 7 from France. Though Pakistan did not seek help, India, on humanitarian grounds, evacuated a few Pakistani nationals. The gesture was reciprocated by the neighbouring country as Pakistan brought back 11 Indians from Al Mukallah.
The operation is being managed from Djibouti where evacuees are first taken, and from there they fly back to India in an Indian Air Force aircraft. The fact that the operation has been carried on from a third country itself is a sign of the goodwill enjoyed by India.
The Indian Navy deployed three warships INS Sumitra, INS Mumbai and INS Tarkash for the operation. Air India has deployed three A320 air crafts for evacuation from Sanaa to Djibouti and one A777 for flying Indians from Djibouti to Kochi and Mumbai. The Indian Air Force deployed two C 17 air crafts to fly passengers from Djibouti to India. The Ministry of Home Affairs has given two passenger ships Kavaratti and Corals to carry 1,100 passengers.
You might also like: How India Sent 1000 Tonnes Of Drinking Water By Ships And Airplanes To Help Maldives
“We shall evacuate all Indian nationals from Yemen. Nobody will be left behind for want of travel documents,” said Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj on Twitter.Narendra Modi congratulated Vijay Kumar Singh, who has been taking care of the operation from Dijbouti, and Swaraj for their extra ordinary efforts in this crisis.
Our evacuation efforts in
Yemen reflect willingness to serve our people & readiness to help
others in distress, which is India’s ethos.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 6, 2015
The Indian Railways too came forward and provided confirmed tickets free-of-charge and all hospitality to the evacuees for their onward journey to their hometowns. The Maharashtra government is also giving Rs. 3,000 to each passenger arriving in Mumbai.
As India is on her way to yet another successful operation, we congratulate all the forces who have shown immense dedication and courage to bring our people back safely.All photos: Twitter
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5 Doctors In Hindi Cinema Who Show Us How Noble The Medical Profession Truly Is
Hippocrates might be wondering whatever happened to the profession that he had founded and the oath that he had ordained be administered to the professionals who entered into the field. Indeed, the profession has become much-maligned as the commercial interests now supposedly take precedence over the well-being of the patient. When Robin Cook had written his famous book Medicine – a work of fiction – he had given a graphic portrayal of the way the situation could gravitate to. Unfortunately it has done just that, but one need not despair, as on the eve of World Health Day we underline how this profession still is one of the noblest that can be pursued, through the narrative of successful doctors in the history of Hindi cinema.
1. Dr. Kotnis Ki Amar Kahani
Photo Source: wikimedia.org
It is the first film that comes to mind as it is a heady concoction of professional commitment, interspersed with nationalist fervor. The character of Dr. Kotnis, played by V. Shantaram, indeed is a shining example of the way a doctor should execute his job. He had gone to China to treat plague but succumbed to it ultimately.
2. Anand
Photo Source: www.youtube.com
Amitabh Bachchan may have enacted scores of roles in his towering career, but the role of a doctor that he enacted in this iconic film directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee continues to be the high point of his acting career. Here is a doctor who when not able to find a cure for his friend in the medicine system he practices, ventures out to find the cure in alternate systems, underlining the fact that the relationship between a patient and a doctor is laid on the foundation of faith, hope and fervor. There still would be scores of ‘Anands’ still practicing the same way as Anand did in Anand, and it is because of these ‘Anands’ that the faith in the system, though shaken, has still not been obliterated.3. Ek Doctor Ki Maut
Photo Source: http://in.bookmyshow.com/
If one wishes to understand why brilliant doctors migrate to greener
pastures, this is the film that one needs to watch. Here is a doctor
who, at a young age, discovers a medicine that has the potential to
treat a chronic disease, and he is rewarded for this discovery as well –
although internationally. The bureaucratic system strikes back at him
and posts him to a remote village and the irony of the situation is that
ultimately his discovery is attributed to some other doctors in the
USA. Directed by Tapan Sinha, this film underlines the many trials and
tribulations a doctor faces if he or she wishes to work within the
system, and how it drives the doctor either to insanity or to a
different country.4. Khamoshi
Photo Source: movies.film-cine.com
When one talks of the medical profession, the talk would be
incomplete if the role of nurses is not factored into the story, and who
would be better qualified than Waheeda Rehman to be featured with
prominence here? Her role of nurse underlined the human side of the
profession. That a nurse also has emotions and she can also fall in love
was brought out beautifully in the subtle and sublime manner in which
her role was etched out, and that is a feat that has not been emulated
again.5. Munna Bhai MBBS
Photo Source: http://i.indiafm.com/
In a humorous way, Raj Kumar Hirani was able to highlight why doctors
should adhere to the Hippocratic oath and believe in the world of
miracles when all else fails, and it was primarily owing to this reason
that Munnabhai MBBS was such a huge success. It also questioned the
sanitized and enclosed environment that the patient is pushed into, and
advocated extending to him a normal terrain that would mitigate his
problems to a certain extent and, even though he might be dying, let him
enjoy the last moments of his life.There is no doubt that doctors live under constant stress. But the moot point is that even though the system may turn hostile, one should never forget the oath. One could perhaps seek inspiration from the character played by Harrison Ford in The Fugitive who, in spite of all kinds of professional losses, never failed to believe in humanity, manifest especially in the scene where he prescribes medication for a badly wounded child even though he is at the hospital to settle scores with his enemy.
Like this story? Or have something to share? Write to us: contact@thebetterindia.com, or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter (@thebetterindia).
About the author:
Nalin Rai is a development professional who likes to bring to relief
the development initiatives happening on their own in the moffusil parts
of India and bring them into mainstream.
How An All-Women Team Painted Walls, Cleaned Roads, Transformed Hospitals And Changed Ludhiana
Gulabi gang, as we all know, was an amorphous group of ladies from the rural background, or subaltern so to say, in the hinterland of Uttar Pradesh, or Bundelkhand area to be specific, who raised the banner against the oppressive system, fought for justice and is now a force to reckon with in the area as far as deliverance of justice is concerned.
Well, this is the story of another Gulabi gang, though they have not christened themselves as such, who have come together for the cause of a city. They are working to make the city clean, by claiming the encroached or abundant spaces, by creating awareness about the need for cleanliness and also to inspire citizens by their actions to contribute to the social cause.
These ladies go by the name of Ludhiana Cares, who, though belonging to the upper middle strata of the society, and not needing to associate themselves with the all-pervasive decay that dominates the physical landscape in Ludhiana – arguably one of the most polluted cities in India – have in their own inimitable way started to make their presence felt in a big way in the city.
As we often celebrate womanhood on The Better India and share inspiring stories so that more women come forward and claim their space in the open sun, here is the story of Ludhiana Cares that needs to be shared as it indeed has the potential to inspire women in different parts of the country to come together on a similar platform and contribute in some small way to the living space that is their abode and make it a better place, irrespective of whether the system cooperates with them or not!
1. Wall Cleaning And Painting
It all started with cleaning a stretch of wall that was plastered with posters, all kinds of slogans and messages. To make the process a huge success, members of the group roped in students from colleges and schools as also other NGOs who have been working with other NGOs of the city to make it a visible impact. The stretch chosen was the boundary wall of the government college that spreads over 500m, and after the makeover of this boundary wall, it became a landscape that brought feelings of pride for the citizens. A vigilante structure was also created so that the walls were not defaced after the makeover exercise.
2. Cleanliness Drive on Baisakhi, 2014
After having tasted success, Ludhiana Cares decided to focus its attention on a local eyesore, the grain Mandi inhabited by slums, which is a major open landscape of the city and used for political rallies. In this makeover, the group was helped by the patronizing presence of the Mayor of the city which went a long way in the process of cleaning. Such was the deposition of muck and garbage in that area that it was humanly impossible to clean it. Citizens who rented out heavy equipment provided it free-of-cost for the effort and the campaign met with a grand success.
3. Civil Hospital Project
When something good starts happening, it starts creating positive vibes, and the citizens, fed up with the apathy of the system, see a ray of hope in it. The Civil Hospital makeover, which was the third initiative of Ludhiana Cares, got chosen by itself when the residents living around the area posted a message through newspapers and requested the ladies to channelize their efforts in the process of cleaning it.
The area was a dumping ground and all kinds of garbage dominated the landscape. The ladies took it up as a challenge, cleaned the whole area and initiated the process of tree plantation. Now it has become a waiting space for the attendants of the patients. The landscape has totally changed and it has become one of the most beautiful spots of the hospital. What is creditable is that an attempt has been made by the group to encourage the patients who go back home after being treated successfully to plant a tree as a token of gratitude and to contribute in their own small way towards the creation of a cluster of fruit-bearing trees.
Civil hospital makeover
Children’s ward makeover.
4. Distributing Bins in Cars to reduce Littering on the streets
As the Swachch Bharat campaign was started by the government, the members of Ludhiana Cares group decided this time around to target the car owners who do not think twice before littering the roads with leftovers of their eatables. Ludhiana is also notorious as the cars become caar-o-bars in the evening or the drinking and eating places. So the ladies decided to pool their resources together and start distributing car-bins to the car owners who were seen littering the roads. The impact has been visible, but it still has to make its presence widely felt. What is commendable is the fact that the message has been conveyed to the residents of Ludhiana that they should not use the roads as a dustbin.
What started as a motley crowd is now gaining strength and is becoming a visible platform that by its presence connotes an effort to change the city of Ludhiana. The salutary efforts of the ladies are being undertaken through their own contributions and therefore, they are all the more laudable and need to be shared, as they have a definite potential to inspire ladies from different parts of the country to rise and start working for cleaning the space where they reside along with their families.
Like this story? Or have something to share? Write to us: contact@thebetterindia.com, or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter (@thebetterindia).
About the author:
Nalin Rai is a development professional who likes to bring to relief
the development initiatives happening on their own in the moffusil parts
of India and bring them into mainstream.
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Dharavi’s Women Artisans Have A Message – A Strong Message For All
The atmosphere was charged with excitement; there was a great sense of achievement and triumph on everyone’s face. Women of all age groups and from different vocations and occupations – some were cooks, domestic workers, cleaners, seamstresses, homemakers and, of course, school- and college-going students – cheerfully welcomed visitors and enthusiastically explained their creations on display. “I have embroidered this sari myself and even modelled it for a special photo shoot,” remarked a proud Nirmala Panjabi, 40, pointing to her life-sized picture that showed off a pure silk green sari with a vibrant patchwork ‘pallu’ (loose end of the sari) that boldly declared: ‘Don’t touch me!’
Standing beside her, Rutha David, too, looked thrilled with a huge picture of herself clad in a black silk sari with patchwork ‘pallu’ that screamed: ‘Balatkari ko lock karo, mahila ko nahin’ (lock the rapist and not the victim). David said she had worked hard on the ‘pallu’ that is filled with lock motifs with a real brass key dangling from each one!
Dharavi
resident, Rutha David, shows off the black silk sari designed by her
that has a patchwork ‘pallu’ with the message: ‘Balatkari ko lock karo,
mahila ko nahin’ (lock the rapist and not the victim). (Courtesy SNEHA)
Apart from these bespoke saris there were many other exhibits to enjoy at the recent three-week-long arts and public health festival, ‘Alley Galli Biennale’ held at Dharavi in Mumbai. There were sculptures, installations and pictures, among other diverse expressions of creativity. Each piece made a strong statement and had a unique stamp of exquisiteness. With basic guidance from experts they had all been handcrafted by women and men whose daily lives are otherwise fraught with livelihood struggles and marred by some form of abuse, be it physical, verbal or sexual. Even so, as one looked at them interacting animatedly with the visitors and it was impossible to imagine their other, more painful, existence.
Dharavi, the biggest slum of Asia, is spread over more than 500 acres in central Mumbai and is home to more than a million people belonging to various faiths, economic backgrounds and even multiple ethnicities.
Amidst the obvious poverty and squalor, the hardworking residents produce leather goods, textiles and pottery items, among other products, with a collective annual turnover that is upward of $500 million.
Anjali
Amma, 50, who can hardly read and write herself, proudly appliquéd the
stark slogan, ‘Stop Rape’ on the pallu of the blue hand-me-down silk
sari. (Courtesy SNEHA)
If, over the years, violence has been a part of life for Dharavi’s girls and women then today they have also learnt to give it back to their abusers. This change in attitude has slowly come about thanks to the different empowering workshops and activities that SNEHA has been doing with them for years now. “Mein aaj kal usko raste pe bhi maarti hoon (these days, I do not hesitate to hit him on the road, too),” said Zarina Khan, who separated from her abusive husband a couple of years back. Working as a cook in nearby Mahim, a western suburb, she added that not only has she learnt to take care of herself but she helps other women domestic violence survivors fight injustice as well.
While Shobha Pawar did not shy away from stating that abuse and exploitation continue unabated she, too, shared that the women have learnt to fight back. What’s more, they know their rights and who to approach for help when things get out of control.
Their new-found knowledge and understanding is clearly reflected in ‘Map the Hurt’, a massive embroidered piece stitched together by the women, with assistance of 30 volunteers. In fact, it was the colourful and very detailed ‘Map the Hurt’ that welcomed guests at the Biennale.
Women
residents of Dharavi in Mumbai, with basic knowhow of embroidery
stitched together ‘Map the Hurt’ with discarded denim that marks out
areas in their sprawling slum where women often encounter abuse and
violence. (Courtesy: SNEHA)
Describing the artwork, Benita Fernando, photographer and blogger for SNEHA, explained, “The women have recreated the municipal corporation’s designated map of Dharavi, where each lane is demarcated with coloured scraps of discarded denim and metal bottle caps covered in white cloth depicting the areas where they often encounter abuse and violence.”The idea of putting up an event like this came from the tremendous success of a workshop-cum-exhibition of handmade cloth dolls that SNEHA had helmed three years back. It took two years of careful planning and concerted efforts towards picking the art and performance pieces that were eventually showcased at the Biennale.
Once the broad themes of art, health, recycling and vitality, were decided, the Dharavi talent had a stream of experts guiding them to paint, stitch, act, sing and hold street puppet shows.
Susie
Vickery, a textile artist, guided the women to create ‘Map the Hurt’,
the saris with a message, and all other embroidery work on display.
(Courtesy SNEHA)
Incidentally, poor sanitation is one of the worst problems plaguing Dharavi. More than 1,000 people queue up to use one toilet and women are especially vulnerable when they step out to relieve themselves after dark. So, in a sense, the documentary sparked a conversation around this major issue in the community.
In addition to these joint works, there was an extensive showcase of 300 photographs taken by Dharavi children, documenting the occupational hazards of industries in their area, under the mentorship of Nitant Hirlekar.
One piece that particularly stood out at the Biennale was created by Dharavi-based sculptor Vandana Kori, 32, a graduate from the Sir JJ School of Art. Her life-size sculpture of a pregnant woman made from surgical vials and injection bottles, exploring the vulnerability of women bearing children in Dharavi, made heads turn.
The
vibrant patchwork ‘pallu’ of the pure silk green sari embroidered by
40-year-old Nirmala Panjabi boldly declares: ‘Don’t touch me!’
(Courtesy: SNEHA)
The Alley Galli Biennale was a great success, as people from across the city, including those who had never stepped into the narrow streets of the sprawling slum settlement, made it a point to visit and appreciate the works on display. Whereas reams have been written about the exceptional talent that has emerged year-after-year from Dharavi – music bands, painters, pottery artists, street dancers, artisans have not just thrived but also influenced positive change in their community. Yet, to see this burst of creative energy was truly a treat for the eyes, mind and the heart.
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Written by Surekha Kadapa-Bose for Women’s Feature Service (WFS) and republished here in arrangement with WFS.
