CHILDREN

 It was a great way to celebrate Children's Day.... When Usha Rajagopalan asked me to take several people around the 1km perimeter of Puttenahalli Lake, I was very happy indeed to conduct the nature trail.We all assembled there at 6am:The sun also decided to come up and join us: There were about 50 people altogether, including old friends like Shashi and Shalini.Obviously, I wasn't able to take too many photographs, but with Poornima and Srini along, we sighted quite a few interesting things, such as thisSPOTTED OWLETon top of a dead palm trunk:and thisPURPLE HERONwhich seems to be a regular resident:It was…

 It was a great way to celebrate Children's Day.... When Usha Rajagopalan asked me to take several people around the 1km perimeter of Puttenahalli Lake, I was very happy indeed to conduct the nature trail.We all assembled there at 6am:The sun also decided to come up and join us: There were about 50 people altogether, including old friends like Shashi and Shalini.Obviously, I wasn't able to take too many photographs, but with Poornima and Srini along, we sighted quite a few interesting things, such as thisSPOTTED OWLETon top of a dead palm trunk:and thisPURPLE HERONwhich seems to be a regular resident:It was…

Do you know how much of the pollution in the world is caused by cars? Some studies put that at 40%. As a result, some across the globe have chosen to observe 22nd September as World Car Free Day. ESAF, a Bangalore based not-for-profit organization that is campaigning to make the city a child friendly one, decided to do its bit to create awareness on the advantage of not using cars. On the 21st, the NGO has planned to distribute handbills along with 2 English and 1 Kannada newspapers to persuade car users to consider taking public transport. "Some friends…

Do you know how much of the pollution in the world is caused by cars? Some studies put that at 40%. As a result, some across the globe have chosen to observe 22nd September as World Car Free Day. ESAF, a Bangalore based not-for-profit organization that is campaigning to make the city a child friendly one, decided to do its bit to create awareness on the advantage of not using cars. On the 21st, the NGO has planned to distribute handbills along with 2 English and 1 Kannada newspapers to persuade car users to consider taking public transport. "Some friends…

Making Human Rights a Household Concept is its mission. Standing by victims of discrimination, repression and violence is the very raison d'etre of the South India Cell for Human Rights Education and Monitoring (SICHREM) headquartered in Lingarajapuram in Bangalore. Envisioning a fearless society which uniformly respects the rights of everyone and particularly the marginalized, some concerned citizens started SICHREM in 1995. The NGO has been responding to the growing insensitivity to the law by the state and others through direct intervention, helpline, campaigns and tracking and reporting on unacceptable actions such as torture of prisoners, ill treatment of kids in…

Making Human Rights a Household Concept is its mission. Standing by victims of discrimination, repression and violence is the very raison d'etre of the South India Cell for Human Rights Education and Monitoring (SICHREM) headquartered in Lingarajapuram in Bangalore. Envisioning a fearless society which uniformly respects the rights of everyone and particularly the marginalized, some concerned citizens started SICHREM in 1995. The NGO has been responding to the growing insensitivity to the law by the state and others through direct intervention, helpline, campaigns and tracking and reporting on unacceptable actions such as torture of prisoners, ill treatment of kids in…

Among the many times that I wonder about how the extremely marginalized cope with an empty stomach is when I hear the words "Mummy, I am hungry" on television. It is the ad jingle for a snack popular with children and youth since it entered India over twenty five years back. And it reminds me of the umpteen choices of 'fast' foods (usually unhealthy), available in urban areas. But, unlike the mum in the commercial, mothers of many children in this unenviable position cannot conjure up anything filling or tasty in two minutes! Take the case of Vimala and her…

Among the many times that I wonder about how the extremely marginalized cope with an empty stomach is when I hear the words "Mummy, I am hungry" on television. It is the ad jingle for a snack popular with children and youth since it entered India over twenty five years back. And it reminds me of the umpteen choices of 'fast' foods (usually unhealthy), available in urban areas. But, unlike the mum in the commercial, mothers of many children in this unenviable position cannot conjure up anything filling or tasty in two minutes! Take the case of Vimala and her…

  rafikipresents"THE FABULOUS ADVENTURES OF ADITI AND FRIENDS"A Theatrical Experience for Children Directed by Anish Victor | Written by SunithaThe performance is based on the series written by Suniti Namjoshi, published by Tulika.Cast : Anil Ramachandra, Ashiqa Salvan, Charumathi Suprajha, Jayanthi Satchidanda, Ravindra Vijay and Shree Lakshmi Rao.  School shows on Weekdays (Mon - Fri) : 11th - 28th July 2011 at 10.30am and 1pm.Public shows on Sundays : 17th and 24th July 2011 at 3.30pm LIMITED SEATING.Venue : KK Foundation and Public Charitable Trust, Off Cunningham Road, Bengalooru (Behind KFC on Cunningham Road). Call : 98864 74674 for bookings. Follow us on http://www.facebook.com/aditiandfriends --…

  rafikipresents"THE FABULOUS ADVENTURES OF ADITI AND FRIENDS"A Theatrical Experience for Children Directed by Anish Victor | Written by SunithaThe performance is based on the series written by Suniti Namjoshi, published by Tulika.Cast : Anil Ramachandra, Ashiqa Salvan, Charumathi Suprajha, Jayanthi Satchidanda, Ravindra Vijay and Shree Lakshmi Rao.  School shows on Weekdays (Mon - Fri) : 11th - 28th July 2011 at 10.30am and 1pm.Public shows on Sundays : 17th and 24th July 2011 at 3.30pm LIMITED SEATING.Venue : KK Foundation and Public Charitable Trust, Off Cunningham Road, Bengalooru (Behind KFC on Cunningham Road). Call : 98864 74674 for bookings. Follow us on http://www.facebook.com/aditiandfriends --…