Like Water For Traffic Story
The Mean Streets of Dehradun . . . it takes nerves of steel, an iron resolve and a certain measure of masochism to venture out on them – whether as a pedestrian (really dangerous), a bicyclist (even worse), or a driver (in which guise you engage in delusional thinking by believing you are in control). […]
Convincing the Public!
I enjoyed watching this reluctant citizen, and her even more reluctant daughter, being approached, cajoled, educated and finally won over by a determined youg activist:
G D Agrawal: An Old Man and A River
Friday the 13th is the day G D Agrawal chose to begin his historic fast-unto-death in protest of the government’s plan to build four dams on the River Ganga between the Gangotri Glacier and the Himalyan town of Uttarkashi. Local demonstrations of support were held around the country, including this one organized here in Dehradun […]
Chief Secretary S K Das
I am not a big fan of the government. Although I am normally a patient person, I find the bureaucracy and torpor of most government offices too frustrating to deal with. And yet, I recognize the need to work at that level, both because the government is the only institution with the infrastructure to do […]
Train Bai
Remember Train Bai? The baby born on a moving train a few weeks ago? Her mom went to the loo and gave birth to a daughter so tiny she slipped down the toilet and landed on the tracks below. And survived! This is not Train Bai, but like her, this little girl was born two […]
Braille Visiting Cards!
Several years ago, I met my friend Alana Officer, then Director of Handicap International’s India office, for the first time (there always does have to be a first time!). She handed me her visiting card and there, to my amazement, I found her name (I assumed) printed in Braille. “I once gave my card to […]
Concessions Mela: The Real Story
The Concessions Mela was a success at one level. Just about everyone got their certificates. The clerks who came along with the doctors were busy from the moment they arrived, and it was hard work. They barely got a chance to breathe, let alone look up from their papers, stretch their legs or sip a […]
A Dangerous Smile
Some years ago, the Foundation registered with the National Trust, an autonomous government organization formed to protect the rights of people with mental handicap. Like many things the government does, it’s a great idea, but difficult to implement and frustrating to be involved with. We have been asked to serve on three Local Level Committees, […]