Category Archives: Features

How can we get school dropouts to go back?

I met Kavitha, a chirpy girl with a winning smile, on the first day of the dropout survey carried out by volunteers of Child Rights and You. “School hogthira?” I asked, “Do you go to school?” She looked up and nodded, half-yes, half-no, then shyly turned away. “Tamil teriyuma?” I egged on. It turned out sheContinue reading “How can we get school dropouts to go back?”

A silicon tide lifts many boats

Behind the multi-storeyed IBM House that looms over Bannerghatta Road in Bengaluru is a maze of bylanes that form Sudarshan Layout. Families and their belongings spill out of the tiny one-storey buildings onto the narrow lanes. Most of the residents in the slums here have not studied beyond primary school and make a living asContinue reading “A silicon tide lifts many boats”

‘Failure is real, and it’s much funnier than success’ – an interview with Grant Snider

As a four-year-old, web cartoonist Grant Snider wanted to study dragons, dinosaurs and drawing, in that order. He still loves dragons and dinosaurs, but it is his drawings, sometimes whimsical, sometimes self-introspective, but always charming, that have endeared him to millions of fans worldwide. His web comic Incidental Comics explores life, art, philosophy and parenting.

‘We matched Madhuri’s steps when we were kids’

It’s a scene that unfolds at every party, event or marriage: the songs are raging item numbers of the moment, the moves are familiar and so are the costumes.

But this is not your average dance troupe swaying to Banno Tera Swagger . Meet the Pink Divas, a gender-bending group that will perform at the Bangalore Queer Film Festival 2016.

Helping them gain a firmer foothold in life

Last month, on Teacher’s Day, startup entrepreneur Lalitha Bhat got a special phone call. “I wanted to wish you because you are more than a teacher to me,” said the 18-year-old girl whom Ms. Bhat has been mentoring over the last six months. Though Ms. Bhat never met the girl, she developed a close friendshipContinue reading “Helping them gain a firmer foothold in life”

Blue Whale Challenge: a cry for help

In deep alleys of the Web, users from around the world are trying to get on a game. After reports of a Mumbai lad who committed suicide recently, allegedly due to the Blue Whale challenge, the number of Indians trying to gain access to the game is growing exponentially. Some of the messages posted onContinue reading “Blue Whale Challenge: a cry for help”

Parasports: going beyond limitations

Until Roger Bannister ran a mile under a minute in 1954, it was thought impossible for humans to run that fast. Today most international runners can meet the target. If sport is about overcoming limitations, para athletes are some of the greatest mindbenders: for instance, how does a knee amputee play badminton, or a visuallyContinue reading “Parasports: going beyond limitations”

Under Bengaluru’s trees

Did you know the tamarind tree came from Ethiopia two thousand years ago? Or that the vast majority of Bengaluru’s avenue trees are native to South America? In fact, so many commonly-used plants have come from that continent, the famous botanist and Kannada writer B.G.L. Swamy wrote a book called Namme Hotteyalli South America (South AmericaContinue reading “Under Bengaluru’s trees”

The Booksellers of Bangalore – 2

Back again with more haunts for those of you who get high on the scent of books: 1. Goobe’s Book Republic: A short walk down from K.C. Das Sweets on Church Street, you can spot an intriguing sign on the pavement: Haha. Cracks me up everytime. Goobe’s is cool: a funky little store in the basement, with quotes onContinue reading “The Booksellers of Bangalore – 2”