Category: Community Development

Rainy Days

“I saw on news about today’s rain holiday when I was just about to leave. Decided to come to school anyway – can sit and get some work done, so I can be in classrooms once children are back,” says the Head Mistress. Armed with her bag, umbrella in one hand; lifting her sari gracefully […]
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Full Meals.

The space outside school had suddenly transformed- an otherwise quiet road was suddenly noisy. Music blaring from the loudspeaker, little kids dancing around, families walking in and out of the temple- little shops had sprung up from nowhere- selling little clips, plastic toys, and bangles to vessels. The whole space bore a festive look and […]
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Dichotomies

“I can never learn to stitch. It’s not meant for me.”‘Do you want to try starting with hand stitching? Are you scared of machines?’“No no. I’m not. Give me time till end of margazhi (a Tamil month) when we’ll start sowing for mallaata (groundnuts) and then I’ll come”‘But you’ll have to take care of the […]
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Kontemporary Kannagi

தலை முதல் கால் வரை கோவம்.அவள் துண்டு துண்டாக வெட்டி வீசினாள், ஏரித்தாள், புகைததாள், தீயில் இட்டாள்,கோவம் தணிந்தது,காலை தாமதமாக எழுந்த கோவம் வேகமாக மாறி, வேலைக்கு பஸ் புடிக்க அலறிப்பிடித்து கிளம்பும் நம்ப ஊரு கண்ணகி.Transliteration: Thalai mudhal kal varai kovam; aval thundu thundaga vetti veesinal, erithal, pugaithal, theeyil ittal, kovam thanindhadhu, kalai dhamadhamaga ezhundha kovam vegamaga mari, velaikku bus pidikka alaripidithu kilambum namba […]
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What is an Opportunity?

A typical mid-morning in a village; women have sent kids to school, finished cooking and are taking on house chores at a slower pace, while letting Tamil serial dialogues add drama to the otherwise quiet home. Jayanthi walks in to the streets and invites these women “vaanga, school lendu meeting poda vandhirkanga.. Unga nalladhuku dhan..”We’ve […]
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