Unsung Heroes, No Longer

“Every teacher, is in effect, a student. Teaching is one profession, where the learning happens every single day.” says Boman R.Irani, on the merits of the teaching profession. Founder & Managing Trustee of the Rustom Irani Foundation, as well as the Chairman of the Rustomjee International School, Mr. Irani has taken up the field of education as his key focus area - be it spreading knowledge among children or helping teachers hone their skills.

Recently, he announced the launch of the Foundation’s ‘Unsung Heroes…No Longer!’, Awards for Excellence in Education for the year 2004. A national-level event, it attempts to recognize and reward the efforts of secondary school teachers.

“There is a general misconception about teaching being a ‘last-resort’ career for those who find it difficult to find employment. I believe and know of many teachers, who are in the profession for the love of it.” he says.

Ask Mr. Irani how these awards came to be, and he has an interesting tale to narrate. “Some time ago, when a prospective teacher being interviewed for the Rustomjee International School was asked where she sees herself five years from that point on, she replied that she would aspire to receive the Best Teacher Award from the country’s President. This reply triggered off the thought that there is a greater appreciation of the teaching community. This is how we came up with the idea of the Award.”

Last year, the event was open to teachers in Mumbai alone. The contest essentially tested the abilities of a teacher in a non-classroom/student–interaction setting. The pre-finalists not only competed, but also shared knowledge about handling various situations that they came across regularly in classrooms. In addition, the organisers implemented exercises to enhance personality development along with technical coaching in the area of education. This led to greater bonding and communication among the teachers that continued long after the event was over!

In its second year now, ‘Unsung Heroes…No Longer!’, hopes to repeat this fete on a larger base – with teachers from the cities of Mumbai, New Delhi, Calcutta, Bangalore & Chennai, all waiting to take part in the event. Mr. Irani speculates that this year, there could be about one hundred and fifty participants if early response is anything to go by.

As for the future, Mr. Irani hopes that the Foundation, armed with the logistical experience of handling an exercise such as this at a nation-wide level, should be able to take the contest to smaller towns and cities.

Further refining his ideas on education, he adds, “When you teach an adult, you teach one person, but when you teach a child, you teach three other people.” Himself a product of the education system that insists on learning the lessons and learning them well, Mr. Irani felt the need to create an institution where the stress would be on learning the process of learning through innovative approaches to education, and not just by rote. So, in 1999, the Rustom Irani Foundation established the Rustomjee International school as a premier English medium institution in Mumbai with 268 students. It has grown from strength to strength and today, boasts of 4500 Rustomites, as the students are called.

One recent example of the way things work at the school, is the method in which the highlights of the recent Budget were discussed in class. Teachers took children through the ramifications in each sector, for example, the Science teachers dealt with the implications on industry and technology while the Geography teacher talked about the impact on transportation. This is what Mr. Irani means when he talks about ‘learning the process of learning’.

Spurred by the success of the Rustomjee International School in Mumbai, the Rustom Irani Foundation, whose objective is ‘To Make Education a Priority’, has gone on to implement several interesting programs in the field of education, particularly outreach programs. Sometimes, with a little help of the students of the school.

In order to inculcate human values in every Rustomite, the Sensitive Saturday Program was created. Under this, secondary class students visit institutions such as old-age homes, orphanages and cancer patients’ associations where they interact and spend quality time with the inmates. In addition, the Foundation encourages Rustomites to interact with students from the Maharashtra state-run Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Schools and have also informally helped them with their studies as also organised donation drives for the schools. On an ongoing basis, the Foundation involves underprivileged children in various activities of the Rustomjee International School, for instance, they participate in the school’s annual day function to showcase their talents. Shiksha is an initiative that aims at making children from economically backward classes working as domestic help, to become self-reliant and independent through education. They are taught vocational skills like carpentry, sewing etc., in addition to reading and writing. They are also instilled the importance of hygiene and the use of banks, post office etc.

So what does all this leave young Mr. Irani time for? He leads Keystone Realtors, the first Indian Real Estate Development Company to get ISO 9001:2000. And if he still has time, he’s a keen student himself – of the Martial Arts!

Information on ‘Unsung Heroes…No Longer!’, Awards for Excellence in Education for the year 2004 can be had from the website: http://www.rustomiranifoundation.org.

Hanks to Langdon

Dan Brown’s bestseller, ‘The Da Vinci Code’ is going the movie route. We asked a few Chennaiites, their opinion on this.

On the one hand there are those who lament the fact that a book has once again gone the movie route. Sanjay Santhanam, a voracious reader of anything fiction, who heads the sales and marketing function in a financial services company, feels, “Why do books HAVE to be made into movies? Can’t we just let them be? A book has so many little details, that the movie cannot encompass. Besides, what’s the fun if you already know the story? The movie will work best for those who haven’t read the book, and may not know what to expect. The upside is that the movie may actually drive these people to read the book after watching it!”

On the other hand, there are those who’re looking forward to the movie. Anitha Pottamkulam, who runs a travel consultancy considered the book a great piece of fiction and says, “It will be a good time-pass film. It has all the elements of one already.”

Nandan Balsavar is an architect and director of an organisation that specialises in human resettlement. His work in the area of town planning includes studying symbology, and it was this aspect that drew him to the book initially. He says, “I would have to read the book again, to really comment on this. However, I think if made well, the movie should be good. This movie will not only draw people who have already read the book, but also introduce the concepts to a whole new movie-watching audience who have not yet read the book.”

The choice of Tom Hanks as Robert Langdon has caused quite a stir, with diverse reactions. Anitha chips in “Tom Hanks is very Middle American. He just doesn’t have it in him to be dashing enough to play Robert Langdon. Look at the rest of the cast – it’s perfect! They’ve done the best thing by casting French actors as Sophie Neveu and Bezu Fache. Why bring Tom Hanks into this equation?”

Tom Hanks, who was recently seen as Viktor Navorski in ‘The Terminal’, has worked on a gamut of unusual roles. From a boy who becomes ‘Big’ overnight, to putting the sleepless in ‘Sleepless in Seattle’. From the AIDS infected Andrew Beckett of ‘Philadelphia’ to the memorable ‘Forrest Gump’. One could go on…What remains to be seen is if he’ll manage to pull off Robert Langdon.

Sudha Hariharan, a housewife, considers Tom Hanks ideal for the role. “Tom Hanks looks erudite enough to carry it off. If we don’t have a screen precedent of what Robert Langdon looks like, why write off Tom Hanks?”

French actress, Audrey Tautou will play Sophie Neveu. Jean Reno will play Inspector Bezu Fache. He played an inspector earlier, hot on the trail of Kevin Kline in ‘The French Kiss’. He’s also acted in ‘Mission Impossible’ and ‘Godzilla’ – he’s in the new Pink Panther movie too!

Ian McKellen will play Sir Leigh Teabing. He is better known as the actor who played Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings series and Eric Lensherr/Magneto in X-Men. Alfred Molina will play Bishop Aringarosa. He played Comte De Reynaud in ‘Chocolat’, Diego Rivera in ‘Frida’ and more recently, Doc Ock/Dr. Otto Octavius in ‘Spiderman II’. Paul Bettany of ‘Wimbledon’ and ‘Master & Commander’ is rumoured to play Silas. He also played Charles in ‘A Beautiful Mind’ and Geoffrey Chaucer in ‘A Knight’s Tale’.

Ron Howard does the honours as director. He has earlier directed films as diverse as ‘Splash’, ‘Cocoon’, ‘Parenthood’, ‘Apollo 13’, ‘Ransom’, ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’ and ‘A Beautiful Mind’.

We asked some of our interviewees, “If it wasn’t Tom Hanks, who would it be?” The unanimous decision was a 20-years younger Harrison Ford! Some felt that Robert Langdon’s character was quite similar to Indiana Jones, minus some of the swashbuckling adventures. However, we can only wait until next year to see how good a Robert Landon, Tom Hanks makes.

The worldwide release of ‘The Da Vinci Code’, has been set to May 19, 2006.

(edited version published on June 3, 2005 in Madras Plus, the city features supplement of The Economic Times, Chennai. Pic as published in magazine)

Accio Hexatomus!

As the official release date draws closer, it’s as though someone has cast a spell on Harry Potter fans. The frenzy reaches dizzying heights – all to secure a copy of J.K. Rowling’s 6^th offering in the series, Harry Potter & the Half-blood Prince. Speculations about the identity of the ‘half-blood prince’ were initially linked to Harry or Voldermort, then, the guesswork meandered to Hagrid, Salazar Slytherin or even an alternate self of Voldermort! Come July 16, 2005, it will be finally revealed. We asked a few muggles in Chennai what their expectations of the book are, and here’s what they had to say!

 

Pushan (12) - 7^th Standard, Bhavan’s Rajaji Vidyashram

Although I’ve read all the previous books, I don’t know what will happen in this one. I have heard all kinds of stories from my cousins who discuss the book a lot. Don’t know which of these is true. I'll find out when I finally read the book!

Niranjana (15) -11^th Standard, S.B.O.A. School

In the new book, I really want to know what Lord Voldemort will be up to. He is, I think, the Half-Blood Prince. (Why do I think that? Because as Tom Marvolo Riddle, he is half-blood with a muggle father and a witch mother) To make matters worse, Harry is now very emotional with the loss of his godfather. I wonder what will happen now!

 

Suzanna -Just completed college

Of course I’m looking forward to Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince! I’ve read the previous five. Book 5 was a bit sad with the death. I just hope nobody dies in this one!

M. Hariharan -Management Consultant

As has been the case with the previous books, I hope the new one has even more depth. I suppose it would deal with Harry’s angst of growing up. There would be some elements of a deepening relationship with his girl. I’m also curious to see what aspects of his role model(Professor Dumbledore), Harry would copy in this book.

On a totally different note, I hope at least in this book, Ron Weasley’s character is better fleshed out than Hermione’s. He is a powerful part of the story.

What does Accio Hexatomus mean? “Summon the Sixth Book!”

Rev'erberate! - An Inteview with Revathi Sankkaran

Seeing the multifaceted Revathy Sankkaran on TV is one thing. But nothing prepares you for her warmth and exuberance when you actually meet her.

Ever popped the cork on champagne? That’s her.

So how does one begin to define Revathy? She has modeled for TV commercials including one where she played a nun totally engrossed in munching a chocolate bar! She scripted and produced many radio dramas and short films, has done voice-overs and also sung the title track for a TV serial! She says, “Director K. Balachander calls me his ‘find’ – he brought out all facets of my personality in his TV serials. I’ve acted in four of them – Anni, Kasalavu Nesam, Kadhal Vangi Vandhen and Adutha Veettu Kavidhai.”

With her two sons away in the US, and a very supportive Mr. Sankkaran, Revathy packs in quite a schedule in an average week. Despite this, she does stop to smell the flowers often enough. She says, “I guess I’ve retained the little girl in me – even a kite can make me happy! Glass bangles are my indulgence. And people who know me, are aware that I won’t balk at shaking a leg!”

Has she always been this way? “I celebrate the clown side of my personality and have always been an entertainer. At the age of three, a typical scenario at home was that we would return from a movie, and I would perform the dances for the family. I used to insist that the cook also join the audience, as I didn’t intend putting on the show again separately for her benefit! My two favourite pastimes were climbing trees and riding a bicycle!” she recounts.For sure, this is one lady who doesn’t live her life based on stereotypes!

Post her 60th birthday, Revathy has been anchoring Mangayar Choice, a TV program for women that stands apart for its conversational style and focused content. She is also editor of Mangayar Malar, a womens’ magazine, with her key focus now being to increase circulation without compromising on content. She has also played sutradhar (narrator) in Anitha Rathnam’s programs.

For harikathas, she transforms herself into a character, Sakku Bai, innovatively weaving concepts with song. She says, “As Sakku Bai, I can combine my love for music, dance and story-telling! I love wearing the costume and the jewellery and going on stage!” she says and adds, “The highpoint in life for me was when I performed a harikatha on the life of M.S. Subbulakshmi, in her presence on her 83rd birthday. Imagine my audacity - singing her songs in front of her! When she applauded me and said Sabash, I felt like I had won the Bharat Ratna!”

“Every phase of my life - the translations, the editorship, the TV serials and programs – all these came to me. I believe that if something good comes your way, you must respect it, take it up and give it your best shot. In fact, more than my belief in my ability to so something, if another person shows confidence in me, I go the extra mile.”, she says.

On a more serious note, she says, “After the age of 50, one tends to take things to heart. But what happens is, one’s wise side also becomes stronger. When one is hurt, there’s also a voice telling you that you’ve been through so much earlier, this too shall pass.”

So how does she define life? “Life is like a walk on the beach – there will be some pretty shells, pebbles and also crabs. We have to accept the entire package and be amazed by its wonders every day.”

REVATHY SANKKARAN’S ADVICE TO SENIOR CITIZENS
- After the age of 60, every day is a bonus. Those who think their lifetime is over, and that there is nothing to look forward to, are missing out on so much!
- At this age, we must ensure that we have (a) enough money to live so that we needn’t borrow, (b) a roof above one’s head so that there are no debts, and (c) the ability to live within one’s means. In short, be independent.
- Think like a 40-year old. Meditate and do yoga to maintain yourself.
- Stop living for others - especially your children. They are merely arrows shot through you into this world. Rise above the mindset and go beyond caring only for your family.
- Be like an umbrella. But remember that those who seek your shade, are not yours.
- Think good thoughts for the world. Think of people who are sick – if you can’t spend time with them, at least send up a prayer. Sarve Jana Sukhino Bhavantu (May all have happiness) is not only a motto, it’s a way of life.
- Consider pledging your body to research. This is the ultimate sacrifice. An ego-less life is a life of happiness.

(edited version published on May 26, 2005 in Madras Plus, the city features supplement of The Economic Times, Chennai)

The Hills are Alive

 With the mercury rising (nay, risen) in Chennai, escaping to a hill station seems just the thing to do. But once you land up there, then what? Chances are, you’ve already ‘been there, done that’.

If you have a place to stay and means to travel locally (own or hired), and if you’re one of those who wants to get more out of your hill station holiday than just simple relaxation, read on.

The Usual Suspects
There are some standard sights to see in every hill station. You know the type – the lakes, the Suicide Points, the valley views and the many parks. Places that a sight-seeing bus will take you to, yet give you little time to explore. One thing you could do is revisit some places you’ve wanted to see at your leisure, yet never managed to. But yes, the spot is likely to be crowded over the summer if it features on the list of places that tourist taxis and buses normally swing through. So, go when there’s less likelihood of a crowd – early morning, perhaps?

Discovery Channels
Every hill station has its hidden gems, just waiting to be discovered. If you want to escape the crowds, one thing to do would be to research where the hoardes are taken by the guides, omit those places from your list and focus on others. However, do check timings or best time to visit before setting out.

There are some interesting places that you’ll come across quite by accident. These could be buildings in a style uncharacteristic of the region or interestingly shaped trees. A cave dwelling that only the locals know about or perhaps an eatery at the top of a hill commanding a great view. Maybe a different kind of museum? Do take the time and explore. After all, how often do you get to do something spontaneous? I still regret not stopping one drizzly July afternoon, for a ‘cutting-chai’ at a wayside teashop in Karnataka, on the side of a road flanked by lush forests.

People Who Make The Place
Home-stays offer a great opportunity to mingle with the local people. Chances are, your host must be an interesting person or could introduce you to other people in the region. If you’re a musician, you could come across someone who plays the same instrument, maybe in a different way? If you’re looking to pick up art, every place has a host of good local artists. On my last trip to Kodaikanal, I met a master cobbler, who makes moccasins the Red Indian (Native American?) way!

The Road Less Travelled
If you haven’t trekked before but would like to give it a shot, it’s best to start with a nature walk and a good guide who can take you to places best suited to your fitness level. Wear full sleeved clothes, as walking through a narrow path with shrubs on both sides, can leave you with quite a few nasty scratches. Ditto for trousers. As far as possible, wear dull-coloured clothes if you’re going into a forest reserve, where there’s a greater possibility of the presence of wildlife.

Good footwear is a must, as it determines literally how far you’ll go. Floaters are fine only for walks – in any case, they must be worn with thick sports socks to prevent abrasions on the foot when loose sand gets caught in them. Drink water at regular intervals. If setting out in the morning, have a fruit or a light breakfast and carry some eatables with you. I presume you know better than to litter the place!

If all this seems too much of an effort, think of the great views you’ll witness en route and once you’re there! One more thing – don’t step into water pools just to cool off your feet – they are extremely slippery and you’ll be cooling off more than you bargained for!

Past Continuous
Every hill station has its history, with American or British Officers having created townships to help their kin escape from the searing heat in the plains. People used to walk up the hills, until roads and railway tracks were laid. A good place to start your journey into the past, is at the local museum. From there, you may possibly come across the oldest church, the first bungalows, old monasteries that stand the test of time, abandoned tribal settlements and even ancient burial urns! If the idea doesn’t turn you off, do go to the cemeteries – there are many old stories that reside in tombstone inscriptions.

So, if you haven’t done the disappearing act from Chennai yet, now’s the time to head to those beckoning hills! I hope you rediscover the same place with new eyes!

(edited version published on May 20, 2005 in Madras Plus, the city features supplement of The Economic Times, Chennai. Pics by author for Madras Plus.)

In-House Doctor - An Interview with Geeta Rajagopal

“Feng Shui is really about making your surroundings work for you.”, says Geeta Rajagopalan, Feng Shui consultant, who prefers to call herself, a ‘House Doctor’. She adds, “I prescribe remedies for the problem, as well as some ‘multivitamins’ to boost the overall health of the house. However, a Feng Shui consultant is only required when a house is ‘unwell’.”

“I have made the spaces I have worked on, very ‘un-Feng Shui’, in the sense, the changes are very discreet.” says Geeta, and this reflects in her home too. I expected to see an excess of the customary red-tasselled ‘Feng Shui-ware’ but was pleasantly surprised to find a harmonious living space that has, among many things, a collection of Ganeshas, a console with family photos aplenty, and many paintings by the lady herself! It’s easy to see, that she puts her clients at ease within minutes, as does her home. They say, a person’s home provides an insight into the person. I found it true in Geeta’s case.

So, how did she get started? An incident at Prague converted Geeta into a believer and then a practitioner of Feng Shui. “A bolt of lightning struck the beautiful house we lived in. As the house owner was carrying out extensive repairs on the house, we shifted to a different house. From the time we began to live in the new place, things started going wrong. One of my friends who practised Feng Shui offered to look around the house and finally told us that this house was bad for us. It had been hardly 3 months since we moved to this place but she insisted we move again, also accompanying me for house-hunting trips. We finally shifted to yet another place (approved by her) and found that everything in our life was back to normal again. This got me started on Feng Shui. Also, in Prague, one cannot just practice, there are courses to be done, and one has to work for a while on mock projects before finally getting an opportunity to practice.”

Geeta has been practising ever since she came to India, five years ago. She speaks of her experiences where her clients have benefited from her advice. She has BPOs who won’t move a chair until she approves the move! But there are also some rare occasions, when she has had to request a client to move out of a house. She adds, “I also get calls from time to time saying I’m the last resort to a terminally ill person. I’ve had to tell them, that I am sadly helpless in this regard as I cannot heal people.”

So, how does a Feng Shui consultant work? “The client sets an appointment with me, I go across to their house and after interacting with them for a while, I assess the space. I then suggest changes in position of certain objects and also the addition or removal of certain objects. Some clients call me with a feedback and some give me a feedback in their own way, by recommending me to their friends.”

One final word of advice from Geeta on the Feng Shui merchandise available in the market today, “Everything has its purpose, but it is imperative, that you must be fully aware of what it’s for. If one of these items is placed in the wrong place, it can do more harm than good. It’s like taking a medicine without knowing if it will help you or not.”

Finally, what sets Geeta apart is her innate interest in people and spaces, as well as the interplay between the two.

(edited version published on May 7, 2005 in Madras Plus, the city features supplement of The Economic Times, Chennai. Pic by Seven Shots for Madras Plus)

Calling the shots - Iqbal Mohammed & Anuradha Iqbal

“Indian culture is essentially vibrant – today, we’re also becoming a very visual society. From film posters to advertising, from book covers to publications, visuals exist in most areas of our daily existence. So, in terms of scope, photography, as a career, is really booming. Light & Life Academy’s objective is to put skilled photographers in this opportunity-rich space,” says Anuradha Iqbal of the Photography Academy in Ooty, that she runs with her husband, acclaimed automobile and travel photographer, Iqbal Mohammed.

They are in town on the last leg of an exhibition tour that covered Mumbai and Bangalore, showcasing the work of their students at Light & Life Academy.

Iqbal took a three-year hiatus from his photography assignments to focus on starting and stabilizing the institute. He handles the academics part of the work while Anuradha, with her Advertising and Marketing background plunged headlong into the admin and logistics of running this four-year-old, full-fledged training institute for photography, the first and only one of its kind in India.

First things first. Why Ooty? “We were looking for a visually inspiring location and had earlier considered Goa, Mahableshwar as well as Darjeeling. However, Ooty was our choice as it’s also locationally straddled between three states, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala. Moreover, it’s also safe. This is important as we have more female students now. What’s more, it has no distractions, which is a major factor while learning any art,” says Anuradha. Sounds like living a holiday to us!

Iqbal believes that here has been a transition in the way photography was learned. “Earlier, most photographers were self-trained, having assisted an established professional. However, today, with new technology and techniques, it takes a person that much longer to learn the craft. Which is where a formal study comes into the picture. Our students are trained to be ready to take on assignments once they complete the course. We stress on their assisting photographers so that they learn the non-technical aspects, more in the area of the business of photography.”

Anuradha narrates, “We once had members of the Young Presidents Association, all heads of companies, doing a course with us. The most amazing thing was their passion for photography – some had cameras that even established professionals lacked. You should have seen them get all muddied up on field trips for that perfect shot!”

Iqbal chips in with an incident, “Once, on a field trip to a national park near Ooty, our group of students had gone ahead while I was accompanying one student who had slowed down. Suddenly I saw, between us and the group that was advancing on the opposite hill, a tiger. I tried calling out to them by gestures so as not to draw the tiger’s attention, to take a shot. But they couldn’t understand what I was saying. Although the tiger stayed there a whole minute, none of us managed to get a shot.”

Coming back to the exhibition, by Iqbal’s own admission, the work of the students is so good that people at earlier exhibitions have enquired if they were all digitally manipulated! “While we do have a couple of shots that are intended to show skill in digital technique, the rest are all straightforward shots. That’s how good the work is,” ends Iqbal with justifiable pride. 

Light & Life Academy’s exhibition – Third Eye – is on between May 6^th and 8^th, 2005 between 10 a.m. and 7 pm at Amethyst.

(edited version published on May 5, 2005 in Madras Plus, the city features supplement of The Economic Times, Chennai. Pic courtesy Seven Shots, as published in Madras Plus)

Waqt - The Race Against Time

There is an old adage that by providing our children with all that we never had, we may be denying them the things that we did gain. This basically sums up Waqt – The Race Against Time.

Ishwar (Amitabh Bachchan) owns a toy manufacturing company, but hasn’t forgotten his humble beginnings. His son, Aditya aka Adi (Akshay Kumar) is the apple of his eye, and Ishwar fulfils his every whim, including in one instance, hiring a plane for a picnic. Ishwar’s wife, Sumi (Shefali Shah) is the conscience keeper of the family. She disapproves of such excesses on the part of Adi, and her constant struggle is to make Ishwar see his error in indulging Adi. At the heart of all this, is a secret that Ishwar and Sumi share.

Pooja (Priyanka Chopra) and Adi are in love with each other and elope to marry. Ishwar forgives this. He then finds out and is delighted to know that the bride is Pooja, the daughter of an annoying Nattu (Boman Irani) who is always taunting him with his petty one-upmanship. Add to this equation, a deadpan Lakshman (Rajpal Yadav), who is a little low on the uptake.

Sumi frowns upon the fact that Adi is yet to become a responsible adult. To add to this, Pooja is pregnant. Sumi wonders how Adi will handle his responsibilities if he can’t stand on his own feet. With a hard heart, Ishwar throws his son out of the house so that he may learn to fend for himself and his growing family. Adi is initially amused, then shocked by this. He begins to work as a stuntman while preparing to participate in a talent search for a film hero. The rift between the father and son widens. The rest of the movie is about how Adi finally makes it big in life, only to realise, that his battle wasn’t with his father all along, but with time.

On the whole, the basic premise of the movie, on the roles of parents and children, is thought provoking. One interesting aspect of the movie is the evolution of Amitabh Bachhan’s character from being a friend to his son, to being a parent who must teach him responsibility. Despite this, there’s a light vein maintained through most of the movie.

Performance-wise, Shefali Shah catches one’s attention with her restraint and dignity. No melodramatic scenes or emotional blackmail for this screen mom! There’s a camaraderie that she manages to capture in her relationship with Ishwar. Amitabh Bachchan gets to essay a range of emotions, and he’s does it with ease. This is one of Akshay Kumar’s better performances, especially in the second half. Priyanka Chopra is adequate. Boman Irani is brilliant as usual, especially in the scenes when he’s trying to run Ishwar down. Rajpal Yadav launches into questions in scene one, and doesn’t let up on them right till the end.

The director, Vipul Amrutlal Shah, excels in plays turned to film. His earlier venture, Aankhen (about three blind men robbing a bank), was a Gujarati play, and so is this one. His partnership with Aatish Kapadia (Story, Screenplay & Dialogues) seems to be taking this team from strength to strength. Anu Malik’s music is, well, Anu Malik’s music. Miraksam may well become the baraat song of the year.

Those who enjoyed Baghban – you’ll like this family drama, although it does get a little morose towards the end. Thankfully, there are no ‘regret-flashbacks’ for any of the characters. Verdict – a three-hanky movie, but only in the second half.

(edited version published on April 30, 2005 in Madras Plus, the city features supplement of The Economic Times, Chennai) Photo courtesy : santabanta.com

Symbiosis

What happens when an Assistant Professor at IIT, a special educator and a talented 8^th standard student get together for a purpose?

That’s what I found out when I met Dr. Shanti Bhattacharya, Namita Jacob and Kaveri Murthy at the launch of ‘Where is the button’, an interesting book concept, that any child can read. Yes, any child!

As part of the Chetana Charitable Trust’s efforts, the book attempts to bridge the diverse learning needs of children with varying abilities. For instance, while it looks like any other storybook, it also has the story at the base of the page in Braille, for children with visual impairment. There are buttons on tassels, tied to the book, to add a ‘touch and feel’ factor.

“It all started when I found it difficult to choose the right books for my daughter last year. Namita, as a special educator, drew attention to the fact that Indian pre-school children with low vision or vision impairment didn’t even have books, leave alone the choice. Their first exposure to reading is with studies as against reading for fun. That’s how, the idea for this book was born.” Says Shanti, a Trustee at Chetana and looking very unlike the stereotypical starched cotton sari clad, stern professor I assumed I was meeting.

Namita Jacob, a Key Resource Person for the project says, “We developed the book over 8 months. Shanti wrote it, and Kaveri illustrated it. I then pre-tested it. We changed a few things based on the feedback, and went into print.”

“Just the other day, somebody brought to our notice that the book can achieve one more purpose – for visually impaired parents to read to their non-visually impaired children!” says Shanti.

The book, ‘Where is my button’ is sold as a non-profit product only at Goodbooks stores in Abiramapuram and Anna Nagar. 

(Pic courtesy Seven Shots as published in Madras Plus)

Hey Grandma, tell me a story

Storytelling captures an aspect of childhood experience when being told a story was a common ritual. It's a warm place for most of us and in some ways represents our first experience in really listening. Paul Lansky

Whatever happened to the stories of the thirsty crow, the fox and the vadai, the monkey and the chapathi, that came alive in our imaginations? Since when did video games replace wizened hands demonstrating a story?

In short, where have all the story-telling grandmothers gone?

Is ‘patti kadhai’ a thing of the past like ‘paavadai dhavanis’ and ‘pallankuzhi’?

Grandmothers, considered for long as storehouses of tales, fables and many a mythological adventure, have given way to professional story-tellers in schools and activity centres. Is the emergence of the nuclear family responsible? Maybe, but let’s also delve a little further into the subject to find out what some Chennaiites have to say about it.

Vinita Sidhartha, the brain behind Kreeda, a company that has revived many forgotten Indian games, says, “Children living with their grandparents are a lucky lot. But for those who don’t, there is no common ground where the two can come together. Computers and technology have driven a chasm between children and their grandparents. And really, it’s nobody’s fault. The beauty of storytelling in the old days, was that it went beyond stories and was one-on-one. This is something that professional story-tellers cannot capture.”

Rangashree Srinivas, who is Manager & Coordinator at Goodbooks, says, “Storytelling has seen a revival. There are birthday parties where the theme for the party is woven into an interactive storytelling session. Firstly, storytelling is being used as a tool for therapy, awareness etc., even for explaining complex concepts simply. Secondly, the method of telling a story has changed. Today, depending on one’s forte, one can use dance or music as a medium to tell tales to children. While the magic of story telling still exists, the method has changed. As for grandmothers, they seem to be quite busy themselves, these days!”

Mrs. Ramani Bai, who is 80, and has 11 grandkids (the youngest being 2 years old) finds stories necessary for children. “It’s a change for children from school. I used to tell my grandkids stories when they got home from school, and only after that, they would do their homework. A story is also a great way to distract children. When one of my grandsons used to insist on my spending time with him while I was busy in the kitchen, a short tale would usually make him happy and he would move on to something else, while I finished my work. Also, as far as the stories are concerned, some children like to hear new stories every day and some would like to hear the same story again. In the case of the latter, one had better remember the details of the previous day’s story!”

Shirani, a story-teller, considers grandmothers’ tales as priceless. “Nothing comes close to even matching that experience. But as childrens’ schedules are so hectic these days, storytelling is slipped in as another activity. When I do storytelling sessions, I try and incorporate some movement and parts of the story, where the children get involved instead of just listening to me. Learning also happens in the process of these sessions, but very unlike the regimented educational learning. It’s like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle – children learn a little at a time, and somewhere along the way, the complete picture falls into place.”

While there are storytellers aplenty, what can one do to bring into a child’s life, the experience of grandmothers’ tales? How does one even set about incorporating this aspect into the lives of today’s children? One way, feels Vinita, is for grandparents to reeducate themselves to see what interests their grandkids. It’s hardly fair to expect a child who’s interested in Pokemon, to relate to the adventures of Hanuman. The other suggestion, offered by the grandmother in this article, Mrs. Ramani Bai, is to create a storytelling ritual, even if the kids visit grandparents only over weekends or in the summer holidays.

Where do parents fit into all this? Well, that’s a different article altogether.

(edited version published on April 30, 2005 in Madras Plus, the city features supplement of The Economic Times, Chennai. Pic courtesy Seven Shots as published in magazine)

Jaspar Utley

“My wife, Megan, who passed away early this year, was very happy when we lived in India. It felt right for me to come here, to commemorate her life.” says Jaspar Utley, the former Director, British Council, South India, whose visit has evolved into a sort of therapy, as he has resumed his writing.

A book launch was also bolted on to the original purpose as he was anyway in India, and the last week saw the launch of his book for children, Tall Tales at the British Council.

“Tall Tales was not originally intended for children. I wrote it, and my publisher felt it was best suited for children. It’s about the humorous side of life, and a lot of the content comes from my conversations with real people while in Chennai.” Says Jaspar.

Having lived in India for 6 years until 2001 as part of his assignment with the British Council, Jaspar has peppered his book with varied aspects of life in India. He says about the story, “It’s about a South Indian gentleman narrating tales to his great grandson. These tales, based on incidents in his life, seem rather unbelievable, if it weren’t for his manner of telling them so convincingly. He is said to have captured a tiger single-handedly, come face to face with a ghost in Fort St. George and also beaten the Viceroy’s team in an impromptu cricket match!”

Speaking of the perspective he has taken, he says. “I haven’t written the book from the outside, looking into Indian life. It’s quite the reverse! A case in point - none of the reviewers of this book, set in India, have mentioned that it was written by a British person!”

Jaspar is currently working on a play for a festival in the U.K. and also has two manuscripts ready, awaiting a response from his publisher. “One book is called Oliver’s Memoirs and is set in the world of amateur theatre. The other book, yet to be titled, is a sort of ‘P.G.Wodehouse meets Evelyn Waugh’ kind of story, where a humorous story, has something much darker under the surface.”

Jaspar is no longer with the British Council (he refuses to call himself retired), and now lives in Havant (Portsmouth), U.K. He writes, and works with a local theatre group and the local arts center. He hopes to visit India again in 2 years’ time.

TELLING TALL TALES (JASPAR UTLEY BOOK LAUNCH READING)

Saturday, April 9, 2005, saw the launch of Jaspar Utley’s book for children, Tall Tales. There was also a reading of the book at the British Council Chennai, where children (and adults alike) turned up to hear Jaspar read the first chapter of the book where the key character of Great-Grandpa was described.

The book is about a South Indian gent, allegedly over a hundred years old, and the stories that he tells his great-grandson between frequent cups of milky sweet tea. The stories seem far-fetched for the young boy, if it weren’t for the matter-of-fact way in which they are narrated.

The rest of the event followed an innovative format, were three readers (Karthik Kumar, Tishani Doshi and Freddy Koikaran) each gave three options for stories/chapters from the book, which the children in the audience could select. So, the chapters read involved Great-grandpa’s encounter with a ghost in Fort St.George, and an incident at the zoo witnessed by the young boy, which demonstrates some truth in Great-Grandpa’s heroism.

 

Jaspar Utley’s Tall Tales is available at bookshops in the city.

(Pic courtesy Seven Shots, as published in Madras Plus)

Which page are you on?

Definition of ‘Page 3’: As Atul Kulkarni’s character in Madhur Bhandarkar’s Page 3, scathingly puts it, it’s all about “who went to which party, who did they arrive with, who did they leave with, what they were wearing.” Notwithstanding the back-biting and air-kissing that’s supposedly standard fare.

What with the concept transcending media and making inroads into people’s homes through TV, it becomes imperative to find out how much of the Page 3 culture exists in Chennai. Here’s what a few Chennaiites had to say, although many are yet to watch Bhandarkar’s movie on the subject.

Sonika Jain, Director –Sales, Chennai for the Taj Group of Hotels says, “Chennai doesn’t have the kind of socialite culture that Mumbai, Delhi or even Bangalore has. To that extent, I would say it’s just beginning to emerge here.”

Sonika’s opinion is mirrored by Shobha Nair, Manager - Product Development at American Express Bank who also adds, “Overall, the aspect of gossip as depicted in the movie, Page 3, exists in Chennai. As it does in all other places. However, the kind of partying with the rich and the famous that they’ve show, is yet to catch up here. Although there are some people who do try to appear in the most happening dos and want to be seen in the right circles.”

This aspect of partying, with the objective of being written about does exist in Chennai, feels Vani Aiyer, who’s in Client Servicing at JWT. She says, “Every city has its elite. Other people would like to be seen with the right celebrity, and also showcase themselves. There’s some inner psychology at work here, a need for recognition. Something like groupies? Well, it does provide an interesting read for those not belonging to these circles!”

Vidya Gajapati Raj Singh, wonders what all the fuss is about, “Every city has its parties and events. In Chennai, the parties are still very private. As for events, there’s just so much happening every other day. Now, with fashion magazines and new publications coming in, there is bound to be more of a focus on people in the limelight. While all this is new to India, one just needs to look at foreign tabloids to gauge the extent to which it exists. Frankly, I find the attention drawn to the Page 3 culture overrated. After all, how much time does one really spend in reading the papers?”

Dr. Vijay Nagaswami, Psychotherapist and Relationships Consultant, feels that the aspect of people writing about social gatherings is bound to increase in Chennai. “However, a party is a private event. People don’t want the entire city to know more about them, unless of course, it’s intended. There are those who specifically like to be seen on Page 3 columns and this perpetuates the culture. As for me, I find it an invasion of privacy.”


While the celeb-hounding paparazzi is still uncommon here, three things are at play as far as page-3 culture is concerned – (a) hosts who plan parties with A-list celebs and invite the media to cover the party. (b) celebs who seek out publicity (c) wannabe socialites who would like to be seen rubbing shoulders with the glitterati, hoping for some of the glitz to rub off on them. Add to that the reader’s need to be in the know on all things (especially the gossip) concerning the coterie of glamorous celebrities in the city. The underlying discomfort across the board, is one of intent, not of unwarranted publicity.

Although Chennai is oft-accused of lagging behind Mumbai or Delhi in its glitzy parties or glamorous events, I guess it’s just a matter of time before we see quotable quotes and glossy images of our favourite celebs in print. Until then, I guess the rest of us will just have to practise how to air-kiss and say ‘Dahrling!’ with just the right intonation.

Muaah!

(edited version published on April 16, 2005 in Madras Plus, the city features supplement of The Economic Times, Chennai)

Wild About India - Aline Dobbie

“Just compare 9/11 and the Tsunami. One was a man-made disaster and the loss of life was around 3000. The other was a natural disaster and the loss of life was more like 300,000. Just goes to prove how much more powerful nature can be !” says writer, Aline Dobbie.

Or should we say Aline Dobbie, lover of nature, history, culture and all things Indian, who also writes?

Last week, on invitation from the Government of India, and Tamil Nadu State Tourism Development Corporation, Aline was in Chennai to research her latest book on travelling in India. Her books are aimed at the world traveller, who can get an understanding of soul of the country, including the various issues that plague it. These issues, are presented in her books, in the perspective it deserves – with understanding and insight. However, she does make her point, wherever appropriate. As she says about pollution and tourism, “Imagine landing in India and the first thing you see outside the airport, is litter!”

So, what makes this grandmother with the sparkling eyes, set out of her home in Scotland, to travel through the length and breadth of India? And not just once!

Many will be surprised to note that Aline’s father, Lt.Col.Frank Rose was in the IX Jat Regiment of the Indian Army and considered a hero for his courage in rescuing his men from Singapore, when it fell to the Japanese. India is Aline’s place of birth, and she grew up in a household where Hindi and Urdu were freely spoken. At the age of 16, she left India to return to Edinburgh. After 35 years of varied experiences, including facing hostilities as part of the Opposition in South Africa in the late seventies, Aline came back to visit India.

“My three books have titles based on the three animal emblems of India, the peacock, the tiger and the elephant. My first book was called India: The Peacock's Call, and took a long time to get published, finally coming out in 2002.”

Her second book was dedicated to the tiger and titled India: The Tiger’s Roar. She says, “My latest book, the third in the trilogy, will be dedicated to children who lost their lives in and those who were left orphans by the Tsunami. It’s almost as though a whole generation was wiped out in the areas affected.”

Aline recounts one incident during this trip that was almost spiritual in nature. “I wanted to photograph elephants for the book, in their complete festive finery. But no matter where I went, it just didn’t happen. In a little village en route to Trivandrum, we passed about 8-10 elephants completely adorned in temple festival finery. Needless to say, I have a possible cover picture for my book!”

Aline Dobbie hopes to complete her latest book, by the time she’s back in India in November this year.

A Quest for Dignity - My Brother...Nikhil

At the outset, I must clarify that ‘My Brother…Nikhil’ is not an entertainer in the true sense of the word. Nor is it a conventional tear-jerker. It’s about heroes among us, the villains in each of us, and the dignity that we all crave for yet take for granted in others.

Set in Goa, and spanning the ‘80s and early ‘90s, ‘My Brother…Nikhil’ is about the world around Nikhil Kapoor (Sanjay Suri), a state-level swimming champion. He has a doting father, Navin Kapoor (Victor Banerjee) whose own unfulfilled dreams of being a sportsperson, manifest into his high expectations of his son. Navin Kapoor finds his wife Anita Rosario Kapoor (Lilette Dubey) extremely soft on Nikhil, and often accuses her of mollycoddling him. Nikhil’s sister, Anamika nickamed Anu (Juhi Chawla) is his closest friend and confidante. She strikes a fine balance between indulging him and giving him his space.

Add to this, Nikhil’s friend, Nigel D’Costa (Purab Kohli), his swimming competitor, Kelly (Shayan Munshi) and Kelly’s girlfriend, Catherine (Peeya Rai Choudhary). There’s also a possible girlfriend for Nikhil, in the form of Leena Gomes (Dipannita Sharma).

This seemingly perfect world goes into smithereens when Nikhil is told he is HIV+, a term that nobody fully understood, back in the ‘80s. And this ignorance leads to much mistreatment of Nikhil, and those around him, as also BY those around him. Nikhil is shocked by his parents’ unexpected reaction, and leaves home. He is soon arrested and housed in a sanatorium lacking even the most basic of facilities. It’s his sister, Anu who stands by him through all this, along with her boyfriend, Sam (Gautam Kapoor), a lawyer, Anjali (Shweta Kawaatra) and Nigel.

While the narrative follows the rampage of the disease through the body of a champion swimmer, it also portrays Nikhil’s fears and his unease at being helpless and dependent. There is also a marked departure from the stereotypical Bollywood depiction of homosexuality and the related sequences are handled in a refreshingly sensitive manner, on the emotional plane.

Comparisons with Revathy’s ‘Phir Milenge’ are unavoidable as both films deal with HIV + protagonists. However, Phir Milenge had at the heart of it, a courtroom battle on the protagonist’s right to work, while ‘My brother…Nikhil’ is about the protagonist’s right to dignity. There’s not one courtroom scene in the latter, despite the presence of a lawyer’s character.

This movie is clearly, a showcase for Sanjay Suri’s talents. He rides the transformation well, from the lithe, fun-loving youngster, to the gaunt, agonized patient. Juhi Chawla provides the spark in the story, and barring a few cloying moments, she plays her character well as a happy-go-lucky person, who comes into her own as a rock-solid presence in Nikhil’s life. Lilette Dubey and Victor Banerjee assay their roles with easy grace and great dignity. Purab Kohli’s prowess comes to the fore in his restrained portrayal of Nigel. Gautam Kapoor performs adequately in a role with little expectations of him.

This low budget directorial debut of Onir, economises on the music (Viveck Philip), with just one excellent song, ‘Chandni Muskuraye…’ with three versions placed appropriately throughout the movie. The singers are KK, Sunidhi Chauhan and Shaan, with the Sunidhi version coming out a notch better in its rendition. ‘My brother…Nikhil’ does a lot for basic awareness on AIDS. But ultimately, it’s an intimate, introspective tale of relationships that weather emotional crises. 

(edited version published on April 7, 2005 in Madras Plus, the city features supplement of The Economic Times, Chennai. Pics courtesy the film's official website)

5 to 13 - Namrata Amarnath

At age 3.5, Namrata Amarnath began to read the Noddy series of books.

At age 7, she won her first writing competition.

At age 10, she began to author a regular column for children, in Shopper’s Digest magazine.

And now, at age 13, she won a silver medal for a story and a poem in Shankar’s International Children’s Competition for Painting and Writing 2004, receiving the medal from no less than the Hon’ble President of India, Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam!

Namrata Amarnath is every bit as articulate as I expect her to be. After all, she took to words very early, and the passion has continued over the years, nurtured by the constant encouragement of her family. She also counts herself as lucky to have the support of Dr. Bhavani Shankar, the Principal of Chettinad Vidyashram, where she studies. As is evident from her achievements, she can effortlessly switch genre, but she admits to being partial to science fiction.

Coming back to the Shankar’s International Competition, Namrata recounts, “As multiple entries were allowed, and the prizes were not based on entries alone, but the writer’s proficiency, I sent in 5 stories and 1 poem, of which, 1 each were selected. The story was called ‘The Autobiography of a Bisleri Bottle’ and the poem, ‘The Magic of Love’. It was such an honour to be one of 15 silver medallists from all over the world in this competition!”

Namrata’s favourite book is Barbara Taylor Bradford’s ‘A Woman of Substance’ which she enjoyed immensely, for its language. The young writer’s advice to those starting out, “One must write what one feels rather than thinks, this will communicate directly to the readers’ hearts. There’s no such thing as a writer’s block, one just has to find the right trigger. To be a writer, one needs to read a lot – this helps to broaden one’s mind as well as improve the vocabulary.”

There is a possibility that we may soon see Namrata’s work on bookshelves, as she’s approached a publisher with a novel and a collection of short stories. “My novel took six months to complete, and is about the dreams and experiences of a girl from an economically underprivileged family. The short stories have been written over the years, but I revised a few of them recently.”

Here’s wishing the young wordsmith, many more accolades in the future, and her readers, countless hours of pleasurable reading.

Telling Nadia's Tale - Dorothee Wenner

"I find it ironic that for a country where films are woven into the very fabric of daily existence, there’s so little preservation of Indian Film history.”says Dorothee Wenner, a German film-maker and the author of ‘Fearless Nadia: The True Story of Bollywood’s Original Stunt Queen’.  

As a programmer on special assignment for Indian films at the Berlin Film Festival, Dorothee is a true Bollywood-phile, if ever there was such a word! She can rattle off trivia about Indian Films, and has also made a film about the Mercedes in Bollywood films! 

Dorothee was in Chennai this week, for the screening of Riyad Vinci Wadia’s documentary, ‘Fearless - The Hunterwali Story’, that inspired her to write the book.  

“In 1995, I watched Riyad’s documentary on Nadia and it immediately captured my imagination. Coincidentally, a German publishing house also approached me at around that time, to write a book on a female rebel of my choice. So, I chose to work on Nadia’s story, and arrived in Bombay, still unsure of how this project would go off.”, says Dorothee.  

One invaluable source of information and assistance for Dorothee to set about researching and documenting the life of Nadia, was Riyad, who had made the documentary that had inspired her. Riyad was also the grand nephew of Nadia and the scion of Wadia Movietone, the film company that had launched and furthered Nadia’s career.  

“Riyad helped me with translations, as well as shared with me, the background work he had done for his own documentary. The Wadia family history itself, can easily fill up 12 huge trunks!”, says Dorothee. 

One incident that stands out in her mind, was the time they interviewed Pramila, an actress and contemporary to Devika Rani, as also, the first Miss. India in 1947. Dorothee reminisces, “Pramila had become so old and frail, that I wondered whether we should just abandon the interview. She also fainted twice in our presence due to excitement. However, she insisted we stay, and she did narrate many interesting things about that era.”  

So, what was it about Nadia, that inspired Dorothee? “Her indomitable spirit. For a blonde, blue-eyed, busty white girl to capture the collective imagination of Indians in the pre-Independence era, was no mean feat! Add to that the stunts she did! She was, along with the Wadias, a pioneer in the Stunt Film Genre in India. I pride myself for being a feminist, but Nadia represented a fearlessness with a dash of sparkling wit, that’s unmatched in any actress of any era.” 

Dorothee Wenner’s book ‘Fearless Nadia: The True Story of Bollywood’s Original Stunt Queen’ was originally published in German in 1999. It has since been translated by Rebecca Morrison and launched in India recently and is available at bookstores in the city.

(edited version published on March 19, 2005 in Madras Plus, the city features supplement of The Economic Times, Chennai. Pic courtesy Seven Shots, as published in Madras Plus)

American Desi - An Interview with Stephen Alter

“While working on my book, ‘Amritsar to Lahore: A Journey Across the India-Pakistan Border’, I travelled in a 3rd class compartment by train to Pakistan. Although it’s just a distance of 40 kilometres, it took nearly 15 hours, for the authorities to check the travel documents of all the passengers. I did have the option of taking a flight, but I wouldn’t trade it for the experience!” says Stephen Alter, who was in Chennai last week to speak on creative writing to students at a few city colleges.

Having collaborated on 2 screenplays, and written 4 books each of fiction and narrative non-fiction, not to mention innumerable short stories and reviews, the word, ‘prolific’ comes nowhere near describing Stephen Alter!

Those looking to dismiss him as an American tourist enamoured by Indian mysticism, may please note that Stephen is a third generation American in India belonging to Mussoorie. He studied there at Woodstock School, before moving to the US for further studies and research. At one time, he even taught Hindi at the American Embassy School in New Delhi, although he doubts very much if his students learned any Hindi from him! And yes, he is cousin to Tom Alter, a familiar face in Hindi films and English theatre.

Having straddled various genre in his writing, Stephen says, “It’s been a long time since one of my novels has been published, and a couple of them are still lying at home, waiting for a publisher. I still think of myself as a writer of fiction, although my recent books have been in the area of narrative non-fiction.”

Stephen’s foray into narrative non-fiction began with a memoir of his Mussoorie days. He then wrote about the journey from Amritsar to Lahore. For the next book, ‘Sacred Waters: A Pilgrimage up the Ganges River to the Source of Hindu Culture’, he undertook a Padyatra!

Stephen Alter’s latest book is Elephas Maximus: A Portrait of the Indian Elephant. “The subject itself was very interesting, and the research gave me the opportunity to visit wildlife sanctuaries and travel extensively across different parts of India from Kerala to Assam.”

Under the Fulbright Research Grant, he is currently based in Mussoorie, researching for his new book on nature-related folktales from the Himalayas. “Do you know that although some birds are common to different habitats, the folklore concerning them are different?” He says, of stories about bird-calls, that were his inspiration for the project.

India is at the heart of Stephen’s writing, be it fiction or non-fiction. Add travel to that equation, and you have one contented soul in Stephen Alter.

(edited version published on March 18, 2005 in Madras Plus, the city features supplement of The Economic Times, Chennai. Pic courtesy Seven Shots as published in magazine.)

When the Pen's mightier than the Sword

How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes! – Maya Angelou 

How does one go about making a list of women in Chennai who make a difference in the literary world? A formidable task, as the list of women would include not just writers, but also poets, editors, translators and publishers. How does one even begin to describe all that immense talent in an article? 

Here are snapshots of some women, who are whipping up a storm not just in Chennai, but also across India and the world. The women featured here form just a cross-section of the literary talent in the city. And this article provides a mere glimpse into the range and depth of their work in the literary world. The underlying thread that binds them all, is a ‘never-say-die’ attitude. And whose way with words, provokes thought, stirs the imagination, or simply, makes someone smile. 

Sivasankari
With 30 novels, 13 travelogues, 2 biographies, 150 short stories & novellas, and innumerable articles, ‘prolific’ doesn’t come anywhere near describing Sivasankari.

Much of her work is issue-based, such as her books on alcoholism, drug-abuse and the condition of the elderly. Her work has transcended media, and been produced as TV programs, of which ‘Oru Manithanin Kathai’ on alcoholism and ‘Subah’, a Hindi television serial, based on her novel, ‘Avan’, made her a household name.

Her latest project is ‘Knit India through Literature’, a unique initiative to publish volumes of interviews with writers of 18 languages, along with some information on the cultural and literary heritage of each language.

Instilling thought has been Sivasankari’s constant endeavour, and writing is just one expression to that objective.

Mini Krishnan
To Mini Krishnan goes the credit of the work of Indian language writers finding appropriate expression in English. As a Translations Editor at Oxford University Press, she not only edits, but also has the responsibility of sourcing translations.

One of the major responsibilities she has undertaken, is as Project and Series Editor for ‘Modern Indian Novels in English Translation’, involving translation of 55 novels from 11 Indian languages!

Mini’s most recent success has been the series of books for school children ‘Living in Harmony’ – a value based series for classes 1- 8.

Sandhya Rao
From journalism to writing books for children, has been a leap for Sandhya, editor at Tulika Publishers.

She wears many hats – idea bank, writer, editor, translator, book consultant, resource person – and is adept at juggling the roles, especially when more keep getting added on from time to time.

Sandhya has authored 14 books (of which 4 are part of a series), and translated 3 books, all for children. She is now working on a picture book in verse, ‘Busy Busy Grand-ant’.

Radhika Menon
Radhika is Managing Editor of Tulika Publishers, an organisation that prides itself on producing high quality books for children in English and 7 Indian languages. She’s also the Director of Goodbooks, a bookstore and activity centre for children.

Children have been at the core of each of Radhika’s past assignments, be it teaching or in producing programs for children in Malayalam. She also conceptualised the first full-length animation serial to be made in India, ‘Tara ki Duniya’.

Radhika is currently engaged in producing a multi-disciplinary, multi-level workbook in Tamil for tsunami-affected children in the 4 to 10 years age-group. An interesting upcoming project for Tulika is a story based on a play, ‘Magic Horse’, that’s being co-published by Kattai Koothu Sangam. 

Anushka Ravishankar
Nonsense Verse is what Anushka loves best, and she’s responsible for bringing to the fore, Indian English nonsense verse.

She’s written 8 books that range in style from alphabet book to absurd verse, and co-authored 5 other books. Anushka has won many accolades for her writing, with ‘Tiger on a Tree’ winning 4 international awards.

As a playwright, Anushka has written 9 plays, not all for children. She’s currently co-editing an anthology of Indian Nonsense Verse and there are 4 books for children in the pipeline. Also, a musical for children based on Kipling’s (not Disney’s) Jungle Book. 

Kanimozhi Karunanidhi
Literature runs in her family, and Kanimozhi is considered a refreshing new voice in contemporary Tamil poetry.

Her columns in publications and her poems, written since she was in her early twenties, have been published as 4 books, the most recent anthologies being ‘Agathinai’ and ‘Karukkum Marudhani’.

In 2004, Kanimozhi also wrote the script for a production, ‘Silappadhikaaram…a Story of Women of Substance’, where she tread the fine line between contemporising the work and at the same time, retaining the flavour and context of the original.

(edited version published on March 8, 2005 in a Womens' Day Special for Madras Plus, the city features supplement of The Economic Times, Chennai)