A variety of mixtures can be prepared at home as liquids to cure adults of common ailments and they are called ‘Kashayams’. The ingredients are given in the native names and are available in the country drug shops. 

In the heart of Chennai at T Nagar is a school catering to the education of the economically lower classed children.  Looks like yet another school, but here at the helm of affairs is Sita Ranjith - the Principal who strives to add value to her work.

‘Domestic violence is a crime’ screams this organization helping victims of domestic violence to face and pick up their lives from shambles. Three women graduates of criminology from the University of Madras, Prasanna, Usha Rani and Hema Ramachandran took a bold step and started a Centre to offer support services to domestic violence. 

Lively young children in the age group of 5-10 years were playing and enjoying a day off from school at ‘Our Home’, a home that has been created for young innocent children, left uncared for in the streets of rural districts in Tamil Nadu. As I entered the compound, I was greeted happily by them and led to Sivakami, the lady who takes care of them. 

‘Special’ Children are usually identified in early childhood. The main signs and symptoms involve lack of communication, inhibited social interactions and also repetitive behaviors and ‘Aathmaseva’ is a school for such children at Velachery, Chennai. I entered the premises and was greeted by the cheerful Director and Founder of Aathmaseva, Chitra Rangarajan.

A little child, about 10 yrs old, scurried under a car with a welding torch at a time when he must have been playing with his friends is not a very uncommon sight in our streets.  Being disturbed at seeing this child, moved by this sight, Manickam acting upon it is what makes the entire incident significant.

Challenges are plenty in this world and there are a few great people who use these challenges as a way to bring out the best in them and also help the society. I met one such human being who has been tirelessly working for the last seventeen years to improve the lives of mentally challenged children.

Lighthouse is a visual aid to navigation and is a conspicuous structure on land, close to the shore line or in the water. By day, it may be identified by its shape, color and day mark. Generally, it is provided with a powerful light.

Steaming hot idlis soaked in tasty sambar is typically South Indian and this combination reminds Chennaites of no other place than Rathna Café standing in the heart of Triplicane, Chennai.  All those who have been here atleast once, would vouch that they savoured that experience and would love to indulge in the same again. Smelling the aroma of lunch, I entered this old place and met the owner, Rajendra Gupta.

Rathna Café was opened in 1948 by Tiruloknath Gupta.  It originally had about 80 seats in the ground floor, 40 seats in the first floor and later on the air-conditioned wing was added.  Rajendra Gupta bought it from his uncle in the year 2002 and today it has 340 seats in Triplicane, with branches having sprung up in T Nagar, Velachery, inside Tidel Park campus and recently in Triuvanmiyur.

Damini - The artisans of India nestled in a quiet street stocks the most variety of one gram gold Jewellery. This venture was started 8 years ago by Parveen Sikkandar a freelance journalist to give an international platform to skilled artisans who are otherwise ignorant of the consumer market. With over 17 top designers and 28 skilled artisans you can wear something totally above the ordinary.  Upon popular demand this 8 year old export house opened its door to retail last December.