Meet 11-year-old Vishalini whose IQ is around 225, higher than that of the Guinness record holder, whose IQ is around 210. Perachi Kannan who met the girl is amazed at her achievements 

Why was the Sri Lankan army so brutal, as latest footage with Channel 4 reveals, against Tamils?  P C Vinoj Kumar helps you understand the issue better, besides seeking justice for war crimes

As the gang-rape of a girl in New Delhi has outraged an entire nation, an email from a reader to P C Vinoj Kumar wants to know what happened to the man who stripped an Adivasi woman in public

It is journalism of hope, writes Sam Rajappa, extolling the virtues of TWL’s Positive Journalism.

Pointing fingers at Malayalee journalists for being unfair in their reportage on Mullaiperiyar dam issue, Radhika Giri feels that they consider themselves Malayalees first and journalists next

Like a colourful butterfly breaking out of the cocoon, The Weekend Leader takes wings. As it flutters in cyberspace, it just seeks to capture your imagination. P C Vinoj Kumar goes back to the birth of the idea and also looks ahead.

It is a dream that gives hope to those who do not dare to dream. Roohi Saluja Sehgal tells us how rickshaw pullers in Delhi have benefited because some students dared to dream.

Anyone with a conscience will like to meet her. Partho Burman did that and found that the gritty sister of Safdar Hashmi has no plans to retire until she ushers in communal harmony in Gujarat.

The tribal girl who was stripped in public at a rally in Guwahati says she has no idea if anyone was arrested in the case, and says nobody including the National Commission for Women helped her

It is not a place that everyone visits. But Reena Kaushal skied her way to the bottom most point of planet Earth. Aditi Uberoi finds out what made her set out to such an unusual destination.

Are slums the underbelly of a bustling, beautiful city? To make a typical urbanite realise how slum dwellers make his life comfortable, Isaac Arul Selva started writing. Sriram V takes note.

He had done many things. But it was his erstwhile Air Deccan that helped the middle class ‘simply fly’. Sudha Narasimhachar met Captain Gopinath to find out more about him than is already known.

Being on TV every night, grilling top politicians, and hobnobbing with the rich and the famous may seem glamorous, but Nidhi Razdan reveals the hard work her strenuous job demands

An IIM graduate marketing street food in Ranchi may sound incredible. But then  22-year-old Tanishk Shyamya preferred it to an air-conditioned office. Santosh H K Narayan finds out the reason.

Robin Paul, the 72-year-old ‘Green’man of Bhawanipur, now looks up to the youth to realize his latest dream of cleaning up one of Kolkata’s filthiest creeks. Saborna Roychowdhury is amazed. 

Dispelling modern myths on youth being too materialistic and lacking in social consciousness, youngsters in Pune have proved that they care for others. Divya Mangwani meets the man behind it.

It is a tale straight out of a celluloid potboiler.  A woman going alone into the badlands of Chambal to rescue her husband from dacoits. Though the media did not celebrate her courage, the dacoits were wowed. Partho Burman confronts her.

'Saif Ali Khan' and 'Kareena Kapoor' are up for "grabs" for Rs. 4 lakh. Not the celeb couple, but a pair of goats being sold at old Delhi's Jama Masjid bazar ahead of Eid, says Rahul Vaishnavi

A young IAS officer mobilized Rs 40 lakh through Facebook to build a road in Manipur, earning the sobriquet ‘The Miracle Man’. Gaurav Sharma met Armstrong Pame to find out why he wanted to build the 100 km ‘People’s Road’ and how he did it

An herbal cigarette offers hope to smokers who may be struggling to quit the habit. It can help people quit smoking, claims S Radhakrishnan, the herbal cigarette maker from Coimbatore.  P C Vinoj Kumar checks out the man.

Even as the movie ‘Dam 999’ seems to have whipped up fresh panic in Kerala over the Mullaiperiyar dam, Sam Rajappa says the real motive of the Kerala govt is to wrest 8,000 odd acres from TN  

Does the word nanotechnology flummox you? Kavita Kanan Chandra discovers that the branch of science can help a traditional idea bloom into a fantastic home appliance to solve your water woes.

In an exhaustive two-part discourse, Jude Lal Fernando, a Sinhala academic based in Dublin, calls for Sri Lankan Tamils to reassert their right for nationhood and carry forward the struggle

Sinhala chauvinism has moved into deculturation mode in Sri Lanka. A firsthand account of a visitor, who saw Buddhist statues, viharas and stupas being built at a frenetic pace in Tamil areas

As the standoff on the Koodankulam nuclear plant continues, Nityanand Jayaraman and G Sundar Rajan explode some myths relating to the project, asserting that the reactor is indeed not safe

In an unprecedented development in the history of Indian Army, several ex-army officers have submitted a memorandum to President of India supporting Gen. V K Singh's claim on tenure

An article in TWL that went viral soon after it was uploaded on Monday has led to Times of India issuing a legal notice demanding Rs one crore compensation, says Editor, P C Vinoj Kumar

‘Why this kolaveri’ is not the only meaningless song that’s been set to a rocking tune. Kannada films too have their share, says M S Sunil, who lists out a few with their YouTube links

PayPal’s annual day event in their Chennai office has kicked up a controversy with a section of IT professionals charging the company with promoting casteism. S Elangovan tells you why

A barefoot innovator, 28-year-old Mushtaq Ahmad Dar has already wowed technocrats. And still fabricates devices that will make life easy for Kashmiri farmers. Afsana Rashid cracks the mystery

Inspired by the greening of deserts in Gulf nations, a man from Kerala dreamt of turning a lateritic hill back home into a forest. Did P Abdul Kareem do it?  AP Muhammed Afsal finds out.

Even for the strongest man on earth, cancer and heart surgery could be put-downers. Not for muscleman Mahadev Deka, who proved that he is mentally strong too.  Pranjal Baruah has the story.

When 16 strangers go on a three-day voyage, they depend on a master to reach their common destination:   Realisation of dreams. Kavita Kanan Chandra reports on the odyssey with Ujjwal Uke

In 18 years, he changed 20 jobs, each of a different kind, and wants to pick up more skills and crafts. Renitha Raveendran learns more about Rajeevan, for whom every job provides a new high

Is it fair to hang Murugan, Santhan and Perarivalan, when the MDMA formed to probe the larger conspiracy in Rajiv’s assassination is yet to submit its report? asks Thirumurugan Gandhi

The most well-known Indian actor in Russia today is Shahrukh Khan, says Elena Igorevna Doroshenko, adding that older fans appreciate his manner of acting and compare him to Raj Kapoor

An Indo-Pak alliance in Tasmania. Yes, it can happen if you have a heart. Jane Rankin Reid figures out what happened between Varun Khetarpal and Uzma Qureshi after they met at a dance class

In the dingy confines of a prison, he struck a deal with God seeking another chance. Keeping his word to God, Auto Raja has been serving the destitute for 14 years, says Marianne de Nazareth

Dalits, facing caste discrimination in a village, found a saviour in a young police officer recently. But Asra Garg has taken on even politicians in the past, says P C Vinoj Kumar
 

Dancer Alokananda Roy saw a jail as a different kind of stage. She tried to make a Valmiki out of every prisoner in Kolkata’s Presidency jail through dance. Rina Mukherji retraces her steps.

Every TV watching Indian knows Kiran Bedi. But not Brij Bedi, a social activist in his own right, who lives in Amristar, away from his famous wife for three decades. Nirupama Dutt meets him

Amidst the booming guns, the bloom of flowers fascinates Nusrat.  She runs a cut-flower business in Kashmir, thus breaking the moulds set for women.  Afsana Rashid breathes in the fragrance

No ‘Hang-Rajapaksa’ slogans. No ‘Boycott Sri Lanka’ placards. It is an unfamiliar situation in Tamil Nadu. But this lull may not last long, says Viduthalai Rajendran speaking to P C Vinoj Kumar

An idea strikes four students of Birla Institute of Technology and Science while on a picnic in a sandy village near Pilani. And it led them to a road that Roohi Saluja Sehgal retraces.

PayPal apologises for hurting the sentiments of certain sections of IT professionals, who were offended by the organisation’s alleged promotion of ‘caste pride’ in its Chennai campus

Realising a childhood dream to live in a jungle like Tarzan, Mohan Chabba built an abode amidst trees. He then opened it for all nature lovers. Neha Ghosh meets the Captain at his Captans

A soaring kite and a sewing machine inspired two brothers in rural Assam to fabricate a windmill to pump water. The windmills have helped the salt farmers in Gujarat, whose operational cost has reduced by 40 percent, says Kavita Kanan Chandra

IITian Yogeshwar Kumar, who has set up micro-hydroelectric plants in neglected hilly villages, looks beyond rural household lighting. His community-run power stations also operate rural enterprises like flour mills, says Kavita Kanan Chandra

The war crimes in Sri Lanka have not just caused a storm but made the Tamil issue a problem of humanity. Paul Newman finds a groundswell of support for the Tamils building up all over India

TWL’s Consulting Editor Sam Rajappa makes a forceful argument in favour of scrapping the Koodankulam nuclear project, which the enlightened people of Kerala had rejected 3 decades ago

Times of India’s second legal notice demands Rs 100 crore. To fight the media giant legally, TWL Editor, P C Vinoj Kumar, seeks the support of all those who believe in freedom of expression

Twin sisters making a musical pair is old hat.  But since Shruti and Gore Bhatla share an incurable genetic disorder besides a passion for music they are remarkable, feels Abhishek Pandey

Is Vijay Nambiar, Chief of staff of UN Secretary General, behind the delay in the release of the UN panel report on Sri Lanka? So asks Paul Newman, exposing Ban Ki Moon’s double standards

Rahul Kanwal, Executive Editor of Headlines Today, started early and still goes strong. Being the youngest chap to head a news channel is not a kid’s job. But for him it's like child’s play

Diwali, the festival of lights, is all about spreading cheer, says Upamanyu Raju, Founder, Tiger Protection Group, as he suggests some nice ways in which you could be involved with their tiger projects
 

A chief engineer with an oil company going to office in a cycle obviously evokes acerbic comments. But Jawaid Qaisar brushes them aside. For he is on a much bigger mission, says Shreya Misra.

In the second part of his discourse on Sri Lanka, Sinhala academic Jude Lal Fernando traces the political history of the island nation and dispels the theory that British favoured the Tamils

By collecting one rupee from every person in a village, Anil Joshi, a rural doctor, built a dam across a local river to help farmers. Now he is on a mission to build 100 such check dams in drought-stricken villages, says Kavita Kanan Chandra

Sinhalese are now learning that the guns that mowed Tamils will next be turned on them, says Brian Senewiratne, an Australia based Sinhalese doctor in the fourth and last of a series for TWL

That the number of the humble house sparrow is dwindling prompted Mohammed Esmail Dilawar to do something about its conservation. Rama Devi Menon gathers details about Nature Forever Society

By igniting young minds, Kiran Sagar founded Yuva Bengaluru to help the underprivileged. Marianne de Nazareth meets the youth who wants to create a peaceful, prosperous, progressive society

This is too good to believe! Venkatraman, who runs a small eatery near the Government Hospital in Erode, offers lunch for just Re.1 for attendants of poor patients. Meet the unsung hero

A successful chartered accountant crusading for people’s causes is not common. But Subhas Datta has been doing it for 35 years in Howrah. He may even launch a Green Party, says Rina Mukherji.

Most middle class parents dream of sending their children to IIT. But Ruchi Kaushik personally groomed her son, Sahal, who made it at the age of 14. Abhishek Pandey speaks to the super mom.

IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt tells Modi: I have principle and no power, You have power and no principle, You being you And I being I Compromise is out of the question, So let the battle begin

What is the secret behind the success of Rajinikanth’s Robot – Enthiran in Tamil and Robo in Telugu? P C Vinoj Kumar checks it out with Sreedhar Pillai, noted journalist and trade specialist

As the fate of Koodunkulam Nuclear Power Project hangs in balance, Sam Rajappa lists out 10 reasons why nuclear energy should be opposed. Do we need nuclear reaction to boil water, he asks?

Mullaiperiyar is not an isolated case of Kerala denying Tamil Nadu’s rightful share of water. Kanyakumari district farmers are being been denied water from the Neyyar Dam in Kerala 

An IIM graduate selling vegetables on the streets not only gives dignity to the profession of agriculture but lures educated youth to the trade. Kavita Kanan Chandra meets Kaushlendra Kumar

It was never told: India thwarted attempts by civil society activists for a democratic solution to the Sri Lankan problem in 2007. M G Devasahayam, who spearheaded the talks, now speaks out

She fights and also pacifies. Laila Ollapally, known for PILs, also runs a mediation centre. She is keen on creating awareness about settling cases out of court, says Sudha Narasimhachar.

A Pakistani engineer has built a car that runs on water and he drove the car during a demonstration for parliamentarians, scientists, and students at Islamabad, leaving onlookers astounded

The Tamils of Sri Lanka now have a friend in Ram Vilas Paswan, who hit out at Mahinda Rajapakse at a convention on war crimes. Akash Bisht finds him to be the new champion of the Tamil cause

Supercop Sanjiv Bhatt’s wife Shweta tells Priyanka Borpujari about the dangerous life the family leads after her husband accused Chief Minister Narendra Modi of instigating the 2002 riots 

Revered as didi by millions of supporters, Mamata Banerjee is an ideal sister to her own brothers too. Ajitha Menon finds out that W Bengal’s CM in waiting is also a responsible woman at home

Fear of failure is the stumbling block in the path of success. Guiding you to your goal is Roopleen Prasad, who quotes people who have tasted defeat and then triumphed in life
 

Hailing Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa for raising the Sri Lankan Tamils issue, Sam Rajappa analyses the ethnic conflict and feels that a separate Eelam alone can solve the problem

In her modern attire, 30-year-old Chhavi Rajawat stands out in the rural landscape. But as village head, she is all set to change the people’s life. Partho Burman finds out what she is up to

Why is India not keen on supporting the US-sponsored resolution against Sri Lanka at the UNHRC meet in Geneva? Sam Rajappa explains, saying that India too had a role in that war against LTTE

Returning from US, Gyanesh Pandey realised the need to electrify his remote village in Bihar. Kavita Kanan Chandra throws light on the mission of the man, who lighted up places untouched by government power cables through an innovative project

Five students of IIT-Bombay have given a new meaning to E=mc² even as they turned humour into a career and laughter into profit. Kavita Kanan Chandra meets the engineers behind Humorbeings

The Weekend Leader scales higher levels, technically. You now have an entire gamut of features that will help you keep updated and also send in your comments. Please read to know about them

He cut his teeth in social activism while getting trained as a dentist. Now, Raja Muzaffar Bhat helps the people of Kashmir through his RTI movement. Jehangir Rashid finds out how he does it.

Sri Lanka is an island nation. But its presidential palace is no island cut off from the world’s judicial hawks’ reach. How long can Rajapaksa escape the long arm of law, wonders V Suresh

In the concrete jungle, a couple will not let their dream of having a garden wither away just for want of land. Rama Devi Menon walks through the greenery on the roof of a house in Hyderabad

For Harish Hande, winner of the prestigious Magsaysay award, bringing light into the lives of the poor through solar power was not that easy. With Kavita Kanan Chandra, he goes down memory lane and also tells about his vision for the future

Sri Lankan rulers want to destroy the concept of Tamil homeland and make Tamils permanent refugees, says the Sinhalese doctor in Australia, Brian Senewiratne, in this third part of a series

The woman, who was shattered when told that her baby suffered from cerebral palsy, now considers herself fortunate for the support from others. Sudha Narasimhachar has the incredible story.

In a neglected slum of Ranchi, illiteracy was attached to the people like an umbilical cord. Five forward looking youth dare to cut it and liberate the children, says Santosh H K Narayan

The life of Mannar Tamil Bishop, Rayappu Joseph, is in danger, says Australia-based Sinhalese doctor, Brian Senewiratne, recalling the past incidents in which priests have just gone missing

The manicured lawns may look elegant but they did not sustain bird or insect life. That is one reason the common sparrow has vanished from Bangalore, Dr Krishna MB tells Marianne de Nazareth

Turning murder weapons into productive tools is not just a lofty idea for Bihar police, who have been practising it by converting seized pistols into hoes and hedge clippers, says Imran Khan

In the final part of his article on Sinhalese racism in Sri Lanka and the ethnic conflict it started, Brian Senewiratne blames the British for sowing the seeds of trouble in the island nation

Mansukh Jagani, a farmer from Gujarat, has fabricated a power plough, replacing bullocks with a Bullet motorbike. It’s a case of necessity being the mother of invention, says Kavita Kanan Chandra, who spoke to the barefoot innovator

Leftist writer Ron Ridenour makes a strong pitch for taking up the Tamil cause with the people of Latin America and the communist parties there to make them understand the struggle for Eelam

The full-page ads and TV spots promising to make women feel like a virgin with a tight vagina have led to outrage, prompting a furious debate among feminists and health professionals

In the latest hullabaloo over Mullaiperiyar, one demand heard in the Tamil Nadu side is: Give us our taluks in Idukki. S Arunachalam turns the pages of history and justifies the new demand  

Justice K Chandru has set an example for the judiciary in many ways. When he walks through the corridors of Madras High Court, liveried, mace holding men do not shoo people, observes N Asokan

When the sight of plastic waste littered on the roadsides has become so disgusting to environment lovers, brothers Rasool and Ahmed have made use of the same plastic to lay beautiful roads, says Sapna Gopal

In a letter to the Prime Minister, J Jayalalithaa has reiterated her demand that Sri Lankan navy’s attacks against Tamil Nadu fishermen should be viewed as acts of aggression against India

As New Delhi waits for Commonwealth Games to start, one activist is concerned about India's image taking a beating with autorickshaw drivers fleecing visitors. Partho Burman meets the 'no honking man', who teaches autodrivers to behave

Boycott Sri Lanka Team spots sale of Sri Lankan made biscuits and chocolates in TUCS outlets in Chennai, takes up matter with government official, and succeeds in taking them off the shelves

VIT Chennai will be honouring TWL’s Person of the Year 2011, V Venkatraman, whose Lunch @ Re 1 for the poor at his hotel in Erode, is giving food for thought for their B school students

The May Day protest against the UN releasing the report on the war crimes in Sri Lanka – which the US has endorsed - shows that President Mahinda Rajapaksa is paranoid, says Sam Rajappa

Not wanting other women to suffer like her when she came from the US to settle down in Chennai, Bhavani Raman has started a networking website for mothers. Hema Gopalakrishnan checks it out

Meet Parasram Gurjar who could possibly be the oldest person in India. Aged 125 according to family records, Parasram was eating kachoris at a cafe in Bhopal when Shahnawaz Akhtar met him

If you were shocked by the recent violence at Maruti Suzuki factory in Manesar, you have more shocking revelations by Rahul Varman, who explains how the workers have been exploited all along

Now, you have a solar cap to keep you cool when you are out in the sun! At Rs.400 the cap has no recurring cost, since the tiny fan fitted in the cap runs on solar power, says Mauli Buch

Year-end is the time to look back. The Weekend Leader does it by celebrating Tanishk Shyamya's social enterprise even as P C Vinoj Kumar looks back, rather nostalgically, on street food moments, putting the young woman's work in perspective

R Jeganathan’s organic farm in Pakkam, a village near Chennai, is drawing youth, who wish to take up farming even if it means giving up careers. Farming can be profitable if it is integrated with dairy and poultry, he tells P C Vinoj Kumar

Irom Sharmila, who has been on a fast for 11 years, is an icon for all peace-lovers and activists fighting oppression. She tells Tripti Nath about the special man in her life, Desmond Cutinho

With the commitment of a social worker and expertise of an engineer, Mula Devi, an illiterate woman, has changed Bhimnagar of Jalaun district in Uttar Pradesh. Anuradha Sahni finds out how she has infused a healthy lifestyle in villagers

As Sri Lankan navy continues to attack Tamil Nadu fishermen, what would be India’s stand at the UNHRC session, wonders Paul Newman, as he urges New Delhi to review its Lanka policy

As many as 120 Delhi buses may soon be running on biogas produced from a plant to be set up inside Kesopur Sewage Treatment Plant in West Delhi, says Ankur Paliwal 

The international community is turning a blind eye to Sri Lankan soldiers sexually exploiting Tamil women, alleges Paul Newman, drawing a parallel to the situation that prevailed in Bosnia

The wheels of justice have finally begun moving and they are after Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who’s facing charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity, says P C Vinoj Kumar

Wife of a business tycoon, Rekha Ramachandran, finds joy in giving.    P C Vinoj Kumar is touched.

Audrey Wabwire, a Kenyan journalist, travelled in a truck from Nairobi to Durban, through 5 nations, to report on climate change at community level, says Stella Paul who met her at Durban

The arrows that C Srither shot at the CWG earned him a silver. But Srither was an arrow shot into the sport of archery by Shihan Hussaini, who is known more as a karate master. Now Hussaini plans to train more archers, says P C Vinoj Kumar

Home stay, as a trend, is catching up in the hitherto unexplored tribal regions of Northeast. Azera Rahman says that tourists going for it return with an understanding of an exotic culture

Keeping with its policy of calling a spade a spade, TWL takes a close look at the coverage of the historic TN Assembly session on Mullai Periyar by The Times of India and other English dailies

The Bihar government wants to set up a school in the confiscated property of a corrupt official. If this nice decision is implemented, it may set a healthy precedent, says Santosh H K Narayan

What distinguishes the winner and the loser? Attitude, says Roopleen Prasad, giving you tips on adopting the right attitude, quoting successful people, including Khalil Gibran
 

Child malnutrition, an issue that was ignored by politicians for years, is now being addressed by some young MPs who have united putting party differences aside. Neeraja Chowdhury checks out
 

From driving a BMW to taking a bus ride, everything changed suddenly for Dilip Barooah, who in turn changed the lives of many in trouble-torn Assam. Kavita Kanan Chandra tracks the story

TNA Member of Parliament, Sivagnanam Shritharan is an emerging voice of Tamils in Sri Lanka. In an exclusive interview to Paul Newman, he sets the record straight on TNA’s stand on Eelam

Driven by a vision for a better society, Mujeeb Khan checked out the media. Then he worked for NGOs. Then he founded Bhumi that changed the life of slum dwellers, says Hema Gopalakrishnan

It is no laughing matter. To provide emotional support to persons detected with cancer. A group formed to do that withered. Neerja Malik survived. Jency Samuel finds out what keeps her going.

Kalpana Saroj, one among the successful Dalit women entrepreneurs that Mauli Buch met in Mumbai, once worked for a daily wage of Rs 2, but now heads a Rs 3000 crore business enterprise 

A tailor tasted sweet success by turning to apiculture in Kashmir’s Uri area. Now Mohammad Sidiq wants to send honey across to Pakistan. Afsana Rashid flies into his hive to stitch a report

The undying spirit of a poor, illiterate widow, Subhashini Mistry, to build a hospital in her husband's village has been captured in words by Anita Pratap and through the lens by Mahesh Bhat
 

Giving a voice to the voiceless is ‘India Unheard’, a community news service, run by filmmaker Stalin K and his wife Jessica Mayberry. Pamela D’Mello tunes in and listens to the real voices

Former IPS officer YP Singh plans to hold a press meet today to expose how Mumbai police abused their official position and helped Salman Khan to prolong the trial of his hit-and-run case

Kerala’s petro-dollar rich tourism promoters will benefit most if Mullaiperiyar dam is knocked off as they can encroach some more land for building many more forest resorts, says Sam Rajappa

Why does the Sri Lankan government spew vitriol on the UN now? Just because a report has confirmed the charges of war crimes committed by its army in its war against the LTTE, says V Suresh

He was the man who initiated M S Dhoni into cricket. Keshav Ranjan Banerjee speaks to Santosh H K Narayan on the country’s squad and prospects of his protege bringing the World Cup to India

Sri Lankan government’s 8-member Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission is just an eyewash, says Paul Newman, pointing out the deceptions in its inception to its conduct and its report

In an exclusive interview to The Weekend Leader, Fr. S J Emmanuel of Global Tamil Forum tells Paul Newman that the Eelam struggle is into its third phase post Mullivaikal massacre of 2009

Looking at the present state of Tamils in Sri Lanka, a Sinhalese doctor living in Australia, Brian Senewiratne, says this is the worst in 2,500 years, in the first part of his series for TWL

It is that time of the year again at the beautiful Velas beach in the Konkan region's Ratnagiri district. Welcome to the annual Turtle Festival, which kicks off Feb 19, says Quaid Najmi

He shares not just the name with Jayaprakash Narayan but also the Loknayak’s vision. The doctor-turned-bureaucrat-turned-social activist-turned politician is biding his time to capture power. Mahesh Avadhutha profiles the Loksatta founder

Refrigeration without electricity may sound incredible. But Mansukhbhai Prajapati has invented an eco-friendly cooler without letting his lack of formal education come in the way of his determination. Kavita Kanan Chandra meets the potter

‘Live and let live’ was the maxim that drove Kusuma Rajaiah to think about a new way to weave silk saris that involved no violence to the moths. Rama Devi Menon tells us about ‘ahimsa silk’

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Does not it apply to slum children? Shwetha Chari, who should have been an engineer, understood that and formed Toybank. Deepti Khera pays a visit

There had been no civil war in Sri Lanka but only virulent pogroms against the Tamil people, says Brian Senewiratne, the Sinhalese doctor in Australia, in this second part of a series for TWL

Where Vinobha Bhave started his Bhoodan movement, weavers still enjoy the benefits of the past. Marianne de Nazareth visited Pochampally as a media fellow under the aegis of the IASC 2011

Sam Rajappa reveals little known facts about the likely environmental damages due to the Kudankulam Nuclear Plant and points out the blatant violation of rules in commissioning the plant

It would have been the end for any girl sold into the sex trade. Not for Nikita. Santosh Narayan meets the young campaigner against child trafficking, who refused to take things lying down 

For the guards at the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary in Assam protecting endangered species is more a duty and a passion. They do it by sacrificing their personal comforts, feels Pranjal Baruah

Expressing concern over India being overrun by adhocracy, M G Devasahayam says that it has permeated the Army, which is evident from the manner Gen V K Singh's been forced out a year early

She facilitates adoption but doesn’t find a child for couples; it’s more a family for the child. Marianne de Nazareth meets Aloma Lobo, who views adoption as a human issue and not a legal one

While TWL supports the struggle of locals against the Koodankulam power plant, we find some truth in charges that activists may be indulging in a disinformation campaign, says P C Vinoj Kumar

MC Mary Kom has been taking on the world on her own terms with uninterrupted success. Her next goal: gold in London Olympics. The five-time women’s world boxing champion spoke to Ajay Rana

A single company is enjoying advertising rights in Mumbai’s ‘illegal’ traffic booths, allegedly sharing the loot with senior cops, claims activist Indur Chhugani. Kavita Kanan Chandra reports

To subdue the Tamils in Sri Lanka forever, the Sinhalese are destroying the self-reliance of the local economic structures built over the years. A visitor to the island’s north was shocked

A victim of robbery, Sailesh Bhatt vowed not to let others fall prey to criminals infesting the 20 km Palghar-Manor stretch in Maharastra. Kavita Kanan Chandra checks out what he is doing

Diaspora Tamil groups lobbying with various diplomatic missions in Geneva on the eve of the US sponsored resolution against Sri Lanka at the UNHRC are smelling victory, reports Paul Newman

Inspired by a Muslim saint, Ram Singh Thakur built a mosque in his own land in Kanpur. At the age of 91, the devout Hindu still cleans the mosque himself. Abhishek Pandey meets the man who recites the Geeta and Quran with equal religiosity

Picking parts from the scrap heap, Sandeep Kumar fabricated a foldable cycle, ‘SANDSIMA’, which is not just a boon to cycling enthusiasts but also for whom the bicycle is a part in their scheme of commuting to work, says Kavita Kanan Chandra

A photo competition being held in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs aims at creating a stock of high quality images that would show the new India to the world. Entries are invited

When the media is seen as superficial and elitist, there are journalists who get to the bottom of issues that face real India. One of them, Neha Dixit dared to foray into Naxal territory to get the true picture, says Kavita Kanan Chandra

Belying the popular notion that IT professionals prefer a fast urban lifestyle, a young couple from Bengaluru takes to farming on alternate weekends. Sudha Narasimhachar speaks to the unusual couple, bonded naturally, on their passion

Bihar’s once-dreaded political dons, now in jail, are drawing inspiration from books and lives of great leaders. One is doing PhD on Jain non-violence and few others are reading religious books

IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt is a harried man after he spoke the truth about Narendra Modi. But even as the establishment in the land of Gandhi bays for his blood, he remains firm just because his family stands by him, says Kavita Kanan Chandra

Hello! Nirvadha Singh here. Is it God? I was just wondering if you could give me the presidential suite in heaven...

MDMK leader Vaiko supports TWL and says the article, which The Times of India objected to, had exposed the prejudiced attitude of certain journalists in Chennai on Mullai Periyar issue

The world community is yet to come to grips on the ethnic crisis in Sri Lanka, feels Ramu Manivannan, who hails the TNA victory in the recent local body polls as a vote for self determination

It was the delightful reunion in tennis history. When Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi fought for India at Chennai, tennis fans cherished the moment. Not because the duo won but because they were together again. Anand Philar has the story

Internet played a huge role in the success of the Jan Lokpal campaign. But the new IT Rules may disallow such exchange of information in public interest, feel activists. Akash Bisht reports

Keeping in tune with its penchant for identifying do-gooders even among the underdogs, TWL has chosen its 'Person of the Year' – 2011. Editor P C Vinoj Kumar explains why Venkatraman, running a small eatery in Erode, qualified for the honour

Wondering who funds Arvind Kejriwal? One source is Infosys mentor Narayana Murthy who donated over Rs.1 crore to Kejriwal’s trust in a span of 4 years “to raise awareness about the RTI Act”  

Four friends in a law college are peeved over human rights violations. They decide to pick up cudgels on behalf of victims and form an organisation. Renitha Raveendran presents their case

A record number of 1820 students at VIT got job offers on a single day from Cognizant. VIT’s current batch has found dream offers with salaries ranging from Rs.4.5 to Rs.10.5 lakhs per annum

A college girl started a campaign to make Kolkata streets safe for women after a humiliating experience. Rina Mukherji has the story of Brinda Dasgupta who will not only take things lying down but will not let others harassed on the roads

A lawyer by profession Vasuki Sunkavalli took to modelling and ended up becoming Miss Universe India 2011. But she is not thinking of films yet. Her eyes are set on the Miss Universe title

As more and more single women go for adoption in India now, Amrita Nandy tracks the trend that bucks the traditional norm set for family and praises the bold women for redefining motherhood

The latest elections in many States have thrown up a new crop of contestants, who are a far cry from conventional politicos. Puja Awasthi finds Indian politics poised for a dramatic overhaul

Not too far from the hustle and bustle of Bangalore’s IT hub, there is an abode of peace, providing palliative care to those needing comfort. Marianne de Nazareth visits Karunashraya that has been doing yeoman service for the past 12 years

Like a Sinhalese army, Sri Lanka has now reared an all-Sinhalese cricket team. P C Vinoj Kumar foresees the cricketing world treating Lanka as an outcaste as it once treated South Africa

She could well be a model. But Deepika wants to be a role model for youth. Marianne de Nazareth meets the girl who is a computer engineer at day and playback singer at night

Just 220 km away from Mumbai in Purushwadi village, building a house is a totally different ball game. What people watch out for is not interest rates but the rains, says Tejaswi Damaraju

A not-for-sale, ‘fully functional’ model of the Tata group’s Nano car, has been made with 80 kg 22 carat solid gold, 15 kg silver, and studded with diamonds, rubies, and other gemstones

The Bishop of Mannar, Rayappu Joseph, who made a daring submission at the UNHRC session in Geneva against the Lankan govt, was questioned by Colombo’s Criminal Investigation Department

In an amazing effort, IT major Infosys is leaving no stone unturned to achieve its ambitious goal of turning totally green and becoming carbon neutral by 2017, says Ankur Paliwal 

She is part of Tamil Nadu’s first family. Yet Kiruthiga Udhayanidhi has charted a own course for her through environment protection campaigns and other creative pursuits, says Fehmida Zakeer

A man from Tamil Nadu, Kulandei Francis, who has been doing community service in Krishnagiri district without any publicity, is one of the winners of the Ramon Magsaysay Award for 2012

Paper thin mobile phones are set to hit the market soon. If reports are to be believed, like the dial phones, button and touch screen phones too will be passé soon, says Kavita Kanan Chandra

NRI businessman Subhash Shihora becomes the first Indian to own a flying car that he can drive from home straight to the airport and take off into the air. Kavita Kanan Chandra spoke to him

ATM card holders in villages that go without power for hours need not trek to towns to draw money. Indian start-up, Vortex, has come up with solar-powered Gramateller, says Shudip Talukdar
 

A Bengali woman, with an MBA, is helping poor women through a retail selling system that is giving jitters to supermarket chains. Soma Mitra finds out the secret of Aparna Banerjee’s dream

An IITian, who prepared for primary class exams in the light of a kerosene lamp, is back in his village to help Bihar regain its ancient glory of Nalanda days. Kavita Kanan Chandra speaks to Chandrakant Singh, who has ushered in a revolution

Four decades after B P Sinha excavated the ruins of Vikramshila University, which flourished in the 8th century in Bihar, the ASI is making plans to restore some of its original grandeur

Rikin Gandhi was all set to be an astronaut. But he flew down from the US to help farmers with his expertise in digital technology. He tells Kavita Kanan Chandra that his present work in rural India is more meaningful than going into space

What happens to the waste that recycling of paper throws up? In the hands of Sachin Mandavgane and Rahul Ralegaonkar, it turns into paper bricks that are all set to change the contours of Green Building technology, says Kavita Kanan Chandra

Narrating a few success stories, Arindam Chaudhuri and A Sandeep tell us why we should not give up even if we fail repeatedly in our efforts. For, as they say, losers will rule this century

A reporter's dilemma - to say the whole truth or just do what he is expected to - led to the launch of a newspaper for the common man. Basudev Mahapatra reports on Chandra Mishra's dream paper

By demanding the removal of atomic scientist M R Srinivasan from the expert panel, anti- Kudankulam nuclear plant activists have shown that they would not hesitate to take on Jayalalithaa

Poonam Kasturi Bir is a potter with a difference. Her earthenware converts kitchen waste to manure. Sapna Gopal finds out why the ‘compostwali’, whose ‘teen khambha’ has caught the imagination of people even abroad, loves to constantly experiment

Setting up a restaurant for vultures was one of the ideas that Dilsher Khan came up with to save the winged predator from becoming extinct. Even if his ideas were shot down, he continues his campaign in his own ways, says Deepthi Raghunath

The standoff between the Chennai media and the IIT academics makes one wonder if academics too can behave like thugs. Worse than a professor beating up a photographer, the institute backs him

Community reporters from India’s first community based news service, India Unheard, are in Goa for a ten-day training programme. The team is set to expand further, says Kavita Kanan Chandra

A Kolkata innovator has designed a cycle-rickshaw that uses passenger load to push the vehicle, making it easier for the rickshaw drivers, who can ride longer distances with lesser effort

India’s Silicon Valley may run out of water. Sounds frightening? Well, it could be prevented if Jeff D’Lemos is given a free hand to help Bangalore harvest rain water, says Marianne de Nazareth

What he failed to do as an IPS officer, he does with aplomb as a lawyer. Kavita Kanan Chandra meets Y P Singh, who quit the services to continue his fight against corruption with more vigour

The Jain Commission report made damning references to Chandraswami and Subramanian Swamy, says Thirumurgan Gandhi in the final part of his article on Rajiv’s assassination

Delighted with the changing world opinion on Sri Lanka, Visuvanathan Rudrakumaran hopes that the UN would organize a referendum on Eelam and the Diaspora Tamils would be part of it

In a hard-hitting article that explores the Sinhalese racist mindset starting from Anagarika Dharmapala to Mahinda Rajapaksa, Brian Senewiratne evaluates the failed State of Sri Lanka

A TV travel show has supermodel Indrani Dasgupta and actress Sugandha Garg trying to unravel the persona of Indian men. They travelled around India and met men from all walks of life

For nearly 2 years she was trapped in Mumbai’s notorious Kamathipura red light area. Today, the 34-year-old Chairmaya Tamang is leading a heroic struggle against trafficking in Kathmandu

It was a community effort that rescued 5-year-old Tamanna from the clutches of her kidnappers. Tamanna’s family hit the streets with their friends and did not rest till they found the girl.

For seven years Challikkulathil Ibrayi waged a court battle. Just to prove that he is indeed an Indian. Renitha Raveendran meets the man suspected to be a Pakistani spy by the authorities

Award winning journalist, Neha Dixit, has proved her mettle adequately in five years. Here she shares the secret of succeeding in an industry that stifles newcomers, mainly women and small town people, not letting them do their own thing

Chasing butterflies is every child’s play. But for Arjan Basu Roy their conservation is a passion. He tells Lesley D Biswas why butterflies should flutter around and what he has done for it

The Weekend Leader’s Divya Mangwani caught up with Pune girl Hamsa Padmanabhan, who hit the headlines in 2006 when a minor planet was named after her after she won a science contest in the US

When it is fashionable to be with Anna Hazare, here is someone who is not. P C Vinoj Kumar has five valid reasons not to support what the media projects as a mass uprising against corruption

He started with teaching English. But today he has produced a national woman football player. Santosh H K Narayan meets Franz Gastler, who never touched a football before coaching some girls

He turned down the first job offer and vowed that no one should ever do that work. But Bezwada Wilson’s work is still incomplete. Partho Burman meets the man behind Safai Karamachari Andolan

C Srinivasan and a team of 48 members are trying to create a forest on the barren hills of Vellore in Tamil Nadu. Cynics may call it a pipedream. But, the project is already showing results, claim the locals. P C Vinoj Kumar has the story

Coke Studio is a platform to promote fusion music. Outside the cinema industry, it makes a bid to promote a refreshing new genre of music. Shilpa Raina meets the key people behind the show

When drought hits the farm town to which he had just moved in, what can an engineer do? He embarks on a journey into farming. Sharada Balasubramanian takes a walk down memory lane with him

If you think ‘I can’, then you can, says Roopleen Prasad, guiding you on a path to success and helping you surmount the obstacles that come up in the form of negative thought

Attending elite schools in various countries, Shaheen Mistri remained insulated from Indian realities once. Kavita Kanan Chandra meets the founder of Akanksha Foundation and Teach For India

Having grown up amidst bloodshed, it was natural for Binalakshmi Nepram to dedicate her life for peace and disarmament. But, as Lesley D Biswas finds out, she also helps widows restart their lives through Manipuri Women Gun Survivor Network

He impressed Barack Obama with his innovative business model though he hails from a state not known for entrepreneurship. Kavita Kanan Chandra talks to Irfan Alam, the social entrepreneur 

If you are bogged down by self-doubt as you aspire for higher things in life, let Roopleen Prasad guide you through the road to success. But, before starting, believe in you 

Unlike the run of the mill politician, Jyoti Mirdha is keen on addressing the ecological and administrative concerns of tiger conservation. But she has a humane approach, says Akash Bisht

Women have become vulnerable for sexual exploitation in cyberspace, elucidates Donna Demetillo-Mendoza citing examples from Philippines, which is emerging as a global hotspot of cyber porn

Seeman condemns The Times of India’s attempt to gag The Weekend Leader with threats of legal action for publishing an article on Malayalee journalists working in the English media in Chennai

In Bhopal, several families still take pride in driving their vintage jeeps around town. These fashionable jeeps give low mileage, but the owners, some them of royal lineage have no complaints

In Hathitala, a village in Rajasthan, all girls go to school, bucking the trend in a state notorious for low sex ratio and early marriage for girls. Rekha Pal finds out how the village decided to make education compulsory for its daughters

She could not be bought over or cowed down in her fight for justice. She will not rest till those who sodomised her daughter in school and caused her death are brought to book. Abhishek Pandey profiles the brave mother, Sonu Singh of Kanpur

Anil Kumar never lost sight of his goal to be a doctor even after losing vision in the eyes at the age of five. Kavita Kanan Chandra calls on the acupuncturist who has given relief to many

Ideas, concepts, fledgling technologies, and every aspect of a green building was discussed at the ‘Trends in Green Buildings’ workshop organized by The Weekend Leader, says Radhika Giri

A Delhi court sympathised with the plight of minority Tamils in Sri Lanka and refused to deport a Tamil refugee apprehending that he may become a victim of genocide, says P C Vinoj Kumar

Billionaire realtor Kushal Pal Singh of DLF almost sold his stake in the company for Rs.26 lakh, but later decided to fight back and today heads the Rs.32273 crore business empire

When corruption is the talk of the town, thanks to Anna Hazare, the walk by Abdul Mujeeb Khan from Kanyakumari to New Delhi to inspire people to be honest has drawn both praise and cynicism. Marianne de Nazareth follows his 'Honest Steps'
 

When Lt Col Satyendra Verma took a plunge to create history by being the first Indian to do a BASE jump, his family was immersed in prayer. Padmaja Shastri asks Verma if at all he was scared

He was given just six more months by doctors. But he survived cancer and is today in the job of bringing cheer to people. Marianne De Nazareth profiles Mark Rego, Bengaluru’s most popular MC

Children are fragrant flowers, praises Bhupinder Singh in poetic verses 

To put the struggle of Sri Lankan Tamils in its historic perspective – it was not an army versus militant fight - a documentary is being made.   P C Vinoj Kumar meets those behind the project

A spate of kidnappings has underscored the need for parents and school authorities to devise new safety measures. Sreeram, an instructor of Krav Maga, a practical self defence art form, from Chennai tells us how we can protect our children

When fairness products sell like hot cakes, how does one help people appreciate real beauty? Zippora Madhukar dispels the 'white is beautiful' myth through the story of dancer Aparna Nagesh
 

Chucking careers in the corporate world, an IIM couple came up with a ‘plant detergent’, which is not just eco-friendly but also works out cheaper and reduces water consumption while laundering clothes. Radhika Giri meets the Krya founders

 

A 16-year-old girl brings fame to an obscure village, Ratu, by remaining focused on her passion. Santosh H K Narayan meets Deepika Kumari who hit the bull’s eye to win two golds at the CWG

Even as big powers, including India, continue to shield the genocidal regime in Sri Lanka, the good news is that the latest Human Rights Watch report may give nightmares to President Rajapaksa

The crowds that gathered at Mannar on May 27 to protest the Sri Lankan government accusing Bishop Rayappu Joseph of inciting Tamils against Muslims was a sign of a battered people waking up
 

A group of fishermen in Mumbai have turned eco activists. In a bid to protect 1042 hectares of mangroves along the Thane creek, they have taken up the task of creating an awareness on the issue in their community, says Kavita Kanan Chandra

Voice of Village is the eponymous name given to the news service. Mohd Faisal Fareed finds that the novel method of news reading over the mobile phone is a hit in the village in Uttar Pradesh. For the rendering is in local Awadhi dialect

On the occasion of World Animal Day, Rama Devi Menon interviews Maj. Gen. (Retd) R M Kharb, Chairman of Animal Welfare Board of India, on the controversy surrounding the killing of stray dogs

Does a successful business venture go against social needs? No, say social entrepreneurs, who argue that the two can complement each other. Paul Basil, founder of Villgro, tells you how

KravMaga Sreeram, the man who drew the sketch of the prime suspect in the Chennai bank robbery cases, justifies the recent police encounter that killed five suspects, in this exclusive article

Indian civil society has turned its attention on Sri Lanka, where thousands of Tamils were killed in the civil war between Tamil militants and the government forces. Akash Bisht has the story

Hailing from a Maharashtrian small town of Chandrapur, Jayashree Satpute has been chosen as one of world’s 100 inspirational women. The honour however places more responsibility on her shoulders, she tells Kavita Charanji

Kerala is stirring up fresh trouble in Mullaiperiyar, as Kerala police prevent Tamil Nadu engineers from carrying out urgent maintenance work

Bringing back the roar to Panna Tiger Reserve, which had no wild cat prowling in 2009, was a task cut out for R S Murthy. Akash Bisht tells the story of how the IFS officer raised the tiger count at the park from zero to 17 in just 2 years

So what if children refuse to acknowledge Indian cuisine at an international food fair, Anjna Rawat Pratap had a quintessentially native trick up her sleeve. Well, it worked

Congress leader N D Tiwari disowned a son borne by his girlfriend. Now the son is out to prove that Tiwari is his father. Akash Bisht meets Rohit Shekhar, who wants the word bastard amended

If you are a teacher, you can hitch a free ride in an autorickshaw with amenities like magazines, newspapers, TV, wi-fi and a tablet to browse. P C Vinoj Kumar meets the owner-driver G Annadurai, who has set a benchmark in customer service

By making many-to-many communication possible, FB and Twitter have made dissemination of news more democratic and forced mainstream media to co-opt them in their operations, says Stalin K

Support for Eelam is felt even in Malaysia, where M Kulasegaran leads the Tamils. In an interview to Paul Newman, the MP says that he will work towards the Tamil Right to Self Determination

Observing World Water Day on March 22 in the most appropriate way, three youth launched a car wash service that uses not a drop of water. P C Vinoj Kumar comes clean on the process that now has about 200 car owners ‘satisfied’ in Coimbatore
 

A single mother of two becomes New Delhi's first woman electric rickshaw driver. The emission free e-rickshaw can carry up to two passengers and its maximum speed is 20 km per hour

As a child, V Jayaprakash attended school for the free mid-day meals, but later developed a passion for science and innovation. Kavita Kanan Chandra met the maker of the portable smokeless stove, who has more innovations lined up for the future
 

He was transferred 11 times in 12 years. But P Manivannan, a bold and upright IAS officer who dared to install a CCTV camera in his chamber and beamed the footage live on internet, remains unfazed, says D Narasimhamurthy

Sampat Devi Pal heads a gang of women activists who have beaten up men for wife bashing, and fought for women’s rights. She is now the Congress candidate for Manikpur Assembly seat in UP

Durga Munda has been behind the CBI filing a slew of corruption cases against many politicians in Jharkhand. Santosh H K Narayan profiles the tribal crusader who vows to carry on the fight

S P Udayakumar, who is spearheading the people’s movement against the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant, discloses his personal assets and bank savings to the Indian public

Sanjeeba’s street plays stir the conscience of not just the viewers but also the authorities, impelling them to take action against wrong-doers. Abhishek Pandey finds out that some plays had helped people get justice in the last 18 years

An MBA holding a job with ITC, Jaya Prakash Dabral should have been climbing the corporate ladder at the age of 35. But he went back to his roots, the place where he hailed from, and saved trees from being felled, says Kavita Kanan Chandra

IPS officer Amitabh Thakur in this exclusive column makes a passionate plea to humanise the hierarchy conscious Indian police system, where senior officers behave in the most obnoxious manner

Women designers are turning socially conscious. Sureka Kadapa-Bose takes us to the other side of the fashionistas, who are dedicating their time to show their concern for the underprivileged

Find out what happened to a schoolteacher, who was worried when told that she was going to have twins. It was a surprise 

When Jamia Nizamia Islamic University issued a fatwa on Anil Chauhan, he rejoiced. Since then the man has been doing calligraphy at mosques in Hyderabad, painting the Quranic verses with passion. Stella Paul profiles the messenger of peace

Every year a billion tyres are discarded worldwide with the bulk going into landfills, placing a burden on the environment. Scientists have now found a way to make rubber products from them

‘Gold from garbage’ is the motto of Vellore Srinivasan, whose innovative waste management programme has been launched in Bangalore. While providing jobs to many women, the project also produces organic manure, finds Marianne de Nazareth

The US has sent out a clear message that President Mahinda Rajapaksa has to account for the “allegations of serious human rights violations that occurred in the final phase” of the Eelam IV war

Seeing a separate Eelam as the only solution in Sri Lanka, Seeman favours a referendum in Tamil areas on it. He feels intellectual warfare will be a better weapon to get the rights of Tamils

How passionate can journalists get on the subjects they write about? Rajendra Aklekar, who wrote about railways, went on to form the Bombay Railway History Group. Prachi Bari met the man

The National Green Tribunal that was formed last year to deal with environment related cases will soon have regional benches. India is only the third country to have a dedicated green court

As a modern international destination for holidaying, Goa did not bother to showcase its historic past. So Victor Hugo Gomes launched an ethnographic museum, Goa Chitra, says Pamela D'Mello

Mohammed Dilawar, who’s been working to save the sparrows, has found mention in the Limca Book of Records. His organisation’s distribution of 52000 bird feeders is a Guinness world record.

Five students wanting to educate street children did not let their plan derail for lack of a place. They settled down for a railway platform, from where Abhishek Pandey returns well informed

Irom Sharmila has become the face of Manipur in the decade that she spent without swallowing even a drop of water. Amit Sengupta, along with Sadiq Naqvi, reviews the situation in the troubled State to figure out the merits of Irom’s protest

The name and attire are the only remnants of Biyyathil Mohyuddin Kutty’s Malayalee roots. Now, the 80-year-old Pakistani national strives for Indo-Pak peace, says Madhusree Chatterjee

India pulled up its socks the last moment and the Commonwealth Games are on. Sian Gordon, an athlete from Britain, is quite happy with the arrangements, finds Andrew Buncombe

A woman’s urge to put an end to the illegal practice of ‘dedicating’ young girls to Gods, thus depriving them of all human dignity, has saved many dalit teenagers from becoming joginis. Kavita Kanan Chandra finds out how Grace Nirmala did it

At a workshop on ‘Trends in Green buildings’, budding architects vowed to advocate green architecture. Giving them insight and tips were experts, who endorsed The Weekend Leader’s mission to take the movement to the masses, says Radhika Giri

She makes natural sense of cosmetics through an array of products that can be picked up at her ‘Skinsense’ outlet in Chennai. Though Rashmi Prithviraj is not into real business, her discerning clientele is growing slowly, says Radhika Giri

At the age of 100, Bholaram Das has enrolled for a doctorate with the Gauhati University after retiring from the judiciary. Pranjal Baruah walks down memory lane with India’s oldest student

In Kashmir, Indian Army is now waging a different war - one against illiteracy. Binoo Joshi reports on the new engagement in Pir Panjal range, where tribal children get a taste of education

The fight has begun. Civil society has woken up to the social menace - corruption. This was the message that emanated from Azad Maidan in Mumbai on Martyr’s Day. Kavita Kanan Chandra reports

Coming up with unique five-step technique to bust the six word killer, ‘stress’, Revathi Turaga guides you towards a path of happiness and helps discover ways to beat worry

Taking a trip down memory lane, the person of the year, Tanishk Shyamya recounts the journey that landed her in the streets of Ranchi to help roadside food vendors who were at the crossroads

For local girls, Shama Khan is the role model. The 28-year-old panchayat chief strives to provide what is scarce in Thar: Water and woman’s education. Due to her efforts, enrolment has gone up from 550 to 6,550 in two years, says Renu Rakesh
 

Calligraphers write the entire content of an 84 year old Urdu newspaper. The editor of the paper - that’s priced at 75 paise – tells Syed Khurran Raza why they stick to the handwritten font

She was part of the Intel team that changed the face of computers. Now she brings innovative minds together to script success stories. Marianne de Nazareth tells us Lakshmi Pratury’s story

In the wake of stiff opposition to nuclear energy, the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited has adopted a new PR strategy by inviting people to visit their power plants across the country

An Indian-origin man, who started a peanut farm a few years back in Argentina, has scripted an agriculture success story in a short span, and now owns nearly 30,000 hectares of farmland

The Bhopal gas disaster saw several legal battles and struggles in the last 26 years. Vivek Trivedi meets Alok Pratap Singh, who was one among the few to start a fight soon after the gas leak

It sounded like a crazy idea first. Then it was fine and Rajnish Jain was able to generate electricity from pine needles, something that caused massive fires in the Himalayan forests, for rural households. Kavita Kanan Chandra tells the story

In what could be a turning point in Eelam struggle, the likes of Vaiko, Thiruma, D Raja, Nedumaran, Kolathur Mani and Thiyagu shared the same dais recently in Coimbatore to demand Eelam

Tirtha Kumar Phani holds two Guinness World Records in long distance running. At 53, the unsung hero is attempting a very ambitious third one. Lesley D Biswas speaks to the Kolkata man

A triumvirate from Kolkata brings light to the lives of villagers through an innovative project with a hope that it will lead to their uplift. Lesley D Biswas illuminates us on the mission

A Hindi cricket video, now posted on YouTube, comes as an absolute musical treat to Indian cricket fans, who are hoping the Indian team will continue its winning streak and lift the world cup

A group of students in Kolkata are working to spread the message of peace after they lost four of their friends in a terror blast in Pune last year. Lesley D Biswas finds out their plans

Sri Lanka continues its repressive policies against the media despite growing world attention to its human rights violations. It has blocked 5 Tamil news portals and arrested journalists

India has a new world junior boxing champion in Nikhat Zareen. Nikhat, who hails from the small town of Nizamabad in AP, told Mahesh Avadhutha that her aim is to win an Olympics gold medal

Equipping 28,000 villages with computers is the aim of a self-made man, who is building a rural database for the use of big corporations. R Savitha meets Pradeep Lokhande of Rural Relations

China has been getting away with its incursions and bullying tactics against India for too long. It is high time India woke up and frames an aggressive foreign policy, says M G Devasahayam

Family members of Border Security Force personnel now have a women’s corps to guard them even if the men fail to return home from their posts. Aditi Bhaduri checks out the activities of BWWA

The Weekend Leader’s Person of the Year, Tanishk Shyamya, continues in her efforts to improve the lives of street food vendors. She now works with about 50 of them, finds Kavita Kanan Chandra

A New Year Resolution is a commitment that you make of improving yourself, says Roopleen Prasad, as she advises you to keep your goals realistic and offers a 7-point guide to keep them
 

Plan to work from home? Samuel Eddy lists eight basic traits you need to get cracking, and gives you tips on steering clear of pitfalls. But then you need to be a salesperson

Paying kudos to all those youth who are into social entrepreneurship, Rishabh Kaul takes a critical look at Sarvajal, the organisation that aims at providing pure water at rock bottom prices

Diya Foundation is now imparting vocational skills to mentally challenged youth. But Sarah Santamaria, its founder, tells Marianne de Nazareth that she wants the community to be part of it

In an incident that has deepened suspicions about the espionage activities of members of the Sri Lankan consulate in Chennai, an embassy vehicle allegedly went to Kanchipuram on a recce

At 100, the world's oldest half marathon runner Fauja Singh, wants to keep running till he drops. His biography ‘Turbaned Tornado’ is slated for a July release in London, says Jaideep Sarin

Sekhar is going bananas. The weaver in a Chennai suburb, with the know how to make clothes from banana fibre, wants to bring prosperity to his community but lacks the wherewithal. P C Vinoj Kumar pledges TWL support to the harried weaver

When Indira Gandhi, widely believed to be India’s last PM who had a mind of her own, was born on Nov 19, 1917, the major-domo of Nehru’s house kept addressing her as Motilal’s grandson

Kanjikuzhy near Alleppey offers a surprise to Syeda Hameed and Gunjan Veda, who learn how women have turned the once famine-hit panchayat into a prosperous region. It is Panchayati Raj system that has empowered women really, not symbolically

Ron Ridenour evaluates the fallout of the UNHRC resolution on Sri Lanka for Tamil Eelam as world powers finally show signs of gravitating away from the Sinhalese racist regime

While there appears to be an attempt to depict Gen. Singh in bad light, a close scrutiny of records, including a confidential memo from the military secretary’s branch, tell a different story

Toothpastes in India have high levels of nicotine, a known carcinogen, a study has found. A popular brand – named in the article – had nicotine content normally contained in nine cigarettes!  

When Shena Aggarwal from the small town of Yamunanagar in Haryana topped the all-India civil services exam last week, her feat put women achievers from the state in the spotlight yet again

He has been fighting for rights of people from within the system. Now, IPS officer Amitabh Thakur wants IIT, Kanpur, to implement labour laws in letter and spirit, says Kavita Kanan Chandra

Sri Lankan Tamils live in fear in the highly militarized North as they cannot go about their daily chores without the army’s nod. A visitor brings to light startling facts of life after war

Going Green is not about making sacrifices and going back to live in the stone ages. It’s about making smart choices to reduce our carbon footprint, says Aparajithan Narasimhan

Latest IPL star Paul Valthaty should have proved his mettle years ago. He waited for his moment, overcoming the setback caused by an injury, showing resilience, says Kavita Kanan Chandra

Hailing from a family that owned Nutrine, Anita Reddy need not have bothered about helping the poor and needy. But she did, says Marianne de Nazareth who spoke to the Padma Shri award winner

Going gaga over ‘Ra One’, the media failed to find out what Shah Rukh Khan does otherwise. Marianne de Nazareth, in an exclusive, turns the spotlight on SRK’s social responsibility that has made him talk about the importance of toilets 

A humble Gujarati farmer’s innovation, Chetak, has revolutionised cotton industry, cutting down the cost of cotton stripping 20 times. Kavita Kanan Chandra meets the barefoot inventor, Mansukhbhai Patel, who is now a successful businessman

Innovation and hard work is the mix that made Aachi Group of Companies achieve a turnover of Rs 400 crore in just 13 years, says founder A Padmasingh Isaac, who started with just Rs 50,000

Within the high walls of a jail in Andhra Pradesh there is BPO facility that not only employs prisoners but also prepares them for a life after they are set free. Rama Devi Menon has a peek

When Jatin Chaudhary learnt that tribal women from Dangs made exquisite jewellery, he wanted the talent to bloom. So, the social entrepreneur found a way to help them, says Kavita Kanan Chandra

By being mentally tough, you will stand out. You alone can rise to the occasion and be a winner ultimately, says Roopleen Prasad, giving you tips on surmounting life problems

In the prevalent skin colour bias, Kavitha Emmanuel sees racism. Wondering why we have failed to see the beauty that is evident in people, she wants society to accept that Black is beautiful

The eponymous Himalayan Farm Project has no electricity but is heaven on earth for visitors and volunteers. Some stay for a week but some live there for longer durations, says Shikha Nehra

India is reported to have assured Sri Lanka of support in international forum, says Sam Rajappa, wondering if she would betray Tamils yet again in the human rights review meet in Geneva

Chennai-based Kamala Selvaraj has helped many childless couple have babies through her fertility techniques. In an interview to Marie Banu, she speaks about her life, profession and mission

Narayan Bhide, whose leg was amputated 15 years ago, has set up a BPO in his village giving jobs to those rejected by the so-called reputed companies or those with average academic background

Recent protests in Tamil Nadu against the racist regime of Sri Lanka have had the desired effect in putting the spotlight on the war crimes of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, says P C Vinoj Kumar

One ambition that is common to everyone is ‘to be successful’, says Roopleen Prasad, author of the book, ‘Principles of Success’. In an interview to Faraaz Kazi, she says ‘follow your heart’

Inspired by the Grameen Bank of Prof. Muhammad Yunus, Ram and Smita returned from UK to start Rang De, a social enterprise that offers small loans to the rural poor.  P C Vinoj Kumar reports

In Dehradun, where half of India’s known bird species have been documented, plans are on to make the 4th edition of The Great Himalayan Bird Count a great success, reports Kavita Kanan Chandra

Indian politicians are turning very fashion conscious. They pick up designer wear that could cost them anywhere between Rs.7000 to Rs.300000. Nivedita Sharma reports on the trend

Dharmasala is a place worth visiting not only for the breathtaking scenery it offers but for the compassion that one sees there. Sneha Theeng returns from the Tibetan settlement, reluctantly

A medical doctor who is part of the expert committee of the anti - Koodankulam nuclear power project movement, has alleged that a police inspector in Kalpakkam warned him of an ‘encounter’ 

TV channels restrained from ‘breaking news’ coverage of Aishwarya Rai’s baby girl, a welcome decision that was made possible through a diktat from the Broadcast Editors Association

Jammu and Kashmir government decided to remove 16 bunkers in strife-torn Srinagar recently. Jehangir Rashid sees it as a positive step and hopes of more initiatives for confidence building

In an effort to protect tigers in Ranthambore, Dharmendra Khandal reached out to traditional hunting tribes and won their confidence. Now Moghiya tribe leads a better life as the poachers are in jail and the tigers safe, says Akash Bisht

Every sparrow has its day and that day falls on March 20. Rama Devi Menon reports on the World Sparrow Day celebrations being planned in the garden city of Bangalore by Nature Forever Society

If the woman journalist has come a long way in India, it is not without aggressive networking. Manipadma Jena finds out how much of the gender gap has been closed in newsrooms over the years

Tribals of Dalbhanga village, near Jamshedpur, have taught a lesson for India on self-reliance. When they wanted power, they set up their own plant. Santosh H K Narayan throws light on it

Moved by the plight of poor children, a group of youth start an initiative, calling it ‘Mission 5’. It grows, drawing more students and youth into it. Shubham Sharan checks out on the mission

Like bulls in a china shop, they came, raising a banner of animal rights, to stop the traditional sport, jallikattu. Now they have been tamed and the bull fights are on, says Senthil Kumaran

Tamil Nadu could set the agenda for India’s Sri Lankan policy, going by the resolutions passed by Jayalalithaa government, says Ramu Manivannan, stressing the need for accountability in MEA

The recent Tiger census has reported an increase in the number of tigers in the country, but tiger lovers cannot be complacent and relax their vigil, say Upamanyu Raju and P C Vinoj Kumar

After using RTI to fight corruption, Akhil Gogoi is in the vanguard of a movement against building dams across Brahmaputra. Pranjal Baruah learns that actor Aamir Khan may too join in soon

Love what you do and do it with passion. This is the mantra for success, says Roopleen Prasad, advising you to put your heart and soul into work so that it inspires others too

When Army chief V K Singh’s real date of birth is in various army records, doubts were raised needlessly because the government wanted to promote Bikram Singh to the top job, says Sam Rajappa
 

Slum soccer is providing an opportunity for underprivileged youth, former drug addicts, and children of commercial sex workers to play for India in the Homeless World Cup in Poland next year

Chirgu is an NGO that works to eradicate child labour. But one of its founders, Saroja, had overcome a series of personal tragedies to dedicate her life to the cause, says Sudha Narasimhachar

Though you can’t spot an electric pole in Assam’s Baleswar, the villagers use fans, lights, mobiles and computers round the clock. Azera Parveen Rahman throws light on the secret: Solar power

It was a romantic drive and they were cruising at a high speed on the expressway when suddenly the car veered out of control. Shaheen Bootwalla is fortunate to stay alive and tell the story

A catering firm owner, 52-year-old Sanjeev Trehan, is there every morning, Monday to Friday, on the narrow Ghaziabad – Noida underpass on NH24 regulating the busy traffic as a ‘social service’

After a 16-year-old cousin died in a road accident as medical help did not reach him on time, Piyush Tewari decided that he will not let another life go that way. Partho Burman finds out that the winner of the Rolex Award has more plans

Moved by the sight of a man crawling on all fours, Kiran Kumar vowed to help people with physical disabilities by becoming a doctor. Partho Burman is wowed by the orthopedician's commitment

Will the next generation ever sight a sparrow? To help us say ‘yes, of course’, Mohammed Dilawar has been providing nest boxes to those who would like to invite the birds to their homes before they become extinct. Rama Menon checks out
 

Six years after he was killed, forest brigand Veerappan's name is to resonate in court. P C Vinoj Kumar encounters an activist with documents that contradict the fate of an aide of Veerappan

Inspired by ‘Motorcycle dairies’, a young couple go on a road trip on a Rs 500 a day budget. Lesley D Biswas meets Saurav Jha and Devapriya Roy, whose book will be published by Harper Collins

Captain Gulia is against alms to children. He has never given a coin to the kids he encounters at traffic signals in Gurgaon. But then, he knows them all by their name. Ritu Pandey checks out

Formed in January this year on Facebook, Bikernis is not just a group of Indian female bikers; for these women, who have defied gender stereotypes, motorcycles are an extension of their selves

Naina Lal Kidwai is a restless woman. And a proof of it is her success – she heads HSBC’s India operations. But her aim is to help rural women trying to be on their own, says Sudha Menon

Savera School for special children gives dignity to students by helping them earn as they learn to cope with life. Naunidhi Kaur is wowed by the dedicated work of the staff and volunteers

Overcoming hardships, failures and adversity needs a resolve to accept responsibility of your life, says Roopleen Prasad, applauding Yuvi’s steely resolve to fight cancer

Two students in a school in Assam who had received the National Bravery Award for nabbing a militant who had killed their teacher are now barely making ends meet as daily wage earners

The Delhi government, in partnership with the ministry of new and renewable energy, plans to implement a rooftop solar energy policy, which would involve installing of solar power plants on the rooftops of Delhi houses. It is a unique initiative to promote clean and renewable energy in the city.

Jency Samuel is fascinated by a tea vendor's 'art of living' on a train journey.

Technologists and achievers will converge at TEDx Tirupur to figure out solutions for the future generation’s problems. Amar Naik reveals the plans and lessons learnt so far

She saw a tiger first as a 3-month-old and photographed one at age 17. Tigers still fascinate 58-year-old Belinda Wright, founder of Wildlife Protection Society of India. Akash Bisht met her

The BBC once described Babar Ali as the youngest headmaster. The founder of Anand Shiksha Niketan, having 800 students on the rolls now, was 9 years when he started teaching 8 of his friends. Kavita Kanan Chandra profiles Ali, now in college

By juxtaposing images of protests over rape and a brutal attack of a tribal woman in 2007, TWL evoked right feelings. Neha Dixit says Laxmi Orang, the tribal girl, is still fighting for justice

With no time to protest felling of trees, Siddalinga Prasad launched a project that ties people’s heart to trees. Marianne de Nazareth finds out that it’s a positive way of conserving nature

When Mathew Cherian started using the humble bicycle as a mode of transport 15 years ago, people looked at him differently. Today, the 43-year-old is trim and fit, says Marianne de Nazareth

Striving for rights of children, Anuradha Sahasrabudhe brought the child helpline to Pune. Though she strayed into the line by accident she has stayed put for 25 years, says Divya Mangwani

Urvashi Sahni is an innovative educationist, who has done more than teaching and starting schools. Her project, Digital Study Hall, takes lectures of city school teachers to rural and slum students through videos, says Kavita Kanan Chandra

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa has withdrawn her party MP from an all-party delegation to Sri Lanka next week, refusing to let up the pressure against the Sinhalese racist regime

In Lavasa, the much hyped hill city in Maharashtra, Anjna Rawat Pratap relived a past through a game of badminton with her nephew and had a chilled out time

Communications Minister Kapil Sibal wants to regulate posts on Facebook and other social media network. Prasanto K Roy gives five reasons why he won’t be able to succeed in his effort 

Computer engineer Vaibhav Desai quit his job to hit the road on his bicycle and explore the world. Now, he is on a cycling mission to promote sustainable living, says Sharada Balasubramanian

Saalumarada Timmakka is an extraordinary mother. The 80-year-old has raised 284 banyan trees in Karnataka. Kumar Buradikatti has the story of a childless woman’s dedication to Mother Nature

You can reach your destination only if you know where you want to go, says Roopleen Prasad, offering tips on setting goals and achieving them. But then, you have to start now

When the 34-year-old woman was told that she has Parkinson’s disease, she did not go into depression. Instead, with the support of her family, she soldiers on, living life to the full. Sudha Narasimhachar is wowed by the brave woman, Shelly

It started with a date. A single date palm that is. Today the Puttenahalli lake has been restored with abundant greenery, thanks to the efforts of Arathi Manay, says Marianne de Nazareth

Results of World Cup cricket matches are not always music to ears. But this musical score by two Chennai youth can always bring cheers to the Indian fans. Play on, the video can inspire you

The ‘unsung heroes’ working for environment, and conservation of the humble sparrow, got their due recognition when they were conferred with the Sparrow Awards, says Rama Devi Menon

M F Husain’s fascination for Madhuri Dixit is well-known. He was also believed to have been attracted to Tabu. But what’s not known is about the celebrity beautician he painted as Noor Jahan

Hasnath Mansur started educating Muslim women on their rights after a career in education, 23 years of it as a woman’s college principal. Anita Pratap shoots questions and Mahesh Bhat pictures

Goans living in London have picked up the cudgels on behalf of their people back home to fight the powerful mining mafia that is plundering the state’s resources, says Mayabhushan Nagvenkar

Facing up to the loss of a loved one becomes easier when you listen to your heart and ignore the mind. Anjna Rawat Pratap likes to believe that her beloved golden Labrador has been re-born

Viren Raj Baraik, a 13-year-old tribal boy from Jharkhand, has super dance skills that remind some of Michael Jackson. He will rock at the National Games in Ranchi, says Santosh H K Narayan

Stepping into the fifth floor terrace of a building in Bangalore, Marianne de Nazareth was stunned. There in front of her was a hanging garden, a modern-day wonder, in garden city

He is the hope for cotton farmers in Vidarbha, where suicides are a regular feature. Kavita Kanan Chandra meets Kishor Tiwari, who gave up a top job with an MNC to fight for farmers’ rights and sensitise the government on their problems

To do amazing things in life and accomplish goals, you have to be proactive and take responsibility of your life, says Roopleen Prasad, giving valuable tips for making it big

Close to 3000 children below 14 years committed suicide in 2009. To prevent such suicides, 8 youth in Kanpur made a film, 'Last Option,' which has got nearly 2 lakh views on You Tube. Arpit Gupta tells us how the six-minute video clip clicked

For the Muslim victims of the 2002 riots in Gujarat, time has not been a healer. Mari Marcel Thekaekara finds anger, resentment and despair raging in the ravaged region, even10 years later

The Weekend Leader is organizing a workshop on Trends in Green Buildings in Chennai with The New Indian Express as Print Partner, Exnora as Green Partner, and Big FM as Radio Partner

He honed his skills and pursued the passion amidst negative circumstances. Yet positivity is the buzzword for Machcha Gangadas, whose paintings energise viewers, says Kavita Kanan Chandra

In the land of Kabir, Buddha and Sant Ravidas, Ajeet Singh is the new messiah. Besides rescuing women from brothels in Varanasi and Mau and booking traffickers, he has been putting children of sex workers in school, says Kavita Kanan Chandra

Senior IPS officer from Tamil Nadu catches the attention of global management experts with his theory of 'Excenomics', which he claims is an alternative to Capitalism, Socialism, and Communism

Without waiting for politicians, two young college students in Mumbai have embarked on a mission to light up villages with solar lamps. Kavita Kanan Chandra throws light on Project Chirag

Kumar Sambhav Shrivastava exposes a new age fraud by industries in Chhattisgarh which run ‘biomass’ power plants, but continue to use coal while claiming crores of rupees worth carbon credit  

Rubina Ali, one of the popular child actors in ‘Slumdog Millionaire’, who used to live in a slum till not too long ago, will soon move to a posh flat in the upmarket locality of Bandra West

But for the few police officers with a conscience, the Nazi style operation of the Gujarat government could not have been exposed so well. Nachiketa Desai explains what those bold men have done to tell the world of the anti-Muslim pogrom

Old school romance with its beautiful nuances will surely make a comeback, says Faraaz Kazi on this Valentine’s Day, as the world soaks in love, mushy verses, virtual roses, and text muahs.
 

Pained at the destruction of traditional houses, Vijayanath Shenoy started ‘collecting' them. His love for heritage has been documented by Anita Pratap in prose and Mahesh Bhat in pictures

Though Sri Lanka habitually rejects recommendations made under the Universal Periodic Review of UNHRC, there is hope for Tamils as the world is taking note of their problem, says Paul Newman

Breaking mental barriers is the key to overcome shortcomings, says Roopleen Prasad who cites examples of celebrities who have courted success with a big heart and a strong will

Four engineering students from Assam have started a website -- Asomtube -- to popularise lilting, soulful, Assamese songs and videos across the globe. Their site has become hugely popular

South Carolina's Indian-American Governor Nikki Haley is all set to publish her memoir just shy of her 40th birthday. Haley is America's youngest governor, reports Arun Kumar from Washington

Even in these days of social networks, it is hard for a coolie’s son to strike a meaningful friendship with an engineer. But such friendships are blossoming. Orchie Bandyopadhyay finds out

A journalist, an author, a lyricist, a thespian, a photographer and a social worker. No it is not a team but describes just one man. Shikha Shah profiles the multi-faceted Neelesh Misra

The world's largest exporter of roses is an Indian who grows and ships hundreds of varieties of the prized flowers - not just out of India but mostly out of farms in Ethiopia and Kenya. Tarun Basu meets Nagesh Karuturi, the CEO of Bangalore based company Karuturi Global at their farm in Ethiopia

She did not expect it when she set out to look for wild tigers. But the abduction by militants has not deterred Pallavi Chakraborty from continuing her career in wildlife, says Teresa Rehman

The Right to Information Act heralded a glorious future for Indian democracy. But some activists who use it have faced violence. Kavita Kanan Chandra tells us what happened to Yashwant Gavand

Tamil Nadu will soon come out with a new policy on solar power to generate 3,000 MW by 2015-16, according to Natham R Viswanathan, minister for non-conventional energy development

Chucking a career in the US, Rajeev Gowda came to Bangalore to be a politician. Marianne de Nazareth feels that the Congress party should have used his talents and education in a better way

From helping slum dwellers in Mumbai, Jockin Arputham has come a long way in working for the poor around the world. Kavita Kanan Chandra tells the story of the Raman Magsaysay award winner

The Transnational Govt of Tamil Eelam’s Prime Minister Visuvanathan Rudrakumaran bares his mind to Ron Ridenour and speaks of the recognition his govt has got from South Sudan. 

Among those who were excited by Michelle Obama’s visit to Mumbai are some poor boys, who managed to speak to her in English. It happened only because two youth in Kochi wanted to Make A Difference, five years ago, says Kavita Kanan Chandra

Close to four decades after leaving Kargali, a coal town, Arpita Sutradhar wonders why she never returned to the place, whose old smell, sounds and visuals come in her dreams

Mazhar Asif Ebrahim is a lucky man. For, his passion is also his profession. Kavita Kanan Chandra treks with the founder of Nature Knights that organises adventure events for nature lovers

The marriage of Lila Poonawala, a celebrated corporate honcho, to Firoz is an ideal Valentine’s Day story. ‘If you commit to a relationship, give it your everything,’ she tells Sudha Menon

The India Against Corruption campaign is gaining momentum with more activists rallying around Anna Hazare who is planning to go on a fast-unto-death agitation, says Kavita Kanan Chandra

‘Sight for Sightless’ is the eponymous name of a programme that has prevented over 42000 people from going blind. The programme director Renu Wadhwa talks to Divya Mangwani about the mission

Arundhati Roy, Sharmila Tagore, and Prashant Bhushan are some of the well-known names who are taking part in an event organised by ‘Free Binayak Sen Campaign’ in New Delhi, says Akash Bisht

Daughters get a grand welcome in Bihar’s Dharhara, which has tackled issues like low sex ratio, global warming and climate change in one go. The villagers plant at least 10 trees, traditionally mango, when a girl is born, says Saadia Azim

Name: Rajiv Trivedi. Achievements: Swam English Channel, Palk Strait etc. If you thought this is the CV of a professional swimmer, you are wrong, says Mahesh Avadhutha, who met the IPS officer

As the Indian government is flummoxed by the sudden upsurge against Koodankulam nuclear plant and as many wonder how it happened, G Babu Jayakumar traces the 25-year history of the dissent

It is a dream that gives hope to those who do not dare to dream. Roohi Saluja Sehgal tells us how rickshaw pullers in Delhi have benefited because some students dared to dream.

Violence should be the last resort, says S Sreeram, a KravMaga self defence expert. Deny, Delay, Diffuse & Divert are his 4 D's that can help one get out of a fight or not get into it at all

To fill in the gaps in the lives of the elderly in cities, whose children work elsewhere, a Pune-based woman started a service called Maya Care. R Savitha checks out what it is all about

RTI activist Shehla Masood, who was found dead in her car in Bhopal, had always been concerned about such killing of whistle blowers, says Kamayani Bali Mahabal, an associate in activism, who vows to move forward and carry on with the work

Two paper makers are using elephant dung as the main raw material. Roohi Saluja Sehgal learns from Mahima and Vijendra how they discovered the potential of ‘waste’ during a trek to a shrine

When grandma invited an elderly man to eat with the family, the little girl was angry at losing her share of the mutton curry. But Arpita Sutradhar soon realised the greatness of the man

Hailing from the heart of God’s own country, Kochi, actress Asin tells Nishita Mahajan that a trip to Kerala - with its beaches, hill stations, and backwaters - is a perfect way to relax

The Save Tamils Movement is organising a hall meeting in Chennai to discuss the war crimes of former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse

He is an ophthalmologist with a vision. ‘Change today, change tomorrow’ is the motto of his organization run with over 300 volunteers. Amar Naik meets the doctor who wants to start a school

A farmer’s son is riding a bicycle somewhere in India just because he wants more people to have eye sight. Lesley D Biswas catches up with Chayan Mondal, who wants us all to pledge our eyes

Self discipline is the secret of success, says Roopleen Prasad, adding that those who worked their way from the bottom to top have trained themselves to do what they should do

 

Indian space scientist and former ISRO chairman, U R Rao, rubbishes predictions of Doomsday or “Pralaya” destroying the earth in December 2012 calling it totally false, mischievous, and unfounded

Friends of Positive Journalism met at Chennai, marking a new chapter in the history of media. For TWL, it was a turning point as it now has the task of setting up such chapters in other places to involve more people in a meaningful dialogue

It is a bank run by women for women. It is the first rural financial institution to receive a cooperative license from RBI. Kavita Kanan Chandra meets the driving force, Chetna Gala Sinha

When the gentleman asked her for the dance, Simi Mehta couldn’t resist the offer and she said ‘yes’

With the Lokpal bill and Anna Hazare in the news, the role of Lokayukta in Karnataka came under scrutiny. Gauri Lankesh checks out how Justice Santosh Hegde has fared in the past five years

‘Get under the shower with your spouse’ is just one of 21 different tips that Samuel Eddy offers to transform you into an eco friendly person in 21 days flat if you are ready to give it a shot

In a bid to save the endangered Olive Ridley turtles, a ‘festival’ is on in the Konkan coast, which blends conservation with tourism. Kavita Kanan Chandra meets people excited by the event

What Mother Teresa did in Kolkata, a 25-year-old man is now doing in the holy town of Tiruvannamalai in Tamil Nadu. Sharada Balasubramanian profiles Manimaran, who takes care of 51 leprosy patients and is always prepared to help the needy

Overcoming multiple disabilities with elan, young Bhavna Botta has proved to the world that where there a will, there is a way. Hema Vijay tells us the amazing story of the girl who started ‘Saahaagika’, a boutique in Chennai, on her own

With corporates dealing in garbage, the traditional rag picker’s job is at stake. Stella Paul spots two women from India at the climate summit in Durban, drawing world attention to the issue

They are an unusual couple promoting organ donation. Rama Devi Menon catches up with Lalitha and Raghuram, who donated the organs of their 19-year-old son when he was brain-dead in 2004

Police officer Sanjeev Bhatt’s revelation that Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi wanted the Hindus to vent their anger after the Sabarmati Express burning can nail Modi, says Mukul Sinha

The present generation is lucky. Mills and Boon has now come out with a novel set in India offering a romantic treat for young readers. Partho Burman speaks to the Indian author, Milan Vohra

In Coorg, where men once loved hunting, K M Chinnappa broke the tradition by turning his gun to protect the forests. Anita Pratap captures the spirit of the man, and Mahesh Bhat his image