Teaching Bihar
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
On a ghat road
Protecting Western Ghats from environmental degradation is a mission for S R Hiremath. The earth is not just for human beings but for plants and other creatures too, he tells Harsha Kumar
No child’s play
The government’s Bal Bandhu programme is making waves in many backward regions by ensuring that child rights are not violated. Swapna Majumdar finds out how young girls like Sunila work in their community, amidst conflict, fear and uncertainty
Man of many parts
Swagat Thorat dons many hats with aplomb. But it is his dedication to help the visually challenged that stands out as an accomplishment. It also got him a certificate from the Guinness Book. Kavita Kanan Chandra checks out his future plans
Beyond freedom
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
Recharge booster
A lone man’s vision and determination brought nature’s bounty to Laporia, which was once an arid village, in Rajasthan. Anita Pratap talks to Laxman Singh while Mahesh Bhat takes his pictures
Warrior leader
In Chhattisgarh, where the booming of Maoist guns makes news, 56-year-old Sukhantibai has endeared herself to the Adivasis of Handitola through her selfless service and courage. Stella Paul talks to the sarpanch, now serving a second term
Warm act
Temperature dips to minus 21.8 degrees at Leh and 21 degrees at Kargil as cold wave conditions intensify in Kashmir valley. Indian Air Force steps in to airlift stranded tourists
Dam man
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
Honest walk
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'
VIT’s hero
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
Our hero
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
A dream hospital
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
Of inheritance
To break a traditional law that wrongs women by depriving them of property rights, Rattan Manjari and her band of activists are trudging miles of rugged and inhospitable Himalayan terrain. Vishal Gulati meets Mahila Kalyan Parishad members
Barging to help
The walls were built to keep slum dwellers at bay. But they broke it to help the ‘privileged’ people trapped in the inferno at the AMRI hospital. Rajashri Dasgupta meets the Good Samaritans
