Society

When fifty-one-year-old Matilda Fonceca first wheeled herself through the gates of the Better World Shelter for women with disabilities in Chennai, she was not looking for transformation. She simply wanted a safe place to stay. The locomotor disability that has shaped her life since childhood has never stopped her from pursuing independence, yet it has often dictated how society has treated her. Much of her youth was spent moving between NGOs, where she learned early that institutions might make space for her, but rarely with her needs in mind. Before arriving here, Matilda lived an ordinary urban life, working night…

“For the last five years, I’ve only come to Govandi to report on crime or garbage,” admitted a reporter from a national newspaper during the Govandi Arts Festival 2023. “This is the first time I’m here to cover a story about art, and it’s one created by the youth themselves.” He went on to publish an article titled Govandi Arts Festival: Reimagining Inadequately Built Spaces Through Art and Creativity. It featured young artists who dared to tell their stories using their own voices and mediums. One might wonder why a place like Govandi, home to Mumbai’s largest resettlement population, burdened…

For years, domestic workers in Bengaluru and other cities in Karnataka have protested the lack of social security or legal mandates to protect them against exploitation. The State government has finally addressed some of their long-standing demands and released the Draft Karnataka Domestic Workers (Social Security and Welfare) Bill, 2025, on October 15 for public consultation. This move follows the Supreme Court's directive calling for a well-defined legal framework to safeguard and regulate the rights of domestic workers. According to G Manjunath, Additional Labour Commissioner and author of the bill, the goal of the draft bill is to “provide rights-based,…

"Visually impaired individuals playing cricket?" It’s a thought that often surprises people, reflecting a common misconception of what persons with visual impairment can truly achieve. Even within the blind community, the idea of confidently stepping onto a cricket pitch seemed like a distant dream. But in Bengaluru, that dream became a reality, thanks to the determination and hard work of a few passionate individuals. Making the impossible possible I had long envisioned a world where blind cricket thrived, but doubt crept in — could such an event be pulled off, and would anyone attend it? My apprehensions disappeared when I shared…

“I have chosen to do this work,” says Anita Rokade, a domestic worker living in Badlapur, outside Mumbai. Anita, who lost her husband years ago, has to earn to provide for her children. But giving time to her children is her priority. Domestic work offers her the flexibility to attend parent-teacher meetings, drop her children off at school, and rush home in case of an emergency. While she does not mind the demanding physical labour that comes with her job, she is clear that domestic workers need laws for their protection and well-being. This January, the Supreme Court, while hearing…

Walking into the Madras Literary Society (MLS) is like stepping into another era. The towering, multi-storey bookshelves hold more than 80,000 volumes, some of which are rare and priceless. Among the library’s many treasures is the 296-year-old edition of Isaac Newton’s Naturalis Principia Mathematica. The architecture of the building, with its double-layered windows, high ceilings with exposed rafters, and lime-plastered walls, offers more than mere aesthetic appeal. These features ensure natural ventilation, retain acoustics unique to the space, and keep the library cool even in Chennai’s scorching summers. Antique furniture adds an extra flourish to the space. The library thrives…

“When I reached out to my college counsellor, I was told I was just experiencing hormonal changes and was influenced by my surroundings and the media. It was a deeply traumatic session. I had asked for support, but all I received was dismissal and ignorance,” says Adi Goswami, a trans man and People Consultant at Bengaluru-based firm Zinnov. Adi regrets asking the counsellor for help before transitioning, while pursuing his undergraduate studies in a reputed, previously all-girls college in the city. Like Adi, many transgender students experience isolation, and the lack of mental health support in their institutions may also…

In the heart of Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR), a quiet literary movement is taking shape. The Bookworms Club, initiated by the Federation of OMR Residents’ Associations (FOMRRA), has quickly established itself as a hub for book lovers seeking meaningful discussions, book exchanges, and opportunities to engage with local authors. Still in its early stages, the club aims to nurture a disciplined reading culture and help motivate members to reach their reading goals. What began as a gathering of book lovers has now grown into a community dedicated to reducing waste by ensuring books are reused rather than discarded.    Building reading habits …

Bengaluru has earned a stellar reputation as the seat of information technology, biotechnology, and India's space programme. Sci560, an exhibition hosted by the Science Gallery, Bengaluru, provides a comprehensive overview of this evolution. Through documentaries, photographs, objects, devices and instruments, Sci560 offers a fascinating kaleidoscope of the city's emergence as a military-industrial-academic hub. Its intriguing title is a portmanteau of ‘science’ and the city’s PIN or postal code ‘560’, while simultaneously being a play on the term ‘sci-fi’ (science fiction). Suitable surroundings Housed in a state-of-the-art building with an aesthetic ambience that blends the traditional with the modern, the Science…

According to a recent news report, there has been a 20% increase in theft cases compared to 2023, linked to domestic help. This has naturally created apprehensions and flagged the need for safety checks around employment of household help and staff in gated communities and independent homes. Background checks and police verification have been established as recommended procedures while hiring staff, following several untoward incidents in the city. These checks are advisable as they help both the employer and the staff build a relationship of trust and confidence towards each other. Many Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) and individuals are unaware…