Society

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been extremely keen to promote Indian culture as a virtuous lifestyle both within the country and abroad. Ancient Indian traditions of Yoga and Ayurveda are being pushed by the Government. Modi’s gifts to foreign dignitaries are often thoughtful symbols of historical events and the crafts of India. It therefore comes as a shock, that the same Government that deservedly places such a high value on our ancient and profound heritage, has proposed a dilution of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act (AMASR Act)of 1958 to allow large-scale construction in the vicinity of…

Kong Tailin Lyngdoh, a Khasi lady from Meghalaya, was asked to leave a golf club in Delhi for wearing her traditional dress. She was told that she looked like a Nepali and that her dress made her look like a maid. To highlight this discrimination, the 'My Dress is My Identity' event was organised by the Northeast Solidarity at SCM of India, Bangalore on the 7th of July. The event explored the issue Kong Tailin Lyngdoh faced and discussed solutions on how people from Northeast India can educate fellow Indians about various aspects of their culture, history, and habits including…

Indian cities are not altogether unfamiliar with marches. Over the past few years, an increasingly awakening civil society has publicly gathered for a variety of causes - from freedom of speech to women’s safety to economic equality. Come August 9th however, for the first time in the country, you can join fellow citizens across India in a march for the cause of science, demanding robust funding for science education and research and pressing for governmental policies guided by scientific evidence. Eminent scientists, researchers and teachers have come together to put out an appeal to citizens across the country to come…

Queer Arts Movement India (QAMI) is four years old and the event’s theme this year is ‘One Love’. QAMI aims to provide a space for non-judgemental inclusion and acceptance of all marginalised communities. Having started out as a fundraising event, QAMI Habba today involves people from across the country. It serves as a space for dialogue, liberation of thoughts, and free expression of emotions. “The focus of QAMI is to make the mainstream audience understand about the queer community, through art,” says Romal. He believes that art is a medium that can make people look beyond their preset notions and…

Cynthia dabbles mainly in stoneware pottery and has explored many forms, from accessories, decorative pieces to functional pottery. Over two decades, she has been learning and discovering more about the medium and herself too. In this edition of Active Bangalore, Cynthia talks about her passion for pottery and more. https://soundcloud.com/radioactivecr90-4mhz/active-bangalore-featuring-potter-cynthia-suzan

Mumbai, a city that grew along the railway tracks is now a city that has surrendered to the lure of cars. With this habit came the need for more roads and flyovers to make space for the city’s cars and parking space for them. One of the many consequences of this trend has been the surrender of open spaces, footpaths and places where children used to play. But adults in the city haven’t managed to destroy childhood. Not yet. It’s unsafe, but children will play in available space and we can ignore them at our own peril. These photos tell…

In this episode of Active Bangalore, RJ Beula talks to Sridhar Venkat, CEO of Akshaya Patra Foundation, while RJ Padma Priya interacts with some of the children who enjoy the mid-day meals provided by the Foundation daily. Sridhar talks about what made him give up a cushy corporate job and work full time for the Akshaya Patra foundation. He explains how Akshayapatra was started and how it has came to be recognized as the world's largest food giving programme. It feeds 1.6 million children in 12 states of the country, delivering meals on-time, every time. Sridhar's message to all: Whatever…

This programme features young participants of Radio Active's annual story-telling competition held in schools and NGOs across the city. Their stories highlight important aspects like child rights; Children also recount fables and regional classics that impact morals and life lessons. https://soundcloud.com/radioactivecr90-4mhz/story-telling-children-with-their-story-tales-rj-manjula-rajeshasamanth-yuvaraju