Society

Gangadhara Tilak Katnam. A retired engineer who has used his personal savings to fill 1359 potholes in Hyderabad till date, with or without assistance. What makes this possible? And can this be a sustainable solution to a problem that plagues most of our cities?

The author’s visit to the capital evokes nostalgia over the sights and sounds of the past, and also brings out remnants of past glory and the sites that make it a magical city — the sound, smog and crowds notwithstanding!

While most of the furore around the recent entry of three women into the Sabarimala temple premises appears politically motivated, some do question the need for flouting a long-observed religious custom. A citizen shares his response.

The Women’s Reservation Bill has not been tabled in Parliament till date, though several states have passed resolutions in favour of 33% women in politics. Meanwhile, here is a citizen movement that began down south and which promises action-packed days as far as the Bill is concerned.

Delicate and ephemeral, these fruiting bodies are beautiful. They are also emerging as a big favourite in urban kitchens, though not all may be fit to partake of. Our nature columnist sends photos of the different types of mushrooms and fungi one can see around us, in the monsoon season.

When was the last time you took a relaxed stroll with your family or friends through the neighbourhood, ending with an ice cream or perhaps a cup of coffee? The author, accustomed to the ways of Delhi, brings her love of walking in the open to her new home, Bengaluru.

Take a look at this stunning display of a traditional art form as Vidhya Sundar of Bengaluru celebrated each day of Navaratri with a wild bird rangoli outside her apartment.

An impactful revolution does not come out of nowhere. The dissidence builds over time.

How do firms set up a complaints committee, what’s the process to handle sexual harassment? What are the preventive measures to ensure respectful, dignified and inclusive working environment for all employees?

Walk past the stretches where towering billboards loom over you on both sides, advertising everything from paan masala to entertainment apps, and you are sure to feel claustrophobic. The quintessential azure sky with white cottony clouds is now invisible.

In a country where state and society are equally guilty of inadequate, tardy and callous response to near-endemic sexual harrassment, naming and shaming is the much-needed parallel system. It doesn’t subvert due process, but actually improves it.

It really isn’t just about coffee anymore. A distinctive café revolution has taken place across cities, with several run by, or employing, people who would otherwise find it difficult to find a space in mainstream society — from those with special needs to the HIV positive to acid attack survivors.