Category Archives: Inspiration/ Positive News and Features

IIT-Madras shows the way in low-cost housing

Business & Economy, Education, Green Initiatives/ Environment, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Records, All, Science & Technologies

Chennai :

With real estate prices and cost of construction on the rise, owning a house in cities remains a dream for the middle class. But it might soon be a thing of the past, courtesy IIT Madras and its efforts to popularize the cost-effective, rapid and eco-friendly method of construction using Glass Fiber Reinforced Gypsum (GFRG) panels.

After the successful construction of a two-storey building at the IIT campus in June this year using GFRG panels, experts from the civil engineering department of the institute are close to an agreement with Tata Housing Development Corporation Ltd to build a housing project at Boisar, a suburb in Mumbai, for low-income groups.

The GFRG building method essentially uses glass fibres and specially calcined gypsum plaster to make the regular panel stronger and water resistant.

According to Shinto Paul, structural design engineer for the GFRG building at IIT-M and PhD scholar at the civil engineering department, the foundation for the building is laid in the regular manner and GFRG panels are used for erecting the remaining superstructure with minimum concrete usage except at the joints and cavities of the panel. Once the foundation is constructed and the panels are erected, the main structure can be built in a few days.

However, while using GFRG panels, all floors should ideally have the same floor plan. Curved structures and domes are best avoided or concrete can be used for such areas.

“The rapid low-cost housing project is headed in the right direction and we are in talks with Tata Housing to use the technology for mass housing projects. We are also collaborating with various state governments and housing structures are already being built in Kerala using this technique.” said Bhaskar Ramamurthi, director, IIT Madras.

A senior official with Tata Housing confirmed the development and said the pilot project discussions were under way. The pilot module of the Boisar project consists of nine buildings, each with five floors and eight apartments on each floor. After the construction of the pilot module, the project may be scaled up with more buildings. It is estimated that the total cost of construction will be limited to less than 1,200 per sqft.

“We have been getting numerous enquiries about the project after the completion of the demo building at our campus,” said A Meher Prasad, head of the department of civil engineering, IIT Madras. The 1,981sqft two-storeyed building at the IIT campus, with two one-bedroom and two two-bedroom apartments, was completed in just a month at a cost of 24 lakh.

“We are constructing a 54-unit housing building for Kerala government at Chottanikara at a cost of 1,000 per sqft. The idea is to bring down the cost of constructing the structure and the customer can choose the remaining accessories and fittings,” said Shinto Paul.

As of now, the GFRG panels are being manufactured at FACT-RCF Building Products Ltd (FRBL) in Kochi, a joint venture between The Fertilisers and Chemicals Travancore Ltd (FACT) and Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilisers, Mumbai. Proposals have been mooted to the Union government and more manufacturing units for GFRG panels are expected to be set up across the country to further scale down the transportation cost of the panels.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Chennai / by Binoy Valsan, TNN / November 24th, 2014

MAKING A DIFFERENCE – Making a difference: Shelter of Compassion

Amazing Feats, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features
P. Ramar, project coordinator (extreme left) with the team. Photo: R. Ashok / The Hindu
P. Ramar, project coordinator (extreme left) with the team. Photo: R. Ashok / The Hindu

Meet the people who have been successfully running Madurai Corporation’s Home for the Homeless Urban Poor as the State’s best

Till four years ago, in the blur of the Temple Town’s crowded streets, they were just different faces mostly found begging or doing some menial job during the day and at night huddling at bus stands or shops to snatch a few moments of sleep.

In 2010 when the Madurai Corporation repurposed an old marriage hall into a shelter for the abandoned and homeless senior citizens, some of them found a place to stay, eat, sleep and live with dignity. Today, there are 50 of them aged between 50 and 85 years benefitting from the night shelter running successfully in Sellur.

For the last 48 months, the Home for the Homeless Urban Poor — the first in Tamil Nadu to be supported by the civic body — has become known as a place of last resort for several senior citizens whose children or family have no time, money, interest or inclination to take care of them.

M.Murugesan took up the job of a part time security guard after his wife’s death. His married daughter was not in a position to take care of him. When loneliness took over his life, he started searching for a way out and happened to read about the Corporation’s shelter home in the newspaper four winters ago.

Today at 63, Murugesan feels there could not have been a better decision. “I have found a big family here and am happy,” he says. He is not only a resident of the Home but also is an important member of the core team that runs and helps to maintain it as the State’s best Corporation-run Home for the shelterless.

Along with two other residents — Jaganathan, in charge of cleanliness and Sundaravadivu, the care taker — besides Shanmuga Eeshwari, the cook and J.Vimala who handles accounts, Murugesan says, their endeavour is to keep the people’s house as a family home.

Leading and motivating them is P.Ramar, the project coordinator from Madurai Jesuit Downtrodden People Welfare Trust that has been handed over the management of the shelter.

Ramar, a double M.A. in History and Tamil and with a B.Ed degree had the option to refuse the work. But he chooses to undertake a two-hour bus ride daily from Rajapalayam to ensure that the Home runs smoothly and the residents are comfortable.

Though we get some support and donations now, he says, still there are days when we struggle. There are days when Ramar spends from his pocket to arrange the day’s meals for the residents.

“I have always been service-oriented,” he says. While in college, he would gather all his village kids on weekends and give them a hair cut and a bath, help the illiterate villagers fill up various application forms, provide free tuitions and educational support to children of conservancy workers.

“Society doesn’t care for the older people,” he says, “God has given me a chance to serve.” His job is to arrange for all the basic needs of the residents, maintain cleanliness, scout for sponsors, liaise with the Corporation and keep the people in their twilight years in good health and humour.

“I spend a lot of time with them,” says Ramar, who was orphaned early. “But now I have 50 parents,” he adds. He has identified their interests and talents and involves them in activities of their choice from gardening to cleaning, singing devotional songs or cutting vegetables. They get a small pocket money of Rs.200 each for the work they do at the Home.

During free time, Ramar chats with them on social issues and such is his influence that he has even motivated Murugesan to donate his body after death. “I have pledged my body to Government Hospital here for any research or organ transplant,” Murugesan beams.

And so does Vimala, who works tirelessly without salary. Due to paucity of ready cash, even Ramar has foregone his salary for past few months. The money that comes from the Corporation every month and the donation raised is distributed on priority as pension to the residents and for meeting all other costs of running the Home.

“I can’t bear to see distressed old people by the roadside, forgotten by their families,” says Vimala, “I want to help as many if situation permits.” With equal enthusiasm, Shanmuga Eeshwari effortlessly whips up three tasty meals a day for the residents. “They smile when they like the food and I love to see their happy faces,” she says, adding, “they all are like my amma and appa.”

It is a nice feeling to see happy faces inside a shelter home. Periodic health check-ups and geriatric care has kept them all fit. In the last four years, there have been only four age-related deaths, a fact that Ramar prides on.

It takes the hearts and hands of ordinary people like Ramar and his team that humbly serve to help others. It is people like them who do their best to share and carry love and hope to humanity everywhere. “When you do service to others,” says Ramar, “you feel more connected to your spirit and more grateful for what you have.”

(Making a difference is a fortnightly column about ordinary people and events that leave an extraordinary impact on us. E-mail soma.basu@thehindu.co.in to tell her about someone you know who is making a difference)

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus /  by Soma  Basu / Madurai – November 19th, 2014

Keeping Down Syndrome patients’ morale up for 30 years

Amazing Feats, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features

Chennai :

When her daughter Babli was diagnosed with Down Syndrome, Surekha Ramachandran refused to give up hope. Since little was known about the genetic disorder in the early 1980s, she educated herself. Now she shares her knowledge and experience to help other parents and children like Babli lead normal, full lives.

On Sunday, the Down Syndrome Federation of India (DSFI), which she established, will turn 30. After three decades of service, Surekha says she is yet to see societal attitudes change. “There has been more awareness about DS but attitudes have not yet changed, which makes a parent very apprehensive about taking a child out anywhere.”

Three weeks after Babli was born, doctors said she had visual problems. “When she was eight weeks, they told me she had mongloid features,” says Surekha. “Asking doctors questions was considered impertinence.” There were few experts on DS, and no specialized centers for treating the disorder.

In 1984, Surekha established the Down Syndrome Association of Tamil Nadu (DSAT), with six children and an educator. “They were of varying ages. By watching them, we learned where the lacunae were,” says Surekha, who then began establishing parent support groups across the country, starting with Maharashtra. She identifies an anchor person in each place, who then networks with other parents. Today, there are support groups or associations in every state. So, 10 years ago, she started DFSI to bring them all under one umbrella.

Along with DSAT, in 1984, Surekha also started Mathru Mandir, a centre that helps in early intervention. The airy, roomy place in Mylapore has mothers working along with their children and experts. “Even newborns are referred to us,” says Surekha. The older children also learn baking and weaving as part of occupational therapy. DFSI also counsels distraught families, train children to overcome shortcomings, provides physiotherapy and speech therapy, and works to spread awareness about DS.

On Sunday, as part of the 30th anniversary celebrations to be held at AVM Rajeshwari Hall on Radhakrishnan Salai, children of Mathru Mandir, along with children from Deepa Athreya’s School of Success will perform a short play. “It will show how you deal with a child with DS in your class, and it benefits other children as well,” says Surekha who works for inclusive schooling. “Being with a child with DS teaches other children qualities like tolerance and patience.”

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Chennai / by Priya Menon, TNN / November 16th, 2014

The trailblazers who made a case for women in law

Amazing Feats, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, All
In 1928, B. Ananda Bai was the first woman law graduate in then Madras Presidency. Photo: The Hindu Archives
In 1928, B. Ananda Bai was the first woman law graduate in then Madras Presidency. Photo: The Hindu Archives

B. Ananda Bai was the lone female law graduate in then Madras Presidency, which included parts of Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

Cornelia Sorabji, the first woman to practice law in India, was born on November 15, 148 years ago. She was only one among the many pioneers who worked long and hard to breach the glass ceiling for women in courtrooms across the country.

For the women of Madras, the foundations of this struggle were laid by B. Ananda Bai in August 1928. After graduating with a degree in law from Madras University, she became the lone female law graduate in then Madras Presidency, which included parts of Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

Bai’s original career path, however, did not involve becoming a lawyer. According to the Palaniappa Brothers’ book Madras: the Land, the People and their Governance, it was only after being rejected in the government services that Bai considered entering the chambers of law. Finally, after a rigorous apprenticeship under V.V. Srinivasa Iyengar, she enrolled in the Madras High Court on April 22, 1929, to become the first woman advocate trained and specialised in the city of Madras.

Hailing from the South Kanara region (present day districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi), Bai’s father, Dr. Krishna Rao, was particular that all female family members receive a ‘liberal and academic education’.

While admitting that Bai represented a privileged minority, historian V. Geeta points out the 1920s and 30s were a time of churning for women. “With the social reform movement gaining ground, law became central to a lot of the debates regarding women, which were governing civil discourse. Both Hindu and Muslim women with The All India Women’s Conferences, for instance, were very vocal about their aspirations for empowerment through social legislation,” she says.

However, as Rukmani Lakshmipathi, president of the League of Youth, said at a meeting to honour Bai in 1929, “Education and medicine are becoming more and more popular with girls. That is not the case with law. We are glad that a beginning has been made in this direction, and an impetus has been given.”

K. Shantakumari, president, Tamil Nadu Federation of Women Lawyers, points out that storming the male bastion of law was far from easy. She says, “In those days, people were apprehensive and would not give cases to women. Societal taboos also forbid women from taking criminal cases. Because of this, many had to work under male lawyers and did not receive fair remuneration.”

By setting a precedent, in spite of these daunting obstacles, the likes of Bai and Sorabji made a career in law a distinct possibility for women. Today, as we celebrate the latter’s birthday, it only seems fitting to raise a toast to these pioneers for the new ground they broke.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Society / by Nitya Menon / Chennai – November 15th, 2014

An in-house force charting an affordable way

Business & Economy, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Science & Technologies

 

The 24-year-old is planning to make a venture out of a low-cost electric mobility scooter, a design improvised from existing models by his father. Photo: M. Moorthy / The Hindu
The 24-year-old is planning to make a venture out of a low-cost electric mobility scooter, a design improvised from existing models by his father. Photo: M. Moorthy / The Hindu
Naidhroven and his father, who have congenital muscular dystrophy, are working at making mobility devices affordable

As soon as Naidhroven A. sees a visitor approaching his house, from his first floor balcony, he quickly descends in a customised lift.

The 24-year-old and his father, R. Aravamudan (60), who were diagnosed with congenital muscular dystrophy, are working at making mobility devices affordable.

A battery-operated electric mobility scooter that Naidhroven uses to move around the house was put together by his father. While Mr. Aravamudan has built the prototype scooter, Naidhroven is soon planning to make them available commercially, at low cost.

When Mr. Aravamudan could no longer walk after a fall, he decided to build a scooter at home instead of buying an expensive one for himself. “My dad could not walk after 2010 and wanted a scooter that was tailor-made. I had a fall in 2012,” said Naidhroven, who has completed his MBA.

Mr. Aravamudan who runs an electrocardiogram machine-making business unit from home said he was able to cut costs by using locally-sourced materials. “Videos on YouTube were of great help when I was starting,” he said, adding that his background in electronics engineering and an interest in automobiles and mechanics helped to a great extent.

Naidhroven said they spent between Rs. 8,000-10,000 to build the basic prototype that they use. “The imported models were quite expensive; so, my father started making the scooters to fulfil our needs. We then thought that we could help others as well,” he said, adding that the designs themselves are not new, and were improvised from existing ones. “We outsourced processes that required certain expensive machines, and assembled it at home,” he said.

Naidhroven is raising funds for the commercial venture through a bank loan as well as through Indiegogo, a crowd-funding platform. “I want to develop a low-cost scooter that can be controlled using a mobile application and also low-cost wheelchairs that can be used to climb stairs,” Naidhroven said.

He uses two variants of the scooter, modified for indoor and outdoor use.

Radha Aravamudan, Naidhroven’s mother, said they have not bought mass-marketed assistive devices, and have instead tried to make similar ones at home for themselves in order to be independent.

Naidhroven can be reached at naidhro@gmail.com.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai> Society / by Asha Sridhar / November 10th, 2014

Leprosy Activist gets Excellence Award

Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Records, All

Chennai :

Social activist Padma Venkatraman, who has associated herself with leprosy patients for the last 30 years, was awarded the Vocational Excellence Award by the Rotary Club of Adyar recently.

Speaking on the occasion, Padma said that it was a great honour to receive the award from Rotary. “I am privileged to receive the award from Rotary. I want to bring hope in the lives of those affected by leprosy. They have come a long way from being social outcasts and now they are slowly being accepted,” she said. “The leprosy afflicted are training in several vocational skills and are being given opportunity to take up various jobs, creating different products.

In fact, there is an artist colony from where their paintings are sent all over the world,” she added. Rtn T Sathish, secretary, Rotary Club of Adyar, proposed a formal vote of thanks on the occasion.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Chennai / by Express News Service  / November 01st, 2014

Celebrating 75 years of friendship

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Records, All, World Opinion
Members of the G.D.Naidu family with the Stoll family of Esslingen, Germany, during a celebration of the 75th year of friendship between the two families, in Coimbatore. Photo:K.Ananthan / The Hindu
Members of the G.D.Naidu family with the Stoll family of Esslingen, Germany, during a celebration of the 75th year of friendship between the two families, in Coimbatore. Photo:K.Ananthan / The Hindu

What makes the bonding between the two families significant is that it has expanded to become a relationship between two cities (Coimbatore and Esslingen) and two countries

It was September of 1939 and Europe faced the Second World War. Forty- six-year-old Gopalswamy Doraiswamy Naidu from Coimbatore was on a business trip to Germany and was at Holzmaden, Esslingen. He had no place to stay or get vegetarian food and spent a night under the open sky.

Berta Stoll, wife of Gottlieb Stoll, saw G.D. Naidu and invited him to their home, which was nearby. Naidu stayed with the Stoll family for four or five days, cooked his own food with vegetables picked from their garden and thus began the story of a friendship, which has lasted for 75 years, between the two families.

A few years after his visit to Germany, when businesses were down in that country and there were no buyers for German products, Mr. Naidu wrote to his friends the world over, recommending Festo products from the company of the Stolls.

What makes the bonding between the two families significant is that in the last seven-and-a-half decades, it has expanded to become a relationship between two cities (Coimbatore and Esslingen) and the two countries.

About 20 members of the Stoll family are here on a five-day visit. The second, third and fourth generations of the two families — Stoll and G.D. Naidu- gathered in the city on Sunday to celebrate 75 years of their friendship.

Members of the two families recollected the visits to India and Germany, their education and early days of work at each other’s factories, exchanged gifts and cut a cake.

There is a proposal to twin Coimbatore and Esslingen and the Esslingen Coimbatore Association has been formed. Over the years, the Stolls have also contributed to institutes and hospitals here.

“The Stoll family is into water conservation and research on waste water treatment. We can work together for water conservation and waste water treatment projects here,” says Vanitha Mohan, Managing Trustee of Siruthuli.

According to Coimbatore Mayor P. Rajkumar, cooperation between Esslingen and Coimbatore will help in technology transfer and exchange of ideas. The Mayor of Esslingen is expected to visit Coimbatore next year and efforts are on to have an agreement between the two cities.

“The common interests and value systems have strengthened the friendship between the two families over the years and the friendship has made Coimbatore attractive to them, says a member of the G.D. Naidu family.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Coimbatore / by M. Soundariya Preetha / Coimbatore – October 29th, 2014

Step by step, a struggle to achieve their dreams

Inspiration/ Positive News and Features

 

Babu Ezhil Gunalan and Karpavalli were able to move into a home a few months ago after a long spell as pavement dwellers. Photo: M. Vedhan / The Hindu
Babu Ezhil Gunalan and Karpavalli were able to move into a home a few months ago after a long spell as pavement dwellers. Photo: M. Vedhan / The Hindu

A blind couple on the darker side of the city and their fight against all odds

He hawks popcorn on suburban trains from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day, to try and eke out between Rs. 200 to Rs. 300 to support his wife’s dream of becoming a teacher and also, towards caring for their one-year-old toddler.

Babu Ezhil Gunalan (30) is blind, also to the challenges that life throws at him. He hopes that soon, his wife B. Karpavalli (30), who is also blind and studies at Presidency College, will complete her graduation in English literature and pursue a B. Ed immediately so that she can become a teacher. A student of Tamil literature from Tiruchi’s National College, Gunalan says his B.A. degree has not helped him find a job. “That’s why I wanted her to pursue English literature,” he says. “That’s why this train life for me.”

The blind couple, who got here from their home town Tiruchi three years ago after their parents opposed their inter-caste love, have made Chennai their home against all the odds. The last couple of months have been relatively easier as they have rented out a home at Thiruninravur at a monthly rent of Rs. 2,500. Their newborn desperately needed shelter from rains. But life has not always been under a roof. They have spent a good deal of their life together in the city as pavement dwellers.

The couple, who met at the voluntary organisation Vizhi Ilanthore Mahalir Maruvaazhvu Maiyam (Home for rehabilitation of blind women) in Tiruchi, arrived in Chennai with just Rs. 3,000 in cash and a few friends to turn to.

City life, Gunalan says, is fraught with as many challenges as it provides hope. While Karpavalli pursues her study with the hope that she would one day be an English teacher at a school, Gunalan toils hard. He has turned to usurious money lenders (kandhu vadi) to make ends meet. He has borrowed Rs.10,000 and has to repay at an monthly interest of Rs. 10 per 100 every month. The sheer math of it makes the loan mind-boggling.

“But what option do I have,” he asks. “No bank would give me a loan as I don’t have a regular income to show or some property in my name. Loans at high rates of interest are bothering us. A friend, who is also blind, recently committed suicide because he was unable to repay debts.”

There are some spells during their stay when they find themselves at the mercy of friends or some sheer providence – at times considerate officials have allowed them to stay overnight at railway stations.

The big dream is to one day own a house. “I have to find a home of my own. Homelessness is quite painful,” he says.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai> Society / by Aloysius Xavier Lopez / October 28th, 2014

Girls from slums scale new heights

Education, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features

Madurai :

In a society where the girl child is deprived of many facilities, the case of a girl child growing up in a slum is even worse. But for Malar Kodi, a girl from the Melavasal slums of Madurai, it wasn’t a hindrance in fulfilling her dreams. With an Assistant professor position at a Nursing College in Haryana, she has inspired many slum girls with her ”implausible efforts”.

It’s just one success story that has unfolded on the ‘International Day of the Girl Child’, because of the sincere efforts of Vidiyal, an NGO that has been working with children in eight slums around Madurai.

And Malar Kodi’s success story is a motivation to others at the NGO who are struggling to build their own career. “It was indeed tough for me to follow my career. We were financially poor. My father used to work as a shoemaker, whereas my mother worked as a sweeper at a Government Hospital in Madurai,” she said, adding, ”We were three children, including myself, and we couldn’t concentrate on our studies living in a small house in the slums,” said Malar Kodi.

With the help of Vidiyal, she pursued her BSc in Nursing from Nursing College in Madurai. She then went to Andhra Pradesh to work as a nursing tutor. “I had to focus on my career and in 2008, I pursued MSc in Nursing from Bangalore and later after two years, I worked as a lecturer in Shimla. Then, I went to Haryana to work as an Assistant Professor at a Nursing College,” she added.

Today, her parents have shifted from the slums to a rented apartment in Madurai. “It is the determination that helped me to achieve what I wanted to do in my life,” she said.

Like Kodi, the NGO has helped many who joined as volunteers to pursue their career in engineering, medicine and other professional courses. “For us, the girl child is utmost important. It is time we tell the world and the parents who are blessed with a girl child, that they are a beacon of hope,” said Sharmila Jim, project director of Vidiyal.

And on Saturday, the NGO, along with children, celebrated the occasion with an aim to inspire many more girls in future.

Many participated in various activities to commemorate the event. “We organise such events for the girls only to make them happy and inspire them in many ways. All these girls have enormous talent and they have proved it today,” Jim said.

The NGO also has a ‘child resource centre’ at the slum area for the children and a ‘parent’s forum’ wherein they counsel them to bring out the best in their children. “After completing their studies, they chose the career on their own and march ahead in life. We have been guiding them personally and financially as well,” added Jim.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiaitimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Madurai / TNN / October 12th, 2014

For this blind student, PhD is another feat

Amazing Feats, Education, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Records, All

Coimbatore :

When Anjum Khan received her PhD on Monday, it meant more than it does to most doctoral candidates-the 27-year-old lost her vision at the age of five after an attack of measles and has studied entirely in Braille.

Anjum is an assistant professor of English at Avinashilingam University. Her family moved from Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh to Coimbatore in 1993 for her treatment but doctors said she would never regain her vision.

“While my parents were thinking what next, the doctors told us about Avinashilingam school for girls,” says Anjum. She began learning Braille and use audio technology to help her read, write and study.

Her father, Mehmood Khan got a job at a private cement company in Madukkarai, 27km from Coimbatore. If Anjum had to continue her studies, Avinashilingam was among the few options as it had facilities and faculty to help her.

“I decided I would live in hostel and study. It is then that I realised that to gain something, one has to sacrifice something,” Anjum says. She lived in the hostel for 12 years from Class 6 till she finished her postgraduate degree.

After finishing school, Anjum joined the Avinashilingam University for Women to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature. “She finished her masters’ degree and applied for her doctoral studies in 2009,” says S Kalamani, Anjum’s guide and an associate professor in the department of English, Avinashilingam University. “Anjum had to leave thehostel after her MA, but, regularly visited me every Friday and told me how her research was progressing,” she says.

Anjum’s younger brother Abid Ali died in a road accident eight years ago while she was doing her masters’ degree. “My father had bought him a bike to make his commute between college and home easier,” says Anjum.

“It was a difficult time for the family. But, I have faced so much that I treat happiness and sorrow equally,” she says. Anjum has dedicated her PhD to her brother.

Anjum did her research on ‘Ethnic Silhouettes: An Interpretation Of The Community In Select Works Of M G Vassanji In The Light Of New Historicism’. She became an assistant professor in January 2013 in the university in which she studied.

Besides teaching at the university, Anjum also teaches blind children Braille and computer operations. “I consider teaching a means to reach people,” she says.’

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Coimbatore / by Adarsh Jain, TNN / October 14th, 2014