By Ashvini Ranjan I have travelled extensively both within and outside the country, including holy places of nearly all faiths. But never was I more overwhelmed than during my visit to Kashi, also known as Benares and many other names. Not just for religious reasons alone, but by the totality of the experience. Kashi is…
The other side of Sir MV’s clarion call “Industrialise or Perish’ is Pratham’s call “Educate Children or Perish”. Every child. Specially in government schools When Ashvini Ranjan, Bhamy Shenoy and Anil Kothari walked into my office recently, I thought they had come to ask for donation for Pratham, the NGO dedicated to educating children in…
By Ashvini Ranjan [Continued from yesterday] As we departed on our tour of the city, Akbar reeled off the city’s history of how it changed hands from the Arabs to the Mongols and subsequently ruled by Timur and Shaybandis. It was colonised by Russia in 1917 and Uzbekistan gained independence in 1991. “It was Islam…
By Ashvini Ranjan The air hostess on the Uzbek Airways flight from Tashkent to New Delhi was kind enough to permit me to occupy an empty window seat. For her, it was a routine request from passengers. Little did she realise my burning curiosity to see the rugged landscape below of the famous Silk Road…
What NGOs can do to make this a better world By Ashvini Ranjan Not long ago, I travelled by train to Bengaluru. As it was an unplanned trip, I had to buy a ticket at the Railway counter. As I stood in line, I noticed people cutting into the line ignoring those already waiting. Protests…
By Ashvini Ranjan Why would anyone want to paint his gate red other than the Post Office? I have painted it the brightest of red colour, not out of love for the colour but out of exasperation, annoyance and anger. Let me explain. I live at Door No.31, Jayalakshmipuram 6th Main, 3rd Block. This is…
By Ashvini Ranjan Efforts by organisations like Mysore Grahakara Parishat (MGP), the Police and the students of various educational institutions coming together in conducting a survey of Mysuru traffic is timely and welcome. Periodical study is necessary and will help plan for the future changes as a consequence of the growth of the city and…
By Ashvini Ranjan The First World War took place between the Allied Forces (Britain, France and Russia) and the Axis Forces consisting of the Germans, Austrians and the Ottoman Empire. It lasted for four years from 1914 to 1918. India too being a colony of the British Empire participated in the war. However, the Battle…
Findings of NGO Pratham’s Annual Status Education Report paint a grim picture that needs attention By Ashvini Ranjan Adam Smith, the 18th-century philosopher who is considered the father of modern economics, observed that the wealth of a nation is not merely that which is measured in terms of precious metals or other forms of tangible…
Pratham Mysore was founded by Ashvini Ranjan and his wife Shashi Ranjan as part of their post-retirement activity. They adopted two Govt. Primary Schools with 60 children in Nachanahally Palya slums in Mysore South during May 2000 not realising the many challenges they would be faced with. Having entered the unchartered terrain, there was no…
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