At first light, a wetland begins to stir. Mist rises from its still waters, frogs croak in the reeds, herons take flight, and insects hum in the undergrowth.
In ancient Tamil thought, land was not just a setting for human life but a living companion. Sangam literature used the idea of Thinai to describe an ecological and cultural landscape where people, land, climate, emotions, and livelihoods were seen as one connected system.
Tamil Nadu stands as one of India’s most dynamic states. It is a powerhouse of industry, agriculture, and culture, yet it is also among the most climate-vulnerable.
Welcome to the urban jungle, where the wild beasts that threaten us are no longer lions or tigers, but chronic health problems like diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease. Our modern, sedentary lives have turned us into a species of professional sitters.
This is a philosophical question. The current reality in India is that cost does decide care. Available data show that around 3 percent of the population is hospitalised annually. Around two-thirds of these hospitalisations happen in private facilities.
Who does our city belong to? Is it the pedestrians’ - people on errands, senior citizens taking their evening walks, children walking to school ? The lack of safe and continuous pavements in our city says a loud NO.
I write under the shadow of the loss of Tara Murali. For years she held the baton, guided CAG’s activity, and was the source of inspiration and strength to the organization, its full timers and Trustees. She is irreplaceable. All we can do is to carry on.
