Images of India

Women with placards during a protest rally against attacks on them, outside the Karnataka State police chief's office on the eve of the International Women's Day (Mar 8) in Bangalore. More than 70 incidents of moral policing have been reported in Karnataka in the past six months and in many cases women were attacked, claims Fearless Karnataka, the organisers of the rally. Hindu women were attacked for wearing western attire, talking to non-Hindu men and lunching at pubs. Report dated 08 Mar, 2009

More than a million people attended the 10-day cultural extravaganza Taj Mahotsava (Feb 18/27). The Taj Mahotsava began in 1993. Many were unhappy as it did not showcase traditional culture or have sessions on conservation of heritage buildings. One could hardly see glimpses of the Mughal or the Braj culture. There was a surfeit of pop and Bollywood stars dominating the show which was totally contrary to its original objectives. Report dated 05 Mar, 2009

India being a price sensitive market, second hand books are very popular - be they text books or reference or fiction or magazines. The prices are usually a fraction of the cover price and depend on the subject/condition of the book. As per the 2001 Census, the literacy rate in the country was 65.38%. Male (75.96%), Female (54.28%). Kerala has the highest literacy with 91%, Bihar lowest with 48%. Report dated 04 Mar, 2009

A child performer walks a tight rope on a Mumbai street, with no regard to her safety. India has about 12 million workers under 14, more than any other nation, many in such dangerous jobs. Voluntary groups put the number at a whopping 60 million. The law does little to address the reasons that compel the family to put children to work: poverty, debt and marginalisation. Kids have no option but to work, parents have no option but to put them to work. A 1986 ban on child labour was extended to the domestic and hospitality sectors but for those who work 15-hour days in the confines of urban homes or slave on street corners, the law hasn't held much hope. Life for them is still meagre wages, leftover food, cast-offs to wear, a space on the floor...and a lost childhood. Report dated 03 Mar, 2009

Slumdog kid star Azharuddin 10, returned to India on the long flight from Los Angeles where he attended the Oscars. He was tired and his school gave him a day off, and all he wanted to do was rest. His father Mohammed Ismail 45, wanted to show him off outside their shanty home and when he refused and said all he wanted was to rest, his furious father slapped and kicked the boy in front of neighbours and passersby, even as his son begged his father to stop, and tried to hide in a corner. Report dated 02 Mar, 2009

According to folklore : the Sari was born on the loom of a fanciful weaver. He dreamt of Woman. The shimmer of her tears. The flow of her hair. The colours of her many moods. The softness of her touch. All these he wove together. He couldn't stop. He wove for many yards. And when he was done, the story goes, he sat back and smiled and smiled and smiled. The origin of the Sari is obscure. We know that Indians wore unsewn lengths of cloth draped around their bodies long before tailored clothing arrived. One of the earliest depictions of a Sari-like drape dates back to 100 B.C. It is believed that today's petticoat or "Ghagra" and the blouse or "Choli" which are worn under the Sari are later additions which started with the coming of the British in India. Increasing number of upper class women adopted items of European style clothing as the fitted blouse and the slim petticoat. Report dated 01 Mar, 2009

India's imports of gold collapsed as people sell their jewellery to take advantage of soaring world prices. Gold is climbing strongly on world markets - in London the spot price soared as high as $999 an ounce, the highest since March 2008 as investors sought a safe haven amid escalating fears about the global economy. But in India, the weak rupee has driven the gold price to an all-time peak in rupee terms. Old broken bangles, old fashioned necklaces, coins... people are clearing out items they don't want. It's different from the rest of the world where people are buying... Report dated 24 Feb, 2009

For centuries, India's snake charmers have enjoyed a celebrated place in the country's history. The hypnotic tunes they played to enchant snakes to dance have captured the imagination of people around the world. But now, the industry is fighting for its survival. Since the late 1990s, when the Wildlife Protection Act was implemented, members of the nomadic Bedia community have been watching their finances dwindle. The Act bars people from using wild animals commercially including a ban on performances with live snakes. There are over a million snake charmers in the country. Report dated 22 Feb, 2009

Indian Railways has one of the largest and busiest rail networks in the world, transporting over 18 million passengers and more than 2 million tonnes of freight daily. It is the world's largest commercial or utility employer, with more than 1.4 million employees. The railways traverse the length and breadth of the country, covering 6,909 stations over a total route length of more than 63,327 kilometres. While making a record 14 billion U.S. dollar profit (2008), the state-run railway system suffers from bad service, over crowding, delays and a very poor safety record. Report dated 17 Feb, 2009