December 2015 has been an unforgettable month for the people of Tamil Nadu, with the unprecedented floods wreaking havoc and the collective spirit of the state countering it heroically. But, what of the unexpungable traces it leaves? Here’s Bhargavi Chandrasekharan’s account of coping with utter low of the disaster through the artistic explorations of Sangeetha Kalanidhi Sanjay Subrahmanyan.
Girija Murali paints folded hands – a gesture that captures myriad emotions of the Indian spirit.
Vani Viswanathan talks about how, after working with Spark contributors on their submissions, the editors plough through their own contributions for the month, often attempting to surmount the infamous “writer’s block”!
It takes courage to be kind. Most people fear to go all the way with their kindness, either because they feel they may be taken advantage of, or they feel the recipient won’t appreciate the gesture. Jyothi Vinod tells the story of a boy who helps his parents understand themselves and their intentions in a clearer, larger perspective.
When Chennai was hit by rains unprecedented in decades, its people swung into action, helping neighbours, cooking, cleaning and spreading the word on behalf of people who required assistance. Madanish, one of these proud Chennaiites, talks about his little contribution to helping the city find its feet. Text and pictures from Madanish.
Early settlers in Iceland, particularly those who survived the extreme environment are fine examples of indomitable human spirit. Inspired by the basalt columns and caves created by major seismic upheavals in Iceland, Bakul Banerjee writes a poem.
An ageing teacher and his students in a school that is in a Maoist insurgency-affected area are engaged in an interesting discussion on Ahimsa. Hari Ravikumar tells the story – based on real life incidents – of how the boys’ nuanced understanding of the subject informs their response to violence.
Parth Pandya offers a sarcastic take on the human spirit by presenting some shining examples of daily heroes in our lives.
A Hindu family and a Muslim family find themselves caught in riots in Calcutta in 1946. Based on true events that involved her grandparents, Chidambarakumari tells the story of small but life-altering events of courage that embody the human spirit.