From Mahesh Bhat
We Indians lack role models other than movie stars, cricketers and models. Our children aspire to be part of the fast moving, fast spending society without realising our responsibility towards the society in any manner. But there are a handful of women and men, seemingly ordinary people who have achieved extraordinary things and helped the society around them. These women and men hold the fabric of our society with their vision and action. They have for decades done selfless service and given extra ordinary gifts to the country. They live away from the limelight yet unknowingly their work touches us. “Heroes” is a book about such people. It is a celebration of the life and work of 15 “Heroes” of India.
We have researched and identified these people from across India, from Thrissur to Ladakh and Manipal to Orissa.
Tulasi Munda of Orissa taught herself to read and write and has provided free education to the tribal children for the last 30 years. Vijayanath Shenoy of Manipal had to pawn his wife’s jewellery in his quest to conserve the vanishing architectural heritage of the coastal Karnataka. Chewang Norphel, a 69-year young retired engineer of Leh – Ladakh builds artificial glaciers to solve the water scarcity in the Ladakh region.
The book will consist of evocative B&W photographs by Mahesh Bhat and text by the well-known journalist Anita Pratap. Currently corporations such as Infosys, DSL software have booked and paid for copies in advance and hence support the project. The book is expected to be launched in mid 2006. The physical size will about 9”X9” and will consist of about 108-120 pages. A portion of the profits from the book will be donated to the cause of the Heroes featured in the book.
Please support the project by reserving your copies in advance at a special price of US$19 per book. This includes the cost of delivery. Please make your checks in the name of “Heroes of India Project” and send them to:
Heroes of India Project,
C/o Mahesh Bhat
Arora Business Centre
Dickenson Road
Bangalore-560042
India
For more information or questions and comments, email Mahesh at the following addresses: mahesh[at]maheshbhat[dot]com or heroesofindia[at]yahoo[dot]com.
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