Thousands throng the narrow mohallas around the Mohideen Aandavar mosque in Rameswaram for A P J Abdul Kalam's Alvida Namaaz. Saisuresh Sivaswamy/Rediff.com reports from Rameswaram.
Darbar's music, the direction, sets, props, the rest of the cast are all there with one single purpose: To make Rajinikanth look like the superstar he already is, says A Ganesh Nadar.
As we celebrate women achievers who are excelling in their careers, here are incredible tales of hard work and perseverance to inspire you this week.
A man who was ready to die for the country in his youth waits for his government to recognise his sacrifice and pay him his due in his old age.
'You have to go from winning elections to winning people,' sociologist Ashis Nandy tells A Ganesh Nadar.
My grandfather Ashok Kumar made me sack my secretary as he thought she was a bad influence in my life.'
'Our party's stand has always been that the minorities must be protected.' 'It is not appeasement.'
Archana Ramanan, a homemaker from Tamil Nadu, tells Rediff.com's A Ganesh Nadar what she would like to see in Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's Budget.
'Possibly, our campaigns have made the right impact and raised the right questions, which is making several stakeholders uncomfortable,' Samit Aich, Greenpeace India's executive director, tells A Ganesh Nadar/Rediff.com
Esha Wali, who is the vice president of technology at a Mumbai bank, tells Rediff.com's A Ganesh Nadar what she would like to see in Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's Budget.
A businesswoman from Gujarat tells Rediff.com's A Ganesh Nadar what she would like to see in Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's Budget.
A truck driver from Kerala tells Rediff.com's A Ganesh Nadar what he would like to see in Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's Budget.
A newspaper vendor from Neknoor in Maharashtra tells Rediff.com's A Ganesh Nadar what he would like to see in Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's Budget.
'The ministry of home affairs has all records of money coming in from abroad.' 'Are they saying money is coming in without their knowledge?' 'Does the governor doubt the MHA?'
Over four days all of Tamil Nadu is caught up in celebrating Pongal, the state's harvest festival. From a bonfire to worshipping cattle, it is a throwback to a time when society was agrarian, says A Ganesh Nadar/Rediff.com.
'Children should be told that if they receive porn on their phones they should inform their parents or teachers who should in turn contact cyber crime.'
ASP Balveer Singh, IPS, is accused of torturing 5 people in custody.
'He has to listen to his body and his mind and he decided to leave politics.'
'Last year, Diwali came in November when winter had set in, when there was high humidity and fog in the air.' 'But this year Diwali has come in October and there is no high humidity in the air.'
Megha smiles for the camera. Her smile hides the trauma this child faced, of being abducted, begging on the streets of Kashmir, escaping a flood, and coming back home.
Two years ago this day, Astad Deboo, dancer extraordinaire, passed into the ages. A new exhibition Breaking Boundaries remembers the pioneer who redrew the margins of Indian dance.
Eminent Supreme Court lawyer PP Rao says it's worrying when the apex court's instructions are defied by state governments.
'We have to ascertain whether they are prepared to live the life they chose after surgery.'
Rediff.com's A Ganesh Nadar visits Pallikaranai, once a marshland and now a bustling neighbourhood. The effect of Cyclone Verdah is startling on an area that was once a water body and now has been built over.
'Kapil Sharma is a son of the soil and he represents the common man.' 'He is much more than a comedian.'
'We will go to every home and ask them to vote. We will go back once in 3 hours to check if they have voted. If not, we will ask them again... We will not rest till the final vote is cast,' RSS worker Chandramohan Seth tells A Ganesh Nadar/Rediff.com
'If you don't have an heir, leave alone heaven, you don't even have a place in hell.'
A Ganesh Nadar profiles a non-governmental organisation that has revealed startling figures about the state's poor children.
'Every time they denied me a post, the Congress said that the high command doesn't approve of me.'
I don't know how the other Friends will react to Matthew Perry's death, but I am sure a part of them will be buried with Chandler, believes passionate Friends fan A Ganesh Nadar.
In an online chat, Anil Nagar, Director, Bank Power Institute, Delhi addressed questions on how to prepare for the IBPS Bank PO exam.
"It is a matter of self-respect and dignity to live in Indra Nagar rather than in a street that identifies your caste.'
Mylapore DCP V Balakrishnan's work in replanting uprooted trees has inspired local youth.
'I introduced her around.' 'Her first audition was for Heropanti, but she did not get it.' 'Now she is doing movies regularly.' 'After her movie releases, she always calls me to ask if I have seen the movie and if I liked the way she acted.'
Monalisa Mondol, a law student from Tripura, tells Rediff.com's A Ganesh Nadar what she would like to see in Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's Budget.
Half a century after he left school, A Ganesh Nadar attends a school reunion.
If you don't know how to make parottas, don't worry. At the Selfie Parotta Coaching Centre you can master the skill in 10 days and start a catering business on your own, discovers A Ganesh Nadar.
'He should not have said that he will contest irrespective of his health four weeks ago.'
'People are blowing up their entire retirement fund; they are selling their land and house to spend on one day for a marriage.'
'The cops must know they cannot foist false cases against anyone.'
