Special Children:Inclusion or Exclusion?

'Inclusive education' is a prominent buzzword in Indian education circles. It essentially involves encouraging the admission of children with disabilities in manistream schools so as to improve their social acceptability and develop their inter-personal skills. While intentions of inclusive education are good, its implementation unfortunately, is not. Teacher training remains a big issue, as does attitudes of peers and infrastructural problems in schools. In the process, those who get affected are the special children, for whom the policy of inclusion remains sadly, one of exclusion.

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Royal Packaging

For many people, Udaipur is the Venice of the East. A visit to this beautiful city helps understand why. I was there recently and met with the Mewar royal family, which has been credited with packaging this city of lakes, palaces and hills as an attractive tourist destination. The man largely credited with doing this is the Maharana of Udaipur -- Arvind Singh Mewar -- an interesting chap, who revels in wearing many hats. I spoke with him and his family on how they are taking forward the legacy of the House of Mewar.The following article resulted.

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