K.S. Chitra

Introduction

Krishnan Nair Shantakumari Chithra, often credited as K. S. Chithra or simply Chithra, is an Indian playback singer from Kerala. Chithra also sings Indian classical, devotional, and popular music. She has sung in a number of Indian languages as well as Urdu, Latin, Arabic, Sinhalese and English.

She has recorded more than 25,000 Songs for various films and albums. She is a recipient of six National Film Awards, six Filmfare Awards South and 31 different state film awards. She has won all the four south Indian state film awards. She was honored with India’s civilian honor Padma Shri in 2005.

Her song “Kannalane/Kehna Hi Kya” from the film Bombay (1995) was included in The Guardian’s “1000 Songs Everyone Must Hear” list. Chithra is referred to as Chinna Kuyil (English: Little Nightingale) or Keralathinte Vanambadi (English: Nightingale of Kerala) or Nightingale of South India.

Dr. Rekha Ramachandran

Introduction

Dr Rekha Ramachandran is the Co-Founder and Chairperson of the Down’s Syndrome Federation of India (Tamilnadu Chapter).

Rekha holds an MA (Hons) from Delhi University and a PhD from the University of Madras, where the subject of her research project was cognitive deficits and depression in people with Down syndrome.

Rekha has a daughter with Down syndrome and in her role with the Down’s Syndrome Federation of India she has done pioneering work in the field of rehabilitation of children with Down syndrome. She is the promoter of Mathru Mandir, Chennai, a day care centre devoted to the cause of rehabilitation of children with Down syndrome, established 25 years ago. She is also President Elect of Down Syndrome International (DSi).