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The young ladies are part of the unknown Indian army reconstructing India as a more just society

Vaishnavi and Vandana were barely out of their teens when they set out on a life of service.
In 1992, a crazed, nude woman ran up and down a Chennai street under the mid-day sun. As people either gawked or walked on, two young women hugged her and took her to their college nearby. They cleaned her, clothed her and calmed her down. When they tried to find an organisation in the City that would take the woman in, they realised how hard it was to find one. It was a defining moment. A moment when Vaishnavi and Vandana decided they can't wait any longer. The two close friends were both 22 years old then - they had made a pact with each other while still in their teens, that they would qualify as professional social workers and dedicate themselves to service. They now knew they had to act right away. 'The Banyan' - their vehicle of expression - was soon registered as a Trust.

Within a decade the Banyan was to have its own modern centre in a suburb of Chennai, where today about 275 women are being treated for mental disorders. The building was designed by an architect and has a professional, modern air. But don't conclude it happened by instant luck or casual patronage. The story of Vaishnavi and Vandana is full of strife, grit and lonely, hard hours. It is also a story of new India. The young ladies are part of the unknown Indian army reconstructing India as a more just society.

Read more about Banyan @ Two young ladies build a metaphor for banyan - Sify.com