The World of Palna A Refuge of Love and Hope
Radhika Ramnath
Palna™ is a home and adoption centre for abandoned and lost children in Delhi, and has been an integral
part of the ethos of the city for decades. The home is named after the cradle (palna) at the gate through
which it receives many of its children. This book looks at what it takes to run a place like Palna, which is
widely known as a home rather than an institution because of the care that every child who enters its doors is
assured of. Over the years more than 3,000 Palna children have been placed in adoption in India and around
the world. The book traces the fascinating life journeys of some of these children through the years, to where
they are today.
Radhika Ramnath has been associated with the Delhi Council for Child Welfare – the NGO that runs Palna
– in various voluntary capacities since 2009, and currently serves as a member on its board. After a twentyfive
year career as a software professional spanning government and multi-national organisations, Radhika
veered into working with underprivileged children, while also travelling and writing for pleasure. Her other
books include S Chandrasekhar: Man of Science (2011) and How We Became Honorary Malayalis (2018).