Bina Thomas Tharakan is an archaeologist and a heritage consultant, who also writes on history, and culture, especially for children. Her PhD from Pune University, is on the Indus Valley Civilization. She has taught Archaeology and was Special Officer with the Kerala Government in coordinating the UNESCO World Heritage Listing Project for the state. She started the Heritage Walk Trivandrum in the city in 2013, an initiative for all interested to explore, educate, and enjoy the rich history and heritage of the city. It is an exercise in discovering ones own hometown through Walks, appreciating and taking pride in its past, and in the process becoming aware and sensitive to the importance of protecting and preserving what remains of it. The initiative has taken a movements proportion with more and more heritage enthusiasts from different walks of life joining the Facebook group each day.
She is in the process of putting together a book on the initiative of unraveling the significance of every road and by lane, its structural and cultural element, through carefully planned Walks and narratives. There are plans to emulate the initiative in the other districts of the State.