Kolha – A neglected village in Odisha’s Dhenkanal

Dhenkanal, often referred to as the ‘cultural corridor of Odisha,’ is a land where tradition meets modernity, offering visitors a glimpse into the rich heritage and vibrant lifestyle of the region. It has a vast area covered with dense forests and a long range of hills.   The district has many villages one of which is… Continue reading Kolha – A neglected village in Odisha’s Dhenkanal

The cheesiest Indian desserts on offer

TasteAtlas, a popular food and travel guide platform, released a list of the ‘World’s 25 Best Cheese Desserts’ and India’s beloved rasmalai has ranked second on it. The other delicacies on the list are the Japanese cheesecake, New York-style cheesecake and the Basque cheesecake to name a few. In India, a multitude of traditional sweets… Continue reading The cheesiest Indian desserts on offer

5 folk theatre forms that are a must-watch

The joie de vivre of witnessing a theatre performance may be universal. And India has some of the most thrilling and versatile kinds of performances that one can enjoy. Folk theatre forms in the country have been around for centuries, but many of them are now in danger of disappearing in the face of modern… Continue reading 5 folk theatre forms that are a must-watch

Growing chicks empowers women beyond financial gains

Sulekha Kumari, a 31-year-old resident of Khokha village in Ramgarh district, Jharkhand, is no stranger to life’s hardships. Like many families in the region, her family too depended on a small plot of land for their sustenance; but it fell short. Kumari and her husband faced constant financial struggles to fend for themselves and provide… Continue reading Growing chicks empowers women beyond financial gains

Yay! We spotted the rare greater scaup duck

It was a cool morning with a gentle breeze, ideal for a day’s outing. With a lot of chattering that showed the students’ excitement, they got into the bus. Though there was a huge traffic jam, no one seemed to mind. What are games and songs for, but to entertain and to make the two-hour… Continue reading Yay! We spotted the rare greater scaup duck

Splashes of joy – Exploring the magic of holi

Children in Paschim Medinapur, West Bengal, celebrate holi. The festival commemorates the eternal love between Radha and Krishna (Photo by Anirban Pan) In Mandi, Himachal Pradesh two friends show off their colors in a wheat field after playing holi (Photo by Raman Kant) Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, perhaps  witnesses the longest, wildest holi in India  (Photo… Continue reading Splashes of joy – Exploring the magic of holi

‘We need to communicate what safe water means’

Village Square:  Receding groundwater levels is one of the biggest problems seen across India. How have you been tackling this and related issues? Amar Prakash: Our primary work is to ensure access to safe and reliable drinking water in collaboration with various government departments. The central government’s Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) aims to provide safe… Continue reading ‘We need to communicate what safe water means’

This award-winning startup is resolving India’s fodder crisis

One of the biggest challenges that small and marginal farmers in India face is getting enough fodder of good quality for their livestock. That’s because production, storage and distribution of fodder remain ridden with issues in the country.  Enter Vasanth Madhav Kamath, founder and CEO of Hydrogreens Agri Solutions, a Bengaluru-based company providing state-of-the-art fodder… Continue reading This award-winning startup is resolving India’s fodder crisis

Looking for natural Holi colours? You will find them here

Every Holi celebration is incomplete without colours or gulaal. While it’s true that the joy of playing Holi with your loved ones with these colourful powders is unmatched, the downside to using artificial and synthetic chemical-based colours is the skin problems that they cause. These pigments may also be harmful to the environment. The best… Continue reading Looking for natural Holi colours? You will find them here

Meet the poet on a mission to preserve Kashmiri language 

Nighat Yasmeen, a 62-year-old resident of Lolab valley in Jammu and Kashmir, is doing something that’s interesting as well as inspiring. She’s contributing to keeping the Kashmiri language alive through her poetry.  Yasmeen’s debut work, titled Kairwan, isn’t just about words; it’s like a story about her village that describes the stunning landscapes and green… Continue reading Meet the poet on a mission to preserve Kashmiri language 

Spare a thought for the sparrows

On a routine field visit to Khandeshwar village in Paranda Block, I came across a middle-aged man refilling water and feeding grains to sparrows in the scorching dry heat of the drought-prone region of Marathwada. Ayub Badshah Pathan’s underlying Mohabbat; love for nature has been his motivation. (Photo by Shirish Lawoo Ghadi) A motor mechanic… Continue reading Spare a thought for the sparrows

Birds worth – One for sparrow

Sparrows (Passer domesticus) are small brown birds recognised by their fuzzy bodies and a conical, stout bill. Their backs bear buff, black and brown stripes (Photo by Chandra Mohan) Sparrows come in various shapes and sizes, and are identified as house sparrows, Eurasian tree sparrows and white-throated sparrows (Photo by Malaika Mathew Chawla) These small… Continue reading Birds worth – One for sparrow

Melting point! Ice hockey rinks need cooling fans in Ladakh

Climate change is making itself apparent in the icy climes of Ladakh, where the fate of a favourite winter sport, ice hockey, now hangs in the balance. Rinks and natural frozen water bodies can no longer be relied upon to provide the ideal conditions for the sport as higher-than-usual temperatures cause these icy surfaces to… Continue reading Melting point! Ice hockey rinks need cooling fans in Ladakh

Reclaiming Rajasthan’s Khakhunda: From barren lands to green pasture

Khakhunda in Mandalgarh administrative block of Rajasthan is a revenue village marked by simplicity and interconnectedness. The village, spread across 233.26 hectares, comprises 110 households as per 2011 Census, forming a close-knit community comprising Bhil, Regar, Gurjar, Daroga, Barret and Vaishav communities living together.  The community has thrived on diverse economic threads, weaving together agriculture,… Continue reading Reclaiming Rajasthan’s Khakhunda: From barren lands to green pasture

From tribal roots to a fashion icon: Jharkhand model redefines beauty standards

Defying conventions, Anjel Mareena Tirkey, a dusky 25-year-old tribal girl from Namkum in Ranchi district, Jharkhand, makes a mark in the fashion world, redefining the meaning of beauty. Here’s her story – in her own words.  I grew up in the quiet town of Namkum, where the rhythm of daily life resonates with the traditions… Continue reading From tribal roots to a fashion icon: Jharkhand model redefines beauty standards

Explore the village ways with this Uttarakhand venture

The term atithi devo bhava or the guest is god is taken very seriously by the residents of these five villages in Binsar, Uttarakhand. They are a part of Village Ways, a rural tourism initiative that helps the local villagers earn a livelihood by hosting guests in community-run homes. “Before the programme began, most of… Continue reading Explore the village ways with this Uttarakhand venture

Meshing tech and rural crafts

Employed with the online shopping website Snapdeal as a college student, today Meenakshi Dubey, a self-professed middle-class girl, heads a Rs 12-crore net-profit venture. Dubey is among the five winners of the Union government’s Prajjwala Challenge, a distinction she earned for Yespoho, an e-commerce portal that sells merchandise produced by rural craftspeople.  “I never imagined… Continue reading Meshing tech and rural crafts

Indian rivers in peril, and their saviours

Rivers, a primary source of freshwater, play a huge role in sustaining lives on the planet. From providing water and hydropower to holding immense cultural significance, they enrich our lives in countless ways. However, the rising levels of pollution and global warming are putting the rivers at risk with a plethora of challenges, including contamination… Continue reading Indian rivers in peril, and their saviours

Handloom and hues of success in Maheshwar

With 4.3 million people working in the handloom industry in India, the sector remains one of the biggest employers in the country. The Handloom School, an initiative of Women Weave, an organisation based at Maheshwar in Madhya Pradesh, works towards promoting and strengthening this rich traditional source of livelihood for a large section of the… Continue reading Handloom and hues of success in Maheshwar

Odisha’s guardian angel for the homeless

People often encounter faces aimlessly wandering the streets — not driven by wanderlust, but due to dire circumstances or mental challenges. Many turn a blind eye towards those homeless people rather than offering a helping hand.  However, Bipin Bihari Panda from Sambalpur in Odisha keeps an eye out for these forgotten souls. He has dedicated… Continue reading Odisha’s guardian angel for the homeless