Author: Gurvinder Singh
Bay leaf brings aroma to lives in Bengal
The bay leaf that adds flavour to many a dish is an attractive source of livelihood for thousands of villagers in northern Bengal.
What do Kadaknath chicken & betel nut have in common?
Several hundreds of women are earning lucrative livelihoods in border areas of Bengal adjoining Nepal border with kadaknath chicken and betel nuts farming.
Mizoram’s Chite Lui River is crying for help
Chite Lui River is in danger as it turns into a dumping ground in Aizawl. Citizens’ efforts, lauded even by PM Modi, are making a difference but more is needed to save it from dying.
Bengal’s dwindling Dhimal community battles odds
Dhimal, a small vanishing ethnic group in West Bengal, is looking to the government to sustain their distinct heritage and language.
This comforting stew elevates diversity of Northeast cooking
The Mizo bai is a one-pot boiled mix of greens, veggies, meat, fish, herbs, and anything filched from the pantry.
Tai Phake couple serves Assam tribe’s history on a plate
The Tai Phake is a community of around 2,000 people who are trying to preserve their identity and heritage with various efforts, serving their unique cuisine is part of that push.
She braves HIV stigma to help others win battles
Vanlalruati Colney fought off her drug addiction and the social stigma surrounding HIV infection, and now works for those battling drug abuse and other issues in Mizoram.
Mizoram farmers caught in ‘rat trap’
Ahead of a new bamboo flowering cycle, rats are attacking fields in Mizoram, destroying crops in several acres as farmers and officials struggle to contain the problem.
Highway to misery for Mizoram villagers
The widening of highways in Mizoram is concerning locals who say that environmental laws are being flouted by contractors.
Not all rainbows for trans people in Mizoram
Bullying and trolling of the LGBTQ community in Mizoram have led to stalling of a project to build shelter homes for abandoned, homeless trans people.
Why farmers in Mizoram quit oil palm cultivation
Amidst claims of oil palm cultivation being disastrous for the environment, lack of transportation facilities and inadequate water supply have been forcing farmers to switch to other crops.
Mizoram’s soccer-struck footballers are on the ball
Football has been an integral part of Mizoram since the British introduced the game here over a century ago. This millennium, the small northeastern state has become the cradle of football, producing a bunch of talented players.
Mizo singer’s journey from local church to Padma Shri
Singing her way through her childhood, KC Runremsangi of Mizoram cut her first music album when she was 23. At 60 now, she has been conferred with the Padma Shri award for popularising Mizo folk songs through her albums and teaching youth.
FTLO art, visit this West Bengal village
Country folks from a rugged, tree-lined rural corner of West Bengal that only a handful had ever heard of have transformed their village into one giant art project.
Assam’s wildest jungle safari
Nature lives in its full glory in Dehing Patkai, but illegal logging and coal mining are pushing the virgin jungle to the brink.
Assamese monks on mission to save rare culture and language
Even before the UN declared 2022-2032 as the International Decade of Indigenous Languages, this Buddhist community of 2,000 people began an initiative to preserve the Tai Phake history, culture and identity by teaching its young to speak, read and write their native language.
What’s a tiger reserve without a safari?
The tiny, off-grid destination in North Bengal’s Buxa tiger reserve is a paradise for nature lovers, but its tourism-dependent residents are plagued by a mountain of problems.
Bengal village gasps for air – blames Bhutan
Indian residents near a Bhutanese industrial township are suffering from respiratory and heart diseases, and even cancer, because of air and water pollution from the factories.
Novel elephant alarm: Bengal villagers turn to the bottle
Bengal farmers create an innovative method to save their paddy crops and prevent conflict between humans and rampaging elephants in a West Bengal village in the Jalpaiguri district.
Bhapa pitha: The Bengali rural delicacy for winter mornings
The soft, sweet and savoury bhapa pitha is a favourite breakfast item for West Bengali villagers -- especially on the cold mornings – but the delicacy is losing steam because of rising material costs.