A forest hunt for Chhattisgarh’s delicious Pihiri mushrooms

The villagers living inside the Achanakmar Tiger Reserve in Chhattisgarh scout for pihiri – a delicious mushroom available for a short duration – inside the forest during the rainy season. Bhagwani Sakat was found selling both the baans pihiri as well as the long pihiri (referred to only as pihiri locally) near Bindawal village inside… Continue reading A forest hunt for Chhattisgarh’s delicious Pihiri mushrooms

Delicacies from the heartland

Culinary diversity of India is a true celebration of cultural richness. From the exotic red ant chutney enjoyed by the Santhal tribe in Odisha to the wholesome millet dishes, Indian food offers an eclectic mix of flavours and traditions. Each dish represents a unique taste of Indian heritage. This Food Day, let’s savour the delicious… Continue reading Delicacies from the heartland

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Ramanagara’s 100-year-old Mysore pak hotel

If you are a traveller with a “pucca” (strong) sweet tooth, a pakka (must) stop in Ramanagara is a must on the Bengaluru-Mysuru highway. For, in this bustling town – a mere 48km southwest of Bengaluru and 94km from Mysuru – the Kannada confectionary legacy of “Mysore pak” has transcended time.  The pit stop be?… Continue reading Ramanagara’s 100-year-old Mysore pak hotel

Ladakh’s age-old chuspon water-use system gives hope

Air? Rarefied. Water? Scarce. Land? An arid and rugged remoteness cocooned by the formidable Himalayas that extend their majestic embrace towards the heavens. Ladakh is a land of barren beauty — a pristine expanse graced by the unspoiled hand of nature but with water crisis. However, the bustling centre of this captivating landscape — the… Continue reading Ladakh’s age-old chuspon water-use system gives hope

The need for digital empowerment of rural women

In rural India, women often experience intra-household discrimination, which prevents them from accessing digital devices within their homes, thereby widening the gender-based digital divide, and highlighting the need for digital empowerment of rural women. India’s digital landscape is experiencing robust growth, with digital penetration consistently showing healthy double-digit growth at 28%. Rural India, in particular,… Continue reading The need for digital empowerment of rural women

4 Badass rural women who made history

On Rural Women’s Day, we are honouring the remarkable contributions of 4 rural women who have defied adversity and societal norms to make a significant impact in their communities and beyond. Rajkumari Devi, popularly referred to as “Kisan Chachi,” shattered gender biases and societal constraints to become a symbol of women’s empowerment. From a modest… Continue reading 4 Badass rural women who made history

Inspiring rural women who defied expectations

The sweet notes from a baulini Rina Das Baul grew up seeing her father struggle while making a living as a baul singer. Though her grandfather and father were well-known baul singers in the region, Rina, a school dropout from Paruldanga village in Birbhum district of West Bengal, never wanted to even marry one, let… Continue reading Inspiring rural women who defied expectations

Involving rural parents in children’s education

There are a lot of aspects in which school education in urban areas is different from that in villages. For one, city schools have regular parent-teacher meetings held to help the guardians know what’s happening in the institution and how each young one is faring in studies. But in rural areas parents are not involved… Continue reading Involving rural parents in children’s education

The rising YouTuber of Bundelkhand

What’s common between poet Tulsidas, dacoit Phoolan Devi and godman Osho? Well, they are well-known Bundelis or people hailing from Bundelkhand. Now Kishan Kushwaha, a YouTuber of Bundelkhand, is laying claim to the list of popular Bundelis. Bundelkhand – a significant area of political importance and flourishing culture – stretches from Madhya Pradesh to Uttar… Continue reading The rising YouTuber of Bundelkhand

How Assam deals with floods every year

Assam, a northeastern state in India, is facing a dire climate crisis, primarily manifested in devastating annual floods that impact millions of its residents. Among the most affected regions is Lakhimpur district, where villages along riverbanks bear the brunt of these natural disasters. The resilient Mising tribe, predominantly settled near the Brahmaputra and its tributaries,… Continue reading How Assam deals with floods every year

I came out as the first Van Gujjar transwoman

From coming out as the first transwoman in the marginalised forest-dwelling Van Gujjar community to being accepted, 20-year-old Tina of Gendi Khata village in Haridwar district has faced many challenges. Read about Tina’s journey – in her own words. I was very anxious. But excited, too. In fact, I had not slept a wink the… Continue reading I came out as the first Van Gujjar transwoman

A herbal effect takes root in Uttarakhand’s hills

Oregano, basil, chamomile. These are more likely to remind of pizzas and herbal teas, and not so much of a remote village in hilly Uttarakhand where herbal farming is thriving with women sitting together in open courtyards, carefully plucking the leaves off tender stems before spreading them out to dry in the sun.  Yet, that’s… Continue reading A herbal effect takes root in Uttarakhand’s hills

Football bridges social divides in Odisha village of Lodhas

On the outskirts of Lodadihi village in Maroda block of Mayurbhanj district in Odisha, a wide patchy ground surrounded by lush green forests has been the village’s playing ground for generations.  The field has seen villagers – young and old, girls and boys – play multiple sports over the years, the most common being football. … Continue reading Football bridges social divides in Odisha village of Lodhas

Saraswathi’s journey from orphanage student to leader

After growing up in an orphanage for the sake of schooling, Saraswathi of Ravogodlu village in Ramanagara district of Karnataka walked out of an abusive marriage. She talks about forging her own path and nurturing young girls in an orphanage she runs – in her own words.  I lived in the quaint village of Ravogodlu,… Continue reading Saraswathi’s journey from orphanage student to leader

‘Stigma, isolation aggravate mental health problems’

Village Square: Tell us about Sangama’s efforts to make mental health accessible for all, especially the gender and sexual minorities. Rajesh Srinivas: Sangama currently runs three clinics for transgender people and other gender and sexual minorities in Kolar, Hassan and Ballari regions of Karnataka. We have a counsellor to provide counselling and other mental health… Continue reading ‘Stigma, isolation aggravate mental health problems’

Rural youth pioneer water sports on Mahanadi

The Mahanadi, a lifeline for many communities in India and the largest river in Odisha, has recently become a hub for a new and exciting trend – emerging water sports. What once served as a source of livelihood for the local fishing community is now transforming into a playground for adventure enthusiasts and nature lovers… Continue reading Rural youth pioneer water sports on Mahanadi

Drones patrol night sky to monitor Nagarhole elephants

With a whir, drones whoosh out and zip through the skies for their nightly run, direct the heat-seeking devices into the canopy, and scan the lush landscape to monitor movements of elephants. It was quiet, if not for the faint buzzing of the tiny flying machine. The object of its mission: the elephants of Nagarhole… Continue reading Drones patrol night sky to monitor Nagarhole elephants

Bt cotton, pink bollworm and the debt cycle in Punjab

Cotton is farmed on about 3 lakh hectares in the Bathinda and Mansa districts of Punjab, which comprise around 25-26 percent of the state area. And unlike Telangana, Gujarat and Maharashtra where cotton is sown in July and August and harvested from October to March, in Punjab the kharif crop is sown in April-May and… Continue reading Bt cotton, pink bollworm and the debt cycle in Punjab

Caught by cotton – the thread that binds Team VS

Of yarn and yearning  – Pallavi Srivastava   You can call me old-fashioned. Much before handloom became a cool word to flaunt at gymkhanas, before fashion designers recognised weavers, when Bollywood heroines danced in the rain in chiffon saris and satin dresses with pinned flowers (made of satin, what else) were bought for special occasions, that’s… Continue reading Caught by cotton – the thread that binds Team VS

Dwindling snowfall leading to water crisis in Ladakh

It’s getting warmer and drier in the country’s cold desert. Known as the place where mercury drops several notches below zero and mountains remain barren through the year, Ladakh, well, is changing.  From Zanskar to Nubra, a significant number of villages in the Himalayan region of Ladakh are facing water crisis. Reduced snowfall has begun… Continue reading Dwindling snowfall leading to water crisis in Ladakh