The menace called single-use plastic bag

“Can I have one more?,” asks a customer.  “Sure,” says the shopkeeper.  It has become a common sight to find a shop counter with neatly stacked single-use plastic bags. It’s astonishing how people can sometimes even overlook the items on their shopping list, yet never fail to request for an additional plastic bag from the… Continue reading The menace called single-use plastic bag

The sweet story of Kolkata’s Rabrigram

Within the heart of West Bengal’s Hooghly district, a village officially known as Gangpur has shifted in time, like sands in an hourglass. It is now adorned with the nickname Rabrigram –  injecting sweetness of rabri into its very soul.  This transformation mirrors the artistry of the villagers who are masters of confecting rabri –… Continue reading The sweet story of Kolkata’s Rabrigram

Traditional snake boat race in Kerala waters

With centuries of ship-building tradition, the Malabar coast of South India rarely surprises anyone when it comes to producing skilled boatmakers. The Urus (large wooden ships) of Beypore, near Calicut, were an integral part of sea-borne trade in the Arabian Sea during the Middle Ages. The naval warriors of Malabar posed a significant threat to… Continue reading Traditional snake boat race in Kerala waters

Sikkim’s organic farming revolution offers a success model

Kal Bahadur Gurung tends to his one-acre plot of land, cultivating maize, potatoes and a variety of seasonal vegetables by organic farming in the picturesque village of Sribadam, nestled approximately 100 km from Gangtok, the state capital of Sikkim. This tranquil haven, where mountains adorn themselves with a canopy of green, clouds dance in midair,… Continue reading Sikkim’s organic farming revolution offers a success model

Crafting a traditional tandoor

Traditional bakeries are omnipresent in Kashmir, which bake the famous local bread locally known as T’chot. These bakeries use the traditional tandoors (large urn-shaped ovens) that are made with clay to bake these breads. Once tandoor makers were present in different parts of the valley but over the years many have left this profession. However,… Continue reading Crafting a traditional tandoor

Young football coach helps girls kick their way to empowerment

In the patriarchal villages in Ranchi district of Jharkhand, girls are forced into marriage when they are 15 or sometimes even at a younger age. In Hutup, friends and relatives of Muskan Kumari’s age were already married. The same was expected of her. “My family also forced me to get married when I was in… Continue reading Young football coach helps girls kick their way to empowerment

Mahua wine – the joyful spirit of tribal life

I worked and lived at a place named Narayanganj in Mandla district of Madhya Pradesh for over five years. The working area comprised a dense forest near the Kanha National Park. The topography there is undulating and beautiful. The villages in this administrative block have a predominant Gond tribe population who enjoys mahua wine.  My… Continue reading Mahua wine – the joyful spirit of tribal life

Odisha’s vanishing tasar silkworm needs safety cocoon

Nestled within the undulating hills, dense forests, serene vales and babbling streams of Odisha’s tribal heartland lies a centuries-old treasure — the prized tasar silk. This exquisite golden-hued fabric is meticulously woven into saris renowned for their distinct texture and beauty, occupying a special place in the realm of traditional Indian textiles. Tasar silk is… Continue reading Odisha’s vanishing tasar silkworm needs safety cocoon

Rural paralegals ensure women’s land rights in Gujarat

Lalitaben, an adivasi woman with two girl children, lost her husband Kantibhai, in 2021. She depended on the yield from their very fertile irrigated one-acre land in Meghraj taluk in Gujarat and income from wage labour for survival and continuing her girls’ education. But in the absence of male heirs, Kantibhai’s brothers opposed transferring the… Continue reading Rural paralegals ensure women’s land rights in Gujarat

How Kaali the dog unleashed hope for disabled Jitu

Jitu Thakur would run around like any other child, until the age of 10 when the disabling poliovirus infected his spinal cord, causing paralysis. The disease left him unable to walk normally, and despite all the medicines and treatments, Thakur’s legs never regained their strength. As he grew older, Thakur faced a dilemma. Originally hailing… Continue reading How Kaali the dog unleashed hope for disabled Jitu

MP ‘redlight village’ seeks redemption through sports

Sookha Karar in Raisen district of Madhya Pradesh attracts a steady stream of visitors though the village is no less than six kilometres away from the famous Sanchi stupas. Home to 300 families of the gypsy ‘Bedia’ community, its primary attraction lies in the lust for flesh. Considered a redlight village where many women have… Continue reading MP ‘redlight village’ seeks redemption through sports

Kashmir’s purple revolution with lavender cultivation

As the sun descended beyond the horizon, casting the sky in hues of crimson, a solitary figure stood at the edge of a sprawling field in the foothills of Sonamarg in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district. The man’s gaze, laden with pride, swept over the expanse of purplish lavender flowers that stretched before him.  Reyaj Ahmad,… Continue reading Kashmir’s purple revolution with lavender cultivation

Join Village Square’s Webinar Series on Development Issues

The rural poor particularly the remotely located rural tribal farms have remained outside the reach of the grid power in many parts of the country. This picture is particularly true in forest villages and forest fringe villages in most parts of the country and wide swaths of land in UP, Bihar, MP, Jharkhand etc. Given… Continue reading Join Village Square’s Webinar Series on Development Issues

Cham – the mask dance of monks

The birth of cham (mask) dance is dated back to the 8th century during the reign of Buddhist master Guru Padmasambhava to cast away the evils by imbuing God’s mask at the foundation laying ceremony of the Samye monastery in Tibet.  The dances of cham are titled according to their purpose, for the different deities… Continue reading Cham – the mask dance of monks

Pickled cashews & more at this women-run factory in Goa

In a tiny hamlet called Corgao, nestled within the lush green landscapes of north Goa, Trimurti Cashews has been producing some of Goa’s most flavourful cashews since 1985. This cashew factory not only offers a delectable assortment of flavoured cashews but also embodies a heartwarming tale of tradition, empowerment and dedication. At the heart of… Continue reading Pickled cashews & more at this women-run factory in Goa

Groundnut farmers get a protective shell in Andhra

Ananthapuramu district of Andhra Pradesh has historically been the largest producer of groundnut in terms of area under cultivation and production. But much to the dismay of groundnut farmers, a formal market for selling the produce was nearly absent in the district prior to 2005.  The produce was sold to traders from Kurnool, Challikere, Ballari… Continue reading Groundnut farmers get a protective shell in Andhra

Poor facilities plague Rajasthan’s anganwadis

Anganwadi centres are an important part of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) programme, instituted to provide holistic development and care to children below the age of six as well as pregnant women. They provide a range of services including nutrition, health check-ups and immunisations for pre-school education. They also play an important role in… Continue reading Poor facilities plague Rajasthan’s anganwadis

Village Square announces its fellowship

Village Square is launching one of its kind journalism fellowship to facilitate 10 young journalists to collect and tell incredible stories from rural India. While there is no prescribed theme for the stories, they must fit within the content arc of Village Square.  Village Square brings out stories and insights from rural India. While we… Continue reading Village Square announces its fellowship

Documentary highlights plight of Hakkipikki tribe

Not many have heard of the Hakkipikki tribe. Yet, they have been in the headlines recently – both in India and abroad. As civil strife sweeps distant Sudan, many civilians from far and wide have been caught up and stranded by the conflict. Among them were 300 members of the Hakkipikki tribe hailing from the… Continue reading Documentary highlights plight of Hakkipikki tribe

How Kud has become Kashmir’s sweet-making powerhouse

In the tranquil town of Kud, a gem nestled amidst the splendour of the Patnitop region in Jammu and Kashmir, a symphony of taste and tradition has been flourishing for decades.  As the Jammu-Patnitop-Srinagar highway winds through this township, it attracts thousands of travellers and tourists daily. The strategic location, coupled with its natural beauty,… Continue reading How Kud has become Kashmir’s sweet-making powerhouse