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

Gypsum jam: Rampant mining troubles Kashmir villagers

Aiyaz Farooq, 36, of Bagna Salamabad village in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramulla district has been fighting for the last few years to stop the gypsum mining going on in his area.  This mountainous region is rich in gypsum reserves. Bagna Salamabad, Farooq’s village that’s home to over 1,000 households, has 12 mines in its vicinity.… Continue reading Gypsum jam: Rampant mining troubles Kashmir villagers

Women Farmers: Struggling to light up the hearth

India’s economy depends significantly on agriculture, yet the contributions of women farmers are often overlooked. Vicky Roy’s lens refocuses attention on these women, unveiling a stark reality. Their plight symbolises the harsh reality of women farmers who have no choice but to endure challenging lives. Here the woman in the picture is Ruma Adivasi, age… Continue reading Women Farmers: Struggling to light up the hearth

Parched Thar villages get safe drinking water

After covering miles of dry and desolate sands of the Thar desert in Rajasthan, an unexpected water reservoir appears as an ‘oasis’ from far. But on closer look you wonder whether the water is safe for human consumption.  Women of Bohranada village often talk about how they had to spend long hours fetching water from… Continue reading Parched Thar villages get safe drinking water

Maharashtra village blossoms into green haven

Nature thrives in the quaint village of Gamewadi in the heart of Maharashtra’s Satara district — nurtured by the dedicated hands of its inhabitants. A labour of love, each tree is tended to with care, creating a lush, serene sanctuary. Gamewadi (pronounced ‘Gameywadi’) is part of a group panchayat that it shares with Patherwadi, renowned… Continue reading Maharashtra village blossoms into green haven

Eco bricks offer hope against plastic pollution

This initiative, originating in the Angul Municipality of Odisha, holds the promise of transforming the district through plastic recycling. Eco-bricks, crafted from various plastic waste, including polythene, lace, and plastic bottles, have already begun reshaping the district’s identity. Sathi Parivar members ingeniously converted over 4 quintals of plastic waste into more than 6,000 eco-bricks, now… Continue reading Eco bricks offer hope against plastic pollution

This forest guard doubles up as an educator

Forest guard Laxmi Maravi talks about being in charge of a school within the Kanha Tiger Reserve – in her own words.  It’s hot in Kanha Tiger Reserve where I am in charge of a school run by the Kanha Workers’ Society. Despite the pre-monsoon heat, I go to school, since 120 students count on… Continue reading This forest guard doubles up as an educator

Maharashtra’s bharud poetry makes a splash

Gone are the challenges of water scarcity, poor sanitation and limited awareness about hygiene practices in the picturesque villages of Karegaon, Pargaon, Peth, Kurkundi and Wafgaon in Maharashtra.  The issues have been resolved to a large extent by WaterAid using bharud, a form of folk music of Maharashtra. With the cultural heritage of the state… Continue reading Maharashtra’s bharud poetry makes a splash

Why Kerala needs revival of Kaipad rice

Paddy cultivation in Kerala has witnessed a steady decline since the 1980s, major factors being large scale conversion of paddy fields into residential areas and shopping centres. Now Kerala imports rice from neighbouring states to meet its needs.  Enhancing rice production from a naturally organic tract is important for sustainable agriculture and fulfilling the state’s… Continue reading Why Kerala needs revival of Kaipad rice

My name is Shoaib & I am a trans woman

Shunned by society for not fitting into gender norms, Shoaib Khan of Srinagar in Kashmir had to struggle to prove that one’s gender identity has no bearing on skills. She successfully landed a job and changed her identity to a woman. Retaining her male name, Shoaib Khan talks about her journey – in her own… Continue reading My name is Shoaib & I am a trans woman

Newspaper reaches Madhya Pradesh village finally

Shukrawasa in Parvatpura Panchayat of Dewas district in Madhya Pradesh had its ‘Swades moment’ recently. Just as in the movie starring Shah Rukh Khan that revolved around a back of beyond village securing its electricity connection for the first time ever, Shukrawasa has also achieved something remarkably similar. A few weeks ago, the village nestling… Continue reading Newspaper reaches Madhya Pradesh village finally

Lemongrass spreads scent of success in Odisha’s tribal land

Tankadhara Pradhan basks in the joy of a newfound bounty in Tangiri, a village nestled within the rustic realms of Keonjhar district in Odisha. His two-acre land, once ravaged by wild elephants, has blossomed into a thriving lemongrass haven, rewarding him with a sum of Rs 20,000 this year.  Pradhan, a 36-year-old farmer belonging to… Continue reading Lemongrass spreads scent of success in Odisha’s tribal land

Many Corners of Village Square – Stories and Insights from Rural India

The quaint charm of rural India is often overlooked, overshadowed by the rapid pace of urbanisation. However, hidden within these rural landscapes are stories that reflect the diversity, resilience and unique perspectives of the people who inhabit them. Capturing these stories and bringing them to the forefront is a coffee table book titled “Many Corners… Continue reading Many Corners of Village Square – Stories and Insights from Rural India

Karnataka tribal athlete aims high with javelin

I was born in a small village called Mainalli in Mundgod taluk of Uttara Kannada district in Karnataka. I have three siblings. All of us are girls and I am the third child. My sisters were also into sports but had to quit to concentrate on their studies. I am the only one left standing.… Continue reading Karnataka tribal athlete aims high with javelin

Puppets in Jaisalmer museum preserve old tradition

Attached to strings, the lifeless objects – resembling a human, animal, or mythical figure – spring to life twice a day, moving and emoting in the manner those pulling the strings make them to. They help to narrate stories – real or imaginary – and the audience is fixated. Most often, they return to watch… Continue reading Puppets in Jaisalmer museum preserve old tradition

Tea garden workers face bitter home truth in Bengal

The green, undulating hillside tea gardens of Darjeeling, flanking the high Himalayas, yield a product often described in that rapturous vocabulary usually reserved for fine wines – aristocratic, almost aphrodisiacal, with subtle notes of vegetal, mossy, fruity and citrusy flavours. Darjeeling tea had conquered the world’s taste buds, but cracks often show up in that… Continue reading Tea garden workers face bitter home truth in Bengal

Tuskers trample Bengal village’s jackfruits of labour

A familiar scent wafts in the air. It’s the smell of jackfruit, vaguely cloying and ripe with peril. The odour draws herds of elephants from afar. The giants have a long nose for food, naturally gifted to catch a scent 19 km away.  Therein lies the problem for farmers of Nepali Basti, a quaint village… Continue reading Tuskers trample Bengal village’s jackfruits of labour

Here’s all that happened at Ladakh Nomadic Festival

Celebrating the distinct culture of the Changpa tribe, the Ladakh Nomadic Festival highlights their unique heritage that sets them apart from the broader Ladakh community. Organised by the Cultural Academy of Leh, with support from the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council and the Union Territory of Ladakh, the event aims to sustain and rejuvenate their… Continue reading Here’s all that happened at Ladakh Nomadic Festival

80% of rural parents wish to see their kids finish college

About 80 percent of parents in Indian villages want to see their schoolgoing children become at least college graduates, regardless of the child’s gender. The inclination of rural parents to see their daughters as well as sons get college education was revealed in the ‘State of Elementary Education in Rural India’ – a survey conducted… Continue reading 80% of rural parents wish to see their kids finish college

Vermicompost: How earthworms helped this Kashmiri farmer succeed

Amidst verdant apple orchards of Gagran village, in the picturesque Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir, stands a two-storey mud house that holds a remarkable tale of sustainability and transformation. This is the vermicomposting unit run by the inspiring 70-year-old Ali Mohammad Mir. In a world bustling with technological advancements, Mir’s commitment to eco-friendly practices… Continue reading Vermicompost: How earthworms helped this Kashmiri farmer succeed