How bamboo farming is transforming lives in Tripura

Sivaji Ray, a humble farmer with less than a hectare of land to his name in Brahmakunda village of West Tripura district in Tripura, can claim big achievements. He embarked on a journey 18 years ago, moving from timber cultivation to bamboo farming, showing how adaptation in the face of change can transform life. In… Continue reading How bamboo farming is transforming lives in Tripura

Climate change — With 2 tiger attacks a month, Sundarbans reels under human-animal conflict

The Sundarbans delta, located in the Bay of Bengal, is a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its mangrove forests. A collection of 102 islands, of which 54 are inhabited and home to 45 lakh people, is governed by high and low tides every day with water levels rising six to 10 feet during high… Continue reading Climate change — With 2 tiger attacks a month, Sundarbans reels under human-animal conflict

Visiting Mussoorie? Say cheese at this 100-yr-old Landour shop

Anil Prakash, a descendant of a lineage deeply rooted in the history of Landour, recounts the tale of his grandfather’s journey to this quaint town over a century ago.  “The year was 1916 when my grandfather sought refuge in Landour from the outbreak of plague,” he began, his eyes reflecting the nostalgia of generations past. … Continue reading Visiting Mussoorie? Say cheese at this 100-yr-old Landour shop

Tosha: A traditional sweet delicacy of Kashmir

This mouth-watering sweet delicacy is closely connected with the Kashmir Valley’s Sufi culture. It is made on special occasions like religious congregations of families, or at shrines, and then served to the masses as a benediction. Tosha has a deep connection with a religious belief as well. People believe that by distributing tosha, their sorrows… Continue reading Tosha: A traditional sweet delicacy of Kashmir

Exciting village festivals you can attend this March

With the winter chill gone and the blooming season setting in, rural India is gearing up for a host of festivities to celebrate the onset of spring. For city folks, March is a good time to break away from the humdrum of daily life and venture into the countryside to experience India’s most culturally rich… Continue reading Exciting village festivals you can attend this March

Rare diseases in India, and the way forward

Village Square: Can you give us an overview of what rare diseases are? Prasanna Shirol:  You don’t find too many patients with a rare disease in society. One in 20 Indians suffers from a rare disease. This is why such individuals aren’t studied much. Their diseases are dubbed orphan diseases with a negligible number of… Continue reading Rare diseases in India, and the way forward

Surfers of Mahabalipuram

“I used to work as an assistant cook at a restaurant when I met Mumu,” says Rahul, an instructor at Mumu Surf School in Mahabalipuram. Rahul asked Mumu to teach him how to surf and slowly the whole fisherfolk colony began taking up surf boards. Rahul, who makes his own surfboards in his garage, is… Continue reading Surfers of Mahabalipuram

Main Bhi Curie: Haryana schoolgirls learn secrets of science

As the afternoon bell signals the end of lunchtime at Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) in Jalmana village of Haryana’s Panipat district, eager Class 8 students, part of the “Main Bhi Curie” programme, gather in their classroom, their eyes alight with curiosity. Like explorers embarking on a journey into the unknown, they find their classroom… Continue reading Main Bhi Curie: Haryana schoolgirls learn secrets of science

Ahead of season 3, a real-life ‘Panchayat’ experience in MP

While millions of OTT viewers in India anxiously await the launch of the third season of the much-acclaimed web series Panchayat, a sense of anticipation is also building up within Harish Joshi of Madhya Pradesh. Despite being far removed from the glitter and glamour of the entertainment world, Joshi can expect renewed attention, if not… Continue reading Ahead of season 3, a real-life ‘Panchayat’ experience in MP

Empowering Punjab’s rural women

The art of decision-making within panchayats often remains untaught, the notion of choosing projects through democratic voting left unexplored. Workers, the lifeblood of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) initiative in Punjab, are left wandering in the haze of unawareness, oblivious to the facilities bestowed upon them by the scheme. Myths and… Continue reading Empowering Punjab’s rural women

Millet farmer cooking up a storm in her Jharkhand bakery

A mother of two children, Sumanti Mundain, had dreams bigger than what her circumstances probably allowed. Despite marrying young and leaving formal education behind, ambition simmered within the 35-year-old resident of Hutar village in Jharkhand. Agriculture was her family’s lifeblood, but she craved for more.  Then she crossed paths with Kumud Kumari Singh, a village… Continue reading Millet farmer cooking up a storm in her Jharkhand bakery

Bengal farmers turn fans of fingerling farming

West Bengal is the second largest fish producing state in the country after Andhra Pradesh. But fingerling farming offers greater advantages over cultivating full-grown fish since it generates profits within a short period, typically 60-75 days. And villagers in Jhalda block of Purulia district are now discovering the benefits of fingerling farming for themselves.   The… Continue reading Bengal farmers turn fans of fingerling farming

Crafting Warmth for children

Abdul’s journey began when his father passed away. He, alongside his brother, then took up the mantle of their family legacy crafting blankets for children. Earlier, blankets were made with animal fur. But as ban was pronounced on animal fur, the craftsmen who worked on these blankets slowly went out of business. “Today hardly 3… Continue reading Crafting Warmth for children

Bengal teens fight for safer menstrual waste disposal

A WhatsApp group named “Friends Forever” serves as a platform for young women like 18-year-old Parvina Khatun and her companions, Jajmina and Itu, to share more than just “good morning” messages and light-hearted banter. Their conversations delve into discussions that transcend the virtual realm — feminine hygiene and reproductive health, shedding light on the challenges… Continue reading Bengal teens fight for safer menstrual waste disposal

Manipur woman makes clothes with lotus stem fibre

Bijiyashanti Tongbram resides near Loktak, the Northeast’s largest freshwater lake. Using lotus stems, she crafts elegant mufflers and stoles. Amid Loktak’s tranquillity, Bijiyashanti poses, then begins her daily routine of gathering lotus stems, weaving stories of tradition and skill into her creations with each delicate thread. In a recent edition of his ‘Mann Ki Baat‘… Continue reading Manipur woman makes clothes with lotus stem fibre

Winners of 2024 Village Vibe Photo Competition

It was a warm comfortable spring day in Delhi. Winter fog had just lifted itself easing in the breeze and sun. We were at Sunder Nursery setting up Village Square’s 3rd annual photo exhibition. After tireless past couple of months of organising the Village Square annual photo competition, it was finally time for the exhibition… Continue reading Winners of 2024 Village Vibe Photo Competition

Bringing back India’s linguistic heritage

International Mother Language Day is celebrated each year to emphasise the importance of cultural and linguistic diversity for sustainable societies. India is home to a myriad of languages, which have shaped its history and culture. With countless regional languages and dialects, India has a rich linguistic heritage. But given the rapid pace of globalisation that… Continue reading Bringing back India’s linguistic heritage

Busier than bees: Sundarbans’ honey collectors

Honey collectors, locally known as moulis, make arduous journeys on small boats on the Matla and Bidyadhari rivers every year during March-May, which is the honey collection season. This honey is sold under the name “Mouban”. The growing demand for Mouban can be evidenced by its rising sales. From November 2023 to January 2024, ₹5… Continue reading Busier than bees: Sundarbans’ honey collectors

Banyan tree to a proper classroom, Bengal teacher brings sea change

Fondly addressed as marang pandit – which means a great scholar in Santhali – Amitava Misra is the head teacher of a primary school in Gobindpur, a remote village in West Bengal. He is also the ‘guardian’ to hundreds of villagers in the region. Way back in April 2006, when the then 35-year-old Misra took… Continue reading Banyan tree to a proper classroom, Bengal teacher brings sea change

100-yr-old shawls to WW-II objects, Manipur woman preserves relics

Growing up, Vasai Zimik Ringkhanring, affectionately known as Akhan, didn’t pay much attention to the collection of old shawls and mekhalas — wraparound skirts worn by women — overflowing from the tin and wooden trunks of her home at Sirarakhong village in Manipur’s Ukhrul district, unaware of the value of those historical artefacts. These family… Continue reading 100-yr-old shawls to WW-II objects, Manipur woman preserves relics