Yashoda, a 29-year-old homemaker from Lodhan Ka Purwa village in Uttar Pradesh, turned a new chapter in her life four years ago. A road crash left her husband incapacitated, confining him to bed and leaving the family bereft of its primary breadwinner. But Yashoda, who never went to college after completing class 12, was undeterred… Continue reading From homemaker to ‘Dehati Madam who teaches English’
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Filling mental health treatment gap in villages
Mental health is a critical aspect of overall wellbeing. According to a global burden of disease survey published in the Lancet journal, one in seven Indians were affected by mental disorders of varying severity in 2017. Suicide stands as the leading cause of death among young adults aged 15 to 29 years. In rural areas,… Continue reading Filling mental health treatment gap in villages
Delhi grooves to sights and sounds of rural India
The sprawling green lawns of Sunder Nursery got transformed into a ‘village square’ on Feb 11, as Delhi’s art and music aficionados gathered to experience a scintillating evening filled with celebration of Indian rural life. The event, held as part of Village Square’s Annual Photo Exhibition 3.0, was not just a felicitation ceremony of the… Continue reading Delhi grooves to sights and sounds of rural India
Display of India-Bangladesh friendship at Tripura’s Akhaura post
The Agartala-Akhaura border, more accessible to Bangladeshi tourists, offers a cost-effective land route, avoiding expensive airfares. This airport-style crossing involves scanners, paperwork, and formalities. Every weekend, a well-coordinated ceremony, akin to Wagah’s Beating Retreat, unfolds with forces from both sides. Before the elaborate ceremony begins at the zero line, the area is cleared of visitors.… Continue reading Display of India-Bangladesh friendship at Tripura’s Akhaura post
Sohrai workshop brings together artistic hiveminds
Sohrai, a harvest festival, is widely celebrated among various tribal communities, including Oraon, Santal, Ho, Munda, Bhumij, etc., in Bengal, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, and Odisha. Recently, the Chalchitra Academy, founded by Mrinal Mandal, hosted a three-day workshop (6th-9th January), featuring artists Sajwa Devi and Anita Devi from Jharkhand for a cultural exchange on Sohrai’s theme… Continue reading Sohrai workshop brings together artistic hiveminds
Night-watchman supports Odisha’s Adivasi archers’ Olympic dreams
One fateful night from his childhood, Arjuna found himself dining alone in the dark as the oil lamp flickered out in a gust of wind. He continued his meal, and a revelation dawned on him. The illustrious third Pandava of the Mahabharata realised that he could achieve tasks even in obscurity. Thus, he devoted himself… Continue reading Night-watchman supports Odisha’s Adivasi archers’ Olympic dreams
Caution: Reading this will make you crave paani-puri
Next time your taste buds dance to the crisp symphony of full-blown paani puri, delivering an electrifying burst of flavours, pause for a moment and thank individuals like Rukumani – unseen women who shape your gastronomic delight. Rukumani is a shy, single woman of 46, who defies norms associated with business women. Hailing from Chikkardanhalli,… Continue reading Caution: Reading this will make you crave paani-puri
She quit a cushy job to revive tribal foods
Aruna Tirkey, 49, belonging to the Oraon tribal community, quit a high-profile job to revive tribal foods. Here is her journey in her own words. I worked as a state consultant in the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). As part of my job, I travelled across the country. While many people I met were curious… Continue reading She quit a cushy job to revive tribal foods
Gufkrals: Oldest caves in Kashmir
Gufkrals, an archaeological site located in Banmir – a pastoral hamlet in South Kashmir’s Tral area, tells us about the early settlement of mankind in Kashmir. Guf means cave and Kral means potter. These sites were utilized by potters to make pottery and live in these caves. The best part is these caves in Kashmir… Continue reading Gufkrals: Oldest caves in Kashmir
The exuberant post-wedding bridal march of Tangkhul Nagas
Ngala katha is a traditional practice in Tangkhul Naga weddings where the family members and friends of the bride accompany her to her new marital home. The march takes place after the Christian wedding ceremony and is one of the few traditional elements that have survived the modernisation of the Tangkhul Naga weddings in Manipur.… Continue reading The exuberant post-wedding bridal march of Tangkhul Nagas
Restoring the Sundarbans ecosystem
It literally means ‘beautiful forest,’ but the Sundarbans region is now struggling to thrive in the face of various threats and challenges. The mangroves, which are rich in biodiversity, have been facing various natural and man-made challenges. A UNESCO World Heritage Site and Ramsar site, the forest area is getting affected by climate change, anthropogenic… Continue reading Restoring the Sundarbans ecosystem
‘More awareness is needed about safe internet use’
Village Square: Instances of cybercrime and banking fraud have increased over the years. How peculiar are these problems in rural areas and how do you address internet safety issues? Unmesh Joshi: We engage quite extensively with parents on the issues of online financial transaction safety. We tell them about the best practices associated with using… Continue reading ‘More awareness is needed about safe internet use’
A Punjab college for girls where every student is a teacher
An institution for girls, born from the vision of a dedicated social worker, has emerged as an exception in a world where education often wears a price tag. With more than 4,000 students enrolled from primary school to BA and BSc courses, Baba Aya Singh Riarki College in Tughalwala village of Punjab’s Gurdaspur district defies… Continue reading A Punjab college for girls where every student is a teacher
Uttarakhand women enjoy ‘khushi ka ek din’
Happiness swept Kyari village of mountainous Uttarakhand some months ago as some 300 rural women congregated to participate in ‘Khushi ka Ek Din’ – a festival offering them a rare opportunity to break free from the constraints of daily life and revel in simple joys. Away from the humdrum of household chores, they were greeted… Continue reading Uttarakhand women enjoy ‘khushi ka ek din’
Miniaturist preserves legacy of the Darjeeling toy train
Miniaturist Sanjeev Bagdas meticulously applies strokes of blue paint to a small tin engine. Each movement of his hands reflects a lifetime of dedication and passion, a tribute to the iconic Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) – a Unesco World Heritage Site. “For me, it’s about hard work and patience. I have not been to any… Continue reading Miniaturist preserves legacy of the Darjeeling toy train
She wields a kalarippayattu sword, clad in a six-yard saree
When a young Meenakshi was captivated by a performance, her progressive father enrolled the five-year-old in kalarippayattu class. Since then it’s been a journey of busting gender stereotypes and being an inspirational kalarippayattu icon. She talks about her journey – in her own words. I’m a living testament that women can master the timeless beauty… Continue reading She wields a kalarippayattu sword, clad in a six-yard saree
A Manipur village dares to dream, one Kachai lemon at a time
Nature’s opulence reigns supreme in Manipur. The rich banquet of flavours that adorn the land of jewels bears a gem of unparalleled tartness — Kachai Champra, a lemon with the highest vitamin C content in India. This citrusy marvel grows exclusively in Kachai village, ensconced within the mountainous contours of Ukhrul district of the state.… Continue reading A Manipur village dares to dream, one Kachai lemon at a time
How this youth champions organic farming
In a generation where more and more youth move away from cultivation, migrating to big cities for wage work and job opportunities, Satyam Kumar, an honours graduate in chemistry, stands out for organic farming. He is not only determined to excel in agriculture but is passionate about helping other farmers and changing the public perception… Continue reading How this youth champions organic farming
Breaking barriers: Kabaddi coach empowers women in Bihar
In Bihar’s Mokama division of Patna district Mohammed Iliyas, a kabaddi coach has been training women players for over 15 years. Not only his efforts made an impact, he successfully inculcated the spirit of the sport to the women he trains and in their parents. Many young women from poor families hit the ground and… Continue reading Breaking barriers: Kabaddi coach empowers women in Bihar
What this interim budget holds for rural India
Recounting the government’s economic successes over the last 10 years, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the interim budget for financial year 2024-25 on February 1. The budget comes against the backdrop of a forecasted 7.3 percent annual growth for the current fiscal year, marking the highest rate among the major global economies. But this… Continue reading What this interim budget holds for rural India