Show us your best rural snaps every month!

We received more than 2500 photos for the Village Vibe photo competition

We were blown away with India’s photographic talent when we held our “Village Vibe” photo competition last October.  Now we want more.  Receiving over 2,500 entries, photographers up and down the country showed us rural India through their lenses. The photographs, which were on exhibit at New Delhi’s Habitat Centre for two weeks, captured the… Continue reading Show us your best rural snaps every month!

Rajasthani women stitch their way to high fashion

Women artisans led by Ruma Devi are making a mark for themselves in the fashion world (Photo by GVCS)

The exquisite embroidery and applique on colourful clothes, fabric, home furnishings and accessories bear the distinct style of Rajasthan, the desert state. Each creation showcased online has the creator’s details too. The e-commerce platform bears the name of Ruma Devi, a Rajasthani woman and a designer from a dusty hamlet. Her odhni covers her head.… Continue reading Rajasthani women stitch their way to high fashion

Naga tourism takes a hit due to violence

Men from Ao tribe perform a traditional dance at the Hornbill Festival (Photo by Himadri Bhuyan)

Nagaland’s vibrant Hornbill Festival – a wonderous display of cultural pride and unity – is once again called off, this time midway through the 10-day long event, hurting the region’s fledgling tourism industry. Last year the event was cancelled because of the pandemic. And this year, after just five days of colourful dancing and parading,… Continue reading Naga tourism takes a hit due to violence

Help shape changing India – join a Youth Hub Fellowship

The Youth Hub will help the youth develop their leadership skills and contribute to India’s development

In India where you are born matters. It affects your access to education, quality healthcare, job opportunities, and more. Stark inequality is omnipresent. Mumbai has 48 billionaires living next to one of the world’s largest slums, home to nearly a million people. In an ideal pre-pandemic scenario, it would take 22 years of sustained 10%… Continue reading Help shape changing India – join a Youth Hub Fellowship

Swara Bhasker kicks off The Bharat Youth Dialogues

Swara Bhasker will kick-off Youth Hub's inaugural Bharat Youth Dialogues at Siri Fort on Dec 15 (Photo courtesy of Swara Bhasker)

Swara Bhasker is more than a critically acclaimed Hindi-language actor – she is also a leading social activist. Bhasker is one of the most vocal champions of the poor and has a deep appreciation about the opportunities and challenges in rural India. Village Square is delighted to have her on board our new Youth Hub… Continue reading Swara Bhasker kicks off The Bharat Youth Dialogues

Youth Hub – the new buzz in Village Square

Village Square launches Youth Hub (Photo by TRIF)

Meet Youth Hub — a space for India’s urban and rural youth to synergise and bring about positive, long-lasting change. In India it is the young who are at the forefront of voicing issues, whether it’s about climate change, social inequalities or mental health issues. They want to be front and centre, bringing forth their… Continue reading Youth Hub – the new buzz in Village Square

Sustaining a social enterprise during lockdown

Tribal women collect areca nut tree sheaths that do not have any other use, and supply to the company (Photo by TPMPL)

The COVID-19 lockdowns and discontinuities were hard for everyone. For some of us, the loss was merely in terms of very disturbed work pattern and the boredom of staying at home. For a large number of people it involved loss of work, loss of income and sufferings on that account. And for the good souls… Continue reading Sustaining a social enterprise during lockdown

Big money in small mustards

The sea of mustard flowers shows the crop as the preferred one among farmers of Majuli Island (Photo by Gurvinder Singh)

A sea of yellow greets those who visit Majuli, the island in the middle of the Brahmaputra River in Assam’s hinterlands. Hundreds of acres of mustard crops are in full bloom. The dazzling yellow fields are not just beautiful but profitable – a bright lifeline for many who used to flee the island in search… Continue reading Big money in small mustards

Naga tribes carve out their culture

Large wooden doors with intricate designs of cultural significance are seen at the entrance of many Naga villages (Photo by Gurvinder Singh)

Naga tribes and carved wooded designs Do village gates signify more than the village boundary? They do in Nagaland. The carved wooded designs are not just artful and striking – they are steeped in meaning. Long before the words “logo” and “branding” came into the lexicon, the Naga tribes — tribal villagers of Nagaland —… Continue reading Naga tribes carve out their culture

Appetite for organic dairy spurs cottage industry

A cottage industry is growing in Kashmir thanks to increased demand for homemade dairy products (Photo by Nasir Yousufi)

Every morning in the mist-covered Kashmir village of Ladhu, Ghulam Mohammad Lone lugs two large cans from one house to another. The middle-aged villager buys the surplus milk from cattle farmers in and around his village. He makes a living by turning the extra milk into paneer or cottage cheese. He is one of hundreds… Continue reading Appetite for organic dairy spurs cottage industry

Protesting farmers won’t back down

The celebrations of farmers on the repeal of three contentious farm laws have been subdued, as they seek more guarantees

Farmers protesting against three contentious laws – that were just rolled back – are not in the mood to celebrate. Though the farmers from Punjab and Haryana rejoiced when Prime Minister Narendra Modi repealed the laws on November 19, they have vowed to continue their protests till the laws are officially cancelled and further demands… Continue reading Protesting farmers won’t back down

Leveraging climate action to help rural poor

Communiy-centric integrated development will help rural communities develop become economic, social and climate resilience

Most agree the world needs to take action to reduce climate change. But few realise that doing so can also help improve the quality of life of India’s most marginalised rural communities living in extreme poverty. But decentralisation is key. Local approaches can improve a wide range of quality-of-life indicators, such as immediate living environment,… Continue reading Leveraging climate action to help rural poor

“We were humiliated when we pleaded for washrooms”

P.Viji. Noted activists who had formed 'Penkoottu' in 2009 for women working in SM Street here to press for toilets. She was included by the BBC in the list of 100 inspiring and influential women in the world in 2018.

My father was a driver. He spent most of his income on merriment. My mother was a maid.  She was always working. Yet my father was abusive. It pained me to see him beat her up.  Yet, I was influenced by my father’s leftist ideology of rights and equality. So, I raised my voice against… Continue reading “We were humiliated when we pleaded for washrooms”

Small wetlands are being neglected

In Nagla Maya wetland, bird population has declined since it needs more restoration efforts (Photo by Ajit Yadav)

Wetlands teeming with local and migratory birds are a nature lovers’ wonderland. Their rich biodiversity also brings many positive environmental benefits to surrounding areas. Considering their value for ecosystem services, it is little wonder the UNESCO “Convention on Wetlands,” also known as the Ramsar Convention, helps ensure wetlands around the world are protected. Uttar Pradesh… Continue reading Small wetlands are being neglected

First annual Village Vibe photo competition and exhibit

Village Square launched a major photo competition – Village Vibe: Rural India Through Your Lens – in late 2021 to promote a fresh narrative of rural India. We received over 2,500 beautiful submissions across six categories: Her Life, A Hard Day’s Work, Healthy Living, Eco-friendly, Joyful Learning and Art, Culture & Festivals. Three winners from… Continue reading First annual Village Vibe photo competition and exhibit

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2021 Village Vibe photo competition winners

The Village Vibe Photo Competition received over 2500 entries that helped change the narrative of rural India (Photo by Santanu Bose)

We are happy to announce the winners of our Village Vibe photo contest – launched in October 2021 in conjunction with the relaunch of Village Square as part of our passion to promote a fresh narrative of rural India. We received over 2,500 beautiful submissions for our Village Vibe photo contest that set out to… Continue reading 2021 Village Vibe photo competition winners

Kashmiris turn to eco-treks

Trekking in the mountains is becoming popular among Kashmiris, the beauty of which is making them eco-conscious (Photo by Ben Maxwell, Pexel)

Until a few years ago, a trek through Kashmir’s hills and mountains was not something that attracted many local people. Most were content to have the beautiful snow-clad peaks as their timeless backdrop. Not anymore. In the last two years there has been a significant increase in the number of treks to Kashmir’s idyllic mountain… Continue reading Kashmiris turn to eco-treks

Incessant rains bring flood of emotions

With the monsoon comes fears for many Chennai citizens, the waterlogged streets a reminder of the intense 2015 floods (Photo by Palani Kumar / PEP Collective)

Noticing rainwater entering her neighbour’s small porch, Karpagam B., decided to call her at 6:30 am, knowing her neighbour would not wake up till much later.  It had been raining in Chennai since the night before and she was on high-alert. She did not want her neighbour to be left with unsalvageable books and computers,… Continue reading Incessant rains bring flood of emotions