Muharram mourning – the village way

By using his somber baritone voice, Shetab keeps alive the tradition of inviting residents for religious gathering and mourning (Photo by Kulsum Mustafa)

Dressed in sombre black, with long hair reaching his shoulders, 53-year-old Shetab might pass off as any other villager. But a rectangular black flag in his hand sets him apart. As does his powerful and sombre baritone voice, which reaches you before he arrives at your doorstep. Holding the flag reverently, Shetab walks from door… Continue reading Muharram mourning – the village way

Mass marriage party in Jharkhand

A happy tribal bride at the samuhik vivaah, or mass marriage, in Khunti, Jharkhand

With wedding season around the corner in India, couples up and down the country are preparing to tie the knot. But for many tribal communities, marriage between couples is not a concept or custom they follow.   Although the Supreme Court of India recognises live-in relationships, the rights of women and children over inheritance, family wealth… Continue reading Mass marriage party in Jharkhand

Mahatma’s dream in a digital world

Rightly stating that India lives in her villages, Mahatma Gandhi preached the idea of Gram Swaraj. To him this meant that the village would be almost completely self-sufficient as far its daily needs were concerned. Gram Swaraj also implied a vibrant and sensitive self-governance mechanism, which would ensure equitable development for the whole village. We… Continue reading Mahatma’s dream in a digital world

Village Square launches “Her Life”

Forming a producer company has been possible for women farmers, seen here rejoicing after the formation of the company, by coming together (Photo by Nikita Saikia)

A village woman is not just at the hearth of her home, but usually tilling the fields and earning a livelihood to keep her family fed. She is often working tirelessly for her community, helping others. And, more often than not, she is at the sharp end of a cause, driving forward progress and equality… Continue reading Village Square launches “Her Life”

Village shelter for animals in distress

Cyrus Maclure’s shelter provides a safe haven for animals in distress (Photo by Kulsum Mustafa)

For the cows, dogs, horses, donkeys, monkeys, chickens and ducks of CYRO Kingdom, the day starts slowly but early. But when this menagerie hears the rev of a certain motorcycle, they are all up – jumping and fluttering – ready to greet their master, 28-year-old Cyrus Maclure. As the only child of a single-mom, Maclure… Continue reading Village shelter for animals in distress

Ingenious farmers breed new fruit varieties

Custard apple developed by farmer innovator Navnath Kaspate has more pulp and fewer seeds (Photo by Hiren Kumar Bose)

When you think of apples in India you think of Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. Both are synonymous with apples, which need a temperate climate for its trees to blossom and bear fruit. You don’t think of India’s hot plains or tropical forests. But thanks to farming innovations, apples are now grown even in the hot… Continue reading Ingenious farmers breed new fruit varieties

Walnut market a hard nut to crack

Walnuts, known for their health benefits, have a growing demand; yet financial benefits do not reach the growers

On the lush outskirts of Srinagar, where green trees turn yellow with the onset of fall, Ghulam Mohammad Dar stands guard amidst his ancestral walnut grove. The moment a crow or any other pesky, nut-cracking bird dares to fly near one of his 17 trees, he waves his hands and shouts them away. It’s a… Continue reading Walnut market a hard nut to crack

Life skills videos are a lifeline

Role model and knowledge ambassador Jayanti Mahanta talks with woman about how to have healthy pregnancies in the Bhagamunda village of Keonjhar district (Photo by Deepanwita Gita Niyogi)

Getting information about health and sanitation was never more important than during the COVID-19 pandemic. As the world turned upside down and India went into the most rigid of lockdowns, there were many marginalized people who were cut off from the most crucial information, particularly tribal minorities who live deep in remote jungles and forests.… Continue reading Life skills videos are a lifeline

30 hours to literacy

Children, many of whom are rag pickers and laborers, learn in a clean and creative environment at Dream Shaala outside Lucknow (Photo by Kulsum Mustafa)

Abdullah leads a hard life. Every day, in the darkness of early morning, the seven-year-old boy washes down the previous night’s leftover roti with a large cup of hot tea. Armed with a big, empty gunny sack, he and his mother go to work – rag picking. It’s a hard and risky business, scavenging for… Continue reading 30 hours to literacy

Mushroom cultivation becomes lifeline

Growing mushrooms is a lucrative livelihood for women who were doing arduous jobs that paid little (Photo by Gurvinder Singh)

Nazima Begum, who lost her husband six years ago, eked out a living for herself and her teenage son by stitching clothes. It was a tedious and debilitating work that earned the Bengali about Rs 3,500 a month – barely enough to run her household. Until she discovered mushroom farming. Begum now propagates mushroom spawns… Continue reading Mushroom cultivation becomes lifeline

Barge oil spill hurting beach, mangrove and livelihoods

Tar balls washed ashore after the cyclone and barge crash are hurting Mahim’s ecosystem (Photo by Dhwani Shah)

Purnima Meher walked with a heavy heart towards the oil-coated mangroves of her village Mahim, north of Mumbai, carefully dodging big black lumps on the sand as she went. She has never seen the trees in such poor condition. But Cyclone Tauktae created havoc along the coast of Maharashtra in May when a cargo barge,… Continue reading Barge oil spill hurting beach, mangrove and livelihoods

Sustainable honey offers sweeter returns

Chamru Hodi finds the sustainably extracted honey bringing better returns (Photo by Saurabh Katkurwar)

For decades tribal families living in northeastern Maharashtra have collected honey from the dense forest that surrounds them, by smoking the bees out from their honeycombs. But these small fires often killed the bees, never mind destroying the lush plants on which they fed. Not only did this have a harmful impact on the local biodiversity,… Continue reading Sustainable honey offers sweeter returns

Kerala’s backwater exodus

Vinodini Raju is one of many whose home is inundated with water for many months of the year (Photo by Syed Shiyaz Mirza)

In the heart of Kerala’s backwaters Kuttanad is picture perfect with its maze of palm-fringed canals and emerald islets. Both fishing boats and luxury houseboats dot the water, while cottages and local cafes dot the islands. More than two meters below sea level, Kuttand is also known as the “rice bowl of Kerala” thanks to… Continue reading Kerala’s backwater exodus

Community’s conservation effort increases vulture population

Conservation efforts involving the community has resulted in an increase in vulture population in Chirgaon (Photo by Premsagar Mestri)

With an awareness about the importance of vultures in the ecosystem, residents of Chirgaon took measures that have resulted in an increase in vulture population

Himachal government strives to boost seed production

Himachal Pradesh strives for self-sufficiency in production of seeds suited to local conditions (Photo by Rohit Prashar)

Dependent on other states for seeds that are often unsuited for local conditions, Himachal Pradesh government has introduced a scheme to produce quality seeds locally

Eco-conscious Bishnois ensure good groundwater levels

Bishnois in Punjab follow many traditional and contemporary sustainable practices to preserve groundwater (Photo courtesy Mani Mahesh Aurora)

Known for their tree-hugging environmentalism, Bishnois combine traditional knowledge and contemporary practices of agriculture to conserve groundwater

Community ensures sustenance of vital ancient ponds

Villagers prefer to use water from the well-maintained Lakholav pond despite getting water from Indira Canal (Photo courtesy Dileep Singh)

By ensuring regular maintenance and by preventing encroachment, villagers who consider their water bodies as sacred, protect centuries-old life-sustaining ponds