Rural fests you can attend this December

Orange festival When: 14 Dec 2023 to 17 Dec 2023 | Where: Dambuk, Arunachal Pradesh Experience the vibrant rural festival of Orange Festival in Dambuk, Arunachal Pradesh. Celebrate the region’s famous oranges with zestful feasts, lively music, and cultural performances. Relax in bamboo machangs under a starry sky, jam by the bonfire, or take a… Continue reading Rural fests you can attend this December

Add this tourism village in Kerala to your itinerary

Hidden from Kerala’s sun-kissed and rain-drenched tourist havens on the bountiful hills of the Western Ghats, the village of Kanthalloor stands out as a unique and late-blooming gem. For decades, only the most intrepid of travellers ventured into this village in Idukki district seeking the thrill of being one of the few brave enough to… Continue reading Add this tourism village in Kerala to your itinerary

Gujarat’s mountain girl

My journey into mountaineering began during my childhood in Junagadh, Gujarat. Growing up in proximity to Gujarat’s tallest mountain, Mount Girnar, fueled my early fascination with mountains. It all started with my father taking us on hikes, fostering a deep appreciation for the beauty of mountains and jungles. As I grew older, my interest in… Continue reading Gujarat’s mountain girl

All you can find at the Banni pashu mela of Kutch

As the winter breeze whispers across the serene expanse of the white Rann of Kutch, a spectacular celebration unfolds in the westernmost district of India. Welcoming globetrotters from far and wide to the famed Rann Utsav, a parallel symphony comes to life in the Banni area. Here, amidst the arid beauty, animal breeders converge to… Continue reading All you can find at the Banni pashu mela of Kutch

Tezpur’s artistry in motion

The Vijaya weaving is a small scale handloom enterprise established in the year 1972 by Golaplata Devi. Despite not being educated, she was ahead of her time. She hired 15 rural women who were mostly widows, single mothers or victimized and marginalised in some ways in their life. These women who have been employed here… Continue reading Tezpur’s artistry in motion

Community transforms education in rural MP

Seven years, 2,535 schools, 1,844 villages, three states – an education revolution is happening, and how.  In 2017, when the education initiatives of Transform Rural India (TRI) with its Education Sector Council (ESC) partner organisations began to take root in rural India, the prevailing sentiment among teachers, government officials and community members was one of… Continue reading Community transforms education in rural MP

“I’m proof that women can be wildlife conservationists”

Aaliya Mir of Srinagar is a wildlife conservationist at Wildlife SOS, a non-profit organisation focusing on rescue and rehabilitation of wildlife. She talks about her 17-year-long journey that’s full of challenges and triumphs – in her own words. My decision to become a wildlife conservationist was serendipitous, but it’s undoubtedly the best decision I’ve ever… Continue reading “I’m proof that women can be wildlife conservationists”

Maharashtra village strives to preserve ancestral fishing practices

The fisherwomen of Thal village in the coastal expanse of Raigad district in Maharashtra are engaged in a daily struggle to uphold the dwindling fishing business, standing as one of the last bastions of traditional fishing in the region. While the neighbouring villages have embraced diversified businesses and revenue streams, Thal grapples with challenges unique… Continue reading Maharashtra village strives to preserve ancestral fishing practices

Uri’s historic walnut market struggles to survive

Ghulam Rasool Kakroo, a weathered walnut trader of Lagama, the oldest walnut market in the remote Uri area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, wears a cloak of concern. At 65, he has witnessed the gradual erosion of Kashmir’s famed walnut trade over the past few years, fearing its imminent collapse. Opening his shop two months… Continue reading Uri’s historic walnut market struggles to survive

She sold her family’s car to start a farmer producer company

Reshamdevi Mallick (38) of Daringbadi village in Odisha’s Kandhamal district is the managing director-cum-chief executive officer of Greenflag Farmer Producer Company. Here’s her story of transformation from being a supervisor in an NGO to becoming the leader of a company – in her own words. When the pandemic showed no signs of letting up, my… Continue reading She sold her family’s car to start a farmer producer company

Building homes, the natural way

“The use of concrete in building construction started getting popular in India around 70 years back. Before that only natural material was used,” says architect Biju Bhaskar, the founder of Thannal Natural Homes, an initiative that promotes sustainable architecture. Based in Tiruvannamalai in Tamil Nadu, Bhaskar now spreads awareness about traditional building methods.  “For the… Continue reading Building homes, the natural way

How the commons are intertwined with Odisha’s tribal groups

Badsil, a 400-year-old settlement in Koraput district of Odisha, was founded by members of the Kondh tribal community who migrated from higher terrains. Adequate land, rich forests with edible wild foods and perennial water sources made Badsil suitable for settling down.  The hills, forests and water bodies were considered landmarks for the village boundary. Badsil… Continue reading How the commons are intertwined with Odisha’s tribal groups

Out of India into Africa – sharing youth engagement strategies

Transform Rural India (TRI) is on a mission to bring equal opportunities to rural India – because India will only reach its full potential when the two-thirds who live outside of its cities have access to the same support and opportunities that their urban cousins have.  Engaging young people in their communities and helping them… Continue reading Out of India into Africa – sharing youth engagement strategies

This hidden library in Spiti is a book lover’s paradise

Roadblocks frequently appear out of the blue in the far stretch of Spiti Valley in northern Himachal Pradesh, where Takpa Tanzin lives with his family. But this 41-year-old father of three daughters does not let obstacles trouble him for too long. He figures out a way.  He is a native of Chicham village, nestled at… Continue reading This hidden library in Spiti is a book lover’s paradise

Tangkhul Naga catering start-up transforms traditional feasts

No matter what the preparation, pork frequently is the focus of feasts during festivals, weddings, and family get-togethers among the numerically preponderant Tangkhul Naga tribes of Ukhrul district in Manipur. The air is thick with admiration at one such banquet, where tradition echoes through the hills and valleys. “This is simply great,” exclaimed Ashung Horam… Continue reading Tangkhul Naga catering start-up transforms traditional feasts

Jharkhand homemaker champions clean cooking

Knowing how harmful traditional biomass stoves can be to women’s health, Usha Oraon of Khakhparta village in Lohardaga district of Jharkhand, advocates use of clean cooking. Here is her journey from being a homemaker to a grassroots leader – in her own words. Despite having a basic education, my life was confined to the four… Continue reading Jharkhand homemaker champions clean cooking

In step with Assam’s Sattriya dance

Sattriya is the classical dance form of Assam, which was recognised much later, compared to the other Indian classical dance forms by the Sangeet Natak Academy. Sattriya is a dance form that is more than 500 years old and comes from the Vaishnavite monasteries of Assam, northeast India. The monastery, Uttar Kamalabari Satra on Asia’s largest island… Continue reading In step with Assam’s Sattriya dance

Kashmiri women navigate success in water chestnuts

Every year, from mid-July to November, the water chestnuts are extracted in abundance from the marshy areas along the famous Wular in North Kashmir. The thriving industry is the major source of income for many families in Bandipora and Baramulla districts in North Kashmir. Almost in every village women are the driving force behind this… Continue reading Kashmiri women navigate success in water chestnuts

Can you identify a millet plant?

Have you been to an agricultural field recently?  Well, for me, it’s not a rare visit by any means. Since I work in the social impact sector, I get this opportunity frequently, bringing me face-to-face with different cultures and economic activities.  But sometimes I even get blown away by the richness of life in rural… Continue reading Can you identify a millet plant?

Jharkhand’s Sohrai art gets makeover for wider appeal

A recent journey to the GI Fair India Expo and Mart 2023 in Noida unveiled an enchanting revelation. Amidst the bustling event, the Sohrai art of Jharkhand emerged, not on traditional canvases but in the graceful form of sarees, transcending its rural origins to captivate a broader audience. Jharkhand, nestled in the cultural mosaic of… Continue reading Jharkhand’s Sohrai art gets makeover for wider appeal