The government primary school at Salh Kalan village in Punjab is a manifestation of dreams and dedication, serving as the building block for countless dreams since 1957. But this two-room cradle of young minds in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar district faced neglect and decay in recent years — becoming a poignant relic of bygone glory,… Continue reading Punjab school rises like a phoenix from ashes of neglect
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Kashmiri man’s plastic venture turns scrap into success
Snow-capped Himalayas, glaciers and rivers, lush meadows, chinar-lined valleys, tulip gardens, and lakes. Kashmir has been “Paradise on Earth” for centuries. There was nothing to spoil the view until plastic bottles and bags of chips showed up about two decades ago – littering nooks and crannies of the region’s picture-perfect landscape in recent years. However,… Continue reading Kashmiri man’s plastic venture turns scrap into success
Teacher inspires school enrolment through films in UP village
When 32-year-old Vivek Kumar assumed his role as an assistant teacher at Mangal Purwa village in Sitapur district of Uttar Pradesh in 2018, he was met with a stark reality of low enrolment in his school – there were only 35 students at the local primary school capable of accommodating more than 100. “The benches… Continue reading Teacher inspires school enrolment through films in UP village
Kashmiri Muslims light up Hindu homes for Diwali
While the Kashmir valley is mostly talked about for the long ongoing strife or its alluring landscape, here is a story of Kashmiri Muslim potters dedicated to crafting diyas for the Hindu festival of Diwali. This year, Diwali will be celebrated on Sunday, 12 November. With skilled precision and bare hands, an artisan expertly shapes… Continue reading Kashmiri Muslims light up Hindu homes for Diwali
Women ‘rise up’ to fight drug menace in Kerala
Aghilesh*, a 15-year-old living at Vattappankadu village, was a habitual cannabis user. His addiction to drugs and alcohol badly impacted his education, leaving his family distressed. After the span of one year, today Aghilesh is no longer a drug addict. Instead, he has become a promising football player. Aghilesh is one of the 22 children… Continue reading Women ‘rise up’ to fight drug menace in Kerala
Forest Rights Act: Perils of slow implementation
It was in 2006 that the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 – commonly referred to as Forest Rights Act or FRA – was passed in the Parliament amid much hope and expectations. And controversies. Most environmentalists were against it, saying that giving rights to lands within forests… Continue reading Forest Rights Act: Perils of slow implementation
Maharashtra village quells drought for a brighter future
Konambe is far from being the water-scarce place it once was. It had long grappled with drought-related agricultural struggles, like 52 other villages in Sinnar taluka of Nashik region in Maharashtra. However, Konambe scripted a story of change when the community got together for a unique water conservation initiative. The change was spearheaded by former… Continue reading Maharashtra village quells drought for a brighter future
Rural fests you can attend this November
Rann Utsav When: 10 Nov 2023 to 25 Feb 2024 | Where: Dhordo, Rann of Kutch Originally a three-day rural festival, Rann Utsav has transformed into a remarkable 100-day celebration in Dhordo, a village near the Rann of Kutch. This extravaganza features a temporary tent city constructed and reconstructed yearly, offering a unique experience. Rann… Continue reading Rural fests you can attend this November
Learning the ABC of Toto language
In a remote tribal village where people struggle to fulfil their everyday requirements, it may seem okay if the need to preserve and promote the local language appears at the end of their priority list. And yet the Toto community, living in a small hamlet called Totopara in Alipurduar district of West Bengal, has come… Continue reading Learning the ABC of Toto language
Kashmiri women influencers you need to follow
Kashmir, a region marked by conflicts and job scarcity, has seen its youth, particularly women, grappling with limited opportunities. Amidst this challenging backdrop, social media has emerged as a beacon of hope, offering a platform for self-expression and economic empowerment. In the ever-evolving world of content creation, a group of remarkable women from rural Kashmir… Continue reading Kashmiri women influencers you need to follow
Copperware carves way for Kashmir women’s empowerment
Away from the crowd and the din of the commercial centre of Balpora Wathoora in Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir, beyond a creaking wooden bridge and a lane lined with poplar trees, 16 girls are seated on the floor in a room, focused on engraving designs on copper utensils. The smell of copper pervades… Continue reading Copperware carves way for Kashmir women’s empowerment
MP village youth aims for Hollywood spotlight
The world of cinema, the illusion factory awash in spandexed superheroes, churns out some unexpected reality off and on. And more often than not, this reality springs from unusual quarters. Like “Frames”, a 17-minute college diploma film by a fringe outlier Shibali Biswas who has gone beyond predictable plotlines that dominate her native Sijhoura, a… Continue reading MP village youth aims for Hollywood spotlight
Family of woodcarvers preserves Chhattisgarh’s Muria Ghotul art
The rhythmic melody of wood being delicately carved harmonises with the laughter of children playing in a nearby school playground in Garh Bengal, a village in the Narayanpur district of Chhattisgarh. In this bucolic setting, an art form has thrived, celebrated by the creation of shimmering black wooden statues, intricately designed face masks, and a… Continue reading Family of woodcarvers preserves Chhattisgarh’s Muria Ghotul art
A widow becomes sarpanch at 80, busting ageism myths
In a region where traditional norms have often limited women’s participation in leadership roles, Fatah Begum became a sarpanch of Amargarh at 80. Here is her journey from a labourer to an woman sarpanch – in her own words. I was married at a very young age to a farmer. Our life was good, filled… Continue reading A widow becomes sarpanch at 80, busting ageism myths
Tamil Nadu villagers take it upon themselves to build road
In the little hill settlement of Kottur Malai in Tamil Nadu, almost all the households narrate their own stories of woe that they have endured due to the lack of a suitable road. “My husband passed away from a snakebite because we couldn’t get him to the hospital in time. I’ve endured a great deal… Continue reading Tamil Nadu villagers take it upon themselves to build road
Where children decide what to learn and when
Throughout his school life in Bhadole village of Kolhapur district, Rahul was labelled as a child with a ‘learning disorder’. Rahul, who belongs to a displaced community, converses in his native language Marathi. This made it harder for the shy boy to adjust to the tough demands of mainstream education, where the subjects were taught… Continue reading Where children decide what to learn and when
Kanakapura’s idli king shares secret recipe
Think of it this way: With just some fermented rice and black gram batter, most south Indian homes and eateries make idli. Some are not very exciting, fluffy or tasty, but still idli. However, when this healthy breakfast option, or rather anytime snack, is steamed on wood fire at a humble food stall in Kanakapura,… Continue reading Kanakapura’s idli king shares secret recipe
Odisha’s tribal youth excel in Pencak Silat martial art
The Bhatra family of Monoharguda, a village in the vast tribal expanse of Nabarangpur district in Odisha, weaves a tale of triumphant ambition in the world of martial arts, specifically the Indonesian discipline of Pencak Silat. Rabindra Bhatra, 18, and his sisters, Urmila Bhatra, 14, and Sujata Bhatra, 12, along with their maternal uncle Ganesh… Continue reading Odisha’s tribal youth excel in Pencak Silat martial art
India’s most haunted villages
Step into the mystical realms of India’s most haunted villages, where ancient legends and spine-tingling mysteries converge. Jatinga, Assam Jatinga, a village in Assam’s Dima Hasao district, is famous for a mysterious annual event. From September to November, birds suddenly plunge to their deaths at sunset, baffling scientists. Some say the late monsoon, wind and… Continue reading India’s most haunted villages
Jharkhand’s McCluskieganj struggles to stay alive
It is commonly called the “Ganj”. McCluskieganj is quite a mouthful. A tongue-twister as twisted as its perfect past and a tense present and future. McCluskieganj is a charming hill town perched on the Chota Nagpur Plateau in Jharkhand, about 65km northwest of Ranchi, and is often affectionately referred to as “Mini-England”. It bears witness… Continue reading Jharkhand’s McCluskieganj struggles to stay alive