Life as an India Fellow is an experience like no other—a blend of challenges, learning, and small victories that shape your work and who you are as a person. The district, often painted in broad strokes as a land of poverty and struggle, is actually a vibrant tapestry of resilience, culture, and community spirit.
My placement in Kalahandi, Odisha, has been nothing short of transformative. Today, I want to take you along on a typical day in my life as a fellow at Swasthya Swaraj, a grassroots healthcare organization striving to bring quality medical care to some of the most underserved villages in the country.
As I wake up, this is the first sight that greets me every morning
Letting the calmness of nature fuel my thoughts. sounds of flowing water and the rustling leaves were my background music, while the book in my hands connected me to dreams.
Before
After
Field Work
Podapai Village
This photo was taken in Podapai village, one of the project villages. It captures a moment while filming a documentary I was working on. Early mornings and late evenings were the only times we could interact with the villagers because the entire village would be empty the rest of the day as people headed out to their fields. In this image, I’m interviewing the residents,
Adolescent Reproductive And Sexual Health
I had been a part of this ARSH (Adolescent Reproductive and Sexual Health) session, which was conducted by Mercy Grace (in image). ARSH session sparked conversations on understanding our bodies, embracing change, addressing stigma and taboos around menstruation, building support and safe spaces within the school, safe sex practices, and the importance of consent and communication. Together, we aim to build a future of informed, confident adolescents who advocate for their sexual and reproductive rights and well-being.
Organized by
Gram Vikas
Nature, in the common sense, refers to essences unchanged by man; space, the air, the river, the leaf. Art is applied to the mixture of his will with the same things, as in a house, a canal, a statue, a picture. But his operations taken together are so insignificant, a little chipping, baking, patching, and washing, that in an impression so grand as that of the world on the human mind, they do not vary the result.
Undoubtedly we have no questions to ask which are unanswerable. We must trust the perfection of the creation so far, as to believe that whatever curiosity the order of things has awakened in our minds, the order of things can satisfy. Every man’s condition is a solution in hieroglyphic to those inquiries he would put.
— Edward Hale
I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do.
Hungry Minds, Crumbling Schools
Schools in this region face significant infrastructure and midday meal issues that directly affect students’ health, attendance, and learning outcomes. Students have been attending classes in small community buildings while their schools are unfinished and under construction. Deteriorating school premises put students and teachers at risk. Over eight schools lack proper toilets, clean water, or sanitation facilities, while none have electricity, which limits the use of modern teaching aids.
Improving Education Through Better Meals and Infrastructure. The lack of proper infrastructure discourages students from attending school, particularly those traveling long distances. Poor nutrition from irregular meals affects their energy and focus, further lowering attendance and learning outcomes. Teachers, too, struggle with demotivation due to the substandard environment, which hampers their ability to teach effectively.
Evening’s Glow
The sky turns pink as the sun goes down,
A quiet calm spreads through my town.
The day fades away, the stars appear,
The evening whispers, soft and clear.
The streets grow still, the lights shine bright,
The world slows down in the gentle night.
The cool breeze carries the stories of today,
As the sky turns dark in a peaceful way.
This is the time for hearts to rest,
The evening’s glow feels warm and blessed.
- Rahul Kumar
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