Sowing Hope

Sowing Hope

*Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction, written as part of a reflection...

रिपब्लिक हॉस्टल की मनोहर कहानियाँ

रिपब्लिक हॉस्टल की मनोहर कहानियाँ

मैं आजीविका ब्यूरो द्वारा शुरू किया गया शेल्टर स्क्वायर फाउंडेशन में पिछले ४ महीनो से काम कर रहा हूँ। यह सूरत से २० किलोमीटर दूर सायन में स्थित एक हॉस्टल है, रिपब्लिक हॉस्टल, जो श्रमिकों के लिए शुरू किया गया है।

Water: From Scarcity To Abundance

Water: From Scarcity To Abundance

"Come, come, sit under the tree. Yes, it's scorching hot anyways. Shall I make tea for you? Or would you prefer milk? You can have either, just don't ask for water because we don't have it." I was with Malu Baba and his wife in their house. Upon hearing this, I...

Rural Banks And The Blame Game

Rural Banks And The Blame Game

"The worst service I've ever got..." Those were my words as an unsatisfied customer at my bank's home branch in Kerala four years ago. Little did I know that in my role today, I would be closely interacting with bank officials and customers. I'm working with migrant...

Obligated Resilience And Optimistic Illusion Of Climate Adaptation

Obligated Resilience And Optimistic Illusion Of Climate Adaptation

Chronicles from a community's struggle of resilience, who have to keep adapting to shifting according to political and climatic uncertainties This climatic year have been bad for the Van Gujjar community as the migrating group went through the shift and faced...

Women Embracing Digital Technology: Challenges & Opportunities

Women Embracing Digital Technology: Challenges & Opportunities

I spent approximately six months in Maheshwar, living cashless and relying solely on digital payments. Whether it was my morning tea, evening grocery shopping, bus tickets, or fuel bills, I used UPI for all transactions. Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is an instant...

Families Migrating From Kushalgarh In Distress

Families Migrating From Kushalgarh In Distress

The only thing more unthinkable than leaving was staying, the only thing more impossible than staying was leaving - Arundhati Roy Kushalgarh is a small town in the district of Banswara, Rajasthan. Until the year 1949, it was an Indian princely state under the...

‘Character Alive’ : An Activity To Engage Children

‘Character Alive’ : An Activity To Engage Children

Working at a children's library has been a journey filled with endless possibilities and captivating discoveries. Among the many fascinating aspects of library education, one that has truly stood out for me, is 'Engagement activities'. What are Engagement Activities?...

Journey Of Gulab Buffalos’ Milk

Journey Of Gulab Buffalos’ Milk

Study of Van Gujjar settlements and their spatial utilization by understanding everyday activities, resources management and commons distribution across the landscape specially Buffalos' Milk. Asama from Kunao, Rajaji National Park got up at 4am. She needs to complete...

Of Children And Childhood – What Are They Thinking?

Of Children And Childhood – What Are They Thinking?

Part of how Basic Healthcare Services takes care of the community’s health is through its Phulwaris, the day care centres. In areas that are off route (what is the route anyway? And what makes so many people build houses so far from each other and so far up the hill?)...

Inked In Tradition: The Tattoos Of Bind Community

Inked In Tradition: The Tattoos Of Bind Community

People in India have been using permanent tattoos on the skin for more than a century. Each clan had a distinctive personality frequently characterised by a large size tattoo. There are many social justifications for doing it in these communities. Most people nowadays...

Addressing Mental Health Challenges for Women in India

Addressing Mental Health Challenges for Women in India

Introduction Mental health is as vital as physical health and should be approached with the same openness and comfort. It plays a crucial role in our overall well-being, influencing our thoughts, emotions, choices, and actions. Unfortunately, in India, discussions...

A Year In The Gojri Calendar

Winters are here and at the start of December, all the colorful kambals (coarse woolen blanket or shawl) are out. Days are short and people get done with their dinners early. More cups of steamy tea are consumed while sitting arond the fireplace. During the evenings,...

The Art Of Spinning : My First-Time Experience

The Art Of Spinning : My First-Time Experience

It's a flower. A flower unlike anything you and I have ever seen. Within it something white in colour and made of the thinnest of strands all held together in a ball with strength that's a mere suggestion. You can pull it from one side and it stretches further and...