How The Khatris Are Bringing Josh To Rogan

How The Khatris Are Bringing Josh To Rogan

Mohmad Hanif Arab Khatri comfortably seats himself on the floor. Stretched out before him is a piece of blue cloth, pinned on either side to the legs of a low-length table. Reaching for his dibbi, he pulls out a stylus and a blob of a thick brownish gelatinous...

Of Young Girls And Big Responsibilities

Of Young Girls And Big Responsibilities

"Their mother ran away with her lover, leaving these girls behind”. I looked around to see the girls who were being talked about. The oldest of them looked at me and smiled as the younger ones held on to her tightly. I went up to them and out of habit, asked their...

Braving The Pandemic As A Child In Villages Of Ranthambore

Braving The Pandemic As A Child In Villages Of Ranthambore

In an attempt to enhance access to education in some of the most marginalized and neglected parts of rural Ranthambore, Gramin Shiksha Kendra (GSK) runs three schools - in Jaganpura, Girirajpura and Fariya, villages in the catchment area of Sawai Madhopur. GSK's...

How Shakil Bhai is Printing a Different Story, One Block at a Time

How Shakil Bhai is Printing a Different Story, One Block at a Time

It's dirty, noisy and crowded. There's wastewater flowing in from one side. Cows and dogs are picking through piles of garbage, hunting for leftovers. There's an unpleasant stench wafting in the air. It isn't the most welcoming sight to witness, not...

Youth Leadership In Rural Chhattisgarh

Youth Leadership In Rural Chhattisgarh

Before 2020 could end, we (Nikita D'cruz and I) got to meet a group of 25 local people from the villages of Janjgir-Champa, Chhattisgarh. If you aren’t familiar with the region, it’s one of those towns that aren’t known to many, and have to be referred to, with a...

काश कि मेरा ये सपना सच नहीं हुआ होता

काश कि मेरा ये सपना सच नहीं हुआ होता

ANM (Auxiliary Nurse Midwife) अर्थात सहायक नर्स दाई का पद स्वास्थ्य से संबंधित किसी भी संगठन में सबसे कार्यकारी है। एक ANM का काम सुनने में जितना आसान लगता है उतना होता नहीं है। समुदाय के बीच हर रोज़ ये ज़मीनी कार्यकर्ता हर दिन नई चुनौतिओं का सामना करती है। ज़मीनी स्तर...

The Imposition Of Criminality

The Imposition Of Criminality

De-notified Tribes (DNTs) continue to be denied access to housing, healthcare, nutrition, education, livelihood, political representation, justice and lives of dignity. It’s scary how little we know/are taught about this history. This is my humble attempt to spread the word.

To The Last Mile: Digital Financial Services In Rural Communities

To The Last Mile: Digital Financial Services In Rural Communities

Ever since I completed my graduation, got a job and became financially independent, I do not remember transacting much in cash, except for the few instances of grocery shopping at a local market or paying for an auto rickshaw ride. There was always a digital...

A Balanced Diet Amidst Imbalances

A Balanced Diet Amidst Imbalances

Gogunda is a small town (tehsil headquarters), about 35 kilometres from Udaipur city. It has a hilly terrain. The sabzi mandi in Gogunda is vibrant with lots of fresh vegetables and greens. From sugarcane to the nutritious singhada (water chestnut), there is a wide...

असामान्य गर्भाशय

असामान्य गर्भाशय

मैं आपसे बात करना चाहती हूँ उस जगह की जहाँ हमने ज़िन्दगी की शुरुआत की| यह किसी घर या मकान की बात नही हैं, बल्कि बात है उस जगह की जहाँ हर किसी को जीवन मिलता है, जहा जीवन का सृजन होता है। माँ के शरीर का वो भाग जहाँ हम 9 माह रहें है, जिसे हम गर्भाशय कहते हैं। प्रकृति...

Dilli Abhi Door Hai

Dilli Abhi Door Hai

A densely populated entanglement of narrow streets appears with almost ironic seamlessness amidst the historical monuments and posh colonies of South Delhi. This is the Nizamuddin Basti, adorning a tired but perseverant face. Its survival through years of...

Water Water Everywhere

Water Water Everywhere

The allure of Nizamuddin basti's patterning of two polarities co-existing in the same space. The left is a sombre tone of white while the right is a jumble of vibrant rocks stacked in cement. If it's your first time in a Basti, the Nizamuddin Basti will surprise you....

Inside Sharma Ji’s Religious Haven

Inside Sharma Ji’s Religious Haven

Baldev Sharma's* shop where you'll find idols of gods and goddesses belonging to Hindu, Jain and Buddhist faiths, most of which have been carved on order by customers for various temples and homes. Hailing from a lineage of sculptors, Sharma ji, almost on cue, begins...

A Single Story Across The Bridge

A Single Story Across The Bridge

Slogans spray painted on the wall of a flyover in front of one of Nizamuddin Basti's exits As a young girl, having always lived in Delhi, walking through Nizamuddin basti on a Wednesday morning quite literally brought me to a halt. There was so much to take in, to...