Field Stories

These stories bring out the real-life narratives, moments, and experiences, highlighting the stories and voices of the communities our fellows work with

Kanku Ben: A Model Sarpanch

Kanku Ben: A Model Sarpanch

“I measure the progress of a community by the degree of progress which women have achieved.”- Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar This blog is based on a telephonic interview of Kanku Ben taken by me. However, the whole conversation was in Hindi which has been translated, not word...

Pariksha Pe Charcha – A Tale Of Examinations In Sukma

Pariksha Pe Charcha – A Tale Of Examinations In Sukma

A child trying to "by-heart" lessons before an exam One thing I feared the most in my school days were examinations. There were one too many factors to it, from an unacceptable concept that marks define who you are, to the troubling competition and pressure from...

कुछ लोग खुद से पहले समाज के बारे में सोचते हैं

कुछ लोग खुद से पहले समाज के बारे में सोचते हैं

From left ... Amma, Aditi, Manoj ji, Praveen ji and Golden हम सभी अपने जीवन में अनेक प्रकार के लोगों से मिलते हैँ और कुछ लोग हमें प्रभावित भी करते हैँ। वैसे ही लोग में से एक प्रवीण जी के बड़े भैया मनोज जी हैं और भैया के साथ जो बातचित हुई उसे आप सभी के साथ साझा कर रही...

How Dark Is Dark Enough?

How Dark Is Dark Enough?

Bindal river - Govind Ghar slum, Dehradun Stepping over the bricks placed strategically on the puddles, we walked through the lane about two feet wide with double storeys built on both sides. It suddenly opened into a small courtyard where a few families were...

What Should A Poor Father Choose?

What Should A Poor Father Choose?

Rekha* admitted in the Panna district hospital Meet Rekha and her mother from Jaitupura village which is few kilometres from Panna, Madhya Pradesh. Rekha is 10 months old (yes, dont be surprised) and severely malnourished. Her mother is not in a good condition either;...

What’s Trending In Kushalgarh!

What’s Trending In Kushalgarh!

At the intersection of gender, health and migration, there is a dangerous trend picking up What is the first thought that comes to your mind when you think of trends? Is it the apparel collection from so and so brand you saw online recently? Or some music genre...

Not A Single Story Of Porta Cabins

Not A Single Story Of Porta Cabins

With my children at a porta cabin in Sukma, south Chattisgarh Restriction! What comes to your mind related to restriction would be lack of freedom. A similar thought process might be applicable to children in Porta Cabins at Sukma, Chhattisgarh which is why they...

एक और क़दम

Image Courtesy : Anand Murali (India Fellow Program Team). Clicked in a learning session at i-Saksham, Jamui, Bihar. Lau Tzu has rightly said “the journey to a thousand miles begins with one step”, and likewise my host organization i-Saksham Education And Learning...

A Train Of Thoughts

A Train Of Thoughts

“I am Jeena*, 28 years old, and I work on the farms”. After all the introductions they (Aajeevika Bureau) corrected everyone “You are a wife, a mother, a daughter, a daughter in-law, a sister and a Pravaasi (migrant).” Pravaasi - I recently came across this word...

Surat And Its Nakas

Surat And Its Nakas

Sayeed, the author and a fellow, works with Aajeevika Bureau in Surat, destination of migration and is a part of a study on the same.

कम्यूनिटी के साथ पहली रात

मुझे कस्तूरबा गांधी बालिका विद्यालय से जुड़े लगभग 4 महीने हो गए हैं| पहले दिन जब मैं आँचल, प्रिया, स्मृति और ममता के साथ विद्यालय गई थी तब बच्चियों का उत्साह देख कर मैं भी सकारात्मक उर्जा से भर गई थी| वे बाहर से आये व्यक्तियों को बहुत स्नेह और सम्मान देते हैं| कई बार...

An Unconditional Offer

An Unconditional Offer

The heat of the day vanished as evening kicked in. The air became cooler. The sun hid behind dense trees that stood tall on the banks of the stream. A Bulbul sat on the electric cable that ran above, and hopped along the wire from time to time. A spider made a web...