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

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...

कागज़ का देस

जिस समय यह लेख लिखा जा रहा है हिन्दुस्तान कोरोना वायरस के केसेस में दुनिया में तीसरे नं. पर है और एशिया में पहले| बिहार और असम एक भीषण बाढ़ से गुजर रहे हैं जिनमें लोगों के घर, मवेशी, पूंजी, बच्चे सब बह रहे हैं| कश्मीर में इंटरनेट के साथ-साथ बहुत कुछ बंद हुए एक साल हो...

One In 92,275

One In 92,275

From Sukma bus stand I got on a bus to Jagdalpur. I have to reach a place called Lathipara, around 30 kilometers away from Sukma. The bus is traveling dead slowly, after one and a half hour journey I got down on the stop - Laskepara. Now there is a 2-mile walk to...

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;...