What opportunities for women exist in the changing world today? Do they have as much agency to choose as they are often told?
Sweat, Sustenance And Seetaphal: A Photo Story
The story of the resilience of women who survived domestic violence and returned to their villages seeking a fresh start through seetaphal.
Gauri Pooja: Where Worship Meets Wallet
Dive deep into the religious ceremony of Gauri Pooja, and the trance and trials of people whose faith forms its groundwork.
Nuakhai: A Festive Evening
In Odisha, Maa Manikeshwari is widely worshipped. One can find the name on everything – hospital, bus, restaurant, even a general store.
Mahi Mahila Bachat Mandal: A Photostory
What happens on a daily basis in a Self Help Group? Take a peek inside Mahi Mahila Bachat Mandal and how they build their financial security.
Hope In Their Hands: Women Stitching Empowerment
A women led initiative is teaching women stitching to help them become financially independent in rural Bihar.
Grinding For Survival: The Precarious Lives Of Steel Workers In Jodhpur’s Industrial Hubs
Surja Ram, a worker in Jodhpur, proves that no matter how difficult, the right to social security is something worth fighting for.
An Interesting Election: A Union’s Journey For Change
The chronicle of a union election and reflection on challenges collectives face in “keeping the josh high!”
Sounds of Rapar
Rapar is a taluka of Bhuj District in Gujarat. It is an agrarian economy primarily but currently it is turning into a mining region.
Kaliyar Sharif: A Shrine of Healing
Since I became an India Fellow, I have frequently traveled to Roorkee, Uttarakhand for work. During my visits, I was always fascinated by the nearby places which I wanted to visit and explore. Though I was never able to do so because of the short trip durations and...
Beharda: A Hidden Tale Of Prosperity
Often in history we have seen many of the princely states, cities and villages which were once at the peak of their prosperity turn into ruins. Today I will tell you the story of one such village which was once known for its prosperity but now only a few traces...
Vasundhara Ni Vaani – Kabir Yatra
It was a bright morning. Everyone was busy with their work. At around 11 am I was standing near the main gate of Gram Swaraj Sangh to welcome our first guests-- students and volunteers from Kaushala for Kabir Yatra-- the three day travel music festival. I was very...
An Imprint Of Culture In Kutch
The costumes of people in rural areas of Kutch, Gujarat are known for their vibrant colours, intricate embroidery, and unique designs. They reflect one-of-its-kind richness in culture and traditional craftsmanship of the region. Both men and women wear locally...
Common Facility Centre And Wool
A Common Facility Centre (CFC) is a shared physical space for a group of individuals or businesses to conduct mutually beneficial activities. These facilities aim to offer collective spaces in an efficient and cost-effective way for multiple people instead of each...
A Job Still Not Worth Its Salt
Life hasn’t changed much for small-scale salt pan workers known as Agariyas in the Little Rann of Kutch (LRK). It continues to be as harsh and predictable as the landscape. For centuries and generations, from as long as they can remember, it has been the same. These...
मासूम ख़्वाहिशें, अनोखी बंदिशें और घटते आंकड़े
कम्युनिटी सेंटर पर रहना यानी आसपास स्थित समुदायों के सभी खुले-छुपे और छुपाए हुए अंगों को देख पाना है| अगर वे अंग एक नज़र में न भी दिखें तो धीरे-धीरे नजर आ ही जाते हैं| कम्युनिटी सेंटर आखिर है क्या मैं फिलहाल लखनऊ के बरौरा नामक क्षेत्र में 'सद्भावना ट्रस्ट' के...
Going Back To The Good Old Times
"अरे, उन दिनों में हम ज्वार, बाजरा और माल की ही खेती करते थे, और जंगल में बाकी के अनाज ऐसे ही मिल जाते थे। और उन दिनों में हमें कभी भी बीमारी नहीं होती थी, हमारे गांव में बहुत से बुजुर्ग लोग कभी अस्पताल नहीं गए क्योंकि उनको जरूरत ही नहीं पड़ती थी..." - किशन लाल, उम्र...
गुमनाम बिरहोर समुदाय
हम किताबों में, कहानियों में, कुछ जगह घूम कर या लोगों से सुन कर आदिवासी समाज के बारे में जानते हैं. सरकार के लम्बे भाषणों में भी उनके विकास और हक़ की बातें सुनने में आती हैं. ऐसा भी कहते हैं कि आज के समय में उन्हें सारे अधिकार मिल रहे हैं और उनकी ज़रूरतों पर ध्यान दिया...
The Struggles Of Sheep Shearing In Gujarat
Winter is here and it comes with warm sweaters, shawls and rajais. Sheep wool, and perhaps camel, rabbit, and yak wool, mostly make these winter clothes, according to common knowledge. However, this belief is not entirely accurate. The majority of contemporary winter...
Chhath Puja In Bihar: A Celebration Of Four Days
What is Chhath Puja? Chhath Puja is an yearly four daylong celebration. It is celebrated in the Bihar, UP and Jharkhand. Over the years the prevelance and celebration of Chhath Puja has increased around the world due to Bihari migration across the world. It is...
Suman Meravi: Mudghusri’s Self Made Woman
Here is the story of Suman Meravi, a young woman from a Mudghusri village of Chhattisgarh. During a field visit, I got to met her and get to know her story. Her village has 302 households and comprises of predominantly tribal population. She belongs to a joint family....
Rise Of Fever Clinics During Monsoon
Monsoons in India bring the greenery and calmness back into town. I love to relish on those pakoras and sip hot chai. However, this season also gives rise to plenty of illnesses and diseases specially in areas where hygiene is low or absent. Some of the common...