A trip from Delhi to Tumkur in Karnataka, got the author in an interaction with a media activist who explains what it means to accept that the community knows better
An Ode To The Unsung Heroes Of India’s Elections
This talks about the millions of people who make elections in India possible, those who often get unnoticed by us
Where Is The Village Of My CBSE Textbook?
Growing up in Delhi, my understanding of Indian villages was largely shaped by the CBSE textbooks. These books painted a picture of serene landscapes, close-knit communities, and a simpler way of life.
Sealing Love, One Stitch At A Time
Sujni art empowering a group of women in rural Bihar, in the process discovering their identity as artisans
Supporting Frontline Workers In Early Childhood Development
Our discontented Anganwadi workers need to be understood and empowered to guarantee the foreseeable future of the country
A Covenant with Nature in the Heart of Bastar
Examples of routines in the tribal villages of Bastar that brings one hope that not all is lost in terms of nature conservation practices
Navigating Community Chaos: A Journey Of Discovery, Adaptation And Learning
A glimpse into a rural community of Maharashtra with insights into community dynamics. The beauty and challenges of life in a remote village
Down to the Last Rupee
Discover the harsh realities of rural poverty in India, from coping with emergencies to navigating high-interest loans
Last Mile Delivery of Products & Services
As a part of training program at India fellow, I got an opportunity to visit the rural parts of Udaipur. The visit was intended merely for observing people and surroundings. Madar - the history of this village is older than the foundation of Udaipur itself. It was a...
Looking Back and Ahead – From Mizoram To Rajasthan
Having spent my early childhood in a small village of Kamalanagar in Chawngte, Mizoram and living half of my 26 years in different cities of India, I have been fortunate enough to experience different flavors of life. This post is about an experience from Madar...
Life, And The Patterns in Which it Unfolds
Today, I have a little too much of motivation to wake up, dress up, show up in the foyer and hit the road ASAP! "Why? What's the reason for this adrenaline rush?", I asked myself... It’s the rural immersion, something that I’ve faintly heard of, but was highly...
Plato And Cave – Valuable Lessons From The Allegory
In The Republic by Plato, he analyses a story of a group of people born and brought up in a dark cave without any connection with the outside world. The "Cave Allegory", as it is called, gets interesting when one among them finds out about the truth of their existence...
We Need A Balance In Stories About Indian Villages
A single story is one where the same thing gets told over and over again about a people or a place we do not know first-hand. The danger? It leads to stereotypes, to half-truths, not the truth. Our lives and cultures are composed of many overlapping stories. A single...
Not My Cup Of Chai
“One’s destination is never a place but a new way of seeing things.” – Henry Miller An early morning bus from Udaipur to Gogunda made up for a good start. Gogunda is a small town and a major hub for surrounding villages in Udaipur. It is well connected via buses and...
Of People And Places
Ever had the feeling where you were kicking yourself for leaving the good life behind? From being a reasonably well-off graduate student in Toronto, enjoying first-world comforts, to being completely drenched and hanging on for dear life, on the roof of an overcrowded...
A City That Existed Before : Palesar
"*Kishanlal is a farmer who is aspiring to make a "Pakka Makaan" which he is not able to. Money is a major constraint and he worries about his 'Kaccha Makaan' falling down due to the excessive rain, just like it happened with the few unfortunates who died last year....
The Corn Vendor’s Insight
My co-fellow, Alston and I started our journey of testing our stereotypes by sharing a samosa on our way to a village called Devali in Udaipur. I believed that families did not prefer sending their kids, especially girls, to urban areas for higher education. As easy...
Two Different Worlds
My new assignment brings me to a village in Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh, named Chandpur Khurd. On you way from Noida to Agra, it is located off the Yamuna Expressway right where the milestone indicates distance to Mathura, 62 kilometres. As soon as you get out...
Two-Face : Harvey Dent In Rural India
My jaw dropped when our wallets were confiscated by our fellowship co-ordinator. We were told to survive on a paltry sum of Rs. 40! We had to find a village and return back using this nominal sum! My mind raced with thoughts and a slight sense of panic crept in....
Turning The Table
"दबाव बहुत है। हम तो कोशिश कर रहे हैं।", Nagma said. Nagma is a middle-aged health worker in the primary health centre (PHC) of Nichli Badi. She has been overseeing the PHC functions in absence of a doctor for the past one and a half month. A soft-spoken woman, she...
Learning Empathy
I walked into the village, excited about getting to see something new, enthusiastic about meeting new people from different walks of life, all set to explore how majority of our country's population lives. What I was faced with was a wandering naked three year old boy...