Musing

Fellows share their reflections, thoughts, expressions,musing and introspection from their own journeys while exploring the intersections and complexities on the ground

The Train Journeys As An India Fellow

The Train Journeys As An India Fellow

"Not all those who wander are lost" - J.R.R. Tolkien I resonate with this line and find it suitable for people who travel. In the last few months, my relationship with Indian railways has deepened. I never got a chance to take the trains so much before coming to India...

Peacetime King Versus Wartime King

Peacetime King Versus Wartime King

A few thousand years ago a king and his son, the next king, led completely different lives. The father lived a life of conquests and campaigns, defense and attack. On the other hand, the son prioritised economic growth planning along with maintaining and forging...

एक इंडिया फ़ेलो अपनी नोटबुक में क्या लिखता है

एक इंडिया फ़ेलो अपनी नोटबुक में क्या लिखता है

कुछ हफ्तों पहले मेरी दोस्त और को-फेलो आकांक्षा मेरी ऑफिस की नोटबुक पढ़ रही थी। हम कुछ लोग बस यूँ ही बैठे गप्प लड़ा रह थे की बोरियत में उसने इस नोटबुक को खोला। पन्ने पलटते-पलटते आकांक्षा को जो कुछ भी मज़ेदार, अजीब-ओ-ग़रीब या दिलचस्प लगता था वो उसे ज़ोर से पढ़ देती।...

Work, Worship And Waterbody

Work, Worship And Waterbody

Dear Reader, You probably don’t know me. But if there was one thing I’d like to tell about myself, it's that I worship work. At the cost of sounding like a terrible person, I have to confess that I've judged people based on how much they work. The more time they spend...

Her: The Story Of A Beautiful Creation

Her: The Story Of A Beautiful Creation

The role of women in my life has been invaluable and transformative, shaping my perspective on various things, including resilience and determination. My mother, though not formally educated, showed an unwavering commitment to our education, ensuring that all her...

Unplugged Candlelight Days In Rural Uttar Pradesh

Unplugged Candlelight Days In Rural Uttar Pradesh

Bhadohi district of Uttar Pradesh is known for its hand-knotted carpets. However, I was there for something completely unrelated - to document stories of people practicing multilayer kitchen gardening. It was during the calm of winter earlier this year. Out of...

Let’s Talk About And Acknowledge Mental Health

Let’s Talk About And Acknowledge Mental Health

“Why are you always sleeping, Kiran* Wake up, be energetic Put your phone down And face the day pleasantly" “I feel low lately I don't know why, and what’s going on exactly It's depressing maa” “What depression are you talking about...? These are fancy words used by...

A Journey Through Ecosystems, Reflections, and Unseen Connections

A Journey Through Ecosystems, Reflections, and Unseen Connections

My last visit to my hometown in Kerala had been a year ago. I decided to set off on a small vacation this time that would be unlike any other, one that would take me to the picturesque Nagarahole Tiger Reserve in Karnataka. I could feel the excitement building as I...

A Day In My Life As An India Fellow – Part 2

A Day In My Life As An India Fellow – Part 2

Read part 1 here We took Riya’s father to a hospital in Udaipur and I tagged along to oversee the referral process. When we have patients in emergency situations or requiring treatments beyond our capabilities at AMRIT clinics of Basic Healthcare Services, we refer...

Questioning Childhood of Elder Sisters [Poetry]

Questioning Childhood of Elder Sisters [Poetry]

It's a common sight in villages of Kalahandi, where I work with Swasthya Swaraj, to see girl children care for their younger siblings. This is often at the cost of their own education as they drop out of school to become the caretaker. This is because their mothers go...

A Great Lesson In Quality Manufacturing

A Great Lesson In Quality Manufacturing

At my home sits a wet mixer grinder since 25 years, manufactured by Butterfly, made in India. It still works like how it worked on day one. The outer plastic is perfect, the colour hasn’t faded, the wire has never split, and the motor hasn’t failed yet. The grinding...

Kotra: An Introduction To Monsoons And Change

Kotra: An Introduction To Monsoons And Change

What's the first things that pops up in your mind when you think of Rajasthan? Camels? Deserts? Women carrying water from afar? Regional tunes and daal-baati-chuurma, perhaps? Until recently, I would have echoed something similar if you'd have asked me this question....

लखनऊ में वो सत्रह दिन

लखनऊ में वो सत्रह दिन

दिन-ब-दिन गुज़र रहे हैं, न पल ठहर रहे हैं, और न ही समयअंजान हैं इस अनजाने सफ़र में ,मंज़िल का पता नहीं, पर मुसाफिर होने में ही मजा आ रहा है! अब न जाने क्यों सब अच्छा लगने लगा है। अंजान लोग और जगह में भी अपनापन सा महसूस हो रहा है। जिंदगी में एक ठहराव आ चुका है और उस...

Hungry For More : Sweet Life of Bihar

Hungry For More : Sweet Life of Bihar

Starting life in a new city feels like taking one's own skin off and experiencing the pleasures and pains of the new culture. Before coming to India Fellow, I was a conventional traveler. Going to well known places, famous tourist spots, searching the top 10s or top...