An English speaking farmer, a beautiful dam, cleanliness, women egging to move forward in life – this village visit was nothing like anything the author had imagined.
Fair vs Dark Skinned: A Reverse Bias
An experience of the author that highlights the invisible lines drawn based on appearance, background, and perceived social standing.
“We Don’t Practice Caste In Our Village”
When the practices change, one might have an illusion that the mental model has altered. Far from true. At least in the case of caste.
Micro-migrations To Make Ends Meet
The author hears first hand account of farmers who are struggling to meet ends in south Rajasthan; and what ways are they forced to choose.
The Impacts Of Mainstream Sustainable Solutions
In this article, author explores what happens when local communities are not heard in massive development projects.
How To Talk …?!?!
In the communication scenario, people tend to use hard words and profound vocabulary but is that really efffective? Let us find out.
Oh Shit …
An imaginary dialogue with a Dalit woman sanitation worker, triggered after watching the documentary ‘Shit’ by Amudhan R.P.
पाल के किनारे रखा इतिहास
Water, central to a settlement and hence civilization, and the history of water in a region tells us so much about the people.
Women Embracing Digital Technology: Challenges & Opportunities
I spent approximately six months in Maheshwar, living cashless and relying solely on digital payments. Whether it was my morning tea, evening grocery shopping, bus tickets, or fuel bills, I used UPI for all transactions. Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is an instant...
Encouraging Curiosity And Imagination Through Children’s Literature
Working and learning with children is about meeting serendipitous joys! While organizing library engagement sessions in several schools and community sites, we sometimes forget to have fun. However, the children never fail to bring us delight. At times, a single...
Families Migrating From Kushalgarh In Distress
The only thing more unthinkable than leaving was staying, the only thing more impossible than staying was leaving - Arundhati Roy Kushalgarh is a small town in the district of Banswara, Rajasthan. Until the year 1949, it was an Indian princely state under the...
सामुदायिक पुस्तकालय – एक अनोखा संगम
कहानी, कविता, पाठ्यपुस्तकें, नाटक, शायरी, चुट्कुले, विज्ञान, सामाजिक विज्ञान आदि तमाम सारी किताबें पुस्तकालय में पढ़ने के लिए आसानी से मिल जाते हैं। पाठ्य पुस्तक के बारें में जब भी सोचता हूँ, बचपन में मुझे बहुत ही बोगस लगता था, डर लगता था, शिक्षक कब प्रश्न पुछे लेगा...
From Fear To Empowerment: Navigating Gender Politics And Insecurity
I had just finished my day with receiving appreciation for the depth achieved in my research and gaining a deeper understanding from different perspectives. It was a good day at work. Early in the evening, I had received an unexpected call from my father. He asked me...
Shantaben: A Community Leader In Kutch
I had been waiting for half an hour at Shantaben's house in Juni Ravalwadi, Bhuj, for her to return from the market where she and her husband have gone for the day's business. It's a slightly big but modest hut with terra cotta roof tiles and tarpaulin mixed and...
An Unwavering Commitment To Change: The Story of Mukesh
In a world where job-hopping has become the norm, Mukesh Ji stands out as an exceptional individual who has chosen a different path. For the past 12 years, he has poured his heart and soul into working for a non-profit organization, Shram Sarathi. His unwavering...
‘Character Alive’ : An Activity To Engage Children
Working at a children's library has been a journey filled with endless possibilities and captivating discoveries. Among the many fascinating aspects of library education, one that has truly stood out for me, is 'Engagement activities'. What are Engagement Activities?...
Cigarettes, Beedis And The In-Between
I grew up in Calcutta watching everyone from my father to the cobbler to the Chief Minister smoke, and how. The sight of greying old men, corporate white-collars and hair-gelled high-schoolers waiting for the bus, with cigarettes in hand (Silk Cut, Classic Milds and...
Allegory Of The Cave: In Social Work
Plato's (an ancient Greek philosopher) Allegory of the cave is a philosophical dialogue. He presents it in his work 'The Republic' where he describes a group of people who live in a cave since childhood. They have chains around their bodies that keep them in one place...
Kalamaitri – A Collective Run Enterprise
In an ideal world, collectives would be catalysts for societal progress, acting as agents of change. Throughout history, revolutions, social movements, and grassroots organizations have emerged to challenge oppressive systems. The advocate for human rights, and demand...
Dying Children And Dead Living Rooms
Until a few months back, when I saw parents coming in with really sick children but not looking concerned enough, it was unbelievable. Basic Healthcare Services, where I work as a fellow, runs Amrit Clinics located in remote tribal villages of southern Rajasthan. We...
Journey Of Gulab Buffalos’ Milk
Study of Van Gujjar settlements and their spatial utilization by understanding everyday activities, resources management and commons distribution across the landscape specially Buffalos' Milk. Asama from Kunao, Rajaji National Park got up at 4am. She needs to complete...
Ethical Conflicts Of A Non-Profit Working On Financial Inclusion
Imagine, you are standing next to train tracks and you see a train coming. There are five people tied up on the tracks, they will die if the train keeps going. But there is a lever next to you that you could pull to switch the train onto a different track. However,...