Is Our Education System Irrelevant To The Tribal Children?

Is Our Education System Irrelevant To The Tribal Children?

In my second week at Swasthya Swaraj, I traveled with two of our team members to Taramundi, a beautiful hamlet in rural Odisha. Our team working on education in the region, had been receiving complaints that the classes are not regular here. We weren’t able to reach...

The Decaying Roots Of Tradition

The Decaying Roots Of Tradition

After coming to Odisha, I was invited for a wedding for the first time in a tribal village. I decided to go for it. Outside Kerala, I have only seen north Indian weddings, that too only in movies. This was going to be a completely different experience. The venue was...

Dream A Little Dream Of Me…

Dream A Little Dream Of Me…

Trigger Warning: Mentions rape, suicide. 'Didi vo thodi pagal hai, usko samjhao kuch.' Asmina's* mother alleges her daughter to be 'out of her mind'. The 15-year-old bright girl rolls her eyes in return. She smirks at me, her smile though lights up her face,...

Mandav Utsav 2021 : What People Had To Say

Mandav Utsav 2021 : What People Had To Say

This article is a critical appraisal of what I saw and heard when I visited Mandav for their yearly festival. All views shared are my observations from the conversations I had with the locals of Mandav,

How A Night At The Hospital Made Me Realize My Privilege

It was 3AM; cold and chilly. I was sitting in a government hospital. After a rushed couple of hours, the area around me was unnervingly calm. It is precisely at that point that I got my periods. Nothing unusual – a pretty normal occurrence but for me it was immediate...

“झरने सी मेरी पहचान”

“झरने सी मेरी पहचान”

वेग हूँ, मैं झरना हूँ, गति पे सवार हूँ|रुकती नहीं मैं वादियों में न रुकी कभी चट्टानों में|न रुक सकी पैमानों में, न रुक पायी देवालयों में|मैं बस झरती हूँ, हर बाधा से कुछ और छनती हूँ|देखा सभी जो प्रत्यक्ष है, जहाँ तहां न रमती हूँ|तुम्हे शायद बस मेरा आना सुनाई दे,पर उसकी...

The Fading Smiles of ODISHA : Laws and Ignorance

The Fading Smiles of ODISHA : Laws and Ignorance

While walking through various routes in Odisha, whether it be rural or urban pathways, one would truly see the gaps in development. The disparity between the development index, as compared to other states, is huge. However, there is one common thing that exists here...

Family Planning And Contraceptives In Rural Rajasthan

Family Planning And Contraceptives In Rural Rajasthan

After having a long discussion on the different types of contraceptive measures and advantages of having a small family, Sita* didn’t look satisfied. She turned to me and said, “Everything is on us. From taking care of the house, growing children inside us, raising...