India Fellow Blog - Stories And Voices From Grassroots In India

How To Talk …?!?!

by Shounak Saha | Sep 29, 2024

In the communication scenario, people tend to use hard words and profound vocabulary but is that really efffective? Let us find out.

Oh Shit …

by Arun Rana | Sep 28, 2024

An imaginary dialogue with a Dalit woman sanitation worker, triggered after watching the documentary ‘Shit’ by Amudhan R.P.

पाल के किनारे रखा इतिहास

by Nikhil Korde | Sep 28, 2024

Water, central to a settlement and hence civilization, and the history of water in a region tells us so much about the people.

Reflections On Farmers In Udaipur

by Ankitha Tauro | Sep 28, 2024

A collection of interactions with people in Udaipur city that got the author thinking about India – her hopes and fears for the country

Embracing The Simplicity And Serenity Of Badgaon

by Mrinalini Borkar | Sep 27, 2024

A day which was a blend of discovery and connection, offering a profound reminder of the richness found in everyday moments and the value of embracing new experiences with an open heart.

Women Safety And Identity

by Ayushi Khandelwal | Sep 27, 2024

Even though people demand justice when women face violence, they can often be seen justifying the same violence. Read to understand why.

Interactions Of Gender, Caste, And Class

by Shubhashri Agrawal | Sep 27, 2024

The author reflects on personal biases using life experiences with social systems like gender, class, and caste.

SAL: An Open Hidden Community

by Akanksha Kunwar | Sep 26, 2024

In India, Sal tree has an umbrella-handle-shaped distribution all the way along the base of the Himalayas, curving back from Eastern India, moving to Central India with ending in Chhattisgarh.

While migration offers economic and livelihood opportunities, it also brings forth challenges with sanitation being a prominent concern. Reaching urban cities, migrant workers often find themselves living in informal settlements. These are densely populated and lack...

सुकमा के स्कूल

Sep 6, 2023

देश को आज़ाद हुए 76 साल हो चुके हैं। आज भी हमारे देश में कुछ क्षेत्र ऐसे हैं जहां आधारभूत आवश्यकताओं के लिए भी काफी मुश्किलें हो रही है। चूंकि मैं शिक्षा के क्षेत्र में काम करता हूँ तो मेरे लिए शिक्षा से सम्बंधित मूलभूत सुविधाएं बहुत मायने रखती हैं।...

A Journey Through Ecosystems, Reflections, and Unseen Connections

Sep 5, 2023

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...

Complexity Of Education And My Belief In Solution

Sep 3, 2023

I always believed education to be a basic right for all. I thought that it could alleviate most, if not all problems. Although I still think that education can empower and help in making people's lives better, there is a slight discomfort and apprehension with the...

Salma’s Home In The Forests Of Uttarakhand

Sep 2, 2023

This is an attempt to understand the world of a forest dweller who is trying to define her house based on her relationship with space. Her knowledge and confidence is derived from keen observations and considerations of self as a part of an ever-changing forest. From...

विदेश का सुनहरा ऑफ़र छोड़ यह युवा बना इंडिया फ़ेलो!

Sep 1, 2023

मैं, जाबिद खान, मखौली गाँव का रहने वाला हूँ जो राजस्थान के सवाई माधोपुर जिले में है। आज से दस साल पहले तक मैं घर पर रहकर ही घरेलू और खेती-बाड़ी सम्बंधित काम करता था। खेत के रख-रखाव और जानवरों की देखभाल में ही मेरा दिन बीत जाता था। वर्ष 2014 में मैं काम करने के लिए...

There Are No Roads But There Is An Ante Natal Care Camp

Aug 30, 2023

Organization: Swasthya Swaraj SocietyPlace: Kalahandi, OdishaType of Terrain: Rugged, hilly, mountainousQuestion: Why is Swasthya Swaraj conducting medical outreach camps here? The organization conducts medical outreach camps to bring healthcare services closer to...

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

Aug 27, 2023

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...

Pulling The Maheshwari Threads Together

Aug 25, 2023

As I walk through the narrow lanes of Maheshwar, a symphony of sounds fills the air. It is the rhythmic beating of the heart and soul of this historic town. The sound of cotton and silk threads meticulously woven into exquisite Maheshwari sarees. These sarees embody...

De-layering Mobility

Aug 24, 2023

In the last couple of months, I had been accompanying a team of mental health professionals from MPower Foundation (Mumbai) on their mental health awareness sessions in Kutch. These sessions were primarily being held with children and adolescents in schools and Akhar...

बैतूल, सुकमा, शिक्षा और मैं

Aug 23, 2023

सतपुड़ा पहाड़ की वादियों में बसा एक गाँव है, जहां पर एक घर गाँव कोतवाल, दो घर लोहारों के, और एक घर ग्वाला को छोड़कर सभी घर कोरकू समुदाय के लोगों के हैं। हमारा परिवार मुख्य रूप से खेती और मजदूरी पर निर्भर था। उन दिनों खेती से इतना अनाज नहीं निकाल पाते थे तो मेरा परिवार...

A Great Lesson In Quality Manufacturing

Aug 22, 2023

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...

समुदायों को स्वावलम्बी बनाती प्लास्टिक बुनाई

Aug 21, 2023

मैं इस साल मई में खमीर आया जो कि कच्छ के कारीगरों के साथ काम करने वाली एक संस्था है। जब से यहां आया हूँ तब से लोगों की जीविका, उनके काम करने के अंदाज़, उनके काम को प्रभावित करने वाले कारक और उनके समुदाय के अन्य लोगों को समझने की कोशिश कर रहा हूँ। अभी हाल ही में, में...

Spreading The Wings With India Fellow

Aug 20, 2023

Growing up in Delhi and living here for major part, my life has been quite comfortable. With all the advanced healthcare, education, entertainment and recreation amenities, I didn’t have any reason to go and live elsewhere, especially not in rural areas. With a...