An Unconditional Offer

An Unconditional Offer

The heat of the day vanished as evening kicked in. The air became cooler. The sun hid behind dense trees that stood tall on the banks of the stream. A Bulbul sat on the electric cable that ran above, and hopped along the wire from time to time. A spider made a web...

From An Idea To Execution : Plastic Gullaks

From An Idea To Execution : Plastic Gullaks

"Of the 8.3 billion metric tons of waste that has been produced, 6.3 billion metric tons is plastic waste. Of that, only 9% has been recycled. The vast majority, 79% is accumulating in landfills or sloughing off in natural environment as litter." - Great Britain's...

A Personal Account Of The Day Ladakh Became A Union Territory

A Personal Account Of The Day Ladakh Became A Union Territory

Featured Image Source - Amar Ujaala We were sitting in the middle of a session by the founder of Snow Leopard Conservancy in Leh, Tsewang Namgail, when his teammate Jigmet Dadul, gave him the news about Ladakh becoming a Union Territory. In the middle of his speech,...

Dumbing Down Development

Dumbing Down Development

I was in class 9 when we learnt about covalent bonds. At least this was when I paid attention. The chemistry teacher, a slender woman in a stiff sari walked into the classroom and asked, ‘What did you bring for lunch today’. We were not sure if she really was asking...

Who Are The Katkari?

Who Are The Katkari?

Raigad - The first capital of the former Maratha Empire, the land of captivating forts and free flowing streams; the home to picturesque Konkan belt where tribals stay dormant deep inside jungles, as if incongruous. Raigad in Maharashtra is surrounded by Thane and...

Inspiration To Be A Better Human Being

Inspiration To Be A Better Human Being

Until now, I have encountered most people being primarily concerned about growing professionally. From close relatives to friends and society, I have observed a common concern towards career. Only my mother and a few books had inspired me to be humane until I met...

Towards A Peaceful Revolution To Bring Dignity to Labor Migration

Towards A Peaceful Revolution To Bring Dignity to Labor Migration

Featured image courtesy Pixabay My fellowship with Aajeevika Bureau started on March, 2019. It was the time when the financial year was soon to be over. Once I joined, I immersed myself into field visits and my journey as a fellow was 'on'. I was meeting migrants...

Skill Over Academic Degree

With Shram Sarathi, I have been working with migrants who have been given training on various skill-sets so that they can start their own enterprise or fetch better income using those skills. However, only a few trainees show the courage and interest to start...

Himachal’s Self-made Naturalists

Himachal’s Self-made Naturalists

During the one year I spent in Himachal Pradesh, I met several people, during workshops, at my organization or while traveling. Two people who frequented Kandbari are Vikram and Apoorva. What’s interesting about them, you might ask. For starters, they are a cheerful...

Surat And Its Migrants

Surat And Its Migrants

Surat is the textile hub of India. It is also the center for diamond cutting and polishing. Most of the businesses conducted here are a part of informal sector and are predominantly owned by Gujaratis. The workforce for the diamond industry primarily comprises of...

Where Collective Strength Lies

Where Collective Strength Lies

Who’d ever want to pay an interest of Rs. 1200 on a loan of merely Rs. 500? A woman from the jungle village of Tirpania in Kharagpur, Bihar did so willingly, at least for a while. Until the concept of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) found its way to rural women in Bihar,...

Waste Pickers’ Tragedy…

Waste Pickers’ Tragedy…

This is Harsh. He helped us in distributing leaflets of medical camp in Sapera basti. Do you know where does your waste go after it leaves your home? How many hands does it change? Most us have limited knowledge about it. Either the Nagar Nigam (Municipal Corporation)...

Life Lessons From A Year Spent In The ‘Other’ India

Life Lessons From A Year Spent In The ‘Other’ India

It has been more than 10 months since I, along with 21 others, set out on a journey to learn about and understand India at the grassroots. In all honesty, this has been one mixed bag of a year. Some expectations I harbored remained unmet while some hopes I never knew...

Maheshwar: A Veiled Jewel Of Royalty

Last 3 months in Chaitanya, my host organisation, have been the most enriching ever. With alternate months spent in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, I have gotten the taste of both the preliminary stages of SHG (self-help group) formation and the functioning of...