एक और क़दम

Image Courtesy : Anand Murali (India Fellow Program Team). Clicked in a learning session at i-Saksham, Jamui, Bihar. Lau Tzu has rightly said “the journey to a thousand miles begins with one step”, and likewise my host organization i-Saksham Education And Learning...

Himalayan Springs And The Mexican Devil

Himalayan Springs And The Mexican Devil

A colleague and I (left) visiting a local spring. One thing about the fellowship that I like is the monthly writing of blogs, even though many people have praised me for my writing, a few have also been critical. One of the biggest criticisms that I have got is the...

A Train Of Thoughts

A Train Of Thoughts

“I am Jeena*, 28 years old, and I work on the farms”. After all the introductions they (Aajeevika Bureau) corrected everyone “You are a wife, a mother, a daughter, a daughter in-law, a sister and a Pravaasi (migrant).” Pravaasi - I recently came across this word...

Surat And Its Nakas

Surat And Its Nakas

Sayeed, the author and a fellow, works with Aajeevika Bureau in Surat, destination of migration and is a part of a study on the same.

कम्यूनिटी के साथ पहली रात

मुझे कस्तूरबा गांधी बालिका विद्यालय से जुड़े लगभग 4 महीने हो गए हैं| पहले दिन जब मैं आँचल, प्रिया, स्मृति और ममता के साथ विद्यालय गई थी तब बच्चियों का उत्साह देख कर मैं भी सकारात्मक उर्जा से भर गई थी| वे बाहर से आये व्यक्तियों को बहुत स्नेह और सम्मान देते हैं| कई बार...

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...