As per Hindu mythology, when Sati married Lord Shiva, her father, Daksha was...
Living A Precarious Life On The Delta
When I first heard about the Sundarbans I thought to myself ‘Why do people...
Sundarbans: The Mystical Land
India Fellow, as part of the workshops we do all round the year with our...
How did the people do their ‘business’ then? (Part 1 of 2)
“What is the most satisfactory and peaceful time in a human’s life?” was the...
A 6KM Long Trek For Water And Why Every Drop Counts
I can never forget Anupama’s (India Fellow alum) line, “Try and understand the...
Silicosis: The Occupational Hazard Of Doing God’s Work
The Pindwara district in the state of Rajasthan is known for its mining...
My Small Win With Chai Shots
At MANAVLOK, the organization I am a part of as an India Fellow, the entire...
From The Desk Of A Fellow In Limbo, With Love
मासूम परिंदे!
बचपन एक ऐसा शब्द है जिसे सुनते ही मेरे साथ आप में से कईयों के ज़हन में भी कई खूबसूरत लम्हें और तस्वीरें तैरने लग जाती होंगी. नाना-नानी, पापा-मम्मी सहित घर के सभी बड़े लोगों से मिलने वाला लाड़-प्यार व उपहार याद आ जाते होंगे. खेल-खिलौने, चॉकलेट एवं पसंदीदा मिठाइयों की...
A Taste Of Rural Patriarchy And Urban Feminism
The moment 'Vaishali Express' touched the borders of Bihar, an uncanny sense of masculinity emanated from all corners of the train compartment. The frequency of glares and stares increased exponentially. The background of an 18-year long experience in Uttar Pradesh...
‘Parag Kosh Ke Daane’ And Sex Education Post 377
What do you say to 12 year old girls who are extremely happy about the legal status of LGBT community because now they can marry their besties!? Well, I could only say, “That's great but don’t be too sure that you only like women; you can like both men and women, even...
The Story Of Informal Credit And Migrant Labor
Informal sector constitutes a major chunk in GDP of India. The sector is often associated with generating non taxable income and is seen as a hub of black money investment but has rarely been looked from the viewpoint of employers, employees and their struggles....
My Everyday Life In a Village Of Kanpur
Let me start with some honesty. Two months ago, when I got to know that I am supposed to work in Kanpur, that too not in the city but in rural areas, I was filled with anxiety. The organization wasn't known to me. I was envious of my co-fellows who would be working in...
Adventurous Things I Never Did Before Coming To India Fellow
When I boarded a flight from Delhi to Raipur after the mid-point training, I was super excited to reach Sukma and begin with the second half of my India Fellow journey. I took a bus from Raipur for Sukma late at night, and was accompanied by a colleague. We woke up...
Goats And Nine Yards Of Blue
Across Munger district of Bihar, women dressed in sky blue saris are disrupting the community’s perception of their ability to improve the lives of poor. With help from a Goat Resource Center (GRC), a small establishment by the roadside that serves as an office and...
A Walk Into Mukta Gyan Kutir School [A photo story]
Welcome Enthusiasts. Before we go any further and you get awestruck with innocent smiles and their uncanny stories, let’s go back 35 years in time. A group of thinkers and activists started a social institution in south Odisha, an NGO which will fight against hunger...
The Last Time When I Did Things For The First Time
Most of us these days, including me, wish for adventure and excitement in our daily routine. I did it every single day while sitting in my AC cubicle; wishing an escape from the mundane life. Today, leaving that behind, I'm working with Basic Healthcare Services...
My Story With PERIODS As A Male Staff
Image: Doing sessions and discussions with adolescent girls on Menstrual Health and Hygiene Management I am working in a community radio station - Nityananda Janavani 91.2 FM in Purulia, West Bengal. Our radio station was already making programs on lots of issues...
एक सन्देश मेरे विद्यालय के बच्चों के नाम
‘उम्मीद’ एक ऐसा शब्द है जो मुझे ले चलता है वर्ष 2009 की तरफ, जब मैं 12 वर्ष का था| उन दिनों में मेरी पढ़ाई गोरखपुर के एक सरकारी विद्यालय में हो रही थी| मेरा मन पढ़ाई से ऊब चुका था और ज़िन्दगी में आगे के लिए कोई लक्ष्य भी नहीं सोचा था| उसी समय मेरी माँ ने अपने एक छात्र...
Welcome To The Learning Space In Tamarind Tree
Hemant, the co-founder of Tamarind tree was clear when he said, "Usma, this year you must take back at least one concrete digital skill with you, which you can apply in your life after one year of experience here". This was after our discussion about my aspirations...
About A Windy Night in Jiri
When time was closing in for Durov, after a long arduous journey, on the evening of 18th day of June, he sat down and imagined the day when his fate was declared. He could not refrain himself from thinking of that evening, which was still clear in his head. The first...
The Polluted Notion of Purity
8/8/18: It was my second day in Mishirpur, a village in Sitapur district of Uttar Pradesh. I was casually interacting with a male and a female member of a household, unaware of their social status in the village. (The original conversation took place in a mix of Hindi...