VILLAGE VIBE
A rice beer brand that pays tribute to the seven sisters
For 7 United founder Keenan K Marak, the rice beer brand isn’t just a business venture but a cultural mission to showcase northeast India’s unique relationship with the indigenous drink.
Blind cricket’s unsung hero travels from Odisha village to America
Sukhram Majhi, a partially blind cricketer from Odisha, has risen from a life of hardship to international recognition as part of India’s blind cricket team, his passion taking him from doing menial jobs to playing in the US.
Gue, and its 500-year-old secret
A Himachali village bordering Tibet attracts people from all over the world for a mummy that was embalmed here many centuries ago. Here are the chief attractions of this place, known as Gue.
Chamba’s Minjar: A celebration of tradition, harvest, and culture
Have you been to the Minjar fair in Himachal’s Chamba district that has become a draw for tourists from across India? This photo essay captures the many moods of the festivities.
Where Buddha meets the stars in a fossil village
The village of Langza in Spiti Valley is becoming popular not just for its sights, but for the fossils of marine animals and plants. Village Square does a recce of the Himalayan hamlet.
Good prevails in vibrant hues at the Kulasai Dussehra
Kulasai Dussehra, the festival that celebrates the triumph of good over evil is celebrated lavishly in the village of Kulasekharapatnam, in Tamil Nadu’s Thooththukudi district. Village Square presents the celebrations in images.
When the goddess comes calling
Durga Puja is celebrated with pomp and glory not just in the cities, but towns and villages too. Village Square offers glimpses into the celebrations across rural West Bengal.
There’s art in Ladakh’s choktse, the multi-purpose low table
Each motif in the ornately carved wooden choktse of Ladakh, an everyday object in every household, reflects the facets of life. Despite challenges and the intense work involved, artisans persevere to preserve Ladakh’s distinct cultural heritage.
IN VIDEOS
These architects are building an archive of MP’s tribal traditions
Meet architects Achyut Siddu and Apoorva Mishra who are encouraging members of the Pardhan Gond, Baiga and Bhil tribes of Madhya Pradesh to document their traditions through their initiative, Loksutr.
Once thriving sailboats disappear from Bengal’s waters
The tradition of sailboating, once synonymous with Bengal’s rivers, is vanishing rapidly with modernisation.
Chitkul, India’s last village
Village Square takes a trip on the old Hisdustan-Tibet road to visit the scenic village of Chitkul. Here’s more on the place.
RURAL NEWS
Bihar’s Jeevika programme helps rural women rise from despair to dignity
In rural Bihar, the Jeevika programme, led by the Bihar Rural Livelihoods Promotion Society and supported by the World Bank, is empowering women from marginalised communities by providing financial support and livelihood opportunities.
Meet Sukhpal Kaur, the bee queen of Punjab
Faced with her husband’s debilitating accident, Sukhpal Kaur transformed their small honey business from 50 to 550 hive boxes, creating a sustainable livelihood for her family and becoming a leading figure in beekeeping.
A blooming business journey against the odds
Karishma Choyal, a young entrepreneur from rural Madhya Pradesh, transformed adversity into opportunity when she built a thriving flower business during the pandemic.
India’s unsung heroes – women navigating their way through a changing country. Her accomplishments, her struggles, her livelihood, her home, her hopes. Her life.
READ MORE
How this 15-year-old Odisha girl ‘sprinted’ to a weightlifting record
Preetismita Bhoi made headlines at this year’s IWF World Youth Championships. She tells us how she moved from sprinting to weightlifting due to her coach’s perseverance, and the inspiration she derived from her idol Mirabai Chanu.
How a struggling widow became a micro-entrepreneur
Widowed young, Basanti Nahaka of Odisha was financially struggling till she joined a producer group. With support from her group, she extracts and sells mustard oil in her village and other places, which improves her finances.
GET INVOLVED
Events
Chitrashaala – Village Square’s short film fest trains the lens on rural India
Watch powerful films like Giddh (The Scavanger) and Last Days of Summer, interact with film personalities Muzaffar Ali, Adil Hussain, Faisal Malik and others, and learn more about rural India at Chitrashaala, Village Square’s short film festival.
Programmes
Capacity Building Programme
All Programes >
Development Communications Training
Village Square announces a certified training program for students interested in the communications domain. This internship program will give you an opportunity to get trained from leading industry experts and enhance all your skillsets i.e, required to be a good communication specialist. Starting from 30th November, 2023
Fellowship
All Programes >
Village Square announces its fellowship
Village Square Fellowship 2023 is for youth to tell the powerful stories of rural India. The 9 months fellowship will include a monthly stipend of Rs 35,000 along with training from leading sector-experts.
Share your own articles stories and contribute to our Gaon Glossary
Get Involved Now
