Author: Aatreyee Dhar
He’s saving Tripura’s puppetry tradition, no strings attached!
Prabhitangshu Das, who heads the Tripura Puppet Theatre Group, is at the forefront of preserving the craft in his state. From making children smarter to creating social change, there’s much to be gained from puppetry, he believes.
Tripura’s “suitcase water purifier” is going places
Saving lives and plastic – a Tripura professor’s clever innovation is bringing safe drinking water to those stranded by disaster. The portable “suitcase water purifier” converts turbid flood water into mineral-rich drinking water.
Karitchi, no longer a forgotten condiment of Garo cuisine
Entrepreneur Dharmen Momin from Meghalaya is reviving the traditional Garo practice of making karitchi, a local alkaline liquid that was once central to their cuisine but lost to cheap, store-bought sodium carbonate.
A saviour school for Assam’s displaced Bengali Muslim children
Musabirul Hoque, a social activist who represents Assam’s displaced Bengali Muslims, sets up a school for children of the community, giving them a fresh chance at life. Village Square does a recce.
How Meghalaya’s Tura became a chess hub
From its humble beginnings, the Garo Hills Chess Association in Meghalaya has grown into a powerful force, fostering a love for the game in a region where it was once largely unknown.
Mithun matters – Arunachal elders ban giving native animal in dowry
Historically used as dowry, the excessive gifting of mithuns — a semi-domesticated animal similar to the Indian bison — has strained poorer families of the Adi tribe in Arunachal Pradesh, prompting the traditional council to ban the practice.
This Arunachal boarding school is fostering Adi tribe’s cultural heritage
Nilung Tungko, an all-boys boarding school in Komsing, is playing a crucial role in preserving the Adi tribe’s cultural heritage, blending traditional and modern education for children from impoverished families, focusing on the Donyi Polo faith in Arunachal Pradesh.
Golden needles, purple tea: Women-led estate shines in Arunachal
Driven by an all-woman team, Donyi Polo Tea Estate in Arunachal Pradesh is pioneering sustainable tea cultivation and artisanal tea production, and breaking auction records.
Assam startup tastes success with antibiotic-free poultry farming
Graduate Farmer, a startup founded by lawyer-turned-entrepreneur Bapan Das in Assam, has transformed small-scale poultry farming into a thriving business, benefiting both farmers and consumers by promoting antibiotic-free feed.
Flood-prone Assam village sees hope with terra water filters
In the flood-prone Barak valley of southern Assam, where monsoon floods often leave villagers without clean drinking water, terra filters installed by a non-governmental organisation have become a lifeline.
How a pungent delicacy is supporting Tripura’s indigenous community
Fermented fish business not only sustains indigenous livelihoods but also plays a vital role in meeting the high demand for fish products in Tripura, underscoring its significance in the state’s economy and culinary heritage.
Assam villagers ward off elephants with draw of lots
Over 160 villages located near Manas National Park in Assam participate in an annual lottery that funds upkeep of solar-powered electric fences to keep rampaging elephants off crop fields and homes, reducing human-wildlife conflicts.
How bamboo farming is transforming lives in Tripura
In West Tripura district, a quiet revolution is taking root as farmers embrace bamboo cultivation under the state’s Bamboo Mission, redefining livelihoods and fostering sustainability.
Display of India-Bangladesh friendship at Tripura’s Akhaura post
Akhaura, 10 km from Agartala, serves as a vital land port connecting India and Bangladesh. A zero line, marked near Agartala-Akhaura check post, symbolises camaraderie. On Bangladesh's Victory Day, guards exchange greetings, sweets, and flowers.
In Tripura, balladeers of snake goddess battle drug crisis with music
This music band in Jolaibari village of Tripura revives near-obsolete folk performance of Manasamangal, dedicated to snake goddess Manasa, with a message – Don’t do drugs.