Jyoti Thakur
Fellow
Jyoti Thakur is an independent journalist based in Delhi. She loves to write and narrate stories, and specialises on gender, environment, politics and social justice. Her work has appeared in Article 14, New Lines Magazine, Middle East Eye, Deutsche Welle, Al-Jazeera, The Guardian among other publications. She is currently studying for a master's degree in Convergent Journalism from AJKMCRC, Jamia Millia Islamia. She spends her college breaks travelling to report from rural areas.
This transwoman empowers children through education
Raised by a single mother, Smiley Thabu, a 31-year-old transwoman, strives to give children and youth from marginalised communities near Chennai a boost in life by giving supplementary lessons and skill development programmes.
Teacher inspires school enrolment through films in UP village
Vivek Kumar’s dedication and innovative teaching methods revive the primary school at Mangal Purwa village, kindling the students’ passion for learning, creativity, and art.
Where children decide what to learn and when
In four villages of Kolhapur, children design their own curriculum and learn at their own pace from local women mentors who had dropped out of school.
Students shape a future in terracotta pottery
Two college students start Mittihub, a platform selling terracotta pottery, to improve the livelihood of traditional potters, while offering fine products to customers across India and beyond.
I came out as the first Van Gujjar transwoman
Shunned by her forest-dwelling community, Tina had to leave home when she was a teen because of her gender identity. At 20, she teaches Van Gujjar women – who stood up for her and accepted her – their dying art.
Booze bottles become bangles in dry state Bihar
A factory making bangles from discarded liquor bottles in Sabalpur village stands as a symbol of empowerment and resilience, offering hope to women who have found solace and strength in their work, regardless of the hurdles they face.
Bird feathers flocked together at this Gujarat library
Esha Munshi of Ahmedabad runs a rare online library that serves as a unique repository on birds and their feathers.
Sanitary pad depot evokes pride in UP village
Petrified on experiencing her first menstrual period, 22-year-old Kalpana Verma of Mirtala in Mahoba district now helps other women by making sanitary pads more easily available.
Mobile apps aim to take venom out of snake bites
SnakeHub, SARPA, Snakepedia are among several dedicated digital platforms designed to raise awareness and combat the scourge that kills 64,000 Indians annually.
Woman forest guide at forefront of Ranthambore tours
Suraj Bai Meena, a 33-year-old mother of two, is an inspiration for many for being the first woman from her tribal community to be conducting forest tours.
Maharashtra village switches off TV and mobiles to ‘detoxify’
Villagers of Mangaon in Kolhapur district are staying away from TV and phones for 90 minutes every evening so that children can study and elders can socialise without distractions.
Uttarakhand’s juiciest millet momos are calling you
A quaint little restaurant in Uttarakhand’s Tehri Garhwal is creating quite a bit of stir with dishes exclusively made of nutritious millets.
‘Ecological threat to next generation’, warn Chipko leaders
The women of Uttarakhand hugged trees to protect them from being axed in what is known as the Chipko movement. Fifty years since, how green is India?
Community classrooms sow hope among Van Gujjar children
Thanks to an enterprising initiative, centres of learning called Maee are encouraging children to script better future for themselves across Uttarakhand settlements.