Village Vibe
The MGNREGA worker who won an Asian Games medal
From digging pits as a daily wage labourer to taking the podium at Hangzhou, China, Asian Games medallist Ram Baboo has come a long way. But his village continues to wait for many facilities, the athlete tells us.
Life at Daribokgre village in Meghalaya
Meghalaya is home to three prominent communities - Khasi, Garo and Jaintia. Garos comprise the second-largest tribe in the state. Let's explore a Garo village and their way of life.
Kumhartuli artisans in full swing ahead of Durgo Pujo
West Bengal's artisans flock to Kumhartuli village for crafting Durga idols during Durgo Pujo. Some switch careers for six months while others specialise in making jewellery, attire and wigs.
Finding a soul in Uttarakhand’s ghost village
Set in a village with seven inhabitants, Srishti Lakhera’s National Award-winning film Ek Tha Gaon showcases the issue of Uttarakhand’s ‘ghost’ villages. She tells us about the movie, its two women protagonists and more.
Book Review: The Indian Village by Surinder S. Jodhka
Published by Aleph Book Company, the book chronicles socioeconomic changes in Indian villages through interesting anecdotes.
Why is Jharkhand’s Paitkar scroll art losing colour?
Paitkar scroll paintings of Jharkhand are silently fading into oblivion due to waning interest in the art form among enthusiasts and the apathy of authorities.
Creative economy is empowering rural India
Creative industries are emerging as a powerful way for rural youth to explore new livelihood opportunities based on their traditional knowledge, using new ways to showcase their talents and support the community.
A forest hunt for Chhattisgarh’s delicious Pihiri mushrooms
The rare Pihiri mushrooms found amid the lush greenery of Chhattisgarh's Achanakmar Tiger Reserve serve as a lifeline for local villagers who harvest them for income while tackling challenges like wildlife threats.
Delicacies from the heartland
On this World Food Day, we are celebrating the diversity of Indian cuisines -- from the Santhal tribe's red ant chutney in Odisha to Chhattisgarh's millets cafe that crafts burgers, pizzas and dosas, showcasing cultural uniqueness through food.
Ramanagara’s 100-year-old Mysore pak hotel
Shri Janardhan Hotel, founded in 1926 and famed as “the Mysore pak hotel”, is a culinary icon in Ramanagara for confecting the beloved Mysore pak sweet to perfection the traditional way every day
The rising YouTuber of Bundelkhand
Hailed as the first Bundelkhandi YouTuber, Kishan Kushwaha aka Kakku Bhaiya is keen to provide funny and serious content that the entire family can watch.
Football bridges social divides in Odisha village of Lodhas
In a village in Odisha where dominant tribal groups had set unwritten rules of divisive boundaries, a unique social transformation of inclusion is taking place through football.
Rural youth pioneer water sports on Mahanadi
In Odisha, water sports that were once confined to the marine drive thrive in the Mahanadi River, attracting rural youth and offering them a new livelihood.
Caught by cotton – the thread that binds Team VS
The love may be old, but the charm lives on. Village Square is a team of handloom lovers and we grabbed the occasion of World Cotton Day to pen our odes to the fabric that’s born of the soil.
Rural fests you can attend this October
India is bursting with celebrations - from colourful traditions and rituals to music, dance, sports and delicious food. Come and experience the magic of India's festivals taking place in October 2023.
Mayurbhanj revives traditional looms
Mayurbhanj’s handloom legacy is experiencing a remarkable resurgence, stitching together threads of tradition and innovation, painting a brighter canvas for its future, one vibrant sari at a time.
‘I find purpose in life through thangka art’
Skipping school and homebound because of a polio attack, Krishna Tashi Palmo enrolled in a Tibetan thangka art school at 22, finding purpose in life through art. Now she is one of the few renowned women thangka artists.
Kerala women brew cups of joy with artisanal coffee
A coffee brand created by five women from Pinavoorkudi tribal village in Kerala has grown to become a trusted and favourite blend of beans.
What a ‘grape’ village!
Over 600 years ago, Sufi saint Sheikh Noor-Ud-Din Wali praised Repora in Kashmir's Ganderbal district as 'Dachi Repora, Nazar chay cxopoor,' which means, "Repora grapes, your gaze extends everywhere." Today, Repora's vineyards are renowned for top-quality organic grapes, rivalling Italy.
Border tourism boosts Keran village
Standing on the banks of the roaring Kishanganga river, Keran has become a new tourism sensation in J&K bringing both hope and fortune to the villagers.