Village Vibe
Abandoned as an infant, she brings up orphaned girls
Knowing the pain of being abandoned and growing up in an orphanage, Parkash Kaur brings up abandoned girls, giving them a loving home, care and a good education.
Forget logging or hunting – two Assam villages embrace ecotourism
Giving up hunting and tree felling, two Assamese villages are conserving their forest habitat rather than let their natural resources erode. With their villages now on the eco-tourism map, they are embracing alternate livelihoods.
Assam’s rural theatre: Curtains up or down?
Despite competition from Netflix and YouTube, small theatre troupes in Assam enjoy a loyal patronage. Yet, with acting as their main livelihood, the artists face uncertainty during the pandemic.
Assam’s rural theatre: Curtains up or down?
Despite competition from Netflix and YouTube, small theatre troupes in Assam enjoy a loyal patronage. Yet, with acting as their main livelihood, the artists face uncertainty during the pandemic.
Award takes Kaithapram’s therapeutic music to a higher note
Having experienced the healing powers of music, Kaithapram Damodaran Namboothiri, a Padma Shri awardee, believes music therapy can cure illnesses and disabilities.
Kashmir’s cricket bat industry goes for a toss
Kashmir’s political and pandemic lockdowns, never mind inadequate infrastructure, are dealing a severe blow to its 100-crore cricket bat industry, which experts say could otherwise be booming.
Sun-dried vegetables find “flavour” in Kashmiri kitchens
Sun-drying summer vegetables, an ancient Kashmiri practice to make up for lack of fresh produce in the harsh winters, are still in demand thanks to their distinct flavour and the increasingly early onset of winters.
Tourism-dependent islanders struggle to stay afloat
Villagers in Elephanta Island were filled with hope when tourism resumed after the COVID-19 lockdowns. But with fear of a third wave and few tourists showing up, they begin the new year with apprehensions.
Show us your best rural snaps every month!
Village Square is launching an exciting new opportunity for photographers to show us rural India through their lens in our “Photo of the Month” strand on Instagram.
Naga tourism takes a hit due to violence
Nagaland’s Hornbill Festival – a much-awaited cultural extravaganza – was called off because of violence in the region. This comes as local tourism was already suffering because of the pandemic.
Swara Bhasker kicks off The Bharat Youth Dialogues
Critically acclaimed actor and vocal champion of the poor Swara Bhasker will be in discussion with veteran journalist, Suparna Sharma in Delhi on December 15 for Village Square’s inaugural Bharat Youth Dialogues.
Youth Hub – the new buzz in Village Square
Village Square is excited to introduce its new Youth Hub initiative – a space for India’s urban and rural youth to interact, examine and activate ideas for creating a better India.
Naga tribes carve out their culture
The boldly carved wooden gates at the entrance of Naga villages once appeased ancestors. Today, the few that remain are symbols of old hopes and aspirations – a legacy many artisans are keen to conserve.
2021 Village Vibe photo competition winners
From over 2,500 beautiful submissions we received throughout the month of October for six categories, our esteemed panel of judges selected three winners from each category.
Kashmiris turn to eco-treks
The pandemic-induced reflectiveness means more Kashmiris are taking to the hills – becoming eco-conscious trekkers of the mountains they were once content to just look at.
Village Vibe photo competition and exhibition
Village Square gets over 2,500 entries for the “Village Vibe” photo competition - the winners will be announced at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, on November 19.
“My pupils will one day play at the Olympics”
Karuna Purty beat poverty and prejudice to become a national hockey player. Now she coaches girls who have the same dream in their eyes that she had many years ago. Karuna Purty from Khunti district of Jharkhand talks about her journey in her own words.
Keeping Kurumba art alive
Ala Kurumba tribes inherited a flair for art from their forefathers who captured everyday life as rock paintings. But with only a handful of such artists left, they are desperate to keep this cultural expression alive.
Eco-activists root for bamboo
Bamboo could be the answer to Kerala’s persistent soil erosion and deadly landslides, say passionate environmentalists who plant hundreds of saplings and sing songs rooting for greater spread.
Rural social media stars showcase rustic charm
Pandemic spurs villagers to post videos of their rustic life, turning them into social media stars. In their own way, they’re bridging the rural-urban divide.