Madhya Pradesh
MP village youth aims for Hollywood spotlight
Shibali Biswas, a 23-year-old filmmaker from rural Madhya Pradesh, defies the odds to showcase her vibrant tribal culture globally.
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.
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.
Mahua wine – the joyful spirit of tribal life
It’s time for educated urban people to shed their contemptuous attitude towards the traditional mahua wine and accept its significance as cultural heritage.
How Kaali the dog unleashed hope for disabled Jitu
Jitu Thakur, once struck by polio, led a tough life in his village in Uttar Pradesh. He moved to Indore seeking independence but encountered brutality. That was until he met Kaali who transformed his life.
MP ‘redlight village’ seeks redemption through sports
Close to famous Sanchi stupas, Sookha Karar is starting to shed its infamy by allowing its children to take up sports and chart a different career.
This forest guard doubles up as an educator
Laxmi Maravi, who grew up surrounded by forests, but was intimidated by forest department staff, now serves as khaki-donning forest guard. In addition, she is in charge of a school inside the Kanha Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh.
Newspaper reaches Madhya Pradesh village finally
Though just 45 km away from Indore, Shukrawasa is revelling in daily dose of news that the inaccessible village was deprived of for so many decades.
Halma – MP’s tribal festival helps heal earth
The tradition of Halma, which translates as ‘call for help,’ has been brought back from the brink of extinction and is now celebrated as an environmental festival in the heartland of India.
MP artisans ‘wax’ eloquent through batik
Armed with a GI tag and inclusion under the ‘One District One Product’ initiative of the state government, the batik products of Bhairavgarh in Madhya Pradesh are headed towards better times.
Rural homestays for solo, offbeat travellers
Rural homestays near Orchha provide offbeat tourists and solo women travellers with a serene getaway while boosting the rural economy.
Madhya Pradesh activist gifts home for tribal museum
Born in a poor family, Subhadra Khaperde, 56, is doing her bit for uplifting the downtrodden, including turning her own modest home into a tribal museum.
How this young man from MP is ‘ringing’ in a new future
With the right guidance and practical training, this rural youth from Barwani, Madhya Pradesh, has transitioned from a small shop assistant to successfully launching his own mobile phone repairing business.
Madhya Pradesh rural women’s band sings bhajans with a cause
The Saraswati Mahila Bhajan Mandal, a group of women from Dhamanya village in southern Madhya Pradesh, spreads a powerful message through their soulful songs inspired by Sant Singaji Maharaj and Kabir.
‘Rancho’ of Dewas gives up on engineering dream to become driver
Financial troubles are forcing Vishal Choudhary to abandon his passion for creating mechanical marvels that saw him convert a bike into a car.
Tribal artist creates coat of many colours for PM
Sakshi Bhyadiya from Jhobat in Madhya Pradesh found fame when PM Modi wore a jacket with Pithora artwork painted by her.
Bhagoriya festival – Of blooming flowers and blossoming love
Often misunderstood as a rural Valentine’s Day, the tribal festival of ‘Bhagoriya’ was a few days back declared a cultural heritage by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The week-long carnival marks the onset of spring. Amid the amber hues splashed by the blossoming palash and the fragrance of yellow mahua flowers, the community rejoices the rabi crop harvest.
‘Only my husband had faith that I could empower women’
Nitu Nagpure’s efforts to form a Self Help Group in her village in Balaghat district of Madhya Pradesh has brought about a change in women’s lives, besides improving farm output, family income and quality of life.
Breaking biases, building bonds
Learning from Indian villages and villagers: Three days of ‘rural immersion’ for scholars of Vedica Scholars Programme for Women at Pradan campus in Kesla, Madhya Pradesh.
Real life Dangal: All I see is an Olympics gold
Script of the movie Dangal starring Aamir Khan seems to be playing out in a Madhya Pradesh town where 18-year-old Hansaben Rathore – nicknamed Mahi – trains hard against odds for wrestling gold in the Olympics.