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Feb 6, 2024 | 
villagesquare.in | Apta Ramesh |Worngachan Shatsang |Kinshuk Ghosh
When a young Meenakshi was captivated by a performance, her progressive father enrolled the five-year-old in kalarippayattu class. Since then it’s been a journey of busting gender stereotypes and being an inspirational kalarippayattu icon. She talks about her journey – in her own words. I’m a living testament that women can master the timeless beauty and strength of kalaripayattu, the ancient martial art form of Kerala.
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Jan 5, 2024 | 
villagesquare.in | Krupa Gandhi |Gouri Agtey Athale |Apta Ramesh
With sand stretching for miles and with limited rainfall, people living in the Thar Desert have developed several methods of collecting and storing rainwater for household and agricultural use and for their livestock. Naadi or pond is one such system that has helped the desert communities tackle water shortage. Every village has its own ponds, which are considered the most widespread and common source of water supply in the desert.
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Jan 4, 2024 | 
villagesquare.in | Gouri Agtey Athale |Apta Ramesh |Sukanya Roy
Introducing “jen” – a versatile creation born from the fleece of sheep. Unroll it, and it transforms into a carpet, inviting into a meditative Zen state. Spread it out, and it becomes a mattress, or drape it as a cosy blanket – invoking the inner kaizen, the Japanese philosophy of change for the better. This is jen.
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Jan 4, 2024 | 
villagesquare.in | Apta Ramesh |Sukanya Roy |Priyanka Dalal
Deep into the night, the sound of drums reverberated through a village in the hilly and wooded expanse of Shimogga district in central Karnataka. Barefoot dancers pulsated to the beat in colourful clothing – dhoti, angavastra (a shoulder cloth or stole worn by men), and turban. Dozens of people squeezed in for a closer look, their cell phones lighting up the spectacle.
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Nov 2, 2023 | 
villagesquare.in | George Rajasekaran |Jyoti Thakur |Apta Ramesh
In the little hill settlement of Kottur Malai in Tamil Nadu, almost all the households narrate their own stories of woe that they have endured due to the lack of a suitable road. “My husband passed away from a snakebite because we couldn’t get him to the hospital in time. I’ve endured a great deal of hardship to keep the family going since he left,” said Easwari. The 45-year-old was one of the many villagers labouring in October to lay a six-kilometre road to their village.
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Nov 2, 2023 | 
villagesquare.in | Jyoti Thakur |Apta Ramesh |Niroj Ranjan Misra
Throughout his school life in Bhadole village of Kolhapur district, Rahul was labelled as a child with a ‘learning disorder’. Rahul, who belongs to a displaced community, converses in his native language Marathi. This made it harder for the shy boy to adjust to the tough demands of mainstream education, where the subjects were taught in Hindi and English. His struggle to cope with the system and being frequently mocked as a ‘slow learner’ in class adversely affected Rahul’s self-esteem.
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Nov 1, 2023 | 
villagesquare.in | Apta Ramesh |Niroj Ranjan Misra
Think of it this way: With just some fermented rice and black gram batter, most south Indian homes and eateries make idli. Some are not very exciting, fluffy or tasty, but still idli. However, when this healthy breakfast option, or rather anytime snack, is steamed on wood fire at a humble food stall in Kanakapura, a bustling city 65km south of Bengaluru, the simple idli becomes a remarkable delight.
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Oct 17, 2023 | 
villagesquare.in | Deepanwita Niyogi |Apta Ramesh
Delicacies from the heartland Village Square Oct 16, 2023 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.
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Oct 16, 2023 | 
villagesquare.in | Apta Ramesh |Dawa Dolma
India’s culinary diversity is a true celebration of cultural richness. From the exotic red ant chutney enjoyed by the Santhal tribe in Odisha to the wholesome millet dishes, Indian food offers an eclectic mix of flavours and traditions. Each dish represents a unique taste of Indian heritage. This Food Day, let’s savour the delicious journeys of these diverse cuisines of rural India and appreciate the many flavours Indian food brings to our tables.
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Oct 16, 2023 | 
villagesquare.in | Dawa Dolma |Apta Ramesh
Air? Rarefied. Water? Scarce. Land? An arid and rugged remoteness cocooned by the formidable Himalayas that extend their majestic embrace towards the heavens. Ladakh is a land of barren beauty — a pristine expanse graced by the unspoiled hand of nature. However, the bustling centre of this captivating landscape — the brick-and-mortar town of Leh — finds itself on the precipice of peril. From being a tranquil outpost for ages, Leh has become a predictable pocket of “overtourism” in the 21st century.
