Atray Karmahe

4 weeks ago | villagesquare.in | Anuradha Varma |Saurav Kumar |Atray Karmahe |Jeroo Irani

Once upon a time, mango was a central part of the rural economy and it had an important role to play in cities, too, says Sopan Joshi. In a freewheeling interview, he tells us about his book Mangifera Indica: A Biography of the Mango, which took him eight years to write and research, and how India is home to as many as 1,000 varieties of mangoes, and much more. Sopan Joshi (SJ): My favourite memories of researching this book have to do with moments of clarity amidst a cat’s cradle of material.

4 weeks ago | villagesquare.in | Saurav Kumar |Atray Karmahe |Gustasp Irani |Rema Sundar

Sukma, nestled in the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh, has long been a battleground of challenges. The district’s dense forests, tribal communities, and the lingering shadow of Naxal insurgency have compounded its struggle for educational progress. Years of conflict have disrupted schooling, leaving a trail of closures, teacher shortages, and illiteracy.

Sep 11, 2024 | villagesquare.in | Aatreyee Dhar |Shreekant Sahoo |Devashish Biswal |Atray Karmahe

The monsoon is being blamed for causing a bit of a ruckus in Mirem, a quiet village of the Adi tribe on the banks of the Remi river in East Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh. As clouds gather over the foothills of the eastern Himalayas and rain begins to fall, the community’s most precious possession becomes its most vulnerable.

Sep 11, 2024 | villagesquare.in | Shreekant Sahoo |Devashish Biswal |Atray Karmahe |Saurav Kumar

A busker creates a captivating show of traditional Sambalpuri music from Odisha’s hinterland at a village square, drawing the attention of locals and passersby. Three of his four sons join him in the performance. As Golak Paik’s skilled hands drum out intricate rhythms on the dholak, his youngest son adds a twist to their show with yoga-style calisthenics. At the end of the act, drenched in sweat and out of breath, Paik and his sons gather the coins and notes and head home.

Sep 9, 2024 | villagesquare.in | Atray Karmahe |Saurav Kumar |K Rajendran |Kiranjit Kaur Jhunir

Deepak Tati, a young boy from Mehta village, a remote area in Konta administrative block of Sukma district in Chhattisgarh, had dreams that seemed impossible to achieve. Growing up in a region deeply affected by Naxalism, he didn’t have easy access to schools. His village lacks basic facilities like electricity, health and education services, and internet connectivity, making it difficult for him to study. Despite these challenges, Tati’s determination remained unshaken.