Umar Altaf

Mar 12, 2025 | villagesquare.in | Atiqur Rahman |Er. Chirag Patel |Asma Khan |Umar Altaf

The art of making pottery is a cherished tradition in Meghalaya. This craft uses a unique combination of black clay mixed with serpentine stone, giving the pottery its distinctive look. Passed down through generations, the techniques used in creating these pots are equally important to their beauty. What sets Larnai black pottery apart is the special materials and the time-honored methods employed by artisans, making each piece a remarkable work of art.

Mar 11, 2025 | villagesquare.in | Er. Chirag Patel |Asma Khan |Umar Altaf |Novita Singh

Gujarat’s alluvial plains are well-known for their aquifer system but due to overexploitation of groundwater in the northern districts, groundwater levels have shown a declining trend. This has led to a higher water-lifting cost in addition to the increasing investment required for the deepening of wells. In fact, with the natural recharge not keeping up with the extraction, groundwater levels have dipped more than 190 m below ground level at some places in North Gujarat.

Mar 10, 2025 | villagesquare.in | Asma Khan |Umar Altaf |Novita Singh

Originating near the Kali temple in Calcutta in the 19th century was a simplified version of the Pattachitra scroll paintings made by the Patuas who migrated to the urban areas of Calcutta. The paintings are characterised by bold lines, and bright colours and do not have a lot of details in the background. They often portray scenes from Hindu mythology and from everyday life. These paintings were created as souvenirs for those visiting the Kali temple, and later in the entire region of Calcutta.

Mar 9, 2025 | villagesquare.in | Umar Altaf

‘When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.’ The adage holds true for young boys of Gurez Valley, a remote region along the ancient Silk Route, home to the Dard Shin tribe in north Kashmir. The valley remains covered with snow and cut off from the rest of the world for nearly six months. However, this doesn’t dissuade youngsters here from indulging in what they love the most–Snow Cricket. Gurez valley, Bandipora district, Kashmir

Aug 22, 2024 | theafricanmirror.africa | Umar Altaf |Showkat Nanda

This story was originally published by The New Humanitarian. By Umar Altaf and Showkat Nanda  IN the poorly lit hallway of the RHI Hospital in Rikhawdar, a border town in western Myanmar’s Chin State, 20-year-old Chhanhim holds his bandaged head, grimacing from the pain. The only noise breaking the silence of the night is the buzz of a generator.