Village Square

Rural India is a thriving area that truly merits more focus. While there are challenges, there's also a sense of transformation and energy. Discover all of this and more on Village Square.

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Mapping India’s arts and crafts heritage through G.I. Tags

2 weeks ago | villagesquare.in | Arushi Mishra

Given the expansive culture of India, it would turn out to be an arduous task to recount every arts and crafts tradition of the country. However, we strive here to list some of the few important arts and crafts products awarded with the Geographical Indication (G.I.) tag by the Government of India. G.I. tags are an important mark of the authentic traditional arts and crafts products made in various regions of India. All handicraft products of India have their roots in certain areas and traditions.
Sopan Joshi: The mango is India’s memory drive

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.
Sukma’s educational renaissance

1 month 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.
Agra’s leather industry struggles amid rising costs

1 month ago | villagesquare.in | Suhail Bhat

As India’s largest shoemaking hub, with 7,500 footwear units employing 400,000 workers, Agra produces 65% of the country’s footwear. However, rising leather prices have made it increasingly difficult for businesses to sustain operations, putting the leather industry here, a key part of the city’s heritage since the Mughal era, in jeopardy. Agra, Uttar Pradesh
The portrayal of women in Kalighat paintings

2 months ago | 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.
Snow and the spirit of sportsmanship

2 months ago | 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
ASHA workers' unseen fight

2 months ago | villagesquare.in | Nahida Mushtaq |Abu Bakr Maqbool |Satyabrata Panigrahy |Anuradha Varma

The snow is relentless, blanketing the narrow, winding roads of DH Pora, a remote village in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district. For most, winter here means isolation, but for a group of fearless women, it signals a call to duty. Meet the ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) workers, unsung heroes of Kashmir’s healthcare system who battle deep snow and biting cold to ensure that no one in their community suffers or loses their life due to inaccessibility to medical care.
Living with stripes - struggles in Ranthambore

2 months ago | villagesquare.in | Aakriti Dhawan |Anuradha Varma

Ranthambore National Park, nestled at the meeting point of the Aravalli and Vindhya hills, is famous for its Bengal tigers and stunning landscapes. However, growing human-wildlife conflict is threatening the fragile balance in the region. In the last 15 years, tigers have killed nearly 15 people in the area, sparking fear and tension among locals. Many villages are situated at the park’s periphery, where tigers often wander into farmlands and attack livestock.
Opportunities to help Gen-Z create impact in rural India

2 months ago | villagesquare.in | AMIR MALIK |Anuradha Varma

Yes, there is an internationally recognised day to celebrate and honour NGOs and non-profit organisations working to bring about positive change across the world. And it’s today (February 27), or World NGO Day! In addition to their activities, these organisations also offer a range of opportunities to nurture the new generation of changemakers. And who’s more passionate about fashioning change than Gen Z?
Sweet strawberry surprise serenades Jharkhand fields

2 months ago | villagesquare.in | AMIR MALIK |Anuradha Varma |Smriti Mukerji

Strawberries are a popular favourite, whether you have them whole or blend in icecreams and shakes, or use them in baking. But if you think the little berries are solely an urban phenomenon, things are changing slowly and surely!Indian farmers are discovering the economic benefits of cultivating strawberries and other high-yield exotic crops. One such example is in the rural economic zone (REZ) of Jonha panchayat area, which falls under Angara block in Ranchi district of Jharkhand.