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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The many faces of mask art in India

5 days ago | villagesquare.in | Arushi Mishra

Masks have been a significant expression of art and culture in various indigenous communities of India. Apart from holding great historical as well as traditional value for the communities that are associated with them, they also help us to understand the unique cultures of these communities.
More of India’s crafts heritage through G.I. Tags

2 weeks ago | villagesquare.in | Arushi Mishra

The enormous diversity in the crafts seen in India is a testimony to its rich history. It is the fusion of traditional pasts and customs that today the country enjoys numerous arts, crafts and handicraft traditions. These aspects are significant in understanding the core principles and beliefs a country adheres to. Much of this handiwork has the distinction of a Geographical Indication (GI) tag, that goes a long way in preserving and promoting the said craft.
The Himalayan Brown Bear, surviving against all odds

3 weeks ago | villagesquare.in | Aditya Ansh

Four of the eight species of bears found globally are present in India and the Himalayan Brown Bear is one of the rarest of them. It is a subspecies of the brown bear that faces growing threats from the rise in tourism, climate change, and human encroachment. In India, they are found in the rugged regions of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, northern Uttarakhand and parts of Sikkim.
Mapping India’s arts and crafts heritage through G.I. Tags

1 month 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

1 month 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
From earth to art: Larnai black clay pottery

2 months ago | 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.
No-cost water conservation technique saves the day in a Gujarat village

2 months ago | 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.
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.