Chennai is one of the few metros in the world with a reserve forest in the heart of the city. The Guindy National Park has a rich history. In the 19th Century, the areas known today as Taramani, Madhya Kailash and Besant Nagar were part of a private hunting ground owned by Gilbert Rodericks, a British citizen. In 1821, four years after Rodericks’ death, the Government of Madras purchased it and declared it a part of Guindy Lodge, official residence and private hunting ground of the Governor of Madras. In 1921, the Government declared it a reserve forest. After Independence, […]

  “We made from water every living thing.” Holy Koran. “We are the one who first inhaled poisonous Methyl Isocyanate gas and now we are still drinking same poisonous water.” says Femhida bi, an 80 year old resident of Blue Moon colony of Bhopal. Blue moon colony is a slum on the southern side of the Union Carbide factory and it was one of the worst affected areas during Bhopal Gas tragedy, world’s biggest industrial disaster. In 2004, when Sambhavana Trust and Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Udyon Sangh, local NGOs fighting for tragedy survivors approached Supreme Court for safe drinking water, court ordered civic authorities of Bhopal City Corporation […]

Condition of handicraft workers                  Ramarao comes from family which has been weaving for the past six generations. Besides weaving, he farms during the monsoon season and is a seasonal migrant labourer to Gujarat during summer. Ramarao weaves kambal pattu (thick weaved shawl) in winters. He still uses handmade spinning wheel (Charkha) for spinning. It takes him around 10 days to prepare a blau patti(thick quilt) worth Rs. 2000. Ramarao’s business thrives during winter, partly because of cold and increased purchasing power of villagers due to crop selling. While weaving kambal pattu, Ramarao suddenly recalls old memories and declares that […]

Manganiyar is a Muslim singing community of western Rajasthan which sings songs on the occasions of birth of boy, death, marriage, pregnancy, love, festivals, respect and sufi songs for their Hindu Rajputpatrons. The word ‘Manganiyar’is derived from ‘one who begs’ but this connotation is no more true today. This community is mainly found in Jodhpur, Jaisalmer and Barmer districts of Rajasthan and a small number also live in Sindh, Pakistan and southern district of Jallore, where they call themselves Mirasi. It is an honorific term used for all Muslim professional singers, hence they can also be called Mirasi. Komal Kothari, a researcher and folklorist on Rajasthani […]

                  It is 12 o’clock midnight and the atmosphere in Baleba village of western Barmer district is filled with highly charged rhythms. These are the rhythms of devotional songs led by ‘Raamdev ji ke Rikhiye’ and collectively followed by the whole village at Narsa Ram’s house. They have gathered here to celebrate the anniversary of achieving ‘Pitra Yoni’, a state (not salvation) achieved by Narsa Ram’s father, Rajsingharam’s unsatisfied soul. Irrespective of caste, the entire village has gathered here to sing together near Rajsingharam’s ‘sthal’, a cemented bed with inscription on stone, made with the advice of […]