This blog is a comparison on the friction existing in getting community interventions done in the plains versus the hills, primarily in terms of geography. I’m currently in Uttarakhand, working with INHERE, my NGO, on increasing millet productivity and its self consumption amongst the local communities. At the same time, being a native of Kerala […]
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After a tiring day, a movie ticket.
Wow! What a Movie Night! It was unbelievable cinematography, brilliant acting. Even during the interval, not for a moment did I feel like leaving my seat to wander outside. Kantara 2. If only the storyline of Kantara Chapter 2 had been a little better, then this sweet, evening would have easily become my best evening […]
When I look back at the last few months of my Swar Fellowship, I realise that the most powerful part of this journey hasn’t been the activities or the reports, it has been the quiet, slow, human process of building trust. As fellows, we enter communities with a project plan, a purpose, and a list […]
The Moringa plant, often called the Miracle Tree or Tree of Life, is one of nature’s most extraordinary gifts to humanity. Used for centuries in traditional medicine and daily nutrition, Moringa is now gaining global recognition as one of the most nutrient-dense plants on Earth. What makes it truly special is that every part of […]
During my fieldwork as a Swar Fellow, there were many moments when the theories I had read suddenly came alive in front of me. But nothing struck me as strongly as the idea Simone de Beauvoir wrote in The Second Sex: “One is not born, but rather becomes, a woman.” I had studied this earlier, […]
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From Imagination to Green Reality
I know you love green. I know you like pollution-free open fields. So, just close your eyes and try to imagine a farmland of peas, bordered by sunflowers and banana trees. A farmer is smiling and removing weeds with family members. Is it good to see? I am sure this frame touches your heart. If […]
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Are We Eating Food or Chemicals?
In April 2025, during field visits to 105 mango farms in Sri Sathya Sai District, Andhra Pradesh, a disturbing reality emerged about the food we consume daily. Out of all these farms, only one was practicing organic farming. The remaining 104 farms relied heavily on chemical pesticides and insecticides to manage pests and diseases. Within […]
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Learnings from Mandala
No doubt action is adventure but the roots of action lies in learning, and learning sometimes comes with boredom. So everytime a learning bore me, I resort to action in the form of creation. Creating patterns, doodling lotuses and leaves, curves, etc., is a pass time activity for me. One evening, I was getting bored […]
I haven’t had a phone for the last three months. I know it sounds hard to believe, but that’sthe truth. I’ve been using my tablet for calling and for all my other work. In field conditions,carrying a tab everywhere is not easy at all, and when the Republic Day sale came, I finally decided that […]
There is a word in Bangla “স্থিতপ্রজ্ঞা” which means a person who stays calm, balanced or steady no matter what the situation is – good or bad. If I had to describe the woman of the mountains in one word, then it would essentially be this word. Living in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand has […]
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