Voices of Rural India

A curated platform for rural storytellers

Voices of Rural India
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  • Home
  • About
    • The Initiative
    • The Team
    • Our Partners
    • Our Volunteers
  • Stories
    • States
      • Gujarat
      • Himachal Pradesh
      • Kerala
      • Ladakh
      • Maharashtra
      • Meghalaya
      • Uttarakhand
    • Languages
      • Hindi
        • Written (Hindi)
        • Audio (Hindi)
      • Dangi
      • Gujarati
      • Marathi
      • Malayalam
  • Get involved
    • Partner
    • Volunteer
    • Contribute
  • Contact
  • Contribute

  • The Hanging Lifeline of Zanskar

    August 24, 2020 /

    Centuries-old hanging wooden bridges connect the most remote villages of Ladakh’s Zanskar Valley – but only 5 remain to this day.

    Go to story
    Shakeer Hussain

  • On Fear, Patience and Insignificance

    August 21, 2020 /

    A guide from Tirthan Valley looks back at his mountain treks and wildlife encounters with nostalgia, humility and a tinge of humor.

    Go to story
    Sanju Negi

  • Letters from the Bronze Age

    August 18, 2020 /

    A postman from Ladakh's Zanskar region shares his fascination with its ancient treasure – petroglyphs dating back thousands of years.

    Go to story
    Tenzin Choejor

  • Reaching for the Stars, Literally

    August 13, 2020 /

    How a budding young astronomy enthusiast from a remote Ladakhi village is smashing gender stereotypes.

    Go to story
    Stanzin Dolkar

  • In the Cold Himalayan Winter, a Celebration to Warm the Heart

    August 7, 2020 /

    The mountain villages of Himachal Pradesh celebrate a month of food and togetherness during Magh Mahina

    Go to story
    Soniya Thakur
12
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Voices of Rural India is a not-for-profit initiative that aims to revolutionize storytelling. For perhaps the first time, we bring you curated stories of rural India… in rural voices.

We hope to turn the unprecedented Covid-19 crisis into an opportunity to upgrade digital skills and create alternate livelihoods among rural communities, while building a repository of knowledge and traditions that are slowly fading away.

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Ladakh
Himachal Pradesh
Uttarakhand

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“On 20th April, 1962, in a Gongma home in the vi “On 20th April, 1962, in a Gongma home in the village of Pooh in Kinnaur district, a baby boy named Govind Singh was born. While pregnant, his mother Sonam Chhodon felt a divine presence and had vivid dreams that an enlightened being is going to be born to her. So when the baby arrived, the family visited the local Guru in the area and asked to know his future. The Guru ji stated that in his previous birth, Govind Singh was a devoted yogi. He predicted that even in this birth, the boy would renounce his household responsibilities and travel in search of truth and knowledge. The boy’s father, Gelek Pasang (alias Gurdayal Singh), was disappointed to learn this. He wanted his son to follow in his footsteps and become a farmer and businessman. A few months after he was born, a prominent Ladakhi lama (monk), through his meditative power, realized that the child born in Pooh village, in the Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh, on the full moon day of April, is the reincarnation of a great yogi. He sent a search team of lamas and representatives to the village. However, his father, who did not want his only son to renunciate the world and become a lama, told the Ladakhi team that no child had been born in their home!” Read the intriguing story ‘Did he choose his destiny or did his destiny choose him?’ by our star Spitian storyteller @chhering.norbu on voicesofruralindia.org or via the link in our profile. Switch to the Hindi version for the original story! As always, we’re proud to bring you stories and legends from rural communities across India, in their own voices 💚 #voicesofruralindia #spitivalley #himachalpradesh #incredibleindia #digitalindia
One of the most popular stories on @voicesofrurali One of the most popular stories on @voicesofruralindia still is a photo story by birding guide and photographer @trilok_rana_munsiari of Shankhdhura village in Uttarakhand - documenting the disappearing craft of likhai (wood carving). He shares: “This is a window frame in a 50-year-old house that still stands in my village. Unfortunately, the craftsmen who made it are no longer around, and their offspring do not continue this craft either. The fine work on carving walnut wood requires an investment in time. But today, people who build new homes are not willing to pay the artisans the right amount for their skill and craft. You do not get to see such traditional door frames in new homes anymore, and you can barely find skilled artisans who still know the art of Likhai...” Check out the link in our bio or go to voicesofruralindia.org to see this stunning photo story and appreciate the disappearing art of likhai. Leave your thoughts for Trilok in the comments below 👇🏼 Supported by @voicesofmunsiari #voicesofruralindia #uttarakhandtourism #likhai #woodcarving #incredibleindia
In the latest story for Voices of Rural India, Naw In the latest story for Voices of Rural India, Nawang Phuntsog @phuntsogteri - born into a semi-nomadic family in Ladakh’s Changthang region - writes about his journey towards social entrepreneurship! An excerpt: “In 2010, I left my job as a technician to embark on the entrepreneurial journey. My semi-nomadic roots and my immense love for the Changpa nomads and their animals were my motivation. Since my mother is from a nomadic family, we often have many nomadic guests coming to our house. I still remember how during my childhood, they used to bring salt loaded on their sheep and exchanged that with us for barley or fodder for their animals. They didn’t have easy access to these essential things. I very much understood and still understand their hardships and struggles. Thus, to honour my heritage, I started my own venture by the name — @nomadicwoollenmills 👣 My sole aim was to utilise all my learnings to create an ecosystem that offers employment to local artisans, besides creating beautiful pashmina products.” Head to the link in our bio or voicesofruralindia.org to read about his inspiring journey - and share your thought for him in the comments below; we’ll relay them all the way in Ladakh! Supported by @globalhimalayanexpedition #voicesofruralindia #ladakh #socialentrepreneurship #incredibleindia #storiesofindia
“Come June, tiny and shiny fireflies light up th “Come June, tiny and shiny fireflies light up the night skies in my village, Purushwadi, in the Western Ghats of India. Their sight brings back nostalgic memories of childhood and innocence. When I was a kid, I’d look at the little insects and wonder, how do they get their light? Why are they only visible during the monsoons every year and not in other months? But the thrill of their sight would soon substitute the curiosity and questions in my mind and I’d run along with the other children with a towel or rag in hands. When we’d see shining, flying fireflies, we’d drop them to the ground with the help of the towel and then put the fireflies in discarded glass bulbs or bottles. We’d then run in the dark through the lanes and alleys shouting “Light! Light!” In his latest story for Voices of Rural India, @mahadu.kondar.23 - a teacher and guide from Maharashtra’s Purushwadi village - writes about the magical fireflies in his backyard and the need to conserve them. “About 20-25 years ago, millions of fireflies would light up trees, shrubs, and even courtyards and homes in Purushwadi in the evenings during the initial months of monsoon. In the current times though, the population of fireflies has drastically declined...” Read his beautiful story at the link in our bio or on voicesofruralindia.org - and tell us if you’d like to experience this magic in Purushwadi someday? Supported by @grassroutes #voicesofruralindia #maharashtratourism #maharashtra_ig #purushwadi #ruralindia
One of our favourite storytellers at Voices of Rur One of our favourite storytellers at Voices of Rural India - @chhering.norbu - is back with yet another fascinating story from the higher reaches of the Himalayas! In “Did he choose his destiny or did his destiny choose him?”, Norbu writes about a great yogi, who despite all odds, in this age of kalyug, embarked on a journey of sacrifice and penance in search of truth and knowledge. An excerpt: “1.5 kilometers north of Demul village in Spiti, where I was born, is a very old cave named Khabsa. Engraved in its rocks are many ancient symbols that attract devotees from far and wide. Over thousands of years, in this very cave, many dedicated men from Demul and other regions of the Himalayas have achieved wisdom and enlightenment through extreme penance. One wise man among them is Tenzin Lundup, also known as the “Yogi of the Himalaya”. I have had the good fortune to receive his blessings multiple times, and last year I was lucky enough to hear about the journey of his life directly from him. Along with other saintly men hailing from Maling village in Kinnaur, he stayed in the Khabsa cave for a month. This is his story.” Read this deeply moving story in English or Hindi at the link in our profile or on voicesofruralindia.org! Leave your comments for Norbu below so we can relay them to him in Spiti when he appears on “signal hill” next 😉 Supported by @spitiecosphere #voicesofruralindia #indiatravel #digitalempowerment #spiritualindia #spitivalley
In the high mountains of Ladakh, a postman travels In the high mountains of Ladakh, a postman travels on foot through the dramatic Lungnak Valley to deliver mail. En route, he discovers letters of a different kind - petroglyphs or ancient stones carved with inscriptions! "My job as a postman gives me the freedom to roam about, connect with my community and explore my fascination for petroglyphs – ancient stones carved with inscriptions, dating as far back as the Bronze Age! We consider these stones sacred...Many petroglyphs tell a story...Some have been carved by travellers of yore, with different symbols, in different languages, depicting different religions", writes Tenzin Choejor. Choejor emphasises the urgent need to preserve these stones. Many have already been lost to negligence or ignorance. Some have been buried due to road construction. Some are being used for advertisements! Discover the stories behind these ancient stones in Chojeor's story "Letters from the Bronze Age". Read or watch video snippets through the link in our bio or on voicesofruralindia.org
Excited to announce a partnership with the fantast Excited to announce a partnership with the fantastic folks at @outlook_responsibletourism who will be republishing stories from Voices of Rural India 😊 The first feature is none other than Trilok Singh Rana's exquisite photo story documenting the lost art of wood-carving, or "Likhai", in Munsiari. Read here: https://www.responsibletourismindia.com/inspire-me/voices-of-rural-india-the-disappearing-craft-of-likhai/573 We're super happy that these stories will reach more readers across the country! #voicesofruralindia #storiesofindia #digitalstorytelling #digitalindia
*MEET THE STORYTELLER* Kanika loves teaching and w *MEET THE STORYTELLER* Kanika loves teaching and wants to be a teacher in a school someday. She presently studies Arts at Banjar college with Hindi as the main subject. Trekking and reading stories about culture are some of her favourite things. In her first story for Voices of Rural India, Kanika throws light on a beloved village festival called 'Haran' where children dress up in a deer costume and go dancing from house to house!💚 "Two kids wear the costume – the kid in the front stands, while the one behind stoops... Haran is taken out only during the night, never during the day... I am afraid of the dark, so when I used to participate in the celebration, the elders would make sure I was positioned in the middle of the group. One night during Haran, while walking through the fields, I fell down as I was inside the deer costume. The kid standing in front of me fell down with me too! All the other kids burst into laughter. We quickly got up and started dancing in a funny way to make the others laugh even more. It was quite a sight!", muses Kanika. Read this delightful story yet? 😁 Show Kanika some love! Head on over to our bio link or voicesofruralindia.org to read, share, comment!
Join us on Instagram

@voicesofruralindia

“On 20th April, 1962, in a Gongma home in the vi “On 20th April, 1962, in a Gongma home in the village of Pooh in Kinnaur district, a baby boy named Govind Singh was born. While pregnant, his mother Sonam Chhodon felt a divine presence and had vivid dreams that an enlightened being is going to be born to her. So when the baby arrived, the family visited the local Guru in the area and asked to know his future. The Guru ji stated that in his previous birth, Govind Singh was a devoted yogi. He predicted that even in this birth, the boy would renounce his household responsibilities and travel in search of truth and knowledge. The boy’s father, Gelek Pasang (alias Gurdayal Singh), was disappointed to learn this. He wanted his son to follow in his footsteps and become a farmer and businessman. A few months after he was born, a prominent Ladakhi lama (monk), through his meditative power, realized that the child born in Pooh village, in the Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh, on the full moon day of April, is the reincarnation of a great yogi. He sent a search team of lamas and representatives to the village. However, his father, who did not want his only son to renunciate the world and become a lama, told the Ladakhi team that no child had been born in their home!” Read the intriguing story ‘Did he choose his destiny or did his destiny choose him?’ by our star Spitian storyteller @chhering.norbu on voicesofruralindia.org or via the link in our profile. Switch to the Hindi version for the original story! As always, we’re proud to bring you stories and legends from rural communities across India, in their own voices 💚 #voicesofruralindia #spitivalley #himachalpradesh #incredibleindia #digitalindia
One of the most popular stories on @voicesofrurali One of the most popular stories on @voicesofruralindia still is a photo story by birding guide and photographer @trilok_rana_munsiari of Shankhdhura village in Uttarakhand - documenting the disappearing craft of likhai (wood carving). He shares: “This is a window frame in a 50-year-old house that still stands in my village. Unfortunately, the craftsmen who made it are no longer around, and their offspring do not continue this craft either. The fine work on carving walnut wood requires an investment in time. But today, people who build new homes are not willing to pay the artisans the right amount for their skill and craft. You do not get to see such traditional door frames in new homes anymore, and you can barely find skilled artisans who still know the art of Likhai...” Check out the link in our bio or go to voicesofruralindia.org to see this stunning photo story and appreciate the disappearing art of likhai. Leave your thoughts for Trilok in the comments below 👇🏼 Supported by @voicesofmunsiari #voicesofruralindia #uttarakhandtourism #likhai #woodcarving #incredibleindia
In the latest story for Voices of Rural India, Naw In the latest story for Voices of Rural India, Nawang Phuntsog @phuntsogteri - born into a semi-nomadic family in Ladakh’s Changthang region - writes about his journey towards social entrepreneurship! An excerpt: “In 2010, I left my job as a technician to embark on the entrepreneurial journey. My semi-nomadic roots and my immense love for the Changpa nomads and their animals were my motivation. Since my mother is from a nomadic family, we often have many nomadic guests coming to our house. I still remember how during my childhood, they used to bring salt loaded on their sheep and exchanged that with us for barley or fodder for their animals. They didn’t have easy access to these essential things. I very much understood and still understand their hardships and struggles. Thus, to honour my heritage, I started my own venture by the name — @nomadicwoollenmills 👣 My sole aim was to utilise all my learnings to create an ecosystem that offers employment to local artisans, besides creating beautiful pashmina products.” Head to the link in our bio or voicesofruralindia.org to read about his inspiring journey - and share your thought for him in the comments below; we’ll relay them all the way in Ladakh! Supported by @globalhimalayanexpedition #voicesofruralindia #ladakh #socialentrepreneurship #incredibleindia #storiesofindia
“Come June, tiny and shiny fireflies light up th “Come June, tiny and shiny fireflies light up the night skies in my village, Purushwadi, in the Western Ghats of India. Their sight brings back nostalgic memories of childhood and innocence. When I was a kid, I’d look at the little insects and wonder, how do they get their light? Why are they only visible during the monsoons every year and not in other months? But the thrill of their sight would soon substitute the curiosity and questions in my mind and I’d run along with the other children with a towel or rag in hands. When we’d see shining, flying fireflies, we’d drop them to the ground with the help of the towel and then put the fireflies in discarded glass bulbs or bottles. We’d then run in the dark through the lanes and alleys shouting “Light! Light!” In his latest story for Voices of Rural India, @mahadu.kondar.23 - a teacher and guide from Maharashtra’s Purushwadi village - writes about the magical fireflies in his backyard and the need to conserve them. “About 20-25 years ago, millions of fireflies would light up trees, shrubs, and even courtyards and homes in Purushwadi in the evenings during the initial months of monsoon. In the current times though, the population of fireflies has drastically declined...” Read his beautiful story at the link in our bio or on voicesofruralindia.org - and tell us if you’d like to experience this magic in Purushwadi someday? Supported by @grassroutes #voicesofruralindia #maharashtratourism #maharashtra_ig #purushwadi #ruralindia
One of our favourite storytellers at Voices of Rur One of our favourite storytellers at Voices of Rural India - @chhering.norbu - is back with yet another fascinating story from the higher reaches of the Himalayas! In “Did he choose his destiny or did his destiny choose him?”, Norbu writes about a great yogi, who despite all odds, in this age of kalyug, embarked on a journey of sacrifice and penance in search of truth and knowledge. An excerpt: “1.5 kilometers north of Demul village in Spiti, where I was born, is a very old cave named Khabsa. Engraved in its rocks are many ancient symbols that attract devotees from far and wide. Over thousands of years, in this very cave, many dedicated men from Demul and other regions of the Himalayas have achieved wisdom and enlightenment through extreme penance. One wise man among them is Tenzin Lundup, also known as the “Yogi of the Himalaya”. I have had the good fortune to receive his blessings multiple times, and last year I was lucky enough to hear about the journey of his life directly from him. Along with other saintly men hailing from Maling village in Kinnaur, he stayed in the Khabsa cave for a month. This is his story.” Read this deeply moving story in English or Hindi at the link in our profile or on voicesofruralindia.org! Leave your comments for Norbu below so we can relay them to him in Spiti when he appears on “signal hill” next 😉 Supported by @spitiecosphere #voicesofruralindia #indiatravel #digitalempowerment #spiritualindia #spitivalley
In the high mountains of Ladakh, a postman travels In the high mountains of Ladakh, a postman travels on foot through the dramatic Lungnak Valley to deliver mail. En route, he discovers letters of a different kind - petroglyphs or ancient stones carved with inscriptions! "My job as a postman gives me the freedom to roam about, connect with my community and explore my fascination for petroglyphs – ancient stones carved with inscriptions, dating as far back as the Bronze Age! We consider these stones sacred...Many petroglyphs tell a story...Some have been carved by travellers of yore, with different symbols, in different languages, depicting different religions", writes Tenzin Choejor. Choejor emphasises the urgent need to preserve these stones. Many have already been lost to negligence or ignorance. Some have been buried due to road construction. Some are being used for advertisements! Discover the stories behind these ancient stones in Chojeor's story "Letters from the Bronze Age". Read or watch video snippets through the link in our bio or on voicesofruralindia.org
Excited to announce a partnership with the fantast Excited to announce a partnership with the fantastic folks at @outlook_responsibletourism who will be republishing stories from Voices of Rural India 😊 The first feature is none other than Trilok Singh Rana's exquisite photo story documenting the lost art of wood-carving, or "Likhai", in Munsiari. Read here: https://www.responsibletourismindia.com/inspire-me/voices-of-rural-india-the-disappearing-craft-of-likhai/573 We're super happy that these stories will reach more readers across the country! #voicesofruralindia #storiesofindia #digitalstorytelling #digitalindia
*MEET THE STORYTELLER* Kanika loves teaching and w *MEET THE STORYTELLER* Kanika loves teaching and wants to be a teacher in a school someday. She presently studies Arts at Banjar college with Hindi as the main subject. Trekking and reading stories about culture are some of her favourite things. In her first story for Voices of Rural India, Kanika throws light on a beloved village festival called 'Haran' where children dress up in a deer costume and go dancing from house to house!💚 "Two kids wear the costume – the kid in the front stands, while the one behind stoops... Haran is taken out only during the night, never during the day... I am afraid of the dark, so when I used to participate in the celebration, the elders would make sure I was positioned in the middle of the group. One night during Haran, while walking through the fields, I fell down as I was inside the deer costume. The kid standing in front of me fell down with me too! All the other kids burst into laughter. We quickly got up and started dancing in a funny way to make the others laugh even more. It was quite a sight!", muses Kanika. Read this delightful story yet? 😁 Show Kanika some love! Head on over to our bio link or voicesofruralindia.org to read, share, comment!
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