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

  • One Ladakhi Girl’s Journey from Darkness to Light

    October 3, 2020 /
    black and clear LED bulb with bokeh lights

    What does it take for a young girl in a remote village in Ladakh’s Markha Valley to make the journey from darkness to light?

    Go to story
    Gurmet Angmo

  • Phugtal Monastery: The 2500 Year Old Cave of Liberation

    September 8, 2020 /

    In Ladakh’s Zanskar Valley, a 3-hour trek and a hanging wooden bridge leads to Phugtal Monastery, built around an ancient cave.

    Go to story
    Tenzin Choejor

  • 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
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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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“I am the eldest amongst my siblings. Our mother “I am the eldest amongst my siblings. Our mother has divided chores amongst us all so that we pick up skills that are essential to rural life. We can’t slack off in our duties or afford to be lazy, for there are multiple responsibilities to be taken care of. I look after the kitchen. Cooking and cleaning of this space comes in my domain. One of my sisters is assigned the task of fetching water, another to take care of the cows, and so on and so forth,” writes Divya Bhiyar, a 21-year-old student from a mountain village in Himachal Pradesh, in her story on @voicesofruralindia about how every traditional house carries an imprint of local belief systems. “If we slack off in our regular chores or fail in responsibilities, our mother is quick to remind us that whenever we get married, if we don’t know how to take care of the house and everything around us, we would be dropped back home. Though in a lighter vein, she says, “People will assume that I didn’t teach you anything”. It used to irk us sometimes. But not anymore. As we are maturing, we realise that the village doesn’t have access to some of the basic facilities. That makes the job of every village resident – male or female – tougher. So we have to embrace every aspect of our lives wholeheartedly, with the hope that Jogni mata is listening to our prayers of well-being and safety.” Read Divya’s entire story on voicesofruralindia.org or at the link in our bio. Share your thoughts with Divya in the comments and we’ll relay them to her all the way in Himachal 💚 Photos via @himalayanecotourism #voicesofruralindia #himachalpradesh #storiesofindia #ruralindia #himalayandiaries
*MEET THE STORYTELLER* Nawang Phuntsog @phuntsogte *MEET THE STORYTELLER* Nawang Phuntsog @phuntsogteri was born into a semi-nomadic family of herders in Teri village, around 100 kms east of Leh in the Changthang region of the Tibetan Plateau. “I studied in the village school till fifth standard. Learning from school wasn’t that good, but lessons from Mother Nature were abundant. I will never forget playing with marmots or exploring bird nests, observing how they hatched and raised their young very closely, during our summer grazing expeditions. Being so close to nature is a blessing and I feel lucky to have gathered such experiences. But at this point in time, I knew very little about my nook of Ladakh – Changthang. It was only after I went to Nyoma – 90kms from my home and a prominent block in the Leh district – for my high school that I realised how big this region is since students from all over Changthang came to my school for studies.  From them, I learnt about the cultural diversity and vastness of Changthang, which is also home to a nomadic tribe called the Changpas, who rear yaks, horses and sheep, alongside the famous Changthangi goats...” In his story for Voices of Rural India, Nawang shares his vision for creating a self-sustainable future for Ladakh in the pashmina handicrafts industry, the supportive ecosystem he has been building for women artisans in Leh and his entrepreneurial journey starting up @nomadicwoolenmills Read the entire story at the link in our bio, or go to voicesofruralindia.org Even in these difficult times, we’ve decided to continue bringing you stories of inspiration and hope from rural communities across India, in their own voices. Each storyteller gets paid a fee directly in their bank account, and we’re ever grateful for your support in our little initiative 💚 #voicesofruralindia #ladakh #storiesofindia #incredibleindia #lehladakh
We’re delighted to see Witerson M. Sangma’s st We’re delighted to see Witerson M. Sangma’s story on the forbidden forests of Meghalaya republished by @outlook_responsibletourism 🌱 A social worker from Meghalaya’s Chiringmagre village, he shares how ancient traditions and the tribal culture is helping preserve pristine biodiversity patches in the South Garo Hills! Read the full story on responsibletourismindia.com - or at the link in our bio! Have you come across any extraordinary stories of conservation where you live? Supported by @globalhimalayanexpedition
What Does it Take to Save India’s Largest Lake? What Does it Take to Save India’s Largest Lake? The belief that a rising tide will lift all boats, says KM Poovu, a fisherman-conservationist from Kerala’s Muhamma village, in the latest story on @voicesofruralindia 🐟 “I was born in a traditional fishing community by Vembanad Lake — a wetland system that connects 1.6 million lives across three districts of Kerala. My earliest childhood memories are those of sitting by the lakeside near my home and dropping the net in it to catch fish, different varieties of those like Malabar Labeo, Pearl Spot, Giant Danio, Anchovy. I must’ve been 8 or 10 years old then. It was the time when the lake was home to over 150 species of fish. Even as a child, I was aware of the challenges that the fishermen in my community faced to make ends meet. Over the years, I have witnessed numerous changes that have caused a sharp decline in the fish wealth in the lake and in turn multiplied the problems of the fishermen here...” Read Poovu’s story (translated) or hear him relate it in his own words in Malayalam - on voicesofruralindia.org or at the link in our bio. Leave your comments for Poovu below and we’ll relay them to him all the way by Vembanad Lake! We’re excited to welcome @cherishexpeditions to the Voices of Rural India family with this story, as we continue our mission to bring you stories from rural communities across India, in their own voices! #voicesofruralindia #kerala #vembanadlake #storiesofindia #ruralindia
*MEET THE STORYTELLER* It feels strange to post ab *MEET THE STORYTELLER* It feels strange to post about anything these days, but we hope you’ll find some respite from the grim situation in India in our latest story... Balu Nivruti Bhangre, a biodiversity enthusiast from Maharashtra’s Khadki Budruk village, reminisces about a wild fruit that defined his childhood – and why it has been fast disappearing. An excerpt: “When I was in class seven or eight, my friends Maruti, Tanaji, Kalu and I would plan forest picnics on the Mula River during our Diwali holidays. We would forage for ran tambate – wild tomatoes (lycopersicon esculentum) – to make khichdi rice. Back then, it was difficult to get potatoes and eggplants, but we managed to find rice, dal (lentils), salt, chilli and masala (spices) quite easily. Each of us would pick the wild tomatoes, as many fit into our small hands, and carry them along to put in the khichdi rice. Everyone would do their job responsibly on reaching the river. Someone made a fire and lit it, someone collected firewood, someone cut tomatoes. Once the khichdi rice was cooked and ready, we would take a dip in the cooling waters of the river. After the refreshing bath, one of us would pick the leaves of the saddya plant or the chandya leaves, and wash and clean them. Those large leaves would serve as a plate for the khichdi rice. Any leftover tomatoes became a salad on the side...” Feeling nostalgic about your own childhood? Go read Bali’s story at voicesofruralindia.org or at the link in our bio! Also available in Marathi. Supported by @grassroutes #voicesofruralindia #ruralmaharashtra #storiesofindia #conservationoptimism #rurallife
“I asked the elders — women in our village of “I asked the elders — women in our village of Sarmoli, in the upper reaches of Kumaon — how did boys and girls get married in the past, without ever setting eyes on each other? And who decided whether they could talk about their likes and dislikes, even after they had tied the knot? Certainly not us, they said. It was near impossible to choose a life partner back then. You simply accepted whoever your parents chose for you, and that was that. Nowadays, says my mother, people talk a lot about love, but their love is giddy and fickle — first they sing of undying pyaar, and soon enough, they cry and complain that the relationship is not working out. When she was young, apparently, brides and grooms were so shy, they barely exchanged a word, two months into their marriage. But did that mean they didn’t love each other? Even today, my mother believes it’s not important to fall in love before you marry someone, since it’s perfectly possible to fall in love with him or her soon after. Ultimately, she asks, isn’t taking care of each other the essence of love? To be fair, in my mother’s time, it was dangerous to even to think of selecting a partner, leave alone actually doing it. Very few had the courage to run away, to reject social norms and marry without the consent of their parents. And if they did, people cursed them for years on end...” In this beautiful, insightful story, Rekha Rautela, who married for love two decades ago, writes about pride and prejudice, and love, in the mountains near Munsiari! Read it at voicesofruralindia.org or at the link in our bio. What does love mean to you? Share with Rekha in the comments! Supported by @voicesofmunsiari Photo: @unsplash
“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 💚 📷: Manyata Goyal via @spitiecosphere #voicesofruralindia #spitivalley #himachalpradesh #incredibleindia #digitalindia
*MEET THE STORYTELLER* One of the most popular sto *MEET THE STORYTELLER* 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
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“I am the eldest amongst my siblings. Our mother “I am the eldest amongst my siblings. Our mother has divided chores amongst us all so that we pick up skills that are essential to rural life. We can’t slack off in our duties or afford to be lazy, for there are multiple responsibilities to be taken care of. I look after the kitchen. Cooking and cleaning of this space comes in my domain. One of my sisters is assigned the task of fetching water, another to take care of the cows, and so on and so forth,” writes Divya Bhiyar, a 21-year-old student from a mountain village in Himachal Pradesh, in her story on @voicesofruralindia about how every traditional house carries an imprint of local belief systems. “If we slack off in our regular chores or fail in responsibilities, our mother is quick to remind us that whenever we get married, if we don’t know how to take care of the house and everything around us, we would be dropped back home. Though in a lighter vein, she says, “People will assume that I didn’t teach you anything”. It used to irk us sometimes. But not anymore. As we are maturing, we realise that the village doesn’t have access to some of the basic facilities. That makes the job of every village resident – male or female – tougher. So we have to embrace every aspect of our lives wholeheartedly, with the hope that Jogni mata is listening to our prayers of well-being and safety.” Read Divya’s entire story on voicesofruralindia.org or at the link in our bio. Share your thoughts with Divya in the comments and we’ll relay them to her all the way in Himachal 💚 Photos via @himalayanecotourism #voicesofruralindia #himachalpradesh #storiesofindia #ruralindia #himalayandiaries
*MEET THE STORYTELLER* Nawang Phuntsog @phuntsogte *MEET THE STORYTELLER* Nawang Phuntsog @phuntsogteri was born into a semi-nomadic family of herders in Teri village, around 100 kms east of Leh in the Changthang region of the Tibetan Plateau. “I studied in the village school till fifth standard. Learning from school wasn’t that good, but lessons from Mother Nature were abundant. I will never forget playing with marmots or exploring bird nests, observing how they hatched and raised their young very closely, during our summer grazing expeditions. Being so close to nature is a blessing and I feel lucky to have gathered such experiences. But at this point in time, I knew very little about my nook of Ladakh – Changthang. It was only after I went to Nyoma – 90kms from my home and a prominent block in the Leh district – for my high school that I realised how big this region is since students from all over Changthang came to my school for studies.  From them, I learnt about the cultural diversity and vastness of Changthang, which is also home to a nomadic tribe called the Changpas, who rear yaks, horses and sheep, alongside the famous Changthangi goats...” In his story for Voices of Rural India, Nawang shares his vision for creating a self-sustainable future for Ladakh in the pashmina handicrafts industry, the supportive ecosystem he has been building for women artisans in Leh and his entrepreneurial journey starting up @nomadicwoolenmills Read the entire story at the link in our bio, or go to voicesofruralindia.org Even in these difficult times, we’ve decided to continue bringing you stories of inspiration and hope from rural communities across India, in their own voices. Each storyteller gets paid a fee directly in their bank account, and we’re ever grateful for your support in our little initiative 💚 #voicesofruralindia #ladakh #storiesofindia #incredibleindia #lehladakh
We’re delighted to see Witerson M. Sangma’s st We’re delighted to see Witerson M. Sangma’s story on the forbidden forests of Meghalaya republished by @outlook_responsibletourism 🌱 A social worker from Meghalaya’s Chiringmagre village, he shares how ancient traditions and the tribal culture is helping preserve pristine biodiversity patches in the South Garo Hills! Read the full story on responsibletourismindia.com - or at the link in our bio! Have you come across any extraordinary stories of conservation where you live? Supported by @globalhimalayanexpedition
What Does it Take to Save India’s Largest Lake? What Does it Take to Save India’s Largest Lake? The belief that a rising tide will lift all boats, says KM Poovu, a fisherman-conservationist from Kerala’s Muhamma village, in the latest story on @voicesofruralindia 🐟 “I was born in a traditional fishing community by Vembanad Lake — a wetland system that connects 1.6 million lives across three districts of Kerala. My earliest childhood memories are those of sitting by the lakeside near my home and dropping the net in it to catch fish, different varieties of those like Malabar Labeo, Pearl Spot, Giant Danio, Anchovy. I must’ve been 8 or 10 years old then. It was the time when the lake was home to over 150 species of fish. Even as a child, I was aware of the challenges that the fishermen in my community faced to make ends meet. Over the years, I have witnessed numerous changes that have caused a sharp decline in the fish wealth in the lake and in turn multiplied the problems of the fishermen here...” Read Poovu’s story (translated) or hear him relate it in his own words in Malayalam - on voicesofruralindia.org or at the link in our bio. Leave your comments for Poovu below and we’ll relay them to him all the way by Vembanad Lake! We’re excited to welcome @cherishexpeditions to the Voices of Rural India family with this story, as we continue our mission to bring you stories from rural communities across India, in their own voices! #voicesofruralindia #kerala #vembanadlake #storiesofindia #ruralindia
*MEET THE STORYTELLER* It feels strange to post ab *MEET THE STORYTELLER* It feels strange to post about anything these days, but we hope you’ll find some respite from the grim situation in India in our latest story... Balu Nivruti Bhangre, a biodiversity enthusiast from Maharashtra’s Khadki Budruk village, reminisces about a wild fruit that defined his childhood – and why it has been fast disappearing. An excerpt: “When I was in class seven or eight, my friends Maruti, Tanaji, Kalu and I would plan forest picnics on the Mula River during our Diwali holidays. We would forage for ran tambate – wild tomatoes (lycopersicon esculentum) – to make khichdi rice. Back then, it was difficult to get potatoes and eggplants, but we managed to find rice, dal (lentils), salt, chilli and masala (spices) quite easily. Each of us would pick the wild tomatoes, as many fit into our small hands, and carry them along to put in the khichdi rice. Everyone would do their job responsibly on reaching the river. Someone made a fire and lit it, someone collected firewood, someone cut tomatoes. Once the khichdi rice was cooked and ready, we would take a dip in the cooling waters of the river. After the refreshing bath, one of us would pick the leaves of the saddya plant or the chandya leaves, and wash and clean them. Those large leaves would serve as a plate for the khichdi rice. Any leftover tomatoes became a salad on the side...” Feeling nostalgic about your own childhood? Go read Bali’s story at voicesofruralindia.org or at the link in our bio! Also available in Marathi. Supported by @grassroutes #voicesofruralindia #ruralmaharashtra #storiesofindia #conservationoptimism #rurallife
“I asked the elders — women in our village of “I asked the elders — women in our village of Sarmoli, in the upper reaches of Kumaon — how did boys and girls get married in the past, without ever setting eyes on each other? And who decided whether they could talk about their likes and dislikes, even after they had tied the knot? Certainly not us, they said. It was near impossible to choose a life partner back then. You simply accepted whoever your parents chose for you, and that was that. Nowadays, says my mother, people talk a lot about love, but their love is giddy and fickle — first they sing of undying pyaar, and soon enough, they cry and complain that the relationship is not working out. When she was young, apparently, brides and grooms were so shy, they barely exchanged a word, two months into their marriage. But did that mean they didn’t love each other? Even today, my mother believes it’s not important to fall in love before you marry someone, since it’s perfectly possible to fall in love with him or her soon after. Ultimately, she asks, isn’t taking care of each other the essence of love? To be fair, in my mother’s time, it was dangerous to even to think of selecting a partner, leave alone actually doing it. Very few had the courage to run away, to reject social norms and marry without the consent of their parents. And if they did, people cursed them for years on end...” In this beautiful, insightful story, Rekha Rautela, who married for love two decades ago, writes about pride and prejudice, and love, in the mountains near Munsiari! Read it at voicesofruralindia.org or at the link in our bio. What does love mean to you? Share with Rekha in the comments! Supported by @voicesofmunsiari Photo: @unsplash
“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 💚 📷: Manyata Goyal via @spitiecosphere #voicesofruralindia #spitivalley #himachalpradesh #incredibleindia #digitalindia
*MEET THE STORYTELLER* One of the most popular sto *MEET THE STORYTELLER* 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
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