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

  • Why This Hill Festival Features Clothes of Grass and a Stream of Abuses

    August 30, 2020 /

    During Faguli festival, the people of Tirthan Valley wear grass skirts and provoke bad spirits through dance, song and a stream of expletives!

    Go to story
    Neha Mehta

  • 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

  • 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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Each time you read, comment and share a story on Voices of Rural India, it encourages someone far away to work on their craft.

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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 KV 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
It feels strange to post about anything these days 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
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
Join us on Instagram

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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 KV 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
It feels strange to post about anything these days 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
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
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