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#TraditionalCraft#CulturalHeritage#Bengal When you hear about Nakshi Kantha, you might think it's just an old quilt. But for many of us from Bengal, it means something deeper. These are not just stitched blankets—they hold stories. Real ones. About family, life, hopes, and memories. Nakshi Kantha is part of our cultural heritage, especially in Bangladesh and West Bengal. Women would take old clothes, usually worn-out saris, layer them, and sew them together using a running st

#GenderEquality#TraditionalKnowledge#IndigenousKnowledge "We did not have machines, but we had hands that knew. We watched the mother, not the monitor. We sang to her, held her, stayed with her—not for money, but because birth is not a job, it is a responsibility." — Rokeya Bibi, retired dai from Murshidabad district Before hospitals, ultrasounds, and epidurals, childbirth across the Indian subcontinent was a home affair, surrounded by women, rituals, and the indigenous knowl

আমার বাড়ির বারান্দা বেশ নিরিবিলি, দিনের বেশিরভাগ সময় ঘরের ভেতরে থাকায় বারান্দায় খুব কম যাতায়াত। বিগত কয়েকবছর ধরে নানা পাখির আসা-যাওয়া, একটা জিনিস লক্ষ্য করেছি—কাঁচ জিনিসটা পাখিদের বেশ পছন্দের। দিনে কতবার যে জানালার কাঁচে ঠঠোকর দেয় তার ঠিক নেই! ওদের ককৌতুহলের যেন শেষ নেই। এই নিয়মিত আসা-যাওয়ায় ওরাও লক্ষ্য করেছে আমার বাড়ির বারান্দা নিরিবিলি ও নিরাপদ। প্রথমে একটা সুন্দর ছছোট্ট সানবার্ড। সে বিগত ৩-৪ বছর ধরে নিয়মিত আসে, বাসা বানায় বারান্দায়। কী সুনিপুণ তাদের বাসা! ওরা একদম ছছোট

#GenderEquality#WomensWork "Just a slap, but he can't hit me." This dialogue from the movie Thappad, directed by Anubhav Sinha, is not just a line, it's an inspiration for many women in the country. I realised this when I met Saraswati Singh, a woman cab driver from Delhi. "If he beats me once, he will beat me again," she said with conviction, emphasising that women must first shed the fear that holds them back. As I booked a cab, I saw the driver's name as Saraswati on my ph

#LocalSolution#TraditionalKnowledge Long before industrial salt refineries cropped up to dominate supply chains globally, the indigenous communities across their arid landscapes had already mastered the art of extracting salt, not from seawater, but from the soil beneath their feet. In the Kutch region of Gujarat, the Agariyas—a marginalized community—are master practitioners of a soil-based salt harvesting technique that represents a conscious mix of environmental understand

এই নিয়ে ড্রয়ারটা চতুর্থ বার বন্ধ করললো সুকল্প। ওয়ান টু থ্রি ফফোর। দুই আর দুইয়ে চার। দুই আর দুইয়ে চার। Lets finish it. এখানে শেষ। আপাতত। কিন্তু, শেষ কি? দুই আর চারে? দুই আর চারে কত? না, ভাবতে চায় না সে, ভাবতে চায় না। Ohh! It's irritating. ভাবতে না চেয়েও সে ভেবে ফেলছে। তার মাথার মধ্যে আসছে একের পর এক সংখ্যার প্রবাহ। দুই আর চারে আট, দুই আর আট এ ষষোললো। ( আবার চার আর চারে ষষোললো)। ওহ স্টপ ইট। আর কিছুতেই ভাববে না সে। কিছুতেই ভাববে না। দুই আর আট এ ষ ষোললো। চার আর আট এ বত্রি

#DesignThinking#TraditionalKnowledge The plow, in its most basic form, is a tool designed to cultivate and prepare soil for planting. Its origins can be traced back to ancient civilizations across the globe, where early farmers recognized the need to break up and loosen the earth, facilitating the growth of crops. However, the design of these primitive plows was not a product of pure ingenuity alone; it was deeply rooted in the local knowledge systems that had evolved over ge

निष्पक्षताको प्रयोग । बेयार्ड रस्टिन एक अफ्रिकी…अमेरिकी नागरिक अगुवा थिए। उनले सुरूमा सन्१९४० र १९५० को दशकमा फेलोसिप अफ रिकन्सिलिएसन संस्था मार्फत् र पछि नागरिक अधिकार आन्दोलन मार्फत् उत्तर अमेरिकामा सबैका लागि समान अधिकार स्थापनाका निम्ति काम गरे। यो कथा लेखिएको समयमा मान्छेहरूलाई छालाको रंगअनुसार बोलाइनु सामान्य थियो। मध्यपश्चिम क्याम्पसमा मन्तव्य दिन जानु अघि म एक गिलास दुध र एउटा पाउरोटी किन्न भनेर शहरको एउटा सानो रेष्टुरेण्टमा छिरेँ। रेष्टुरेण्टमा मलाई बेवास्ता गरिदैछ भ

Traditional Knowledge "Time was once told by tides and twilight, sung by birds, and whispered by the wind—long before clocks dared to measure it." Much before the mechanical clock became a reality, civilisations relied on indigenous methods to track time. From celestial observations to water clocks, the human need to organize daily life, agriculture, and rituals gave birth to unique timekeeping techniques. This was also true for India, especially Bengal, where people wove the

Introduction: More Than Just a Street Food What if I told you that one of Bihar’s most beloved street foods is also a powerhouse of Ayurvedic nutrition? Litti Chokha, a dish often associated with rustic flavors and roadside eateries, is far more than just comfort food. It is an Ayurveda-approved meal that has sustained farmers, warriors, and travelers for centuries, offering a perfect balance of nutrition, energy, and sustainability. While modern food trends emphasize organic

In the realm of design, empathy is not just a crucial principle; it’s the cornerstone. It enables designers to comprehend people’s feelings and experiences, empowering them to craft solutions that deeply resonate with users. This concept has deep roots in philosophy, where thinkers have long emphasized the significance of understanding others’ perspectives. For designers, this understanding is indispensable, as they strive not only to create functional designs but also ones t

Packing for college was an exciting activity for Imu considering that this was going to be her first time leaving her hometown of seventeen years and going to a college in another state. As her stomach filled with a heavy sense of impending doom; probably because of excitement and jittery nerves, she did a double check on all her belongings packed in her brown trolley which her elder sister had packed. Sisterly Debates Over a Packing List Eeee! Aecha aesya? Ngada. Nga aecha t

#traditionalfestival#climate#indigenousfestival A hunting festival called Bishnu Sendra Parv is celebrated by tribals of Chotanagpur Plateau. The indigenous communities participating in it are called Santhal, Bhumij, Munda, Ho, Birhor and Kharia. In a particular date, the men and women of these communities enter the Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary situated in Jharkhand. This sanctuary is spread in an area of 192 km. In the hot month of Indian May, the Sendra Parv’s date is fixed by

Aliya and her cousins were travelling back from Delhi to their hometown in Arunachal Pradesh. Aliya had bought her naniapiya (father’s elder sister) a jewellery box from Janpath and a set of flavoured beer from a shop in Safdarjung, an area famous for Northeastern cuisine. As they sat on the bamboo floor exchanging pleasantries Aliya’s naniapiya was mixing rice spreaded on a tarpaulin sheet with an aluminium ladle. Exchange of Gifts and Flavored Yu Naniapiya. Ini mein nu geba

जङ्गलबीचमा साधुको एउटा कुटीर थियो। यिनी दयालु थिए। आँखामा भस्म गर्ने, सराप वा वरदान दिने शक्तिदान तपस्याद्वारा यिनले पाएका थिए। जङ्गलका सारा पशुपक्षी जङ्गलदेखि यिनका कुटीर वरिपरि निर्धक्क चर्दै गाउँदै घुमफिर गर्थे। चोट घाइते भएका पशुपक्षीहरूको निवारण वनौषधिद्वारा यिनले गर्थे। साधुको कुटीर र पशुपक्षीहरूसँगको स्नेह एक दिन साधुले अचानक पशुहरूको बथान घट्दै गएको थाहा पाए। हिज देखिएको पशु आज छैन। आजभोलि देखिरहेका पशुहरू फेरि देखिएनन्। रोगले पशुहरू मर्दैछन्, कसैले पो मार्दैछन् वा त

#Gender-Equality#Constitutional_Right#Youth एक सच्ची कहानी से शुरुआत करते हैं ........ स्पेन की एक मुहिम: "Clothes Have No Gender" "Clothes Have No Gender" नामक Campaign का नाम सुना है आपने ? WhatsApp University के बेबुनियाद ज्ञान और कुतर्कों से थोड़ा ऊपर उठ कर सच तलाशने की कोशिश करेंगे तो हमें पता चलेगा कि – कुछ वर्ष पहले 27, October 2020 को स्पेन के एक शहर Bilbao में एक पुरुष छात्र को स्कूल से इसलिए निकाल दिया गया था क्योंकि उसने स्कर्ट (Skirt) (मान्यता के आधार पर महिला के

Mornings in the southern states of India are much the same as anywhere else, with only a small twist—women rise before dawn, sweep the thresholds of their homes, and then sit down to create some of the most intricate geometric patterns using rice flour. These designs, known as kolam in Tamil Nadu, rangavalli in Karnataka, and muggulu in Andhra Pradesh, are more than decorations—they are visual rituals, mathematical constructions, and carriers of centuries-old algorithms passe

Introduction Imagine the aroma of freshly baked naan, the smoky essence of tandoori chicken, and the crisp, golden crust of kulchas—all of these culinary delights share one thing in common: the tandoor. This traditional clay oven, rooted deeply in the culture of Punjab, has transcended regional boundaries to become a staple in kitchens and restaurants across the world. But how did a humble village cooking technique influence global cuisine? Let’s explore the incredible journe

I grew up in nineties Bombay. A Bombay that was going to soon be called Mumbai, a Bombay that was going to see the greatest impact of India embracing globalisation, a Bombay which was at the peak of her ‘sapno ka shehar’ attitude and owning it with full Bambaiyya swag. More importantly it was for me a secure space where I grew up within the safety of certain childhood rituals under my paternal grandma, Papama’s protective care. Here, I share with you a few of these rituals wh