Long Reads News - Page 12

Indian states demand payment for ecosystem services: An idea whose time has come

Himalayan states in India are demanding payment for ecosystem services such as clean water and pristine forests, based on the idea of natural capital whose time has come.

Rhododendron nectar could be miracle that stems Uttarakhand's migration crisis

The buransh or rhododendron flowers not only have socio-cultural value in Uttarakhand but are also a lifeline for the women who collect and make juice from them, which they sell locally.

Pakistan’s Indus delta becoming no man’s land with sea level rise and dams upstream

People in Paksitan are leaving their villages en masse as the Indus delta sinking means they cannot farm or fish and have no freshwater, thanks to sea level rise and dams upstream

Tibetan grasslands could be saved by return to traditional grazing, replacing old policies

The Zoigê grasslands may greatly benefit from removing the fences that divide them, but entrenched interests and government policy are pushing in the other direction.

You auto-complete me: Our bittersweet relationships with and through bots

The relationship between humans and AI (bot) is a constantly developing one, where on the one hand, we are charmed by the humanity of bots, and on the other, considering our relationship with this other in terms of domination.

In Georgian valley, war-scarred women battle tradition, fiercely patriarchal society to make a living

The Syrian war has directly affected at least one other woman in Georgian valley, who has also faced prejudice in trying to raise a family alone.

India begins regulating its fisheries in pursuit for sustainability, sets up first ministry for fisheries

In India, fishing has transformed into an industrialised, unregulated sector, and yields have slowed, including an unexpected crash in sardine catch. India’s government is working to make fishing more sustainable, including creation of the first ministry for fisheries.

Burning ghats of Benaras: In the holy city, death wears many faces, is both grand and mundane

Perched between the realm of god and men is Benaras or the ‘City of Light and Lore’ by the river Ganges, archaically known as ‘Kashi’. Its ghats shine blindingly with unwavering faith in something greater than the self, but now, spiritual corruption abounds in its lanes.

Shepherdesses of Changthang: 14,000 ft above sea level, women hold a hardy community together

The Changpas are leading suppliers of cashmere wool, who originate in the Changthang region of the Tibetan Plateau. Women play a crucial role in the Changpa society. In photos, here's taking a peek at their lives.

How the Kinnar community created history at Prayagraj during 2019 Kumbh Mela

After centuries of ostracism, the Kinnar community’s challenge to the Hindu establishment at the Kumbh Mela reached fruition when they became part of the Juna Akhara at Prayag. The Kinnars — trans and intersex people and hijras — performed the Aghori Puja and took holy dips

Kenneth Anderson and Melagiri: Colonial hunter's legacy drives conservation effort in South India's forests

The Kenneth Anderson Nature Society (KANS) wants Melagiri in Tamil Nadu, which is under threat from deforestation, and irresponsible tourism and development, to be declared a wildlife sanctuary.

Kutch's Kala cotton, overshadowed by other varieties, finds new recognition due to its resilience

Kutch's Wagad cotton lost popularity to American and later, Bt-cotton. The ‘by default organic’ Wagad cotton now has certification, is branded Kala Cotton, and is more sustainable.

The changing face of Meghalaya: A tale of poorly planned development and tourism

Before Meghalaya was exposed to the outside world, the hearth was the centre of daily entertainment, with folk tales being narrated by the older generations, and folk music being played. Now, with rising tourism numbers and poorly planned development, the 'abode of the clouds' must fight to save its ecosystem and local culture

Physical abuse, rape threats: Women combating Sudan's civil crisis face untold violence

Women in Sudan bear scars of physical and sexual abuse by security forces during anti-government protests

In 'The Crocodile', Gulzar tells a story of smoke and fire during Dussehra

Read Gulzar's short story The Crocodile, a tale of brewing disharmony amid Dusshera celebrations, translated by Dr Rakhshanda Jalil

In 'Those Without Graves', Joginder Paul blurs the lines between the living and dead

Award-winning writer Joginder Paul meditates on the difference between the living and the dead in his short story, Those Without Graves. Read a translation of the Urdu story by Dr Rakhshanda Jalil

In 'The Rape of an Abandoned House', Deepak Budki lays bare the hunger of scavengers

In The Rape of an Abandoned House, Deepak Budki writes about how an abandoned house is pillaged, bit by bit, by people who bear no respect for the family that lived there. Read a translation of the story by Rakhshanda Jalil

In 'Draupadi Has Woken Up', Renu Behl writes of a woman's 'duties' in patriarchal Punjab

Renu Behl situates Draupadi Has Woken Up in Punjab, which is facing a shortage of eligible brides, owing to female infanticide and foeticide. Women from cities are being purchased for a price, and men are forced to marry outside the state. In such a scenario, do the duties of the sole daughter-in-law of a house change? Read a translation of this story by Rakhshanda Jalil

In 'Daani, The Generous One', Krishan Chandar writes of shared hunger — and hope — amid homelessness

Krishan Chandar paints a portrait of a man consumed by insatiable hunger — until he meets a woman with whom he wants to build a life. Though they are brought together by their shared hunger and homelessness, the man Daani loses his moorings after the death of his wife. Read a translation of this Urdu story by Rakhshanda Jalil

In 'Run From These Slave Traders', Ramanand Sagar writes of women without a country

Ramanand Sagar, best known for producing the television show Ramayana, presents a very different take on the Hindu epic and its ideas of chastity. Read a translation of the story by Rakhshanda Jalil

In 'A Cup of Tea', Mahindar Nath meditates on love, before and after marriage

A man and his wife have spent 12 years together — happily and unmarried. In this short story, Mahindar Nath wonders how and if their love will change, should they decide to have a wedding. Read a translation of this story by Rakhshanda Jalil

From Baisakhi to Vishu, these traditional foods mark the advent of New Year festivals across India

Baisakhi in Punjab, Poila Boishak in West Bengal, Puthandu in Tamil Nadu, Bihu in Assam, Ugadi in Karnataka, Vishu in Kerala, Gudi Padwa in Maharashtra and the Sindhi New Year Cheti Chand— are all an embodiment of the same celebratory spirit when people use fresh produce from the harvest and cook an assortment of dishes.

Gully Boy: Inside Zoya Akhtar's ode to Mumbai's 'asli' hip-hop subculture

Loosely based on the lives of Mumbai rappers Naezy and DIVINE (Vivian Fernandes), Gully Boy tells the story of Murad (played by Ranveer Singh) and his quest for a sense of accomplishment and dignity.

Making of Manto: Behind the scenes of the Saadat Hasan biopic

In conversation with the art director, costume designer and casting director — the architects of the world of Manto, directed by Nandita Das

In Quetta, Pakistan’s long-embattled Hazara community leads a life of defiance in the face of peril

The Hazara community is said to be descendants of the Mongols who swept out of central Asia to rule the subcontinent for many centuries. They are easily distinguishable in Pakistan by their facial features.

As Punjab's groundwater levels drop alarmingly, farmers confront desperate times ahead

As water tables in Punjab fall, desperate farmers are digging deeper, getting trapped in debt and depleting aquifers. Punjab is warned of turning into a desert state in 25 years. Paddy, biggest water guzzler, sees continued cultivation as agricultural reforms fail.

Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week 2019 stuns with extraordinary fashion craftsmanship

The Paris Fall/Winter 2019-20 Haute Couture Week ran from 1 July to 4 July. It was attended by designers, major fashion houses, and celebrities, with a runway that featured colour, print, and stunningly unique craftsmanship.

In South Asia, agricultural reforms and urban accountability key to water management

Water problems in South Asia are on the rise due to wasteful flood irrigation, government incentives of free electricity and market incentives. Most important for water management are agricultural reforms and accountability of urban population.

Foy Nissen's Bombay: How his photos of people, spaces captured city's spirit

Foy Nissen was an avid photographer who documented Bombay, its people and its spirit through his photographs, recently displayed at the JNAF Gallery in Mumbai.