Elephants – a way of life for the Korubas of South India – Karnataka

ASHOKA, ELEPHANT BOY, Age 17Excerpts from Mother India’s Children by Edward Rice Sometimes India reminds me of the ocean. It looks like one great undifferentiated mass of people, like so many identical waves. To the tourists who jump from Calcutta to the Taj Mahal in Agra and then to Bombay, it is. All Indians look … Read more

Learn from “insiders” to fight misconceptions: Ideas and practices worth sharing

There’s much to learn from the positive contributions made by tribal communities on a daily basis. To start with, let’s learn from insiders and others who have dedicated their lives to ensuring that a precious heritage will continue to make a difference to people from all backgrounds – all over India and even beyond: “[I]t … Read more

“In Bastar, I learned that my books were used to teach English to the tribal children”: Chetan Bhagat on his sense of belonging and literature as entertainment

[…] I know most writers want to be published in the US and UK after becoming famous in India, but for me, it’s very important that even the smallest part of my own country experiences my writings and feels like a part of it. […] Do you think part of your popularity is also connected with … Read more

The Jennu Habba (Honey Festival): “We would like to share with our children the thrill and joy of our traditions” – Southern region

It is the honey season and bee hives in the forest are bursting with sweetness. Over generations our people, the Kattunayakans have mastered the skills required to take honey from the hives. With a rich history of song, dance and ritual, honey gathering is crucial to our very identity. We would like to share with … Read more