Society, Culture and Peace

Enhancing socio-cultural well-being, ensuring justice and equity

Featured here are initiatives to enhance social and cultural aspects of human life: the revival and progressive use of visual, performing, and other arts, of the myriad crafts of the country, of threatened or submerged languages, of food and cuisine diversity, and other such cultural traits and processes. They also cover the various struggles and constructive movements to achieve social justice, to reduce inequalities and inequities of various kinds including caste, class, gender, ethnicity, and religion, and to create dignity in living for those currently oppressed and exploited. Finally, they include movements to generate ethical living and thinking, and spread values such as simplicity, honesty, frugality, and tolerance.

The great Indian bustard has a new ally: its human neighbours

Safeguarding the habitat and building local support would ensure that birds can thrive in their natural environment

How Forest Rights Made This Maharashtra Village ‘Atmanirbhar’

In times of crisis forest rights allow communities to move forward in self-sustenance while protecting and conserving their forests...

An Art-storm for the Northeast Forests

Students of Northeast India stage huge protests against environmental clearances given during lockdown, with a deluge of artwork on social media.

How an ordinary Sarpanch is making a difference

Media such as loud speakers at religious places, voice calling, SMSs, Whatsapp groups, public notice boards and Facebook were used.

Locking down Leviathan

I picture you and I walking through this wild land, picking herbs and fruit, enjoying flowers, birds and small animals...

Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council- Leh (India), How autonomous and how democratic?

This case study analyses the extent and nature of democracy seen in the example of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development…

Tosamaidan- A zone of peace and resilience in Kashmir (India)

This case study describes and analyses a non-violent movement to save a Himalayan landscape of enormous ecological and livelihood importance,…

Madhya Pradesh’s ‘fluoride warriors’ unleash citizen science to empower community

Getting citizens to be vigilant, contribute data and having students as data producers and messengers are excellent learnings

Worshipping the Pangolin-god – conservation by a unique village in coastal Maharashtra

The Pangolin is a threatened animal and deserves the legal status that provides it with equal protection as the Tiger