All photos by the author
Some glimpses of the just-concluded Vikalp Sangam in Kachchh, 27-30 July, organised by local groups and individuals with help from Kalpavriksh.
Opening session of Kachchh Vikalp Sangam, near Bhuj We had some fantastic Kachchhi and Gujarati food! Tree planting to create a Vikalp Sangam grove, on Jai Sanghvi’s farm (Sangam venue) Geology and natural history walk during Sangam Star tortoise, a rare species, gave us a wonderful glimpse in thorn forest near Sangam venue. 
Ghanibhai, a Maldhari, showing his vast knowledge of local species and their uses Painted grasshopper, what a creature! Aerial view of discussion part of Kachchh Vikalp Sangam Salim Node, a Maldhari elder, regaled us with some v. cutting remarks about city-dwellers’ abysmal lack of knowledge re. nature! Kachchh Vikalp Sangam included learning about local crafts from craftspersons: loom weaving, block printing, music/ghazals, mud block making Kachchh’s amazing women power was much in evidence at the Sangam, including women sarpanches, Sakhi Sangini members, and others Bhuj town councillor, one of those pro-active with governance initiatives Participants of Kachchh Vikalp Sangam on last day
First published on the blog of Ashish Kothari