yet again ... getting lost ... then enjoying self-discovery ...

Joining the Dots Text and Photographs: Nimesh Ved and Swati Chaliha We are indebted to the people of Ungma and Longsa, and the DGZ committee for bearing our ignorance and teaching us of forests during those very wonderful days and – of course - for the very lovely pineapples. Thanks are due to friends at NEPED for sharing of Nagaland, the energies and humour. Colleagues at FES we thank for being together and for presenting the opportunity. This piece appears in the July – September 2015 issue of Hornbill ( BNHS ). Twice on the first day, the dilemma posed to us was whether we should take the tar road that snaked along the path, albeit a little further from where we had figured out the boundary lay, or cut our way through the wild growth. In both cases, after deliberation, we decided that the easier path was not the one best taken, and cut through the forest. We were walking the boundary of a Community Conserved Area (CCA) in Mokokchung district, Nagaland. CCAs are...

Some thoughts on Muzaffarnagar Baaqi Hai I moved out to the street – in heavy slow steps – and called up the number I had not answered as the film was being screened. Other end: How was the film? Me: Disturbing. Other end: Audience? Me: Room was full, more people than chairs and no one either talked on the phone or went out. Other end: Did anyone disturb the screening? Problems have been reported from Delhi. Me: No. We were to discuss conservation education but it was kind of difficult task after one had heard of people being cut, killed and burnt. As I sat in the bus, I wondered on saving wildlife when human life had very little value. I was returning home after attending a screening of Nakul Singh Sawhney’s Muzaffarnagar Baaki Hai at Lamakaan. The screening had been disrupted few weeks ago at Delhi and 25 th August was the date for screenings at multiple locations across our country. Lamakaan is an inclusive cultural space that promotes and presents the ...

Pleased to share link to the piece which finds place in the Hindu Sunday Magazine Many thanks to The Hindu. The unedited version I share below. Last Sunday I  got an opportunity to attend a concert on Hindustani Classical music at a Club. Brilliant performers had the audience enthralled at the excellent venue. As we moved out of the hall for refreshments I noticed tea being served in disposable plastic cups. For a club which is elite enough to continue, some of, its ‘Days of the Raj’ practices and stress on a dress-code, surely lack of cutlery could not be an issue. I eves-dropped, as I moved, and heard not one voice talking about it; it just was not a concern. I shared of this ‘something being out of place and wrong’ feeling to the person standing next to me and was pointed to the disposable plastic glasses for water! Neither the club nor patrons had any qualms in using disposable plastic cups and adding to our collective trash; one that we have no idea of disposing...