Citizens for Justice and Peace
Pattachitra: Where paintings tell a story Hindus and Muslims sing and paint together, and hope that the tradition survives
10-Jan-2022
Till even a few decades ago, the tradition of Pattachitra locally pronounced as ‘pottachitra’ (fabric painting) and the music that accompanied it was thriving in many villages of West Bengal. Many are still known as the village of patta chitrakar, or artist. However, very few artists in these villages are seen drawing patta, most have…
When you buy earthen lamps, you light up a craftsperson’s home Though the demand has fallen, yet potters carry on
03-Nov-2021
Durga Puja is the biggest festival celebrated by Bengalis across the globe. It also marks the start of more festivals to come. However, this year, news reports indicate that there has been a rise in Corona infections recorded in West Bengal since Durga Puja. That puts a bit of a dampener on the next big…
A serene scenic tourist spot awaits visitors Mukutmanipur in West Bengal's Bankura district lies desolate, its economy is in tatters
16-Oct-2021
The beauty of the countryside fascinates everyone, especially those who live in the city. Many crave to refresh their mind and bodies with a visit to the village, even if for a day or two. Even the drive to the countryside is refreshing, as you pass through unpolluted areas where the green flora comes in…
“Even if I don’t get to eat in the village, I will die in peace here” Migrant workers who returned home and took to small-time farming, unable to sustain the families
14-Aug-2021
“There is not a single paisa in my hand,” is something I have heard often when talking to people living in rural Bengal. However, it shook me when Samil Sheikh, a labourer who had returned home from Ranchi told me he had “tied a towel” on his stomach to curb his hunger pangs. “The young…
Small town barbers trimming their own needs to survive Lockdowns may be lifting, however customers are yet to return to the local saloons
27-Jul-2021
The neighbourhood barber shops were more than a place to seek regular grooming, these ‘saloons’ as they are popularly called were more like a club. For instance, the men’s saloons were the one place where the entire neighbourhood’s gossip was discussed. Yes, men gossip, especially when at the barber. And the said barber would all…
The unending plight of migrant workers in Bengal CJP Fellow Ripon Sheikh reports from Birbhum
13-Nov-2020
Ripon Sheikh, a CJP fellow, travels around Birbhum, West Bengal to document the condition of those migrant workers, and their families, who have lost their sources of income amid lockdown, and forced to work on others’ fields, earning way less than they used to. The condition is so grave that kids, as young as nine…
Award winning author now sells fish for a living His story was brought to light by the CJP fact finding team in Varanasi
11-Nov-2020
CJP Fact Finding: Rajesh Sahni, ex supervisor in the fisheries department of BHU, has been out of work since the Modi Government shut the department down. He has written four books, one of which is taught in agriculture classes. He is also a recipient of the President’s award during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee regime and…
Timeline: Ghosts of Demonetisation still hover RBI Annual report highlights 99.3 percent notes back to Banking System
08-Nov-2018
It’s been two years since Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation and announced that Rs 1000/- and Rs 500/- currency notes had been demonetised and were no longer valid currency. While new notes of different denominations were subsequently introduced, one cannot deny the chaos that ensued as people scrambled to exchange currency and long…
GST a Looming Issue What GST has done to the Traditional Weavers in Karnataka
02-Jun-2018
There has been a lot of debate in the media over the anomalies and imperfections of GST. Almost a year down the line, not many have paid attention to what GST has done to the grass root workers and small scale industries in different corners of the country. The weaving industry in the Bhagyanagar village…
“चलो पकोड़ा बेचा जाए” सुनिए गुड्डू अकेला का देश के नौजवानों को सन्देश
07-Feb-2018
Whatsapp पर धूम मचने वाली पकोड़ा कविता, अब सुनिए गुड्डू अकेला की ज़ुबानी . देखिया कैसे पकोड़े बेच कर भारतीय नौजवान बेरोज़गारी का डट कर सामना कर सकते हैं .
One year since Demonetisation A timeline showcasing key events and developments since Nov 8, 2016
08-Nov-2017
It’s been a year since Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation and announced that Rs 1000/- and Rs 500/- currency notes had been demonetised and were no longer valid currency. While new notes of different denominations were subsequently introduced, one cannot deny the chaos that ensued as people scrambled to exchange currency and long…