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CJP Grassroots Fellowship: Meet Ripon Sheikh who documents rural Bengal

CJP’s fellowships are aimed at young men and women, much like Ripon Sheikh seen in this video, from the communities we work with. Migrant workers, Adivasis, forest workers and the urban poor. The fellowships would enable them to document the world around them, so that they can seek sustainable solutions for problems of their communities.…

Pattachitra: Where paintings tell a story

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…

Here’s what CJP achieved in 2021

As we entered 2021 along with challenges posed by a raging pandemic and related hurdles, CJP managed to overcome all of those and achieve some truly unique milestones along the way. Let’s take a look at the year gone by. Related: CJP in 2021: New milestones achieved CJP Impact: WB gov’t confirms Gangadhar Pramanik’s Indian…

CJP’s Fantastic Four

It cannot be called a typical scholarship, given how the Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) Grassroots Fellowship completed its first year in 2021, is unique in many ways. The four young people chosen this year have displayed rare talent and helped showcase stories of real people living with limited resources, often crushing poverty, in…

CJP in 2021: New milestones achieved

We entered 2021 knowing fully well that there would be aftershocks from 2020, especially when it came to challenges posed by Covid-19. But despite the second wave and related hurdles, CJP did manage to overcome several hurdles and achieve some truly unique milestones along the way. Here’s a look at the year gone by. Helping…

Help! Our children are forgetting how to read the alphabet

Many schools have been shut for so long due to the Covid-19 pandemic, most children in rural India, who do not have access to online classes have almost forgotten whatever little they had once learnt. One can see the impact, as these children seem to have no connection with books, they focus that they and…

The eternal romance of traditional farming may soon be folklore

Modern technology and science have given us many efficient tools. However, they lack the emotional connect of traditional tools, even though they get the job done faster. Images of many of these older inventions are slowly being pushed into sepia toned photos to be framed, or tucked away in books. The wooden plough with its…

CJP Grassroots Fellow helps Jharkhand migrant worker get pending wages

Migrant workers in India face severe exploitation at the hands of contractors, a sad reality that became worse during the Covid-19 pandemic. One such migrant worker, Mirchand Sheikh, a mason, did not receive his meagre wages for as long as three months. To help him assert his right to dues, CJP Fellow Mohd. Ripon Sheikh helped…

Diwali may be over, but festive memories linger on

Diwali has gone by, but as it is one of the biggest festivals of the tribal community, the sweet taste of the celebrations lingers on. And a perfect way to recall that enthusiasm is to share the history of the foods that are a central part of the celebrations. The festivities, like farm and forest…

Nolen Gur, the sweet syrupy taste of a Bengali winter

Many gourmands and gourmets across the country and abroad, know that Nolen Gur, which literally translates as ‘new jaggery’ also known as date molasses in its syrup form, is a winter special. For those who collect and process the molasses it is nothing less than liquid gold, as the demand rises when the annual calendar…

The golden glow of marigold garlands is the season’s signature

“Hurry up kids. You work less and chat more,” Jayashree Parade was prodding her children to work faster as they all threaded marigold flowers to make the beautiful garlands which are a must have for all significance prayers and occasions in India. In order to protect and preserve these freshly flowers on the plateau, the…

When you buy earthen lamps, you light up a craftsperson’s home

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…

Carving flowers on wood, and praying for a better future

The highly skilled carpenters of Paikar and Murarrai areas of Birbhum were once much sought out for the durable, and beautiful wood furniture they made. Now, along with thousands of daily-wage labourers, they find themselves in a precarious situation. They still make beautiful wooden furniture, but there are no buyers. Most of the adults of…

Meet Subhangi Chavan: Tough security guard, single mother… and poet

30-year-old Subhangi Chavan is often spotted reading a book, or writing in a diary in her free time. She seldom has free time though and her work is tough, requiring her to be tougher. Shubhangi works as a security guard and is stationed at the gates of Rashtra Seva Dal-Pune. She is sporty and fit, and…

A serene scenic tourist spot awaits visitors

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…

Ever seen rice that floats on water?

Adivasi families of Maharashtra’s Wada taluka are shocked. “This is the first time we have seen such rice in our life,” say villagers from Gaurapur, referring to the uncooked rice distributed under the government’s nutrition scheme. The rice is distributed from the Anganwadi centre, and locals alleged it is “made of plastic”. According to Raju Vitthal,…

Silence of the Bauls

Bauls or traditional folk singers from West Bengal’s Birbhum region have had an especially harrowing time during the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly during the Lockdown period. And now, even though the Lockdown has been lifted gradually, they are still struggling to put their lives back on track. Who are the Bauls? Sung by wandering minstrels Baul…

Prayers for stability during the festive season

It has been well documented that job opportunities have shrunk due to the Covid-19 induced lockdown and its aftermath. However expenses have continued to swell, especially for medical treatment. And now as Durga Pujo, the biggest festival of Bengalis approaches, the money crunch is being felt the most. Many middle income and low income families have…

Koli Bhaji: A feast fit for Gods!

“पाण्या देवा येशी कवा ? नारायणा देवा नवस केला” sing a group of Adivasis, praying to the rain gods to bless them. Their song roughly translated into English goes something like this: “Oh rain gods please shower your blessing on us. Don’t be upset we have prayed to Lord Narayan.” For generations tribal communities have…

Grassroot Fellowship ft. Ripon Sheikh, Migrant Labourer

CJP’s Grassroot Fellowship Programme is a one of a kind endeavour which gives voices to the underrepresented. With the power of storytelling also comes empowerment. CJP provides these young fellows from underrepresented communities to take charge of the narrative by providing them with knowledge and tools. In the last episode of this three-part series, we…

Jute farmers, and their fields of gold

Jute, once known as the ‘golden fiber’ of the country, seems to have lost its sheen long ago. Now it’s at best a link to the past, as newer packing materials and fabrics have taken over. However, many jute farmers of Bengal want to continue to preserve the tradition, even though it is a struggle…

CJP impact: A fellowship, that encouraged communities to cross communication barriers

It has been an interesting year to say the least for me, as an activist who works closely on the rights of the Van Gujjar community to which I belong, and on environmental issues. After I was awarded the CJP Grassroots Fellowship and began chronicling the Van Gujjar community’s lifestyle, tradition, migration patterns, and their…

Increase in child marriages, a side effect of Lockdown?

It is well known that there has been a huge imbalance in access to digital education during the Covid-19 Lockdown. However, there has been another sinister fallout that is yet to create the outrage it should have, across India… the increase in cases of child marriages. According to the Department of Women and Child Welfare,…

When Katkaris migrate in search of work, their problems follow

Migration from one place to another has gone on for as long as history can record. It was according to the change of season, that both humans and animals migrated from one place to another, seeking food, and shelter for survival… and survive they did. However, in modern times one of the factors that fuels…

“Even if I don’t get to eat in the village, I will die in peace here”

“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…

Support a CJP fellow today

Ripon sheikh, Mamta Pared, Meer Hamza and Tinku Sheikh. CJP’s grassroots fellows belong to different marginalized communities that we have been working with. Through our grassroots fellows, CJP aims to build a community of on ground researchers and community leaders who are passionate about exploring issues that impact them. Support our Fellowship Program. Visit here.…

CJP Impact: Churki Hansda goes from being called “Dayan” to “Di”

Remember Churki Hansda? Her inspirational story, published on the CJP website, has created waves across West Bengal. People are amazed that Churki Hansda, a Covid Warrior known for rushing oxygen concentrators, cylinders and medicines to the most deprived homes, herself had to struggle to survive a life of hardship. Many were shocked to find out…

“CJP’s Grassroots Fellowship gave me a leadership identity”

The Van Gujjar community’s traditional festival ‘Sela Parv’ had fascinated me since I was a young boy. However, I had not really seen it being celebrated, only heard stories about it from my elders. They in turn heard tales from their elders, how in the bygone era the Van Gujjar would migrate between kingdoms and…

Floods washing away the future for many in West Bengal

If you thought that surviving the dual onslaught of Covid-19 and cyclone Amphan was a feat, residents of several districts of South Bengal, now have floods to deal with. Though, floods are so regular here, that anything short of devastation, doesn’t even ring alarm bells as loud as it should, anymore. Due to the incessant…

HC order empowers Van Gujjars during Covid-19

The course the Covid-19 pandemic will now take, remains as unpredictable as ever. One the one hand, there is talk of a slowdown of the spread of the disease, one the other, there are also reports of an imminent arrival of the third wave if protocol is not adhered to. However, one cannot ignore the…

Overworked but not enough to eat

CJP Grassroots fellow Tinku Sheikh reports from a construction site, where he has been working amidst lockdown. Watch how the workers have been feeling overworked and malnourished because of the food provided to them. Support our grassroots fellows to bring out stories of the marginalized. To Know more and support our fellows, visit here Related:…

What happens when a ‘school’ drives to the students?

The Covid-19 pandemic has taken a massive toll on education, especially for children from less privileged backgrounds. In this story we take a look at how a school on wheels is attempting to solve the problem in villages in West Bengal. As the Covid-19 pandemic raged, around 1.5 million schools in India were shut, disrupting…

Small town barbers trimming their own needs to survive

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…

How the pandemic has affected Bengal’s weaving industry

The Covid-19 Lockdown may soon ease off in West Bengal, however there has been massive damage done already, as it virtually cut off livelihoods of weavers and workers associated with the textile industry. The lockdown is said to have affected over six lakh registered workers associated with the weaving industry. CJP Grassroots fellow Ripon Sheikh…

Maharashtra’s Katkaris strive to overcome isolation and deprivation

The Katkari community, an indigenous tribe, has struggled for centuries to join the mainstream. But now it looks like the youth of the community are taking it upon themselves to use education as a means to achieve that goal. My friend Mahesh Wagh (26), hails from the Dhasai village in Murbad. He has always been…

A dairy diary from Uttarakhand

The Van Gujjar community has been dairy farmers for millennia. Rearing cattle, and trading in milk and milk products, is the way of life they have inherited from their ancestors. They move with the seasons, their animals graze off the lands along the migration routes, and produce milk that is then consumed and traded. However,…

Warp and weft of distress in Shantipur

The Covid-19 Lockdown may soon ease off in West Bengal, however there has been massive damage done already, as it virtually cut off livelihoods of weavers and workers associated with the textile industry. The lockdown is said to have affected over six lakh registered workers associated with the weaving industry. The worst affected districts, according…

Wives of Migrant Workers: A story of struggle amidst uncertainty

As the women, who stay behind in their villages to sustain migration by supporting their men, face acute distress amidst a prolonged lockdown, CJP fellows Ripon Sheikh and Tinku Sheikh speak to them and bring out their stories. Support CJP’s grassroots fellows to enable people from the marginalized communities document stories that are often ignored…

West Bengal: Wild elephant attacks and the human dilemma

In the seventies, Rajesh Khanna starrer Haathi Mere Saathi had created a magical image for many Indians, especially children. The emotional relationship between a human and an elephant, living in the forest, was endearing. However, real life is far removed from the fantasy woven on celluloid. Forest dwelling elephants are wild creatures, as wild as the tiger,…

Murshidabad: Crisis pours when it rains!

Governments and seasons, both, change regularly, what does not change, is the fate of the farmer. This is the feeling in rural Bengal, a resignation of sorts, expressed by those who have been losing their jobs, and are getting pushed further into poverty due to the Covid-19 pandemic and lack of policies that can help…

How the lockdown has pushed mango farmers in Malda to the brink

West Bengal’s Malda is famous for its variety of mangoes, which are exported all around the country and internationally. But the COVID surge, subsequent lockdown and Cyclone Yaas have deeply impacted the business of the mango farmers. Unable to ship their yield in time and being forced to sell mangoes at a compromised price point,…

Covid-19 attacks the lungs, but we are worried about our empty stomachs: Migrant Workers

The lockdown may be easing in some cities, and extending in some, but nothing is the same anymore for those who can only eat one meal a day. In this little hamlet deep in West Bengal, the morning azaan from the mosque, and the sounds of the first train rushing on the tracks nearby, wakes up Surmara,…

Where have all the forests gone?

The annual migration of the Van Gujjars in the summer of 2021, one of the hottest seasons many experienced, made them pause and ponder on the impact of climate change. The Van Gujjars, like other Adivasi and forest dwelling communities, have a deep understanding of nature and how the slightest rise in temperature, and a…

Meet Churki Hansda: Once branded a witch, now hailed as a Corona warrior

Churki Hansda’s family had to leave their home in Gopalnagar village of Kasba panchayat in Parui in Birbhum district, because they were accused of ‘witchcraft’ by the villagers. They weren’t just blamed for every mishap that happened in the village, but even attacked with sticks and stones. Slurs of ‘dayan’ or witch, followed them everywhere, till one day…

How Sunderban’s Honey Collectors fight all odds to earn their living

CJP Grassroots Fellow Ripon Sheikh brings us the story of Sunderban’s Honey Collectors, who travel into the depths of the forest and collect wild honey to earn their living. These people are surviving crouching tigers, stinging bees and a stringent Lockdown to keep alive a traditional form of livelihood. Support our grassroots fellows to read…

A ray of hope is all we need

Uttarakhand is home to the Van Gujjars, the nomadic community to which I belong. We traditionally breed cows, buffalos of a special breed called Gojri, and even horses, and earn a livelihood by selling milk and milk products. A defining factor of this community is that we migrate according to the season. In the summer…

Bitter sweet lives of honey collectors

For centuries the golden floral forest honey from the Sundarbans has travelled across the world, but the stories of those who collect it, just float on the delta and into the Bay of Bengal. There is no typically easy way to get to the world-famous Sundarbans, but even the most difficult journey to this vast…

Meet Ramu Ghumman, the happiest man in Vasai

He sat there going about his work quietly, when I approached him. I did not want to startle him and had just taken a candid photo of him. I wanted to show it to the old man and ask if I could use it for my report. I wanted to know his name and age.…

Migration is not really a choice

Ambadi is a small town in Bhiwandi taluka. As it is a centrally located area, many people from the Jawahar and Mokhada talukas of Palghar district migrate, often on foot, to this place in search of work. They belong to the Thakur, Warli, Katkari communities and travel in family groups. However, once they reach, the…

Kaulale: All is not idyllic in this picture perfect village

Nestled in the heavily forested Jawhar taluka of Palghar district, lies a sleepy little village called Kaulale. While it is breathtakingly beautiful and looks like it was plucked out of the pages of a children’s storybook, the village is struggling. There is widespread unemployment, water scarcity and caste conflict. “Everyone thinks that education will change…

Bullets and bureaucracy: Van Gujjars of Shivalik hills are caught in the crosshairs

The Van Gujjars of Shivalik forests have a curious dilemma. Should they stay put in the middle of a region that is used by the Army for firing practice, or pack up and leave… and then go where? Should they revert to the nomadic life of their ancestors, or start life afresh on rented land?…

Baha “flower festival” of the Santhals

CJP Grassroots Fellow Ripon Sheikh brings to us exclusive images from the springtime flower festival, Baha Parab, celebrated by the Santhals and other tribes of India. Please Support our fellows so that more such stories can be shared with the world. Know more about our fellows here. To donate visit: https://cjp.org.in/donate Related: CJP Grassroots Fellowship:…

Why does this ‘haat’ run on our forest land?

A haat is the Bengali term for a weekly marketplace, most in rural Bengal. They are more than a mere shopping zone, and often become a hub where locals gather and meet. It is here that area residents who do not really have opportunities to travel far, can interact with customers who often came from far away to get…

Grassroot Fellowship ft. Mamta Pared, Warli Tribe

Grassroot Fellowship Programme by CJP is a one of its kind endeavour which gives voices to the underrepresented. With the power of storytelling also comes empowerment. CJP provides these young fellows from underrepresented communities to take charge of the narrative by providing them with knowledge and tools. In the second episode of this three-part series,…

Grassroot Fellowship ft. Meer Hamza, Van Gujjar

Grassroot Fellowship Programme by CJP is a one of its kind endeavour which gives voices to the underrepresented. With the power of storytelling also comes empowerment. CJP provides these young fellows from underrepresented communities to take charge of the narrative by providing them with knowledge and tools. In the first episode of this three-part series,…

RIGHTSCAST: Introducing CJP’s new Podcast Series

From Citizenship concerns in Assam, to an unequal battle for Forest Rights, from rights defenders put behind bars, to young CJP Fellows, we bring to you our new podcast series, Rightscast. Listen to these important conversations around Human Rights issues, tales of struggles to uphold India’s Constitution and the voices of everyday Indians. To Know…

How can you ever ‘resettle’ an ancient way of life?

CJP Fellow Mohammed Meer Hamza travels to the resettlement area of Gendikhata, in Uttarakhand, and meets a rehabilitated Van Gujjar, and learns that resettlement does not always mean constructive rehabilitation for forest dwellers, who now face the loss of identity. The rehabilitation of Uttarakhand’s Van Gujjar families from Rajaji National Park to Gendikhata, is not…

Ayodhya Hills on Fire: CJP fellow brings us images from ground zero

CJP grassroots Fellow Ripon Sheikh brings us images and videos from Purulia and areas around Ayodhya Hills where a huge bushfire, reportedly started by suspected miscreants, set hundreds of trees and vegetation ablaze. Youth and social workers, including members of DYFI came out to bring the situation under control in this water-scarce district. Children and…

Lockdown brings Bengal Blacksmiths’ work to a grinding halt

CJP grassroots fellow Ripon Sheikh investigates the plight of small industries as they face total unemployment and loss of business due to the lockdown, in West Bengal’s Birbhum. Empower our Grassroots fellows to bring out more such stories closest to their hearts and home. Related: CJP Grassroots Fellowship: Meet Ripon Sheikh who documents rural Bengal…

CJP Fellow Tinku Sheikh brings to us unseen images of rural Bengal

CJP Grassroots fellow Tinku Sheikh used to work as a migrant worker in Mumbai until the lockdown forced him to be unemployed. During CJP’s campaign against hunger, we came in touch with him and soon enough, we were proud to include him as our Grassroots Fellow. Watch this video to take a glance at the…

What happens if an ‘unregistered’ labourer dies suddenly?

Kakdi Kakdya Potinda’s wrapped up body lay on a small cleared patch of red earth, as shocked mourners sat around, perhaps waiting for the last rites to be held. One wonders if the death of the 50-year-old Adivasi woman would ever make the news. She was not famous. She was just another worker eking out…

Our life is linked to the forests we call home: Van Gujjars

They are often hailed as eco warriors, as they take care of the forests, they live next to. For the Van Gujjar community taking the health of the forest is a top priority. But now, their very existence, as a community is in peril, as the forest cover is shrinking across the land, and the…

Artisans near Tagore’s Shantiniketan face penury and ruin

Bolpur Shantiniketan’s Khowai haat is a weekly fair, by the Khowai river, where many artisans and artists find their sources of income. CJP grassroots fellow Ripon Sheikh speaks to artists and small business owners to know the impact of lockdown on their livelihoods and how would their income be affected by the shutting down of…

Who sprayed chemicals in an eco-sensitive forest area in Haldwani?

“Hit me, I dare you… Do what you want, don’t you have stomachs,” a woman belonging to the forest dwelling Van Gujjar community is heard confronting a man, reportedly a Forest Department guard who can be heard threatening her. She was recording a video of the guards attacking a group of her fellow Van Gujjar community members who were resisting the department’s plan to…

No access to online classes, Akash ‘sir’ to the rescue!

Akash was hoping to study hard and go to college this year, however the Covid-19 lockdown 2020, turned his life upside down. A student of class 12, this is the most crucial academic year for Akash. However, it is one of the worst years he says. He does not own a mobile phone, and is…

Hard work and resilience: The success story of two men from Jawhar

This report is part of CJP’s Grassroots Fellowship Program, and has been written by Mamta Pared who hails from the Warli tribe and lives with her family in Nimbavali village in Palghar district. The daughter of brick kiln workers, Mamta wants to be a journalist, and is working on earning a master’s degree in journalism…

Don’t miss out on CJP Grassroots Fellows’ stories

CJP grassroots fellows are bringing out stories of communities that are often ignored by the mainstream media. From protests in solidarity with farmers in Bengal to daily wage workers’ concerns, from lives of the indigenous tribes to sharing traditional music of the communities that we work with, they have been busy documenting the world around…

Have you ever heard the hypnotic notes of the Tarpa pipe?

It looks as unusual as it sounds, a bulbous pot-bellied gourd on one end, merging into slender bamboo on the other. You may have seen it in the centre of some traditional Warli wall paintings, where a Tarpa player is the core of the spiral of dancers, who seem to be moving in unison under…

Terracotta tales: When earth, water and fire meet, a story is born

Potters are the original eco warriors. For generations, potters have kneaded clay and water, and their deft fingers have mounded this earthy dough into every kind of utensil imaginable. Their skill is passed down generations, a heritage, that is not merely learned, it is lived. But one cannot live on heritage status alone. Daily bread…

Education is the biggest weapon to win the battle against poverty

This report is part of CJP’s Grassroots Fellowship Program, and has been written by researcher Ripon Sheikh, who is travelling around rural Bengal, tracking and documenting social and cultural movements of indigenous people. For this report, he meets inspirational citizens who are working to educate members of the Adivasi communities they themselves belong to, leading by…

Tinku Sheikh: Migrant worker who became a CJP Grassroots Fellow

CJP is proud to introduce its newest grassroots fellow Tinku Sheikh. Growing up in poverty, Tinku managed to study till the 8th standard before he moved to Mumbai as a daily wage worker. During the lockdown, when Tinku was facing tremendous difficulty, CJP came in touch with him amid our ‘CJP against hunger’ campaign. Watch this…

They call us Jamatis, no longer buy milk from us: Van Gujjars

Here Mohammed Meer Hamza interviews Baniyabeen, a Van Gujjar who hails from Gauhri Range Kunou, Chaurd Pauri, Garhwal, and is currently camping at Gari Shyampur, near Rishikesh, Dehradun. They discuss the long-lasting impact that the Covid-19 pandemic on the community, and how despite facing discrimination, Van Gujjar’s hold no resentment. All they want is the safety of their…

Pir Mehboob Shah Fair: Celebration of syncretic traditions

CJP Grassroots fellow Ripon Sheikh takes us through this renowned fair in West Bengal’s Patharchapuri where tourists, from all around the world, come together on the death anniversary of Sufi Pir Data Mehboob Shah. He goes on to speak to small business owners who run their stalls in the fair and have suffered a major…

#CJPWednesdays We achieved so much together because of YOU

Since 2002 when we began this work, our expertise have grown even as our conviction to stay the course has deepened. As this year comes to an end, here’s a round up of our extremely challenging work through the difficult year that 2020 was. From our inspiring team in Assam to our women leaders and…

From bonded labour to farmers waiting for ownership rights

This report is part of CJP’s Grassroots Fellowship Program, and has been written by Mamta Pared who hails from the Warli tribe and lives with her family in Nimbavali village in Palghar district. The daughter of brick kiln workers, Mamta wants to be a journalist, and is working on earning a master’s degree in journalism…

Will the 125-year old Bolpur Poush Mela be held this year?

CJP fellowship 2020 researcher Ripon Sheikh, tracks and documents the confusion, around the massive cultural celebration, and the anger that is simmering over its possible cancellation. Poush Mela is regarded as a living heritage of West Bengal, one that has put the culture and vivacity of Shantiniketan in Bolpur on the world map. It celebrates…

Revealed! An ancient migration route that may vanish soon

In this interview, 40-year-old Shamshad, a Van Gujjar, reveals the unique seasonal migration of the community. Shamshad hails from Kumau Chaurd, Gohri Range, Pauri Garhwal, and undertakes the seasonal migration to the river plains of Ganga Naur near Muzaffarnagar and then onto the grasslands on the Bijnor border. He leads his herd of 15 Cows,…

स्वरा भास्कर की अपील, एक CJP ग्रासरूट फ़ेलो को प्रायोजित करें

CJP की ग्रासरूट फैलोशिप उन समुदायों के युवा पुरुषों और महिलाओं को सक्षम बनाती है, जिनके साथ CJP के लोग काम करते हैं, ताकि वे अपने अपने समुदायों और उनसे जुड़े मुद्दों की बातें हम तक पहुंचा सकें। प्रसिद्ध अभिनेत्री और सामाजिक कार्यकर्ता स्वरा भास्कर को सुनिए, जो हमारी इस पहल का समर्थन कर रही हैं, और CJP…

Bandna Parab: A festival that celebrates light and life

Around the same time most parts of the country celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights, there are many indigenous communities who celebrate many ancient festivals of their own. Most of these festivals are not yet recognised on the mainstream calendars, even though they are ancient, and are rooted in celebrating the elements, changing seasons, and…

Lockdown has reduced lives of bidi labourers to ashes!

Ever since the Covid-19 global pandemic struck and led to the country-wide lockdown that began in March 2020, its negative impact on the Indian economy has been catastrophic. Cottage industries of rural India are the worst affected, families running them having been pushed to the brink of penury! Those involved with the cottage industry in West Bengal, especially bidi workers, are today amidst ext

पराली ख़रीद कर वायु प्रदूषण से लड़ रहें है वन गुज्जर

यह रिपोर्ट CJP के ग्रासरूट फ़ेलोशिप प्रोग्राम का हिस्सा है, और वन गुज्जर समुदाय के युवा नेता अमीर हमज़ा ने इस रिपोर्ट को तैयार किया है। वन गुज्जर एक घुमन्तु समुदाय है, जो पशुपालन कर के अपना जीवन व्यापन करता है। इस लेख में अमीर हमज़ा ने इस बात पर प्रकाश डाला है कि, किस…

Adivasi youth Mamta Pared is CJP’s newest grassroots fellow

Meet the newest CJP grassroots fellow Mamta Pared from Palghar, Maharashtra. Daughter of brick kiln workers, Mamta struggled to complete her education while taking up household responsibilties from a very young age. But not only did she graduate from college, she is now pursuing her post graduation in mass media. An aspiring journalist, she has…

Van Gujjars emerge as Air Pollution Warriors

The work of conservation and preservation of forests has been going on for centuries. For the last few years, the Van Gujjar community has played a symbiotic role in increasing the income of the farmers and preventing air pollution. Earlier, farmers polluted the air by burning stubble, while livestock rearing communities had to gather stubble…

The unending plight of migrant workers in Bengal

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…

Meet Ameer Hamza, a CJP fellow

CJP’s fellowships are meant to bring into focus young men and women from the communities we work with. Ameer Hamza, a young van Gujjar leader is now a CJP fellow. Watch him introduce himself and his community CJP Grassroots Fellowship: Meet Ripon Sheikh who documents rural Bengal

Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) Grassroots fellowship 2020-2021

Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) Grassroots fellowship 2020-2021

Pattachitra: Where paintings tell a story

Here’s what CJP achieved in 2021

CJP’s Fantastic Four

CJP in 2021: New milestones achieved

Help! Our children are forgetting how to read the alphabet

The eternal romance of traditional farming may soon be folklore

CJP FELLOWS

Mamta Pared

Meer Hamza

Mohamed Ripon Sheikh

Tinku Sheikh

CJP FELLOWS

Mamta Pared

Mohamed Ripon Sheikh

Tinku Sheikh

Community

Meer Hamza

Van Gujjar Community

Mohamed Ripon Sheikh

Birbhum Community

Mamta Pared

Warli Community

CJP FELLOWS

Mamta Pared

Meer Hamza

Mohamed Ripon Sheikh

Tinku Sheikh

Mamta Pared

Meer Hamza

Mohamed Ripon Sheikh

Tinku Sheikh

Ground Reports

Ground Reports

Pattachitra: Where paintings tell a story

Here’s what CJP achieved in 2021

CJP’s Fantastic Four

CJP in 2021: New milestones achieved

Help! Our children are forgetting how to read the alphabet

The eternal romance of traditional farming may soon be folklore

CJP Grassroots Fellow helps Jharkhand migrant worker get pending wages

Diwali may be over, but festive memories linger on

Nolen Gur, the sweet syrupy taste of a Bengali winter

The golden glow of marigold garlands is the season’s signature

When you buy earthen lamps, you light up a craftsperson’s home

Carving flowers on wood, and praying for a better future

Meet Subhangi Chavan: Tough security guard, single mother… and poet

A serene scenic tourist spot awaits visitors

Ever seen rice that floats on water?

Silence of the Bauls

Prayers for stability during the festive season

Koli Bhaji: A feast fit for Gods!

Grassroot Fellowship ft. Ripon Sheikh, Migrant Labourer

Jute farmers, and their fields of gold

CJP impact: A fellowship, that encouraged communities to cross communication barriers

Increase in child marriages, a side effect of Lockdown?

When Katkaris migrate in search of work, their problems follow

“Even if I don’t get to eat in the village, I will die in peace here”

Support a CJP fellow today

CJP Impact: Churki Hansda goes from being called “Dayan” to “Di”

“CJP’s Grassroots Fellowship gave me a leadership identity”

Floods washing away the future for many in West Bengal

HC order empowers Van Gujjars during Covid-19

Overworked but not enough to eat

What happens when a ‘school’ drives to the students?

Small town barbers trimming their own needs to survive

How the pandemic has affected Bengal’s weaving industry

Maharashtra’s Katkaris strive to overcome isolation and deprivation

A dairy diary from Uttarakhand

Warp and weft of distress in Shantipur

Wives of Migrant Workers: A story of struggle amidst uncertainty

West Bengal: Wild elephant attacks and the human dilemma

Murshidabad: Crisis pours when it rains!

How the lockdown has pushed mango farmers in Malda to the brink

Covid-19 attacks the lungs, but we are worried about our empty stomachs: Migrant Workers

Where have all the forests gone?

Meet Churki Hansda: Once branded a witch, now hailed as a Corona warrior

How Sunderban’s Honey Collectors fight all odds to earn their living

A ray of hope is all we need