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…
Here’s what CJP achieved in 2021 CJP's truly unique achievements this year
27-Dec-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 Meet the youth leaders who were awarded the CJP Grassroots Fellowship 2020-2021
25-Dec-2021
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 A look back at some of CJP’s most unique achievements
22-Dec-2021
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 Schools shut, no online access, rural children have forgotten what they had once learnt
03-Dec-2021
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 A rare insight into the wooden plough, that may soon be seen only in a museum
29-Nov-2021
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 Mohd. Ripon Sheikh helped a young mason by taking his plea to higher authorities
24-Nov-2021
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 A sneak peek into the flavours and fragrances of a tribal celebration
23-Nov-2021
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 Date molasses are liquid gold for cultivators with demand skyrocketing this time of the year
13-Nov-2021
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 Traditional torans made by Adivasi artisans add beauty to festvities
11-Nov-2021
“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…