Masti ki Pathshala is a unique initiative by a social activist in Kolkata, West Bengal, to get children to read books again. A cart loaded with 300 books in English, Hindi, Bengali and Urdu trundles into Rajabazar where children from nearly 400 families enjoy its benefits, free of cost.

Masti ki Pathshala is a unique initiative by a social activist in Kolkata, West Bengal, to get children to read books again. A cart loaded with 300 books in English, Hindi, Bengali and Urdu trundles into Rajabazar where children from nearly 400 families enjoy its benefits, free of cost.

उत्तरी बंगाल का टोटो समुदाय विशेष रूप से कमजोर जनजातीय समूह से संबंधित है और भारत-भूटान सीमा पर एक छोटे से गाँव में रहता है। ऐसा माना जाता है कि दुनिया में केवल 1,763 टोटो सदस्य ही बचे हैं और उनमें से ज्यादातर अलीपुरद्वार जिले के टोटोपारा गाँव में रहते हैं। टोटो दावा करते हैं कि उनकी पहचान और उनकी आजीविका गंभीर खतरे में हैं।

The Toto community of North Bengal belongs to the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group and inhabits a small village on the Indo-Bhutan border. It is believed that only 1,763 Toto members are left in the world and most of them live in Totopara village in Alipurduar district. Totos claim their identity and their livelihoods are under serious threat.

The Toto community of North Bengal belongs to the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group and inhabits a small village on the Indo-Bhutan border. It is believed that only 1,763 Toto members are left in the world and most of them live in Totopara village in Alipurduar district. Totos claim their identity and their livelihoods are under serious threat.

पारंपरिक खल, पश्चिम बंगाल की राभा जनजाति द्वारा बजाई जाने वाली बांस की बांसुरी, उत्सव और दर्द का प्रतीक होती है और पारंपरिक रूप से पश्चिम बंगाल में शादियों, उत्सवों और अंत्येष्टि का एक जरूरी हिस्सा रही है।

Commercial cultivation of strawberries started in the North Bengal region of West Bengal in 2012. More than a 100 farmers are now tending to strawberries over 151 bighas of land. But due to erratic weather and unfavourable temperature this year, a large number of farmers fear it is going to be a sour harvest as the fruits are not ripening as they should.

Commercial cultivation of strawberries started in the North Bengal region of West Bengal in 2012. More than a 100 farmers are now tending to strawberries over 151 bighas of land. But due to erratic weather and unfavourable temperature this year, a large number of farmers fear it is going to be a sour harvest as the fruits are not ripening as they should.

Bainchi village is the hub of lotus farming in West Bengal due to the presence of several water bodies. Farmers take ponds on lease to grow lotus whose demand is very high in the festival season of Durga Puja and Diwali. But sudden heavy rainfall has washed away the flowers leaving the farmers in high debt.

Bainchi village is the hub of lotus farming in West Bengal due to the presence of several water bodies. Farmers take ponds on lease to grow lotus whose demand is very high in the festival season of Durga Puja and Diwali. But sudden heavy rainfall has washed away the flowers leaving the farmers in high debt.

दुर्गा प्रतिमा बनाने के लिए कारीगर पिछले दो-तीन महीने से रोजाना 17 से 18 घंटे मेहनत कर रहे हैं। उसके बावजूद उनकी कमाई काफी कम है। वो परेशान हैं क्योंकि कच्चे माल, जैसे कि मिट्टी और पुआल की लागत बढ़ गई है। 300 कारीगरों वाले हावड़ा के प्रसस्थ गाँव से एक ग्राउंड रिपोर्ट

Artisans have been working 17-18 hours every day for the past two-three months to make Durga idols. But, they are worried about low earnings as the cost of the raw materials, such as mud and straw, have shot up. A ground report from Howrah's Prasastha village that has 300 idol makers.

Artisans have been working 17-18 hours every day for the past two-three months to make Durga idols. But, they are worried about low earnings as the cost of the raw materials, such as mud and straw, have shot up. A ground report from Howrah's Prasastha village that has 300 idol makers.

बंगाल का सबसे बड़ा वार्षिक आयोजन दुर्गा पूजा बस कुछ ही दिन दूर है, लेकिन हावड़ा जिले के 17 गाँवों के को लोग शायद ही इस बार दुर्गा पूजा उत्सव मना सकेंगे, क्योंकि क्षतिग्रस्त नदी तटबंध मनरेगा फंड के रोके जाने जाने के कारण बिना मरम्मत के रह गए हैं। इसकी वजह से हमेशा उनके घरों पर खतरा बना रहता है। अभी पिछले महीने ही उनके घर बाढ़ के पानी में बह गए थे।

Durga Puja, Bengal's biggest annual event, is just a few days away but residents of 17 villages in Howrah district are in no mood to celebrate because damaged river embankments remain unrepaired due to 'freezing' of MGNREGA funds and there is the ever present threat of their homes being washed away by flood waters like it did last month.

Durga Puja, Bengal's biggest annual event, is just a few days away but residents of 17 villages in Howrah district are in no mood to celebrate because damaged river embankments remain unrepaired due to 'freezing' of MGNREGA funds and there is the ever present threat of their homes being washed away by flood waters like it did last month.

कलाकार जाति, पंथ या रंग की बाधा नहीं पहचानते और पश्चिम बंगाल का नोया गाँव इसका प्रमाण है। मुस्लिम पट्टाचित्र कलाकारों के इस गाँव में लगभग 300 लोग ऐसे हैं जो कपड़ों पर स्क्रॉल पेंटिंग के माध्‍यम से हिंदू देवी-देवताओं की कहानियां सुनाते रहते हैं।

Artists recognise no barriers of caste, creed or colour. And Noya village in West Bengal, made up entirely of Muslim Pattachitra artists, stands testimony to this as its nearly 300 inhabitants continue to tell stories of Hindu Gods and Goddesses through their beautiful cloth-based scroll paintings.

Artists recognise no barriers of caste, creed or colour. And Noya village in West Bengal, made up entirely of Muslim Pattachitra artists, stands testimony to this as its nearly 300 inhabitants continue to tell stories of Hindu Gods and Goddesses through their beautiful cloth-based scroll paintings.

Residents of three villages – Piyala, Kalipur and Waria – in Durgapur, West Bengal complain they are forced to eat and breathe black dust emanating from the nearby thermal power plant. The air, admits the pollution control board, is heavily polluted, and there are allegations of flyash being dumped in the local water bodies. A ground report.