Two worlds that never meet

Hanging by a thread

Guardians for the future

Today, vast factory trawlers are vacuuming every living thing off the floor of the oceans. Toxic wastes are being dumped on poor communities whose governments turn a blind eye. Millions of hectares of irreplaceable primeval forests are purposely being burned every year to make way for cattle ranches.

A friendly air wave

Quishuarani people believe the ancient Inca still live in the oldest quiwuña (polylepis trees) in the community. These trees are taller and thicker and are respected by everyone,” a radio announcer says, describing the beliefs of the highlands community of Peru.

‘Tribal philosophy can’t be ignored beyond a point’

Your views on the tribal way of life. Interviewee:  Sanjay Basu Mullik

Seize the freshness

Dr nature on call

Scientists working to develop new ayurvedic drugs are concentrating on the treatment of memory disorders. Says Sukh Dev, professor of chemistry at IIT-Delhi, “Ayurveda prescribes several remedies for improving memory and intelligence. Our experiments are validating many of these claims.”

Paying farmers for ecological services

MGNREGA 2.0 has the potential but its realisation needs course correction Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee programme is being refurbished as MGNREGA 2.0. Within two months, the country will have a rural employment programme that will pay people for the work they usually do for sustenance.

Letters - March 15, 2012

Puranas as sci-fi

Eat it bland, eat it pickled

Think of a farmer hoeing or weeding in the sun for hours. He is hungry and thirsty but does not want to stop for refreshment just as yet. He simply reaches for a handful of tiny, pale peach-coloured cucumber-like fruits, growing wild on the farm boundary. The flesh is bland with just a hint of sweetness, but its intense aroma, resembling that of ripe muskmelon, soothes him. The core is watery, sour and tangy—just what one needs to satisfy the cravings.