Relish history

Rich in its mythological antecedents, the prickly pear has many medicinal merits

Seize the freshness

Kerala self-help groups make medicinal oil, chutney powder from flesh of coconut

How our ancestors viewed the sky: new film explores both indigenous and modern cosmology

!Aitsa explores the intellectual background and science of the soon-to-be world’s largest radio telescope alongside indigenous conceptions …

Curdling of milk: Explained

When the solution turns acidic, protein molecules react and form lumps. This simple process is the secret to making cheese

Kings ate this fruit to restore their youth

Khirni is a life-saving fruit mentioned in ancient texts and also has medicinal properties

Intoxicatingly delicious

With increasing urbanisation and changing food habits, very few people are aware of the mahua fruit and its oil, let alone its health benefits

The eco tree

Many tribal communities consume semal because of its medicinal properties. Others worship the tree. A clan of the Bhil tribe in Rajasthan …

Joy of meals

Say hello to good health with easy-to-make, delicious home-cooked food VIBHA VARSHNEY

A sip of earthy flavour

Anantamool tea is more than a refresher for the farmers of Vidarbha

Sapped for sal seed

Despite abundant produce, seed collecting Baigas earn little

Bill Or Bull?

Why is India pushing for the enactment of a bill that does not protect agriculture?

Back where it belongs

India emerges victorious from a legal wrangle with the US over the patenting of neem

The Bill of contentions

Peepal power

The Baiga tribe in Madhya Pradesh never misses the opportunity to savour the tender leaves of peepal

Call of the wild

Wild foods are a way of life for many tribal communities. Sadly, they are being muscled out by cereals and cash crops

Treasure and the tricks

Conserving genetic purity of 750 varieties of rice with limited resources like a small piece of land and no workforce is a major challenge. Debal …

Fabric of nature

Organic cotton is much in demand across the globe. But lack of support from government agencies may impede its growth

In celebration of biodiversity

Hanging by a thread

Weavers of renowned Ponduru khadi are abandoning the craft

Discovery of India

Anil Agarwal delivers his acceptance speech for the Norman Borlaug Award 2001

Textile therapy

A handloom trader experiments with traditional medicinal herbs for dyeing garments

Beating the drought

How some villages stayed afloat even as neighbouring lands parched

Seeds of hope

Northern Bangladesh successfully fights its age-old famine-like situation by creating a new cropping season and introducing lost indigenous rice …

Lighting up hearts

A hospital for cardiac patients in Ahmedabad is sunlit to cheer up patients. It saves energy, too

A decentralised system will lead to sustainable water use

S Vishwanath, a Bangalore-based engineer and planner, started the Rainwater Club to help people manage rainwater efficiently. He spoke to Binayak …