Catching the wind

Modern designers of interior climate control can learn a thing or two from traditional windtowers and windtunnels

Thinking ahead

Body ache? Try green dosa

A creeper found in south India is an answer to several common ailments, says Sumana Narayanan

Inundated by colonial misconceptions

The benefits that can be derived from controlling flood waters intelligently have been wasted, largely because of wrong, archaic notions about …

Noteworthy

Santhal trio pulls right strings to keep alive a dying tradition

Crafted tales

Startups are connecting artisans to the urban consumer by providing them an online market to showcase their craft

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

The Bill of contentions

The secret gardens of Malabar

An English translation has been made exactly 300 years after the Hortus Malabricus was written, new, sinister designs seem to lurking behind it - …

Rooted to earth

Kagga in peril

This rice can tolerate brackish water but is on the brink of extinction. Can government save it?

Rice from dry river

Farmers in an arid Andhra Pradesh district revive traditional irrigation system to tide over drought

Healing a tradition

A low-tech online network connects traditional healers and patients in Bhopal

Out of favour

Focus on Alphonso has resulted in neglect of native mango varieties grown in the Western Ghats, some of which are on the brink of extinction

Springing back to life

Two villages in Uttarakhand take lessons in hydrogeology to revive dry springs, end water conflict

Japanese biopiracy of our Ballia barley

Japan’s Sapporo brewery patents Indian barley gene without giving benefit to farmers

Crazy for GI? Think again

The protection of Geographical Indication is not a guarantee that the artisan or producer will benefit; traders can corner the premium

Bitter ABS medicine for AYUSH

Manufacturers cry foul as they receive notices from state boards to pay royalty

Hunters turn protectors

Traditional hunters Phase Pardhis are part of an initiative to save critically endangered lesser floricans

Blind to rain

Drugged by chicken

Antibiotics in meat make disease-causing bacteria resistant to cures

Pursuing a nationalist IPR policy

India has enough laws to protect its intellectual property rights. It is the implementation that is wanting

Time for climate lesson

A Nepal school that imparts practical knowledge to farmers

Shark in a soup

The fish, high in demand for its fin, is dwindling in the Indian waters. Will a mere ban on finning protect it?

A journey called change

Their struggle for survival and progress has shaped the understanding of environmentalism both at the national and global levels and influenced …