The Sky's the Ceiling
The Sky's the Ceiling

By Fahim Mattoo

The Khatamband wooden ceiling is one of the legacies of Kashmir’s traditional architecture. The beautifully handcrafted ceilings, replete with motifs, was a common feature of all buildings in the region, be it palaces, shrines, mosques, homes of nobles, and even houseboats. Khatamband craft is making a comeback after a slump, giving hope to Kashmiri craftsmen.

The Khatamband wooden ceiling is one of the legacies of Kashmir’s traditional architecture. The beautifully handcrafted ceilings, replete with motifs, was a common feature of all buildings in the region, be it palaces, shrines, mosques, homes of nobles, and even houseboats. Khatamband craft is making a comeback after a slump, giving hope to Kashmiri craftsmen.

Madhya Pradesh: A School Is Reborn For The Kids of Mohanpura Dam-Affected Families
Madhya Pradesh: A School Is Reborn For The Kids of Mohanpura Dam-Affected Families

By Abdul Wasim Ansari

A government school teacher, Gopal Bhalwala, spent his savings to give the drab walls of a middle school in Rajgarh district a new life with bright murals to encourage children to come to study.

A government school teacher, Gopal Bhalwala, spent his savings to give the drab walls of a middle school in Rajgarh district a new life with bright murals to encourage children to come to study.

The intriguing history of Sri Lanka's Dambulla Rock Temple
The intriguing history of Sri Lanka's Dambulla Rock Temple

By Santosh Ojha

From the expansion of Buddhism in the island nation to the ancient wars, the cave temple complex in Sri Lanka nestles within itself a rich history of religion and culture. It is almost impossible not to be dazed by the intricate idols and paintings situated inside the cave complex.

From the expansion of Buddhism in the island nation to the ancient wars, the cave temple complex in Sri Lanka nestles within itself a rich history of religion and culture. It is almost impossible not to be dazed by the intricate idols and paintings situated inside the cave complex.

Teacher’s Diary: ‘When I joined, the classrooms were mouldy; I didn’t feel like opening my tiffin box. Today the school is transformed’
Teacher’s Diary: ‘When I joined, the classrooms were mouldy; I didn’t feel like opening my tiffin box. Today the school is transformed’

By Vineet Kumar Mishra

A teacher in Anta village of Kanpur Dehat, UP, rallies around support from the entire community of village administration, students and their parents into making the school a space where his students will feel uplifted.

A teacher in Anta village of Kanpur Dehat, UP, rallies around support from the entire community of village administration, students and their parents into making the school a space where his students will feel uplifted.

'Colonial legacy dictating agri land laws, legal reform needed to benefit farmers in Maharashtra'
'Colonial legacy dictating agri land laws, legal reform needed to benefit farmers in Maharashtra'

By Pratyaksh Srivastava

In a virtual seminar organised to address issues regarding laws that regulate land ownership in Maharashtra, speakers highlighted that the legal framework needs an overhaul. The speakers held that the existing laws are based on a colonial interpretation of the land rights and ignore the socio-economic realities of post-independence India.

In a virtual seminar organised to address issues regarding laws that regulate land ownership in Maharashtra, speakers highlighted that the legal framework needs an overhaul. The speakers held that the existing laws are based on a colonial interpretation of the land rights and ignore the socio-economic realities of post-independence India.

“If he sent money they would eat, otherwise no” — UP migrant worker killed in Pulwama was the sole breadwinner in his family
“If he sent money they would eat, otherwise no” — UP migrant worker killed in Pulwama was the sole breadwinner in his family

By Sumit Yadav

Five months in a year, labourers from villages in Uttar Pradesh migrate to Kashmir where they work as daily wagers at brick kilns. Yesterday, one of them, Mukesh Kumar, was shot dead in Pulwama. Gaon Connection met his family.

Five months in a year, labourers from villages in Uttar Pradesh migrate to Kashmir where they work as daily wagers at brick kilns. Yesterday, one of them, Mukesh Kumar, was shot dead in Pulwama. Gaon Connection met his family.

The Sounds of Silence in Matheran
The Sounds of Silence in Matheran

By Nidhi Jamwal

The eco-sensitive hill station in Maharashtra has no pucca roads and vehicles are a strict no-no. The only sound is that of birds in the daytime, and crickets at night. Or, perhaps the pitter-patter of raindrops on the window panes and on the red-tiled roofs of cottages. Matheran is a perfect getaway from the high-on-steroid urban lifestyles.

The eco-sensitive hill station in Maharashtra has no pucca roads and vehicles are a strict no-no. The only sound is that of birds in the daytime, and crickets at night. Or, perhaps the pitter-patter of raindrops on the window panes and on the red-tiled roofs of cottages. Matheran is a perfect getaway from the high-on-steroid urban lifestyles.

A teacher in Kashmir creates a wealth of memories and learning from waste
A teacher in Kashmir creates a wealth of memories and learning from waste

By Sadaf Shabir

Along with making craft out of waste, to entertain and teach her students, Roohi Sultana, a national award-winning art and craft teacher in a government school in Srinagar has won appreciation of parents as her method of teaching requires minimal expenditure and offers maximum fun.

Along with making craft out of waste, to entertain and teach her students, Roohi Sultana, a national award-winning art and craft teacher in a government school in Srinagar has won appreciation of parents as her method of teaching requires minimal expenditure and offers maximum fun.

Heat Wave: UP CM Adityanath asks officials to ensure no power cuts; here’s what the rural residents say
Heat Wave: UP CM Adityanath asks officials to ensure no power cuts; here’s what the rural residents say

By गाँव कनेक्शन

In wake of the heatwave conditions prevailing in the state, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has instructed the authorities to ensure that there were no unnecessary power cuts in the state. But what is the situation in the rural areas of UP, how long are the daily power outages? Gaon Connection spoke with villagers and many complained of daily power cuts of 7-8 hours.

In wake of the heatwave conditions prevailing in the state, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has instructed the authorities to ensure that there were no unnecessary power cuts in the state. But what is the situation in the rural areas of UP, how long are the daily power outages? Gaon Connection spoke with villagers and many complained of daily power cuts of 7-8 hours.

Feeling The Heat
Feeling The Heat

By Nidhi Jamwal

The measure of rising heat in the country isn’t just colour coded heat stress maps or a bumper sale of air-conditioners. There is a human face to it and that face is often of a migrant worker, or a daily wage farm labourer. If you look closer, many of those faces belong to rural women.

The measure of rising heat in the country isn’t just colour coded heat stress maps or a bumper sale of air-conditioners. There is a human face to it and that face is often of a migrant worker, or a daily wage farm labourer. If you look closer, many of those faces belong to rural women.

Follow us
Contact
  • Gomti Nagar, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 226010
  • neelesh@gaonconnection.com

© 2025 All Rights Reserved.