Charukesi Ramadurai
Charukesi reports on culture, conservation, development and gender issues for BBC, National Geographic, The Guardian, The Christian Science Monitor, Nikkei Asia and South China Morning Post, among other publications. Read more at charukesi.com.
The Revival of India’s Stunning Stepwells
Long abandoned, these deep, intricately designed wells are once again quenching water needs across India.
Millets Are Making a Comeback in India
These hardy, drought-resistant and nutritious grains disappeared from fields in the 1960s. Now, the country is working to revive them.
To Protect Rainforests’ Biodiversity, Listen Closely
Tapping into the technology of bioacoustics, scientists are using real-time soundscapes to gauge the health of Malaysia’s rainforests.
How Teen Girls in Mumbai Are Learning to Stand Tall
In workshops that combine self-defense with lessons on communication, young women build strength and confidence.
A ‘Human-Led Approach’ to Loans Is Changing Lives in Rural India
For those who lack access to formal financial institutions, peer-to-peer lending can be a ticket out of years of debt.
India’s Community Radio Brings Its Villages Crackling to Life
Across the world’s largest democracy, old-school radio stations transmit critical information that enriches — and sometimes saves — local lives.