An indigenous cultural melting pot
Arunachal Pradesh is an indigenous cultural melting pot but many of its heritage could be lost to posterity for lack of preservation. A grant from the U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation is helping to document and preserve the traditions of indigenous communities, reports Michael Gallant
War and Peace: The Last Men Standing
Even as violence permeates West Asia, there are voices of reason by people across the Palestine-Israel divide calling for peace and understanding, Ranjita Biswas writes
Tuk-tuk diplomacy: Women US diplomats discover Delhi in pink autos
Three women American diplomats discover Delhi in their personalised autorickshaws, one honk at a time, reports Krittika Sharma
Radio Ceylon: The Lankan queen of airwaves
Away from the world of social media and internet, there was a time when listening to Radio Ceylon was a part of everyday life and entertainment in several South Asian countries. Back then Radio Ceylon had thrown some serious challenge to All India Radio. Supriyo Hazra journeys through the memory lane at the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation building in Colombo recently.
A View From Space With Indian-American astronaut Raja Chari
Indian American astronaut Raja Chari spent 177 days on the International Space Station, where he conducted his first spacewalk and hada bird’s-eye view of Earth’s atmosphere. SPAN writer Krittika Sharma catches up with the spaceman
Pompeii: From ashes and memories
Two thousand years ago, the volcanic eruption of the Vesuvius completely destroyed the thriving city of Pompeii, inhabitants included. With a recent discovery, newer facts are coming up and makes Ranjita Biswas remember her visit to the city of Italy frozen in memory
Memories of Tigre, Maradona's chosen home
As the news of Maradonas death hit the headline and the world mourned, the name Tigre also came up. This is where he breathed his last. Ranjita Biswas remembers her trip to the Tigre island
Coronavirus: Before and after
The Coronavirus pandemic raging across the world could be a watershed event in modern times as was the Black Death pandemic in Europe in the Middle Ages. Many things changed in the European society after it was over, as it surely will after the current pandemic ends in not too far a future. But questions are already being asked how this event will change the way we have been living, writes Ranjita Biswas
Looking anew at yesterdays favourite
As the Coronavirus pandemic ravages the world and people are locked down in houses, they are looking anew at places in houses and buildings long dismissed as being just there, Ranjita Biswas writes
A yak in the classroom
Pawo Choyning Dorji is a photographer and filmmaker from Bhutan but travels with his camera all across the world. He has published Seeing Sacred: Lights & Shadows Along the Path, a book on photography and Sacred Paths which retraces Master Xuanzangs journey to India. His directorial debut Lunana A Yak in the Classroom, was the sole entry from Bhutan at the recently held 25th KIFF in Kolkata. Shoma A. Chatterji in a tete-a-tete with the director
Stories of innovations impacting modern life
From rare cars to freedom rides, modular houses to microprocessors, the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Michigan offers exhibits that showcase incredible examples of ingenuity and creativity that have had an impact on the modern world as well, finds SPAN writer Jason Chiang
30 years on, Eastside Gallery is Berlin's Wall of Freedom
Thirty years after the fall of the Berlin Wall (the momentous November 1989), the murals on the East Side Gallery on the remnants of the wall are as alive and relevant today with their message of peace and unity, discovers Ranjita Biswas
The spy is out there
Spies have been among us for centuries though it is often thought to be a recent phenomenon . Ranjita Biswas gets a glimpse of their secret world in Berlins German Spy Museum
Now drones explore the seas
Sampriti Bhattacharyya of Kolkata has developed underwater drones that could help in rescue missions and explorations, as well as prevent radiation leakage under the sea. SPAN writer Jason Chiang of Los Angeles meets the innovator
Global classroom goes local
American students learn about India from the inside out through the School for International Trainings unique study abroad programmes, finds New York based SPAN writer Michael Gallant , founder of Gallant Music
Fighting the purple haze
Shilpi Gulatis long documentary, Lock and Key, narrates a story of real-life rehabs of people across Punjab where drug addiction has been rampant in recent years. Shoma A. Chatterji takes a look at those who have triumphed over their addiction through the directors eyes
Frontline Kashmir: Where bullets do the talking...
Indian soldiers in Kashmir guard the border in the line of fire along the LoC with Pakistan. Kavita Suri reports from Pallanwala where nature has unleashed its bounty but only bullets do the talking
The forgotten games of India
Playing board games is a leisure activity people indulged in for ages. In India, the board game tradition goes back to ancient times but have been lost into oblivion now Uttara Gangopadhyay finds
Vinyl once more
Who would have thought that the vinyl record would make a comeback in this digital age? But it has, surprisingly. In 2016, in a massive reversal of fortune, record sales in the United Kingdom surpassed that of digital downloads. Sudipto Maity explores the Indian vinyl market
She is a witch
Ishu, debut film by Utpal Borpujari, that premiered at the 23rd Kolkata Film Festival recently throws light on the practice of witch-hunting prevalent among some communities in Assam, reports Ranjita Biswas
Tourism at a cost
Tourism is one of the fastest growing industries in the world today. But unbridled tourism has also created problems with growing resentment among local residents as well as allegations of damage to the environment, writes Ranjita Biswas
Community colleges for Skilled India
Community colleges can support the Skill India mission and bridge the gap between industry demand and the availability of high-skill candidates in the country, says SPAN writer Burton Bollag taking a cue from an American model
Much ado over Indias Monsanto alliance
A looming $66 billion takeover by the German company Bayer may help soothe US agrichemical giant Monsantos battered reputation. But both in USA and India the firm faces fierce charges of ecocide and anti-farmer monopolistic practices. Christopher Beyer and Sudipto Maity report from two sides of the world
Bottling the power of the splendid sun
Researchers in University of Missouri in USA and India's Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bangalore are working together to design lighter, more portable and cheaper solar cells to power the lives of people in some of the worlds poorest, most remote places. Deepayan Sinha, Cullen Ecoffey, Erdenetungalag Erdenekhuyag and Toms Orihuela report from both the countries
A different yatra
Jagriti Yatra is on a different trip, quite literally. It sparks creative enterprise and encourages development through a journey across India moving on railway tracks. New York based writer for SPAN, Carrie Loewenthal Massey, reports
Not so green
The emerald landscape of tea gardens in Assam hide a healthcare lacunae among its women workers whose nimble fingers pluck the two leaves and a bud, invaluable to the industry. Activists from the community are now trying to change their condition. Ranjita Biswas reports from Sonitpur district on the north bank of the Brahmaputra
Boys will be boys?
Despite many awareness programmes and campaigns, the continued rise in gender violence in the country is proving frustrating to sociologists and activists. Some suggest that including men in such programmes is vital. Ranjita Biswas gets introduced to one such initiative in Pune
Farewell 2016: That Was the Year That Was
As the year comes to a close, IBNS correspondents Supriyo Hazra and Sudipto Maity review the past 12 months when India was much in international focus after PM Modi's dramatic announcement to demonetise 86 percent of the currency to fight black money and corruption
Top Headlines
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An indigenous cultural melting pot
March 13, 2024
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War and Peace: The Last Men Standing
December 08, 2023
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Tuk-tuk diplomacy: Women US diplomats discover Delhi in pink autos
October 30, 2022
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Radio Ceylon: The Lankan queen of airwaves
September 24, 2022
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A View From Space With Indian-American astronaut Raja Chari
August 30, 2022
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Pompeii: From ashes and memories
December 14, 2020
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Memories of Tigre, Maradona's chosen home
November 27, 2020
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Coronavirus: Before and after
May 04, 2020
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Looking anew at yesterdays favourite
April 18, 2020
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A yak in the classroom
December 04, 2019