Born and raised in a farming family, Mahan Chandra Borah started Annapurna Rice Library to protect the vanishing legacy of his forefathers. He not only preserves the seeds but also shares them wi...
AC Barua, a retired Indian Air Force officer, founded ‘Seneh’ a shelter home for poor and abandoned women in Guwahati, Assam. He has rescued over 60 women so far, providing them with food, sh...
Uttam Teron started teaching underprivileged children with just Rs 800. Today, he runs Parijat Academy — a non-profit school that teaches nearly 400 kids from 20 villages for free.
The flood situation in Assam remains grim. But amid tales of sorrow, we have been seeing valiant efforts of the Assam Rifles. One of their rescue efforts is the evacuation
Bogamati, a tiny village in Assam, is nestled amid picturesque hills, located near the Bornadi Wildlife Sanctuary. With a river flowing alongside, it makes for the perfect destination for many
“I did not have any money to buy these expensive devices. So I started learning coding from YouTube, and learned how to create an electric circuit from an e-bicycle. To fund the project, I star...
On a quiet November evening in Assam, a barn owl awaits the darkness to creep in before flying out of its nest. As time suits, the nocturnal bird then swoops
A quick Google search will reveal a series of news reports that talk about bike thefts, which are commonplace and occur daily across India. When Samrat Nath was in Class 8,
https://www.thebetterindia.com/277139/assam-innovation-theft-proof-e-bicycle-alarm-gps-samrat-nath/
As an academic requirement, I took up a research project on different topics during my graduation and Masters programmes. But as soon as I passed the exams, I dumped my
Grown in Panbari village of Assam’s Chirang district, the Kaji Nemu lemon variety is used in culinary dishes, beverages and by pharma industries too, but it sells for just Re 1 in local markets...
https://www.thebetterindia.com/260719/assam-village-exports-kaji-nemu-lemon-uk-profits-gi/
Arsenic, a naturally occurring material, has wide use in industries, such as glass, textiles, tanning and others. However, the element found in the earth’s crust has devastating effects on the
“In the village, they would often pity my parents, as they had no sons but three daughters. My mother would always tell us to do something to prove the critics wrong. And we did." #LovlinaBorgo...
Water hyacinth, scientifically known as Eicchronia carssipes, is a weed from the Amazon basin in South America. The non-native aquatic plant made its way to India as a gift from
Every day for the past four years, Mandakini Gogoi and her husband, Rituraj Dewan, have been travelling from their home in Guwahati, Assam, to the forests of the Loharghat range.
Is there a corner in your home where the plastic bottles are mounting up? Here's something you could consider doing for your community.
Momee Pegu (34) from Majuli, a river island in Brahmaputra River, Assam, had never aspired to become a farmer, despite the fact that she belonged to a family that practised
Price hikes in cooking gas cylinders are becoming an increasing cause of worry, at both domestic and commercial levels. But a cost-friendly innovation by researchers at IIT-Guwahati might be the
As the world takes a stance against single-use plastics such as polythene bags, plastic bottles, food wrappers, straws, stirrers or styrofoam cups, the unsuspecting tea bag, which also uses plast...
This article is a part of The Better India’s series to highlight the work of those who have dedicated their lives to saving some of the most endangered species of
From the sunny beaches of Goa to the mighty Himalayas, tourist destinations across the country have one thing in common — the generation of plastic waste. Kaziranga — a world
Occupying 8% of the country’s total area, the Northeast faces severe food shortages and soil degradation which has been a result of shifting cultivation that is practiced in the region.
https://www.thebetterindia.com/247381/sustainable-farming-assam-spread-ne-success-story-video/
Meet 34-year-old child rights activist Miguel Das Queah, whose Guwahati-based non-profit UTSAH (Universal Team for Social Action and Help) works for children’s rights, particularly those affect...
Growing up, the Shola rainforest, located in the laps of the Nilgiris, was young P Sivakumar’s backyard. Born and raised in Tamil Nadu, he spent his early years collecting colourful
A crash of one-horned rhinoceroses or a herd of elephants bathing in ponds, and just a glimpse of a tiger, if one is lucky, are common sightings in the Kaziranga National
Parag Deka has always had a connection with wildlife. Perhaps because he grew up in Kokrajhar, a town surrounded by Sal forests, along the Western border of Assam. He was
“A rhino,” pointed out my guide from the front of our jeep. All of us turned to look at the magnificent creature on our left happily munching away on grass, stopping
When you talk about Adil Hussain, the first thing that comes to mind is the sheer range of characters he can embody. He can seamlessly pull off playing characters ranging
There is nothing like a refreshing tall glass of fresh juice or coconut water on a hot summer’s day. And more often than not, we savour this delicious thirst-quencher through
In Udalguri district, Assam, bordering Bhutan, locals from the Bodo community reforested over 1200 hectares of land. In and around the Bhairabkunda Reserve Forest, along with planting trees, they...
Nutty and nutritious, mushrooms have been a favourite of culinary experts from across the world for their unique umami taste. With over 14,000 known varieties in the world, they are
Floods in Assam are a yearly occurrence that threaten the lives of humans and wildlife alike. Seeing the devastation of the rains, Bhavana Barman reached out to the online community
Almost every monsoon, Assam is overwhelmed by the angry waves of the Brahmaputra, which sweep away everything they encounter — from human settlements to paddy fields. Even as you read
The natural gas well of Oil India Limited (OIL) in Baghjan of Assam’s Tinsukia district caught a massive fire – around 13 days after a blowout on 27 May. A
With The Positive Collective, The Better India’s COVID-19 coverage is available to regional language publications for free. Write to editorial@thebetterindia.com for more details. About a decad...
With The Positive Collective, The Better India’s COVID-19 coverage is available to regional language publications for free. Write to editorial@thebetterindia.com for more details. Of the many ...
With The Positive Collective, The Better India’s COVID-19 coverage is available to regional language publications for free. Write to editorial@thebetterindia.com for more details. All of us may...
A few weeks ago, I watched ‘Bulbul Can Sing’, a coming-of-age film directed by Rima Das, about three teenage friends—Bulbul, Bonnie and Suman—and how they navigate love, life, friendship,...
Assam, in the late 1970s and 80s, was rife with social unrest and conflict over the issue of illegal immigrants. Mandira Baruah was all of 16 when none other than
When the nationwide lockdown was announced on March 24, a few friends got together online to discuss its potential impact on daily wagers and slum dwellers in Guwahati, Assam. What
Having grown up in Assam, a mandatory annual trip to the Kaziranga National Wildlife Park is a shared experience of most Assamese families. I still remember my first trip. I
Last month, a friend of mine from Assam who is a cinephile, shared an interesting video clip of a young man exhibiting an array of martial arts skills on the
How does one go from an idealistic youth to a militant, to a prisoner and finally a reformer and social worker whose efforts have uplifted tens of thousands of lives?
Till October this year, Dilip Das from Tripura and Gita Rani Sarkar from Assam never knew each other. Fast forward to the present, the latter addresses Das as her own
One of the most recognisable cultural symbols of Assam, the gamosa, also known as the gamusa or gamucha, is white rectangular piece of cloth, around 4 feet in height and 2
https://www.thebetterindia.com/201689/assam-gamosa-india-guinness-world-record-heritage-hima-das/
At just 13, Assam's Nikhilesh Das from Assam came up with an ingenious way of using human hair to clean polluting oil spills. Check out four other innovations that are just as brilliant!
Marked by poor human development indicators, acute infrastructural challenges, regular incidents of communal strife, and lawlessness, Hailakandi district in the Barak Valley of Assam isn’t the ...
There is a namghar (one among many prayer houses present all over Assam) situated in the Sabaibandha locality of Jorhat town in the Upper Assam division, which holds a special
Remya Parameswar Iyer, a recipient of this year’s National Teacher Awards, claims she isn’t a ‘natural-born teacher.’ It’s a profession she chanced upon 2004, when her husband found wo...
Back in 2014, the Zoological Society of London identified the Greater Adjutant Stork, an unusual species of scavenging birds, as one close to extinction or an EDGE (Evolutionarily Distinct and
https://www.thebetterindia.com/190470/assam-stork-hargila-visit-conservation-rescue-save-barman/
"A boy once came running to our office, a turtle in his hand. He told us that his family wanted to keep it as a pet. So the boy “stole” the turtle and brought it to us, wanting us to leave it...
To provide enough sanitation provisions for the residents and tourists, the Guwahati Municipal Corporation has now directed the hotels and restaurant owners to allow women and children to use toi...
There is no stopping the ‘Dhing Express’. On Saturday, Hima Das picked up her fifth gold medal at the Nove Mesto nad Metuji Grand Prix, Czech Republic. She won the
https://www.thebetterindia.com/189417/hima-das-gold-medal-inspiration-assam-india/
Every year, Assam suffers from debilitating floods leaving devastation in their wake. Authorities have done little to mitigate the recurring situation, and the state remains far from our collecti...
https://www.thebetterindia.com/188932/assam-floods-how-to-help-donate-musician-hero-india/
The memory of Lakshmi is clear as day for Kushal Konwar Sarma. As a child, despite his parent’s constant reminders to not spend too much time with her, Sarma would
https://www.thebetterindia.com/188598/elephant-doctor-assam-treats-hundreds-wildlife-hero-india/
The tall trees tower over the jagged rocks and cut through the cluster of clouds that fly across the zig-zag roads guiding you upwards, through an incredibly thrilling experience. You
The best part? The kids are not only earning money by selling the organic veggies and compost to the Midday Meal authority, they also changing their eating habits to healthier ones!
Transformation is a keyword for any individual who wants to make a substantial impact. But, for this 30-year-old man, it is a daunting challenge that defines his life. An optimist,
From vermicompost and biopesticides to indigenous herbs and food forests, over 300 millennial farmers are now providing on-ground training in sustainable farming to villages and schools in north-...
https://www.thebetterindia.com/183816/assam-man-millennial-farmers-green-army-organic-farming/
Life is but a stream, and we go fishing in! Got no space to fish? You could do it in your own home! Confused? You may have heard of urban
For an entire generation of young women from the Northeast, the late Yamin Hazarika was a hero. Assam’s first woman police officer was a trailblazer, who not only inspired other
https://www.thebetterindia.com/181379/assam-first-lady-police-officer-single-mom-inspiring-india/
Any takers for beetle fry with chickpeas? Well, if you want to have a taste, visit the world’s largest river island of Majuli in Assam, where the predominantly tribal populace
https://www.thebetterindia.com/178225/assam-majuli-island-pestaurant-eat-beetle-india/
For Bipin Dhane, the path ahead was seemingly clear. In 2013, after graduating from IIT-Kharagpur in Naval Architecture, he found a job at a multinational company in Singapore. However, for
https://www.thebetterindia.com/176187/assam-iit-majuli-underprivileged-education-bipin-dhane/
Binod ‘Dulu’ Borah was born in Chapanalla, a village close to the Karbi foothills of the Nagaon district in Assam. He vividly recalls that his connect with nature and wildlife
https://www.thebetterindia.com/175235/assam-wildlife-conservation-dulu-borah-elephant-man-india/
Some of the greatest love stories go unseen, unheard and undocumented, simply because they’re ordinary couples living their lives. So this Valentine’s Day, we try to showcase such stories—e...
https://www.thebetterindia.com/172199/assam-dipali-borthakur-lata-mangeshkar-love/
Khyonjeet Gogoi has been hunting for orchids since 1994, and this chase has landed him in several tense situations, which he didn’t think he would survive. One such situation was
https://www.thebetterindia.com/172057/assam-foxtail-orchid-conservation-khyonjeet-gogoi/
Over the years, forest land has been gradually taken over, and in most cases, the animals, displaced. Here is some good news on that front - at last.
https://www.thebetterindia.com/170170/assam-elephants-route-travel-sighting-nrlsupreme-court/
When Satyakam Dutta was posted to Dibrugarh, Assam, as an Assistant Commissioner with the IT Department in May 2015, little did he know that he would craft a ‘mockumentary’ which would
https://www.thebetterindia.com/168627/irs-hero-assam-waste-clean-india/
Following the recent National Register of Citizens exercise in Assam, the differences between the Assamese and Bengali-speaking population have come to the fore again. While it is the prerogative...
https://www.thebetterindia.com/167841/assam-riots-bengali-bhupen-hazarika-peace-story/
Species that survived colossal calamities and evolved over millions of years are now on the verge of extinction, thanks to us. However, there are many humans who are champions of
https://www.thebetterindia.com/167755/wildlife-protection-kaziranga-assam-india/
A walk on the Heramba Bordoloi Path will remind you of streets abroad, perhaps Singapore. But no, this street is not located in Singapore. It is in fact in the
https://www.thebetterindia.com/166974/assam-hero-road-father/
Back in the early 1980s, this 22.24 square kilometre Bhairabkunda Reserve Forest, which lies 100 km away from Guwahati in the Udalguri district, was barren due to illegal logging. An
https://www.thebetterindia.com/166702/assam-man-made-forest-militant-bhairabkunda-news/
Conversations around the #MeToo movement have primarily centred on urban women working in the formal sector. While similar stories of women in India’s vast informal sector have come to light,
https://www.thebetterindia.com/164823/metoo-barefoot-counsellors-women-rural-assam-news/
In a judgement last month, the Supreme Court, among other things, set a two-hour time window for when citizens can burst firecrackers while also issuing a crackdown on certain dangerous
https://www.thebetterindia.com/163749/assam-village-green-cracker-diwali-news/
Rich in super-nutritious flavonoids, this unique tea turns purple with a single drop of lemon juice. Brewing magic indeed!
https://www.thebetterindia.com/163037/arunachal-pradesh-purple-tea-assam-rare-tea-news/
Last week, Assam saw an interesting development in its landmark National Register of Citizens (NRC) exercise. The Ministry of Home Affairs issued an official notice stating that the Assam governm...
https://www.thebetterindia.com/162351/gorkha-assam-nrc-news/
Dilip Majumdar, the Dean of the School of Earth, Atmospheric Science, Environment and Energy, at the Dibrugarh University in Assam, is over the moon ever since he just detected the
https://www.thebetterindia.com/161955/platinum-discovery-assam-geologist-india-science-news/
A tuition teacher from Assam, Binita is the first person to be crowned a crorepati on KBC this season. But her journey to the hot seat hasn't been easy.
https://www.thebetterindia.com/160963/binita-jain-assam-kbc-crore-inspiring-news/
While Rima Das, the director took over three-and-a-half years to script the movie, it was shot in 130 days.
https://www.thebetterindia.com/160100/village-rockstars-rima-das-assam/
Kamal risked his life thrice to pull his drowning co-passengers to safety. But the little braveheart has one regret.
https://www.thebetterindia.com/158886/assam-hero-boat-tragedy-news/
The National Register of Citizens exercise in Assam has sent many residents scrambling through the archives in various government offices, in an effort to prove their citizenship. One important d...
https://www.thebetterindia.com/154634/assam-nrc-archives-kolkata/
In a very significant development, the second and final draft of Assam’s National Register of Citizens—a list of all legal citizens of the state—was published today morning at 10:00 a.m.
https://www.thebetterindia.com/153698/nrc-assam-final-draft-important-facts/
Prateek Hajela, Principal Secretary, Home, and State Coordinator of the National Register of Citizens, is the man at the centre of today’s explosive draft report according to which nearly 40
https://www.thebetterindia.com/153656/prateek-hajela-iit-ias-officer-assam-nrc/
It was only last year that she took up racing seriously!
https://www.thebetterindia.com/150395/hima-das-assam-gold-medal-athletics/
Apathy on the part of government officials is something many Indians deal with on a daily basis. While most adjust to the prevailing circumstances, there are some who don’t take
https://www.thebetterindia.com/148371/assam-villagers-rebuild-bridge-aching-zeme/
Noor Nehar Begum who hails from the Bengali-speaking Muslim migrant community from Bhulukabari Pathar village in Assam’s Barpeta district is an independent woman. For the 1.5 years, she has bee...
https://www.thebetterindia.com/146583/toilets-migrant-women-break-barriers-financial-independent/
India may have never qualified for the Football World Cup in recent times, but that has done little to douse the passions of Indian fans. Every World Cup, stories emerge
https://www.thebetterindia.com/146281/assam-fifa-world-cup-fan-live-screening-bank-loan/
Sudeeksha Bhati isn’t your average student. Daughter of a tea-seller and a first-generation learner, this Humanities student scored a stupendous 98% in her Class XII exams, topping her district...
Her apartment in Noonmati in Guwahati sits sequestered on a hillock, and cannot be seen from the busy main road. As we settled down for a chat with cups of
For 21-year-old Gahela Boro, who is an ace archer from Assam, life has thrown some seemingly insurmountable challenges. After winning gold in the 2015 National Games in Kochi, she had
https://www.thebetterindia.com/145617/assam-archery-gahela-boro-kokrajhar/
When Shivani Tibrewal, a businesswoman and the current president of the Rotary Club of Greater Tezpur (RCGT), met Kiran Joshi, a chartered accountant and fellow Rotarian from Shillong, she discov...
Elected representatives are often castigated for forgetting about their constituents, only to return five years later for re-election. Not Rupjyoti Kurmi, the Congress legislator from Mariani con...
https://www.thebetterindia.com/143797/assam-mla-rupjyoti-kurmi-funeral-carry-body/
Arshel Akhter wants to change the mainstream narrative and make cycling a priority for Guwahati residents
https://www.thebetterindia.com/139733/pedal-change-guwahati-bicycle-mayor/
While the nation continues to reel under the horrors of the Kathua and Unnao rapes and certain groups continue to politicise these crimes, a small village in Assam has come
One could rightfully say that Brahmaputra Fables is this Assamese entrepreneur's gift to India from the Northeast.
Among the many narrow, pothole-filled roads snaking across Nagaon town, a short stretch of the arterial MG Road with its litter free appearance in the Bengalipatti locality leads to Nagaon
https://www.thebetterindia.com/136419/green-police-assam-school-nagaon/
On March 23rd, 2018, train number 75730 from Silghat to Guwahati in Assam, pulled its emergency brakes. The reason? To save the life of an elephant that had wandered onto
https://www.thebetterindia.com/135676/assam-loco-pilot-train-elephant/
The founders claim that the program is the second largest wage payer in Bodoland, Assam.
https://www.thebetterindia.com/135223/assam-bodoland-lakme-women-weavers/
Jonali Fangsho in her late 20s is a resident of Pamohi village in the outskirts of Guwahati, the capital city of Assam. Pamohi village, inhabited mostly by the Karbi tribe,
https://www.thebetterindia.com/133615/pad-women-of-assam-start-menstrual-hygiene-movement/
“I don’t do this for money. I am doing this because my heart says so,” says the large-hearted Assamese man behind this unique academy.
https://www.thebetterindia.com/132728/rs-800-cowshed-classroom-parijat-academy-512-poor-kids/
Forced by poverty to remain unlettered , the septuagenarian resolved that he would never allow the same "tragedy" to befall any child in his village.