Article 371 (A) of the Indian Constitution grants the people of Nagaland autonomy over their land and natural resources. While the state is full of resources, it is rather odd that the notable infrastructure project in the State is the Doyang Hydroelectric Power Project, located on the waters of river Doyang. 

It is also ironic that during my visit, I experienced a lot of power cuts and noticed a lack of water supply in Nagaland. Why is that? Some say it is because of the moody monsoon, while some think, it could be the dam. 

Northeast India has plenty of rivers. The North East Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO) is the organisation that is spearheading exploration of hydropower potential in the region.

In this episode, I survey the area surrounding the river Kopili and the Khandong and Umrong Dams in the autonomous district of Dima Hasao in Assam. Why is the water of this river acidic? What has the construction of two dams meant for the people of Dima Hasao and the adjoining areas? 

Check out the video: https://www.youtube.com/@Peoplenovate

In this short episode, I walk and talk with the CEO of Bharat Ingenuity Foundation, a charitable organisation, focussed on improving human development indicators in remote regions. Their current big focus is on waste management in Dima Hasao – an autonomous district in Assam. In this episode, we talk about the first waste disbursal facilitated by the organisation - from Umrangso’s golf field to Dalmia Cement Factory, who will use this waste in their kilns. 

The village of Mayong, situated in the Morigaon district of Assam, is known as the land of black magic. In this short docu-episode, I set out to explore what is the witchcraft and black magic of Mayong all about. Was it real? Is it real? Is it something to be embraced or to be scared about?

I join the Karbi tribe in the celebration of their annual harvest festival, Dehal, and discuss their beliefs and practices. Close to the land of magic, is India's first semi-conductor test and assembly facility. Will it influence the future of Mayong or will it be influenced by it?

Check out the Youtube version: https://www.youtube.com/@Peoplenovate

What happens when Anurag (a neuroscience PhD student), Ninad (a building science engineer), and Abhinav (an AI engineer) come to my all-inclusive table to discuss their immigration journeys?

They serve the Sciencepresso Martini!

In this mini-reunion with my schoolmates, we discuss the realities of building a career abroad - the motivation to cross seas, the challenges, the compromises (personal and professional), the decision-making matrix and whether all that glitters is actually gold! We also discuss Anurag, Ninad, and Abhinav's experience of studying in an all-boys' school and seeing it convert into a co-educational space - what did they think and what I thought they thought.

This martini on my first roundtable has influences from Assam, USA, and the Netherlands. Listen in. 

History is witness to the fact that discoveries of minerals have changed the course of nations. The discovery of oil in Digboi by the British colonial empire was one such event that gradually altered the economic and political landscape of Assam. In this episode, I survey two (of the four) oil refineries in Assam: the Guwahati Refinery (India's first public sector refinery); and the Numaligarh Oil Refinery (also known as the Assam Accord Refinery).  I also survey ONGC's Assam Assets and the nearby town of Nazira, which I think is still waiting to reap the benefits of the boon of oil in Upper Assam.  

Urban flash floods are a regular occurrence in many cities around the world, including Guwahati.

The twist is, that Guwahati is blessed with wetlands, who in theory, serve as a natural water reservoir aiding flood management. However, the wetlands of Guwahati have suffered in size and quality over the years, owing to encroachments and poorly managed dumping practices.

Under Guwahati's Smart City vision, Assam has earmarked investments for the development and restoration of Guwahati's interconnected water streams. The question is: will we achieve the result?

In this episode, I explore the state of development around the Brahmaputra Riverfront, Deepor Beel (wetland), Borsola Beel (wetland), and the lost river, Bharalu.

What does a community of weavers do when it discovers that duplicates are flooding the market and damaging the reputation of their local handloom products?

They secure a trademark.

This is exactly what the people of Assam’s silk village, Sualkuchi did. Famously known as “Manchester of Assam”, the village is known to produce three types of Assamese silk – Muga (the Gold Silk), Eri (the non-violent or the ahimsa silk), and Pat.

A big challenge for the community has been its journey to acquire legal protection for its products, in light of the imitations (imported and/or made in different regions of India) circulating in the market.

In this episode, I visit Sualkuchi to know more about its journey. Listen to me interview weavers, learn the types of test performed by the testing laboratory on silk and grapple with the past, present and future of Sualkuchi.

Where is the smallest inhabited river islet in the world? The glory belongs to Umananda and it is located on the River Brahmaputra in Assam. Famously christened as the "Peacock Island" by the British, the islet is a good starting point to understand the biodiversity of Assam and North East India: a region that is diligently advancing in its journey towards sustainable development. 

Is "mindfulness" the magical solution to all our problems? Is there an over-emphasis on "mindfulness" of an individual? Can an individual in-fact resolve a problem on their own, or does it call for "changefulness" - both within an individual, and the bigger system that they are a part of?