Stories about South Asia from December, 2021
The return of the rufous-necked hornbill to Nepal
It took nearly 200 years to establish the existence of the rufous-necked hornbill in Nepal, which is categorized as "vulnerable" by the IUCN. It was last seen in the country in 1829.
Exploitation of Indian migrant workers in Serbia continues
The workers' attempt to get redress are complicated by the layers of ownership and contracts, which allow the Serbian company to claim the contract is with a US company.
Indian migrant workers fight for their right to get paid in Serbia
Indian migrant workers have been targeted to work at mega construction projects in Serbia. Several workers are not willing to give up fighting for their back pay, despite legal loopholes.
Portraits of a pandemic: Films on the unequal impact of COVID-19 in the Asia-Pacific
“Portraits of a Pandemic” holds space for stories that portray with care and nuance the effects of the COVID-19 crisis in the Asia-Pacific.
Undertones: Online violence in Myanmar, Pakistan’s smog cover-up
Myanmar’s pro-military factions express themselves openly on social media, targeting pro-democracy supporters. And the government of Pakistan’s Punjab region clamps don on posts about poor air quality in the region.
2021 in retrospective: Authoritarian practices threatened journalists and restricted media freedom in South Asia
In this retrospective, we will review issues of online and press freedom, censorship, the safety of journalists and digital rights in South Asia that we covered during the year.
Lost and found: Repatriation of Laxmi-Narayan's statue to Kathmandu Valley’s Patan
The reinstallation of the half male and half female statue of Laxmi-Narayan in Patan’s Patko is the latest example of the homecoming of stolen idols.
In the midst of floods and climate change, these are the local systems that hold the fabric of Assam together
Flooding leaves devastation in its wake every year in Assam. As climate change erodes an already vulnerable landscape, people band together to adapt and save each other.
Arrest of activist Khurram Parvez shows ‘a new hostility towards civil society in Kashmir’
Arrested and charged under the much-criticized Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) for “terror-funding” and “conspiracy,” Khurram’ Parvez's internationally acclaimed body of work is being tarnished by allegations of terrorism.
Agroecology, Nepal’s answer to climate change
Managing land, under the auspices of agroecology, entails revitalising a different kind of relationship with the soil. It starts with understanding the principles of ecology and how nature works.
The Uranw of Nepal seek official recognition of their Karma Festival
The Indigenous Uranw of Nepal have been lobbying for the Karma Puja to be recognized nationally so that community members can attend a festival of social cohesion and community bonding.
Undertones: A deep-dive into Indian hyper-nationalism
Any critique of the government, the armed forces, or the Hindu religion and its socio-political project, known as Hindutva, is labeled “sedition,” and is treated as treason for attacking the sovereignty of India.
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