In my last blog, I mentioned that Durga Puja contributes Rs32,377 crore to the economy, especially from retail, food & beverages, installations and idol-making, amounting to around 2.6% of West Bengal’s GDP. We also know that while there were some

Cultural heritage is not only the monuments and collections of objects that remind us of our tradition and roots. It also includes intangible traditional social practices, rituals, and events and contemporary rural and urban practices in which diverse cultural groups

Empowerment of women can be possible when we break the traditional practices of society and make our customs gender neutral. One such custom is the widely-accepted norm of the girl being given away to another family on marriage. It has

In my blog, Blessing in Disguise, I had written about the businesses that have been positively impacted by the lockdowns triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. One example was of the kite-making business and the other was plant nurseries. The lockdowns

The pandemic has been a blessing in disguise for many, even though no one wanted it this way. You may disagree with me. But the facts won’t. In one of my blogs, I had noted how the kites business soared

How did VFS become the hope for so many aspiring women entrepreneurs in rural India? This is a question that I get asked way more often than I can count. My answer always remains the same: perseverance and integrity. Working

The year 2020 was nothing short of a nightmare for business owners. Starting from owners of small and medium-sized businesses to large corporate houses, the COVID19 lockdowns spared none. Yes, it was a nightmare, the one that our mothers or

Last Saturday, the nation ended five days of Diwali revelry with the celebration of the affectionate bonds between brothers and sisters. Bhai Dooj, Bhaubeej, Bhai Tika or Bhai Phonta—the names differs from region to region but the prayers remain the

If you want to see the beauty of unity in diversity, you must let your spirit explore the festival of Diwali. The history of Diwali is as diverse as the culture of India. For many, it is the celebration of

Remember when we were all going through the most terrible and trying moment of our lives? We plunged into the troubled waters with clenched jaws and dreams of better days. Then there was the first taste of success. That was

Maa Durga never leaves her children alone. Bidding farewell is not symbolic of her retreat. Rather, its significance lies in our ability to leave behind the mistakes of the past and move forward with the lessons. The story of Gita

Greetings of Durga Pujas! This year’s puja festival is turning out to be wonderful, especially after last year’s dreary one. This time, many of us have been vaccinated against COVID19. But we must not let down our guard. We must

“Where there is a will, there’s a way.” This well-known proverb has been around for centuries, but most store it in their basket of proverbs and could write an essay on it. But some live and breathe the words of

Every year, the Durga Puja festival showcases the skills of Bengal’s sculptors, artisans and potters. Sculpting idols of the deities has been a traditionally nurtured art has crossed the ages and gone beyond the boundaries of land and sea. Such

One feeling that pops up in my interactions with VFS clients is “amazement”. Our women entrepreneurs have been treating the pandemic, the economic instability and future uncertainties like a walk on the beach. But this is just my opinion; I

In India, the livestock sector contributes 4.5 per cent to the GDP and about 30 per cent to the GDP from the agriculture sector. (https://krishi.outlookindia.com/story/pastoralists-original-livestock-keepers-of-civilisation-pushed-to-margins/392261) In most cases, it is found that the women do the lion’s share of work

When Jaba applied for the loan, she was determined to show that a woman could do better in business than men. And bring good luck to the family! Microfinance has not only been an economic tool to overcome poverty and

Financial inclusion has been a long-cherished dream. Access to financial services with financial literacy is a critical tool for comprehensive sustainable development. Economic progress leads to a better quality of life. In our effort to change lives through financial inclusion

My last blog was about the impact of climate change and how we can shift our focus from single-use plastics to environmentally friendly and sustainable options such as bamboo products. But you may ask, what about other products made of

The climate crisis is real. We have caused it, and we must fix it. “The evidence is irrefutable: greenhouse gas emissions are choking our planet & placing billions of people in danger,” António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General, said at the

Each Olympic Games gives us legends. The legends may or may not have won medals or even qualified for the quarterfinals. But they are still legends. Because they dared to brave the odds and reach the stage. Because they persevered,

Unless you are someone who thoroughly enjoys the sedentary life of a recluse, caged within the four walls of your home, last year was perhaps the worst year of this century. Children missed their first day at school and then

What a promising July it has been for us! On the very first day of the Tokyo Olympics 2020, weightlifter Saikhom Mirabai Chanu won a silver medal in the Women’s 49 kg and lifted all our spirits. In the same

Milkha Singh, in all his interviews, almost without fail, used to recount his pleasure in running. He used to race with trains barefooted. A child of partition, he grew up to be a legend with sheer grit. But Milkha was