In this issue

Champaran 2.0 - In the centenary year of the Indigo revolution, why we need to introspect

MAHARASHTRA HAILSTORMS Will IMD wake up?

ORGANIC CHALLENGE - Lessons from Sikkim.

NATURAL WONDERS - The Indian subcontinent in a new light.

Was The Met Office Napping?

Hailstorms have once again damaged crops in the drought-prone Marathwada and Vidarbha regions of Maharashtra as well as the credibility of the India Meteorological Department.

5 mins

Ethiopia Pushes Hygiene

Ethiopia has managed to curb open defecation at the fastest rate in the world. SUSHMITA SENGUPTA highlights what India, which has the highest number of people defecating in the open, can learn from the poorest country.

4 mins

Era Begins Without Plan

NITI Aayog formally begins its business without a vision or an action plan.

4 mins

Champaran Satyagraha Continues

A century ago, Mahatma Gandhi tested the idea of satyagraha for the first time to fight for indigo farmers in Champaran. While the crop is seeing a revival in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, Champaran in Bihar is in the throes of another peasant struggle.

10+ mins

Champaran Redux

Peasants in Champaran are relying on satyagraha once again to claim the land their ancestors once owned.

4 mins

Colour Me Indigo

Rising demand has revived indigo cultivation in India and abroad.

6 mins

A Mirror to Blue Mutiny

Contemporary literature has ample evidence to show the deep impact of the indigo revolt on society.

2 mins

Organic Trial

Despite earning the `100 per cent organic' tag, Sikkim's transition to organic farming is yet to become a true success.

10+ mins

Hidden Wonders of India

Did you know that the Ganga and the Brahmaputra sequester nearly 20 per cent of the global carbon? Or that Bengaluru owes its unique climate to a tectonic event that took place 88 million years ago? For the first time, a book comprehensively collates all scientific streams about the natural history of the Indian subcontinent. Down To Earth speaks to PRANAY LAL, author of Indica, on the jaw-dropping facts about our natural history.

4 mins

Zeroing In

The debate over the origins of zero is not yet over.

3 mins

`Religion Is Not Doing Enough to Help Wildlife'

GEORGE SCHALLER is one of the first scientists to study and rediscover several rare and charismatic species. These include the mountain gorillas in the Congo, lions in Tanzania, tigers in India, jaguars in Brazil and the Asiatic cheetahs in Iran. He has also been researching the wildlife in China, including the giant panda, the Tibetan antelope and the snow leopard. On a recent visit to India, he spoke to RAJAT GHAI on emerging conservation issues. Excerpts from the interview.

4 mins

Bright and Black

Female tigers at the Similipal reserve in Odisha are increasingly giving birth to black or melanistic breeds and catching rare worldwide attention.

4 mins

Read all stories from Down To Earth

Down To Earth Magazine Description:

Down To Earth is a fortnightly magazine published by the Society for Environmental Comm, a non-profit research and advocacy organization based in New Delhi, India. It is one of the most respected environmental magazines in the country.

The magazine covers a wide range of topics related to the environment and sustainable development, including:

* Climate change: DTE provides in-depth coverage of climate change, including its causes, impacts, and mitigation and adaptation strategies.
* Energy: DTE covers a variety of energy topics, including renewable energy, energy efficiency, and fossil fuels.
* Water: DTE covers a variety of water topics, including water pollution, water scarcity, and water management.
* Pollution: DTE covers a variety of pollution topics, including air pollution, water pollution, and soil pollution.
* Biodiversity: DTE covers a variety of biodiversity topics, including forests, wildlife, and conservation.
* Sustainable development: DTE covers a variety of sustainable development topics, including green economy, sustainable agriculture, and sustainable transportation.

Down To Earth magazine is known for its high-quality journalism and its commitment to environmental protection. It is a must-read for anyone who is interested in the environment and sustainable development in India and around the world.