For Van Gujjar families, education must fit a way of life shaped by buffalo husbandry, seasonal movement, forest access, and pastoral work. Children may travel…
Articles
Van Gujjar children and education across a nomadic life
Buffalo Herds and the Cultural Life of Van Gujjar Communities
For Van Gujjar families, the buffalo is far more than a source of milk or household income. It is part of a pastoral way of life shaped by seasonal movement,…
Building a Community Dairy Cooperative in the Himalayas
A community dairy cooperative can help Himalayan households turn buffalo husbandry and milk production into a stable, locally governed livelihood. Its success…
Traditional Van Gujjar Crafts: Weaving, Embroidery, and Utility Items
Across the Himalayan foothills, Van Gujjar families have developed craft traditions shaped by movement, pastoral work, and close relationships with forests.…
Protecting Pastoral Routes In A Changing Himalayan Landscape
Across the Himalayan foothills, roads connect villages to markets, schools, health services, and public institutions. For Van Gujjar families and other…
Community-Led Advocacy for Land Rights in the Himalayas
Land is central to the identity, security, and livelihood of Van Gujjar and Himalayan village communities. It supports seasonal movement, buffalo husbandry,…
Forest Rights Act: A Guide for Pastoral Communities
Understanding the Forest Rights Act: A Guide for Pastoral Communities begins with recognizing that forests are homes, workplaces, grazing landscapes, and…
Women shaping buffalo milk value chains in Himalayan communities
Buffalo milk is central to food security and household income for many pastoral and village families in the Himalayan region. Yet the work that turns fresh…
A Day in the Life of a Van Gujjar Buffalo Herder
For a Van Gujjar family, the day begins before the Himalayan foothills grow bright. Buffaloes must be milked, calves checked, fires prepared, and household…
How climate change is reshaping grasslands for herders
Across the Himalayan foothills, grasslands are essential to pastoral life. Van Gujjar and village communities depend on seasonal grazing areas to feed…