Milk plays an important role in household nutrition across the Himalayan foothills. For Van Gujjar families and village communities, buffalo husbandry can…
Articles
Buffalo Milk And Cow Milk: Comparing Their Nutritional Value
Eco-tourism pathways for indigenous livelihoods
Eco-tourism can connect visitors with the landscapes, knowledge, and everyday work of indigenous communities while creating fairer sources of income. In the…
The Role of Youth in Digitizing Van Gujjar Genealogies
For Van Gujjar communities, genealogy is more than a list of names. It connects families to ancestral grazing routes, buffalo herds, seasonal settlements,…
A Tour of SOPHIA’s Project Sites in Himachal Pradesh
Himachal Pradesh’s mountain villages and pastoral routes are shaped by forests, seasonal migration, livestock, and close community relationships. For Van…
The Economic Impact of Milk Price Fluctuations on Pastoralists
For pastoral communities, milk is more than a farm product. It is a daily source of income, nutrition, and economic security. Among Van Gujjar families and…
Who qualifies as a traditional forest dweller under Indian law
In India, the phrase “traditional forest dweller” is closely connected with the Forest Rights Act, 2006. The law recognizes that many communities have lived…
The Van Gujjar Language: Preserving a Dialect of Gojri
Language carries memory, belonging, and knowledge from one generation to the next. For Van Gujjar families, Gojri is woven into pastoral life, seasonal…
Building forest rights through partnership and trust
For Van Gujjar and Himalayan village communities, forests are homes, grazing grounds, sources of fodder, and foundations of cultural identity. Recognising…
Buffalo health and nutrition for Himalayan herders
Healthy buffaloes support household nutrition, milk income, and the mobility of pastoral communities. For Van Gujjar and Himalayan village families, good care…
Why Freshwater Springs Matter to Herders and Mountain Villages
Across the Himalayan foothills, a spring can determine where a family grazes livestock, builds a home, or gathers for daily work. For Van Gujjar pastoralists…