Inspired by the work of Humans of New York, which is a unique way to tell common stories from the streets, Humans of Gondwana explores stories from the Tribal heartlands of the Central Gondwana region in India.

Indigenous communities possess a great deal of traditional knowledge which is understood as ‘backwards’ by the majority of mainstream society. Many indigenous practices promote a sustainable co-existence with the ecosystem, where the delicate balance of Mother Nature is sustained and restored in their safe hands. The forest has always been their home; there they were born, and there their ancestors lived before them. But development goals of the state and central governments present a grave threat to the Adivasi lifestyle, livelihood, and identity. State policies which promote National Parks, mining, and other extractive industry have not just displaced Adivasis from their homes but snatched their livelihood from their hands.

We are a team of young enthusiasts who are pursuing passion for storytelling. We travel to remote, isolated villages to meet people and hear what they have to say. Unlike most organisations who work with rural communities, we sleep in village homes, eat village food, help in daily chores and tell peoples’ stories in their own words. This sort of project is not possible without the support of these people on the ground, whom we thank for putting their faith in us. We are looking to extend our work to other regions and communities in order to raise even more voices and stories.