Nirantar Radio: Pocket-Sized Stories

What are the bargains we make, the samjhautas we strike, the deals we despair in, to feel safe, to feel loved? In this story, a caseworker from Bundelkhand takes us through the many rooms she has lived in, and asks, which room is mine? Caseworker's Diary is a series of audio stories, which emerged from the lived experiences of caseworkers in Uttar Pradesh, who work with situations of murder, rape,...

A young girl employs a clever strategy to get her family’s support for higher education. But she soon discovers that her father is one step ahead of her and thus unravels this love–hate relationship between a father and daughter.  “फ se Field, श se Shiksha” is a series of 10 audio stories coming from the lived experiences and imaginations of education in rural India. How do we look at education ou...

“Chhoti Bahuuu! Arre o Chhoti Bahu!”—is all one hears in the house from dawn to the end of day. Once a mischievous student, Sundari wears many different hats at home, in public, and at work, but there’s one that wears her out.  “फ se Field, श se Shiksha” is a series of 10 audio stories coming from the lived experiences and imaginations of education in rural India. How do we look at education outsi...

In the second “Hostel Diary”, Vikas recounts pursuing a crush during his time in Jodhpur with a bittersweetness that can only be afforded by young desire. Although he desperately wants to maintain his “good boy” image, the thrills of Hike Messaging and secret rendezvous might just be too tempting to resist. “फ se Field, श se Shiksha” is a series of 10 audio stories coming from the lived experience...

As Vikas walks from his own Khatri Hostel to the Oswal Hostel for high-speed movie downloads using a newly installed Jio tower, he observes how caste, class and gender divide access to spaces in the city, offline and online. “फ se Field, श se Shiksha” is a series of 10 audio stories coming from the lived experiences and imaginations of education in rural India. How do we look at education outside...

All education and science is forgotten when a young, unmarried girl misses her period. As doctors, teachers, family members and friends intervene and interpret, conjectures are made and confusion and fear abound.  “फ se Field, श se Shiksha” is a series of 10 audio stories coming from the lived experiences and imaginations of education in rural India. How do we look at education outside classrooms?...

A (social) earthquake of epic proportions rocks Geeta’s colony. A girl in the neighbourhood has eloped with a boy from another caste. The aftershocks will now be felt in every other house in the area.  “फ se Field, श se Shiksha” is a series of 10 audio stories coming from the lived experiences and imaginations of education in rural India. How do we look at education outside classrooms? More import...

This young man has passed the board examinations, but the real challenge is to resist his family’s pressure for arranged marriage. Here’s a tale of confusions, anxieties, and frustrations that go into the making of a man finding his voice.  “फ se Field, श se Shiksha” is a series of 10 audio stories coming from the lived experiences and imaginations of education in rural India. How do we look at ed...

The Marwari family mocks both Achuki’s aspirations as well as her mother’s lack of a formal education. Will Achuki be able to reason with them or is negotiation the only way?  “फ se Field, श se Shiksha” is a series of 10 audio stories coming from the lived experiences and imaginations of education in rural India. How do we look at education outside classrooms? More importantly, who gets access to...

With her incessant quips and repartees, Achuki lives up to the meaning of her name in this playful narration. She is a young girl frustrated with her family and the larger Marwari Bania society. Unsure whether to scream or sigh, she wonders, “When will mindsets change?”  “फ se Field, श se Shiksha” is a series of 10 audio stories coming from the lived experiences and imaginations of education in ru...

People find a way to be nosy about others’ business everywhere. But there is one question that particularly disrupts Khushi’s peace of mind every single time. Like a pinch of salt on an old wound, the question has different answers as Khushi walks around in the streets of Lucknow. “फ se Field, श se Shiksha” is a series of 10 audio stories coming from the lived experiences and imaginations of educa...

“फ se Field, श se Shiksha” is a series of 10 audio stories coming from the lived experiences and imaginations of education in rural India. Each episode offers a different take on education and its connections to caste, health, technology, and sexuality. How do we look at education outside classrooms? More importantly, who gets access to education at all? We explore all this and more, as members of...

पटना में रहनेवाली स्वाती को कहानियां सुनना-सुनाना पसंद है. वे रोज़मर्रा की ठेठ कहानियों को अपने बिहारी तड़के के साथ हमारे सामने ला रही हैं. स्वाती इन कहानियों के ज़रिए कुछ बेड़ियों को टटोलती हैं और उन्हें चुनौती देती हैं. पटनावाली की तीसरी क़िस्त में स्वाती हमें सुना रही हैं कहानी घर घर की. इस कहानी के लिए चित्रांकन आकृति अग्रवाल ने किया है. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/nirantar-...

एक शहर में जाने कितने क़िस्से होते हैं! कुछ क़िस्से हममें होते हैं और कुछ क़िस्सों में हम होते हैं. पटना में रहनेवाली स्वाती को कहानियां सुनना-सुनाना पसंद है. वे रोज़मर्रा की ठेठ कहानियों को पटनहिया अंदाज में सजाकर हमारे सामने ला रही हैं. स्वाती इन कहानियों के ज़रिए कुछ बेड़ियों को टटोलती हैं और उन्हें चुनौती देती हैं. पटनावाली की दूसरी क़िस्त में स्वाती हमें मिला रही हैं ‘संस्कारानंद’ से जिनकी तर्क-विद्...

पटना में रहनेवाली स्वाती को कहानियां सुनना सुनाना पसंद है. वे रोज़मर्रा की ठेठ कहानियों को अपने बिहारी तड़के के साथ हमारे सामने ला रही हैं. स्वाती इन कहानियों के ज़रिए कुछ बेड़ियों को टटोलती हैं और उन्हें चुनौती देती हैं. बिहार में अक्सर जब कोई लड़की ब्याह कर ससुराल आती है तो वो जया, सुषमा, अनीता के नाम से नहीं पहचानी जाती बल्कि वो दरभंगा वाली, मुज़फ्फरपुरवाली, बेगूसराय वाली पटनावाली जैसे नामों से जानी...

At our Learning Lab, we believe that drawing upon lived experience to create narratives, is a way of exercising agency as a marginalised person whose voice is rarely heard — and rarely deemed 'creative'. The Third Eye’s 'Pocket-Sized Stories' bring you narrative discoveries made while plumbing the depths of memory, shaped by each maker's creative agency. These stories have emerged slowly, fermenti...