Captured in Beragada village, Madhya Pradesh, this photograph shows Zawabai teaching the traditional method of grinding grains during my first field visit. Once central to daily life, such practices are fading with the rise of electric mills. Zawabai recalls grinding grains for her family of 12, appreciating the ease of electric mills but noting that hand-ground rotis taste better. Although she’s forgetting the songs once sung while grinding, hand-ground rotis are still preferred during festivals, symbolizing a connection to tradition. It prompts reflection on whether modern advancements are improving convenience at the cost of sustainable practices.
Biography
Rutuja Ghadage is an architect and researcher with a keen interest in rural housing, habitat development, and public policy. She served as an SBI Youth for India Fellow in 2022-23 and is currently a Research Associate at Habitat Forum, where she leads the Rural Habitat initiative.