May 2026 • Summer Edition
Bharat CallingJawhar, Maharashtra
"Exploring Tribal Heritage, Ecology & Rural Governance in the Cradle of Warli Art."
A Living Classroom in the Western Ghats
Known as the picturesque hill-station and cultural heartland of Palghar district, Jawhar provides a rich backdrop for experiential inquiry into indigenous traditions, forest ecosystems, and local self-rule.
Participants will move beyond theoretical textbooks to live, learn, and engage with tribal leaders, master Warli painters, forestry experts, and rural development institutions.
Interdisciplinary Immersion Themes
Bridging traditional community wisdom with modern policy research frameworks.
Warli Art & Cultural Heritage
Learn the philosophy, mythology, and master strokes of Warli art directly from indigenous masters and folk artists in their ancestral villages.
Forest Ecology & Ethnobotany
Traverse Sahyadri forest trails to document biodiversity, medicinal plant knowledge, traditional water bodies, and non-timber forest produce.
Grassroots Governance & PESA
Engage directly with Gram Panchayats and tribal elders to examine the functioning of the Panchayat (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act and Forest Rights.
Rural Economy & Tribal Livelihoods
Analyze local value chains, self-help groups (SHGs), agrarian practices, and innovative tribal micro-enterprises creating self-reliant models.
The 5-Day Summer School Journey
A structured progression from village orientation to actionable policy presentations.
- Cohort Arrival & Welcome in Jawhar
- Orientation & Context Setting: History, Demographics & Tribal Lineage
- Interactive Ice-Breaking & Interdisciplinary Group Formation
- Guided Forest Walk & Biodiversity Mapping with Tribal Naturalists
- Exploration of Medicinal Herbs & Ethno-botanical Wisdom
- Visit to Traditional Water Harvesting Systems & Watershed Structures
- Hands-on Warli Painting Masterclass with Renowned Indigenous Artists
- Tribal Hamlet Immersion: Food, Music & Daily Life Rhythms
- Folk Storytelling & Community Bonfire Dialogue
- Gram Sabha & PESA Implementation Case Study Interaction
- Meeting Women's Self-Help Groups (SHGs) & Agrarian Cooperatives
- Field Observations on Health, Education & Infrastructure Delivery
- Interdisciplinary Policy Case Presentations by Cohort Teams
- Evaluation & Feedback with Grassroots Practitioners and Mentors
- Certificate & Memento Distribution, Valedictory Ceremony
Memories & Glimpses from Jawhar
100% authentic field moments capturing Warli heritage, forest ethnobotany, Gram Sabha deliberations, and cohort fellowship across Jawhar tribal hamlets.
