Himachal Pradesh Declared Fully Literate: What It Really Means
Earlier this week, Himachal Pradesh was declared to be a ‘fully literate’ state, joining Goa, Ladakh, Mizoram, and Tripura as the fifth State/Union Territory in India to achieve this status. But what exactly does ‘fully literate’ mean? Does it imply 100% literacy? Not quite. What Does ‘Fully Literate’ Mean? The Ministry of Education defines literacy as: “The ability to read, write, and compute with comprehension, i.e., to identify, understand, interpret and create, along with critical life skills such
Maa Shiv Shakti Mandir Chhatrari – History, Legends, and Unique Architecture
Have you ever heard of a temple that once rotated on a pillar and faces west instead of east?So let’s talk about Chhatrari village, about 48 km from Chamba town in Himachal Pradesh, where the famous Chhatrari Devi Temple, also known as Maa Shiv Shakti Mandir, stands. Built in the 8th century, it is among the oldest temples in Himachal Pradesh. At an altitude of nearly 6,000 feet in the Himalayas, this temple is more
Pong Dam at 50: Lessons for Water Management and Climate Resilience
Introduction The Pong Dam, commissioned in 1974 on the Beas River in Himachal Pradesh, stands as one of India’s major multipurpose river valley projects. Conceived under the Beas Project, its primary objectives were irrigation supply to Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan, hydroelectric power generation, and flood moderation. However, the 50-year record of Pong reveals the paradoxes of India’s water management: years of excess inflows followed by prolonged shortfalls, increasing siltation, and erratic monsoons. This trajectory makes Pong an
Phulaich Festival – The Colorful Festival of Flowers in Kinnaur
The Indian Himalayan Region is home to diverse tribal communities whose traditions, rituals, and festivals are deeply tied to nature. Among them, the Kinnaura tribe of Himachal Pradesh has preserved a unique cultural identity where fairs and festivals play a vital role in social and spiritual life. One such vibrant celebration is the Phulaich Festival, also known as Ookayand Festival or Ukyam Festival, which beautifully blends devotion, remembrance, and festivity. A Festival of Flowers and Ancestral
Himachal Pradesh Declared a Disaster-Hit State: What It Means and Why It Matters
Introduction Himachal Pradesh, a Himalayan state highly vulnerable to climate-induced disasters, has been devastated by torrential rains, landslides, cloudbursts, and flashfloods in the 2025 monsoon season. In response to unprecedented destruction—over 320 lives lost and damages worth Rs 3,000 crore since June 20—the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led government declared the state “disaster-affected” under the Disaster Management Act, 2005. This declaration raises critical questions about disaster governance, centre-state relations, and the institutional framework guiding disaster management in India. Understanding the
Rural Tourism in India: How NotOnMap Empowers Villages and Preserves Heritage
Chamba, Himachal Pradesh – NotOnMap, a unique initiative rooted in the hills of Himachal Pradesh, has recently brought pride to India by receiving international recognition at the Harvard-University of Tokyo Asia Conference (ACONF) 2025, held from 20–24 August 2025 in Tokyo. The event was organized by the Harvard College Project for Asian and International Relations (HPAIR), a platform known for fostering dialogue on critical economic, political, and social issues in the Asia-Pacific region. Notably, HPAIR has