This multimedia story was developed by Native Picture, with support from Kalpavriksh, Vikalp Sangam and the Paul Hamlyn Foundation.

In this episode we travel to Pachgaon, a small village in Maharashtra, India, to listen to a quiet but powerful story of self governance. The people of Pachgaon speak about how their lives began to change when they came together to understand and claim their rights over land and forests. What follows is not just a legal process but a deeply human journey shaped by trust, collective decision making, and a long relationship with the forest.

As seasonal migration, uncertainty and exclusion once defined everyday life, asserting rights under the Forest Rights Act helped the community imagine a different future. Through village meetings, shared responsibility and local knowledge, Pachgaon began to practice democracy in its most grounded form. This episode reflects on how laws become meaningful only when people make them their own, turning a written constitution into something lived and practiced every day.

Anup Ranjan Pandey speaks unhurriedly and deliberately about his work. He hesitates to describe himself as an artist, preferring to highlight his enthusiasm and love for the arts instead. It is true that the term ‘artist’ does not fit him, but not because of some hierarchical measure of ‘quality’. It is because the scope of his work extends to cultural preservation, community engagement, and much more.

Dedicated to forest conservation and the promotion of sustainable agricultural practices, Jisudan Disari is a pillar of strength for his community in the Barakutni village of the Koraput district. His journey from a traditional cultivator to a community leader advocating for ecological balance reflects his deep understanding of the intricate relationship between nature and human survival.