© DW/Murali Krishnan

The Rohingyas in Myanmar (a country formerly known as Burma) are often described as one of the most persecuted minorities in the world. From the time the country’s then-military junta passed The Burma Citizenship Law in 1982, they’ve been denied citizenship – and ever since, they are virtually stateless.

Siddi Kids © DW/Murali Krishnan

They are a community that migrated from East Africa to India between the 15th and 19th century. And today, the 60,000-strong community has settled primarily in the Indian states of Karnataka, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.　

An indian woman walks on a dried and cracked water pond as she carries bucket to take drinking water. © Imago/Zuma Press

In the baking sun and swirling dust, Madhu, 37, looks dejected as she surveys the parched field of kharif paddy and pulse crops in Hamirpur in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh.

The central Indian state of Chhattisgarh has become a dangerous place for those who question the government. This, especially after the Indian government has vowed to unleash a massive offensive on Maoist rebels that human rights groups say doesn’t address the factors that has led to the Maoist insurgency in the first place.

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The capacity to bounce back and thrive in the face of adversity is not a natural talent or quality. Rather, it’s the result of a set of skills that can be learned. And no better has this been demonstrated in the impoverished state of Bihar in northern India. 

© picture-alliance/dpa

It is ironic that while India is one of the world’s fastest growing economies, many Indian women are still trapped in the dark ages. Just name it – female feticide, child marriage, sexual violence, dowry, domestic slavery and abuse top gender evils. It might not necessarily be in that order.

Sitawa Nanda, 41, is now fighting for the betterment of Devadasi women and hoping that women do not ‘sacrifice’ their daughters to this regressive practice that continues surreptitiously. (© DW/Murali Krishnan)

It is an ancient religious practice that still traps young girls in India in a life of sexual exploitation.