In March 2025, Nāgrika organised the Power of  Nāgrika Conclave and created an intimate space where everyday struggles, local solutions, and the spirit of small-city citizens took centre stage. The Conclave brought together changemakers from across India’s smaller cities for two days of reflection, dialogue, and inspiration. 

The Nāgrika Fellowship is an invitation to see your city with fresh eyes, to connect local knowledge with national conversations as well as conversations in your own city, and to shape more inclusive narratives of India’s urban future. After the success of our first cohort, we are excited to announce that applications are now open for the next cohort of the Nāgrika Fellowship!

In India’s small and mid-sized cities, civic behaviour is often framed as a question of personal morality but what if the story is more complex? This commentary examines how systemic gaps, weak enforcement, cultural conditioning, and the pressures of daily survival shape public conduct. Moving beyond the rhetoric of “zero civic sense,” it asks who truly bears responsibility for maintaining civic order, is it the individuals, institutions, or the collective and what it would t

On the dawn-lit shores of Kollam, Baby’s morning unfolds with the familiar rhythm of his father’s fishing routine: steady and shaped by the sea’s unpredictability. But today, something is different. A festival fair stirs the coastal town awake, filling the air with aromas and anticipation. Memories of the past linger as the community gathers, and the day unravels into a poignant reflection of resilience. Can the spirit of the sea and society endure the tides of change?

चार साल बाद पुरोला लौटने पर तारा अपने शहर को एक नई नजर से देखती है। जो बचपन की यादों से तो भरा था लेकिन बदलते समय के साथ कहीं खो सा गया था। अपने दोस्तों के साथ मिलकर वह एक पारंपरिक मेले का आयोजन करती है, जहाँ देवताओं की पूजा होती है, झंगोरे की खीर और काफली भात जैसे स्वादों से लोग जुड़ते हैं। लोकगीत और नुक्कड़ नाटकों से पुरानी कहानियाँ फिर से जीवंत हो उठती हैं। यह मेला पुरानी यादों से सराबोर परंपरा और सामुदायिक भावना को फिर से जीने की एक कोशिश है। तो क्या तारा इस कोशिश में काम

India’s informal settlements are growing faster than its cities can cope. Born out of housing shortage, migration, and poor planning, sprawling slums face challenges of infrastructure, water, and health. From Sambalpur’s grassroots clinics to edible rooftops in Ahmednagar, communities are stepping in where the system falls short. But can these pockets of resilience become a solution for the deepening crisis of informal urban growth?

भारत की अनौपचारिक बस्तियां इतनी तेजी से बढ़ रही हैं कि शहर उनसे निपटने में असमर्थ हैं। आवास की कमी, पलायन और खराब योजना के कारण बन रही ये फैली हुई झुग्गियां बुनियादी ढांचे, पानी और स्वास्थ्य जैसी समस्याओं का सामना कर रही हैं। संभलपुर के जमीनी स्तर के क्लीनिक से लेकर अहमदनगर की खाने योग्य छतों तक, समुदाय वहीं कदम बढ़ा रहे हैं जहाँ सरकारी व्यवस्था कमजोर पड़ जाती है। लेकिन क्या ये संघर्षशील इलाके अनौपचारिक शहरी विस्तार के बढ़ते संकट का समाधान बन सकते हैं?

In Srirangapatna, a group of passionate volunteers is creating ripples of change in the story of reviving urban lakes. From historical conservation practices to citizen-led movements in cities like Coimbatore and Miyapur, these efforts show how communities are coming together to transform neglected waters into vital resources. In this wave of urban lake revitalisation, how are communities leading the way?

India generates over 62 million tonnes of waste annually, but most of it ends up in landfills. Despite national targets, source segregation remains low, and cities struggle with treating waste effectively. Yet, places like Alappuzha, Panaji, and Ambikapur showing the way with local solutions and community efforts. With rising waste and shrinking space, it’s clear that city-led innovation is the way forward.

In the heart of Gaya, a young girl’s innocent curiosity unearths stories of a city caught between past glory and present struggles. Through her grandmother’s eyes, woes of flooded streets, fading traditions, and hidden textile hubs come alive — painting a vivid picture of hope, loss, and resilience. Together, their heartfelt conversation reveals a city yearning to breathe again while nurturing the dreams of tomorrow.

When Shiva returns to Gorakhpur, the city of his childhood feels both familiar and foreign. Amid rapid urban changes and environmental neglect, he chooses action over despair, starting a solo cleanup mission that soon blossoms into a community movement. With the guidance of an elderly couple, the group breathes life back into their hometown, proving that revitalising a city’s soul is possible when passion, persistence, and purpose come together.

The power of citizen-led initiatives in smaller cities has recently gained significant attention. Citizens are driving change: be it Mohali's residents fighting for overdue maintenance works, or Chitlapakkam's community resolving last-mile connectivity through persistent efforts. However, challenges like bureaucratic hurdles, political influences, and resource limitations still persist. Will local communities overcome these barriers to influence lasting change in their cities

Tamil Nadu's ‘Friends of Library’ scheme is transforming public libraries by bringing books directly to neighborhoods. With just one library for every 80,000 urban residents, access to reading material remains limited. Could digital libraries be the solution to this challenge? And, is there room for more community spaces that promote learning and personal growth? The future of public libraries might look quite different.

Delhi’s 13th Pride Parade brought thousands together in a march for inclusion and a celebration of diversity. Yet beyond the colourful marches, how inclusive are Indian cities in practice? From Chennai’s pioneering steps to Kerala’s progressive policies, the push for LGBTQIA+ inclusion is gaining ground. As new indices shed light on workplace equality and urban inclusivity, are cities keeping pace with evolving societal expectations?

सुनहरे सपनों और संकल्पों के कैनवास पर उतरी सौम्या की यह कविता शहर की स्वर्ण गाथा बयां करती है। कौटिल्य की अर्थनीति से लेकर गंगा की लहरों तक ये रचना शहर के वर्तमान और भविष्य को एक धागे में पिरोती है। सौम्या की कलम अतीत की मिट्टी से भविष्य का एक ऐसा दीपक गढ़ती है, जो भावी पीढ़ी के लिए उम्मीद की लौ बनकर चमकता है। नारी सुरक्षा की गुहार और पर्यावरण संरक्षण की पुकार लिए यह कविता कितनी कारगर साबित होगी?

Who is making it easy for us to move? Behind India’s mobility shift are unlikely partnerships. Governments, CSOs, residents, and even e-bike startups are all co-creating better transport. From Cycle Days to Handlebar Surveys, citizen engagement is no longer symbolic. It’s strategic, sustained, and reshaping the rules of how cities listen, plan, and move forward.

From ward committees to WhatsApp polls, citizen voices now shape how cities move. But what stands between symbolic seats at the table and real decision-making power? Mapping the shift from passive input to active collaboration – online, offline, and in-between – there are lessons that cities can’t afford to ignore.

What happens when residents help design their own commute? From Bengaluru’s hotly debated bazaar pedestrianisation to nationwide ‘streets for people’ pilots, citizen voices test‑drive sustainable transport plans. Which lessons from these talks, trials, and temporary takeovers could steer India’s future mobility toward smarter, fairer city travel tomorrow?

Imagine India as just 100 people: how many would own a phone, have electricity, or live in a city? This thought experiment uncovers surprising truths about inequality and everyday life. Inspired by global data visualisations, it’s a snapshot of India’s diverse realities, reminding us that numbers tell stories too. As the next Census approaches, what shifts will the new decade reveal?

Libraries are more than just collections of books; they’re vital community spaces. In India, however, urban libraries remain scarce, with one library serving 80,000 people on average. As cities grow, public libraries must evolve to foster lifelong learning and community engagement, by reimagining dynamic spaces for social interaction, creativity, and knowledge-sharing. Will investing in libraries help our cities become truly smart?