Standing at the edge of Lungtian, a remote village, high up in the hills of the Lawngtlai district of Mizoram, with the Myanmar border reportedly not so far away, I find it hard to imagine any existence beyond the visual of endless hill ranges. This truly feels like the edge of the world, if ever there was one. While I experience the full force of Tlawmngaihna - the unique Mizo spirit of selfless hospitality, putting the needs of the guest above one’s own, I find myself in a peculiar...

Over the last 16 years as a ‘qualitative researcher’, one who is expected to be asking questions, I am often faced with a simple yet intriguing question from friends and others – “ What is it that you do (professionally)? ”. In the quest of keeping it simple, as is my personality, furthered layered by my profession as a researcher now, I usually find myself responding with the phrase, “ I talk to people ”. This response is most often met with an immediate retort, sometimes explicit and...

“I do not want to share any private information”, they always said. “What constitutes private information?” I would ask. “My bank...