Ordinary Love
Last year, I hopped across continents, travelled for miles into the hinterlands of India, and discovered life sans any pretension. I constantly shifted gears going from one extreme to another and I can say with certainty it has been an incredible experience! I walked through the corridors of five star hotels in the national capital where big decisions and the future of BRICS was being decided, and lived in wage-seekers’ huts in the remote Telengana tribal belt of Andhra Pradesh; of having choices of cuisines and mineral water to finding myself without any access to potable water and electricity for days; of meeting elites with significant power and listening to their take on development to understanding how it has completely failed for those towards whom it is directed; of listening about people who are quoted as numbers as part of India’s growth story to actually meeting them and realising how we have completely failed them; And still how they have completely left me in awe with their resilience and enterprising spirit.
It was exasperating in the beginning. Things appear black and white to us when we debate them on social media, where everybody talks to nobody and everybody is a ring side critic. Random opinions float on theories and perceived notions of development policies and politics. Ofcourse, we all are entitled to our opinions, except we are not entitled to choose for others and decide what is best for them or how they should or should not be! But for the countless millions living in the hinterlands, that is the reality. Choices are made, decisions are taken and solutions are provided for them. Did they have a say in them? I doubt it. Were these projected as seminal best practices in national and international conferences? Yes. Has anything changed for them? No. I was left bewildered.
I decided to dig deeper, share meals and their lives. I realised it is easy to have opinions, it is way too difficult and overwhelming when one experiences them. I celebrated feminism and gender empowerment with women of Jehanabad village in Bihar, who managed whole work-sites and money by themselves, ensuring their girl child goes to school. I applauded innovative methods of teaching primary school children in Kanker village of Chattisgarh where teachers devoted special time to give wings to children’s imagination. I congratulated bureaucrats who worked tirelessly to ensure scrupulous implementation of policies that affect millions in Bastar village of Chattisgarh. I was humbled by the resilience of sex workers in Rajahmundry in Andhra Pradesh who relentlessly pursued the ‘system’ to demand accountability for their basic citizenship rights. I learnt from enterprising and meticulous ladies of Lohardaga village of Jharkhand working round the clock to develop sustainable livelihoods for their fellow villagers. I worked with aspirational youth of Peddemul village in Andhra Pradesh who are raring to push limits and actually be part of India’s growth story. I experienced camaraderie of hindus-muslims in Ghanpur Village of Warangal sharing coffee and conversations in the evening in their courtyard.
Most of these villages are part of India’s red corridor or Naxal belt, and I was quite circumspect to venture into those terrains. It did not take me time to learn their codes, and navigate but what amazed me more was the progressive outlook of indigenous people, their customs, colourful life and celebrations, much more than I have experienced in metros like Delhi.
I wonder, when we all find happiness and purpose in similar things in lives, how does it become about us and them and who is better and more equipped to choose for the others. I am yet to find the answer. I am yet to understand why the usual discussions miss out on the fine balance of life here – on their resilience, love, aspirations and spirit of enterprise that I have come across. I have received countless invitations to come back and share more meals, tea and coffees and their lives. Here life is without pretension and love is ordinary and overpowering. Come to think of it, they never really lived far from me. I just had to find them…
– Akansha Yadav
Well written and thought provoking. All the best
Thanks Rajeev…
Akanksha, your writing accentuates your experiences & passions beautifully. The plight of our people across diversities can easily be addressed if one carries the will and wants to be the change! I am certain you have a bright future ahead of you given your strengths – you do not need reactions from people – just listen to yourself! Anytime you want a job – just shout!! it was great meeting you albeit briefly in Delhi.
Thanks a lot Sanjay. It was good to see you too. I think I would like to visit and see your wonderful organic urban agriculture technique and write about it too next time when I am in Doon.
Best wishes – Akansha
The thoughts n feeling u have described in ur last para is something that I have felt too post my return from a field research.but then it is a feeling that comes to those who actually can see n visualise the difference,issues,concerns n state of people,towns,villages. Until the majority n those who make the policies feel this beyond research reports,policy documents,movies or documentaries or just the news this might be the “way of being”for a whe to come
Thanks Tarunima, there are multiple issues at policy level. first of all In India policy making is not evidence and research based. Secondly, the voice of policy makers is the voice of the middle class and thirdly there are good practices going on at the grassroots level that need mentioning and feeding into central level policy making. These need to become more prominent in our general understanding about society, I feel.
My dear Akansha,
For me, as your teacher at SIMC, Pune, and later as ur guide and mentor, it is a great joy to applaud u — one of my most sincere & honest students — on starting ur blog.
Peace and love to ur kindred soul — Sharmila.
Lakhs of people before u have stepped out of our cities and gone into the villages of India, since Independence: as IAS officers, govt servants, teachers and doctors, activists with NGOs, etc.
But few have expressed the kind of empathy and compassion that I witness in your piece.
My dear Akansha — May u keep ur head on ur shoulders; ur feet on the ground; resist the temptations of our so-called civilised world and urban culture; and above all, always, listen to ur inner voice. 🙂
Forty years ago, at the age of 22, in the wake of one of the worst droughts, I gave up my studies and went into the drought-prone villages of Pathardi taluka, Ahmednagar district in Maharashtra.
That experience changed me, making me a better human being. I hope ur experiences will make u a good human being too.
Be a good girl, my dear Akansha.
I am proud of u.
Peace and love,
– Joe.
Thanks a lot for your encouragement and good wishes Sir.
Well written and awesome
Thanks Satish…
So true!! Keep posting!!!
Thanks Trupti.. we will be posting more stories from India and around the world.
No ordinary thoughts these. Well researched and beautifully written. Hoping that the future growth becomes more inclusive.
Straight from the heart, inspiring and thought provoking. Good going, keep it up
Thanks Garima… 🙂
Hey Akansha….it was brilliant and more importantly, althoughy many may think on the same lines, you certainly have gone ahead and pursued it…well done!!!
Thanks Ashwin..
So beautifully written Akansha. It can only be truelly expressed by living their life style and experiencing their thoughts and emotions and you have done it very well indeed. Congratulations. I hope there are many more eye openers to come.
Good luck.
Robin
Thanks Robin, indeed there are more to come. Please follow the blog for newer stories…
Smartphones and digital media have severely damaged my attention span but after a long time I have been able to read a piece of writing without a break 🙂
First, I think not many people are able to do this so this sets you apart in any case. The only other person I know of who has done this is Rahul Gandhi who obviously doesn’t do this by choice! Second, it is encouraging to see your passion and commitment and the zest to make the most of your time. Consider yourself lucky to be using your time doing what you like and never let it go. In a way its inspiring for us cubicle kinds to at least give our 100% to what we do till we find what we like to do 🙂
Do keep posting more as this also busts so many stereotypical notions about India that Indians themselves have.
Thanks Saurabh… this is very very encouraging. Please follow the blog for more stories that we will be posting- Akansha
Akansha, what a year. Beautiful writing. Congrats!
Thanks babe…. waiting for your one billion rising experience! – Akansha