girl power

UNNATI’s (the organization I’m working for) vision is to “Create an inclusive society where all stakeholders, particularly the vulnerable-dalits and women, participate with full empowerment and gain equal access and control over services, resources and institutions”. 

As an education organization they work toward that vision by sensitizing others to the issues via field level interventions focusing on capacity building and sharing of knowledge.  They educate the leaders and then work to make sure that the knowledge is transferred to the community.  UNNATI does not do any implementation.  They are all about getting the local people involved in the process and creating ownership in them for their own development and empowerment.  Basically, “they help people help themselves” which I totally love.  I’ve been really impressed the organization and feel grateful that I was placed with such an outstanding NGO.

I’ve learned that discrimination basically comes in 3 forms: 1. Alienation, 2. Humiliation, and 3. Exploitation.  Something to think about… the ways we contribute to or witness discrimination our lives. 

More on the dalits population later as it’s very complex and I’m still processing the situation and my reactions to it…. but right now I’m contemplating how that in Western Rajasthan  (and all over India) women are singled out as a part of the “vulnerable” population.  It’s such an interesting concept as I can honestly say that as a woman, I don’t know if I’ve ever known what it feels like not to be empowered. 

I had a beautiful conversation with my host mother Karin Didi (FYI…I have 2 host mothers as I’m in a joint family.  A mother and father with 2 grown children-a daughter in college in Mumbai and a son working in Glasgow- and her niece and husband and their 7 year old, my beloved Anauashree…this chat was with my "older" mother) about being a woman in India.  For context, Karin Didi is probably in her mid 50s and is a Rajaput which is the highest caste in Rajasthan...the king caste.  She seems to have a happy partnership with her husband and she is absolutely free to speak her mind to him (or anyone else for that matter).  Now the story is that she used to live with her in laws (and sent her kids to boarding school at 3^rd grade cause she couldn’t stand her mother in law’s influence on them) where the women were just supposed to “stay behind the curtain” and live a domestic life.  Karin Didi was restless and bored but didn’t know what to do so she bravely went and told her father in law that she wanted to pursue something outside the home but didn’t even know what was possible.  She asked his permission to dream.  “Will you please grant me permission to dream of something else…a different life?  With your blessing I might be able to find the courage to think about possibilities and not worry about the wrath of my mother in law and society”.  She had a saintly father in law who granted her his permission and then became her champion as she became a fashion designer hosting shows and selling her work and even being commissioned to create a wedding sari for a Japanese princess (don’t ask me why a Japanese princess was getting married in a sari??).  Since then she has become an “award winning” English teacher at a progressive local elementary school and has raised a daughter of her own.  She is also being a positive role model to Anaushree and all her students...showing them a world of possibility.  All because she was granted the permission to dream and then pursue her dreams. 

She knows she is blessed and that not all women in India are so fortunate.  I know that I’m also fortunate for being able to dream and pursue (and even achieve) many of my desires.  I need to remember that I am empowered and need to be a good steward of that gift since many of my sisters all over this world not have the option.  I don’t need to ask anyone’s permission to dream.  I have girl power!

The photos are of me and my host mom, Karin Didi; 2 sisters caring for their little brothers while their parents work as mine laborers; and a very pregnant mother going to get water.