It was astonishing to realise on how similar the issues were on domestic violence, education, and violence in general in India and UK.
The issues were the same but we might have different options and challenges. But it was on the same continuum, from a different point.
Before leaving from London, I had no idea what was in store for me. That was the exciting bit.
Everybody around me was busy on Google and trying to find out more about Chhattisgarh. I knew where Chhattisgarh was because I’ve been to Raipur and have friends and cousins living here.
We’ve heard of Naxalites, but I had no fear coming here. However, people around me were a little afraid.
I took my vaccinations, my health insurance etc, because we were travelling in a group and it was more of a preventive measure, but personally I had no fear.
“This will be a new experience”, that’s what Oxfam International kept telling everyone. “We are going on an adventure,” I kept telling everyone and that enthusiasm was infectious. Another member agreed to join us for the trip because I kept talking about it nonstop.
To be honest, I was almost expecting that the issues might be different, the lives of women in India are different, so the issues will be different. I know that’s naive. However, I found men here were behaving the same way -- spending all their money on alcohol, on feeding their habits and then coming home and beating their wives.
I have seen and dealt with similar cases back in UK. What surprised me was the awareness and strength shown by the women here to deal with these problems.
For me as a participant and an observer, to see the learning in the group, this stripping of layers that we walk around with was most interesting. This was common with every member of the group because I’ve seen them in different backdrops and how they react to issues and people.
I’m also observing their journey and their transformation in some way. Sometimes subtle and other times more obvious.
We’re here as a group and a catalyst to facilitate change. That’s the aim for Asian Circle -- to make a difference. That’s why we need to look beyond alleviating problems and move to finding solutions.
Take for example, the story of Gayatri, who we met during the course of our trip.
A 14-year-old orphan, living with her chacha and chachi (uncle and aunt) who don’t want her to continue studying.
Gayatri wants to go to school and the group responded spontaneously. Each member wanted to do something. Get her out of the situation, legally, and send her to a hostel. I think she was distressed at the point that it wasn’t happening quickly enough.
Members of Asian Circle suggested -- take her to Mumbai, put her in a school, stay at my house and continue her studies.
We need to consider the implications of the actions we are suggesting.
What if Gayatri doesn’t like the life in Mumbai? What if she feels like an outsider, a misfit. Her accent, language, dialect, food likings would be different. Maybe somewhere down the line she does not like her school and the environment she might be living in. Then what.
And besides, as a group we forgot that while we were sitting and listening to Gayatri’s story, there were other girls sitting there facing a similar situation.
I understand that rejection of our immediate generosity must be a letdown. And as a group we need to think of larger solutions.
Buying her a motorbike, is that a solution? What if tomorrow she doesn’t want a bike, or her father says he can make better use of it and takes it away. Who will look after the maintenance and fuel etc of the bike?
What about the other girls in the village? They might have families but might also lack access to education due to a variety of reasons. Should we as a group think of larger solutions for the entire community?
While responding to one girl, are we forgetting the hopes and aspirations for the other 20 young girls in the same village? When they could all probably benefit from one school bus which can ferry them up and down.
Striking a balance between our expectations of ‘what we can do’ and their expectations of ‘what we can do for them’ is an important learning lesson on both sides.
What’s amazing is that they were not expecting our response to them. We have education and all the facilities, yet we have similar situations. Agar paise ho bhi jayenge, education ho bhi jayegi, uske aage ka rasta kya hai (even if they get educated, they start earning money. What is the way forward then?).
By Dr. Pushpinder Chowdhry
Images are for representation purpose only
Find out how Oxfam India is enabling communities by working to provide a life of dignity and equal opportunity for all.Get to know more about Oxfam India`s latest projects.
Read More13,Sep,2023 | Savvy
29,Aug,2023 | Savvy
22,Aug,2023 | Savvy
21,Aug,2023 | Savvy
09,Aug,2023 | Savvy
07,Jul,2023 | Savvy
05,Jul,2023 | Savvy
03,Jul,2023 | Savvy
28,Jun,2023 | Savvy
27,Apr,2023 | Savvy
26,Apr,2023 | Savvy
17,Apr,2023 | Savvy
10,Apr,2023 | Savvy
07,Apr,2023 | Savvy
04,Apr,2023 | Savvy
30,Mar,2023 | Savvy
29,Mar,2023 | Savvy
29,Mar,2023 | Savvy
24,Mar,2023 | Savvy
23,Mar,2023 | Savvy
02,Mar,2023 | Savvy
27,Feb,2023 | Savvy
27,Feb,2023 | Savvy
22,Feb,2023 | Savvy
22,Dec,2022 | Savvy
24,Nov,2022 | Savvy
23,Nov,2022 | Savvy
23,Nov,2022 | Savvy
23,Nov,2022 | Savvy
14,Nov,2022 | Savvy
10,Oct,2022 | Savvy
06,Oct,2022 | Savvy
30,Sep,2022 | Savvy
19,Sep,2022 | Savvy
13,Sep,2022 | Savvy
01,Sep,2022 | Savvy
01,Sep,2022 | Savvy
22,Aug,2022 | Savvy
17,Aug,2022 | Savvy
09,Aug,2022 | Savvy
05,Aug,2022 | Savvy
03,Aug,2022 | Savvy
02,Aug,2022 | Savvy
01,Aug,2022 | Savvy
01,Aug,2022 | Savvy
28,Jul,2022 | Savvy
27,Jul,2022 | Savvy
27,Jul,2022 | Savvy
07,Jul,2022 | Savvy
09,Jun,2022 | Savvy
09,Jun,2022 | Savvy
30,May,2022 | Savvy
30,May,2022 | Savvy
29,May,2022 | Savvy
20,May,2022 | Savvy
18,May,2022 | Savvy
06,May,2022 | Savvy
05,May,2022 | Savvy
04,May,2022 | Savvy
02,May,2022 | Savvy
28,Apr,2022 | Savvy
28,Apr,2022 | Savvy
28,Apr,2022 | Savvy
28,Apr,2022 | Savvy
18,Apr,2022 | Savvy
05,Apr,2022 | Savvy
15,Mar,2022 | Savvy
07,Mar,2022 | Savvy
03,Mar,2022 | Savvy
02,Mar,2022 | Savvy
28,Feb,2022 | Savvy
28,Feb,2022 | Savvy
20,Feb,2022 | Savvy
18,Feb,2022 | Savvy
09,Feb,2022 | Savvy
03,Feb,2022 | Savvy
31,Jan,2022 | Savvy
31,Jan,2022 | Savvy
31,Jan,2022 | Savvy
25,Jan,2022 | Savvy
20,Jan,2022 | Savvy
16,Jan,2022 | Savvy
13,Jan,2022 | Savvy
07,Jan,2022 | Savvy
06,Jan,2022 | Savvy
03,Jan,2022 | Savvy
31,Dec,2021 | Savvy
23,Dec,2021 | Savvy
22,Dec,2021 | Savvy
16,Dec,2021 | Savvy
16,Dec,2021 | Savvy
08,Dec,2021 | Savvy
06,Dec,2021 | Savvy
04,Dec,2021 | Savvy
20,Nov,2021 | Savvy
13,Nov,2021 | Savvy
07,Nov,2021 | Savvy
07,Nov,2021 | Savvy
09,Oct,2021 | Savvy
07,Oct,2021 | Savvy
06,Oct,2021 | Savvy
05,Oct,2021 | Savvy
01,Oct,2021 | Savvy
23,Sep,2021 | Savvy
12,Sep,2021 | Savvy
06,Sep,2021 | Savvy
26,Aug,2021 | Savvy
15,Aug,2021 | Savvy
15,Aug,2021 | Savvy
02,Aug,2021 | Anisha
07,Jul,2021 | Savvy
13,Apr,2021 | Savvy
18,Mar,2021 | Savvy
10,Mar,2021 | Savvy
14,Feb,2021 | Savvy
11,Feb,2021 | Savvy
12,Jan,2021 | Savvy
12,Jan,2021 | Savvy
12,Jan,2021 | Savvy
28,Dec,2020 | Savvy
22,Dec,2020 | Savvy
17,Dec,2020 | Savvy
11,Dec,2020 | Savvy
24,Nov,2020 | Savvy
12,Oct,2020 | Anisha
01,Oct,2020 | Savvy
29,Sep,2020 | Savvy
25,Sep,2020 | Savvy
24,Sep,2020 | Savvy
14,Sep,2020 | Savvy
14,Sep,2020 | Savvy
03,Sep,2020 | Anisha
26,Aug,2020 | Savvy
25,Aug,2020 | Anisha
24,Aug,2020 | Savvy
21,Aug,2020 | Savvy
17,Aug,2020 | Savvy
16,Aug,2020 | Savvy
11,Aug,2020 | Savvy
07,Aug,2020 | Savvy
15,Jul,2020 | Savvy
15,Jul,2020 | Savvy
14,Jul,2020 | Savvy
01,Jul,2020 | Savvy
29,Jun,2020 | Savvy
29,Jun,2020 | Savvy
29,Jun,2020 | Savvy
25,Jun,2020 | Savvy
16,Jun,2020 | Savvy
09,Jun,2020 | Anonymous
02,Jun,2020 | Savvy
23,May,2020 | Savvy
21,May,2020 | Savvy
18,May,2020 | Savvy
17,May,2020 | radhika
16,May,2020 | radhika
07,May,2020 | radhika
06,May,2020 | Savvy
27,Mar,2020 | Anisha
03,Mar,2020 | Anisha
03,Mar,2020 | Anisha
04,Feb,2020 | Anisha
30,Jan,2020 | Anisha
20,Nov,2019 | Anisha
05,Nov,2019 | Anisha
30,Oct,2019 | Anisha
17,Sep,2019 | Anisha
23,Jul,2019 | Anisha
05,Jul,2019 | Anisha
27,Jun,2019 | Anisha
21,May,2019 | admin
21,May,2019 | admin
21,May,2019 | admin
21,May,2019 | admin
26,Apr,2019 | Anisha
18,Apr,2019 | Anisha
05,Apr,2019 | Anisha
19,Mar,2019 | ursila
19,Mar,2019 | ursila
15,Mar,2019 | ursila
15,Mar,2019 | ursila
27,Feb,2019 | Anisha
04,Feb,2019 | ursila
31,Dec,2018 | ursila
31,Dec,2018 | ursila
31,Dec,2018 | ursila
04,Dec,2018 | tiasdutta
03,Dec,2018 | ursila
01,Dec,2018 | ursila
01,Dec,2018 | ursila
01,Dec,2018 | ursila
15,Nov,2018 | Anisha
03,Nov,2018 | admin
03,Nov,2018 | admin
03,Nov,2018 | admin
12,Oct,2018 | Anisha
27,Sep,2016 | oxfamadmin
19,Aug,2016 | oxfamadmin
09,Aug,2016 | oxfamadmin
08,Aug,2016 | oxfamadmin
03,Aug,2016 | oxfamadmin
03,Aug,2016 | oxfamadmin
28,Jul,2016 | oxfamadmin
20,Jul,2016 | oxfamadmin
16,Jul,2016 | oxfamadmin
15,Jul,2016 | oxfamadmin
14,Jul,2016 | oxfamadmin
27,May,2016 | oxfamadmin
04,Apr,2016 | oxfamadmin
22,Mar,2016 | oxfamadmin
18,Mar,2016 | oxfamadmin
16,Mar,2016 | oxfamadmin
14,Mar,2016 | oxfamadmin
11,Mar,2016 | oxfamadmin
10,Mar,2016 | oxfamadmin
08,Mar,2016 | oxfamadmin
02,Mar,2016 | oxfamadmin
01,Mar,2016 | oxfamadmin
29,Feb,2016 | oxfamadmin
25,Feb,2016 | oxfamadmin
12,Feb,2016 | oxfamadmin
08,Feb,2016 | oxfamadmin
05,Feb,2016 | oxfamadmin
04,Feb,2016 | oxfamadmin
01,Feb,2016 | oxfamadmin
25,Jan,2016 | oxfamadmin
13,Jan,2016 | oxfamadmin
08,Jan,2016 | oxfamadmin
06,Jan,2016 | oxfamadmin
06,Jan,2016 | oxfamadmin
04,Jan,2016 | oxfamadmin
31,Dec,2015 | oxfamadmin
16,Dec,2015 | oxfamadmin
16,Dec,2015 | oxfamadmin
09,Dec,2015 | oxfamadmin
08,Dec,2015 | oxfamadmin
06,Dec,2015 | oxfamadmin
05,Dec,2015 | oxfamadmin
04,Dec,2015 | oxfamadmin
03,Dec,2015 | oxfamadmin
01,Dec,2015 | oxfamadmin
29,Nov,2015 | oxfamadmin
26,Nov,2015 | oxfamadmin
23,Nov,2015 | oxfamadmin
12,Nov,2015 | oxfamadmin
10,Nov,2015 | oxfamadmin
04,Nov,2015 | oxfamadmin
02,Nov,2015 | oxfamadmin
30,Oct,2015 | oxfamadmin
29,Oct,2015 | oxfamadmin
28,Oct,2015 | oxfamadmin
23,Oct,2015 | oxfamadmin
23,Oct,2015 | oxfamadmin
16,Oct,2015 | oxfamadmin
12,Oct,2015 | oxfamadmin
09,Oct,2015 | oxfamadmin
06,Oct,2015 | oxfamadmin
04,Oct,2015 | oxfamadmin
25,Sep,2015 | oxfamadmin
25,Sep,2015 | oxfamadmin
25,Sep,2015 | oxfamadmin
22,Sep,2015 | oxfamadmin
19,Sep,2015 | oxfamadmin
19,Sep,2015 | oxfamadmin
17,Sep,2015 | oxfamadmin
15,Sep,2015 | oxfamadmin
13,Sep,2015 | oxfamadmin
11,Sep,2015 | oxfamadmin
10,Sep,2015 | oxfamadmin
08,Sep,2015 | oxfamadmin
04,Sep,2015 | oxfamadmin
03,Sep,2015 | oxfamadmin
31,Aug,2015 | oxfamadmin
28,Aug,2015 | oxfamadmin
25,Aug,2015 | oxfamadmin
21,Aug,2015 | oxfamadmin
21,Aug,2015 | oxfamadmin
19,Aug,2015 | oxfamadmin
18,Aug,2015 | oxfamadmin
17,Aug,2015 | oxfamadmin
14,Aug,2015 | oxfamadmin
13,Aug,2015 | oxfamadmin
12,Aug,2015 | Avantika
11,Aug,2015 | oxfamadmin
07,Aug,2015 | oxfamadmin
05,Aug,2015 | oxfamadmin
04,Aug,2015 | oxfamadmin
03,Aug,2015 | oxfamadmin
30,Jul,2015 | oxfamadmin
30,Jul,2015 | oxfamadmin
29,Jul,2015 | oxfamadmin
28,Jul,2015 | oxfamadmin
27,Jul,2015 | oxfamadmin
25,Jul,2015 | oxfamadmin
24,Jul,2015 | oxfamadmin
23,Jul,2015 | oxfamadmin
21,Jul,2015 | oxfamadmin
20,Jul,2015 | oxfamadmin
17,Jul,2015 | oxfamadmin
16,Jul,2015 | oxfamadmin
14,Jul,2015 | oxfamadmin
13,Jul,2015 | oxfamadmin
12,Jul,2015 | oxfamadmin
10,Jul,2015 | oxfamadmin
09,Jul,2015 | oxfamadmin
08,Jul,2015 | oxfamadmin
07,Jul,2015 | oxfamadmin
05,Jul,2015 | oxfamadmin
04,Jul,2015 | oxfamadmin
03,Jul,2015 | oxfamadmin
03,Jul,2015 | oxfamadmin
02,Jul,2015 | oxfamadmin
01,Jul,2015 | oxfamadmin
30,Jun,2015 | oxfamadmin
27,Jun,2015 | oxfamadmin
27,Jun,2015 | oxfamadmin
26,Jun,2015 | oxfamadmin
23,Jun,2015 | oxfamadmin
22,Jun,2015 | oxfamadmin
21,Jun,2015 | oxfamadmin
18,Jun,2015 | oxfamadmin
17,Jun,2015 | oxfamadmin
15,Jun,2015 | oxfamadmin
14,Jun,2015 | oxfamadmin
13,Jun,2015 | oxfamadmin
11,Jun,2015 | oxfamadmin
10,Jun,2015 | oxfamadmin
08,Jun,2015 | oxfamadmin
06,Jun,2015 | oxfamadmin
05,Jun,2015 | oxfamadmin
04,Jun,2015 | oxfamadmin
03,Jun,2015 | oxfamadmin
02,Jun,2015 | oxfamadmin
01,Jun,2015 | oxfamadmin
30,May,2015 | oxfamadmin
30,May,2015 | oxfamadmin
29,May,2015 | oxfamadmin
28,May,2015 | oxfamadmin
25,May,2015 | oxfamadmin
25,May,2015 | oxfamadmin
25,May,2015 | oxfamadmin
25,May,2015 | oxfamadmin
25,May,2015 | oxfamadmin
20,May,2015 | oxfamadmin
17,May,2015 | oxfamadmin
17,May,2015 | oxfamadmin
17,May,2015 | oxfamadmin
16,May,2015 | oxfamadmin
13,May,2015 | oxfamadmin
12,May,2015 | oxfamadmin
12,May,2015 | oxfamadmin
10,May,2015 | oxfamadmin
09,May,2015 | oxfamadmin
06,May,2015 | oxfamadmin
06,May,2015 | oxfamadmin
05,May,2015 | oxfamadmin
02,May,2015 | oxfamadmin
02,May,2015 | oxfamadmin
02,May,2015 | oxfamadmin
01,May,2015 | oxfamadmin
30,Apr,2015 | oxfamadmin
30,Apr,2015 | oxfamadmin
30,Apr,2015 | oxfamadmin
29,Apr,2015 | oxfamadmin
28,Apr,2015 | oxfamadmin
28,Apr,2015 | oxfamadmin
27,Apr,2015 | oxfamadmin
26,Apr,2015 | oxfamadmin
26,Apr,2015 | oxfamadmin
25,Apr,2015 | oxfamadmin
24,Apr,2015 | oxfamadmin
23,Apr,2015 | oxfamadmin
22,Apr,2015 | oxfamadmin
22,Apr,2015 | oxfamadmin
21,Apr,2015 | oxfamadmin
21,Apr,2015 | oxfamadmin
20,Apr,2015 | Avantika
16,Apr,2015 | oxfamadmin
12,Apr,2015 | oxfamadmin
11,Apr,2015 | oxfamadmin
08,Apr,2015 | oxfamadmin
06,Apr,2015 | oxfamadmin
03,Apr,2015 | oxfamadmin
03,Apr,2015 | oxfamadmin
30,Mar,2015 | oxfamadmin
26,Mar,2015 | oxfamadmin
24,Mar,2015 | oxfamadmin
24,Mar,2015 | oxfamadmin
23,Mar,2015 | oxfamadmin
17,Mar,2015 | oxfamadmin
12,Mar,2015 | oxfamadmin
07,Mar,2015 | oxfamadmin
07,Mar,2015 | oxfamadmin
02,Mar,2015 | oxfamadmin
02,Mar,2015 | oxfamadmin
28,Feb,2015 | oxfamadmin
27,Feb,2015 | oxfamadmin
26,Feb,2015 | oxfamadmin
25,Feb,2015 | oxfamadmin
25,Feb,2015 | oxfamadmin
25,Feb,2015 | oxfamadmin
25,Feb,2015 | oxfamadmin
16,Feb,2015 | oxfamadmin
06,Feb,2015 | oxfamadmin
30,Jan,2015 | oxfamadmin
22,Jan,2015 | oxfamadmin
20,Jan,2015 | oxfamadmin
20,Jan,2015 | oxfamadmin
06,Jan,2015 | oxfamadmin
29,Dec,2014 | oxfamadmin
22,Nov,2014 | oxfamadmin
22,Nov,2014 | oxfamadmin
22,Nov,2014 | oxfamadmin
22,Nov,2014 | oxfamadmin
22,Nov,2014 | oxfamadmin
22,Nov,2014 | oxfamadmin
22,Nov,2014 | oxfamadmin
22,Nov,2014 | oxfamadmin
22,Nov,2014 | oxfamadmin
22,Nov,2014 | oxfamadmin
22,Nov,2014 | oxfamadmin
22,Nov,2014 | oxfamadmin
22,Nov,2014 | oxfamadmin
07,Nov,2014 | abhij89
04,Sep,2014 | Anonymous
03,Sep,2014 | Anonymous