Author: Hannah Fischer | 22-Mar-2023
Settling into a seat at my assigned table, I glanced around with nervous anticipation. It was a chilly Sunday morning in early February and guests from across India, as well as some from abroad, were gathering in the colorfully decorated outdoor space behind PRIA’s office in New Delhi. Many were there because they had known about or worked with PRIA since its inception. They were academicians, researchers, practitioners, and members of civil society. Present, too, were women domestic workers and youth aligned with the Martha Farrell Foundation (MFF). They all had at least one shared purpose for being there: to reflect, reconnect, and reboot on the 41st anniversary of PRIA’s founding.
Many in attendance had been there the evening prior, on February 4th, when events and group discussions were held to commemorate the 7th anniversary of MFF. On that occasion, I had also been a rapporteur, tasked to observe and participate in a group discussion about countering sexual and gender-based violence. Though the questions then had a different focus, both events embraced the theme learning is changing and asked participants to reflect on their personal experiences to answer questions collectively.
I listened as my group’s facilitator re-iterated the discussion questions posed by the director of PRIA. Following what felt like a long pause, conversation began to flow, both in Hindi and English. I was soon astonished by how thoughtfully members contemplated the questions: “what has your experience been in supporting changes in individuals and communities?” and “how integral is the process of learning to change?” It quickly became clear to me that all were there because they believed change was possible, and not only that it was possible, but necessary. Sure, change is inevitable. Yet this group seemed intent on discovering how desired changes occur, both internally, and in the communities and contexts they worked within. Their commitment to learning and thus changing was evident in the way that they listened intently to one another, and raised deeper questions, no matter how seemingly impossible or difficult to answer.
Participating in both days’ events revealed to me just how crucial reflection is for learning and changing, and how opportunities to do so are often limited. I recall Dr. Darlene Clover summed up our group’s discussion on this matter as “changing the world leaves no time for reflection.” This felt all too true, especially for those ensnared in careers which demand so much time and energy and tend to prioritize outward measures of growth. Yet, I wondered, how can we change the world without reflection? Without opportunities both individually and collectively to pause and consider where we have been and where we are headed, won’t we miss something crucial, something more basic?
I learned that in the process of reflection, there is an inherent recognition of the power and wisdom we all hold. Rather than searching for sources of so-called expert knowledge out there, this exercise required us to trust the experiences and wisdom right here as a valuable source of teaching for ourselves and others. That day, I witnessed an array of powerful and informative presentations which incorporated songs, skits, poems, stories, artistic posters, and more commonly, a combination of a few of these. Seeing so many people move beyond their initial discomfort to bring into existence creations which were inconceivable just a few hours before gave me a sense of optimism about the changes that seemed to be occurring. In expressing myself vulnerably and hearing others do the same, I realized how much we all had in common and felt a strong sense of connection to those who seemed to be strangers just hours before.
On the other hand, these events also revealed to me how different stakeholders may have contrasting ways of understanding and expressing the same topic. For example, one of the most striking moments on Saturday was when two women from different backgrounds shared their perspectives on patriarchy in Hindi. One, perhaps more ‘qualified’ to speak on socio-cultural phenomena because of her qualifications and prestige, suggested that the home is a safe space for women, wherein patriarchal values can be challenged and are not entrenched. Subsequently, a domestic worker shared the story of how when her differently abled daughter was born, her in-laws proposed throwing her out the window. This forced her to flee her home with her daughter in search of safety from the supposedly safe sphere of the home.
Initially, I was shocked at the stark difference in viewpoints and the severe circumstances that the domestic worker and her daughter had faced. For me, there was no denying that patriarchy, perhaps most potently, operated in the home and was passed down by parents to their children. I could not grasp why the first speaker felt otherwise. Eventually, I was able to accept that people’s understandings are shaped by their lived experiences, including their position in society.
This left me wondering if anyone present that day who shared the opinion of the first speaker would change their mind about patriarchy. It was possible, I thought. But as I had learned from my group discussion earlier that day, change required a willingness and commitment on the part of the individual. If we want to realize actual change, therefore, some of us must relinquish certain privileges which we receive from the maintenance of the status quo. This can be frightening for people. Thus, the question becomes: are we (those in positions of privilege) willing and committed to sacrificing these illusory benefits to create the change we wish to see in the world?
Ms. Meghna Sandhir, along with our team members, has been engaged in the Drivers, Limiters, and Barriers to Women's Trust in Digital Platforms Project since last year. She is blogging about her firsthand experiences from visiting our project sites in India.
Ms. Aashini Goyal, along with our team, has been working on the Drivers, Limiters, and Barriers to Women's Trust in Digital Platforms Project for the past two months. This blog recounts her firsthand experiences from visiting our project site in India.
Ms. Meghna Sandhir, our programme officer, along with colleagues from Martha Farrell Foundation and Pro Sport Development, participated in the Trainers of Training (ToT) program conducted at Sahbhagi Shikshan Kendra - SSK Lucknow. The training took place from December 4th to December 10th, 2023.
