“When people talk about villages in urban areas there is a sense of nostalgia. It is not that everything is fine in villages. We have to do something to find a social, political and economic solution to problems, [so we can] live in harmony without exploiting each other. My vision is a world where there is no exploitation. Someday there will be a world like this.”
– Devendra Ji in conversation with 2009 Indicorps Fellowship Class
In 1986, an engineering graduate named Devendra Upadhyay (Devendra Ji) chose to return to his home village and begin farming. His wife, Sudhi Bhatnagar (Sudhi Ji), a trained social worker, joined him, and both Devendra and Sudhi became actively involved in the economic and social issues of the local community.
In 1992, irregularities in processing loans from the Government of India’s Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP) led the local community and Devendra Ji to establish Hum Kisan Sanghatan (HKS) - which literally translates as “We the Farmers.” HKS became a forum for discussion to coordinate protests against costly loopholes in the IRDP. For nearly two decades HKS has established a strong presence across 50 villages in Rajasthan’s Manohar Thana region, promoting civic awareness and local self-sufficiency.
HKS has chosen to evolve as a democratic and non-hierarchical organization, wherein decision-making is a collective exercise. When HKS built the Manthan School, for instance, farmers volunteered to contribute two hundred bricks, five bamboo stalks and five days of labor each for construction of the building. In the last four years, HKS has added two classrooms, one library hall and a work shed via a similar process of “sweat equity.”
As an organization, HKS engages in many village activities to create an informed and self-reliant community. Inculcating an ability among villagers to question and explore issues that affect them through research, reason, logic is one of the fundamental focus areas of HKS. In the past, the collective has fostered participation of villagers in “Activist School,” a workshop to encourage scientific thinking, including courses on the evolution of mankind, the history of economics, and gender issues.
HKS has five main streams of activity: education, livelihoods, culture, religious harmony, and effective governance. These activities interconnect with one another creating a holistic web of development programs. Combined they seek to increase the quality of life in the community by increasing the vibrancy, knowledge, self-sufficiency and societal integration of the people.
Need for Project:
HKS’s cultural team uses regional music, songs, plays and puppetry to raise awareness about social issues in the villages. HKS identifies villagers with talent in art, music and/or theatre and assists to develop these talents. In addition, HKS attempts to find venues for performers that will advance awareness of social issues to affected audiences.
Through its experience with various media and performances, as well as through conversations with villagers, HKS has realized that villagers view entertainment as the principal purpose of arts and media. HKS seeks to change this perception into a view where art and media are a form of expression to raise social consciousness.
HKS already has one cultural team that organizes plays on issues ranging from corruption to health. HKS hopes to have more youth participation in that process and in expanding the reach of art and media for social change.
As an August 2010 Indicorps Fellow, you will encourage youth to engage in independent and critical thinking about social issues through effective use of art and media. Additionally you will enhance or create forums for discussion that will refine the ideas to be presented via art and media.
Initially you should familiarize yourself with past efforts to introduce the idea of socially-aware art-forms in the community, while at the same time becoming conversant in the local customs, interests, and dialects. You may document various aspects of local artistic heritage and forge relationships with local artists to help preserve local art forms, where appropriate. You will create and manage youth groups in villages focused on creating social change through local art and folk tradition. You will facilitate group-led discussions, build the group’s technical artistic and performance skills, and coordinate various in-community performances, demonstrations, or exhibits. You should build leadership and management skills within the youth group, and devise an organizational structure to ensure continuity after your departure.
Passion about art and culture (theatre, folk songs and stories) and experience in directing and managing will be useful for this project.
Target Community:
The target community includes talented and interested youth, local artists and villagers in five villages around Jhiri. Most children and youth come from marginal or landless farmers’ families. Folk music and storytelling is a regular part of village life. Local festivals and auspicious occasions such as marriages usually showcase performances by local artists.
Objectives:
• To identify talented youth and local artists
• To create a forum for discussion and debate among village youth
• To nurture the talent of the youth through coaching by local artists and performance in local festivals
• To organize performances both to raise social issues and develop interest in the local art
• To develop tools and methods that induces a perception of media and art as a form of expression for social change
Challenges:
• Organizing local performances will require support and participation of villagers
• Encouraging artists to mentor talented youth and provide opportunities to showcase their talents
Team-Based Model:
Each project is designed as a three-way partnership between you, Indicorps, and the partner organization. Each grassroots partner organization – in this case HKS – will be hosting two to four Fellows. Consequently, the August 2010 Fellowship will have both an individual and a team component.
As a team of Indicorps Fellows, you will assist in HKS’ efforts for community empowerment. Team members will focus on different areas including inculcating rational thinking in children and youth, inspiring social change through use of media and art, and building capacity of a women weavers community.
Fellows will be provided accommodation in the village of Jhiri close to the main campus of HKS. Simple vegetarian food and clean drinking water will be provided. You will be expected to do your own laundry, chores, and help with household activities. Jhiri village does not have 24-hour electricity. Phone and limited internet facilities are available at the HKS office. The nearest major town near Jhiri is Kota, it is well connected by road and rail to other major Indian cities. Buses run all day from Jhiri to Kota; emergency jeeps and motorcycles are available if necessary.
The language spoken at HKS is Hindi. For this project, a basic knowledge of Hindi is required. If you do not have basic knowledge of Hindi, you can still apply if you commit to learning the language before the start of your Fellowship year.
Please explain the qualifications that make you a strong candidate for this project - be sure to elaborate on any experiences with arts and/or media.
2.
The local community feels that the youth in the program are wasting time with your theatre productions on domestic violence. How would you encourage volunteers to continue creating awareness about this important issue? How will you address the concerns of the community?
3.
Talk about a time when you joined an existing team. How long did it take to you contribute to the group's efforts and feel like you were part of the team? What challenges did you face and how did you overcome them?
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