Short answer:

मैं खुश हूँ – Main khush hoon.

Long answer:

One month ago I arrived into India’s capital city Delhi, where I was greeted with smog, noise, and cows; I was instantly infatuated by the anarchy.  Without rest from the overnight flight, we started training with the NGO Pravah, linked to the partnership with Voluntary Services Oversea, International Citizens Scheme (VSO, ICS).  We began with three days of intense introspective team leader training, and then suddenly our teams of 35 UK and Indian volunteers arrived! It was a psychological rollercoaster.

By the second week, we travelled by train to Rajasthan to meet with the local NGO Manthan. We met with the leaders Tejramji and Pusramji, who are the epitome of wise enlightened gurus; I was in awe. They believe the ICS programme can influence from a bottom up approach, where graduates gain exposure from grassroots with the goal to influence future policy. This is certainly a high aim, but I like the concept. Within my time at Manthan, I learnt more about the caste system and patriarchy of India, which focused our aim to indirectly demonstrate how the systems are flawed and discriminating in the context of the local communities.

Manthan Volunteers

Team Leaders

Guru

Scenically situated within a valley of rolling hills, where a quaint white temple basks beneath the deep orange sunset, we were let loose into the whispering village of Kardala!! The village has a population of 850 people, with a school up to 8^th class, 4 temples, and two local level politicians (wards). The main livelihood is farming and labour work, therefore the village is bursting with roaming goats, sheep, cows, and we are often visited by camels. Our favourite animal is the majestic peacock, who look especially spectacular at sunrise.

Mendi sunrise

Downtown Kardala

Temple on the hill

I live with 2 volunteer counterparts: Usha and Roma and hosted by a younger couple Ratan and Santra, who we call Bhaiya (brother) and Didi (big sister). Ratan is an accountant, and Santra a proud housewife (like most wives of Kardala). Currently in week 3, we are working on a survey for female school drop outs, petitions for more teachers and the appointment of auxiliary nurse and midwife.  On Sunday, in collaboration with the youth group, we held a community action day ‘CLEAN KARDALA’. We collected  years worth of litter from the streets, and dug deeper sewers. It was a filthy day. Capacity building of the community, including the youth, female and children’s group is key to encouraging sustainability.

My proudest moment so far was solo singing a local language song ‘Hariyala Banao Nadan Banoa’ at the Republic day talent show. I still get heckled daily.  My lower moment involved a delightful case of Delhi belly. I was driven 2 hours on a bumpy road to hospital so I could be put on a drip for the morning. In all, I am very happy here. I am learning more and more Hindi every day, which is appreciated by my peers and the village. I haven’t consumed alcohol, I’ve become a vegetarian and I exercise every day, which is the complete opposite to my indulgent December 2017.

मैं खुश हूँ – Main khush hoon.

My family

Clean Kardala