Sevagram

So I’ve just returned from a 3-day conference at Sevagram. Sevagram is located in the middle of the country (in Maharasthra, nearest town in Wharda, nearest city Nagpur), and is where the Gandhi Ashram is located. Well where one of them is located. Anyway it is the site of many important meetings that happened between Gandhi and Nehru during the freedom movement so said the many signs posted there.

The conference was run by IFA (Indian Friends Association) and their partners, It was truly inspirational and it came at the right time for me. I’ve definitely been asking, ‘What am I doing here?” and this conference helped me answer that.

But first, what was this conference about? The topics discussed were broad and included things such as: the history of development perspective in India, present development models and livelihoods of poor people, community control over natural resources, and changing role of the states and fighting corruption using existing government policies, and state, corporate and other repression-the use of violence and crime for economic, political, and social ends. Some big topics right? The people who attended the conference are at the forefront of their field and have been doing this work for years, so I was extremely lucky to be there.
The conference addressed these topics but also was developing action items. One of the major goals was to bring these experts together so they can learn from each other but also so they can support one another. The other unique aspect to this conference was discussion about funding and what the relationship has been between the funder and the NGO.

Just some anonymous quotes I would like to share:

• Organizations are working in project mode, very few are working in mission mode
• A lot of our ills are due to the funds we receive
• The flow of funding decides the flow of concern
• Corruption is a disease in this country
• Weapons are for those without courage
• Nature can never be managed well unless the people closest to it are involved in its management and a healthy relationship is established between nature, society and culture.
• How do we recognize and fight a shift to corporate governance?

So, “Why am I here?” I’m here to learn.