Tekdi — Little conversations of change
‘Tekdi’ (टेकड़ी) in Hindi means a little hill also (arguably) referred to as ‘स्त्री’ टेकड़ी/टेकरी. To us however, it has come to represent a beautiful metaphor. The initial bit of uneasiness that once overcome, can actually lead to simple honest and even powerful conversations of change. One just needs to care enough.
And what does it take to care? One can believe it is the power to be able to participate and act.
We have often heard — Give people some significant power and they will appreciate the need for knowledge, but foist knowledge upon them without giving them responsibility and they will display only indifference.
Revisiting here our organisation Varitra Foundation’s community-meeting at village Pingli (Haryana) back in 2020 which saw some hard-hitting questions. From us. To us. For us.
Whose responsibility is it to create a healthy learning space? Is the school enough? Is home? Are we truly ensuring a safe and healthy environment for our children to grow up in? What about our girls who drop out before completing grade 10? What about the youth whose brush with addiction is all time high in our villages? Whose responsibility is it to raise a child?
We spoke on the need to strengthen our rural public education. For communities to participate in encouraging enrolment, regularity, discipline and a child-friendly learning environment in their village school. To especially focus on prioritising young girls’ education and career over early marriages.
We spoke on strengthening our communities from within. To start at their homes. We interacted with the village youth about all the ideas and opportunities they can explore with their lives today? And the most brave and crucial one among them — to work towards building a healthy & stable community which supports their growth.
Varitra has always believed that their is immense power in people coming together despite differences and striving the same dream. We often say — do what you can, with what you have, where you are. And while you do, create spaces for people to come together. Ask them to share stories, talk about what matters, what must be done and how can it be done. The journey to speak up sometimes starts without a noise, almost hidden in the shadows. Other times, its like boats against the current. But do it anyway.
‘Tekdi’ at Varitra Foundation is one such initiative. It’s here that we strive to initiate conversations on things that matter. We start today with rural education but we can’t wait to see where our conversations of change take us.
Lets be mad enough to talk. And mad enough to be saved.
-A
