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Centre for Holistic Studies

 Helping to create and promote sustainable development and awareness of indigenous knowledge and technology. Based in Mumbai, India.

http://chssachetan.wordpress.com/2014/03/07  

25 Years Behind and 25 Years Ahead

10 January 2026

Many years back Ekta Parishad was initiated in a small village of Chhattisgarh. Many young

people were trained here as social activists, who later became well known community

mobilizers. One should admit that many people young and old have sacrificed their life to

build this instrument called Ekta Parishad. They believed that through this instrument, in the

long run one can transform society. We should not forget the fact that many of our friends in

India and other part of the world have contributed their time and resources to build Ekta

Parishad.

Building a social movement was not an easy task. Back in 80’s there was too much

opposition to such activities. Many of those who opposed Ekta Parishad did it as they didn’t

like the idea that women are becoming social workers and they are moving alone in public

places. Some others didn't like Ekta Parishad as we were speaking against corruption.

Others were unhappy about our fight for justice. Working with poor and marginalized was

generally seen as an anti-governmental and anti-national work. Looking back, I think Ekta

Parishad could have done 10 times more than what it achieved, if the governments and

political groups were not opposed to our nonviolent social movement building in the interest

of the marginalized communities. I have never experienced so much opposition to truth.

As the system is built around a bundle of lies and those in power disliked anyone who

stood for truth and justice. Ekta Parishad was directed by the message of Gandhi's that one

should work for the poorest and should voice against a greed-based developmental

process.

Ekta Parishad wanted India to be proud by setting pro-people, pro-poor examples. We

wanted self-sufficient villages as opposed to welfareism by the state. We spoke for

decentralization of power and resources rather than a centralized system. We gave call to

every man and women to stand up against poverty and marginalization. We went to the

political leaders and officials to pursue them to support nonviolence and oppression. We

appealed to corporate houses to use their wealth and technology to create happiness for

all rather than destroying the local people and their culture to make profit. We were

surprised that the media often stood with those who were perpetuating injustice and

violence. They were often loud and vocal against those who are fighting injustice and

corruption.

Our appeal to the educated people did not receive the expected response. The idea that

the educated people will understand what is just and what is unjust, was not true in our

case. Education was used as a tool to exploit and oppress people rather than liberate them

from poverty and exploitation. Making money at any cost was the ideology for many. They

were least interested in Mahatma Gandhi and his ideas.Ekta Parishad was of course appealing to the system to be nonviolent, it was also

appealing to the armed underground groups to give up arms and join the mainstream

democratic process. We soon realized that the presence of armed groups in some remote

areas gave the Govt. an opportunity to colour all organizations including Gandhian

organizations as supporters of violent groups. Our appeal to give up arms was not taken

seriously by the armed groups, but we continue with our position that only through a

nonviolent process one can ultimately create a nonviolent society. We continue to believe

that wisdom will prevail and those young people who are misled will one day realize that their

ideological position has ruined the life of many.

As I look ahead of the next 25 years, I feel concerned about many things. Space for social

action and social movement are shrinking day by day. Fear is injected into voluntary sector

and into the minds of every individual social worker. Our resource base is shrinking very

fast. Due to various welfare schemes implemented by the Govt. even the deprived have

lost interest in a struggle to create a just society.

The time ahead is very challenging. I think by standing together Ekta Parishad can make

the next step. The leaders and workers of our movement will have to stand together.

Voluntary sector as a whole will have to stand together. All those who believe in a justice and

peace, even if you are part of political party or state, will have to stand together. “United

we win or divided we fall”. Ekta Parishad has always used the word family to define our

network. Family is the place where we have the spirit of caring and sharing. If we want to

survive and move forward, we will have to hold on this philosophy of “Caring and Sharing”.

Ekta Parishad should be rooted among the people. The idea of one rupee and one

handful rice is the only method that will sustain us. Local leadership and local resources put

together Ekta Parishad will be able to make a difference. The level of consciousness

around us has created the kind of world in which we live today. Ekta Parishad should

continue to work not only for a just world but also to introduce higher level of

consciousness. Probably new level of awareness may help us to redesign our strategies to

deal with the global crisis. I hope the next 25 years will take us a long way closer to the just

and peaceful world that we were always dreaming for. Generations to come may value our

work as an important step in that direction.

Rajagopal P.V

 

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Random reflections…………………..

 Saturday 10 January 2026

Canada is clean and more or less peaceful. This is a multi-cultural society and people co-

exist without many problems. The other day someone told me that in Toronto you can find all

colours and all languages and it is a pleasure to be in a country where so many cultures can stay,

work and move forward together. I used to say the same thing about India. We were proud of

our multiculturalism. Unfortunately, India is changing very fast and a kind of discomfort is being

created in the minds of different communities and cultures. I hope Indians will be clever

enough to overcome this problem. Mahatma Gandhi worked hard to make the Indians to

understand the beauty of multiculturalism.

Public places are an attraction in Canada, you can move around, you have parks, you have

places to walk, and you can sit in public places without being disturbed. For someone like me

who is always in the crowd it is a great relief to find all these free spaces. Organizing the city in a

way to provide space and peace to people is the basic idea followed in Canada. In India we don't

have enough land for public purpose. If you have money and muscle, you can privatize any

common property is the philosophy we follow in India. You don't find such behaviour here in

Canada. People do respect laws and follow it as far as possible.

Something that Canada has difficulty to resolve is the issue related to indigenous people

and the so-called settlers. I think this will go on as long as Canada is on the planet. Many non-

indigenous people are openly in support of the indigenous people, and they recognize the fact

that we are on the land of the indigenous people. Many good and bad things have happened in

history. What is important is to learn from it and not repeat the same mistake but to move

forward to make a better world. Unfortunately, the humankind (the homo sapiens) have great

difficulty in learning from the history. They continue to repeat the same mistakes towards a path

of self-destruction. What is happening in Ukraine, Palestine, Myanmar, and Congo are all an

indication that we haven’t learned any lessons to stop destructive behaviour and make our

home an interesting and peaceful place.

I had 3 hours of bus drive from Toronto. Our bus driver was a lady, and she is in charge for

everything. She must receive all luggage’s, she must drive, she must make all the

announcements in both in language (English and French) she must care for the air conditioner

and also for the people who are challenged. I was very impressed by the confidence level of

this woman. This will take years before we can see this happening in India. I know there are

lady auto drivers and the bus drivers in India, but the public response to such courageous people

will be very different from what I see here. Women being fully respected and recognized is

something interesting in Canada.This was during my trip to Zanzibar in Tanzania and Gory Island in Senegal that I

realized the pain of slavery and slave trade. By looking at the museum of Zanzibar and Gory

Island, one will realise how cruel the human beings can be and how powerful people treated

their fellow humans in such an inhuman manner. I am told that out of 30 million slaves

sent out from Gory Island only 15 million finally arrived. Others died out of hunger and

disease. Did human beings really progress from the days of slavery? Unfortunately, we

continue to keep people oppressed not only in the workplace but also in the families.

Misusing and abusing power is something that the so-called powerful people enjoy. Real

civilization is something to be achieved but still is a long way.

My mind says that there is no real liberation without deep suffering. Walking is good,

walking with one meal is also good but to walk without food or only with dry food will be

much better than walking with food 1. The real challenge is whether we want to prepare

people for it or conclude that it is not possible. I still dream that there is a possibility to shake

the system based on any action around people’s power and power of suffering. I'm sure

someone from among the leadership will one day understand it and act upon. My time

is nearly over for me to try it out.

Remember Ekta Europe was an organisation that stood with us for many years. Many

of you who are in the leadership will know how much each one of them contributed to

strengthen our work. Please continue to relate with them and respect them for all that

they have done in your efforts to liberate the oppressed and marginalised in India. When I

look back, I am only amazed by the fact that Ekta Europe had played such a crucial role at

times when we were in great difficulty. My life and achievements are closely attached to

my European friends who gave me unconditional love and support. Among our

European friends there are many who are of my age and some of them are no more

with us. It is difficult to predict who will move out first, but I hope my friends will

continue to live even after I am gone.

Rajagopal P.V