TESTIMONIALS
This Dialogue was a beautiful punch on my face and it shook my belief system. The Dialogue helped question and understand the 'Something is not right' feel I have within myself for all aspects of Development, Rural Communities and Self.
I understood how corrupted and influenced my thought process has been when I think and talk about Development. The workshop gave a holistic framework to think about Development and how it is influenced by history and historical decisions made by Markets and Governments without thinking long term consequences. The Dialogue inculcated a habit to question and see every action we take from all the directions such that its consequences are minimum in long term.
Ashay Agrawal, Working Professional, Pune
I realized that I am not such a calm person and I need to work on sitting still and focusing on myself. I also saw that development is not just related to money. Even if people have money that does not mean that they are happy or they have proper education etc. It was also nice to see how welcoming the rural communities were and were still so positive and had a good outlook.
Grade 9, DLRC Student
I realized the current governance system and how it came to be. I learned about the currency trade system and its current influence on the balance of power, the constant exploitation with the current law order and systems, with neither of them changed with the intention. The drastic realisation of the school education system’s influence on the world order. I learned about the market dominance and about the divided split of the total wealth in favour of the “multi-million dollars, multinational companies” going from the GDP of some 3rd world countries leading to territorial control of these lands. This control leads to mass control of multimedia and education, brainwashing and chocking the communities and affecting the local village culture and increasing dependence of these communities on these companies leading to a profit boost thereby increasing control and the circle continues today. This made me realise that the term development needs rethinking in today’s times.
Grade 9, DLRC Student
This seven day Dialogue was very interesting and insightful for me. The day that I went for the field visit to Lavale was one of the first time I went to a village in such a spontaneous manner with the sole purpose of getting to know the villagers. Their generosity really touched my heart. Apart from the field visit, the simulations were eye opening and the idea of Markets and Capitalism stands the most with me.
The workshop, I think, gave me a push to further explore the real India in the villages, and travel was something I had thought about for a long time but never seriously considered.
Gap Year after 12th, DLRC
I learned to concentrate on my mind. I also learned how to interact with the villagers and about their lifestyle. I also learned how to work in groups.
Grade 9, DLRC Student
I learned the true meaning of development and how the villages and gram panchayats work. The field visits gave me new perspectives about villages.
Grade 9, DLRC Student
I learned how to empathize with people and how to understand the true meaning of development.
Grade 9, DLRC Student
I learned about banking, agriculture and how advanced the villagers have become compared to what they were 100 years ago.
Grade 9, DLRC Student
I learned about the advantages and disadvantages of governments based systems. I also learned how banking is done, how many types of loans, policies and government systems are there; how we can control our minds and increase our focus.
Grade 9, DLRC Student
I learned about rural communities and how they can live together while helping each other, something that we urban people are not able to do.
Grade 9, DLRC Student
I learned about new definition of development, being more empathetic and friendly. Rural communities are getting heavy affected by urban population.
Grade 9, DLRC Student
I realised that development is not in making rural communities like us (urban people).
Grade 9, DLRC Student
My learnings in the workshop were:
- Rural communities want to be like urban communities. They think they are entitled to Government schemes.
- Development: The villagers don’t know what they need as we have influenced their ways of thinking.
- There should be a balance between self reliance, governments and markets as each of them advantages and disadvantages.
Grade 9, DLRC Student
With respect to rural development or communities, I learned that the meaning of development in my head was completely incorrect and development doesn’t always mean good. I also learned that development has a downside and it interrupts self reliance of the communities.
And with respect to myself, I learned that I need to be able to calm myself down, and if I am not able to do it, it might affect my future. I also learned that meditating is good for me.
Grade 9, DLRC Student
They (villagers) are open to anyone coming in their village and are friendly and easy to talk to. I got perspectives on the definition of development and how people in the villages are struggling but are still joyous with the way they live. Empathizing is also one of the most difficult skills to perform, I tried and I think I did a good job in trying to put myself in their shoes.
Grade 9, DLRC Student