Hello everyone! How are you?
I have decided to share my memories! My memories are more and less the memories of my organization I have been working with from the past 13 years. My colleagues are somehow my second family and I see the growth of my office as the growth of my family. I am talking about Rural Education and Development (READ) India.
Now, with this very brief background let me share my memories with you. While I was interviewed by Dr Antonia Neubeur, the Founder of READ Global, settled in Nevada, USA, on phone, in May 2008. She asked me five questions. How many times I have travelled to rural areas? What experience I had talking to the rural communities? If I am not provided bed and bedsheets to sleep, and no proper washroom, can I stay under these tough conditions? Can I adjust to the food available to eat, keeping in view the circumstances you are travelling to rural areas?
I was amazed by these questions. She is not concerned about my experience, specifically, planning, execution, monitoring, HR and fund raising, as the Country Director is supposed to know everything. She is concerned about my adjusting to the odd circumstances, specially leaving behind all comforts, facility and luxury back home!
I remember, I answered all the questions based on my experience and what I faced while travelling to rural areas and international travel I did during my earlier jobs with Population Foundation of India and OneWorld South Asia. She was so convinced with my answers and she said “You are the right choice”. Till date, after almost 13 years, I am the same and READ India has grown with the simple bottom-line – simplicity, humility, humanity, values to serve the humanity, transparency, respect for each other and expanding and nurturing the relationship beyond empowerment and employment.
I joined on the 1st June 2008 and the inauguration of The Oceanic Library was on 8th June 2008, just 7 days after my joining. I had to travel to the village Ullon, near Sundarbans, West Bengal. I met Dr Antonia Neubeur, Jessica, daughter of Omer Rains, the then the Chair of the Board, READ Global at the Kolkatta airport and the journey started in actual. Nahid Jubair, my colleague, whom I met before joining READ India, was in Ullon itself making arrangements for the stay in Ullon and launch of the first READ Community Library and Resource Centre.
While I reached Ullon, three hours drive from the Kolkatta airport, I was amazed by the warm welcome of the local village people, we walked 5 kms from the main road where The Oceanic Library is located to the VSSU Office, with local bands and communities. It was a fun though but my mind was reflecting on the answers I shared with Toni (Dr Antonia Neurbeur). She was so happy, I could see the level of happiness and satisfaction on her face. She was overwhelmed with the response, seeing the response of the community as per the Model she perceived while founding the READ Global. I still remember, being a strong cultural State, the whole night, the community had a cultural programme. Women dressed in traditional costumes, jewellery, make-up and children performed at their best, Jessica surrounded by the village girls, Toni surrounded by men and women, Library Management Committee members. Kapil Mondal Da, the short height man, with such a high vision and feel for his community, was having peace on his face, as the magic he did was unmeasurable, donating the land, by converting a hut into the library, a great visionary knew that this partnership will enable him to translate his dreams into action. I would also like to mention here that the model he created based on his dreams was shown by an architect in a model of the building covered with glass walls and was kept on the table at the Reception. He happily explained to all maybe more than 10 times with bright light in his eyes and confidence that he will be able to achieve all this not only for him but for his villagers. He used to say that my village community will not be able to go to America so he painted The Oceanic Library as a White House in the village, Statue of Liberty he created, India Gate and the artificial lake from VSSU to the Oceanic Library. The fish pond he made just behind the building of The Oceanic Library is just a peaceful lake where the visitors can sit for long hours and enjoy the beauty of three natural gifts by the GOD, Water, Trees and Sky, combination of blue water with green trees seeing their reflection in the water and above all the blue sky, birds around and a pin drop silence!
The community commitment was amazing, the joy was on the top of their minds, serving each other, made me think, we always write in our research papers, the differential economic levels, social differences and the variables in Literacy and Education. Here it was seen as “Everyone is ONE”, whether belong to Ullon, India or USA. International Diversity in Unity in Ullon!
There was no five-star hotel to live. VSSU guest house was the place, with one bed in one room, fan and water cooler. The Founder of READ Global and the invitees from Kolkata stayed in the guest house, breakfast, lunch, tea was all cooked in the kitchen of VSSU, fish was from the pond, cooked with the spices of the garden, rice from the fields, brinjals from the vegetable garden, what else one can share, expressing the simplicity of life.
I was encouraged by my visit and I was so confident that with these values, I can travel to the whole country in rural parts and make many friends, empower women, educate children, provide right values to the youth and make this country One with One Value System : What can I do for you?
