The Vulnerable Rally | Shuchi's Reflection from Samvaad

Contributor: Shuchi Sinha

A few days back I went to Samvaad, a gathering organised by Youth Alliance. In its literal sense, Samvaad means dialogue. There were a lot of young people, most of them younger than me in age. There were some of my old friends from Youth Alliance. And there was a wise and delightful old man called Ward who is known as Sadanand ji in India. Sadanand ji is a kind, highly empathetic, intelligent and articulate person holding deep knowledge on a wide number of subjects. Listening to him is blissful in its own way, and when he speaks to you, he looks deeply at you as if you may have something of utter importance to share.

The processes of Samvaad are simple. Everyone sits in a circle. There is a bit of sharing in the large circle, mostly by the facilitator. The facilitator then leaves the group with a question. Simple questions aiming to create an environment for self-reflection. Taking this question, the large group is supposed to disperse into small groups of three, where each member answers the question for himself and herself while the others listen. But, there are three rules for making these small groups. These are-

a. Choose someone you know the least.

b. Don’t wait to be asked.

c. Don’t be helpful.

The last rule is especially tricky. The idea is to just listen. Patiently, non-judgmentally, without giving in to the temptation of providing opinions or advice. ( You would understand how difficult that would be for me)

Sadanand ji said somewhere during the beginning, “The fastest way to change the world is through listening with curiosity.” The possibilities of that advice over just the next twenty-four hours blew my mind away. So many stories to savour, so many to save.

So for two days, we just sat and talked. In big groups and small. Struggling with finding honest answers to simple questions. In between, playing frisbee, chopping vegetables, chatting about Shah Rukh Khan over coffee. And talking much, about young people’s dreams. An aspiring photojournalist, a struggling law aspirant, a spirited young woman wanting to go back to her village in Bihar to contest the Panchayat elections.

Young people are awesome. Their hopes high. Their stories delightful, fresh from the smell of their dreams. Each thoughtful, each vulnerable, each compassionate. Owning their weaknesses, while letting others own theirs. And I thought this didn’t just happen on its own. So many wonderful people under one roof. Youth Alliance has worked silently over the years making it possible. Holding the youth together in a group collectively aspiring towards compassion.

While most people who come to these gatherings are similarly inclined, I have a feeling that everyone when given the chance to be heard would turn out to have an equally terrific story to share. I left being incredibly grateful for my own sake, and for the sake of everyone present there who have been lucky enough to find a space which allows them to be wholly themselves.

A few days later a friend shared this video. It moved me at many points. It was a reminder of Samvaad, and the efforts that Youth Alliance is putting into creating a more accepting and a less fragmented world.