What does it mean to be a Human? Divyangna's Reflection of Samvaad 2019

Contributor: Divyangna Sharma

What does it mean to be 'Human'? 

Is it the word which defines the entire human existence alone? Or something, which each individual defines for oneself? The one part of the ecological system or the system itself? 

In a world where we are constantly surrounded by technology, where the artificial intelligence thrives as humanness shrinks, in a world of attachment to material and people alike, it was at Samvaad '19: Dialogue 'On Being Human', that the questions brought alive the consciousness of humanness within me. Being around the green and brown of the trees to the soothing sound of birds, Samvaad, a space held together by Youth Alliance, welcomed me from a material to a people space. 

When we began the Samvaad on the morning of 23rd March, I was looking forward to the conversations and dialogue by the facilitator. But that just did not happen. And I am glad it didn't. From beginning the day with Indian contextualized Stone Soup by Sadanand Ji, to the inter-play session inviting people to let go of their bodies and mind to the rhythm of life, to the conversations in small groups to expand the horizon of listening, of sharing and of being present; the day encircled multiple moments where I did not find the definition of what humanness is, but I saw it there in people and myself. With our bodies moving to the sound of our heart beat, with people around supporting and holding each other, I saw that I was able to bare naked the thoughts and questions within me with people I was meeting for the first time. It was partly because of the space created by Youth Alliance that I was able to connect at the frequency at which each resonated with, but also because I was just present there, with and through people around me, through the musings that kept churning my brain for more answers or rather, for more and more questions. 

On Day 2, Ravi Gulati, from Manzil, brought in new perspective of ecological sustainability, posing questions as invitations to delve deeper into our lives to find how we want to change the narrative we tell ourselves and the people around us about the world and self. It was then that I I was able to reflect more intricately and deeply as the group with me listened with curiosity, without the urge to advice or complete my sentences. The conversations seeped into time, into lunches and dinner, into the 'Aha!' moments, into our very beings, into the true meaning of Samvaad. 

There were moments of hesitation, times when I was skeptical of sharing my most intimate feelings with new people, times when I was unsure if the person would judge me on what I shared or asked, times when I wondered if what I had shared was right or wrong, but then it all became clear. I realized how each one of us in that space was feeling somewhat same and that's what opened the doors for more possibilities, for more authentic conversations and sharing and more humanness within each of us as step by step, we put aside these hesitant moments and welcomed each as they were. I welcomed myself as I was. 

Through the two days of Samvaad, I came face to face with the person I was and am, the questions which made me question as to how human am I really am, to being filled with gratitude for each person there holding themselves and the group, to be more kinder to myself and appreciating the growth of others with and through self and mostly, to Youth Alliance, for creating a space where 50 odd people could come together as one, be their authentic selves while challenging the same and for believing in the power of humanness.