Gramya Manthan Story #3: Wilderness in the village

One of the participants, Aarti shared in one of her reflections, that it was difficult for her mother to let her go beyond 300 metres alone as a child. While as she visited a family in the village - Kaki asked a kid, Anjali from the neighbouring home to accompany her to show around the village. And Anjali walked with Arti the whole day around the village. Two things struck with her, the sense of freedom and comfort that Anjali had with the whole village and the idea of ‘home’. Kaki felt comfortable asking a neighbouring kid take a guest around and the kid accompanied her all along. ‘Home’ felt somewhat expanded to Aarti in the village.

Environmental Wilderness obviously is endangered in our world, with forests being butchered and snow caps melting. However, the wilderness of the human heart is also endangered. Kids today are growing up in enclosed rooms with enclosed minds. Sedentary lifestyle is the order of the day. Trust in human relationships is encroached upon by transactional behaviour of economics.

We believe it is only when we move freely, wildly - we become open to learn, engage, have multiple perspectives and most importantly love with an open heart. Our exploration at Gramya Manthan is to get rooted in a micro reality and get connected to the large macro reality of human beings. Act locally, love globally.

Read more stories here: http://youthallianceripples.blogspot.com/

Prince climbing the tree

Kids just know how to love more than adults

Collecting jamuns and khajoors

Bhargav watching the drama of life with his friends.