Janasamwaad is a forum for dialogue among people who are interested in bringing about a change in themseleves and in those around them for improving basic living conditions. It is about concrete living conditions and to the extent the focus on concrete issues is retained, this dialogue can go into abstractions. But we have to put a limit on abstract discussions when they go into the rarified atmospheric zones.
The name Janasamwaad comes from a forum that was created in May 2009 under the coordinatorship of Shri Suhas Tapaswi at Pune. The mission of Janasamwaad is to make Indian Democracy socially effective. The slogan of Janasamwaad is "If not we, who? If not now, when?" The first demand put forth by Janasamwaad is to introduce formal and scientific social education in schools and colleges.
There is a background of this demand, to which I will turn in the next post. For the time being let me say that this social education would enable every educated Indian to take responsibility for bringing about social change in our country. Educated Indians have a responsibility because we are the ones who are largely benefitted in material terms by all the so-called developmental efforts.
Janasamwaad over the last year since May 2009 has brought about several discussions throughout Maharashtra to focus attention on what can be collectively done at the state level. All technology, all development and all modernization have in India contributed to the growth of the privileged sections of the society. Very little has trickled down to the disadvantaged sections.
There are a number of efforts being done to spread the fruits of development at the local level. There are about 250,000 NGO's working throughout Maharashtra on specific projects. The concern here is that individual efforts at local upliftment remain focused on problem areas such as health, livelihood, education, tribal welfare and so on. But these efforts do not generate a new action modality for social development. People must feel empowered to come forward and change quality of politics, of governance and of administration.
So on the one hand we see technology and modernization coming into different walks of life at the superficial level and we see a ghastly deterioration in the underlying processes. Some sections are not interested. Those who are interested are not focused on the larger issues and do not get empowered.
Mahatma Gandhi had called Maharashtra a beehive of social activists. Yes there is a tremendous urge to do something among progressive sections of Maharashtra but like the bee everyone is content to do one's small bit in the belief that he or she has done something meaningful. The larger issue of making Indian Democracy socially effective needs to be addressed urgently.
Through this blog, we hope to generate debate, discussion and dialogue to address the larger question. Come and join us in this endeavour.
If not we, who?
If not now, when?
