Indicorps /// News - My Toughest Teacher

Home

News

Columns by our Fellows

My Toughest Teacher

By Shruti Patel '03

The hardest lesson for me in India these past three months has been that in a nation of people so hopeful and full of faith, it’s not easy to be like them with consistency. It seems that the challenges in developing India now feel a lot more apparent, a lot more harsh to me since my sense of hope for this country was harvested from a life in the US, not from the reality of India. I am surprised, genuinely surprised that I was affected to the point of being dumbfounded by the magnitude and just sheer level of complexity of the issues. I think I had a fairly accurate understanding about basic challenges of the nation and despite, still felt much could be done to succeed; all that was required was clarity of thought, sincerity of hand, and most importantly firm conviction to guide.

But then. Then this time seeing, facing, living just some of the realities of life in India within the scope of service has granted me a different, scrutinizing eye on society. The wrongs – so many so much so big so black so loud. At a point I really feared the bad taste in my mouth wouldn’t ever leave me to believe there was freedom for India from its illness. And that view’s ok, even though it’s a sad, quiet, tiring one at times; it’s as much a reality as my meter detects. But I did fear the idea’s permanency.

And then another idea recently developed, another one the meter detected. This new view supercedes the previous one, it’s cleaned the palate. I don’t fear its permanency or its departure; the idea fundamentally makes sense to me, it’s adopted me. The idea: It’s the individuals that have lived their entire lives in India, in the reality of these problems and complications, and despite all of that have remained zealous and hopeful not just about their own lives, but about all of society. These social servants, NGO workers, visionaries, whomever, carry the hope that seems warming and familiar. The thought: if those who have lived, struggled, and achieved in this nation can now happily serve her with absolute faith that change is possible and definite, even if slowly, then what reason have I to get lost in the struggle of the struggle?

I’m learning to be a student of people and their lives. I am finding an earnest desire to understand how people tick, to understand even just a small piece of the human condition. Most importantly, I’m trying to really understand what makes people true, noble, content, and hopeful despite an overwhelming amount of moral degradation around them and a life full of small but significant struggles in their day to day life.

And I am glad to have the occasional doubts and confusion, because each time I am inspired again and reminded of India’s own servants, in me is established a firmer, more clear, more well founded, more true conviction than before . That’s the most critical funding for my work, otherwise I stand nowhere.

Did You know?

Indicorps offers a variety of programs and opportunities that encourage leadership and civic engagement. While the fellowship focuses on empowering people willing to do whatever it takes to affect change, we also have local volunteer programs in India, an established internship program, an emerging domestic program, an effort to engage late-careers seniors in development, an online volunteer opportunity site, and more....

NDTV Feature on Indicorps

New Blog Entries

From the Gallery

See images by Kajal Patel, a talented UK-based photographer, that are part of an Indicorps project to capture the journey of India's people. Her work particularly focused on widows and the nature of the rag-picking industry in Gujarat's largest slum.

Aasma

Learn about the Indicorps / SAATH partnership, started by Indicorps intern Ajlai Basu, that has lead to Aasma - a volunteer-driven school for street children near the Indicorps office in Gujarat.

The Fellowship

The next fellowship applications are available for fellowship classes starting August 2008 and January 2009. To apply, click here.

Inspiration

If you have come to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.

- Lila Watson