Once I was in Bundelkhand, doing an impact assessment of a project implemented in some villages. In this village, there lived very poor people. It was late evening and there was no power in the village. While I was discussing with the villagers. I saw one girl sitting at a distance studying under the only solar street light. I was inspired by her passion for learning. She was poor inhabiting in a remote village, but her willingness to learn in spite of the challenges inspired me.
I had been visiting Azadpur, a village in the remote Mau Block in Chitrakoot, Uttar Pradesh State. I visited the village on three occasions in 2012, 2014 and 2017. This particular habitation was selected by EFICOR organisation for the implementation of climate change and adaptation project. It falls under the drought-prone region. It is a rocky area with very thin soil. The people in this habitation belong to the scheduled caste and are very poor.
In 2012 when I visited, the streets were dusty, and the houses did not look clean. Majority of the homes had no plaster. I met some children there. I took their pictures casually. I also liked two girls who were very young, and their smile attracted me. They were playing at a distance, I called and took their picture. One of the girls had ear-rings out of Neem leaf spines. The other girl was wearing a black thread with an Iron ring. I liked this picture especially for the smile and the language of their eyes. I also took pictures of two other girls; they looked so sharp. There was pride in everyone in spite of whatever they are. I revisited the same habitation in 2014 and 2017. Went to the same place and retook their pictures. I could see how their habitation transformed and so the life of the children improved. There was a change in their looks. Delighted to observe that their pride has not come down in any way. Pride is achieved by accepting and accomplishing all the challenges in one’s life with dignity. These people have seen and experienced all the shades in their life. Pride is an unprecedented wealth that no one can rob.
A girl reading under the solar street light in a remote village in Bundelkhand, Uttar Pradesh