Back to Basics

So Nanu and I arrived safely back in the U.S. a few days ago. It was an interesting journey, we spoke of Pakistan's independence along the way, and Nanu told me about her memories of the day 60 years ago. I thought of my experiences along the way. The last few days were really heart-wrenching, bidding farewell to my colleagues, getting lots of presents, going to their houses. We grew close, and this bond is something I will hold close to me. I was so exhausted after returning that I spent the first few days back sleeping.

The work of the Mahatma Gandhi Fellowship in the MDG work was publicized in some Bangla newspapers! I posted the links below:

http://www.jaijaidin.com/archive/2007-08-12/details.php?nid=26157

http://thedailystar.net/2007/08/12/d70812071084.htm

This upcoming year, as I work on my MDG thesis, I will be honing in more on my findings, enhancing them with academic research. I am eager to delve more into this topic academically. More than anything, what I learned this summer is that the work that is being done on the local level in Bangladesh is amazing, and that I can help. I can do this, I have a role in this, and I believe I can do it well. :) I made memories that will last a lifetime, and I am so elated at what this summer has been. I start my senior year with a fresh perspective, a desire to actualize what I have learned, and a mind open to what can be done. :) This will be good, I feel....

Smells Like Inspiration

We returned from Patuakhali at noon yesterday, docking in at Shagarghat in Old Dhaka. It was perhaps the most amazing trip I've ever taken. We made the trip from Dhaka to Patuakhali purely by launch, on the river the whole way. Once arriving in Patuakhali, we were greeted by the chairmen. Settling in, on our first day we began our interview with the Union Parishad Chairman. We drove into Auliapur, a union in the district. We drove through so much greenery and agricultural scenery that I almost quite couldn't believe it. Upon arriving at the UP building, me and my colleagues Rizwan and Ginny began interviewing Chairman Kabir. We spoke of his experiences with the MDG project, and afterwards we went into the town hall for a discussion with the MDG Club Members. This was so much better than I expected. We spoke with the committee leaders of the Agriculture Club, Mothers Health Club, Environment Club, and Education Club. We also heard stories of direct beneficiaries, people who had been helped by these clubs, directly from them. That was an amazing experience. I was sitting by the chairman during the meeting, and we spoke of his budget allocations throughout as well.

That night, Atiur Rahman, our NGO Chairman, gave a press briefing on the Unnayan Shamannay/Patuakhali District MDG Project. His endurance and speaking ability is amazing. The next day, there was a huge meeting at the Auliapur Union Parishad Building. The UP Chairman facilitated the meeting of our chairmen, the DC commissioner, and the UNO officer. The turnout was incredible. As many of the villagers showed up, I talked with a lot of the young girls who came. They came mostly from nearby schools, and I asked them about their classes, their homes. During the meeting, the speakers talked about their hope of making Patuakhali and Auliapur a model union for all of Bangladesh. I was sitting up front as well, and I gave a short speech about the motivation and inspiration I got from the work that was being done in Patuakhali. Then Atiur Rahman gave the keynote address. His ability to capture an audience absolutely floored me. The audience was hanging on his every word, and Atiur Rahman spoke of our vision to make Aliapur a place where dreams can be accomplished. His words brought chills to my skin. I believe in someone who gives so much of himself for such beautiful work.

Throughout these few days, we spent time with the UP Chairmen, visiting his house, talking with his family. After all the official meetings were over, we all traveled to Kouakata, a sea beach in the south of Bangladesh. This trip was tons of fun. The sea beach was beautiful, and we all ran around like little kids. The night we got there, I was speaking with Atiur Rahman on the beach, with the waves crashing around us. He told me about the last time he was in Kouakata, 20 years ago, with Professor Yunus. He told me that Bangladesh needs people who do good work, and that I should join his organization after I graduate. I pictured my future standing beside his work, and thought of all the beauty I had seen the past few days.

There was a lot there, during this trip, that I hadn't gotten anywhere else. Maybe the roads were not perfect, the conditions a bit difficult, the journey a bit arduous. But there was authenticity, purpose, and so much beauty in what we did and where we went. Along the way, we all sang Bengali songs. We talked of Bangladesh, school, the future, the floods. There's something in this work, these people, that I haven't found before. This work may be difficult, and it may be a struggle, but it's what I want, and that makes all the difference. What that means for my future, I'm not really sure, but I know that here there is an organization that does good work, a chairman who gives his all for what he does, and people who are working for their dreams. And here, in the middle of all that, thousands of kilometers away from Bangladesh's capital, is where my heart lies.

On the launch ride back, Rizwan and Ginny and I interviewed the UP Chairman further. I received a fund allocation from the Mahatma Gandhi Fellowship, and I was interested in using it for the MDG activities of the Mothers Club and the Education Club. The mother's Club is limited in its ability to provide antenatal care, while the education club is battling to lower the drop-out rate in the local schools. As my time here comes to an end, I wrap things up, with my mind more content than I ever expected, and my perspective broadened beyond my own belief. In the words of Oliver Wendell Holmes, "The mind, expanded by a new idea, never shrinks to its former dimensions." :)

Launching Forward

The past week I’ve been reviewing my findings from Sirajganj and preparing my paper for UNDP. I can’t quite describe the experiences I’m having here. I’m seeing so much I haven’t seen before. With political activity, many are getting increasingly scared about the range of power that this regime will exert. There is talk that the military may take over more forcefully, and that our system may become like Pakistan. Some say that the government may follow the Turkish model. What is certain is much fear in the atmosphere. I didn’t quite see the effects of it before. Perhaps the most visible component is the restriction upon people’s mobility. To cut down on traffic congestion, rickshaws are forbidden from going on many roads. The government enforces this very strongly. This morning, I took a rickshaw to work. The rickshaw puller nudged a bit out of the vicinity in which rickshaws are allowed. Almost instantly an officer appeared and attempted to cut the rickshaw puller’s tires. My uncle yelled at the officer vehemently, and the rickshaw puller ran off with his rickshaw, apologizing the whole way.

This uncertain state of government has a lot of people worried. I went to Atiur Rahman’s house last week (he’s the chairman of Unnayan Shamannay). As we discussed politics, he said that through his conversations with political ministers, he is more and more worried that the military will have an imposing role in the future.

This past week, I spent my nights after work at Kushi Fupi’s, my dad’s younger sister. It was an intense week of experiences. My Chachu, Dad’s older brother, has been missing for the past 30 years. During the liberation war in 1971, he was severely tortured, and a few months after that no one heard from him again. Then a few months ago, one of my Dad’s relatives spotted him, contacted him, and now he is back in our lives. He was at my Fupi’s this past week too. It was interesting to talk to someone who had such a huge role in my Dad’s life. It’s funny, as much as I love my parents and consciously try to learn as much about their lives as I can, they surprise me. My Fupa told me stories of my dad’s family when they lived in Gopalganj. This uncle who disappeared was the hub of the family; and once he left Dad became the caretaker of everyone. I wonder so much about that part of his life, about what it meant to him.

The flood season has affected everyone here. We see news of the destruction in the North. People are somewhat comforted that the government has taken action to provide relief and seems to be well-organized. Last night, we stayed up sharing flood stories (well I was listening). My Api told me about all the years they raised their furniture, and dodged snakes. She told me lots of funny anecdotes as well. Fupi also told me stories of their life during the liberation war. She said once, their entire family traveled for 8 hours to the inner village to escape the army. Once they reached the village, the next morning the army invaded that village, and they traveled back. This was the way Bangladesh achieved independence, she said.

The details she shared with me will stay with me forever. There are things I am seeing here I will never forget. I am pleased with the NGO work so far. This project on localizing the MDGs has shown me a lot about the nature of research and advocacy on the local level. Though I have many limitations in this aspect, I’m learning a lot, and I don’t think that can be a loss in any way. Tomorrow we travel to Patuakhali, for a 3 day site visit to another of the local MDG Unions. This union is rather organized in its MDG activities, and us field researchers will have the opportunity to interview the chairman and committee members in-depth. I look forward to learning as much as I can and seeing what this looks like. I move forward with an open mind, and an undying need to know what is happening. This is so much closer to what I’ve wanted to do than anything I’ve ever done before. I’m new to this, I have tons to learn, and I’ve found something I won’t let go of. And so I take a deep breath, gear myself up, and look forward.