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." :)