Karve Days 9: Participation in a street play on the Right to Information Act

✪ Street play- an effective medium for social awareness
✪ Joy of participation in a street play competition with friends
✪ Six sixes by Yuvaraj and "health for all!"
✪ Dialogue of field work guide with village women
✪ "Submission" days and race against time
✪ The hostel world!

December 2007! Around one and a half year completed in Karve Institute. Somewhere back of the mind, one feels that oh, now last six months remaining! And then it would be a tough time. In case work discussions, we were taught that conclusion of any partnership such as counseling should be done properly and in certain stages. It was the same feeling- Last six months. And then this- "कब कहाँ सब खो गई जितनी भी थी परछाइयाँ, उठ गए यारों की महफिल हो गई तन्हाइयाँ..." Of course, before that, there were plenty of things lined up. Many milestones were remaining. Slowly things started to become difficult. Submissions became slow. In a way, war fronts increased. As a result, along with the field work, research work also slowed down. 

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Karve Days 7: Memorable field work in the villages

✪ Villages in Mawal, Khed and Bhor blocks of Pune
✪ Field work as a team member for Nirmal Gram Inspection Committee
✪ Power dynamics in villages and participation of women
✪ Data collection in Latur for field work
✪ Visit to Kavalgaon, Nanded
✪ Immovable and movable property- A dog!
✪ Eve of the examination- "Code book" instead of study

Days of "Karve Institute of Social service"! The second year field work was very unique. I was placed in one organization working for rural development. It was working in villages of Pune district. From Karvenagar, I would aboard a bus till Akurdi. There its office was located. After discussions there, I would go to Kanhewadi Tarfe Chakan village near Talegaon Dabhade. Sometimes I would need to walk 7 kms from Induri village. In 2007, those villages were peaceful. Industrialization was not that deep. So despite of this ling walk and vehicle problem, it was enjoyable to roam there. The villages still had the village- look. Initially I had gone to Mawal villages and then Bhor and Khed villages. 

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In the first half of the field work, I was made a member of Nirmal Gram Inspection Committee. The placement organization was working as the inspecting body in many villages. There were some criterion- how is sanitation in entire the village, are there toilets in hamlets and communities, are trenches closed etc. We would discuss with people. I had great to learn. There was so much to enjoy also. The guide from the agency and other colleagues were there. I learned about working of this organization. I prepared its agency profile and also understood its structure. Nagmani Rao madam was there to guide. Those discussions were interesting. She would stress that one should observe and understand village power dynamics, approaches of work. One should understand this from many angles- how this work is built, how much women are involved (are they involved) etc. I came to learn many things with her. Report writing was as interesting as the field work was. Visiting Bhor villages such as Ashimpi, Devghar, Nigudghar etc. in rainy season and staying in Bhor were beautiful memories!

Karve Days 3: Tense silence in the hostel on the eve of the Examination

✪ Difficult subjects- Case work, Research Methodology and Public Health
✪ इतना अच्छा मौसम है और इन बीमारियों के अलावा...
✪ Really need a great luck to get such teachers!
✪ "This is to be remembered!"
✪ Encouragement to raw talent
✪ Field work in the community, report writing and conferences with the faculty
✪ Notes and xeroxes in demand on the eve of the paper!

The second room on the second floor of the hostel of Karve Institute- the room no. 15 became my home! Sagram Kadam from Nagar and Pravin Chokhandre from Nagpur were my roommates. Sangram was like a bodybuilder. Pravin was slim and he would speak Nagpur styled Marathi with Hindi spice! He was cheerful and he would speak English to practice spoken English! I still recall the instructions of “Parade Savdhan- Vishram” given by Sangram in NCC uniform on 15th August. 

In the first year, three subjects were slightly difficult. First, Public health. Its concepts and social aspects were okay. But those Diphtheria- Malaria- Tetanus and their elaboration, parameters etc! It was like- so cozy atmosphere is there and we are talking about these illnesses! Anuradha Patil madam would teach this subject beautifully. I still remember her gentle narration, explanation and cheerful face! New friends made me wander in an unknown territory of Ghulam Ali, poems and mehfils! My fixed routine also was broken. Here, my French and German were also discontinued. I had learned French for three years and German for two years. Initially I had thought that I could continue my German. But considering the syllabus, the schedule and expected study, I left the thought of pursuing it further. 

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Karve Days 1: Thrilling beginning of the 2- year journey!

Every year in July, at some point I recall "that day!" The scenes unfold like they are recent. Mind thinks it must have happened just the other day. But the intellect tells that it happened on 4th July 2006, twenty years ago! Sometimes I cannot believe it! Karve Institute of Social Service, Pune- Two years spent here for MSW (Masters in Social Work) was such an enriching and unique journey. Plenty of things to learn and also to unlearn. It moulded in many ways! That memorable journey had begun on 4th July 2006 with the Director’s address.

Still I can see it. The college on the hill in Karvenagar! Climbing road. Lush green campus. That Patel hall in the college! Everyone is reaching there in a hurry! All benches inside are occupied. Some are sitting on the small flat table near the back door. Some are late! Rain and clouds! Dr. Walokar sir’s address! And the orientation lectures after that! The faculties talking about various subjects. What is social work, psychology, equality, equity, framework of development, feminism! A two year learning ride started with this! Lecture by Nagmani Rao madam was most appealing.

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Slowly we realized how each and every thing was so meticulous. There were groups of students. Many things were to be done through the groups. Orientation visits were the next thing- We visited various organizations working in the social service sector. Some visits were memorable. Prism Foundation working with specially- abled children, Saint Crispin’s home near Nal stop and other organizations! We were going there together in our groups. One faculty member would accompany and talk about that organization. The persons from that organization would interact with us. Discussions. Then we would return back together! I can still see people coming for such visits! ‌On some Mondays, students from Mumbai would reach directly to such organizations! Some would miss the way. In those days, google was not there for us. It was only friends! Every group had some non- Marathi and non Hindi speaking students and also those who could speak Marathi and English. Going and coming together- it helped for flourishing of friendships. Also small incidents- after meal, who are cleaning and rearranging the place- such small incidents would stimulate gender sensitivity.

Today we understand that many things were taught in the class and in the formal settings, but beyond that also many things were taught in the co- learning and co-living. Various groups and group activities- small presentations, assignments, discussion- all this was also a group work. Boys and girls from various backgrounds and experiences were learning together. The subjects of the first year were also good- They were related to group work, public health, research, social work, case work, psychology etc. In those days, everyone would remember this song- “ये जीवन है, इस G1 का यही है रंग रूप!"

The faculties were (slightly ill-) famous! Also seniors would tell us, "Oh, she, she is so strict!" In fact, students were terrorized by some of them! But we also feel that this fame was to make the students more serious in their study. In a few days, we had good "ice breaking" with the professors and had "good rapport building" with them! Nagmani Rao madam, Geeta Rao madam, Sharmila Sahdeo madam, Mydeo madam, Ujwala Masdekar madam, Ruma Bawikar madam (associative learning taught by her also made us remember that puppy), Rajuskar madam, Anuradha Patil madam, Mahesh Thakur sir (everyone’s Shahrukh Khan and “Purani Jeans aur Guitar” fame), Karuna sir and others became familiar. Their discussions, debates, role plays, skill labs and research labs! It was pleasing to see that all of them treat us equal and respect us. Even the non- teaching staff- the librarian they also were friendly. Specialization lectures also started! My specialization was URCD (Community Development). A separate group study and a different co- education started. While writing this, the mind is filled with gratitude towards all.

Those days, even after 20 years, are clear before the eyes! Today for me and many, days in Karve were the days setting the way of life. I got many close friends and loving people there. I got a clear direction to my career. I gained confidence and clarity. Later on many persons moved to different fields and many of them even no longer work in the field of social work. But still, the upbringing that happened there continued to give them a unique direction.

The hostel days! It was my first such experience! I had some pressure. But the vibes there were so good that I developed good friendships with the hostel mates. Boys from all parts of Maharashtra and also some other states! And seniors were there for the first year to help us. I thoroughly enjoyed the hostel. In the class we were learning socialization, but the hostel friends did it practically! And the female friends helped to develop sensitivity towards womanhood and grow in that aspect. 

Through this series, I will pen down those wonderful memories, now 20 years down the line. In a way, I will relive those days. Despite all these good things, some stages in the journey were difficult! The hostel atmosphere on the eve of the “case work” and “research” papers was so tense! In the first year, being an introvert I was facing bullying of some strong friends! But this scene changed in a year!