Speaking at the inaugural Bharat Youth Dialogues, the critically acclaimed actor Swara Bhasker implored India’s youth to get out of their comfort zone and explore rural India, as she once did, to be more effective change-makers.
“What’s happening in rural India will affect us in one way or another,” said critically acclaimed Hindi-language actor and activist, Swara Bhasker.
She should know.
As a graduate fresh out of college, she spent one month of her life on a rural immersion fellowship that she said changed her life.
Speaking at the inaugural Bharat Youth Dialogues at Siri Fort on December 15, Bhasker said she was a typical city girl whose idea of villages had been shaped by Bollywood. She admitted she first thought of the fellowship with grassroots organization PRADAN as a sort of a vacation.
“But that experience changed what I wanted to do with my life,” she said of the work she did at Kesla in Hoshangabad district, Madhya Pradesh.
An immersive experience
Having done her graduation in literature, her intention had been to go abroad for post-graduation and a subsequent doctorate.
“My experience in Kesla changed that,” she said.
It was humbling and I decided that I wanted to do something that would connect me to what’s beyond my immediate world.”
She pointed out how urban citizens tend to think of themselves as being more capable. “My greatest learning was that awareness, empowerment and agency had nothing to do with whether you are in a city or a village,” she said. “We’re just more privileged.”
Citing the instance of village women discussing about solar panels, of which she wasn’t much aware, Bhasker said, “They knew about the technology and how it would impact their lives. We don’t need to speak for villagers. We just need to listen to them.”
Step out of your comfort zone
Bhasker said that India’s youth should utilize opportunities, such as the Youth Hub Fellowships offered by Village Square, to get an immersive rural experience, as it would give them a better understanding of the nuances of rural life.
Immerse yourself in a reality that’s not your own. Step out of your comfort zone.”
“It will make you a better person, a better citizen,” was her message to the youth.
Emphasizing that her experience helps her in acting profession too, she indicated that any experience would always be useful at some point in one’s life or career.
Harness the power of youth
The Bharat Youth Dialogues is part of Youth Hub, a new initiative by Village Square to help harness the power of India’s impassioned young population.
Young people across the world – especially in India – are now working towards an equitable society more than ever. Youth Hub wants to help India’s youth channelize their energy, as well as help bring the urban and rural youth together in their quest for a better India.
As part of the Youth Hub, Bharat Youth Dialogues will serve as a platform for the youth to interact with the best minds within and beyond the development sector.
Village Square’s first Bharat Youth Dialogues was a conversation between Bhaskar, who is also a member of Swaang, a collective of artistes trying to bring about change through songs, and noted journalist Suparna Sharma.
Why rural India matters
The talk was kicked-off by the director of Village Square, Lyndee Prickitt, who said, “Village Square is not just a platform, it’s an idea, an ethos.”
She pointed out that rural India is the backbone of the country, yet is mostly forgotten or ignored.
“Half a billion people – that is one-sixteenth of the world’s population – live in villages, yet hardly anyone talks about them. Village Square wants to change that,” said Prickitt. “We want to portray villagers – not as victims – but as vibrant citizens of this country.”
During the discussion, Bhasker said that our lives are dependent on the workforce from villages, which was all the more evident during the pandemic.
After the conversation, Bhasker fielded questions from the audience that spanned from governance and education to health care.
While introducing the speakers, Vanya Gupta of Village Square said that her own immersive experience helped her re-discover herself.
There are countless such impactful experiences as that of Bhasker and Gupta. It is this aspect that Village Square plans to harness, through the Youth Hub Fellowships.
Jency Samuel is a civil engineer and a journalist based at Chennai.
