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Fourth annual Symposium of the Samajhdar Jodidar Initiative
Gandhi Bhawan, Pune December 21-22, 2014 On 21th and 22st December, animators and facilitators who are a part of the Samajhdar Jodidar (understanding partner) project congregated in Gandhi Bhavan, Pune for an annual adhiveshan. The project aims to engage men in addressing the issue of gender inequality across 100 villages and three districts in Maharashtra. The meeting was hosted by Nari Samata Manch, Pune and attended by 310 persons including animators, facilitators and organization representatives from SPMM, Beed, Yuvagram, Nari Samata Manch, Pune, Halo Medical Foundation, Solapur and Astitva, Solapur. Also in attendance were representatives from other forums such as MASVAW, MAE and FEM, from Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Jharkhand and partners from the Arogya Mitra project, Anand Pawar (Samyak), Baliram and Sunita Gandhi (Sanwad). The main objective of this adhiveshan was to share experiences between animators, facilitators and organizations working in the different districts. Some key outcomes of the last four years of the project were shared and participants also deliberated on strategies to sustain the work in the future. |
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On the 21th of December, the day began with some inspiring songs by men in Hindi as well as Marathi, carrying the message of change, from violence to understanding. The programme was inaugurated by five samajhdar jodidar couples, not limited to husband-wife but also various other important relationships – father daughter, mother son, siblings etc. The couples garlanded the portraits of Savitribai and Jyotiba Phule, and Dr. Ambedkar and Ramabai Ambedkar, who are some of the most eminent ‘samajhdar jodidars’ of Maharashtra. Sadhna Dadhich from Nari Samata Manch welcomed the gathering, introducing the various mentors and experts who have provided support to the Samajhdar Jodidar initiative in different ways. Subhash Mendhapurkar provided a history of how this project had been conceptualized. The oppression of women, he said, dates back to several thousands of years and this initiative is a small attempt to transform men’s behaviour from being oppressive and violent to non-violent. It is important to recognize that non-violence can only be achieved when we rid ourselves of all prejudices against others, whether it is women, people from different castes, religions, countries or linguistic groups. He said that the core belief of this initiative is that men can change and be transformed into loving partners and companions, but they need both - environment and direction/opportunity. Creating the environment is important so that men who are taking the initiative to change do not feel isolated. Collective action and empowerment are essential and that is why groups have been formed in the village to support each other and also hold each other accountable. He said that after four years, he felt that a significant amount of change had been achieved, but there is still a long way to go and the momentum that has been generated by this initiative must be sustained.
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The key note address was given by Vidya Bal, eminent social feminist activist who is also one of the founders of Nari Samata Manch. Vidya tai spoke about how, being a part of the women’s movement, Nari Samata Manch always knew that it would be important to work with men. She said that the struggles of the feminist movement have been able to bring about a lot of changes especially in laws and programmes of the government. However, the reaction of men to these changes has not been positive. Men feel threatened and this is seen in their opposition to progressive laws such as the sexual harassment law and others. Men have begun organizing against these progressive laws and this is a cause of concern. At this moment in time, she said, it is worth recalling a feminist understanding from the 1970s, which is that ‘women’s emancipation is in men’s reeducation’. The work that Samajhdar Jodidar is doing to re educate men, therefore, is invaluable. The idea of masculinity must change. Men who have changed through this project know, that they do not have anything to lose if women get their rightful place in society – in fact, they only gain – as partners, husbands, fathers and sons. Vidya Tai also stressed the importance of resisting Hindutvavadi forces in the current political atmosphere. Religious fundamentalism of any kind is biased against women, and it promotes a certain kind of masculinity which must be opposed.
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Taking this idea forward, Satish Singh from CHSJ, highlighted that there are many kinds of masculinities and our attempt through this project is to uncover the ones that are caring and responsible, and oppose those that are violent and aggressive. He also stressed the importance of accountability – that men must be accountable to each other in their groups, and must look towards feminist organizations to show them the mirror as well. Echoing what Vidya tai had said, Satish also stressed that it is important for us to take the philosophy of equality which we are trying to apply in our homes, to those outside our homes as well. If we belong to the majority, we must stand up for the rights of minorities. Further, he said that while a lot of work has happened at the level of the village, there is a lot of potential for growth for this movement. It is time for the work to also speak to national level movements and campaigns and we must dream bigger
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In the afternoon session, participants from each organization spent time in groups, deliberating upon how the work on gender equality can be sustained after funding to the project ends, ideas for future action and for mainstreaming the issue. The points of deliberation were summarized and presented on the following day. Significantly, the groups were of the opinion that because the project had changed their perspective, the work will certainly continue. Some of the key ideas that came forward for sustaining this work in the future were - establishing a resource center at the level of each organization, providing periodic training to animators to keep them informed and build their capacities further, continuing to engage with village level committees to mainstream the issue in their functioning, make efforts to increase women’s participation in these committees, using festivals and other important occasions to spread the message of gender equality and so on. With regards to raising funds, the groups were of the opinion that the funds required to sustain activities can be raised through donations, and resource center fees. There was also a suggestion that the five organizations who had initiated and implemented this work should come together as a common forum and link up to other men’s campaigns for gender equality at the national level. This should also be done through online networking and sharing. Satish Singh of CHSJ noted that organizations had reflected on how they can build on their existing work, utilize their own networks and leverage their strengths to take the work ahead. He assured the participants that CHSJ would offer all support in his capacity to identify opportunities for collaboration and ways to raise funds for future work. He stressed that this work should not be looked upon as a project, but rather as one of the many initiatives in the long journey towards gender equality
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The adhiveshan provided a platform and an opportunity for sharing and reflection as well. A lively debate facilitated by Anand Pawar and Sunita Gandhi deliberated upon why the legal age of marriage is lesser for women, than for men. It facilitated an understanding of how society creates norms which ensure that the woman is of lesser status than the man, in every way – age, height, weight, education – so that control can be exercised over her. Consequently, it is also easier to control her sexuality. A panel of facilitators chaired by mentors Lata Sonawane and Vilas Bet, reflected on the changes that they have seen in themselves, their animators, group members and villages in the course of the four years of this initiative. From individual men taking responsibility for household work and child care, to better communication with their wives, to greater understanding of sexuality, to women being allowed to enter the Maruti Mandir, the facilitators recounted several changes that they had seen occurring.
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In the last session the participants discussed and endorsed a pledge to continue upholding principles of gender equality and non-discrimination, and carrying the message forward. Heads of organizations and mentors reflected on the last four years of the Samajhdar Jodidar initiative, recalling some of the unique strategies that the initiative had adopted (such as mentors), the challenges that were encountered, and some of the key learnings from the initiative. The greatest learning has been that not just an individual, but the personality of a village can also be changed. At this juncture in our country’s time when a new kind of masculinity has enticed voters and come to power, because of which we are now witnessing a slow retraction of our rights, we will have to oppose this new order and stand up for our own rights and that of others. This is the great challenge that lies ahead us and we will have to put great faith in the principles that we have imbibed through this initiative, so that we don’t fall prey to violence. At this time, convincing the gram panchayat to take ownership, and take this initiative forward is what we must focus on. Funds can be raised by taking small donations in the form of tax from each family. This is the challenge ahead and we must face it so that it strengthens our collective humanity. With this message, the two-day adhiveshan came to a close.
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