Marginalization and Freedom (10/25)

Hello honorary Globies! It's Sophie again, here to take you through a whirlwind Wednesday. Like many of our days here at HMI we had a lot of learning and exploration packed into a very short time. We started with a workshop on the Dalit communities, a marginalized people comprising about 8% of the population in India. Dalits are literally outcastes from society - they fall outside of the Hindu caste system and are considered the 'untouchables'. The workshop led by a Dalit advocacy group was extremely powerful and helped us all to contemplate the exploitation and oppression these strong people endure. Despite laws that declare all people are equal and there are no castes, Dalits suffer from an enduring stigma against them and the lack of respect for their culture and traditions.

After lunch, we met with another group of people who live on the outskirts of society. We talked with two transgender women and learned about their lives and struggles to live, work, and remain safe. I think I speak for us all when I say how much these two interactive sections both outraged us and gave us all a deep respect for the work of these activists and the hope and courage they display ever day.

We finished up the day with a visit to a Buddhist monastery where a monk spoke with us about Buddhism and the noble truths. The monastery  was nestled amongst the hills and was incredibly tranquil. I truly felt the freedom and contentment that the monk spoke about. This quickly turned to frustration when the bus ride home took two hours! That pretty much sums up a day in India - dialogue, reflection, and awe, all mixed up with a heavy dose of traffic related frustrations!