Today I am sharing some context of my newly released book.
This book is a translated version of my ‘Fearless Mind’ book. The title of this book is inspired by Rabindranath Tagore’s well-known poem ‘where the mind is without fear’. In this poem he gives the description of the word “Freedom”. His Idea of freedom was different, it's not related with the term Independence. Gurudev always said, ‘If the people never feel the feelings of freedom from their heart.' Then that Freedom is meaningless. At the end of poem Gurudev asks for worship to God. Which is “May God keep fearless everyone in my country, every person of my country can live with dignity and without fear in this world.
Shramjeevi Sanghatana is now celebrating its 30 years of experience. We have gained lots in these years but still there are lots to gain and lots to discover. When we started the organization, the situation was different, conditions were not favorable to us. We didn’t know the laws, we didn’t have any degree in social work, or we didn’t have an experience of organizational work. We just were having an inner desire of Freedom, Inspiration of Sane guruji, & an extreme love for oppressed, marginalized people, which helped us to tackle with any critical situation; on this basis we started our developmental work. When we found an atrocious custom of bonded laborers, our work suddenly changed. And the journey of Sanghatana took place. In this journey Sanghatana faced many troubles, difficulties. But we overcame them. Some mistakes happened in this journey. But we are satisfied about the precious love & trust of people, which we have achieved. We just keep faith in term that God is not in a temple, but he resides in the tears of poor, oppressed people. In these 25 year we suceeded to achieve desirable changes in the lives of thousands of bonded laborers, farmers, workers, women, labors, dalits, oppressed, marginalized peoples, children deprived from education.
This book is a translated version of my ‘Fearless Mind’ book. The title of this book is inspired by Rabindranath Tagore’s well-known poem ‘where the mind is without fear’. In this poem he gives the description of the word “Freedom”. His Idea of freedom was different, it's not related with the term Independence. Gurudev always said, ‘If the people never feel the feelings of freedom from their heart.' Then that Freedom is meaningless. At the end of poem Gurudev asks for worship to God. Which is “May God keep fearless everyone in my country, every person of my country can live with dignity and without fear in this world.
Shramjeevi Sanghatana is now celebrating its 30 years of experience. We have gained lots in these years but still there are lots to gain and lots to discover. When we started the organization, the situation was different, conditions were not favorable to us. We didn’t know the laws, we didn’t have any degree in social work, or we didn’t have an experience of organizational work. We just were having an inner desire of Freedom, Inspiration of Sane guruji, & an extreme love for oppressed, marginalized people, which helped us to tackle with any critical situation; on this basis we started our developmental work. When we found an atrocious custom of bonded laborers, our work suddenly changed. And the journey of Sanghatana took place. In this journey Sanghatana faced many troubles, difficulties. But we overcame them. Some mistakes happened in this journey. But we are satisfied about the precious love & trust of people, which we have achieved. We just keep faith in term that God is not in a temple, but he resides in the tears of poor, oppressed people. In these 25 year we suceeded to achieve desirable changes in the lives of thousands of bonded laborers, farmers, workers, women, labors, dalits, oppressed, marginalized peoples, children deprived from education.
Today we can see the bonded laborer like Keshav Nankar elected in panchayat elections, who takes charge of politics of his own village. We can see him as a chair person of Sanghatana, doing the leadership of Sanghatana, & we also see him while receiving the award of Anti-slavery on behalf of us at Nehru Hall of British parliament.
There are still many leaders like Keshav Nankar who having the high capacity of leadership within them, but they are living as slaves, or as any dreamless creature only because they are exhausted by the condition, surroundings. We have many people with such gifted precious leadership qualities in our country. They are just waiting for one opportunity. There is just a need to create favorable conditions for them & to share a dream of humanity with them. They have an extreme capacity of leadership. We just need to introduce them to their own soul. In the country like India if the human want to live like a human then he has to able to stand against all atrocities, he himself has to become capable to tackle the unfavorable conditions.
It is not an autobiography or the history of Shramajivi Sanghatana. But as organizer whatever we learned is in front of you through this book, & so the context of Sanghatana's struggle is an indivisible part of this book. We always take care of one thing that our every struggle or friction has to take place with our nonviolent strategies. We received guidance of many Mentors who met us in our journey of struggle.
How to build the organization? How to change the loser mentality of people? & how to deal with government officials, with political leaders? When the use of the judicial court is essential or when not. How to work with the democracic system? Regarding these all questions what we experienced has come through this book. I try to explain some theories here that I learned through Sanghatana.
Thus when I read Sun Tzu's “Art of War” & Saul Alinsky's “Rules for Radicals” both the books explain the same theories, which are explained through this book.
As in Maharashtra I got experience of work at Madhya Pradesh & Nepal also. This book is totally based on my own experiences. It was never taught in any college or read in any book. I wrote this book for people because I learnt it through people.
This book is differentiated into three parts. The first part is about the procedure of building an organization. The second part is the story of struggles and frictions of Sanghatana. The third part is about Democratic system, media & the experience of building the People's Organization.
I try to explain how the oppressed, marginalized, poor people can live with dignity. As an organizer whatever I experienced, I am sharing with the readers. & may this book help to build that capacity which will enable some desirable changes in the lives of these oppressed & marginalized people.
