Author: Janaagraha
Publisher: Janaagraha
Pages: 78
Source: Received from Janaagraha
Keyword: Janaagraha
Shelf: C7R2
Accession No: B1292
Contents: Fortheord, Essay, Commentary, Afterword, Postscript, Edited
Abstract: The journey of Janaagraha began with an innocuous event over 25 years ago. We had just moved to a new town in Connecticut, America. A flyer in the mailbox read: ‘Cleaning the park this Saturday. Beer after.’ The mailbox would invariably be stuffed with messages like these which we would promptly trash. Who had the time? And weren’t these the responsibility of the government anyway? But we wanted to meet the neighbours. A group leader gave out instructions and pitchforks. We worked cheerfully till noon and had the promised beer after. It felt good but not an ‘aha’ moment. Not until Monday morning. Waiting for the 6:35 am commuter train to Manhattan, I saw — in a suit, reading The Wall Street Journal — the group leader of our park clean-up operation. We soon discovered others like him — on the school board, on the city budget committee, and so on. Their civic identity was not only important to them but also seemed to be an essential aspect of American democracy. Seeing participatory democracy in action inspired and consumed us — until finally, we quit everything to return to India