The Wall

I continue this from the point I left off in My Fieldwork Experiences, Network Vol. 10 Issue 4 of having to get back to the drawing board and re-look at development from a new context.

The few days after fieldwork were really torturous, here I was with all these questions, yearning to talk to someone to discuss my experiences, open up my heart but again I found myself to be alone. Most of the other PRM 27 participants were playing the game of VR and Theme paper submission. The world started and ended there. I am sure there were many like me who were tremendously impacted and confused, but just like me, I perceive the majority were afraid to open up and did not share their real feelings (at least I did not). Or maybe a few might have decided to stop the dissonance and simply push it under the carpet and move to the next stage in life. Whatever the case I feel this was the best opportunity to have someone like Prof. Biswas conduct sessions were we could openly express ourselves, someone who would listen to our emotions and facilitate their channelling in a positive direction and learning. That I feel is seriously missing at IRMA: a counsellor.

I would like to relate an experience which is deep-imprinted in my mind. When I look back, I realize that there nothing was special about it. There was no particular incident or event that stood out. It was just the realizations that left me changed for life.

I joined PRADAN on 7^th November 2005 as a Development Executive (DA). I was then given a chance to explore the development field through the field-visits. Under this, I visited Galudih in Jamshedpur district and Hata in East Singhbhumi district. When I was sure I wanted to work in the development sector, I was posted at HATA (East Singhbhumi), which is about 30 km from Jamshedpur. My first assignment was to undergo a village stay for two months, and the village was about 15 km from this sub location.