Thinking of Mewat on Earth Day.

I don’t know if they own the farms they work on, and I understand their life is tough – but it was Earth Day yesterday and I smiled when I thought of the women in Mewat working in the vast, green and golden fields.

The blue sky… (not seen in my neighbourhood)

And the birds.

…

Green Bee Eater, Nooh, Mewat, Haryana

Pied Kingfisher.

And it might all ~~chang~~e disappear in future, in the name of development.

Clours Mewat

Mewat sunset by Brat Three.

Sunset in Mewat, Photograph by Brat Three

And though I am was disheartened after reading about the rigging, violence, death and curfew in Punhana, Mewat.

And although there is no news of re-polling, yet.

And I still don’t know how without zero tolerance to any kind of foul play, do we expect to have free and fair elections?

How do we expect non-violent ordinary people (like us) to be involved then?

Do you think this involvement of common man and women can make a difference? I do.

Sanjana talking about Right to Vote to equal citizens – some of who officially vote, but possibly have never seen a polling booth.

AAP volunteer Sanjana in Anaaj Mandi, Punhana

It’s ~~difficult~~ sad to imagine violence in the peaceful, sometimes picturesque, villages we walked the lanes of.

There were women at work everywhere.

A friend asked, “Are you more involved in these elections than in any earlier elections?”

It sounded like an accusation and I felt almost apologetic at first 😦

But this is exactly what has changed. Many of us who were outraged by the system, and willing to contribute time and energy knew no way in which we could make a real difference.

I used to wonder then, when we read in our History text books about ordinary people stepping out of their homes to support Gandhi. It’s easier to believe and totally understand that now – specially when you can see it happening.

The commonest Indian crib was – “Is desh ka kuch naheen ho sakta” (Nothing can be done for this country)

And then something changed.

Alka talking to women in Taudu. I had taken only 300mm F/4 (zoom lens) so could not capture the actual scene – a small group in the fields at some distance.

So there we were, city people, some of who had never been to a village before, in and out of Mewat homes and lanes, drinking tea, talking, listening – warmly welcomed by strangers who did not expect to see us again.

And we were learning more than text books or media could ever teach.

I intend to go back and share this picture with this family 🙂 And maybe be, be a part of their lives in more ways than just listening to them.

Mewat, Baby