Welcome to

CHINHARI

THE YOUNG INDIA

ABOUT US

The Centre for Development Practice in keeping with Ambedkar University Delhi’s (AUD) vision of engaged social sciences, offers an action research MPhil in Development Practice with the School of Human Studies, School of Development Studies and PRADAN. This MPhil is premised on a one year immersion (not field work) in rural contexts. It was in this programme that the action researcher, Swarnima Kriti, immersed in Dhamtari, Chhattisgarh in January, 2017 developed her transformative axis with young women and men as they worked through questions of pani ke samasya in the village to pani lane ki samasya (‘who carries water’ – the man or the woman?). The transformative axis of gender and labor has over the last 3 years widened to include questions of ecology and adivasiyat and has led to the formation of Chinhari: The Young India. This collective of young women (age-group 09-28) has been working towards creating non-identity based ecosensitive commons. Anubha Sinha and Vijeta have been a constant support in this work.

OUR ACTIVITIES

01/

Artwork as Therapy

The Covid-19 lockdown was a difficult phase. In these times we found recourse in art work. This turn made us rethink making and unmaking of human bonds. In the time of social distancing they had rekindled human intimacies through lines, curves, borders, shades and colours. The multiple shades of unconscious emotions in the lives of the young women found form in the paintings.

We now sell the paintings we make to help Chinhari reach other villages.

02/

Chinhari: The Young India published its first newsletter in November, 2019. This newsletter has been created as a platform for young adivasi, dalit and/or youth from other backward castes to speak to the outside world. It is a space for exchange of thought and perspective between the subaltern and the elite. The newsletter focuses on publishing material written by young women from rural Chhattisgarh. Their articles are their expression of experience or अभिव्यक्ति.

03/

Creating Youth Groups

Chinhari creates and works with youth groups in rural spaces. We work on questions of gender-ecology-adivasiyat. We engender spaces of sharing of experiences of young women’s bodies, anxieties regarding education, marriage, violence, etc.

04/

Practicing Ecosensitive Agriculture

Over the last two years, Chinhari has gradually developed a non-violent relationship with nature. In 2019, Chinhari acquired land in two villages where young women cultivated indigenous vegetables. Chinahari cultivated 30 kinds of indigenous vegetables, pulses, flowers, and trees in specific combinations promoting agroforestry. 150 households (involving 800 individuals) participated in such indigenous vegetable cultivation this year. This shift motivated the elders in the village to grow 21 different varieties of indigenous rice in 2019-20.

05/

Supporting Higher Education of Young Rural Women

As we create a space for women to dream, we also find ways to turn their dreams into reality

06/

Building a Living Gond Library

The Gond life-world is an ensemble of experiences and practices. The know-how of these forest-dwelling people is born out of first-hand experiences. However, an overtaking wave of modernity is reducing their engagement with the forest, trees, soil, etc. We thus, hope to create a repository of the rich local flora and fauna, and Gond ways of engaging with them