Creating Collective Courage : Ankur’s Transformative Work of Building Single Women into Leaders and a Community
Imagine a life where your dignity is suffocated by the four walls of your own home. For Janata Tai, living in Beed in rural Maharashtra, this was a grim reality after becoming a widow. Not only had both her natal family as well as children turned into voices of disdain, but also each time a family member stepped out, she was bolted shut inside, to ensure that her existence to the outside world was denied, since she had lost her husband’s shadow that was the necessary requirement for accessing public life in any form. Think of what that would do to one’s sense of identity and self-worth, think of the sheer weight of the isolation, think of the gnawing vulnerability eating up any hopes and dreams. Now, however, not only does Janata Tai independently move about in the village whenever she desires, but she is also the elected Sarpanch and a leader figure in the mahila mandal for single women. This profound transformation no doubt required great courage from Janata Tai- however, what really...