MY JOURNEY TO ROOTS!
My whole journey has been that of a walkout self directed learner without even
being aware of the paradox of a pre existing institution such as shikshantar. As
my journey from where I began and where I came to, encountering shikshantar
along the way, I realized how much it was simply a journey of returning home,
back to my self albeit done a bit unconsciously compared to the container for
Kojis at Swaraj. Unwrapping this adventure in unlearning and relearning,
meshed with many interweaving narratives, is a true blessing of that self
reflection.
Post college was my moment of intervention, when I really decided to walk out,
to live in that space of not knowing. Walking the path unveiled my true teachers.
Leaving home and traversing the modern landscape of present day California , I
was nurtured by old hippie elders, the timeless wisdom of homeless people,
societal degenerates, forests and books you would rarely touch upon in modern
day academia.
The explosion of the open source Internet revolution has certainly helped me
manifold. This has opened me up to a new world, a big picture I have always
been unconsciously thirsting for. Only after receiving enough conviction did I
chance upon investing my time towards a holistic education via the form of ecovillage education, holistic solutions for our troubled world. Without confining
myself and allowing the openness to guide me I have been led back to India, a
place my western leanings never imagined to inhabit. After years of
experimentation and not knowing, yet trusting, this is where my calling has
finally led me and continues to lead me. Through the foundation I have created at
Roots ,I have a container for my convictions, a space of release and
manifestation.
PERSONAL CHALLENGES:
Each day is a moment of not knowing what will come next, but just a
remembrance of the trust and letting go that has directed me thus far.
Coming from a western background and situating myself in an Indian context has
been a very challenging yet rewarding experience that keeps nourishing my soul.
All attempts at control, extravagant plans at structuring filled with attachment to
outcomes, have all but fallen to the wayside. The whole doctrine of learning as
achievement for a future state has given way to a doctrine of learning as
redemption, in the here and now…
Fortunately this mindset manifests itself with what I really need at Roots and in
life. Both have become as inseparable as work and play. And through Roots I
hope to pay this magnificent gift forward as we all come a little closer in
relearning our unique and individual identities. It is only in hindsight I can truly
say with conviction that this “path was made by walking”.
How Roots Came into Being :
A more specific tracing back shows that Roots started with the intention of
starting an eco village, one of the many fancy terms for what one can also call an
organic learning society. Initially I had come back to India to figure out a
financial scheme that would set me free with the assistance of my family’s
accumulated holdings. With this in mind I had intended to go back to the States
and my plan over there. But as fate would have it the motherland would not let
go. It was where I belonged and it earnestly offered what I had sought out.
After many adventures throughout the country, I came back to Hyderabad
seeking land on the outskirts but after many trials began to see the already pre
existing blessings in my own backyard. As I had learned in permaculture its
always best to think small scale in terms of designing a system. This along with a
dash of common sense made me embark on utilizing the preexisting rooftops of
my parent’s bungalows in order to get things rolling. It is always advised to
materialize a working core group before materializing extravagant plans for an
eco village. So here I had 2 roofs with apartments as my ally and so I got started.
ROOTS AND SYNCHRONICITY:
And as luck would have it , just as I was getting started the flat beneath one of
the roofs gets evacuated by tenants of 6 years as if some miraculous pat on the
back chose to nudge me on with this new motivation. So we moved in, my zany
Hungarian friend and I, occupying the flat and welcoming our new canvas as
much as it had welcomed us.
Within months of occupation I had secretly wished for the bottom flat to become
available, reluctantly keeping in mind my greed. Lo and behold, tenants of 3
years move out! The combined evacuation of both floors within a short span of
time gave me the hint that there was no better sign of being in the right place. So
I treaded on in sublime rapture.
BUT IT HAS NOT BEEN EASY…
The journey has not come without its strains. Till this day, I still carry a shred of
denial regarding my placement though that has greatly diminished from earlier
days. This denial itself was my biggest learning curve as it showed me a
reflection of myself.
As long I lived in denial and uncertainty I would only attract similar situations to
the space. People would come and go, disenchantment and stagnance would
ensue- goals out of sight. But as I slowly stepped out of denial , waves of
productivity and juice would follow, people with similar vibrations would
manifest, and goals came into clear view. The destiny of the place was truly a
reflection of how well I could anchor myself.
Little did I realize at the time of naming the endeavor ROOTS how important it
was to be rooted within myself for the proper shoots to emerge. Most broadly,
that has been the biggest and most persistent challenge at Roots. It is truly an art,
a constant practice.
ROOTS NEEDS…
On a more specific note, the dire need of the hour is a core team with facilitators,
timekeepers, note takers and inspirited individuals. While being a strong core
myself a stronger periphery can manifest if we have more people who can latch
onto that core nucleus, magnify it and hold space. We have had many pressing
issues in the past and situations we did not know how to deal with and a strong
core can help establish a proper reception of these issues.
Other than that the gifts that Roots offers, is food and shelter. As we mention in
our guidelines, the least we expect in return is an engagement in shared
community responsibilities such as cooking and cleaning, all of which take not
more than an hour per day if shared. Any return gift above and beyond that
should be a personal calling of the individuals while also fitting into Roots’
holistic framework. Once an individual has decided what that is we will support
them in that endeavor however we can, based upon a gifts and needs basis that
usually arises in our weekly gift circles.
For more info please see rootsindia.wordpress.com