'What is Shikshantar?', a mural conceptualized and prepared by core team members and youth of Udaipur. It depicts the dominant Development model in the form of a six-handed, bloodthirsty demon, with schooling, the mass media, representative democracy, the military, industralization and urbanization, in each of its hands. It is standing on the earth, trying to crush it, and a dollar sign annoints its head. But from the soil of the earth, seeds are growing, which are questioning the demon.   They are showing that there can be other ways of living and learning, which are more meaningful, balanced and just.  Having faith in the power of questioning -- posing meaningful, relevant questions for ourselves, our work, our relationships, our lives -- is one the most important beliefs of Shikshantar as a movement.  By questioning, we can escape the TINA (There Is No Alternative) syndrome and begin to imagine what is possible.

Panna Lal Patel and Eron Sandler (intern, Winter 2001-2002), hard at work on Shikshantar's small experiment in organic farming.  We use only desi (indigenous) seeds, organic fertilizer (manure and compost), and no pesticides.   Given the drought in Udaipur and the need to conserve, we filter water from the gutter and use that to grow our plants: tomatoes, spinach, mustard, onions, garlic, potatoes, sweet potatoes, mint, fenugreek, cilantro, radishes, okra, corn, peppers, eggplant, cabbage, basil, and squash.

The Shikshantar team building a meeting space beneath the trees.  We collected rocks from all parts of the garden/farm into one space, lay them even, and then spread a mixture of mud and manure on them.  Dapubai (shown in front, in pink) led the way to this messy, but ultimately useful and much appreciated, creation.  (Clockwise from the left: Kishan, Shilpa, Laheru, Eron, Isaac, Neema, Manish and Dapubai)

Ajay and Kishan, hard at work on the next issue of Yuva Halchal, a community media by and for youth, in which youth (ages 14-30) share their expressions in the forms of personal essays, interviews, book reviews, poetry, cartoons, etc., in Hindi and Mewari.