BEYOND FEAR

A widow frees herself of traditional caste and gender attitudes – and is able to help others as well.

Today, Sanjivani Pawar is a leader of Ghodka Rajouri village in Maharashtra, but 16 years ago things were very different. When her husband died she was left with two small children, Jyoti and Rakesh, and little means of raising them. Traditionally, an Indian woman loses her power as a wife and mother if her husband dies. This is one way that caste society subjugates women to maintain the status quo. A widow must stay at home and rely on the goodwill of her family and caste. Her hut can become a prison. But Sanjivani wanted to work her land to get her children educated. ‘Land is important; it is more than growing food to raise my family. It takes me forward, to own something.

But the community, and my family, said, “You are a widow, why are you going to farm, why are you trying to educate your children?”

And there was worse. ‘As I was a young widow there was pressure from men, demanding sex. They said: “We will make your life easier if you do this.” That was very horrible. I could not go out and work my land.’

But Sanjivani made a friend who would change her life. Manisha Tokale and her husband Ashok run Savitribai Phule Mahila Mandal (SPMM), sponsored by Karuna. The project trains and supports community leaders in villages around the town of Beed in central Maharashtra, raising awareness of rights, setting up self-help savings groups, and empowering women to take charge of their lives. Manisha has an eye for potential leaders and, through strong ties of friendship, she nurtures them towards confidence and self-respect. Sanjivani is one of her success stories.

‘Manisha travelled from village to village, raising awareness, forming self-help groups. I met her and she encouraged me to get involved. I started a group but it was hard to go out and bring people into it. Manisha said, “Let people say what they like, it is alright for you to go and do a job.” It took five years for me to get out of this situation. Without Manisha, my life would have been humiliating.’ Later SPMM, and Sanjivani, took up and won a land case on behalf of the villagers. ‘The people who were abusing me before started supporting and respecting me. People realized Manisha, SPMM and I do good things and we are strong. Now I deal with Government officers, I help other people, they seek my guidance. Not only my own caste, but people from upper castes too. The attitude of caste was there but I was able to come out of it. Others should not suffer as I did and I want to help as many people as possible. I am not going to fear anyone ever again.’

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