As You Sleep: Gandhian Studies Camp

Way back yonder in December 2012, I attended a 1-week Gandhian Studies camp in Wardha, Maharashtra. Wardha neighbors Sevagram, a small village where Gandhi lived from 1936 until 1948 and set up an ashram. I wasn't sure exactly what to expect at the camp, but the website of the Institute of Gandhian Studies refers to residents and guests of their programs as "inmates" and boasts their commitment to ashram life - waking up at 4am for prayer/meditation, early morning yoga, community work, more prayer, etc.

It was a rough start, before I even got there. I was a confused foreigner who got on a train and was told that my ticket was not valid (still on waiting list) so just 40 minutes into my journey, I had to de-train and come up with plan B. I then trusted the wrong person for information and ended up having to stealthily ditch a creepy guy who wanted to party all night and share a hotel room with me, which was rather frightening. But I ended up in the airport guest house for the night, all by myself, in a giant, air-conditioned room, awaiting my flight ("plan B," devised on my iPhone, which I was so grateful to have) in the morning. For as much as I like to "rough it" or live like the locals (or so I thought before this trip), I was certainly happy to enjoy some western comforts. Hot water shower, cool A/C, a full-length mirror to dance in front of, a whole entire hotel room to myself, nearby fast food (Chinese and French fries) and easily navigable air transportation in the morning. Okay, back up. Should I explain the dancing-in-front-of-the-mirror thing? Maybe it's not normal, so okay. As I analyze it now, I realize that there are probably a couple of reasons for that. First, after an exhausting day, I really needed to celebrate my comfort, safety and solitude. And secondly, I think I just needed to move and it's really impossible when there is no A/C. I've been a complete slug since I got to this country. You know how Mexicans take siesta? And we say other cultures embody a slower pace than us Americans? I really think it's largely due to the climate. It's really difficult to move and be productive in the sweltering heat. The most activity you can eek out of me is in the early morning, and just some gentle yoga at that. I can't imagine doing any cardio work. Oh god, that sounds like hell.

So I eventually made it to the Institute and a young woman showed me to my room. I was sharing with three other girls who were out yet at the evening's cultural program. It was a simple room with four beds draped with mosquito netting. I settled in and eventually met the young women I would be bunking with. They were all from Kerala (the state where I stay), so we were collectively "the Kerala girls." But I was still a goose among ducks.

The rest of the week was filled with lectures and seminars by professors, a doctor (Gandhiji's nephew) and the director of an NGO named Snehalaya (more to come in other posts about Snehalaya). In addition to daytime lectures, we watched documentary films, had group discussions, enjoyed cultural programs and took a few field trips - one, of course, to Sevagram ashram to experience Gandhi's dwelling.

We didn't quite observe the 4am prayer routine, but the mornings were a bit rough, nonetheless. Wake-up time was 5:30 with prayer at 6 and tea at 6:20. Mornings and evenings were freezing cold all week which made it extra difficult to rise. After tea, we broke into small groups to tackle the community work. I eventually got into the routine of volunteering for the kitchen, chopping onions and choking back tears and sniffles, and avoided having to clean the hostel toilets.

After community work, we headed back to the hostels to prepare for our baths. The industrious young women I had the pleasure of staying with built up a small fire pit and boiled a large pot of water over it each morning. We took turns filling it up and taking some for our bucket-baths. I didn't realize this the first day (the availability of hot water, nor the ability to bathe after community work) so I took a frigid shower at 5am the first day. I was prepared to not bathe the rest of the week after that, but thankfully the girls came up with an alternative system. After bathing we had breakfast. We got into the meal routine of setting up the plates, serving one another, and washing our own dishes each time afterward. The rest of the day was lectures, cultural programs, field trips, documentary films, meals and tea with a 2-hour rest period in the afternoon (to nap or wash clothes, etc.).

About 60 kids from all over India attended the camp. I'd say I learned the most through my interactions with the other students. I had never seen Indians from different states interacting before and it really opened up my eyes to how very different the culture is from state to state here. So many different languages, different ways of dressing, very different ways of eating and food preferences, etc. But such a strong, passionate sense of unity.

The Institute runs an 8-month diploma program in Gandhian & Peace Studies, as well. About 6 students from that program joined us in all activities for the week. Two of those students were foreigners - Kerry and Modi - from South Sudan. It was incredible learning from them about their lives back home, the recent history of their country's independence from Sudan, and the conflict that existed and continues to exist. They both came to the Institute seeking knowledge to implement peacemaking strategies back home. It was incredibly admirable.

Like any camp experience, we campers made great friendships with one another and many tears were shed on the day of departure. My next stop was to visit families around the state who I stayed with in 2011, since I was back in Maharashtra again. More blogs to follow on that.