Dear Students,

First of all, let me take this opportunity to thank you all for your participation in the interactive session on Perspectives on International Development. It was a great pleasure for me to share some of the aspects of the global development approaches and processes to which I was exposed during the course of my first year master’s programme. I hope it was informative and helpful to you in gaining a broader view of development and the way it is being approached internationally.

As a follow-up to that session, I felt it important to share some of the online resources on the various development topics which may be useful to you during your study and after, as you begin your work as development professionals. These are the links which my fellow students at Brandeis (my university in Boston, United States) and I were referred to; we have found them useful in our study work as well as field work. It is not an exhaustive list and some of you might be familiar with a few of them. The idea is to create a comprehensive list to which you all can contribute and use as an online resource guide. Please feel free to add any useful/interesting links related to your work that you may come across so that your fellow students can access them; just add a comment here with the link and the category and the list will be updated.

As you all gear up for your first hand experience with grassroots NGOs, I wish you all the success and a great learning experience!

Wish you all a promising year 2009!

Best regards,

Mansi Anand

“Severe flood in Orissa! 200 people dead!” flashed the television news announcement. Jeeva was watching Live Music, her favorite channel. Seeing the flash at the bottom, she switched the channel to DD News.

House roofs had become boat in the flood. A woman was carrying her child in a basket on her head and wading through the water. Toy boats of household utensils were floating in the floodwaters. A baby was crying upon seeing the ocean inside her home.

Jeeva switched back to her preferred music and relaxed herself on the bed, remote control in hand, and increased the volume of her favorite song.

Her lips were murmuring “Oooh…la…la…la….”

Suddenly she jerked upon hearing loud cries from outside.

“Flood, flood…. Run away….”

“Come to the roof top!”

“Oh! My child!”

“Save me… Please….”

Jeeva tried to run upstairs, but the water was pulling her with its strong hands.

“Save me… save me!” Jeeva cried, but no one was there.

She beat her hands up and down. Hit the ground with full force from her legs. Waves of water lifted her up and down.

Suddenly, she got struck in between the branches of a tree. She balanced herself on the tree and caught another branch to climb up.

From her safe place, Jeeva could see a child about to drown in the distance. Jeeva shouted ferociously, “A child is going to drown! Please anyone go and save her! Save that child! Save her!”

Realizing that there was no use to her yelling, Jeeva jumped in the water and grasped hold of a wooden flat boat floating by. She drifted along with the wood and fluttered near the child like breeze, using her hand as oars.

She reached out to the hand of the small girl and lifted her onto the boat.

Again she smacked the water with her hands and progressed towards the balcony of a two storyed building; that’s how high the floodwaters had risen. She and the child were safe at the top of the building.

Unfortunately, Jeeva lost her balance fell into the deep flood. Her head pierced through the water’s surface.

“Oh God! Oh God! Please save the child at least. I will be happy with you if you save the child from the flood.”

Jeeva closed her eyes reluctantly in the water.

“Bang!”

Jeeva’s head hit on the ground.

Jeeva woke up with heavy pain on her head as she has fallen out of her bed.

She smiled at her mother sheepishly, as she realized that she had just had a dream.

The first issue of The Grumpy Writer's Grumps

I wanted to create an avenue for me to write some periodic updates about the English language. Sometimes, for example, I might write about strange or frustrating usage; other times, I might, instead, offer some writing tips for students.

The result? The Grumpy Writer’s Grumps.

Check it out and see what you think….

By Mohd. Rashid

In my college days, going to sleep late and getting up late was the general schedule for me. One Sunday, though, I got up early and was busy getting ready to go to the book market at Daryaganj, New Delhi.

I asked Ahmed, my roommate, if he was coming with me. He replied, “Do not go today. I have had a bad dream about you.”

Giggle.

“If you do not want to come, tell me clearly.”

“No. It doesn’t matter. My sayings are right these days.”

Daryaganj is biggest market for new and old books. I have taken a bus, which was full of passengers, but after a few stops, it’s vacant.

One of the passengers, an old man, reflects, “What a crowd it is today. Everybody is going to purchase books? I know today’s generation how much they are studying. Bringing books only to show parents?”

In winters, if the bus windows are open, then the air directly attack you. In this condition, I was sitting rigid to collect myself to try to feel somewhat warm.

Then the bus crossed ITO, a place of busy traffic. A newspaper vendor enters the bus and starts shouting, “Hindi newspapers! And English newspapers!”

The driver appeared to be in a hurry. Many of the blue line (private buses) bus drivers in Delhi drive fast in comparison to Delhi Transport Corporation bus drivers. At one bus stop, he does not want to stop the vehicle. At that stop, many students will enter but they will not purchase tickets. Still, he starts to pull over quickly; at the same time, from the crossing side, a car was coming. I was sitting in at the bus, easily able to observe what was going to happen.

I wondered to myself, “Maybe some accident will happen.”

Then a sound came from outside.

“Dhadam! Dhadam!”

Inside the bus, a few children started crying. I had been flung forward and fell on another passenger. A pole hit my back harshly and I fell down again. Everybody left the vehicle. “Run, run, run.”

When I came out from the bus, the first words from my mouth were “Allaha Madad”—God help—for the car passengers.

I try to find any one who I could bring out with me and I rescue those passengers from the vehicle. One girl came out from the crowd, and soon a few more joined us to help. First we tried to rescue the car driver who was stuck in the car.

“Help me, help me, help me.”

“Do not worry you’re going to be all right.”

Some of the bus passengers were foreigners, and though I tried to get them to come out, they were in shock by the accident. Another young girl was inside, crying upon seeing her blood. “Oh God! Oh God! Oh God!”

All the passengers were seriously hurt, but one person was in critical condition. Blood was pouring out from different parts of body. In this condition, he could not even say anything.

After some time, the police arrived and started questioning people.

“Can anyone describe exactly what happened here?”

I thought “Should I go and tell them?” but Ahmed’s saying comes to my mind, “Today is not good for you.”

Within a second, one voice came from my heart to not go. I left the place, but the picture of the accident was running through my mind. I also still had a lot of pain in my back.

After returning from the market I told whole story to Ahmed. He again started laughing, but he said, “Sometimes, simple sayings also convert themselves into reality. It was your good luck you were not in the car.”

As I mentioned in a comment in the last post, one of the classes offered this term for PDM 8 students is Specialized Writing. In this class, we try to go beyond simply writing term papers and reports, and explore different types of writing. One type of writing we were exploring was journalistic writing—in particular, writing a press release. Here are three press releases offered by the students in this class. (There were a few creative liberties taken, particularly in terms of quotations, since this was done as an in-class assignment, but I think they still manage to capture the spirit of the events).

Eyes of Development Students

TDA students are sharing their experiences to the development sector through an exhibition of their photographs captured during their Development Practice Segment (DPS). The exhibition will be displayed at different DHAN Foundation offices located in and around Madurai.

The DPS is a fieldwork undertaken by students at Tata-Dhan Academy, a development educational institute which grooms young graduates to work for the upliftment of the poor by offering a two-year Post-Graduate Diploma in Development Management.

The students came up with ample photographs after finishing their DPS. Ananda, English faculty at TDA put across the idea of exhibiting the best photographs taken in different parts of India. Mrs. A. Umarani, the director of Academy said, “The whole idea was to extend the students’ work to various people interested in the development sector”.

The mobile exhibition is currently on display at the Tata-Dhan Academy and will be placed in various locations of DHAN Foundation over the next few months.

###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Sumit Vij, K. Malarvizhy, Press correspondents
Tata-Dhan Academy, Pulluthu, Madurai, TN
Phone: 0123456789
Email: my@email.com

Ethnic Dinner exposes students to the wealth of cultural diversity of India

Tata-Dhan Academy, a development management institute in Madurai, is hosting an ethnic dinner highlighting Karnataka state’s cultural and culinary delicacies on 15 November 2008 at the Academy’s premises.

The occasion showcases the unique culture, traditions, and food habits of Karnataka, many of which may be not known students and faculties who hail from different states. It is a celebration and appreciation of the diversified culture we have in different parts of India with the spirit of unity and brotherhood.

The students and faculty host events like this once every two months, highlighting the different states of India from where the students come. The current student community comes from Assam, Manipur, Bihar, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.

The function is open to all the students, faculties, and staffs, DHANites, alumni, and other well-wishers of the Tata-Dhan Academy. We welcome you all to come and celebrate the vibrant culture of Karnataka.

###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mate & Swain, Press correspondents
Tata-Dhan Academy, Pulluthu, Madurai, TN
Phone: 0123456789
Email: my@email.com

TDA in sports fever

Development professional are ready to release their pressure by participating in the annual sports fortnight.

The Tata-Dhan Academy, a unique development institute with an appropriate mix of practitioners and academicians to promote development education, is organising a sports fortnight. The sports fortnight will consist of various indoor and outdoor games; all faculty, staff, and students will participate in the activities.

“It gives me immense pleasure to recall my youthful days” says Ananda, a TDA faculty from the US.

The events, which consists of specially designed indoor and outdoor games, will take place in the TDA sports complex. The fortnight is from 3 November to 15 November 2008.

Karthik, the event’s coordinator, says “We have made all the necessary arrangements and hope we will make it a memorable event in TDA’s history.”

“In near future you will see TDA students participating in intercollege competitions,” promised A. Umarani, TDA Director.

###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mohd. Rashid, Sandeep Bharti, & Sebastian, Press correspondents
Tata-Dhan Academy, Pulluthu, Madurai, TN
Phone: 0123456789
Email: my@email.com

Mate, Neelabh, Ananda, and Mahanthesh ping ponging away...

By Lim Mate

[[Read on for the story...]]

In TDA hostel.

Nobody knows about the existence of the wonder table which was hidden in the closet in a tight unserious garage-like room behind the library. Nobody was truly enthralled to get a hand with the flat red-black bat, hitting the feathery light golden ball bouncing on the table. In fact, it’s different from volleyball and cricket. Then the sports fortnight was about to begin.

The night before the games kick off, in the plaza, animators brainstormed.

“This time we should bring the table here in the plaza. Nobody is going to play there. It’s so congested over there—if you spread your arms wide and swing around you’re going to hit your hand on the walls.”

“…yes, the place is so dark—also the floors are unleveled.”

“Last year, Rutu was the champion. This year he will also get all the medals again.”

“What? In the plaza? We gonna be damned man! This place is the altar of the Academy. We should maintain its sanctity. I don’t think so….”

“…no, no, not that part. I will take care. Don’t worry.”

Laughter.

“You know, what is this place called? ‘Multi’ what?”

“’Pur-pose’ plaza!”

“OK guys, tomorrow I will tell Muthaya to bring it here in the morning.”

“It should remain here permanently.”

“Ya. That’s a good idea. It should be.”

Right after the table was installed in the plaza, it has seen its own light. It’s the most loved table—more than the tables in rooms where stacks of knowledge banks are kept. No matter whether it’s day or night, you’re gonna hear “Ping! Pong! Ping! Pong!…” even after the sports meet is over.

“The table must have been so bored… when it was there, to be loved only during the sports meet.”

“Ya man. Here everyone is in line, pushing and shoving to get a hand on the bat and table.”

As if the opportunity is one-timed, the ball ping! pong!ed late into the night.

“We should have brought it here earlier from last year, right?”

“Ya, but we still have another five or six months.”

“You can maximized your learning during this period.”

“’Maximized’ … ‘ learning’…. Oh! Come on leave those words. At least here when you got the chance to forget.”

“Man, do you think we should leave volleyball and shift to this?”

“No that’s not fair.”

“We begin volleyball from tomorrow. Be ready.”

“Hey guys, this game is good for me since I don’t play volleyball.”

Great change has come even to the novice. Those who had not even dreamed of it in their wildest dreams are now ready for the inter-room championship. We even have an Academy commentator.

It’s going to be one of the most loved reminiscences of our stay in TDA.

It has been a while since I’ve even had a chance to visit this site, much less update it. But that’s because we’ve had a few busy months here at the Academy.

So, what’s been going on?

Well, in addition to the eight batch of PDM students, we have a new batch of students—PDM 9—who have been busy learning the ins-and-outs of everything at the Academy, including non-curricular activities. First, there was the “sports fortnight” during which students got to show off their athletic abilities in sports such as badminton, table-tennis, and volleyball. There were other activities such as chess and carrom for participants who didn’t feel like breaking a sweat during the fortnight.

After the sports fortnight, we had another ethnic dinner, this time highlighting the culture and cuisine of Karnataka. The event also doubled as the awards ceremony for the sports fortnight champions.

PDM 9 also recently returned from their first Participatory Learning Methods (PALM) visit—a three-day field lab during which they were exposed to different participatory rural appraisal techniques such as social mapping, transect walk, timeline, and seasonal mapping. (I’ll post some pictures later when the internet seems to be more reliable.) Unfortunately, rain interferred with many of the processes, but it was still a pretty productive three days.

PDM 8 has also been busy. Upon returning from their Development Practice Segment, we organized a photo exhibit (see this post) to go along with all of their presentations and report writing, and the photos can now be found decorating the outside walls at the Academy.

They also have, in their fourth term, a chance to specialize in a subject of their choice by completing an independent study assignment. About a week ago, each student gave a brief introduction to their studies—I’m happy to say that everything sounded quite exciting, with topics ranging from intellectual property rights, to developing mass-communication materials such as posters and videos.

So, until the next time….

I started teaching at the Tata-Dhan Academy in the third term of the seventh batch of students undergoing the PDM—the Programme in Development Management. During that term, I taught a class in writing and another course in spoken communication, and it was very exciting for me to be back in the classroom again after more than a year without teaching. I knew, of course, that this classroom experience was only a fraction of what makes learning at the Academy interesting, but had not yet had much of a chance to see what the students really did in the field. I also knew that although I could teach English well, I did not really know much about what happened in the field beyond what I had read in a handful of student reports or heard about in student presentations. So, at the end of August in 2007, with my knowledgeable mentor and guide, Sangeetha, I got my first real chance to let the roles of student and teacher change, and have my students teach me about their field locations during my visits to them in the field.

This visit was for the first “Development Practice Segment”, a portion of the Academy’s curriculum in which students practice their community organizing skills. When I visited the students, I was taken to different villages to meet the community members they had been working with, and I listened to the stories of the approaches used, challenges faced, and lessons learned by the students. I was also shutter-happy with my camera, constantly taking pictures while listening to these stories from my students and while being filled in on some of the technical details by Sangeetha. As a teacher at the Academy, I had already decided that this was something to look forward to with each new batch of students.

With the eight batch of PDM students, I got the chance to be with them from their first day at the Academy. To the extent that I could make it happen, I also tried to accompany them on all of their field “labs”—practical learning in the field preparing them for their fieldwork sessions. During these short visits (they are usually around three days each) I got to know each student better on a personal level, and I was able to gradually observe their creativity and their interest in photography. A couple of students had digital cameras or had mobile-phones with cameras (and a few were always taking my camera from me and snapping great shots) and the output was pretty impressive.

And this is part of what has inspired this exhibition. As a teacher, I am always excited to sit with the students and see their slideshows and listen to their stories. But since this creative side of their experiences rarely get shared on a larger scale, I approached each student and asked them to submit up to five of their favorite photos from their collection. And these are the photographs which are represented here.

~ Ananda Mahto
Tata-Dhan Academy
Faculty, Communication for Development
November 2008

(Note: Unfortunately, not all 17 students were able to participate in this exhibition. One sadly lost all his photos, and another could not complete the Development Practice Segment due to health problems.)

AKA “We don’t just read and study here…”

One of the things that makes me excited about being a teacher is that I get to be around interesting people all the time. In the process of working (both with my colleagues and with my students) you get to learn a lot about them. I always like when they share their hidden (or not so hidden) talents.

Here are two videos that illustrate some of the talent you can expect at the Academy. The first is of two students, Sumit (cooking) and Mate (playing the guitar), rehearsing for the Bihar Ethnic Dinner. Talk about multi-tasking, right? The food was delicious, the song worked out great, and everyone had a great time. The second video is of Shanthi singing a song to the PDM 7 students at the end of their programme. Shanthi seems to always be able to come up with a song for any occasion, and her songs seem to defy the confines of age.

In time, I hope that we can highlight the talents of all of our students and faculty on this site.

Anyway, rather than making you read more, just enjoy the videos. (Sorry about the sound quality; there’s only so much you can do with a little digital camera, right?)

By the way, you can always go to Google Video to download any of these videos for viewing offline. The easiest way to find them is to simply search for “tdapdm” or to subscribe to the “tdapdm” video RSS feed.

As on 15 August 2008, we have received 18 new applications for PDM 9.

For these applicants, please note that:

• the DMAT will be conducted at the Academy on 22 August 2008
• the group discussion and interview will take place on 23 August 2008

Interested candidates who were unable to meet the 15 August 2008 application deadline can walk in with a completed application on the test date.

>> Thanks to Suneetha for the update! <<