Skip to content
  • Home
  • Talks
  • Author
Menu

Balu's musings

Stories from the grassroots | Thoughts on development

  • Home
  • Talks
  • Author
Home / Story of SVYM / (41) My first visit to Brahmagiri…
Posted inStory of SVYM

(41) My first visit to Brahmagiri…

Posted By Balu Posted on January 25, 2010
Comments are off

It was August 1987 and in response to the invitation of Mr.V.P.Baligar, I went and met him at his office. He received me warmly and we started talking about my future plans. I told him about the Chinnadagudihundi experience and that we were running the Sunday clinic at Thumnerale. After listening to me for some time, he asked me if I was indeed serious about my intentions of wanting to serve in a rural area. On hearing my affirmation, he challenged me and asked me if I would be able to go into an interior area adjoining the forest and be prepared to live and work with the tribals in Heggadadevanakote. I did not have the faintest idea where this place was nor could imagine what life would be in such an area. He told me that I needed to meet a person called Nanjunda Rao who would fill me in with the details of tribals and the kind of life they lived.

He asked me to come and meet him a couple of days later at his office early in the morning at 8 am. He then introduced me to Nanjunda Rao, who was an officer in the Government and had risen from the ranks to retire as a Special Deputy Commissioner. He had just concluded an in depth socio-economic study of the tribals living in H.D.Kote taluk and was known for his integrity and passionate desire to uplift the tribals. I was surprised when Baligar announced that we were all proceeding to H.D.Kote and asked me to join him in his car. All along the way, Nanjunda Rao told me about the different tribal groups that were there, the problems that the National Park brought about, the improper rehabilitation of the tribals when four dams were built in that area, the food habits, customs and the romantic tales linked to their culture and tradition. He seemed to be devoted to the tribal cause and was keen that I start my work with them. He assured me of his wholehearted support and encouragement.

We reached a tribal colony called ‘Brahmagiri’ and I was surprised to see well-built houses, tube wells and a community shed. Nanjunda Rao explained that it was a recently constituted rehabilitation colony, built to resettle the tribals who were displaced due to the construction of the reservoir many decades ago. He mentioned that this was possible due to the efforts of another enterprising Deputy Commissioner called Brahma Dutt, who was instrumental in getting a rehabilitation package for the tribals there. This tribal colony was named as Brahmagiri in acknowledgment of his support to the tribals by some sycophantic junior officer who wanted to possibly please his superior.

Baligar told me that it was these people who needed our health interventions and promised me land and all possible help from the Government if I were to accept his challenge. Well, the whole area was lush green and I was indeed impressed with the commitment and dedication of Baligar and Nanjunda Rao. All I remember saying was that I would be more than happy to work there. Little did I realize what was in store or how difficult things would be in the future!!

Also read: (12) My meeting with Mr.V.P.Baligar

– Balu

Share this post

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
Balu

A development activist, public policy advocate, social innovator and leadership trainer

Previous Article (40) Maari, my little heroine!
Next Article Ambitions and Aspirations…

Related Posts

Posted inGeneral Musings Story of SVYM

SVYM’s development paradigm & the mobile vegetable store…

It was nearly 6 years ago that I had first written about Rathnamma, a street vendor who made her living by selling greens and vegetables in Mysuru. One of the actions that emerged from this experience of having spent some time with her was the project of working with street vendors. From collectivizing them and forming Self-Help Groups, to extending credit facilities and giving them the training to manage their finances, to empowering them to negotiate with the local power structures; the SVYM team worked hard to ensure that their human and social capital was constantly expanded. Along with these

Share this post

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
Read More about SVYM’s development paradigm & the mobile vegetable store…
Posted By Balu Posted on July 22, 2018
4
Posted inStory of SVYM

So many memories…so many stories…

Laying down office seems so easy when one writes about it without the subjective pressures of emotion and memories. After more than 30 years at the helm, I felt that I had done what needed to be done over the last 30 months to future-proof SVYM. Whether it was Governance or moving SVYM closer to sustainability or streamlining our management functions, bringing in technology, reorienting our programs and making them more relevant to the times – I felt that so much could be done and this was possible only by the emergence of a wonderful and creative team of 16

Share this post

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
Read More about So many memories…so many stories…
Posted By Balu Posted on September 11, 2017
9
Posted inArticles in Press Musings Story of SVYM

‘And i was ordained a Jenukuruba…’ – Article that appeared in SOM, dated 19th July, 2017

Share this post

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
Read More about ‘And i was ordained a Jenukuruba…’ – Article that appeared in SOM, dated 19th July, 2017
Posted By Balu Posted on July 22, 2017
Comments are off

Popular

  • Living with Nature, learning from it...
  • (4) How the seeds were sown…
  • Governance & Democracy in India: speech given at the Tagore Center, Berlin
  • Vending leadership on the streets…
  • Business of Development
  • (5) Swami Achalanandaji…
  • Grassroots democracy in Action…beginning of a silent revolution!
  • From Engaged Citizenship to Enlightened Citizenship
  • Leading sustainability

Follow me

  • At Kings Cross in London after so many years. The feeling is still the same. Thankfully, somethings in life stay… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… 4 hours ago
  • Proud & Happy to have spoken today at the Gandhi Hall in India House in London on n Governance and Democracy in India 20 hours ago
  • Will be talking on the ‘Changing face of Democratic Governance through innovations and greater public participation… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… 1 day ago
Follow @drrbalu

Email Subscription

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Please select facebook feed.

You can also order your copy over  phone. Call GRAAM @ 9686666313, 0821-2415412

Archives

Powered by Thinksonic.
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.