VillageTourism

 

Village tourism. This is a hot area of intervention. For NGOs

Visits to potter village. Visits to farming villages. For urbans to get 'feel of pot making'. Of 'holding a spade'.

A 'novel experience'. Catered to by people whose survival and tragedies hinge on that.

'First do no harm'. Critically important words.

Forgotten by those eager to act. 'Do good.' 'Establish a business'

Urban tourists have no right to step into poor villages. As tourists. Period.

It is in essence poverty tourism. However else it is labelled.

Rich tourists trampling down village streets. Of poor people struggling with existance.

Some of them condescending. Some of them pitying. Some few marvelling at the 'green and sustainable lives'.

Bringing their baggage. Of privilege.

An unforgivable intrusion.

On those whose voices are not paid heed to.

The echoes of which have reached our village now.

• Komakkambedu Himakiran

  how else do you sensitize people? how do you get people to see how the ecosystem around them is?

  

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• Aparna Krishnan

  There have to be more sensitive ways.

  One way is to engage first. Take on answerabilities. Like buying bags made in a village, working out more markets. Or pickles. Milk. Whatever. The coming to a village is then earned. Is has to be.

  One enters with an understanding, with a background of respect.

  'First do no harm.'

  It is not the burden of a poor village to 'educate' well heeled tourists.

  

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• Komakkambedu Himakiran

  You need to remove yourself and your village from the context and see how engagement can happen with people and communities. People need to spend time and for that a visit is a starting point. If 1000 people come for this and 10 actually end up working with the communities, I will still take it as that's all you need.

  the 5% disrupters will influence the next 15% and only after that the remaining 80% will follow.

  

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  • Aparna Krishnan

    Why will I remove myself or my village from the picture ? That is the basis of my understandings.

    I will not allow my village children to be seen as poor, uneducated brats by half the crowd, and as 'the poor unfortunate children.' by the other half.

    Whatever the gain to the urban upper class visiting kid.

    There should be better ways.

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  • Komakkambedu Himakiran

    there you go...remove yourself doesn't mean you in the context of your village. it means, other villages don't have people like to filter and sensitise before hand.

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  • Aparna Krishnan

    Precisely. I will do my best to keep urban 'tourists' away. Other villages can easily become victims of poverty tourism.

    There are ways to find villages, we all did. Without this 'serve on a platter?' style.

    We can make it easier, and should. But tourism is not the way.

    

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  • Komakkambedu Himakiran

    so you are only concerned about your own? call it tourism or something else...without contact, how will people learn?

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  • Sridhar Lakshmanan

    Aparna Krishnan

     may be this is y the bags don't sell. People don't understand what is happening or for that matter what's rural livelihood. How the money earned is shared if they did may be they may support the initiative not all but a few would definitely. It all depends on how it's anchored and who anchors it.

    

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  • Aparna Krishnan

    I was waiting for your response. Yes, we have discussed this. And you explained how experiential learning was was teaches.

    This is a tremendously challenging task. There are not many Sridhars, I know only one.

    And even then, one top class mentor cannot really ensure over one trip that the members are all kept deeply aware of village sensitivities and strengths. And approach with the required respect.

    I would seek better ways to build sensitivity and understanding.

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  • Komakkambedu Himakiran

    There are no other ways; only way is to engage so that you find more Sridhars and Aparnas!

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  • Sridhar Lakshmanan

    Aparna Krishnan

     i personally think the villagers can generally win over people with their simplicity and genuinely , we dont need interpreters, i am also one such convert who visited a village forte first time at 18  interaction can be designed , any ways urban influence seeping through tv serials is far more potent and they will also get a chance to know we are really not that( in car of very remote villages who have not been ever to cities). I am not speaking for tourism but for engagements .

    

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  • Aparna Krishnan

    Yes, I am also all for engagements. Not tourism, but thought out and structured differently. We need to think this through.

    

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  • Komakkambedu Himakiran

    What is this tourism you talk about? You are paining an image of a bus load of people taking pics of a poor woman going about the daily grind.

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  • Aparna Krishnan

    Well, not exactly. But do you see that the urban image of the villager will impact their response.

    As for building sensitivity, one does not need to go to a weaver's village to switch to handlooms. Most of us who switched-on our twenties had never been to one.

    Those are the processes we need to understand, recreate.

    After the thinking, after the switch, one is better qualified to visit a village. One has learnt, done the basics to earn entry, so to say.

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  • Komakkambedu Himakiran

    for that image to be shattered, contact is needed.

    Don’t compare yourself in this situation; 70% of the population is under 30, meaning India had already opened up to the world when they started taking baby steps. They have not seen India of the socialist times where there wasn’t enough to go around.

    Watch the video I shared earlier. It’s a brilliant take on the youth of today and what they need.

    

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  • Kavitha Nistala Gollapudi

    Aparna Krishnan

     I agree to the point that one does not need a visit from city to village to use eco friendly and sustainable clothing or goods. But one who does not understand the roots may need a trip to village which might bring in the change- to be able to appreciate the annadaata that person needs to step in his shoes and toil to understand. Change is not as easy as said though.

    

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  • Aparna Krishnan

    Yes, but the costs are what I am indicating. And requesing thought on better processes.

    

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  • Komakkambedu Himakiran

    Aparna Krishnan

     then you list how it should be done. I’ll let you know if that’ll work out or not.

    You really need to watch that video. That’s how the future is going to be unless a massive intervention happens.

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  • Kavitha Nistala Gollapudi

    And I for one am seeing it more - have been marketing the bags , have been insisting to feed a homeless malnutritioned child - majority are keyboard warriors and they won't act on it - just words. Anyways

    

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  • Aparna Krishnan

    @Hima, will think through of ways to expose, sensitise sensitively.. This tourism model will not do.

    Will watch the video.

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  • Komakkambedu Himakiran

    pls do; I’m not sure you have defined what you are against. At least I’m not understanding it.

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  • Aparna Krishnan

    Ayyo ! Back to square one !

    

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• Komakkambedu Himakiran

  the other option is remove all people from their lands and give them wretched careers in the cities, disrupting their lifestyle as well as breaking communities in the name of development. pick one now!

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• Nityanand Jayaraman

  Well said. Your comment on earning the right to visit places with living solutions is sensible, and could offer tourism the break from consumptive capitalism that it needs

  

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  • Aparna Krishnan

    A village is an integrated home.

    Just as we would not allow someone to barge into our homes. Similarly no one can barge into a village.

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• Prasanna Gandhi

  city is city and people are people. villagers judge the city dweller as much as the city dwellers. Infact their is much more condescending...do villagers see a city dweller as a person or consumer?... i understand what you are saying, but you are stretching a bit too much...afterall cities are built by erstwhile villagers

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  • Komakkambedu Himakiran

    The Nagaram/Pattinam-Pakkam symbiotic relationship of the past is not there anymore. The cities we have now are monstrosities that devour the ecosystem around them.

    Who is a city dweller? Someone who is connected with the environment around him or someone who is sleepwalking through the life in a concrete air conditioned jungle?

    

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  • Prasanna Gandhi

    i would like not judge people based on where they live...yes by structure city is insensitive to its environment, and village by nature is aligned, and tribe is more aligned....

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  • Komakkambedu Himakiran

    How can we not judge when the sense of entitlement is wrecking havoc. Neither do we care for the villagers nor the urban poor.

    

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  • Prasanna Gandhi

    i dont know the answer..... individuals can't be held totally responsible is what i am trying to say....it is tough for all is what i am saying

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  • Aparna Krishnan

    A system desensitizes. That's the urban system, the urban upper class denizen. The best of them see a village as a poor place, not a rich, wise, giving place. I would not unleash them on a village, already oppressed.

    I would seek better ways to sensitise the urbans than a licence to trample through village streets. Before a deep process of thinking, engaging and in thought and deed.

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  • Komakkambedu Himakiran

    Prasanna Gandhi

     totally agree on the individuals angle: that is why I would rather take people to see how they are damaging the lives and the ecosystem rather than expect them to understand before hand. The system is so warped right now, that there is no magic wand.

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  • Komakkambedu Himakiran

    Aparna Krishnan

     seeing, feeling is believing. not every village has an ambassador like you!

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  • Aparna Krishnan

    Yes, experiential learning is needed. Yet it is poverty tourism, however well packaged it be.

    Because most urbans, highly disconnected, are at that stage.

    Just that villages cannot pay the price to sensitise them. The price is being looked at as poor at best, as backward at worst. And pitied all along. No thanks.

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  • Komakkambedu Himakiran

    wrong...many are looking for answers to solve that disconnect; so no point in closing doors on them.

    what exactly triggered this post? How did you arrive at all these conclusions?

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  • Aparna Krishnan

    Yes, but not (eco/village) tourism. Let's creativly look for ways.

    In this model, many tourists, who have not thought deeply on these/ who are not seekers, will trample on village sensibilities. Non negotiably unacceptable.

    Eco tourism plans are entering our village. I have been dead against it for above mentioned reasons. So the post. More details, names in person.

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  • Komakkambedu Himakiran

    will trample? Isn’t that a bit alarmist. Why do you have to take a confrontational approach immediately?

    May be you have your reasons for it, but I’d take the middle path.

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  • Aparna Krishnan

    Better safe than sorry !

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• Kavitha Nistala Gollapudi

  The way I see it , unless a trip to village, farm surroundings is not done then no one can understand. Not everyone is genuine and honest. Sometimes if a group visits a village for whatever reason, I am sure out of the n number visited some will be genuine and honest.

  

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• Hemalata Rao

  I usually try to stay out of these discussions - because people have already taken their extreme positions. And it is tiring to read of our so called evil ways. every day . However, I just wanted to insert one point: many of the 'urbans' now return to their villages at least to visit or due to unemployment in the cities. Many of these urbans take back the urban way to their homes in the villages. This cannot be prevented either - their homes and families are in the villages after all. Do you have issues with them bringing their urban ways as well? This cannot be attributed to urban tourism. thanks for reading.

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  • Aparna Krishnan

    If it tires you so much, you should have unfollow ed or unfriended. Just a button away ma'am !

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  • Hemalata Rao

    No Aparna, I do not do that. I respect and value what you are doing, and what you say. but you do have extreme positions that help (or want to) make us feel constantly sorry for existing in our lives . I am a big fan, but I also think workable solutions need some respect for the other side too. Many of us have constantly been working in this area. I was one of the first ones to order your bags too, you may remember (50 of them, even though I needed only 5). So yeah, I don't do unfriending and unfollowing .... just because you are constantly belittling the urbans or the city dwellers or whatever.... .

    

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  • Aparna Krishnan

    Please compare our privilege and that of those on the borders of survival. Please decide if the 'service' we render is anywhere close to our answerability and liability.

    If you feel good about yourself, welcome. I do not. The burden of our privilege and our Infinite responsibilities is enormous. For me, and many of my friends.

    As for buying bags, let's do it if we wish to. In silence. Realising that it's not going to save the village, or the earth or our soul. But is just a step n the right direction. Yes, an essential step.

    

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• Kavitha Nistala Gollapudi

  Aparna Krishnan, is there a story or reasoning behind this post? I am sure there is one !!! Has something happened which triggered this?

  

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• Priya Vardheesh

  Look at the bright side of it as well. On visiting, people understand more of struggle in farming due to changes in eco system, labour issues, Trader intrusion, market instability etc. This gives an opportunity for younger generation to get exposed to village setup which otherwise wouldn't have had a chance. It only brings more respect to farming community and the farmers I think

  

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• Rajadurai B

  To me i feel these entire conversations as enriching knowledge. Though i completely agree with Ms. Aparna, at the same time what Mr. Hima tries to pitch for a workable model/solution is a need now.

  People like me would be interested to know what could be the workable solution in this?

  Requesting all to conclude this conversion from that perspective....

  And worth compiling all these points together

  

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  • Aparna Krishnan

    Please see the below comment, that's my understanding of a valid process.

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• Aparna Krishnan

  Hima, you want a workable solution that can give urban people 'sensitizing experiences' ? Let me suggest a very localised version that has worked in our village. Of collective learning and engagement.

  There are two processes here, simple and small processes.

  #JeevaniMilk, where in different villages, schools we are giving children milk with Ashwagandhadhi. I have given the story, people, initially strangers and later co-travellers, have responded and owned effort. They handle the costs, I help with local details and implementation. They in thought word and deed become part of the village processes. Now when they come, it is from a valid position. Respectful to all.

  The same with #PaalaGuttaPalleBags. Many customers are co-travellers. We await their coming to the village with eagerness.

  The steps included telling the stories, people reaching out. Engaging, learning. And in that effort having 'earned' entry to a family called a village.

  If it be suggested that people will respond 'only when they see poverty', India is blessed with those images at every road turning. It requires minimal intelligence to extrapolate it and switch to handlooms, buy cloth bags, support livlihoods, sell pickles, and come to the village in that validity.

  So many friends have responded in sustained ways with clarity and sustained energy, that I can today say it is a do-able process.

  In my time, the search for a village itself meant seeking, searching, soul searching, deep commitment. That was an essential step. There were no ready made spaces, there was no internet to search on.

  Even now, there are many youth, such seekers, who have come and stayed in the village with us down the years.

  Of course, and those friends who are part of similar processes in other spaces.

  To provide a 'village experience' on a platter us neither respectful to the village, nor of any deep use to the tourists.

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  • Komakkambedu Himakiran

    again you are not removing yourself from the context; without you neither initiative would have even been conceived.

    There are 6 lac villages here. Like I said, you and I represent people from a different era; we a re a minority here.

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  • Aparna Krishnan

    The eco tourism companies need to work in grounded ways. There could be many ways. One is what we did. Tell the stories, create ways to engage. Engage with the engagement. The actual coming to the village has to be earned.

    As I said it's like entering a home. Or a gated apartment at the least ! The village has to invite them as it invites it's relatives.

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  • Komakkambedu Himakiran

    you can fend them off from your village; I am asking for a solution for other villages where they will go.

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  • Aparna Krishnan

    I have just said.

    Quote

    The eco tourism companies need to work in grounded ways. There could be many ways. One is what we did. Tell the stories, create ways to engage. Engage with the engagement

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  • Komakkambedu Himakiran

    hmm...I don't see it happening like that, let's see.

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  • Aparna Krishnan

    Why ?

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  • Komakkambedu Himakiran

    How does anyone engage in the first place? Without an anchor?

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  • Aparna Krishnan

    It will be a slow process maybe, and only a few may last it. But these are the ones who will last out. The fire has to be there, we can only help a little.

    There are so many heritage tours to weavers colonies. How many do you think come back fundamentally changed. These people would also be changed by reports.

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  • Aparna Krishnan

    I am saying the anchor needs to respect this process, and pace.

    In the context of eco tourism companies.

    

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  • Aparna Krishnan

    Which is the kind of engagement as we have done in our place have done with paalaguttapalle Bags, and milk.

    An extended period of engagement before stepping on the soil of the village.

    One eco tourism anchor was affronted. "Do you think I don't understand the village?" I hasten ed to assure him that it was not his own immersion but that of the crowds he plans on bringing.

    I told him that I has been in my village for 22 years. But I would never bring a team of eco tourists. With any confidence.

    Would he be sure that no one would try a Selfie With Villager, for instance!

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  • Komakkambedu Himakiran

    hmm...valid questions. Would the villager mind that selfie?

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  • Aparna Krishnan

    Please let us allow those liberties in a village that you would allow in a gated apartment, or in your home.

    If strangers came and took selfies in out home, would we try to check if our family members liked taking selfies with them ?

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  • Komakkambedu Himakiran

    A village is not the same as a gated community.

    It’s a lot more welcoming and forgiving too.

    Everyone is a stranger when they come. How they behave is something that determines if they are accepted or not. So let the village people decide this. You’re being a bit too protective and reacting to plausible scenarios.

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  • Aparna Krishnan

    I certainly don't want a bunch of upper class kids having a walk through a street of a poor village, thanks!

    The very concept is invalid

    I understand the need for creating spaces of learning. For disconnected urban kids. But the means matters. This is invalid means.

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  • Komakkambedu Himakiran

    You are painting a doomsday scenario.

    It’s not going to be like the natives are on display for the elite to come and take pics of.

    I bet they won’t behave like that. People are good essentially and in situations where they are out of their comfort zone, most cases they go by what’s acceptable.

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  • Aparna Krishnan

    I am claiming the integrity of the village. And that we are not available for tourism.

    We welcome people, but after an engagement, and the ways to engage are many.

    And that is what a responsible person bringing these people for a village experience needs to do. First work on valid ways of interaction. In this village for instance it was cloth bags sales, Jeevani milk.

    And for instance 

    Vigneshwaran Karthikeyan

    , 

    Lavanya Sampath

    , 

    Arun Kombai

     who are completely part of the village family. This was the process.

    There are no shortcuts. To meaningful change.

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• Aparna Krishnan

  The integrity and agency of the village is the centre of the matter. To invite Gandhi, or Trump is their call.

  No tourism company can take greater liberties with a village, than they would with a gated community. Despite the fact that a village is more forgiving. Or poorer.

  Even if the urbans need 'to be educated', a tourist trip to the village is not available. Even if they have been 'sebsitized' through a meeting. To engage respectfully with a village, understanding and following the village protocols needs far deeper commitment.

  Unless a tourist company is willing to do that work, and unless the potential tourists have engaged with owned up responsibilities, could be financial or organisational ( in our case it has been sponseing JeevaniMilk in government schools, or working with markets for the women s bags - and would be different in different places), the right for a complete stranger to come to the village is not earned.

  This is in the context of companies bringing strangers to a village. For an 'experiance'.