"If Blake wants to make a real difference, she needs to examine the assets of the community, listen to the words, stories, and desires of the people, and only then take action."
More than meets the eye
Blake sits quietly. Staring out at the river, she notices the gentle swelling in the water. It’s so beautiful, and brings out the character of the city. After the failed meeting a few days ago, Blake vowed to listen to what the people wanted, instead of telling them what they needed. Her neighbor Yamini told her that Haridwar was the starting place for an important pilgrimage and that thousands of people gathered at the water’s edge every twelfth year to worship and connect with the Goddess Ganga. Many priests held services by the river to guide people, so she suggested that Blake talk to one of them to get a better picture of the history, culture, and challenges surrounding the Ganges.
38
picture of the history, culture, and challenges surrounding the Ganges.
Now, Blake studies the water and the environment as she waits for Mahant Devi to arrive. He is a local holy man who often holds riverside services, and has a reputation as being deeply knowledgeable about the relationship citizens have with the water running through the city. Mahant arrives like a breeze, gentle and fully present, like a renewing breath of air. He introduces himself with a gracious smile. Dressed in long white robe with a vibrant, orange cloth, he leads Blake to talk with him while they walk. After a few minutes of pleasantries, Blake jumps right in, explaining her job, her good intentions, her dreams for the river, and finally asking what she can do to connect to the people – to get them on her side.
himself with a gracious smile. Dressed in a long white robe with a vibrant, orange cloth, he leads Blake to talk with him while they walk. After a few minutes of pleasantries, Blake jumps right in, explaining her job, her good intentions, her dreams for the river, and finally asking what she can do to connect to the people – to get them on her side.
Mahant chuckles at her question. Perhaps she needs to see the river from the same side the people do. The river is a point of pride, deep cultural rooting, an origin and final resting place, a constant reminder of connection to the country and to God.
connection to the country and to God. If Blake wants to make a real difference, she needs to examine the assets of the community, listen to the words, stories, and desires of the people, and only then take action. He has heard about her meeting from some of his patrons, and tells her that she presented nothing but “problems” that were offensive. Researchers often come to Haridwar and leave just as swiftly with their empty promises and lackluster results. The people are distrustful when foreigners arrives with “initiatives,” which for one reason or another seem to end up falling apart. Sure, the water quality used to be better when he was a child, but presenting western solutions is an ineffective strategy.