Why am I writing all this??
Inspirations and Ideas and the people behind that..
It’s not always that I have nothing to write about, but today is that exceptional day! I have written nothing in the past weeks, and you know what, I feel good about it. Ever since I have started writing here, I realise that I am writing blogs and not at all focusing on long format projects- they are just sitting in my docs. Substack, as good as it is, and it is realllly good infact, still, it has its down sides. It prioritises shorter content, or maybe that’s just me thinking that I have to bring something out every other day. Anyway…
I took it slow. In the past weeks, I moved out of my village and traveled around many cities, here in India. I spoke at book events, was interviewed, attended podcasts and believe it or not, sat under a so-called “Wisdom Tree” at the Film and Television Institute of India Campus, hoping to speak with film nerds about my book. After delivering talks for over 40, 50 people at some venues, I was treated to an audience of flies and crickets chirping in the background. Not a single person came to hear me there. It was bound to happen, there had to be a disappointment after a row of excited events. I laughed about it and moved on.
None of this is normal for me. In fact, this is the first time that I am out, doing any of these things. I have no idea as to how to promote a book. I am learning as I go along.
Strange is the word. Many of my friends have been asking me, “What do you feel? How do feel about being called a writer?” …and honestly I don’t have any straightforward answers to any of those questions. It just feels strange, because I have grown numb to all this. Just a few weeks back, I was worried, going through various subreddits, to see if I find someone who was self-publishing their book. I guess it was fear that was holding me back. Fear of not achieving. Fear of not being able to live up to the expectations. After all, this was a two year long project and what if no one was interested? What if no one buys the book? What if two years of work just goes in a bin, totally unnoticed? That’s a strange feeling to have.
Obviously, things turned out better than I imagined. Why did it not occur to me then, that the writers who had given plugs for the book, must have seen something in it, or else they would have simply refused to attach their names to it. None of that crossed my mind. Now, after almost 200 copies sold - as a first time self-published author, I feel pretty confident. Many of you, who read this substack, have already bought a copy and some of you are waiting for one. (It will reach soon. I promise! Fingers crossed.) Still, I would say, that there isn’t any particular feeling of achievement. Only two years back I was dreaming of this and now, that dream has- strangely enough- turned into a reality. We are the creators of our reality. That’s what it feels like. We dream, we think and then we act. That’s how it is.
It’s only yesterday that I returned from a jungle which lies in the central part of India. Otherwise called the Red Corridor of India, this is a place where Guerrilla soldiers have an ongoing conflict with the Indian Military. The past is marred with many wrongs on each front, but I wont get into it. I passed these jungles when I was on my tour de India. Prakash Amte, a man who needs no introduction, atleast in India and many other parts of the world. Someone who has an endless lists of awards, including the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award for his courageous service to the people, lives in this area. I stayed with him and his family, understood the vision and the project in great depth. This land was inhabited by tribal people who were still coming out of the Stone Age when Lok Biradari Prakalp was introduced. LBP, with motto that "Work builds, Charity destroys", strives for holistic development and empowerment of Madia, Gond and other inhabitants in and around Bhamragad Tehsil with a dream of making them self-sufficient and responsible citizens, aware of their rights and capable of standing for them.
Picture of Madia-Gond tribes.
Here’s a back story to the project and vision of Baba Amte, Prakash Amte’s father.
Murlidhar Devidas Amte, popularly known as Baba Amte was born on December 26, 1914. He was a great humanitarian, environmentalist, social activist and a philosopher poet beyond ages. Although a lawyer by profession Baba was moved when he saw the great economic and social divide between the rich and poor people. He initially started an ashram for the untouchables (social outcasts) where everyone would work for a living irrespective of their social status, but life had something else in mind and the project failed. One day he saw a leprosy patient Kashiram lying on the side of the road, his wounds were stinking and full of maggots. Baba was terrified at the sight and fled on throwing a quilt on the disfigured Kashiram. The incident was a turning point in his life. The pain and suffering he saw led him to dedicate his life to rehabilitate and empower the people who suffered from leprosy. In 1951, Baba set up Anandwan, which today is a self-sufficient community, followed by an agricultural project at Somnath in 1967. In 1973, he set up Lok Biradari Prakalp - A People's Brotherhood Project. A Gandhian by nature, Baba played an active role in the freedom struggle. He dedicated his entire life to the service of destitute people. Baba initiated an unusual march and named it “Bharat Jodo” to establish peace and unity among all our fellow countrymen. He had a dream of a complete sovereign nation and urged people to participate. The response he received was overwhelming, and Baba was greeted with extreme love and admiration in every state he entered. With minds being ignited and hearts being filled with compassion and love for the nation and humanity.
Baba Amte with his wife Sadhana Amte and their two sons, Prakash and Vikas Amte.
It all started as an adventurous family trip. When Baba’s two sons returned home after answering their final M.B.B.S. papers for a vacation he took them on a trip to Bhamragad. The road was extremely difficult and took almost 3 days to cover a mere distance of 250 km. Baba had visited the area in youth for a hunting game, but this time he had something else in mind. He was extremely moved to see the condition of the tribals. Bhamragad region was inhabited by Madia-Gond tribals, a primitive tribe who barely covered their bodies and wore colorful beads as ornaments. They were terrified of civilized men in clothes and fled into the forests on seeing such men. the region was characterized by acute illiteracy, ignorance and extreme exploitation. Baba felt a strong urge himself to start reformative activities. Baba being a man of strong determination, vowed to start a new project here. Seeing his dedication and courage at the age of 60 his younger doctor son Prakash promised to join him. Prakash’s sister Renuka, and four educated inspired young men from different parts of Maharashtra joined him. Little did they know that it would mean the beginning of a new chapter in the history of selfless and courageous social service.
Dr. Prakash Amte with a leopard in his animal orphanage.
Thus, I too was inspired to work in a similar way. After the walk, I ended up in my village and decided to work from here; to work with and for the people who are in need and who don’t have a voice. I scrapped my plans of going back to England and started working in my village. In many ways, this substack is an extension of my long term project - to empower the people of this Konkan belt, to preserve the culture and ecology and to make them realise about their rights as a citizen. There is another long walk coming soon.. I am currently researching about the route, its a work in progress. I would need all of your help to spread the word and help me out when I am off.
We are 370 in total now! That’s incredible. Given that it’s only been a few months since the inception of this page! Many have joined in on this journey. I thank you all for staying here - even when I was absent. I am back in the village now. Sitting in the same seat where I sat when I wrote my first substack article. It’s raining outside. The constellations are changing, is what I am hearing from the villagers and rightly so, I can see the change in the weather. Sanju dada was surprised to see me, I had told him that I wouldn’t be back for atleast a couple more weeks, but how long can you keep a fish out of water? I am happy here. This is my place. I feel suffocated in cities. The lack of affection in our cities, kills me from within. I cannot keep a fake smile on my face. Anyway, expect some more articles this week and if you haven’t yet bought the book, please give it a chance. I am sure it won’t be a waste of time. Good luck with whatever it is that you are upto. Enjoy the weather while it lasts and be positive! Much love from India!
Thanks for reading. If you are still here, I would take this moment to direct your attention to a book I have written. This book is almost 2 years in the making. In 2022 I left off on a walk across India and ended up walking 1800 km from Narvan on the west shore, to Visakhapatnam on the east shore. Initially to document the issues plaguing rural India, the project unfolded to become an unforgettable voyage of self-discovery; involving sleeping in unfamiliar places, venturing alone through the Naxalite insurgent jungles, and even being interrogated in a jail cell.
After contemplating on what is the right way forward, I have come to the conclusion that I will self-publish it- and I did. If you are interested in reading about my journey and supporting me to become a full-time writer, please consider buying “Journey to the East”- which is currently available through my website. www.ashutoshjoshi.in
If you would like to help me out in other ways, you can buy me a coffee via paypal, www.paypal.me/ashutoshjoshistudio. You would think that a couple of dollars/pounds won’t mean much, but it does, especially in India where it is difficult to make ends meet as an artist.
You can buy my first book “Journey to the East”, a memoir about an 1800 km walk through India, through my website .
If you would like to buy prints of my photographs, you can choose the photographs you like on my website and send me an email. I will send you custom quotes for the sizes you’d like.