On 4th and 12th March 2023, Vyaktitva Learning Labs conducted a session on Water for All, in two parts, at Mata Ramabai Ambedkar Nagar, CBD Belapur, Navi Mumbai, India. Vyaktitva Learning Labs is a media literacy education initiative co-founded by Nikhil Latagajanan and Mayura Saavi. The lab works closely with the community of children who live nearby and attended the session, conducting classes every Saturday mostly at the Anganwadi premises or Buddha Vihar, or outdoors if these spaces are occupied.
Part one engaged students in a conversation about water, its importance, accessibility, and scarcity. They discussed how it was a basic need and an equal natural resource for all irrespective of caste, class, gender, race, religion, and region. Equal access is affected by discriminatory practices like casteism and exacerbated by water crises and climate change. They talked about casteism and the struggle for access to water in the light of historical examples. Ideas were brainstormed for drawings based on the discussion.
Part two started with visual presentations of pictures to aid the drawing process and to showcase the events discussed. The drawing activity was facilitated by Mayura Saavi who also led the children in singing “Mahad Chya Talyach Pani” by Shital Sathe.
This session was conducted in commemoration of the 96th anniversary of the Mahad Satyagraha, the march for equality, dignity, and access to water, led by anti-caste leader and statesman, Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar on 20th March 1927.
All photo credits are given to Ashwini Mohite, Bhavesh Jadav and Mayura Saavi from Vyaktitva Learning Labs.
The outcome in the form of artworks accompanies a two-part audio series on water and caste, hosted by academic and researcher Swati Kamble, as part of Dark ‘n’ Light’s Stories from The Subverse.
Find part 1 here.