This week for our weekly segment of Community Wise, we bring to you about Democratic Sangha that strives to bring social, political and electoral reforms through its programs.
SHIKHA DUGGAL
The democracy that we boast of is facing a lot of challenges and according to the founder of Democratic Sangha, Hyderabad it seeped into the city as well. Where political polarisation is increasing Brahmachari Chaitanya reflects on the city’s future!
Certainly Telangana state political leaders have delivered sustainable economic development but on the other hand the brahmachari questions through his organisation that why are we not able to eliminate the extremities? A sangha that took birth for educating the elites in our globalised city, a non-partisan collective of compassionate people who have the conviction that they can improve the quality of human life, is founded by this monk activist to address the existing crisis in democracy in the contemporary world.
At the same time it made us question him too on how he is feeding off this organisation.
“A movement is created based on needs, and to accomplish them, there are actions that are guided by humanism, which prioritizes human welfare above all. Through our research, we understood that there are ample means to resolve the multiple issues of society but the people, especially the marginalised segment are not fully aware of utilising them. Hence, at the Democratic Sangha, our simple motive is to empower them with knowledge of their democratic rights.”
At the grass roots, the sangha is successfully creating movements like the rural women leadership program which works to build leadership of women. It empowers rural women to become advocates of reforms in the community. There are several other campaigns that we are actively working on currently for the emancipation of marginalised communities.
The founder is the late Swami Agnivesh’s student, who is a novice non-traditional monk whose preoccupation with social justice and human rights has led him on the path of activism since he was just at the age of 17. He has worked with multiple foundations and activist movements in the past, emphasising the need for universal education and socio-political freedom. Doubt, debate and dissent are at the heart of this sangha.
“I believe that liberty of thought and freedom of expression are the two major driving factors of democracy and that every voice should be given equal importance. At the sangha, we enshrine these values that work at two levels. At one level, we create awareness amongst the people through discussions and events. On the other hand, we assist them with the right resources and information so that they are able to utilise the given opportunities fully.”
It all started when he became the leader of a student group to work for development in rural Andhra Pradesh as a part of a project taken by his school in class 12. He was awarded the Youth Excellence Award at the United Nations Youth Assembly for his work as the student head for the rural work undertaken by the school. Every member of the organisation has got a strong sense of justice and has the zeal to tirelessly work towards forging a new social contract where democracy and freedom can thrive.
Moreover, “The decision to become a monk was motivated by my personal value system and my desire to understand my inner self. I always had a leaning towards social spirituality. The qualities of compassion and patience which are prerequisites for adhering to a monastic lifestyle were always there in me. I feel that this is also a blessing in disguise since it also helps me to serve society in a better way.”
The Democratic Sangha addresses some of the most crucial issues that are faced by democracy which lead to an ever-widening inequality between the privileged and underprivileged. It’s one of a kind organization where a balance is seen in everything and the general public have an access to everything they deserve. Because as the impact of the initiatives taken by the young Chaitanya increased, he was recognized by the Obama Foundation as a young leader and invited to attend a Town Hall meeting with President Obama too!
“Every action of mine is done after consultation with the communities that are directly affected by social injustices, and I work for their emancipation and rights. My end goal will always be to make this world a better place for all of us to live in peace and harmony with each other. Today, my activism is driven by compassion, and as a monk, I try to integrate values such as patience, peace, and non-violence into my activism.”
He is a multi-linguist, and is currently studying Advaita Vedanta philosophy under the guidance of his guru, Swami Tattvavidananda Saraswati of the Arsha Vidya Sampradaya. He is an apostle of the idea that spirituality ought to be social spirituality, actively transcending dogma and ritual in favour of proactive spirituality. What makes him stand out is his unique efforts to stand for justice for all beings. And, “Teach for Change has given me exposure to interact with young children who have bright minds but are deprived of opportunities. Meeting them fills me with immense hope and motivates me to continue walking on my chosen path.
I have also had the opportunity to visit and live with the Chenchu Tribe, one of the oldest tribes in India, who live in the Amarabad Forest Reserve. Working with them allowed me to take a sneak peek into their practices and lifestyle, which was a truly refreshing experience. They had so much love for nature, and their knowledge of environmental preservation was a treasure trove. Their outlook on life and perspective inspired me and helped me grow on a personal level.”
The monk was in the news recently when he sat on a hunger strike urging the Telangana Government to implement 12 1 C of RTE!
