Bhubaneshwar and Puri

After Kolkata we took a long train ride to Bhubenasewar (a city in the state of Orissa). First off the 6 hour train ride was a memory in itself. When we first got on, it was super crowded and the three of us were all spread out but eventually I managed to make my way for the window seat. Some good ‘ol Beatles music playing in my ears with a nice breeze and scenery so green and so absolutely gorgeous. It was almost like driving with the top down in the convertible with the oldies cranked with Dad. :) Well except of course all the villages and different types of tropical trees. While I was in my own world feeling happy as ever starring out my window, I looked over to find Andrea and Scott laughing and making some new Indian friends in another seat.

In Bhubaneshwar we did a little sight-seeing of ancient temples and historical sights. One of our favorites was Udaygiri - a place where we climbed in a bunch of really cool old caves and saw a beautiful view of the city.

We also went to some villages where prawn is cultivated. There is some major health and social concerns facing the workers, so from an NGO perspective, Father wanted to check out the situation to perhaps develop an appropriate health program to improve the conditions. The main health concerns involve the nervous and respiratory systems. More specifically, shivering, severe coughing, and neck problems. We will be assisting with writing the project proposal for this so it was nice to go and physically observe the situation. The workers here are being completely taken advantage of and have lost all their dignity. Unfortunately they have been conditioned how to think and they’re uneducated so they don’t know the difference. Often the owners of the land where the workers live and cultivate the shrimp live far away in a distant city or state of India. One man we talked to explained that his owner lives in Delhi (all the way across the country) and the only time he returns is to get the prawn and his money. If the workers show any resistance or understanding of what is really going on and how they’re being cheated, then the owners will simply kick them out and find new workers, leaving them jobless and in even worse poverty. To me it sounds like slavery. The worker’s entire livelihood rests in the landowner. I’m beginning to understand more clearly why Kolkata has the poverty it does. I’m thankful for the opportunity to work at SWI to witness and contribute to the preventative efforts in helping the poor rise up, understand their dignity and rights, and help them achieve ‘freedom’ if you want to call it that (if freedom can be synonymous with education, dignity, health and happiness.) I feel that this is what true social justice is all about.

Lastly, we went to Puri and hung out on the beach for an hour or two. We even rode a camel – yeah, all three of us together- it was quite a sight to see. And the ocean water was like bath water it was so warm!!!