Our next destination took us to Tribal Health Initiative, a health and development initiative located in the midst of tribal villages a five-hour drive away from Auroville. Tribal people are India’s original inhabitants. Their ancestors were thought to have been part of the Indus Valley Civilization 5,000 years ago. It is believed they were been pushed south, into their current locations, with later Aryan invasions. Today, they are marginalized much like native populations around the world, many living in rural areas in dire poverty. While the government has special programs designed to address the tribal populations, they have generally been met with minimal success.
We got started on our journey late and ended up doing most of it in the dark, but from what I could make out of the landscape was beautiful. I was excited to see it in the daylight. At one point in the drive, the road appeared to end as a river blocked our path. Our driver seemed to think it was going to be impossible to keep going until a motorbike crossed and informed us just how shallow it was and could easily be crossed. At least that’s what the conversation sounded like, since it was all in Tamil. When we finally arrived, it was late. We ate a quick meal at the hospital before finding our accommodations in a guesthouse just a kilometer away.
Lauren and I woke up early to the sound of tapping on the roof and the sudden whirring of the fan. Realizing it wasn’t even 7:00 yet; we decided to go for a walk through the village. The sun was just peeking up above the treetops, highlighting the haze in the sky and illuminating the beautiful hills, palm trees, and farmland. As we wandered we passed by mud houses with thatched roofs and other homes that were taller and mad of concrete. Women were already at work. Children cried, laughed, and ran around their compounds. Passerby’s gazes lingered over us. The air was cool and crisp, never fully giving way to heat, even at the height of the day. I longed to know more about the tribals: their community, their history, practices, work.
We got started on our journey late and ended up doing most of it in the dark, but from what I could make out of the landscape was beautiful. I was excited to see it in the daylight. At one point in the drive, the road appeared to end as a river blocked our path. Our driver seemed to think it was going to be impossible to keep going until a motorbike crossed and informed us just how shallow it was and could easily be crossed. At least that’s what the conversation sounded like, since it was all in Tamil. When we finally arrived, it was late. We ate a quick meal at the hospital before finding our accommodations in a guesthouse just a kilometer away.
Lauren and I woke up early to the sound of tapping on the roof and the sudden whirring of the fan. Realizing it wasn’t even 7:00 yet; we decided to go for a walk through the village. The sun was just peeking up above the treetops, highlighting the haze in the sky and illuminating the beautiful hills, palm trees, and farmland. As we wandered we passed by mud houses with thatched roofs and other homes that were taller and mad of concrete. Women were already at work. Children cried, laughed, and ran around their compounds. Passerby’s gazes lingered over us. The air was cool and crisp, never fully giving way to heat, even at the height of the day. I longed to know more about the tribals: their community, their history, practices, work.
At Tribal Health Initiative (THI) we ate a filling breakfast amongst the staff, learning bits and pieces about their work. Afterwards we joined them for morning meditation and the celebration of one of their children’s birthdays. The founder of the organization sat with us and guided us along his journey to founding THI, its growth, its multi-pronged approach, and goals for the future. His and the entire staffs mission and dedication was inspiring. I also appreciated their desire to provide culturally appropriate care to the community, a concept that is far to often forgotten. I only wished I had medical experience so I could come back and contribute. I contemplated other ways in which I could be useful to them.
We next heard a talk about how THI is getting women’s collectives together to revive their ancient embroidery craft. The program also allows women a new level of freedom and independence that comes with making their own money. We learned that THI also works with farmers in the area to help them transition to organic farming and helps them reach markets through a commodity chain process whereby they sell their goods to women’s groups who develop the raw materials into a product for sale in the greater community. It was so cool to see how the THI connects health with healthy food and farming, women’s empowerment, and so much more to address health in a unique and holistic manner. A way that really understands how all the component parts of life combine to form determinants of health, a method of public health I am particularly interested in.
After our daily dose of inspiration and the opportunity to purchase some items from the women’s embroidery collective, we piled back into the van for our next five hour journey to Swamimalai, where we were warmly welcomed at our hotel that doubles as a museum of Indian culture and heritage, with flower garlands and cool towels and time for relaxation before our next busy day.
We next heard a talk about how THI is getting women’s collectives together to revive their ancient embroidery craft. The program also allows women a new level of freedom and independence that comes with making their own money. We learned that THI also works with farmers in the area to help them transition to organic farming and helps them reach markets through a commodity chain process whereby they sell their goods to women’s groups who develop the raw materials into a product for sale in the greater community. It was so cool to see how the THI connects health with healthy food and farming, women’s empowerment, and so much more to address health in a unique and holistic manner. A way that really understands how all the component parts of life combine to form determinants of health, a method of public health I am particularly interested in.
After our daily dose of inspiration and the opportunity to purchase some items from the women’s embroidery collective, we piled back into the van for our next five hour journey to Swamimalai, where we were warmly welcomed at our hotel that doubles as a museum of Indian culture and heritage, with flower garlands and cool towels and time for relaxation before our next busy day.