Sanjay and Madhu

Fortunately, as mentioned in my first post, Dr. Sanjay and Madhu were available to travel to Manali as guest lecturers on gender justice and taking action to change social structures that perpetuate caste, class, and gender disparities. The students were inspired by their wisdom, as was I.

Sanjay’s Story
I asked Dr. Sanjay to tell the students a story that I knew about him. As a young student, he officially changed his name to Sanjay (no surname). While a challenge at airports and on official documents, he takes pleasure in the concealment of his caste, which is identifiable by last name. Dr. Sanjay's driver's license, passport and business cards identify him as "Dr. Sanjay" modeling for the next generation how to be an agent for dramatic social change. Dr. Sanjay is Associate Professor of Social Work at Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith. He is the director of Men’s Action to Stop Violence Against Women (MASVAW),  a campaign that works with youth, perpetrators, and action groups to stop violence against women.  

A Madhu Story

Madhu is an Associate Professor of Education and student advisor at Banaras Hindu University (BHU). One of her student advisees became very ill and she was called to the hospital. It turned out that he needed a heart valve replacement. The student was from far away and was low caste. His mother was dead and his father worked as a coolie at the train station, getting a few rupees for carrying heavy bags on his head for passengers disembarking from trains. Because of the equivalent to affirmative action, a quota system exists to allow a small number of low-caste students in under the system. The student did not have money to pay for operation. 

Madhu wrote to the administration requesting immediate action to pay for the operation. She speculated that the administration would be slow to act and then say, “He is not our responsibility. He is no longer our student.” Meanwhile, her students began a collection. Madhu and the doctor wrote letters legitimizing the collection because scams are not unusual. The students collected 60,000 rupees –more than $1300 just from fellow students. Madhu suggested that they ask faculty members. She donated generously, but requested the students mark her donation “anonymous.” Then she made a second, smaller donation of 1000 rupees under her name. One female faculty member became angry with Madhu, “Why did you donate 1000? I don’t want to donate 1000, and now I will look bad.” Madhu noted that this colleague was so consumed with herself, her jewelry, and material things—“this is the way it is.” 

At the hospital, a woman overheard her conversing with the boy and inquired with Madhu, “Are you a relative?” Madhu said, “No, I’m his student advisor.” The woman asked if she could make a donation. Madhu said, “Of course, his friends will take your donation.” The woman donated Rs 15,000, more than $300 US. She told Madhu her father had died of a heart problem when she was young. She never even gave Madhu her name. The university later came through with funds, which together with the student collection, allowed the boy’s father to travel to Varanasi for the operation, to pay all the post operation expenses, medicines, etc. At this point, the media got involved and Madhu said to her Dean, “I have to go and teach class. You go ahead.” This is Madhu. The boy sat for final examinations this year and he is healthy.