When approaching a country that contains more than 1 billion people, 100′s of languages, castes and religious sects, vast varieties of landscape, climate, political and economic zones, one wonders where to begin. The tropical south and northern areas of the country have enjoyed relative economic progress and stability in comparison to the more underdeveloped central and northeastern regions. The northeast of India comprises one of the most populous regions in the entire world and has served throughout history as a pathway for eager empires for spice trading, making their way across the rugged land area of south Asia en route to Eastern Europe and the Balkans.
It has long been said by the worlds leaders that India has an identity crisis, a non-monolithic culture that denies definition by any one set of standards – it’s most spoken language, Hindi, which has the 2nd most native speakers in the world of any language,* is still not an official language of the UN. Within the decade, experts predict India’s economy to surpass that of Italy, France, and the UK** yet the country is largely ignored by most who prefer to keep their eyes on the G8 countries and China. However, it has not been help from the outside world, or recognition of greatness that has made India strong and resilient.
Even though those days of occupation by the Persians and the Brits are long gone, deep challenges facing the forgotten people of northern and central India still remain. Recent reports of 65% malnutrition of children in the state of Madhya Pradesh rival and surpass that of East African nations, yet the cries of these people remain unheard and fall on the deaf ears of a national government and on local governments unequipped to respond. Literacy rates within villages surrounding the cities of Uttar Pradesh are at times, in the single digits and growing lower, while rates of child mortality and abortion are on the rise. The lists of needs are overwhelming.
Our approach is not to become the saviors of India – it is to help the people of India to become the people God has already created them to be so that they might experience liberation, freedom and joy. Our team is comprised of people willing to sacrifice lucrative careers in medicine, linguistics, media and education to empower the young and old of India to help those who have gone without for so long.
Our approach is not one of imperial or colonial domination, but rather is one of service and assistance directed towards those who have the greatest need, and those who find in their heart, the willingness to help their own people overcome what they have already overcome themselves.
*SIL Ethnologue, 2005?** Goldman Sachs, BBC News Article, Jan 24, 2007
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