Sumit is from Khudgaon in Nimad region, MP but he grew up in Indore. Being deeply in love with the village life, he has strong ties with his village. He brings from there a refreshing inflow of stories to Swaraj, stories of simple wisdom, mythological tales and folk tales. Graduating in journalism, he worked for a month in a newspaper but struggled to see there the kind of social impact he sought. So he quit and is now finding his way forward. Here is a little about his current journey.
In a workshop held at Swaraj on creativity, the khojis were asked ‘What would you want if you could have anything at all that you wanted?’ Sumit surprised himself by saying “I want to have a thousand cows”. Deciding to follow this unexpected answer for his first mentorship period, he arrived at Sri Ram-Roti Anna Kshetra Ashram started by Waja Bhagat ji in Kothariya, Surendranagar. What he did not know was that he would soon be standing frozen with terror in the middle of a field with hundreds of powerful Gir cattle stampeding towards him. He survived however (pulled aside by a server at the goshala) and still dreams of having a goshala himself.
It was a religious atmosphere in the goshala he says, where there was a feeling of service to the gomatha. The 800 Gir variety cattle were not tied but left free. Sumit felt really calm and happy being surrounded by so many cows all the time. He was fascinated also by the intelligent and aware Gir variety cattle. Every morning, after milking, the calves would be let out one by one. The calf would call out to the mother and the mother would respond, the calf finding the mother among all the other cows. After milking, a man would lead the cows to the lake for resting. The relationship was such that they would simply follow him to the lake – they were never beaten and no force was used to direct them.
Along with taking care of the cows, Sumit also stacked cornstalks for cattle feed and cleared up the cattle dung with the others. He worked with the daily wage workers getting to know the routine. It was challenging labour intensive work, and he tired easily.
The ashram itself was an intriguing space for Sumit. It sheltered and fed sanyasis of all paths - Shaivaits, Vaishnavaits, Nagas, Fakirs, Aghoris – and he was surprised by how they all stayed together in harmony without the usual clashes because of difference in beliefs. Sumit also worked there, serving food and tea to the sadhaks. He speaks of several encounters where he experienced their strong powers and eccentricities. He says one particular Naga had such a strong presence that it filled an entire room with a clear spirit.
It was tough work and practical learning. He had to manoeuvre his way with the workers who did not fully understand what he was doing there. He says eating with them after the day’s labour he managed to forge some relationships. Getting to know them he realised that most of the ashram workers were farmers who had lost their land to the pollution from the hundreds of industries around. In their own villages they had to buy water, there were no streams left to drink from anymore. Facing these extreme realities shook him, and made him wonder about our industrial growth. In the midst of this, he was then called home to attend an event, where he did not know how to make peace with so much buying and spending.
Sumit simply wanted to see how a goshala works. In the process he experienced and witnessed much that deepened him as a person. At Swaraj he is finding himself wanting to contribute to the world in different ways. He wants to know how he can protect the simplicity and wisdom of the ways of his village even as development takes over.
The stones that pave our paths also make us capable of what we dream of. How willing are we to follow our fascinations through all the challenges that they come with?
In a workshop held at Swaraj on creativity, the khojis were asked ‘What would you want if you could have anything at all that you wanted?’ Sumit surprised himself by saying “I want to have a thousand cows”. Deciding to follow this unexpected answer for his first mentorship period, he arrived at Sri Ram-Roti Anna Kshetra Ashram started by Waja Bhagat ji in Kothariya, Surendranagar. What he did not know was that he would soon be standing frozen with terror in the middle of a field with hundreds of powerful Gir cattle stampeding towards him. He survived however (pulled aside by a server at the goshala) and still dreams of having a goshala himself.
It was a religious atmosphere in the goshala he says, where there was a feeling of service to the gomatha. The 800 Gir variety cattle were not tied but left free. Sumit felt really calm and happy being surrounded by so many cows all the time. He was fascinated also by the intelligent and aware Gir variety cattle. Every morning, after milking, the calves would be let out one by one. The calf would call out to the mother and the mother would respond, the calf finding the mother among all the other cows. After milking, a man would lead the cows to the lake for resting. The relationship was such that they would simply follow him to the lake – they were never beaten and no force was used to direct them.
Along with taking care of the cows, Sumit also stacked cornstalks for cattle feed and cleared up the cattle dung with the others. He worked with the daily wage workers getting to know the routine. It was challenging labour intensive work, and he tired easily.
The ashram itself was an intriguing space for Sumit. It sheltered and fed sanyasis of all paths - Shaivaits, Vaishnavaits, Nagas, Fakirs, Aghoris – and he was surprised by how they all stayed together in harmony without the usual clashes because of difference in beliefs. Sumit also worked there, serving food and tea to the sadhaks. He speaks of several encounters where he experienced their strong powers and eccentricities. He says one particular Naga had such a strong presence that it filled an entire room with a clear spirit.
It was tough work and practical learning. He had to manoeuvre his way with the workers who did not fully understand what he was doing there. He says eating with them after the day’s labour he managed to forge some relationships. Getting to know them he realised that most of the ashram workers were farmers who had lost their land to the pollution from the hundreds of industries around. In their own villages they had to buy water, there were no streams left to drink from anymore. Facing these extreme realities shook him, and made him wonder about our industrial growth. In the midst of this, he was then called home to attend an event, where he did not know how to make peace with so much buying and spending.
Sumit simply wanted to see how a goshala works. In the process he experienced and witnessed much that deepened him as a person. At Swaraj he is finding himself wanting to contribute to the world in different ways. He wants to know how he can protect the simplicity and wisdom of the ways of his village even as development takes over.
The stones that pave our paths also make us capable of what we dream of. How willing are we to follow our fascinations through all the challenges that they come with?
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