Rethinking Development in the Himalayas

Nayi Dishayein : Pahar Aur Hum – Rethinking Development in the Himalayas
A workshop for youth from the Himalayan States
4th to 13th January 2016

Are you a young person living and/or working in the Himalayas? Do you want to understand your context deeply and strengthen your relationship with your region and its people? Are you looking to connect with other Pahari youth? Do you seek to explore and reflect on your own identity as a Pahari? Do you think it’s time to rethink on issues of development in the Himalayas? If yes consider becoming a part of ‘Pahar Aur Hum‘.

Pahar Aur Hum is a 10-day workshop for young people concerned with the Himalayan region to understand and reflect collaboratively and deeply on the issues facing the region and themselves.

Why this program?
From the ghost villages of Uttarakhand to the dying rivers and receding glaciers of Himachal Pradesh and state repression in a state like Kashmir – the Himalayan region is in crisis – ecological, socio-economic and political. While at the same time its diverse landscape has been the cradle in which a unique ecology, culture, society and polity evolved historically. Is this history adequately understood by the youth in the mountains or are they getting more and more alienated from it as the landscape changes drastically in the race for more economic growth.

The Himalayan region not just in the Indian subcontinent but across South Asia, with its geo-political specificities today faces its own unique challenges. A changing climate, depleting forests, vulnerable traditions, disappearing rivers, and governments looking at land, water, forests, which are the cornerstones of mountain life, as resources to be exploited for wealth creation. And it is essential that the younger generations who are thinking about these issues come together on a platform to further build their perspective collectively.

The Process
A diverse palette of issues ranging from history, culture, ecology, economics and identity to paradigms around development, diversity and context shall be explored through talks, discussions, activities, field visits, performances, manual labour, open spaces and silence.

Facets to be drawn into the program:
Geology
Geography
Ecology
Biodiversity
Communities and Culture
Social Movements
Economy and Livelihoods
Political and governance scenario
Climate Change
Status of Resources and Development
Education in the Himalayan context
Architecture
Food
Languages/ Dialects
Dresses/ Clothing
Music/ Dance
Identity