The Story of Anandwadi

Ages ago, in a certain….. wait isn’t that how all stories start. Anyway, getting straight to the point there was a village called Anandwadi. The village was very welcoming and hospitable. Many people from neighboring villages and towns would come to trade or to settle there. And so, Anandwadi became diverse. Initially all the villagers lived in harmony despite their differences in marriage rites, food culture and dressing style.

However, as time went by, jealousy and hatred began to creep in. Soon, a decree was passed by the village panchayat. Colonies would be set up in the village area and each person had to be living with his ‘set’ of people. There was a sense of reluctance, but the decree was accepted. Years passed on, generations came and went. Peace too slowly settled in. In spite of this, jealously, hatred and pride continued to slither around waiting to pierce its fangs into the prey of harmony, love and peace. A certain group of people did not like the variety in Anandwadi. They were seeking commonality. They seemed threatened by the dynamic dialogue in diverse harmonious living. They plotted a change – a revolution. The first attempt was by force. They burned the other’s fields, killed their livestock and made them feel miserable. In response to this, a section of Anandwadi retaliated and did the same to the revolutionists. Others, on the other hand, tried to go on with life peacefully. Realizing the problem with using violent means, the revolutionists plotted a change in their strategy.

They resorted to a more logical approach. This time the long-held decree that was passed by the village panchayat became the point of target. Instigating and poisoning the mind of the village panchayat they brought some changes in the decree making it even stricter and more severe. What resulted was the ostracizing of a certain section of the villagers which would eventually lead them to being thrown out of the village itself. And so, the rich diversity and harmony of Anandwadi was disrupted and it lost its uniqueness of being so varied. After some time the villagers realized their mistake and reverted the rule back to its original so as to bring in the diversity again