The fourth workshop for Indicorps 2009 Fellowship class in May 2010 encompassed visits to Sevagram (Wardha) and Lok Biradari Prakalp (Gadchiroli). The Indicorps Fellowship’s second annual pilgrimage to Central India in the sweltering heat is a testimony to the Indicorps values and resilience, and has earned us respect and friends in the region.

The serenity of the Gandhi Ashram at Sevagram provided the perfect ambiance for the Fellows to reflect upon finishing strong. Encouraged by Ashram head Vinod Acharya’s discourses on Gandhi, the Indicorps team engaged in Shramdhaan and shared challenges in the pursuit of selfless service. 2009 Fellow Bindu Reddy, currently serving on a public health project with Chaitanya, said, “I reveled in the discipline and rigor of daily 4:30 am prathna and shramdaan. The chance to live differently always provides an opportunity for introspection while also connecting outwardly with the history of a man and a nation.”

At Lok Biradari Prakalp, Dr Prakash Amte inspired the team through his valor in serving humans and animals alike. Dr Amte’s story of serving without fear and with love struck a chord. Equally powerful was how four generations of the Amte family demonstrated a single-minded convergence to simplicity and service as a way of life. 2009 Fellow Alykhan Mohamed, serving on a slum redevelopment project with Hunnarshala, said, “It was inspiring to meet a family of people who have dedicated themselves so fully and naturally to a vision over so many years.” As part of Shramdhaan (gift of labor), the Indicorps team assisted in digging a pond that will serve as a local water reservoir.