Fwd: An interview with Sapna Surin (Meet our Mentors series) @ www.scststudents.org
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nilesh kumar
Jul 14, 2010, 11:38:45 AM7/14/10
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From: nilesh kumar <neilch...@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Jul 14, 2010 at 9:04 PM
Subject: An interview with Sapna Surin (Meet our Mentors series) @ www.scststudents.org
To: tiss_s...@googlegroups.com, tissscholars.in@gmail.com
Hello Students and Folks,
From: nilesh kumar <neilch...@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Jul 14, 2010 at 9:04 PM
Subject: An interview with Sapna Surin (Meet our Mentors series) @ www.scststudents.org
To: tiss_s...@googlegroups.com, tissscholars.in@gmail.com
Hello Students and Folks,
Here is another interview in the series of our senior and ex-student of Tata Institute of Social Sciences. http://scststudents.org/intdetails.php?id=7
Sapna Surin is a development professional and has Masters in Social Work from TISS (Mumbai). At present she is working on a UNICEF project at her home state Jharkhand. She is one of our mentors who has continuously fought for her just space during her education and is continuing the fight even in her work space too.
Please tell our readers about your family background
I am from Jharkhand, born and brought up in an Adivasi family, in a small village known as Titri Toli in district Ranchi. My father is an ex-serviceman who got retired in 1995 and now works as a driver. My mother is a housewife but also undertakes knitting work to supplement our family income. I have an elder brother, a management graduate.
What is your educational background?
I studied in a missionary school till my 10th standard and later did my 10+2 from Guru Nanak Higher Secondary School. In both the exams I scored very well and had first divisions. Then I took admission in Bachelor in Business Administration (BBA) from Birla Institute of Technology, Ranchi and graduated with 79% marks.
Just after that I was selected in Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai to do my MA in Social Work. After completing my MSW in 2006, I have been working very closely on Dalit and Adivasi Rights, specific to women and child related issues.
There is a shift from Business Administration to Social Work. Why that so?
I always had keen interest in commerce and despite all the financial constraints my parents remain very supportive towards my higher education. For my BBA, I had to take educational loan that was repaid by my father. Then I wanted to pursue my MBA.
However, after graduating, the entire family was in a dilemma as my brother was also preparing for his MBA but educational loan was available to only one of us. So I let my brother do MBA but remained confused for some time about my own career.
Then I got to know about Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai. Though it was a different field for me, but at least the course provided some job surety. Also it had fee concessions and scholarships for Adivasi students so I decided to go for it. Today, I have no regrets for shifting my career and quite like my work as a social worker. I am quite motivated now.
I got adjusted with this career shift very naturally also because I got exposed to caste, tribal issues while pursuing my studies in TISS and had experience of being discriminated as Adivasi, during my college days. Recognising my own background, its problems and history of community’s long struggle also motivated me to work in this area.
What have been your motivations/role models that drove you to excel in studies?
I think my parents are my role model. Many a time, societal problems, that are very challenging, also motivates you to do well, to excel. But I must say that my parents really struggled for our education. As we are aware of how our educational institutions are, being hegemonised by few castes/communities.
The atmosphere there is so alienating for many of us and we pay the price of being from Adivasi backgrounds. You are always considered less talented and are ranked low. You have to prove yourself at every step. I believe all this kept me motivated in my studies.
What were the basic problems you faced while studying in school and college?
Throughout my school and college days the basic area of concern was always about financial support towards my studies. Then comes the school/college atmosphere, which is really very alienating for all the tribal students. Such atmosphere is not at all conducive for our studies.
Despite all our efforts, I don’t think we ever become part of the ‘mainstream’, even after spending years in the same college. The third major problem is complete lack of up to date information on both education and career choices. The flow of information does not happen naturally among us as we completely lack any support system. Ultimately we are always on our own.
The moment you enter in the educational institution, you are stigmatised as a reserve category student. We look at faculty to be supportive but there also you are treated differently. The general category students do not have to suffer from this at all.
How did you deal with such problems?
My graduation went off little smooth due to the educational loan that I took from the bank. However, for all the other problems that I mentioned just now, I knew that I have to work much hard to overcome. I decided not to be stubborn, learn whatever I could manage from various sources and start working on myself to show that yes, I can also compete.
I approached my senior Dalit and Adivasi students whenever I needed their help/support. When you have group, you can share your problems, it helps a lot.
Do you want to share particular campus incidents, where you have to suffer prejudices owing to your Adivasi background?
Yes. There are many to share but the most blatant one happened in Birla Institute of Technology (Ranchi) where I was pursuing my BBA. We were only three Adivasi girls in the class of 70. On the first day itself, while we were sitting together on the second row in the class, an ‘upper’ caste class mate, who came late in the class, made this statement, “Coming from reservation quota, you do not deserve to be in this course and sit at second row, go and sit at last”.
This was totally unexpected and we all felt very humiliated but all three of us refused to leave our seats. This incident really had big impact on me.
During my school days, there were no such incidents as teachers were very supportive but there were some teachers who used to have very disparaging tone for our students and commented openly about our lack of having good brain whereas many ‘upper’ caste students who performed much poorer never received such atrocious comments.
Earlier I was too young to realize all this. However, the BIT incident provided me a clearer perspective on what is in store for us in educational institutions. Thereafter I have really worked very hard to move ahead in my studies and career. However, it is easier said than done. Your background never leaves you in the working spaces also and that too which are supposed to be fighting for our rights and against prejudices that are prevalent in the outer world.
So we remain perpetual outsiders, a non-meritorious bunch of people even in organisations /offices where we enter solely on the basis of our qualification and merit?
Yes. This is a fact. After my MSW, I started working with a Kolkata based organisation that is working on child issues. I joined there in June 2006 but immediately I was confronted with a group of colleagues who were very uncomfortable with my Adivasi identity. I was literally mentally tortured there.
My ‘upper’ caste senior, a baniya by caste, never allowed me to go in meetings or handle high profile tasks. Looking at my discomfort, my father used to say, ‘I can feed you, so don’t go for this work.’ But I did not wanted to leave the matter so lightly so I gathered little strength and fought with them and then only left the organisation after working there for 10 months.
Then what happened?
After that I got an opportunity in an organisation called Dalit Foundation as Young Professional. There I met various people, from all over the country, fighting for the Dalit and Adivasi rights. There I got an opportunity to share my incidents, discuss and learn from their experiences.
This made me more assertive and provided me a clearer perspective on whatever is happening in our society and also about the role and responsibilities of people like us. I worked there for more than two years and now I am working on a UNICEF project.
I must say, it is very difficult for a Dalit or an Adivasi to work with their ‘upper’ caste colleagues. Many among them try to disturb you mentally, will pass judgements on your calibre and make it appear as some very innocent or friendly remarks. And we always have to put a strong face before them otherwise your confidence is gone in no time.
As an organisation working with Dalit and Adivasi students, we believe in having a strong mentorship programme for our students to be supported by people like you who have gone through the grind and have succeeded to carve out a space of your own. We are so thankful for your becoming one of our mentors. So what are your suggestions for our students, in general?
I believe that the only strategy that works best against prejudices and discrimination is to have self belief. This is basically where most of us become victim as we start doubting ourselves and believing that whatever is happening is due to our weaknesses. That is absolutely false.
We have to realise that the problem lays with them not us. Apart from this, I will always suggest our students to share their problems within their groups and have regular interaction among themselves. This provides you strength to deal with adverse situation.
What are your policy recommendations to higher authority for the welfare of Dalit & Adivasi students?
There are many policies and programs but their implementation has been always very faulty and a large majority of our students are not able to get benefit. These are not even properly communicated to our people. My only suggestion is to make more and more people aware of these policies and programs.
There are lots of scholarships that go waste as our students don’t even have a clue about them. The higher authorities must make sure that our students are properly informed and none of our students must leave their studies due to the lack of financial resources.
Thank you very much for your valuable time! Best wishes from Insight Foundation.
Thank you!
--
Nilesh Kumar
Masters In Social Work
Tata Institute of Social Sciences Mumbai.
Please tell our readers about your family background
I am from Jharkhand, born and brought up in an Adivasi family, in a small village known as Titri Toli in district Ranchi. My father is an ex-serviceman who got retired in 1995 and now works as a driver. My mother is a housewife but also undertakes knitting work to supplement our family income. I have an elder brother, a management graduate.
What is your educational background?
I studied in a missionary school till my 10th standard and later did my 10+2 from Guru Nanak Higher Secondary School. In both the exams I scored very well and had first divisions. Then I took admission in Bachelor in Business Administration (BBA) from Birla Institute of Technology, Ranchi and graduated with 79% marks.
Just after that I was selected in Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai to do my MA in Social Work. After completing my MSW in 2006, I have been working very closely on Dalit and Adivasi Rights, specific to women and child related issues.
There is a shift from Business Administration to Social Work. Why that so?
I always had keen interest in commerce and despite all the financial constraints my parents remain very supportive towards my higher education. For my BBA, I had to take educational loan that was repaid by my father. Then I wanted to pursue my MBA.
However, after graduating, the entire family was in a dilemma as my brother was also preparing for his MBA but educational loan was available to only one of us. So I let my brother do MBA but remained confused for some time about my own career.
Then I got to know about Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai. Though it was a different field for me, but at least the course provided some job surety. Also it had fee concessions and scholarships for Adivasi students so I decided to go for it. Today, I have no regrets for shifting my career and quite like my work as a social worker. I am quite motivated now.
I got adjusted with this career shift very naturally also because I got exposed to caste, tribal issues while pursuing my studies in TISS and had experience of being discriminated as Adivasi, during my college days. Recognising my own background, its problems and history of community’s long struggle also motivated me to work in this area.
What have been your motivations/role models that drove you to excel in studies?
I think my parents are my role model. Many a time, societal problems, that are very challenging, also motivates you to do well, to excel. But I must say that my parents really struggled for our education. As we are aware of how our educational institutions are, being hegemonised by few castes/communities.
The atmosphere there is so alienating for many of us and we pay the price of being from Adivasi backgrounds. You are always considered less talented and are ranked low. You have to prove yourself at every step. I believe all this kept me motivated in my studies.
What were the basic problems you faced while studying in school and college?
Throughout my school and college days the basic area of concern was always about financial support towards my studies. Then comes the school/college atmosphere, which is really very alienating for all the tribal students. Such atmosphere is not at all conducive for our studies.
Despite all our efforts, I don’t think we ever become part of the ‘mainstream’, even after spending years in the same college. The third major problem is complete lack of up to date information on both education and career choices. The flow of information does not happen naturally among us as we completely lack any support system. Ultimately we are always on our own.
The moment you enter in the educational institution, you are stigmatised as a reserve category student. We look at faculty to be supportive but there also you are treated differently. The general category students do not have to suffer from this at all.
How did you deal with such problems?
My graduation went off little smooth due to the educational loan that I took from the bank. However, for all the other problems that I mentioned just now, I knew that I have to work much hard to overcome. I decided not to be stubborn, learn whatever I could manage from various sources and start working on myself to show that yes, I can also compete.
I approached my senior Dalit and Adivasi students whenever I needed their help/support. When you have group, you can share your problems, it helps a lot.
Do you want to share particular campus incidents, where you have to suffer prejudices owing to your Adivasi background?
Yes. There are many to share but the most blatant one happened in Birla Institute of Technology (Ranchi) where I was pursuing my BBA. We were only three Adivasi girls in the class of 70. On the first day itself, while we were sitting together on the second row in the class, an ‘upper’ caste class mate, who came late in the class, made this statement, “Coming from reservation quota, you do not deserve to be in this course and sit at second row, go and sit at last”.
This was totally unexpected and we all felt very humiliated but all three of us refused to leave our seats. This incident really had big impact on me.
During my school days, there were no such incidents as teachers were very supportive but there were some teachers who used to have very disparaging tone for our students and commented openly about our lack of having good brain whereas many ‘upper’ caste students who performed much poorer never received such atrocious comments.
Earlier I was too young to realize all this. However, the BIT incident provided me a clearer perspective on what is in store for us in educational institutions. Thereafter I have really worked very hard to move ahead in my studies and career. However, it is easier said than done. Your background never leaves you in the working spaces also and that too which are supposed to be fighting for our rights and against prejudices that are prevalent in the outer world.
So we remain perpetual outsiders, a non-meritorious bunch of people even in organisations /offices where we enter solely on the basis of our qualification and merit?
Yes. This is a fact. After my MSW, I started working with a Kolkata based organisation that is working on child issues. I joined there in June 2006 but immediately I was confronted with a group of colleagues who were very uncomfortable with my Adivasi identity. I was literally mentally tortured there.
My ‘upper’ caste senior, a baniya by caste, never allowed me to go in meetings or handle high profile tasks. Looking at my discomfort, my father used to say, ‘I can feed you, so don’t go for this work.’ But I did not wanted to leave the matter so lightly so I gathered little strength and fought with them and then only left the organisation after working there for 10 months.
Then what happened?
After that I got an opportunity in an organisation called Dalit Foundation as Young Professional. There I met various people, from all over the country, fighting for the Dalit and Adivasi rights. There I got an opportunity to share my incidents, discuss and learn from their experiences.
This made me more assertive and provided me a clearer perspective on whatever is happening in our society and also about the role and responsibilities of people like us. I worked there for more than two years and now I am working on a UNICEF project.
I must say, it is very difficult for a Dalit or an Adivasi to work with their ‘upper’ caste colleagues. Many among them try to disturb you mentally, will pass judgements on your calibre and make it appear as some very innocent or friendly remarks. And we always have to put a strong face before them otherwise your confidence is gone in no time.
As an organisation working with Dalit and Adivasi students, we believe in having a strong mentorship programme for our students to be supported by people like you who have gone through the grind and have succeeded to carve out a space of your own. We are so thankful for your becoming one of our mentors. So what are your suggestions for our students, in general?
I believe that the only strategy that works best against prejudices and discrimination is to have self belief. This is basically where most of us become victim as we start doubting ourselves and believing that whatever is happening is due to our weaknesses. That is absolutely false.
We have to realise that the problem lays with them not us. Apart from this, I will always suggest our students to share their problems within their groups and have regular interaction among themselves. This provides you strength to deal with adverse situation.
What are your policy recommendations to higher authority for the welfare of Dalit & Adivasi students?
There are many policies and programs but their implementation has been always very faulty and a large majority of our students are not able to get benefit. These are not even properly communicated to our people. My only suggestion is to make more and more people aware of these policies and programs.
There are lots of scholarships that go waste as our students don’t even have a clue about them. The higher authorities must make sure that our students are properly informed and none of our students must leave their studies due to the lack of financial resources.
Thank you very much for your valuable time! Best wishes from Insight Foundation.
Thank you!
--
Nilesh Kumar
Masters In Social Work
Tata Institute of Social Sciences Mumbai.
--
Nilesh Kumar
Masters In Social Work
Tata Institute of Social Sciences Mumbai.
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