Grand Challenges Impact Lab

January 20, 2025

Srirangapatna: A Journey to Connection

gcil

Waking up to the morning light and the soothing flow of the Kaveri River, we began our day in awe of the place we had awoken to. As we set out, a small path led us along a channel carefully redirected away from the river to give life to the valley and livelihoods to its people. Along these lines, moments unfolded that were truly one of a kind. A yellow calf peeked out from a doorway, expecting its young companion to take it for a walk.

A farmer freshly arrived by motorcycle sat down to breakfast alongside his seed sacks accompanied by a rooster companion. We passed fields of palms and paddy alongside historical markers commemorating the native soldiers who served in battles long past, their memory etched into the land.

Soon, the sight of Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace greeted us, a masterpiece standing amid extensive gardens. Its painted and sculpted walls told vivid stories of Tipu Sultan’s life and his unyielding resistance against colonial forces. The intricate artwork reflected his life’s story: battles won and lost, alliances formed, his vision for an independent Mysore, and his death in battle.

After a refreshing snack of white guava and sour starfruit, we visited a traditional jaggery production site. The process, a testament to resourcefulness, utilized every part of the sugarcane crop, blending human and mechanical effort to create this sweet staple of Indian cuisine.

The afternoon brought us back to the river as we collaborated on thought-provoking literature and exercises on identity and perception we compared how each of us navigated the vibrant chaos of city life and the contrasting calm of rural landscapes while the evening gave way for reflection. As I sat on the steps of the riverbank, the pink sky fading into stars and bats far too big for my taste, I thought about the lives that once and presently live here, about how this water has made life possible and how one man dedicated his life to ensure his community had the right to live freely here as they do today. I asked myself how I might utilize similar lifelines to help others have a better quality of life and how our work creates similar resilience for both the communities we engage with here and those awaiting us back home.

In the stillness of that evening, it became clear that this day out of the city wasn’t just about exploring a new place but about understanding its essence. From the flowing Kaveri to the stories etched into Tipu Sultan’s palace, from the jaggery workshops to the laughter shared on the river, every moment added depth to our experience.

That day in Srirangapatna had given us more than just history and good fruit; it had given us a connection to nature and culture and hope for what we might build for ourselves and others in the future.

By,
Grace