As I am writing this, less than 72 hours prior to my arrival to Gandhi’s land, I recall a news report that I read about a week ago. The article cited figures about Gujarat’s malnutrition rate and highlighted how it was higher than that of poor countries like Somalia. The article also talked about the Press Council of India Chairman Markendya Katju’s negative remarks about the Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, and Katju’s claims about the living standards of the common people still being “abysmal”.

When one talks about the “common people”, I cannot help but wonder the economic, social and cultural rights of the families, primarily the children. I know their access to education, and health are limited and they have low levels of food and water security but to what degree? Part of me is nervous to find out the negative aspect of their life, as I am fearful to face their unfair lifestyle, but also, part of me is anxious to create awareness and inform the MIIS community and beyond about their situation.

But, above all this, I am more excited about being able to observe the aftermath of the Hindu-Muslim violence in Gujarat. Yes, even tough the violence and massacre of Muslims took place about a decade ago, their effects are still alive, living like a ghost in the streets of Gujarat, mixed into the air that the children breath. And, I am partially nervous, yet partially impatient to explore, (some via observation, but mainly via on-ground interviews/research) about the effects of this violence on the The children of Gujarat. Based on my research, so far, the children of Gujarat have been severely affected and traumatized by the violence. In addition to the rape and murder of many children, many bore witness to the death of their family members.Unclaimed and unidentified children’s bodies still crowd Ahmedabad’s morgues. Many children have also been orphaned or have suffered serious stabbing and burn injuries. In the aftermath of the violence, their education has been severely disrupted and little counseling is available to them to cope with the trauma of what they experienced.

So, as I am living my privileged life, writing these from the comfort of my warm and cozy apartment in Monterey, at least one child is recalling the loss of his/her parents, while some are fighting to earn his/her basic educational rights. In summary, I cannot help but feel a bit guilty about the differences in “destinies”.