When the Search Becomes One’s Life…
For me, working for over a decade now in the field of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), has raised more questions than answers. Where does one start? Where do journeys begin? Where do journeys end? Do they?
W here do I begin to tell my story? Do I start with the salubrious summer vacations of my childhood in the village of Veliyanad in Kerala’s Kuttanad backwaters, with memories of fruit-laden mango trees, glistening paddy fields, waiting for the small vanjis (canoes) to bring our daily needs, or the visit of the lone postman? Or do I begin by recounting the social and political events that took place... the unionization of agricultural workers (a first in the country), land reforms that meant all families (including ours) gave away ten cents to each worker? Or with the reminiscences of a peaceful time when the followers of Buddhism and Christianity co-existed and all went to the lone Sanskrit school in the village?
It was a time when my identity was that of my family’s, my respect came from being my grandfather’s granddaughter, a man who had taught in the local school and had become the headmaster. Veliyanad was a place where there was no electricity and no roads until just a few years ago. We lived life amidst the lazy lagoons, drinking water from lotus covered ponds, and weddings and funerals were community-led, not just family events. It was a time when my identity was that of my family’s, my respect came from being my grandfather’s granddaughter, a man who had taught in the local school and had become the headmaster. Veliyanad was a place where there was no electricity and no roads until just a few years ago. We lived life amidst the lazy lagoons, drinking water from lotus covered ponds, and weddings and funerals were community-led, not just family events.
It was a time when my identity was that of my family’s, my respect came from being my grandfather’s granddaughter, a man who had taught in the local school and had become the headmaster. Veliyanad was a place where there was no electricity and no roads until just a few years ago. We lived life amidst the lazy lagoons, drinking water from lotus covered ponds, and weddings and funerals were community-led, not just family events.
I was a fairly good student, for whom the library was a more exciting place than the beach across Presidency College in Chennai…I went on to do a Post Graduate Management course in Finance and International Marketing, then law from Delhi University, a Post Graduate in Human Rights Law and followed it with a PhD from Deakin University in Australia, a school which valued work experience and offered a scholarship. Academics always held a fascination for me and I loved to teach. This love for academics found expression in a number of courses I later started and ran with the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA), etc.
My stint as a lawyer mainly focussed on matters of public interest. I had many cases but little income as I worked with the poor and took on issues that concerned the economically weaker sections. So, some consulting assignments helped, especially evaluating the work of Financial Management Service Foundation (FMSF) partners in South Asia, Church’s Auxiliary for Social Action (CASA), Save the Children Fund (SCF) partners, etc. Development work was for me a choice and though frustrating, at times, it always alternated between hope and despair. I continued to be involved with the work of the PUCL and Civil Liberties/Human Rights, working with Justice V.M. Tarkunde, who I admire, and later with Prashant Bhushan, who remains a valued friend.
Amita V. Joseph has a Management, LLB, PG (Human Rights) and PhD as qualifications. She is a lawyer, teacher and development worker. She has a threedecade long work experience across legal, corporate and development sectors. She is associated with a number of non-profit organizations as a Board Member.She is one of the founding members of Corporate Responsibility Watch India, a collective of 16 non-profit organizations.