An approach to learning--question fearlessly and think critically

There are few people I have met who are truly committed to a life of service, and my friend, Sonal Shah, is one of them. I first met her in DC in spring 2003 when I interviewed for the Indicorps fellowship program. At that point, I knew I wanted to engage in a year of service, and Indicorps' focus on grassroots service combined with an emphasis on personal growth strongly appealed to me.

I left for India that summer to serve in Patan, Gujarat, piloting the Hands-on Science project in rural government schools. I was entrusted with the responsibility of making science education more exciting for and applicable to the everyday lives of middle school students through the use of hands-on activities. Upon landing in my project site, I realized my students were simply regurgitating ideas from their textbooks. They had no concept of the practical applications of what they were learning. Worst of all, they were fearful to speak up in class. I quickly realized that my education goals for my students needed to broaden. It was not just about science anymore. I had a deep desire to instill a curiosity for learning in my students--to make them realize that it is not memorizing facts; instead, it is an endless cycle of asking questions, critically assessing the answers, and then asking more questions.

I took a leap of faith in going to India. Indicorps had not even completed its first year. I had no idea what my living situation would be like at my project site or how much support I would receive. When I got to orientation, I quickly realized that Indicorps was the one taking a leap of faith in accepting me—a young, recent graduate with very little world-experience. Sonal, and her siblings, Roopal and Anand, created the fellowship program because they had such a strong belief that a group of committed young people had the potential to change India. These three individuals, who were not much older than me, invested their entire selves emotionally, professionally, and financially to pursue this dream. Realizing how much they had given up for me and for the other fellows made me feel an even greater responsibility to follow through with my education project.

Not only had Sonal and her siblings provide me with all the support to serve my community in Patan; they had also given me the opportunity to develop a deep connection to my parents' homeland. Prior to going to India, my knowledge of the South Asian community was limited to the small Parsi community I was raised in. I felt uncertain of my Indian identity, unsure of how to balance it with being a first-generation, American. My fellowship experience taught me that being Indian is not just about going to India every few years to see family; or cooking traditional Indian food at home; or about sending money to help combat the overwhelming poverty we see on those visits to India; or even just complaining about all the injustices that afflict India. Instead, it is about actively engaging with the community in India and abroad. It is about immersing oneself in the culture, the people, and the land. It is about taking responsibility and action to ensure that the change we wish to see in India actually comes to fruition.

Just as I had encouraged my students in Patan to question fearlessly and think critically, Sonal has always challenged me to think beyond the superficial. When I have gotten frustrated about injustices occurring around me, she pushes me to not only be critical, but to do something about it. She has always been a woman of action. I now urge those who question her integrity to think critically about Sonal and what she stands for. Sonal has empowered a new generation of Indian Americans through creating the Indicorps fellowship. She has tirelessly served her community in the States and abroad, and I look forward to seeing how her work with the Obama transition team unfolds. This new administration is providing us all with hope for a dramatic change that we are all yearning for in this country, and I am proud of Sonal for playing an integral role in bringing about that change.

Roshni Kasad
Indicorps Fellow 2003-2004