Overview
The state of West Bengal is situated in the North Eastern region of India and extends from the Himalayan Mountains to the Bay of Bengal. Mayapur is a rural settlement located 65 miles north of Kolkata (Calcutta) in the state of West Bengal.
Mayapur is a significant pilgrimage center, attracting devotees from around the world to its many temples. The landscape is one of lush green paddy fields; colorful shrines; the meandering River Ganges; and a skyline of temple spires. Rural Bengali communities are traditionally groups of small villages within walking distance, with mixed Hindu and Muslim populations. These are villages where life continues today much as it has for hundreds of years.
Geography
West Bengal has three international boundries: Bhutan, Nepal, and Bangladesh. West Bengal has two natural divisions. The Himalayan north, comprising the districts of Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri and Cooch Bihar, and the alluvial plain that lies south. West Bengal is essentially a flat plain; a large portion of that being the delta of the Ganges river.
People
In West Bengal, about three-quarters of the population live in villages; the remaining quarter living in urban areas and more than half reside in greater Calcutta. Calcutta is considered an intellectual capital. Poets, thinkers and film directors of international renown hail from this city.
Culture
A land of aesthetics and political activists, West Bengal is famous for its eminent writers, poets, artists, spiritualists, social reformers, freedom fighters, and revolutionaries. West Bengal also has a rich history of crafts, particularly cotton and silk weaving. Vibrant festivals are held throughout the year.
Bengali is the main language of the state, but Hindi is also widely understood. Other languages include Santhali (a tribal dialect), Urdu (primarily the language of Muslims), and Nepali. Small minorities speak Oraon (a tribal dialect) and English. English, together with Bengali, is the language of administration, and English is widely used for business purposes.
Religion
More than three fourths the population practice Hinduism, most of the remainder being Muslim. Throughout the state, Buddhists, Christians, Jainas, and Sikhs constitute a small minority.
The term Hindu covers a number of religious sect ranging from monotheists to polytheists in various degrees. Religion is central to the daily lives and societal expectations of villagers.
Women's Issues
Despite India’s substantial social and economic progression since the country’s independence in 1947, Indian women continue to hold a subordinate role in modern society. Indian society is extremely hierarchical, wherein people are ranked according to their caste. Even today, one’s caste is directly related to his or her class, wealth, power, and occupation. Additionally, India is patriarchal. Within each caste, women are less valued than men.
While cultural expectations vary from region to region, in general women are expected to be chaste and particularly modest, care for the children and elders, maintain the household, and obey men. Female children are regarded as a liability, and are married off through arranged marriages in their early teen years. Molestation, rape, and domestic violence are common, but mostly go unreported. Fortunately, Southern India and large cities seem to be working toward gender equality. For example, Kerala boasts a 91% literacy rate (the highest in India).
India’s patriarchal system has compounding effects in the rural north (West Bengal), where most people are designated to a lower caste. Rural West Bengali women have to combat patriarchy and economic discrimination. In most rural areas, there is a lack of access to education and health care. They cannot afford to send their children to school, and if a family does raise the necessary funds, they will generally send the male child. Thus, continuing the cycle of poverty and powerlessness for women. In rural West Bengal, public maternity and child-care is virtually non-existent. According to Sri Mayapur Vikas Singha (SMVS), 70-100% of women have unhygienic home births in West Bengal villages, due to lack of hospitals and health clinics. Even though rural women are obligated to the home and the care of children, they also must work to survive.
The situation of women in the workforce, particularly those of a lower caste, creates a paradoxical complication. For poor families, it is necessary for women to contribute economically, but women’s participation in employment outside the home is viewed as "slightly inappropriate, subtly wrong, and definitely dangerous to their chastity and womanly virtue" (Dunlop and Velkoff, 1999. P. 2). Rural women’s work is limited because they cannot leave home in search of work in the cities (as men do); they are still expected to raise the children and care for the husband’s parents. Consequently, many rural West Bengali women work in the informal sector as agricultural laborers, domestic servants, and as vegetable and fish sellers in the markets. The average income in rural West Bengal is Rs 30-40 (less than $1) per day. Compared to Indian men, rural women are generally employed in lower-skilled, lower-paid positions resulting in no right to land or capital.
Over the past 50 years, NGOs have formed to address Indian women’s issues, but there is still much progress to be made. Today, poor women are finding power in collectively organizing into unions and cooperatives. As a group, rural women can lobby against discriminating and exploitative work practices, increase their chances of receiving grants and loans, and gain access to health care and vocational training. Many Indian women are skilled artisans and have been able to make a living wage through fair trade cooperatives, as opposed to using their skills in factories. As more Indian women pursue higher education and leadership positions, they are helping to transform cultural norms and laws that impede gender equality.
The Future of West Bengal
The potential for sustainable development in Mayapur is great. The people possess many talents and applicable skills, and are eager to accept support and assistance. Together we can develop rural micro enterprises, marketing and business training, health care facilities and awareness, educational opportunities, and improve the quality of life.
