Aruna Roy (Part 1): The demand for rights has to be understood as a demand for dignity

Activist. Feminist. Social leader. Aruna Roy is in a category of her own. She has been at the forefront of several people-led movements such as the Right to Information movement, the Right to Work campaign which led to the establishment of MGNREGA, and the Right to Food movement. A Gandhian, Aruna believes that change comes from within, and all her life choices have been motivated by her values and her desire to contribute towards the realisation of the founding ideals of our nation. She brings to her work a deep sense of humility and respect for her fellow citizens. In the first of this two-part episode, Aruna speaks of her early years as an IAS officer, and then at the Barefoot College in Tilonia, Rajasthan, how Roop Kanwar and Bhanwari Devi informed her feminist journey and work, and her own learning curve when it came to participatory decision-making. Aruna Roy is the co-founder of the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sanghatan was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership in 2000 for empowering Indian villagers to claim what is rightfully theirs by upholding and exercising the people's right to information. Aruna Roy is in conversation with her long-time friend and associate, journalist and curator of Ahimsa Conversations, Rajni Bakshi. For additional information including additional resources and show notes, please go to www.rohininilekaniphilanthropies.org Archival Audio: Politics of Change: Mahila, the movie by Annemie Maes CC BY 3.0 पति की चिता पर सती होने को बैठ गई पत्नी, आनन-फानन में पहुंची पुलिस by Etv bharat up video CC BY 3.0 Music: Fire_Burning_03 by Foleyhaven CC BY 3.0