New HopeMay 2009

“Greetings!

I went to Kashmir last month for our Samanbal workshop. I will go again on 27th May. This is going to a historic workshop bringing together grassroots women who do not even understand each other's language and are from different regions and cultures of the State- Ladakh , Kashmir and Jammu to deliberate on a common social and human rights issue- domestic violence. I am feeling enthusiastic about it, because this is what I had been working towards for so many years. To take on a more political role and by drafting a bill for domestic violence act we will be initiating and addressing structural forms of violence which remain invisible and embedded in the social-political system.

My son Agastya accompanied me on this visit and participated in the workshop and in fact after a voting procedure, the group chose a name of the Samanbal which Agastya had selected. Its called Navaasha ( Nav- means New and Aasha -means Hope. So it is New hope).

Love,

Ashima”