Reviews
A few words to guide us Aswin Jayakumar Mehta, V.S., Khetan, N. and Jayapadma, R.V. (Editors). 2022. Anchoring change: Seventyfive years of grassroots intervention that made a difference. Harper Collins.
across the country’s post-independence history. The narratives in the book have been carefully curated by the editors from formally organized, geographically diverse, and temporally spread, lesser-known yet effective, initiatives that have left a significant mark on their respective domains and social contexts. Anchoring change begins with a chapter curated by Vikram Singh Mehta, aptly titled “Synthesis.” Mehta’s essay summarizes the subsequent chapters guiding us through the intricate relationship between state, society and market in post-independence India. Mehta emphasizes a common thread that ties these stories together: the absence of a onesize-fits-all solution to India’s challenges. Instead, each chapter tells a unique tale of how specific interventions emerged locally in response to pressing issues.
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ndependent India fueled by a comprehensive and robust constitution, empowered its citizens, through the establishment of a vibrant and resilient democracy. Over the span of more than seventy-five years, Indian society has witnessed powerful social interventions at the grassroots level, spearheaded by civil society organizations, government bodies, exceptional individuals, and other entities. Anchoring change is an anthology of experiences that documents some of these successful interventions from
One key insight highlighted by Mehta is the pivotal role of civil society organizations that have been deeply embedded in the communities they serve. By virtue of their position within the communities, Mehta notes that such organizations have had the capacity to formulate effective strategies for sustained change. Additionally, Mehta underscores the importance of five components that have been essential to the success of such interventions. Conviction and belief: The stories within this book emphasize that those directly affected should be the driving force behind change, with civil society organizations acting as facilitators. This demands superlative conviction and unwavering belief in the potential of human beings, however powerless they may seem to be.
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