Date
23-Jul-2018 to 24-Jul-2018 		Location
Bhubaneshwar, Odisha		 Format
Local

After 40 locations across 18 states, reaching out to 50,000 students in one year, YnD campaign is back on the road with a 2 day event in Bhubaneshwar, Odisha. Group discussions, debates and a poster competition engaged 100 students from 8 departments of Utkal University on Democracy In Everyday Life. The event was organized in collaboration with the School of Women’s Studies over two days, 23rd and 24th July 2018. At the end of two days, Utkal University students were highly appreciative of the participatory methods of interaction, were energized to join the campaign and we’ve seen a spike in the number of members on the YnD Facebook Group. 


The event was inaugurated by the Chairperson, P.G. Council, Utkal University, Prof. Brahmananda Satapathy. A brief introduction to PRIA and the YnD campaign set the stage for the focus group discussions using PRS systems. 60 students in the group responded to questions on topics such as gender, sexuality, identity, religion and regional discrimination. It appears the margin of difference among students in Utkal University is lower than we have encountered in other universities. The two graphs given below show a very narrow gap in agreement/non-agreement with the questions posed. (The graph represents absolute numbers.) “The technology that was introduced to us was new and engaging. The PRS system gave us the opportunity to understand the different opinions that people around us have,” remarked a participant after the discussion.

The questions and PRS method proved useful tools, as usual, to stimulate discussion among the students. Initially hesitant and under-confident in voicing their opinions (the presence of a few faculty members perhaps inhibiting them?), the young boys and girls soon became articulate and assured in sharing their opinions, perceptions and experiences, and also started listening to different opinions with respect. 

Day 2 began with a poster making competition in which 10 students across departments participated. They painted their views and perceptions of what freedom means to them and the spaces they have (or do not have) in everyday life to express their opinions and perceptions.


The last activity of the two-day event was a debate competition on the topic “Plurality of Indian Society Brings Identity Crisis for Youth". 17 students from 8 departments (zoology, physics, public administration, sociology, law, women’s studies, political science and philosophy) participated. Interestingly, almost all of them spoke “against the motion”. The debate threw up some interesting insights. A participant from the physics department said, “On the introduction day of the PG class, our teacher asked us our names and the college we passed out from but never asked us about our religion and caste. She wanted to judge us by our work. Plurality of the Indian society is the main characteristic of our society; it is the best thing about our India.”

The YnD campaign is off to a good start in its second phase of outreach in college campuses. Utkal University students were welcoming and enjoyed participating in the event. We came away with faith -- Democracy In Everyday Life is now part of the lives of the students and faculty of the university.