A magnificent evening bathed in hues of orange and pink stretched before me as I stood by my window, lost in thought. The sky’s warmth reminded me of something far deeper—a story of struggle, resilience, and unwavering hope. My mind wandered to a group of people who had been fighting for a piece of land for over a decade, their journey a testament to the power of persistence.
Let me take you to Rawalbari, a small yet fiercely determined slum settlement near Bhuj city. I remember my first visit vividly. The sun blazed overhead, but the excitement within me burned brighter. As I stepped into the village with my fellow team members, we were welcomed with a vast front yard—a space that felt both inviting and humbling. The first words that reached us were not introductions but a simple request:
“Rukiya tora or bhi kuch log aarahe hai.”
Wait, they said. Others were on their way.
And so, we waited.
Within minutes, more people arrived, their faces carrying the weight of countless battles. What struck me was their choice—despite the demands of daily life, the weddings, the family duties—they chose to be here. They chose to stand together.
As the conversation unfolded, I could feel their energy, their determination. Each story they shared was a piece of their collective struggle—a fight not just for land, but for dignity, for a place to belong. They recounted the early days, clearing dense forests, gathering whatever materials they could to build their makeshift homes. And after years of resilience, they had finally managed to stay, to settle.
But then came the harsh truth.
Through the guidance of Home in the City, an organization working to help families secure legal settlements, they learned that the land they had poured their sweat and souls into belonged to the government. Their homes, their years of sacrifice, were suddenly uncertain.
Still, they refused to accept defeat.
They posed a simple, yet powerful question:
“If the government grants land to corporations and developers, why not to us?”
Why were their dreams any less valuable? Why was their right to a home any less important?
Since 2008, Home in the City has been a pillar of support, helping families like those in Rawalbari fight for their rights. They didn’t just offer legal aid; they gave people something even more powerful—awareness. With time, the villagers began gathering documents, proving their citizenship, their connection to the land. These weren’t just pieces of paper. They were symbols of their existence, their struggles, and their hope.
I could see the newfound confidence in their eyes. They weren’t just fighting a legal battle anymore; they were reclaiming their dignity. Their struggle was more than just a fight for survival—it was an act of defiance, an assertion that they mattered.
What moved me the most was their relentless spirit. They didn’t fear the outcome. Whether they won or lost, they simply wanted to try, to see their struggle through. And that, in itself, was a victory.
As I reflect on this journey, I realize how much it has changed me. Their resilience has left an imprint on my heart, forcing me to rethink what it means to truly belong.
Now, as I reach the end of this piece, I leave it open-ended—not for lack of words, but in the hope that it sparks curiosity. That it makes you wonder about these unseen battles, these unheard voices.
Because somewhere, right now, someone is still fighting for their right to call a place home.
And their story deserves to be told.
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