Hello dear mora fireflies,

This is the 12th year birthday month of Mora!

mora 2021 is in the making! moracollective.org
Taking you on a deeper dive of mora one question at a time.
I am taking this opportunity of the "right time" to communicate something about
𝘁͟𝗵͟𝗲͟ 𝗿͟͟ 𝗼͟𝗹͟𝗲͟ 𝗼͟͟ 𝗳͟ 𝘁͟͟ 𝗵͟𝗲͟ 𝗳͟𝗮͟ ͟𝗰͟𝗶͟𝗹͟𝗶͟𝘁͟𝗮͟𝘁͟𝗼͟𝗿͟𝘀͟. Mora,
͟ as you know, is a facilitator for textile craft. In this
chain of craft production, every hand that is not making something themselves,
takes the role of facilitators.
𝗙͟𝗮͟𝗰͟𝗶͟𝗹͟𝗶͟𝘁͟𝗮͟𝘁͟𝗼͟𝗿͟𝘀͟ 𝗮͟͟ 𝗿͟𝗲͟ 𝗺͟͟ 𝗶͟𝗱͟𝗱͟𝗹͟𝗲͟-𝗺͟͟ 𝗲͟𝗻͟ 𝗮͟͟ 𝗻͟𝗱͟ 𝗺͟͟ 𝗶͟𝗱͟𝗱͟𝗹͟𝗲͟-𝘄͟͟ 𝗼͟𝗺͟𝗲͟𝗻͟- the he, she, it, they: designers, traders,
sellers, communicators, connectors, writers, photographers, managers, admins,
and an endless list. Only once in a while, a facilitator is able to make time to
become a "maker". Most often, never. That is the fate of a facilitator.
Facilitator is 𝗮͟ 𝗯͟͟ 𝗿͟𝗶͟𝗱͟𝗴͟𝗲͟ 𝗯͟͟ 𝗲͟𝘁͟𝘄͟𝗲͟𝗲͟𝗻͟ 𝘁͟͟ 𝗵͟𝗲͟ 𝗺͟͟ 𝗮͟𝗸͟𝗲͟𝗿͟ 𝗮͟͟ 𝗻͟𝗱͟ 𝘁͟͟ 𝗵͟𝗲͟ 𝗯͟͟ 𝘂͟𝘆͟𝗲͟𝗿͟, or better stated, "consumer".T
he quality of the bridge varies with the intention of the heart of the facilitator.
Just like good touch-bad touch, good mood-bad mood, there are good facilitators
and bad facilitators.
In all, facilitators range between various categories- problem makers, spotters,
escapers and solvers. There are facilitators with large teams, facilitators
multitasking to project a large team; individual facilitators or the organisational
ones. some facilitators express through magic and romanticism, others through
grit and grime, and some through numbers and stats. Facilitators take the stress
of upholding this bridge. Some fizzle out, some remain. Some start to see! This is
a crucial role. And 𝗱͟𝗲͟𝘀͟𝗲͟𝗿͟𝘃͟𝗲͟𝘀͟ 𝗲͟͟ 𝘅͟𝗽͟𝗲͟𝗿͟𝗶͟𝗲͟𝗻͟𝘁͟𝗶͟𝗮͟𝗹͟ 𝘁͟͟ 𝗿͟𝗮͟𝗶͟𝗻͟𝗶͟𝗻͟𝗴͟ as well as respect for the trainers.
With this brief and perhaps incomplete introduction, I would like to share a long
tale of my own experience of "being a facilitator".
I start my narrative with 𝗴͟𝗿͟𝗮͟𝘁͟𝗶͟𝘁͟𝘂͟𝗱͟𝗲͟ 𝘁͟͟ 𝗼͟ 𝘀͟͟ 𝗼͟𝗺͟𝗲͟ 𝗺͟͟ 𝗮͟𝘀͟𝘁͟𝗲͟𝗿͟ 𝗳͟𝗮͟ ͟𝗰͟𝗶͟𝗹͟𝗶͟𝘁͟𝗮͟𝘁͟𝗼͟𝗿͟𝘀͟ 𝘄͟͟ 𝗵͟𝗼͟ 𝗮͟͟ 𝗿͟𝗲͟ 𝗰͟͟ 𝗹͟𝗲͟𝗮͟𝗿͟ 𝗶͟𝗻͟ ͟ 𝘁͟͟ 𝗵͟𝗲͟𝗶͟𝗿͟
𝗶͟𝗻͟ ͟𝘁͟𝗲͟𝗻͟𝘁͟𝗶͟𝗼͟𝗻͟, 𝘀͟͟ ͟ 𝘆͟𝗻͟𝗰͟𝗶͟𝗻͟𝗴͟ 𝗲͟͟ 𝗮͟𝗰͟𝗵͟ 𝘀͟͟ 𝘁͟𝗲͟𝗽͟ 𝗼͟͟ 𝗳͟ 𝘁͟͟ 𝗵͟𝗲͟𝗶͟𝗿͟ 𝗮͟͟ 𝗰͟𝘁͟𝗶͟𝗼͟𝗻͟ 𝘄͟͟ 𝗶͟𝘁͟𝗵͟ 𝘀͟͟ 𝗲͟𝗻͟𝘀͟𝗶͟𝘁͟𝗶͟𝘃͟𝗶͟𝘁͟𝘆͟. 𝗜͟͟ ͟ 𝗮͟͟ 𝗺͟ 𝘁͟͟ 𝗵͟𝗲͟𝗶͟𝗿͟ 𝗳͟𝗼͟ ͟𝗿͟𝗲͟𝘃͟𝗲͟𝗿͟ 𝘀͟͟ 𝘁͟𝘂͟𝗱͟𝗲͟𝗻͟𝘁͟. With
͟
reverence to them, and with their encouragement I write this post.
I am an 𝗶͟𝗻͟𝗱͟𝗶͟𝘃͟𝗶͟𝗱͟𝘂͟𝗮͟𝗹͟ 𝗺͟͟ 𝗶͟𝗱͟𝗱͟𝗹͟𝗲͟-𝘄͟͟ 𝗼͟𝗺͟𝗮͟𝗻͟ 𝘄͟͟ 𝗼͟𝗿͟𝗸͟𝗶͟𝗻͟𝗴͟ 𝗮͟͟ 𝘁͟ 𝗴͟͟ 𝗿͟𝗮͟𝘀͟𝘀͟𝗿͟𝗼͟𝗼͟𝘁͟𝘀͟ 𝗰͟͟ 𝗿͟𝗮͟𝗳͟𝘁͟ 𝗼͟͟ 𝗳͟ 𝗮͟͟ 𝗿͟͟ 𝗲͟𝗴͟𝗶͟𝗼͟𝗻͟ 𝘁͟͟ 𝗵͟𝗮͟𝘁͟ 𝗶͟𝘀͟ ͟ 𝗻͟͟ 𝗼͟𝘁͟ 𝗺͟͟ 𝘆͟
𝗵͟͟ 𝗼͟𝗺͟𝗲͟𝗹͟𝗮͟𝗻͟𝗱͟, nor speak the same language, not even same staple food grain. Basically,
a facilitator who will always remain an "OUTSIDER", even after 12 years of "being"
there. The immersion over a long period of time gives me a subjectivity into this
new context. Yet, the contrast in my upbringing to their's, retains a constant
objectivity. This extreme duality has kept me in a "no man's land" situation-
neither inside- nor outside. This positioning is delicate.
On the other side of spectrum, I am also a facilitator who belongs to no
"Organisation" or part of no technical-networking-support group that is an,
"Institute". Facilitators from "Institutes and Organisations" are like Star Kids. They
carry a burden of their legacy while also bounce off more effortlessly catapulting
from a pedestal. The privilege stems from grey areas. Most drag themselves with
conceptual weight, unable to lift their creative lightness. I feel fortunate that I
have the liberty to be "a forever fool". And Fools do not get pedestals. This is a
chosen approach. Born not just of necessity, but also 𝘁͟𝗼͟ 𝗿͟͟ 𝗲͟𝘁͟𝗮͟𝗶͟𝗻͟ 𝘁͟͟ 𝗵͟𝗲͟ 𝗶͟𝗻͟ ͟𝗻͟𝗼͟𝗰͟𝗲͟𝗻͟𝗰͟𝗲͟ 𝗼͟͟ 𝗳͟ 𝘀͟͟ 𝗲͟𝗲͟𝗶͟𝗻͟𝗴͟
𝘁͟͟ 𝗵͟𝗶͟𝗻͟𝗴͟𝘀͟ "͟ 𝗔͟͟ 𝗦͟ 𝗜͟͟ 𝗧͟ 𝗜͟͟ 𝗦͟".͟ This has been one singular blessing, and definitely less of a
curse.
I feel home with grassroot interactions. I prefer physical stress to mental stress. I
like creative intent above intellect. I spend more time on study than on
presentation. I have worked more than i have studied. I like sitting cross-legged on
the floor more than podiums and pedestals. I prefer organic length of time given
to a thought, more than the idea of efficiency. I have lived in rural regions way
more than cities. I have spent more time without internet than with internet. I
enjoy innovation or creation more than exhibition or shows.
This narration is purely 𝗳͟𝗼͟𝗿͟ 𝘁͟͟ 𝗵͟𝗲͟ 𝘀͟͟ 𝗮͟𝗸͟𝗲͟ 𝗼͟͟ 𝗳͟ 𝘀͟͟ 𝗵͟𝗶͟𝗳͟𝘁͟𝗶͟𝗻͟𝗴͟ 𝘁͟͟ 𝗵͟𝗲͟ 𝗳͟𝗼͟ ͟𝗰͟𝘂͟𝘀͟ 𝗳͟𝗿͟ ͟𝗼͟𝗺͟ "͟ 𝗿͟͟ 𝗼͟𝗺͟𝗮͟𝗻͟𝘁͟𝗶͟𝗰͟𝗶͟𝘀͟𝗺͟" ͟ 𝘁͟͟ 𝗼͟ "͟ 𝗿͟͟ 𝗲͟𝗮͟𝗹͟𝗶͟𝘀͟𝗺͟" ͟
𝗶͟𝗻͟ ͟ 𝘁͟͟ 𝗵͟𝗲͟ 𝗿͟͟ 𝗲͟𝗮͟𝗹͟𝗺͟ 𝗼͟͟ 𝗳͟ 𝗰͟͟ 𝗿͟𝗮͟𝗳͟𝘁͟ 𝗶͟𝗻͟ ͟ 𝗜͟͟ 𝗻͟𝗱͟𝗶͟𝗮͟.
𝗠͟𝗼͟𝘂͟𝗻͟𝘁͟𝗮͟𝗶͟𝗻͟'𝘀͟͟ 𝗺͟͟ 𝗮͟𝗸͟𝗲͟𝗿͟𝘀͟ 𝗮͟͟ 𝗿͟𝗲͟ 𝗱͟͟ 𝗶͟𝗳͟𝗳͟𝗲͟𝗿͟𝗲͟𝗻͟𝘁͟ 𝗳͟𝗿͟ ͟𝗼͟𝗺͟ 𝗽͟͟ 𝗹͟𝗮͟𝗶͟𝗻͟𝘀͟' 𝗺͟
͟ ͟ 𝗮͟𝗸͟𝗲͟𝗿͟𝘀͟. People
͟͟ from the mountains are not
"poor", in the sense of usual urban understanding. They have abundance of land,
food and other resources. Craft is their value-add and not primary sustenance.
They sustain as farmers and growing their own food. They have pride in their roots
and make their craft only in the available time. To sustain their interest is an uphill
climb. To make them see that one can genuinely support their craft without being
"greedy", is a matter of years. The suspicion about Indian Mainlanders is very
deep. One must pass many a test of resilience to quality their trust. That too
remains fragile. This is because this connection to their craft is not their need. It is
purely based on will. A true revival of craft becomes a facilitator's personal
responsibility, not necessary a hunger for the community. This responsibility is
born out of our own commitment and honour of words. We struggle to keep
makers motivated while also feeling answerable to the "buyers", "patrons",
"supporters". I adapted to this lifestyle quite early on, so the tussle of my heart is
not too stretched. I wait with anticipation every time a maker finishes their weave.
One cannot set a standardised costing in these decentralised spaces of work- their
homes. The maker usually needs help in calculating their wages. Long-term
facilitators try to strike the right motivation with costing.
This approach is different from makers of the plain area who struggle to keep
themselves afloat. Perhaps, because of the history of casteism, 𝘁͟𝗵͟𝗲͟ 𝗮͟͟ 𝗿͟𝘁͟𝗶͟𝘀͟𝗮͟𝗻͟𝘀͟ 𝗶͟𝗻͟ ͟ 𝘁͟͟ 𝗵͟𝗲͟
𝗽͟͟ 𝗹͟𝗮͟𝗶͟𝗻͟𝘀͟ 𝗿͟͟ 𝗲͟𝗺͟𝗮͟𝗶͟𝗻͟ 𝗹͟𝗮͟ ͟𝘀͟𝘁͟ 𝗶͟𝗻͟ ͟ 𝘁͟͟ 𝗵͟𝗲͟ 𝘀͟͟ 𝗰͟𝗵͟𝗲͟𝗺͟𝗲͟ 𝗼͟͟ 𝗳͟ "͟ 𝗱͟͟ 𝗶͟𝗴͟𝗻͟𝗶͟𝗳͟𝗶͟𝗲͟𝗱͟ 𝘄͟͟ 𝗼͟𝗿͟𝗸͟".͟ In my objectivity, even the craft
supporting organisations are unable to truly lift the status of artisans. Their effort
of keeping things "cheap" and numbers "maximum" is pushing an artisan to
produce large quantities. In few words, work full-time as makers. They work
sometimes with far less money than even a daily wage set for other skilled
craftsman (plumber, electrician/ mistry). In absence of any alternative, the makers
of the plains are completely at the mercy of exposure and good-books of the craft
facilitators. Who help in selling their products but at a "mark down model". Which
means, the maker is compelled to give a large chunk (usually 20-30%) of his
actual selling price to these organisations. I have spoken to few artisans to
request for a "mark up model" where they put their price and share the price paid
to the organisation openly in their bill. I have been told, sadly organisations do not
 ͟ 𝗮͟𝗿͟𝗸͟ 𝗱͟͟ 𝗼͟𝘄͟𝗻͟" ͟ 𝗺͟͟ 𝗼͟𝗱͟𝗲͟𝗹͟ 𝗳͟𝗼͟ ͟𝗿͟ 𝗰͟͟ 𝗿͟𝗮͟𝗳͟𝘁͟ 𝘀͟͟ 𝗼͟ 𝗰͟͟ 𝗮͟𝗻͟𝗻͟𝗼͟𝘁͟ 𝗼͟͟ 𝗽͟𝗲͟𝗻͟
encourage that. 𝗜͟ 𝗮͟͟ 𝗺͟ 𝗻͟͟ 𝗼͟𝘁͟ 𝗶͟𝗻͟ ͟ 𝘁͟͟ 𝗵͟𝗲͟ 𝗳͟𝗮͟ ͟𝘃͟𝗼͟𝘂͟𝗿͟ 𝗼͟͟ 𝗳͟ "͟ 𝗺͟
𝗵͟͟ 𝗲͟𝗮͟𝗿͟𝘁͟𝗲͟𝗱͟ 𝘀͟͟ 𝘂͟𝗽͟𝗽͟𝗼͟𝗿͟𝘁͟ 𝘁͟͟ 𝗵͟𝗲͟𝘀͟𝗲͟ 𝗳͟𝗮͟ ͟𝗰͟𝗶͟𝗹͟𝗶͟𝘁͟𝗮͟𝘁͟𝗼͟𝗿͟𝘀͟. ͟
Some of the large-scale facilitators can also totally overlook the role of grass-root
facilitators and their long years of effort. They ask us skeptically, "are you paying
the poor makers fairly?","what percentage are you giving to the makers?". I tell
them, "𝟯͟𝟱͟% ͟ 𝗼͟͟ 𝗳͟ 𝗺͟͟ 𝘆͟ 𝗹͟𝗶͟ ͟𝗳͟𝗲͟ 𝘀͟͟ 𝗽͟𝗮͟𝗻͟ 𝗮͟͟ 𝗹͟𝗿͟𝗲͟𝗮͟𝗱͟𝘆͟ 𝗴͟͟ 𝗶͟𝘃͟𝗲͟𝗻͟ 𝗮͟͟ 𝗻͟𝗱͟ 𝗼͟͟ 𝗻͟𝗹͟𝘆͟ 𝗴͟͟ 𝗼͟𝗶͟𝗻͟𝗴͟ 𝘁͟͟ 𝗼͟ 𝗯͟͟ 𝗲͟ 𝗺͟͟ 𝗼͟𝗿͟𝗲͟." I wish more
maturity and in depth sincerity to the cause. Then, noone will need to come from
fear, suspicion and protection. But truly support the grass-root facilitators and be
able to identify the difference.
In the last few years, I have come across plains facilitators who come with the
same approach to the mountains. They wish makers in the mountains to produce
fast and in bigger quantities. Of course, that is not possible. So, 𝘀͟𝗼͟𝗺͟𝗲͟ 𝗳͟𝗮͟ ͟𝗰͟𝗶͟𝗹͟𝗶͟𝘁͟𝗮͟𝘁͟𝗼͟𝗿͟𝘀͟
𝘀͟͟ 𝘁͟𝗮͟𝗿͟𝘁͟ 𝘂͟͟ 𝗻͟𝗱͟𝗲͟𝗿͟-𝗰͟͟ 𝘂͟𝘁͟𝘁͟𝗶͟𝗻͟𝗴͟ 𝗼͟͟ 𝘁͟𝗵͟𝗲͟𝗿͟ 𝗳͟𝗮͟ ͟𝗰͟𝗶͟𝗹͟𝗶͟𝘁͟𝗮͟𝘁͟𝗼͟𝗿͟𝘀͟. Perhaps they are more answerable than the rest
and have a lot riding on their tender shoulders. They come for making project
reports, creating orders, establishing long term projects. The grandeur of the
vision is usually childish and pre-mature- a solution before knowing the problem.
They bring loom alternatives, yarn alternatives and then call it "revival". It is
indeed a serious paradox. I offer only a wish that their minds becomes more
creative.
Facilitators must rise beyond adrenaline rush. Facilitators must walk responsibly in
other people's land. Facilitators must walk slow. And make only those promises
that they can keep. Or communicate clearly with regret if they cannot keep.
𝗘͟𝘃͟𝗲͟𝗿͟𝘆͟𝗼͟𝗻͟𝗲͟ 𝘂͟͟ 𝗻͟𝗱͟𝗲͟𝗿͟𝘀͟𝘁͟𝗮͟𝗻͟𝗱͟𝘀͟ 𝗮͟͟ 𝗴͟͟ 𝗼͟𝗼͟𝗱͟ 𝗶͟𝗻͟ ͟𝘁͟𝗲͟𝗻͟𝘁͟𝗶͟𝗼͟𝗻͟ 𝗲͟͟ 𝘃͟𝗲͟𝗻͟ 𝘄͟͟ 𝗶͟𝘁͟𝗵͟𝗼͟𝘂͟𝘁͟ 𝘄͟͟ 𝗼͟𝗿͟𝗱͟𝘀͟. ͟
I also say, in the mountains, at the grassroots, 𝗲͟𝘃͟𝗲͟𝗻͟ 𝗶͟𝗻͟ ͟ 𝗮͟͟ 𝗺͟͟ 𝗼͟𝗿͟𝗲͟ 𝗳͟𝗿͟ ͟𝗲͟𝗲͟ 𝘀͟͟ 𝗼͟𝗰͟𝗶͟𝗲͟𝘁͟𝘆͟, 𝗽͟͟ ͟ 𝗮͟𝘁͟𝗿͟𝗶͟𝗮͟𝗿͟𝗰͟𝗵͟𝘆͟
𝗶͟𝘀͟ ͟ 𝗲͟͟ 𝗺͟𝗯͟𝗲͟𝗱͟𝗱͟𝗲͟𝗱͟ in the cellular structure. And a woman without a man to support the
vision is usually not "taken too seriously" till she shows resilience of many years.
And if in that time period, she does meet a man who accompanies her for the
project as a support, the credit begins to lean on the man. And the focus shifts to
morality of the woman. This is an interesting dynamic i have been up against. I do
my best to keep intact the sanctity of projects that hang with fragility on the
threads of morality and gender.
A few people often laugh with me, "Ritika your style is not possible in today's
world.". I say to them, "𝘆͟͟ 𝗲͟𝗵͟ 𝗺͟͟ 𝗲͟𝗿͟𝗲͟ 𝗯͟͟ 𝗮͟𝘀͟ 𝗸͟͟ 𝗶͟ 𝗯͟͟ 𝗮͟𝗮͟𝘁͟ 𝗵͟͟ 𝗮͟𝗶͟."͟ (͟ 𝗧͟͟ 𝗵͟𝗶͟𝘀͟ 𝗶͟𝘀͟ ͟ 𝘄͟͟ 𝗶͟𝘁͟𝗵͟𝗶͟𝗻͟ 𝗺͟͟ 𝘆͟ 𝗰͟͟ 𝗮͟𝗽͟𝗮͟𝗰͟𝗶͟𝘁͟𝘆͟)Try
͟ it, and
try it all the way. It is hard work but possible. and I enjoy good hard work. More
physical stress than mental stress for me please! Thats all!"
Shaping ethics is not an easy walk! Wobbly and shaky I may be!
Today, I am telling you this long story so you can see the "multiple points of view"
of a single facilitator. And accept the greyness between the extremes of the
makers and the buyers. Respect the process. Acknowledge the role of a facilitator
in "sunlight"!
And i raise certain questions so they are seen.
"not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it
is faced."
Another day, I want to talk about the makers and the buyers.
Long reads, of course! A peep into 12 years cannot be in a sentence. Not at least
with "a forever fool" like myself! 𝗣͟𝗲͟𝗿͟𝗵͟𝗮͟𝗽͟𝘀͟, 𝘄͟
͟ ͟ 𝗵͟𝗲͟𝗻͟ 𝗮͟͟ 𝗹͟𝗹͟ 𝗶͟𝘀͟ ͟ 𝘀͟͟ 𝗶͟𝗺͟𝗽͟𝗹͟𝗶͟𝗳͟𝗶͟𝗲͟𝗱͟. 𝗜͟͟ ͟ 𝗰͟͟ 𝗮͟𝗻͟ 𝘀͟͟ 𝗮͟𝘆͟ 𝗶͟𝘁͟ ͟ 𝗮͟͟ 𝗹͟𝗹͟ 𝗶͟𝗻͟ ͟ 𝗮͟͟
𝘀͟͟ 𝗲͟𝗻͟𝘁͟𝗲͟𝗻͟𝗰͟𝗲͟. ͟ ͟
Signing off as a facilitator
-being an individual
- with humility and grounding
-while being conscious of waste I generate
-by rejecting capitalistic model of numbers
-in remaining slow and respecting their culture over money
with regards to you all,
Ritika