As a part of my task two I met Mr. Subhash Chandra, director of CARPED (Center for Action Research and People’s Development) at his office in Rahmat Nagar. He shared some of his personal experiences with me. CARPED was started by his elder brother 20 years ago and since then has been doing brilliant work in its base Medak. At CARPED they run schools, provide tuitions, offer health services and take active part in betterment of irrigation facilities in tribal areas of Medak. Lately they actively started promoting environmental education, and CARPED is the first organization to make a HIV/AIDS awareness film in tribal language (Lambada) – a project which was also lauded by the World Bank and UNDP. They were also responsible for abolition of child marriages among the tribals (kudos)

How did all this began?? Where did these guys derive inspiration from?? Lets see…

Mr. Subhash Chandra’s father, Mr. Rama kantha Rao, was a freedom fighter born in Warangal and was married at a very early age of thirteen. Despite being born in a very rich family he was a very humble man who donated almost all his money among the poor, which was disliked by his father-in-law. He was forced to leave his native village after which he came to Hyderabad, where he purchased land in Rahmat Nagar for his family. Later on he figured out that the person who sold the land to him was a big cheat who repeatedly sold the same land to various people (The land actually belonged to the poor who were being forced to relocate). Mr. Rama kantha Rao, raised his voice against this. Though he was brutally beaten up for doing this, he did not give up. He used up all his influence as a freedom fighter, took the issue to the notice of P.V. Narashima Rao and gave a tough fight to injustice. He finally won the battle and this land today provides homes to thousands of poor people . Amazing how a single person’s determination and voice can brighten up lives of thousands of people in need. So for the founders of CARPED inspiration comes from home. They consider their dad as their true hero and to continue their dad’s legacy they started CARPED.

Today after twenty years, CARPED’s resources, pilot projects and innovative field solutions are being used all across, both by peers as well as by research organizations.

Today after twenty years, the founders of CARPED still continue deriving inspiration from their dad and his efforts to make this world a better place to live. \m/

Cheers!!