This letter exchange is a bit out of the ordinary, as both writers (Shreya Samui from India and Emma from Nicaragua) were first matched to another person. Due to circumstances both of their Pen Friends couldn’t go on with the project.
This exchange includes Shreya’s first letter to Christiana (Letter 1) and Emma’s letter to Mansha (Letter 2). At this point Shreya and Emma were matched together. They both read each others first letter and continued to write each other in Letter 3 and 4. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Letter 1<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hope this letter finds you well. First and foremost, I am extremely excited to write this letter to you, so that we could have a holistic and extensive discussion on the Civic Space and its role in fostering Democracy.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To begin with, I would like to give you a brief background of the Indian Culture and the status of Civic Space here. India, a land with varied cultures and people from different backgrounds is filled with an extensive mass of people preferring varied tastes of life and exercising their democratic rights to varying degrees. Throughout the years here in India, we have moved from a highly correspondent society to a more aware and \u201cstress\u201d incumbent society. To be a bit more explanatory, here, we practiced the Zamindari System<\/a> back in the Era of Lord Cornwallis, and have gradually progressed to a Democratic and Legally Enabled society. The progress was not easy, we had our own ups and downs from having a highly Feudal Society<\/a> to graduating towards a more Militant and Democratic form. Back in the times when we practiced Correspondence, the privileged minorities had the right to exercise power over the underprivileged majority, and we usually had the 80-20 rule, where, 80% of the monetary, social, and economic power was distributed to the 20% of the privileged sections- to a limit where the underprivileged segment did not even have the right to speech or freedom of expression to be exercised. The minorities accepted the way they were being treated- be it social injustice, obstacles in practicing their democratic freedoms, or right to live. However, after consistent efforts of our change masters, the scenario started taking a positive growth curve, where, people were made more aware. Education played a crucial role here, and people from different corners of society were made aware of the rights and powers they could exercise. People began to question injustice and restraints of civic rights, which promoted a situation of healthy stress in society. Gradual and minute steps in reformist approaches to facilitate civic principles in India proved to have an integrated Revolutionary Move. It took years of being caged and tied off of the basic human right to dignity, years of fight for \u201cjust\u201d rights in India, to finally foster legal rights in the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n India is a country rich in cultural diversities, and everyone has their own perspective approach to practicing their civic rights. This is where the civic space needs to be broadened, to enable practitioners from different spaces to exercise their rights in a non-disjunct civic space- be it virtually, digitally, or physically. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If we talk about the current status of the civic space of our country, I would analytically believe it to be in a progressive stage at the moment. The growth so experienced is exponential with several legal, political, and organizational affairs being the factorial component of the same. We as a country have been able to facilitate millions towards a more diversified yet transparent civic space, however, there is still a lot more work that could be done in the extreme interiors of the society- be it with the basic provisions of Right to Food and Shelter or Right to Education or basic freedom of expression and freedom of speech. <\/p>\n\n\n\n On the same note, if we look at a broader prospect, from a world view, we can witness, first world countries having more awareness of their civic space rights. Eliminating violence and irrational judgments in some of the cases would facilitate them having better prospects and an exponentially high achievement curve of the utilization of this civic space. In the 3rd<\/sup> world countries, however, as per my analysis, the restricted exercise to civic space is the grass root cause of them taking time to achieve the status of being \u201cdeveloped\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I recently read a novel by Paulo Coelho, named \u201cA Thousand Splendid Suns\u201d which, to some extent gave me a perspective on how obstructions function in being a hurdle in the Civic Democracy Space. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I am still on the notes of researching more on Civic Space and how it can be a greater catalyst towards promoting Development and democracy. On the same note, I would love to know how your country exercises its Civic Space, what are approached you feel were fruitful, and what hurdles that you feel could be eliminated. What do you think can be some better measures and steps to promote a healthy and radical civic space, Cristiana?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Looking forward to your letter, and to learn from your perspective approaches, Cristiana!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thanks and Regards,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Shreya Samui<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2nd<\/sup> March 2023, Ranchi<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Letter 2<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00bfc\u00f3mo va todo?\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n En primer lugar, tengo que confesarte que me emociona mucho el hecho de intercambiar cartas contigo, ya que esto es una nueva experiencia para m\u00ed. Me llena de curiosidad saber c\u00f3mo es la situaci\u00f3n de las mujeres en la India, enfoc\u00e1ndonos en los derechos que las respaldan. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A las mujeres naturalmente se les demanda dedicar su vida a otros, ya sea para su pareja, hijos, padres o cualquier otra persona dependiente. Con frecuencia son violentadas f\u00edsica o psicol\u00f3gicamente, o privadas de tener la posibilidad de valerse por s\u00ed mismas. No obstante, \u00bfC\u00f3mo es la vida de la mujer en la sociedad nicarag\u00fcense? En nicaragua a\u00fan existe un machismo muy arraigado. A pesar de que contamos con derechos que apoyan una sociedad m\u00e1s igualitaria, muchas personas no los respetan a como es debido e incluso los incumplen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Quiero contarte acerca de uno de los casos m\u00e1s controversiales que sucedi\u00f3 en mi pa\u00eds hace unos 20 a\u00f1os, que despu\u00e9s de tanto tiempo ha tenido como \u00fanica consecuencia el exilio de la victima de su propio pa\u00eds. Me refiero al caso de Zoilam\u00e9rica Narv\u00e1ez. Ella acus\u00f3 p\u00fablicamente al presidente Daniel Ortega de haber abusado sexualmente de ella desde que era una ni\u00f1a teniendo como c\u00f3mplice a Rosario Murillo, su esposa. En esa \u00e9poca, el caso fue denunciado como parte de una conspiraci\u00f3n pol\u00edtica, pero hasta el d\u00eda de hoy Zoilam\u00e9rica niega que ese sea su motivo principal. Ella no tuvo apoyo en el momento del juicio y ni siquiera se le permiti\u00f3 dar su propio testimonio. Hoy, Ortega es libre, pero no inocente. Este es uno de los muchos ejemplos de casos de violencia que suceden, aun as\u00ed, considero que hay muchas otras maneras en las cuales a la mujer no se le trata con equidad. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Puedo agregar que Nicaragua est\u00e1 pasando por una crisis econ\u00f3mica y de desempleo, as\u00ed que muchos ciudadanos est\u00e1n siendo obligados a buscar otra forma para poder subsistir. Y sinceramente, muchas mujeres deben tomar largas jornadas de empleo para luego asumir roles en sus hogares, incluyendo el cuidado de ni\u00f1os. En pocas palabras, asumen roles dobles, porque deben asumir la carga de todas estas tareas extras que se les han asignado. Algunas trabajan en el sector informal, como, por ejemplo: Empleadas dom\u00e9sticas, vendedoras ambulantes de frutas o comidas, due\u00f1as de tiendas, entre otras actividades. La desventaja de ese sector es que no cuentan con seguro m\u00e9dico ni prestaciones sociales. A ra\u00edz de esta situaci\u00f3n es m\u00e1s complicado para ellas llevar un sustento a sus hogares, y esto se incrementa con la actual crisis que vive el pa\u00eds. Vivo en un pa\u00eds donde las mujeres jefas de hogares que se pueden mantener solas en muchos casos no poseen buenas condiciones laborales o les he dif\u00edcil llegar a fin de mes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Personalmente puedo decir que he crecido en un ambiente donde las mujeres encabezan la mayor\u00eda de las decisiones del hogar, desde el \u00e1mbito econ\u00f3mico a la divisi\u00f3n de tareas por hacer. Todos los d\u00edas mi madre se levanta temprano para empezar su jornada diaria, se ocupa de mis dos hermanos menores y a su vez la ayudo con la limpieza del hogar. He de admitir que las ma\u00f1anas en mi casa son siempre una carrera por llegar a nuestros respectivos trabajos o colegios. Ella en especial trabaja todo el d\u00eda en la oficina para despu\u00e9s asumir su rol en el hogar, con esto quiero mostrarte mi perspectiva de lo explicado anteriormente. Es una realidad incluso para m\u00ed y es admirable el como mi madre logra llegar con nosotros a fin de mes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Al momento en que no existe equidad para las mujeres considero que es una forma de discriminaci\u00f3n en su contra, ya que las mujeres poseen las mismas capacidades que los hombres y se necesitan a ambos para que una sociedad llegue a ser prospera. En Nicaragua es necesario seguir promoviendo el respeto e igualdad de g\u00e9nero, para evitar que se contin\u00faen repitiendo situaciones como las anteriormente mencionadas. La igualdad de g\u00e9nero es algo posible de lograr, pero en lo personal pienso que las personas deben interiorizar, promover y poner en pr\u00e1ctica estos ideales para lograr cumplirlos. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Al redactar esta carta no pude evitar pensar c\u00f3mo es tu perspectiva con respecto a este tema, y me gustar\u00eda concluir plante\u00e1ndote las siguientes preguntas: <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00bfC\u00f3mo describir\u00edas el estado de la igualdad de g\u00e9nero en tu pa\u00eds? <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00bfQu\u00e9 podr\u00edamos hacer para lograr cambios en la sociedad? <\/p>\n\n\n\n Espero pronto recibir tu respuesta, <\/p>\n\n\n\n Saludos desde Managua.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Letter 3<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n First and foremost, may I just state how overwhelmed I felt reading your letter on the Gender Gap that you had so very well penned down. I could skim through the pen portrait of women and their suppression that you wished to pen down through your piece. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Talking about the current scenario, even though the Global world inclines towards a belief of \u201cDiversity and Inclusion\u201d, I feel, there is so much that the world needs to establish yet, and it needs to be established cohesively. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I am so glad that you painted not only the physical but also the ecological and mental oppression that women to date have been facing, and that is what marries my topic on \u201cCivic Justice\u201d well with yours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Recently as I was scanning through the pages of a reputed journal, I was informed that Nicaragua has made significant progress in bringing upon gender parity, in terms of Women\u2019s Role in Politics, Healthcare, and Education, aiding it to rank 84th<\/sup> among 156 countries in terms of bringing gender equality as per Global Gender Gap Report 2021. However, scanning deeper into the context, it was highlighted that women are yet subjected to violence- both mental and physical ones back there. Healthcare facilities need to be improved especially in the rural strata of the arena. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Talking about India, women here have been oppressed ever since ancient times here. A very pre-dominant status of them being oppressed was- mental and physical violence and the ancient India normalized Male-Dominance as their culture. Even though progressive education has changed this mentality here in Urban India, however, women still face gender-based discrimination. While in Urban India, Women are still often questioned about pursuing higher studies, or even the length of the dress they wear, or the partners and friends they choose for themselves, rural India has even more evident oppression where girl children to date in the intricate arenas are often debarred from pursuing high school education, and there have still been examples evident where girls were forced to marry a partner of NOT their choice even before the age of 18! Talking about political status, women own only 14% of the seats in the Indian Parliament and 23% of ministerial positions. Do you see? The problem starts from there! When women are not accepted to represent the country and make important decisions at such vital a level, is it not a matter of being obvious that rural India would never be positively influenced?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another issue that I believe the people of India (and probably a lot of many sections of the Globe) fear to talk about is the acceptance and equality being served to the third gender. The root cause is a lack of education amongst the population and a sense of \u201choning\u201d the stage in a competitive perspective, not letting others have their time on the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Well, this is why, I personally believe, irrespective of gender biases, Civic Justice should be a subject taught and emphasized in every section of the Globe! With democracy being the much-needed salt for the current scenario, it is important to make the mass aware of the rights that every other individual is subjected to. This would not only mean covering the mentioned rights in the preamble but also the unstated but much understandable rights that people have the ability to emphasize for the mere fact of being a human being- the principle of human dignity. As a matter of fact, you know, not only human beings, not only men women, or the third gender rights, but also, it is equally necessary for us as the intelligent disciples of the Lord to understand that every other living being, be it humans or animals or plants or the little invisible microscopic beings- have equal and just right to survive without any hindrance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Coming back to the suppression of women, I believe, it is about time that we practice the Principle of Acceptance. Change has to be brought- change has to be brought by US, CHANGE has to be called for WITHOUT A DELAY. It has long been said that Education is the key to acceptance, women have proved themselves time and again, and it is now time for us to empower other women for a better tomorrow. One good progress is, our current Indian President, effective from 2022 is, Shrimati Draupadi Murmu, Not only is she the second person to hold the position after Woman President Shrimati Pratibha Patil, but also is she the first woman President representing the Tribal Community of India. Isn\u2019t that a huge leap of an achievement? I believe changes are in progress, but the pace is slow, and we need to pick pace to be able to empower and enable women and even the third gender to have an equal say as men exercise. It’s about time we facilitate equity over the unheard roars of unhappening altercations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What do you think should be the steps to enable the same? What do you believe is different in terms of the status of women suppression at your place as compared to the scenario of India as I wrote above? I would love to know about your side of the story, and your perspective on combating the same!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thanks and Regards,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Shreya Samui<\/p>\n\n\n\n 16th<\/sup> April 2023, Ranchi<\/p>\n\n\n\n Letter 4<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ante todo, quiero expresar mi deseo sincero de buena salud para ti y tu familia. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Quiero que sepas que he experimentado mucha alegr\u00eda por el tiempo que has dedicado a la lectura de mi carta, recibe mi gratitud. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Entre 1990 y 1996, Nicaragua fue gobernada por Violeta Barrios de Chamorro, la primera mujer en el continente americano en ser electa al cargo de Presidenta de la Rep\u00fablica. De hecho, mi pa\u00eds ha progresado hacia la paridad de g\u00e9nero en la administraci\u00f3n p\u00fablica a nivel de gobiernos municipales (alcaldesas) y ministerios de estado (ministras), al igual que en el sector privado en los emprendimientos para sostener y ayudar a la econom\u00eda familiar. <\/p>\n\n\n\n En contraste a lo anterior, el n\u00famero de actos de violencia intrafamiliar hacia las mujeres se ha incrementado en los primeros cuatro meses de 2023. Es una realidad triste por el impacto en ni\u00f1os hu\u00e9rfanos por la muerte de madres j\u00f3venes y esto conmueve a la sociedad que exige acciones inmediatas para reducir este flagelo. Esto ha provocado por ejemplo el endurecimiento del c\u00f3digo penal que ahora incluye la cadena perpetua como pena m\u00e1xima para los culpables de femicidio o asesinato intencional de una mujer por el hecho de ser mujer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n La Organizaci\u00f3n Cat\u00f3licas por el Derecho a Decidir (CDD) reporta que, del 1 de enero de 2023, hasta la fecha, han ocurrido al menos 26 femicidios. Las estad\u00edsticas preliminares indican adem\u00e1s que 10 mujeres nicarag\u00fcenses han sido asesinadas en el extranjero, en pa\u00edses como Estados Unidos, M\u00e9xico y Costa Rica. Esta ONG es una de las m\u00e1s beligerantes en cuanto al monitoreo de la violencia hacia la mujer, dando visibilidad tanto a las v\u00edctimas directas como al drama emocional, social y econ\u00f3mico que sufren las v\u00edctimas indirectas, no importando si viven en sectores urbanos o comunidades rurales porque el impacto es igual y el riesgo de que sean integradas a un ciclo de violencia sin fin es muy alto. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Amiga, habr\u00e1s ya deducido que la situaci\u00f3n de violencia y explotaci\u00f3n que sufren las mujeres en mi pa\u00eds no difiere mucho de la situaci\u00f3n de sometimiento que padecen las mujeres en la India. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Lo anterior me hace preguntar \u00bfqu\u00e9 puede hacerse desde la perspectiva de la justicia c\u00edvica? cuando los espacios democr\u00e1ticos son cada d\u00eda menores y las ONG son obligadas al cierre de sus operaciones, dejando proyectos sociales y educativos inconclusos, afectando a los beneficiarios que casi siempre son los m\u00e1s vulnerables, o sea los que padecen de pobreza extrema en el campo y la ciudad. Desde 2018, son quince universidades en Managua la capital y en ciudades del interior y m\u00e1s de tres mil asociaciones que operaban en el pa\u00eds -entre nacionales y extranjeras- que han sido cerradas, seg\u00fan informes presentados en diciembre de 2022 por \u201cNicaragua Nunca M\u00e1s\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Con respecto a las personas que se identifican como miembros de la comunidad LGTB, en la Nicaragua de hoy, ellos gozan de visibilidad en los medios masivos de comunicaci\u00f3n porque varios son presentadores de TV y locutores de radio muy reconocidos por sus gestos corporales y vestimenta exterior extravagante. No obstante, la aceptaci\u00f3n es un asunto pendiente en mi pa\u00eds debido a la cultura \u201cmachista\u201d que todav\u00eda persiste en la mente de hombres, pero tambi\u00e9n de mujeres. En las \u00faltimas dos semanas de marzo 2023, dos integrantes de la diversidad sexual fueron asesinados en cr\u00edmenes de odio, siendo los asesinos un hombre heterosexual y un hombre transexual. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Creo que las nuevas generaciones deben ser educadas en una cultura de paz y tolerancia centrada en la persona humana, formadas en el respeto hacia la vida y en el cuido responsable de la naturaleza, sin hacer excepci\u00f3n de personas por su condici\u00f3n social, cultural, \u00e9tnica, de g\u00e9nero, o por su opci\u00f3n y orientaci\u00f3n sexual. Este es el desaf\u00edo de los gobiernos quienes, a trav\u00e9s de los ministerios de educaci\u00f3n, deben impulsar programas de estudio que formen seres integrales en lo humano, mental y espiritual. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Cu\u00eddate mucho y recibe mi abrazo fraterno, <\/p>\n\n\n\n Ha sido una experiencia agradable compartir cartas contigo. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 12 de mayo 2023, Managua<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" This letter exchange is a bit out of the ordinary, as both writers (Shreya Samui from India … <\/p>\nQuerida Mansha, <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Hi, my dear Pen Friend,<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Mi estimada Shreya, <\/h2>\n\n\n\n