1 August 2025

Learning Masculinity Through Experience: A Ground-Level Perspective

Sambhaji Kenawade

Chairman,

Vitthal Vikas Seva Sanstha

(An organization working for farmers)

Age: 50

We had previously met him in connection with the SALT approach. He is a helpful person. Today, we had a discussion with him…

During one-on-one SALT conversations with young individuals from the village, a key concern that repeatedly emerged was the excessive use of sound systems and the discomfort it causes in the community. On the other hand, some youth expressed a deep fondness for the village’s traditional culture, especially for playing the traditional Lezim dance during the Ganesh festival.

In light of the upcoming Ganesh festival, we organized a discussion with a group of young people. During this…

Bhikaji Kamble is a studious, outspoken, straightforward, and courageous personality. Until now, I had only seen him daily in Nandwal. On the surface, he seemed very strict and self-centered to me. I had also heard some incorrect things about him from others, but today I got the opportunity to meet him in person.

Initially, I thought that our discussion wouldn't last long because people had told me different things about him, and I had unknowingly formed a prejudice based on those…

This salt session also included two generations. They, too, expressed concern regarding the youth. In Nandwal village, most youngsters are becoming overly focused on earning money quickly, which is leading them to drop out of their education prematurely.

All three shared the opinion that painting work can typically only be done up until around the age of 40, after which life becomes much more challenging. Therefore, they believe it’s essential for young people to develop diverse…