Articles from February 2013

One of the main motivations behind starting “The Soul of India” was the idea of changing the existing market to one that is more socially just and fair. The big question was:

What kind of action is required to not only benefit some small local projects and a handful of artisans but to actually create a bigger shift that would transform the entire market permanently? What would make the big companies that are ruling the market become more conscious and adapt more ethical and sustainable business practices?

During his numerous travels to India Eugen saw many local artists and artisans producing great art and handicraft items but often under poor working conditions. At the same time it seemed that small fair trade organizations and NGO´s where not very powerful in creating a lasting change. Rules and regulations make it difficult for them to operate. Often their impact is limited to small projects and the products are sold only in small World-shops in the western countries. The selections of these shops are often quite small, in the worst case old-fashioned and not of good quality.

This vision of creating something more impactful, that would create a win-win situation for the artisans, producers and customers at the same time, ultimately manifested as a business idea and  “The Soul of India” was born.

But what sets us apart from others who have started fair trade organizations?

The vision of The Soul of India is to influence the big players, establish lasting business relationships and then guide them towards a new ethical, sustainable and fair business model. The math is simple and reminds of the “Carrot Mob” principal: If we can succeed in creating a demand for fair trade products on a bigger scale, the companies will be willing to follow. At the same time we can provide the customers around the world with more trendy products.

The five most important goals of our work are:

• Improve the life and working conditions of laborers and artisans.
• Make manufacturers aware of the importance of Fair Trade.
• Keep Indian Art alive for the long term.
• Help foreign buyers to get connected with Fair trade activities.
• To make Fair Trade a fancy label and reliable partner.

In the next step we would also like to give customers the option of choosing more freely which project they want to support in particular.  In this way we can establish more personal connections and customers can be actively involved in the process.

There is still a lot that needs to be done to reach our goal. But we are convinced that step by step we can create a real triple-bottom-line-business model that is good for the people and the planet.

Gandhi´s famous quote summarizes it quite well: Be the change you want to see in the world.

Welcome to be part of this project!

Inspired by the wooden Gandhi-figure that we have in our store…

1889 an elegant young man walked the streets of London. The only difference between him and his kin was the colour of his skin. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi studied law, took dance classes and learned French to become the perfect Gentleman. Today, everybody knows him as the legendary skinny yogic Indian freedom fighter who was a charismatic leader and founder of a new world view.

At school, however, he was a quite shy boy with moderate marks. He even had to repeat a class at 14, because he was married to a girl the same age and was said to have been distracted. After graduating cum laude, Gandhi went to England and studied. A change of lifestyle came to pass when he suddenly started budgeting himself and saving money.

After a sudden and successless start as a lawyer in India, the mostly speechless attorney worked in Africa for a while where he had to face discrimination. His successful engagement for Indians in the same situation led to his prosecution and a relocation to India.

His passive resistance, meaning either his famous famine strikes or the call of his fellow countrymen to demonstrations would from then on characterise and at the same time threaten his life over and over again.

Transcendency led him to the pursuit of his main goals in life: thruthfulness and justice through selflessness. He devoted his life and work to India and its independency.

Gandhi was assassinated during a peaceful demonstration in 1948.

for The Soul of India by  Stephanie Krießmann

“We are born of woman, we are conceived in the womb of woman, we are engaged and married to woman. We make friendship with woman and the lineage continued because of woman. When one woman dies, we take another one, we are bound with the world through woman. Why should we talk ill of her, who gives birth to kings? The woman is born from woman; there is none without her. Only the One True Lord is without woman” (Guru Nanak, Var Asa, pg. 473)

In this way women are described in the  holy book of the Sikhs, the Siri Guru Grant Sahib. If we would look at other holy scriptures we would probably find many other references that express the great value and worth of a woman. Beautiful Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped by many to bring wealth and prosperity.

Whoever has followed the news recently knows, that sadly the reality is often very different. The horrible Delhi-rape case not only shocked a nation but the entire world. Of course these kind of things don´t happen only in India, but the brutality of this particular case had the effect of a wake-up call and raised the question about the treatment and safety of women in general. The day before yesterday, on Valentine´s Day millions of girls and women around the globe gathered in cities and villages to demonstrate against violence as part of a movement called “One billion rising.” Be it Berlin or Bangalore – thousands came together  to share their message through dance.

But where is the connection?

Unfortunately girls and women are not only in a threatened position when it comes to their homes, families and marriages. Often the work place means another serious risk.

Young girls who end up in child labor are often victims of abuse and harassment, but also later this threat doesn´t end. Especially if working conditions are poor, there are no safety standards or ethical guidelines; women are often the ones to suffer most. There are sad cases of girls “being sold” to factories for a number of years to “earn” their dowry money.

That´s why our focus should be especially on the women: to improve their working conditions and also ensure safety and education for them. If we think of fair trade we should try our best to ensure, that women are treated well, that they are paid a fair salary (not less than men, often for the harder work!) and that they have access to various support.

As the quote from the beginning says: There is no one without her. Let´s remember that.

Hanna for The Soul of India