our co-unlearning approach
unlearning
to make an effort to forget your usual way of doing something
so that you can learn a new and sometimes better way
(Cambridge English Dictionary)
The starting point for our journey is unlearning privileges. This means moving away from:
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seeing our often taken-for-granted comforts (privileges) as rewards for our ancestors’ or our hard work
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seeing how our privileges can become a disadvantage for another
and
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seeing how our privileges can prevent us from being a responsible social self. A social self is a person who, while focusing on their own growth, ensures the well-being of their community and society as a whole.
The India & Me programme provides co-unlearners with tools to question some “common sense” notions such as:
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it should all be about merit
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trickle-down economy works
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survival of the fittest is a good approach to life
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competition is healthy
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privatisation is good (even while some of us enjoy and praise public services in other countries)
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uncritical patriotism that primarily means valouring national symbols
