What does it mean to inspire, stand in solidarity and support each other to bring out the best in each other, especially when we have to do all of this for a maid, a worker or a didi etc.? 

The fact that I started by asking myself this question raises the question of why. When we talk about people from a lesser socio-economic background than us, we tend to retrospect more than we will for our friends, colleagues, family, siblings etc. All of this comes from a place where I would analyse my privilege vs my ‘sabji wali didi (structurally excluded people). She doesn’t have as many advantages in the co-existing space we all are in. For me, solidarity would look like challenging myself to disrupt the power and deepen my relationship with the “didi”. I will shake my privilege, which will help me acknowledge how “didi’ has been affected. I have done that many times, which has helped me in an extremely soul-satisfying way. By doing so, I have understood that “didi’ and I share a relationship in which both of us, from our respective contexts, support each other, and we are allies. She inspires me in many ways and vice-versa. She teaches me what first-hand resilience looks like, what dealing with violence at home looks like and what strategies women should adopt to counter violence. During our conversation on violence at her home by her partner I only ask “fir kya kiya apne, ab kya karenge aap, aapko meri kaisi madad chahiye”?. This, in my opinion, is equipping ourselves with the skills to be present, mindful, and listen, especially in the most challenging times; and this is what I mean when I say deepen of relationship, and that is precisely what I mean when I say this is the way I show my solidarity to “didi. She, in turn, inspires me, helps me learn the context she comes from and unlearn my privileges. 

Showing solidarity, supporting each other, and inspiring each other come in different forms, and for me, it's about having constructive, deep, fun conversations, listening and being there. I have a big circle of close relationships, and “didi is definitely from there. 

हम अक्सर राहत पहुँचाने का 'रास्ता' ढूंढते हैं, कभी कभी लोगों के साथ बस 'उस रास्ते' पे होना ही लोगों के लिए राहत का काम करता है. बदले में हमें दिल के गहराईयों तक राहत दे जाता है. मसला बस उस रास्ते को तय करने का है.- मयूरी/Mayuri