Building Bridges in Disability Matters: My Journey in India (Dec 2024 to Jan 2025)

Between December 2024-January 2025, I visited India as part of the Disability Matters programme, with an intention and aspiration to build meaningful relationships with the local Disabled People’s Organisation (DPO), AADI, and academic partners in Delhi. I also reconnected with long-standing partners like Swabhiman in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, my hometown, further expanding our programme’s networks. This work-focused trip turned into a space of meaningful connection, joy and immense learning. Working alongside the DPOs, AADI, and Swabhiman, I immersed myself in the lived realities of people advocating for disability rights in India and how they provided uninhibited inclusion. These organisations play a pivotal role in shaping the country’s disability movement, and their insights shaped our research proposal for Phase 2, Health Priorities, of the programme in invaluable ways. 

Caption (From Left to Right): Meeting our DPO partners- AADI, Delhi and Swabhiman, Bhubaneswar

Our discussions went beyond research; I had the exciting opportunity to visit the local communities they work with in rural and urban settings and the projects/initiatives they run, giving me a window into the everyday challenges faced by disabled people in the country, the brilliant work they have been doing in the grassroots for decades and offered critical perspectives on how we could genuinely collaborate for meaningful change. These visits and projects reiterated the importance of taking an intersectional approach and significance of context while working with disabled people in the diverse pluriversal landscape of India.

Caption: Visit to one of the rural communities that AADI works with in Ballabgarh, Delhi NCR

The time I spent with our partners in India was heartwarming. From the moment I arrived, the warmth and hospitality of everyone I met reminded me of the generosity and celebratory spirit the country offers. The process of relationship-building was not transactional but rather a continuous flow of conversations, learning, and shared experiences. Each interaction was an opportunity to deepen our mutual understanding and refine our collaborative work, ensuring all voices were heard. It underscored the importance of listening actively, learning together, and sharing ownership of the project. This process involved trust-building through honest communication and mutual recognition, adapting flexibly to new insights and shifting circumstances, allowing us to respond in ways that aligned with the community’s needs and priorities. We embraced shared decision making and reciprocity in knowledge exchange, as we discussed the mutual benefits of our collaborative partnership. This meant I was not only learning immensely from our partners but could also offer some training for the staff in reflections on participatory research and its practice. Every exchange reflected a commitment to making the research truly collaborative and responsive, giving a wonderful sense of community.

Caption: Delivering training to DPO staff on Participatory Action Research

One of the most memorable aspects of the trip was the time spent sharing meals. These informal moments allowed us to connect on a deeper level. It was not just about the food—it was about truly connecting with one another, and building trust that would form the foundation of our ongoing work. It was during these moments that we shared stories, and established bonds that transcended professional roles. As our conversations progressed, new ideas emerged that often shifted the direction of our research. Our willingness to embrace these evolving insights ensured the work remained aligned with the community’s priorities. This flexibility was essential in creating a research process that was not only collaborative but also dynamic and adaptable to change.

Caption: Sharing meals together during our catch-ups

Building relationships like these takes time. It requires patience, openness, and a deep commitment to mutual learning. The partnerships formed were built on a foundation of trust, respect, and shared goals, making the collaboration enriching. Reflecting on my time in India, it is clear that research is about much more than just outcomes. It is shaped by the relationships we build, the trust we nurture and the joyous sense of community. This trip reaffirmed that meaningful research is rooted in the process of being present, embracing both the challenges and rewards of building genuine partnerships. It is through these moments of connection and community— shared meals, honest conversations, and collective learning—that real progress is made. Moving forward, I carry with me the lessons of trust, reciprocity, flexibility, and a sense of shared ownership, which I believe are essential for research that challenges traditional power dynamics and opens new possibilities for disability knowledge generation across transnational contexts.