September 2025 will mark the beginning of a transformative chapter in your life. As a new Banyan Impact Fellow, you are stepping into a journey that goes far beyond a 10-month assignment—it’s an immersion into India’s grassroots realities, its cultural depth, and the endless lessons the social sector has to offer.
So, what should you expect once you reach your Host Organization (HO) and begin the real work? Let’s walk through the landscape together.
1. The Cultural Kaleidoscope
India is not one country—it’s many worlds stitched together. The food, language, festivals, and even the rhythm of daily life change every few hundred kilometres. Imagine this: one fellow posted in rural Odisha wakes up to the sound of conch shells and sees people drawing alpana patterns outside their homes, while another in Gujarat finds herself surrounded by garba rehearsals weeks before Navratri.
Adapting to these cultural contexts will be both challenging and delightful. At first, you may feel like an outsider—your accent, dress, or eating habits may stand out. But slowly, you’ll realise that these differences are not barriers, they are invitations. An old saying goes, “Atithi Devo Bhava” (the guest is like God). You’ll be surprised at how often communities will open their homes, offer you chai, and tell you their stories.
2. Work Culture: Beyond the 9-to-5
Most NGOs in India don’t operate like a corporate office. Work timings may be fluid, resources limited, and the “HR department” might just be one person who also manages accounts! One fellow once shared that during her first week, her supervisor asked her to help draft a government letter in the morning and then accompany staff to a remote village on a motorbike in the afternoon.
This unpredictability is part of the learning. You may not have air-conditioned offices or structured meetings. Instead, you’ll learn to work under a banyan tree with villagers, draft reports by candlelight during power cuts, and attend team discussions over shared plates of poha or samosas. The mantra here is flexibility—“jaisa desh, waisa bhesh” (adapt to the ways of the place).
3. The Grassroots Reality Check
One of the most powerful aspects of the fellowship is direct exposure to the communities. You’ll meet people who live with resilience you can’t imagine—farmers battling drought, women fighting for education rights, young people dreaming of change in forgotten towns.
For example, a fellow working in Jharkhand once spent weeks trying to understand why school attendance was low. It wasn’t laziness or lack of interest—children were walking 3–4 km barefoot through forests, and many stayed back to help their families with seasonal farming. This kind of reality cannot be understood from a report; it hits you only when you’re sitting in those homes.
Expect some uncomfortable truths. Poverty, caste discrimination, gender biases, or bureaucratic hurdles will not just be stories you read—they will be realities you face. And yet, these moments often spark your deepest growth.
4. Festivals, Colours, and Community Life
If you’re lucky, your fellowship year will overlap with India’s vibrant festival calendar. Picture this: celebrating Diwali in a village where houses are lit with oil lamps instead of fairy lights, or joining a Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata where strangers feed you sweets like family.
Festivals are not just about joy—they’re community glue. They’ll give you opportunities to bond with colleagues, neighbours, and villagers in ways no workshop can. Don’t hesitate to join in, whether it’s helping prepare sweets or learning to tie a turban during a local fair.
5. The Challenge of Norms and Practices
You may come from an urban background where gender roles, hierarchy, or communication styles differ greatly from those in rural settings. In some villages, men may expect women to sit separately during meetings, or elders may hesitate to take suggestions from someone younger. At first, these dynamics may frustrate you.
Here, patience and humility will be your biggest allies. Instead of rushing to “fix” things, observe how change is already happening within the community. Remember the Hindi proverb: “Dheere dheere se re mana, dheere sab kuch hoye” (slowly, slowly, everything happens).
6. Happy Surprises Along the Way
Not everything will be a challenge. Many moments will fill you with pure joy. You may find a group of children teaching you their folk songs, a grandmother insisting you taste her homemade pickle, or a local staff member gifting you a handwoven scarf at the end of a project.
A fellow once shared how she learned more about leadership by watching village women run their self-help group meetings than from any management book. These surprises are the hidden treasures of the fellowship.
7. Personal Growth You Didn’t See Coming
Over the months, you’ll notice subtle shifts in yourself. You’ll become more patient when internet fails for hours, more resourceful when faced with limited tools, and more empathetic when you listen to stories of struggle and resilience.
By the end of 10 months, you won’t just have a stronger résumé—you’ll carry stories, friendships, and insights that will stay for life. A fellow once said, “I came here to serve, but I ended up being served—with lessons, with love, with perspective.”
8. Tips to Keep in Mind
- Embrace the unknown: Don’t expect clarity on everything. Sometimes, “learning by doing” is the only way.
- Document your journey: Keep a diary, take photos, record conversations (with consent). Years later, these will be gold.
- Stay rooted in values: Challenges may shake you, but your belief in equity, justice, and dignity will guide you.
- Find joy in small wins: A girl returning to school, a farmer trying a new technique, a government officer listening—these are victories.
- Lean on your cohort: The fellowship community is your family. Share, vent, and celebrate together.
The Banyan Impaganct Fellowship is not a straight road—it’s more like a winding village path, full of bumps, detours, and breathtaking views. You’ll laugh, struggle, adapt, and discover more about India—and yourself—than you imagined.
As you begin this journey, remember the timeless Kabir couplet:
“Dheere dheere re mana, dheere sab kuch hoye,
Mali seenche sau ghada, ritu aaye phal hoye.”
(Go gently, everything unfolds in its own time. A gardener may pour a hundred pots of water, but fruits only come in their season.)
Welcome aboard. May your 10 months be full of colour, learning, and purpose.
