A Culturally Relevant Sustainable Research Practice Partnership (RPP) in Rural India

From the very beginning, our collaboration between educators at Jnana Prabodhini, Harali, and researchers from SUNY Buffalo (USA) and New Delhi (India) has been guided by the belief that educational research is inherently relational. Inspired by Indigenous scholars who advocate for relationality as a framework that recognizes the deep interconnectedness between people, place, and community, we grounded our partnership in mutual respect and shared purpose.

 

While India’s rapid economic growth has been shaped by capitalism, the fabric of its society remains deeply relational. In Indian culture, extended families, close friends, and community networks play a vital role in supporting an individual’s well-being and success. Acknowledging this, we adopted relationality as the foundation of our partnership-building process, a perspective that stands apart from many Western models of collaboration.

 

This framework invites us to rethink the boundaries between the professional and the personal, encouraging more authentic and trust-based connections. 

 

By engaging in these informal, culturally significant spaces, our researchers and partners deepen their understanding of local contexts and nurture relationships that extend beyond the workplace. This approach strengthens collaboration, fosters mutual respect, and creates a strong foundation for meaningful, community-centered research.