Mari Marcel Thekaekara is a writer and co-founder of ACCORD – the Action for Community Organisation, Rehabilitation and Development.

Born into a deeply religious family, Mari was brought up with a Jesuit Catholic education that taught her to question all her beliefs and developed a deep sense of empathy within her. She went on to join several institutes that shaped her passion for social action such as the All India Catholic University Federation, or AICUF, and the International Grail which is a socio-cultural movement grounded in Christian faith.

Mari met Stan Thekaekara in 1980, a meeting that shaped the rest of her life. In 1984, Mari and Stan with their young family moved to the Nilgiris in Tamil Nadu, to work with the tribal communities of Gudalur. Their early work culminated in ACCORD, an organization which today works on multiple aspects of tribal rights and livelihoods.

Mari has written extensively on the issues of Dalit and Adivasi human rights for national and international newspapers and magazines such as The Hindu, Frontline, Economic and Political Weekly, New Internationalist and The Guardian.

Much of her research over the years has been focused on safai karamcharis, or the manual scavenger communities. In 1999, she published a book ‘Endless Filth.’ Her work has received international acclaim, including a piece she wrote for The Hindu on children of sanitation workers that won the Press Club “best article of the month” award in 2004.

At every turning point in her life, Mari Marcel Thekaekara has chosen to lead the way with love and respect for the people around her.

In this episode, Mari is in conversation with Dr. Roopa Devadasan, a Public Health expert and school teacher and former colleague.

This conversation was recorded at the Bangalore International Centre in Bengaluru.
For more information, reach us at www.rohininilekaniphilanthropies.org

Additional Audio
Malasar Tribe Promised Land Pattas, but Also Asked to Vacate by NewsClickin CC BY 3.0
Gudalur adivasi to vattakalie by Sivaraj Ravi
Gujarat Officials Deny Continuation of Manual Scavenging by VideoVolunteers CC BY 3.0
Outlawed 25 Years Ago, Manual Scavenging Still a Reality in India by VideoVolunteers CC BY 3.0