Linked with Binayak Sen – India.
Rupantar is founded in 1992, and started its operations from 1994 in Khulna and Bagerhat district. At the beginning activities were mainly cultural; Rupantar activists performed theaters and popular folk music on various social issues.
The fundamental principal of Rupantar is based on the hypothesis that culture and sustainable development are closely connected. This connection is an emerging concept in the development world. Although the identity of a society is largely determined by its culture, yet is difficult for any society to have a static sense of the culture. Both society and culture are changing simultaneously.
Vision: Establishing a Gender Equitable Democratic Society with Cultural Values, Free From Injustice and Superstitions
Mission & Strategy;
Intervention;
Development;
Achievements;
Photo Gallery;
Comming special events 2007-2008;
Democracy & Governance Programme;
Contact.
About: RUPANTAR: AGENT FOR SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION
The connection between culture and development works at least in three ways. First, cultural diversity can be used as a national asset for developing the tourism industry. Therefore, it is essential to restore and preserve heritage, various traditions, folk songs, dances, dramas and theatre etc. Secondly, culture can be used as a means for building awareness among people, especially among the illiterate. In this respect, theater, folk songs and other indigenous forms of entertainment can be used to raise awareness and inform people of new ideas. This form of entertainment media can also be used to strengthen the participatory process, organizational capacity building, conflict resolution and towards ensuring good governance. Thirdly, culture can be used to counter the negative forces or impacts that prevail as social customs, norms and beliefs having detrimental effects on economic and social development.
Rupantar attempts to address culture-development connection in all three ways. In facilitating social transformation, they undertakes initiatives for advocacy and raising awareness, disseminating information at the grassroots levels, etc. by using culture. They promote theaters, popular publications and traditional folk songs to communicate developmental and other social issues to the people. They revive, restore and use various forms of local culture. They use positive culture to remove prejudice, incorrect information, myths, superstitions, etc. and in the process try to unite the community and build social cohesion.
The workers of Rupantar are mainly activists with extensive experience in working at the grassroots level. Over the years, they have developed the capacity to organize people at the grassroots level and an understanding about the dynamics of a society. In addressing social issues, they are practical, result-oriented, innovative and risk-taker. The organizational structure of Rupantar is not vary hierarchical in nature, and has shown good team spirit. These characteristics are essential for undertaking activities in areas of socio-political development at the grassroots level.