maraa

Maraa means Tree in Kannada , A ‘non profit’ Trust, rooted to the philosophy of community media. We are a collective committed to reclaim media spaces and media scapes, for individuals and communities.

We aim to create platforms for expression through media and the creative arts to build and strengthen networks, foster debate and dialogue, share and learn from experiences. By playing a facilitative role, we encourage people to take responsibility for addressing their struggles, represent themselves, and become self-reliant.

We feel the need to challenge existing definitions of ‘development’, ‘community’, ‘media’, and explore other dimensions and perspectives to these words with an in-depth approach.

Electronic media, has, in collective consciousness, been either monopolised by governments, or been controlled by private interests. This has largely led to content about state sponsored concepts of development and progress, or entertainment which discourages critical thinking, and incites consumeristic behaviour.

The ‘Other’ space

Maraa seeks to reclaim some of this space for communities, by setting up appropriate and relevant media technologies. We feel that this approach will be sustainable as well as address issues of participation, censorship and cost divides. We also feel the need to promote the underlying concepts of Open Source media and technologies, which inherently promote cross sharing and provide an enabling environment within the Information Society.

As a Media Collective, we hope to seek the vast expertise of various stakeholders, and go beyond terms like media professionals and so on. With digital media/appropriate traditional media combines, come opportunities for all communities to innovate and express themselves in ways not possible previously.

Theory and Practice

We also see a need to emphasise upon fresh and innovative theoretical frameworks, which feed into action research, lending solidity and sustainability to work undertaken in the development sector.

Expanding Networks

While there exists a rapidly burgeoning social sector in India, there lacks a spirit of cooperation and sharing of learnings, leading to redundancy and replication. By cooperating and partnering with existing networks in various sectors, Maraa hopes to foster an environment of learning and sharing.

Creative Expression

Finally Maraa is also keen on redefining concepts of communication within development, by giving importance to tone of voice, as opposed to merely providing a media platform for voice. This means incorporating creative expression along with issue based content.