10 million of 27 million slaves of the modern world live in India. A short film based on the story of the slaves of Sonbarsa, Uttar Pradesh inspires hope.

The 18 minute film produced by Free The Slaves focuses on the residents of the village of Sonbarsa, enslaved quarry workers, and their freedom from the forces of landlords and contractors. It focuses on the change in lives from being a slave to being a free quarry worker, the building of a new community Azad Nagar, after Sonbarsa was burnt down by the landlords.

The stories of some formerly enslaved quarry workers is encapsulated – stories of an 8 year old girl burnt on a whim, of a quarry worker beaten up at will, of a widow – also an enslaved quarry worker – who had no choice but accept abuse.

It is also the story of Sankalp – an NGO based in Shankargarh, Uttar Pradesh – and its work in freeing the quarry workers as well as ensuring that they have livelihoods as free people so that they are not vulnerable to becoming slaves again.

As Ginny Bauman from Free the Slaves points out, this approach of freeing the slaves and empowering them to continue to sustain themselves through livelihoods with skills they already had is revolutionary. It has rejected claims of various ‘experts’ that slaves must be trained before they are freed thus making the process of freeing them even harder.

Over 200 microcredit unions have been set up with freed slaves in Uttar Pradesh. Once the saving reaches a critical mass, banks have begun to match the savings. But most importantly, Sankalp has been able to facilitate livelihoods. For example, in the case of residents of Azad Nagar, the government was made to grant a lease to a quarry and the lease is owned by a cooperative of the freed slaves.

In addition, with advice from faculty of the social science department of G. B. Pant College, a regional federation of over 4000 freed slaves is being set up so that they can collectively have a greater voice.

And we hear these voices – voices of free people – as they have begun to work on their future. We hear them plan schools for their children and even literacy programs for themselves, for increased forestation in their neighborhood, and even plans to demand government health services. The women are most affected by slavery, Rampal points out, and now they are most proactive in planning their future.

These voices are excited and quite contagious. The freed slaves tell us stories of going and speaking in nearby villages where other enslaved workers live, sharing with them their struggle and their success. But, one voice posits, fear is paralyzing and he has known that fear. Yet, it is only a matter of time before these communities join the movement as well.

There a numerous questions that rise but remain unanswered as must happen in such a short film. For example, we want to know about the dynamics between the landlords and the freed slaves. What are the forces that enslave these communities and successfully resist laws of the nation by which there should be no slaves? What has been the role of the local government where the landlords must have significant influence? What is the role of land reform and how is it part of Sankalp’s plans? In a globalized world, what is the role of international communities in helping to end slavery?

Perhaps, these are questions that we need to ask. The film for its part does a good job of raising these questions. But most importantly, it shows us one set of stories where freedom has been possible.

The film was reviewed by Sanat Mohanty. Copies of the film can be obtained from www.freetheslaves.net, by email: info@freetheslaves.net or phone: 001-202-638-1865.

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