How women in rural India turned courage into capital | Chetna Gala Sinha

譯者: Lilian Chiu 審譯者: Qiwen Lu

I'm here to tell you not just my story

我來這裡，要跟大家 分享的不僅是我的故事，

but stories of exceptional women from India whom I've met.

還有我遇見的幾位 不凡的印度女性的故事。

They continue to inspire me,

在我人生的道路上，

teach me, guide me in my journey of my life.

這些故事一直鼓舞我、 教導我、引導我。

These are incredible women.

這些女人相當了不起。

They never had an opportunity to go to school,

她們從來沒有機會上學，

they had no degrees,

她們沒有學位，

no travel, no exposure.

沒有遊歷，沒有曝光。

Ordinary women who did extraordinary things

平凡的女人做出不凡的事，

with the greatest of their courage,

她們有最偉大的勇氣、

wisdom and humility.

智慧，以及謙卑。

These are my teachers.

她們是我的老師。

For the last three decades,

在過去三十年，

I've been working, staying and living in India

我在印度工作、居留、生活，

and working with women in rural India.

和印度農村的女性合作。

I was born and brought up in Mumbai.

我在孟買出生和長大。

When I was in college,

我讀大學時，

I met Jayaprakash Narayan,

我遇到了賈雅普拉卡什納拉揚，

famous Gandhian leader

他是著名的甘地主義領袖，

who inspired youth to work in rural India.

他鼓勵年輕人在印度農村工作。

I went into the villages to work in rural India.

為了在印度農村工作， 我進到村子裡。

I was part of land rights movement,

我參與了地權運動、

farmers' movement

農夫運動，

and women's movement.

以及女性運動。

On the same line,

我一直用這樣的方式，

I ended up in a very small village,

最後到了一個非常小的村子，

fell in love with a young, handsome, dynamic young farmer-leader

愛上了一個年輕英俊

且很有動能的年輕農夫領袖，

who was not very educated,

他沒有受過多少教育，

but he could pull the crowd.

但他能夠帶動群眾。

And so in the passion of youth,

出於年輕人的熱情，

I married him

我嫁給他了，

and left Mumbai,

並離開了孟買，

and went to a small village which did not have running water

到一個小村子去， 那裡沒有自來水，沒有廁所。

and no toilet.

Honestly, my family and friends were horrified.

老實說，我的家人 和朋友都嚇壞了。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

I was staying with my family,

我和我的家人同住，

with my three children in the village,

我和三個孩子同住在村子裡。

and one day,

有一天，

a few years later one day,

幾年後的某一天，

a woman called Kantabai came to me.

一名叫做坎塔貝的女子來找我，

Kantabai said, "I want to open a saving account.

坎塔貝說：「我想開個儲蓄帳戶。

I want to save."

我想要存錢。」

I asked Kantabai:

我問坎塔貝：

"You are doing business of blacksmith.

「你在做鐵匠的工作。

Do you have enough money to save?

你有足夠的錢可以存嗎？

You are staying on the street.

你還住在街頭。

Can you save?"

你能存錢嗎？」

Kantabai was insistent.

坎塔貝很堅持。

She said, "I want to save because I want to buy a plastic sheet

她說：「我想要存錢，因為我想要

在雨季來臨之前買一片塑膠板

before the monsoons arrive.

I want to save my family from rain."

為我的家人遮雨。」

I went with Kantabai to the bank.

我和坎塔貝一起去銀行。

Kantabai wanted to save 10 rupees a day --

坎塔貝想要一天存十盧比，

less than 15 cents.

那還不到十五分錢。

Bank manager refused to open the account of Kantabai.

銀行經理拒絕幫坎塔貝開帳戶。

He said Kantabai's amount is too small

他說坎塔貝的金額太小了，

and it's not worth his time.

不值得他花時間。

Kantabai was not asking any loan from the bank.

坎塔貝沒有向這間銀行要求貸款。

She was not asking any subsidy or grant from the government.

她也沒有向政府要求任何補助金。

What she was asking was to have a safe place

她想要的只是一個安全的地方，

to save her hard-earned money.

讓她可以安心存放辛苦賺來的錢。

And that was her right.

那是她的權利。

And I went --

而我去——

I said if banks are not opening the account of Kantabai,

我說，如果銀行不為坎塔貝開戶，

why not start the bank

那為什麼不開一間銀行，

which will give an opportunity for women like Kantabai to save?

提供像坎塔貝這樣的女性 一個存錢的機會？

And I applied for the banking license to Reserve Bank of India.

我向印度儲備銀行 申請了銀行業務執照。

(Applause)

（掌聲）

No, it was not an easy task.

不，那並不是很簡單的事。

Our license was rejected --

我們的執照申請被拒絕了。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

on the grounds --

原因是，

Reserve Bank said that we cannot issue a license

儲備銀行說，不能發執照給

to the bank whose promoting members who are nonliterate.

提倡的成員不識字的銀行。

I was terrified.

我怔住了。

I was crying.

我哭了。

And by coming back home,

回到家，

I was continuously crying.

我還不斷在哭。

I told Kantabai and other women

我告訴坎塔貝和其他女性，

that we couldn't get the license because our women are nonliterate.

我們無法取得執照， 因為我們的女性們不識字。

Our women said, "Stop crying.

我們的女性們說：「別哭了。

We will learn to read and write

我們就來學讀和寫，

and apply again, so what?"

然後再申請一次，又怎樣？」

(Applause)

（掌聲）

We started our literacy classes.

我們開始了識字課。

Every day our women would come.

每天，我們的女性們都會來上課。

They were so determined that after working the whole day,

她們非常堅決，工作了一整天之後，

they would come to the class and learn to read and write.

還會來上課，學習讀和寫。

After five months,

五個月後，

we applied again,

我們再次申請，

but this time I didn't go alone.

但這一次，我不是一個人去的。

Fifteen women accompanied me to Reserve Bank of India.

十五位女性陪我一起到 印度儲備銀行。

Our women told the officer of Reserve Bank,

我們的女性們告訴 儲備銀行的主管：

"You rejected the license because we cannot read and write.

「你之前因為我們不能讀寫 而拒絕了執照申請。

You rejected the license because we are nonliterate."

因為我們不識字而拒絕發照。」

But they said, "There were no schools when we were growing,

但她們說：「我們 成長的過程中沒有學校，

so we are not responsible for our noneducation."

所以我們沒受教育 並不是我們的錯。」

And they said, "We cannot read and write,

她們說：「我們不能讀和寫，

but we can count."

但我們會算。」

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

(Applause)

（掌聲）

And they challenged the officer.

她們挑戰那位主管。

"Then tell us to calculate the interest of any principal amount."

「那就叫我們計算 任何本金的利息。」

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

"If we are unable to do it,

「如果我們算不出來，

don't give us license.

就不要發執照給我們。

Tell your officers to do it without a calculator

叫你的職員不用計算機來算，

and see who can calculate faster."

看誰算得比較快。」

(Applause)

（掌聲）

Needless to say,

不用說，

we got the banking license.

我們得到銀行業務執照了。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

(Applause)

（掌聲）

Today, more than 100,000 women are banking with us

現今，我們有超過十萬名女客戶，

and we have more than 20 million dollars of capital.

資本額超過兩千萬美元。

This is all women's savings,

通通都是女性的存款，

women capital,

女性的資本，

no outside investors asking for a business plan.

沒有外在的投資者 要求要提供事業計畫。

No.

沒有。

It's our own rural women's savings.

這都是我們農村女性的存款。

(Applause)

（掌聲）

I also want to say that yes,

我也想要說，是的，

after we got the license,

在我們取得執照之後，

today Kantabai has her own house

坎塔貝現在已經有了自己的房子，

and is staying with her family

和她的家人住在一起，

in her own house for herself and her family.

她和家人住在自己的房子裡。

(Applause)

（掌聲）

When we started our banking operations,

當我們開始銀行的營運時，

I could see that our women were not able to come to the bank

我發現我們的女性無法來銀行，

because they used to lose the working day.

因為這樣她們就會無法工作。

I thought if women are not coming to the bank,

我心想，如果女性無法來銀行，

bank will go to them,

那銀行就去找她們，

and we started doorstep banking.

我們就開始了家門銀行業務。

Recently, we starting digital banking.

最近，我們開始了數位銀行業務。

Digital banking required to remember a PIN number.

數位銀行業務需要記得 PIN 碼。

Our women said, "We don't want a PIN number.

我們的女性說： 「我們不想要 PIN 碼。

That's not a good idea."

那不是個好點子。」

And we tried to explain to them

我們試著向她們解釋

that maybe you should remember the PIN number;

也許你們應該記住 PIN 碼；

we will help you to remember the PIN number.

我們會協助你們記住 PIN 碼。

They were firm.

她們很堅定。

They said, "suggest something else,"

她們說：「來點別的建議。」

and they --

她們——

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

and they said, "What about thumb?"

她們說：「用拇指如何？」

I thought that's a great idea.

我認為那是個很棒的點子。

We'll link that digital banking with biometric,

我們把數位銀行業務 和生物測定學連結，

and now women use the digital financial transaction

現在，女人只要用拇指

就可以進行數位財務交易。

by using the thumb.

And you know what they said?

你們知道她們怎麼說嗎？

They said, "Anybody can steal my PIN number

她們說：「任何人 都能偷走我的 PIN 碼，

and take away my hard-earned money,

拿走我的血汗錢，

but nobody can steal my thumb."

但沒有人能偷走我的拇指。」

(Applause)

（掌聲）

That reinforced the teaching which I have always learned from women:

那完全展現出了我從 女人身上所學到的事：

never provide poor solutions to poor people.

絕不要提供蹩腳的解決方案給窮人。

They are smart.

他們很聰明。

(Applause)

（掌聲）

A few months later,

幾個月之後，

another woman came to the bank --

另一位女性來到銀行——

Kerabai.

克拉拜。

She mortgaged her gold and took the loan.

她抵押了她的金子，取得了貸款。

I asked Kerabai, "Why are you mortgaging your precious jewelry

我問克拉拜：「你為什麼 要把你寶貴的珠寶拿來抵押

and taking a loan?"

取得貸款？」

Kerabai said, "Don't you realize that it's a terrible drought?

克拉拜說：「你不知道 旱災很嚴重嗎？

There's no food or fodder for the animals.

沒有食物或飼料可以給動物吃。

No water.

沒有水。

I'm mortgaging gold to buy food and fodder for my animals."

我把金子拿來抵押，是為了 買食物和飼料給我的動物吃。」

And then she asks me, "Can I mortgage gold and get water?"

接著，她問我：「我能 把金子抵押換成水嗎？」

I had no answer.

我沒有答案。

Kerabai challenged me: "You're working in the village

克拉拜挑戰我：「你在村子裡做

with women and finance,

女性的財務工作，

but what if one day there's no water?

但如果有一天，沒有水了呢？

If you leave this village,

如果你離開這個村子，

with whom are you going to do banking?"

你要跟誰做銀行生意？」

Kerabai had a valid question,

克拉拜的問題是有根據的，

so in this drought,

所以，在這場旱災時，

we decided to start the cattle camp in the area.

我們決定要在這個區域 開始一個牲口營。

It's where farmers can bring their animals to one place

農場主可以把他們的動物 帶到這個地方，

and get fodder and water.

取得飼料和水。

It didn't rain.

一直沒有下雨。

Cattle camp was extended for 18 months.

牲口營延長到了十八個月。

Kerabai used to move around in the cattle camp

克拉拜那時會在牲口營中到處跑，

and sing the songs of encouragement.

唱一些鼓勵的歌曲。

Kerabai became very popular.

克拉拜變得很有名。

It rained and cattle camp was ended,

後來下雨了，牲口營就終止了，

but after cattle camp ended,

但在牲口營終止後，

Kerabai came to our radio --

克拉拜來到我們的無線電台——

we have community radio

我們有社區無線電台，

which has more than 100,000 listeners.

有超過十萬名聽眾。

She said, "I want to have a regular show on the radio."

她說：「我想要在電台 有個固定的節目。」

Our radio manager said, "Kerabai, you cannot read and write.

我們的電台經理說： 「克拉拜，你不會讀和寫。

How will you write the script?"

你要如何寫劇本？」

You know what she replied?

你們知道她怎麼回嗎？

"I cannot read and write,

「我不會讀和寫，

but I can sing.

但我會唱。

What's the big deal?"

有什麼大不了的？」

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

And today,

現今，

Kerabai is doing a regular radio program,

克拉拜有一個固定的 無線電台節目，

and not only that,

不只如此，

she's become a famous radio jockey

她還成了有名的電台 DJ，

and she has been invited by all of the radios,

各個電台都想邀請她，

even from Mumbai.

包括孟買的電台。

She gets the invitation and she does the show.

她受到邀請，她就去做節目。

(Applause)

（掌聲）

Kerabai has become a local celebrity.

克拉拜變成了當地的名人。

One day I asked Kerabai,

有一天，我問克拉拜：

"How did you end up singing?"

「你為什麼最後會選擇唱歌？」

She said, "Shall I tell you the real fact?

她說：「我該告訴你真相嗎？

When I was pregnant with my first child,

當我懷了第一個孩子時，

I was always hungry.

我總是很飢餓。

I did not have enough food to eat.

我沒有足夠的食物可以吃。

I did not have enough money to buy food,

我沒有足夠的錢可以買食物，

and so to forget my hunger, I started singing."

所以，為了忘卻飢餓， 我開始唱歌。」

So strong and wise, no?

很堅強也很睿智，對吧？

I always think that our women overcome so many obstacles --

我總是認為我們的女性 克服了許多障礙——

cultural, social, financial --

文化的、社會的、財務的——

and they find out their ways.

她們找到自己的路。

I would like to share another story:

我還想要分享另一個故事：

Sunita Kamble.

蘇妮塔坎布里。

She has taken a course in a business school,

她在商業學校上課，

and she has become a veterinary doctor.

她變成了獸醫。

She's Dalit;

她是賤民；

she comes from an untouchable caste,

她來自最低的階層，

but she does artificial insemination in goats.

但她做羊的人工授精。

It is a very male-dominated profession

那是個非常男性主導的職業，

and it is all the more difficult for Sunita

且對蘇妮塔來說更是困難，

because Sunita comes from an untouchable caste.

因為蘇妮塔來自最低的階層。

But she worked very hard.

但她非常努力。

She did successful goat deliveries in the region

她在那個地區讓小羊成功出生，

and she became a famous goat doctor.

且她變成了有名的羊醫生。

Recently, she got a national award.

最近，她得到了一個國家獎項，

I went to Sunita's house to celebrate --

我到蘇妮塔的家中慶祝——

to congratulate her.

去恭喜她。

When I entered the village,

當我進入村子時，

I saw a big cutout of Sunita.

我看到蘇妮塔的大型看板圖片。

Sunita was smiling on that picture.

圖片中的蘇妮塔在微笑。

I was really surprised to see an untouchable,

我真的感到很意外，一個賤民，

coming from the village,

來自村子，

having a big cutout at the entrance of the village.

她的大型看板圖片 就放在村子的入口。

When I went to her house,

當我到了她家時，

I was even more amazed

還有更讓我驚奇的，

because upper caste leaders --

因為上層階級的領導人——

men -- were sitting in the house, in her house,

男人——就坐在房子裡， 她的房子裡，

and having chai and water,

喝印度奶茶和水，

which is very rare in India.

這在印度是非常罕見的。

Upper caste leaders do not go to an untouchable's house

上層階級的領導人 不會去賤民的房子

and have chai or water.

喝印度奶茶和水。

And they were requesting her

他們希望她能

to come and address the gathering of the village.

參與村子的聚會並在聚會上演說。

Sunita broke centuries-old caste conditioning in India.

蘇妮塔打破了印度有 數世紀歷史的階級條件。

(Applause)

（掌聲）

Let me come to what the younger generations do.

讓我來談談年輕世代會做什麼。

As I'm standing here --

我站在這裡——

I'm so proud as I stand here,

我很驕傲我能站在這裡，

from Mhaswad to Vancouver.

從姆哈斯瓦德到溫哥華。

Back home, Sarita Bhise --

在家鄉，薩莉塔貝賽——

she's not even 16 years old.

她甚至還不到十六歲。

She's preparing herself --

她在讓自己做好準備——

she's a part of our sports program,

她是我們運動計畫的一員，

Champions' program.

冠軍計畫。

She's preparing herself to represent India in field hockey.

她在讓自己做好準備， 代表印度參加曲棍球賽。

And you know where she's going?

你們知道她要去哪裡嗎？

She's going to represent in 2020 Olympics, Tokyo.

2020 年她要代表去東京奧運。

(Applause)

（掌聲）

Sarita comes from a very poor shepherd community.

薩莉塔來自一個 非常貧窮的牧羊社區。

I am just -- I couldn't be more proud of her.

我只是——我對她太感到驕傲了。

There are millions of women like Sarita, Kerabai, Sunita,

有數百萬名像薩莉塔、 克拉拜、蘇妮塔這樣的女人，

who can be around you also.

你們身邊可能也有。

They can be all over the world,

可能全世界都有這樣的人，

but at first glance you may think that they do not have anything to say,

但看第一眼時，你可能會 認為她們沒有什麼可以說的，

they do not have anything to share.

她們沒有什麼可以分享的。

You would be so wrong.

那你就大錯特錯了。

I am so lucky that I'm working with these women.

我很幸運，能和這些女性合作。

They are sharing their stories with me,

她們和我分享她們的故事，

they are sharing their wisdom with me,

和我分享她們的智慧，

and I'm just lucky to be with them.

我很幸運能和她們在一起。

20 years before --

二十年前——

and I'm so proud --

且我很驕傲——

we went to Reserve Bank of India

我去了印度儲備銀行，

and we set up the first rural women's bank.

且設立了第一間農村女人的銀行。

Today they are pushing me to go to National Stock Exchange

現在，她們在催促我 去全國股票交易所，

to set up the first fund dedicated to micro rural women entrepreneurs.

設立第一個專門提供給 農村女性微型創業家的基金。

They are pushing me to set up

她們在催促我成立

the first small finance women's bank in the world.

世界上第一個女性小型金融銀行。

And as one of them said,

正如她們其中一人說的：

"My courage is my capital."

「我的勇氣就是我的資本。」

And I say here,

我說，在這裡，

their courage is my capital.

她們的勇氣就是我的資本。

And if you want,

如果你願意，

it can be yours also.

她們的勇氣也能成為你的資本。

Thank you.

謝謝。

(Applause)

（掌聲）