Shishpal: A Lone Warrior Fighting for Change

In the villages of Hanumangarh, Rajasthan, where inequality and lack of access to basic services are part of daily life, Shishpal has spent over two decades working for those often left behind—tribal communities, women, students, and daily wage workers. Social work is not his profession; it is his purpose.

His journey began when he was just twenty and still a student. He had seen firsthand how people in his community struggled—how women were confined to their homes, how students dropped out due to financial constraints, and how daily wage workers labored without any social security. This stirred something within him. “Mujhe kabhi paison ke liye kaam karna pasand nahi aaya. Mujhe lagta hai main kisi ke kaam aa raha hoon, bas wahi kaafi hai,” he says. What began as a desire to be useful soon turned into a lifelong commitment.

What began as a desire to feel useful soon turned into a calling. Over the years, he has helped thousands of people secure pensions, scholarships, and labor certification cards (Mazdoor Praman Patra), which allow workers to access government benefits. He has fought for their right to dignity, sometimes against the system meant to serve them. 

For years, Shishpal worked tirelessly, helping people access schemes and entitlements. But something was missing. He knew the systems and struggles, but he didn’t always know how to connect the two through a rights-based lens. That changed when he attended the We The People Abhiyan (WTPA) training. It was a moment of awakening. “I had never understood the Constitution so deeply as I was able to during the workshop. The methodology was different—there were games, activities, and role-plays. It was very interesting,” he recalls.

The experience was nothing like the routine government training he had encountered before. This one made the Constitution come alive—it wasn’t just about laws; it was about lived realities. For the first time, he saw how the problems he encountered every day—lack of water, poor roads, missing pensions—were not just complaints, but constitutional concerns. And more importantly, he learned how to act on them.

The true test of his learning came just weeks after the training. His village had been reeling under a severe water crisis—years had passed without any real solution, and complaints had routinely been ignored. But this time, Shishpal approached the issue differently. Backed by his newfound understanding of constitutional rights, he and his colleagues drafted a detailed application, linking the crisis to the right to life and dignity. 

They presented the application during a Night Chaupal, a public meeting attended by the District Collector. But for Shishpal, submission was only the beginning. He relentlessly followed up—meeting the Block Development Officer, budget officials, and engineering departments—pushing the case until it could no longer be set aside.

His persistence worked. “Collector ne assure kiya hai ki 1–2 mahine me paani aa jayega… pipeline wagairah ka maal la kar daal diya gaya hai,” he shared, his voice filled with quiet pride.

That day, they didn’t stop at just one issue. Alongside the water crisis, Shishpal also raised another long-standing concern: a muddy and unsafe road that children used to reach school every day. “Bachche wahan se school jaate hain, usko pakka karwane ke liye application likhi thi,” he explained. Once again, the Collector responded positively, and this time too, Shishpal kept the pressure on. “Humne iska follow-up kiya, BDO se mile, budget waale adhikaari se baat ki. Sadak ka kaam March ke baad shuru ho jayega.”

For a village long ignored by the system, these developments were proof that when people understand their rights and demand action, the state must listen.

The WTPA training didn’t just change how he worked; it changed him as a person. He admits that he used to be impatient, often frustrated when tasks weren’t completed quickly. As a District Resource Person, he had a habit of pressuring people to work faster, regardless of quality. But the training gave him a new perspective. "Mujhe koi kaam na hone pe kaafi gussa aata tha. Upar se mere pe pressure aata tha aur main wahi pressure doosron pe daalta tha. Jab kaam nahi hota tha toh main bahut gussa karta tha. Ab main sochta hoon ki humein unpe gussa nahi karna chahiye. Pehle mujhe khud paripakv hona hoga."

He also began to see gender biases more clearly. Many women in his village practice Ghoonghat Pratha, covering their faces in public. Before, he had never questioned it. But after hearing women speak about their struggles, he realized that many of them wanted to step out, work, and be financially independent. "Mahilayen kehti hain ki ghar se nikal kar kuch kaam karna chahti hain. Unhe haq-adhikaar jaanna achha lagta hai, par rozgaar bhi zaroori hai." Through his work, he now focuses on ensuring that equality and livelihood go hand in hand.

Despite the obstacles, he believes learning must never stop. He wants regular physical meetings, as he finds in-person discussions more effective than online ones. He also sees the need for stronger networking opportunities, where citizen champions like him can come together, share experiences, and strategize for the future. More resources for awareness campaigns are also crucial—whether through rallies, community meetings, or digital outreach, he believes that the more people are informed, the stronger their collective power becomes.

Through his work, he has impacted thousands of lives. But more importantly, there are 50-60 individuals whom he has deeply mentored, shaping them into leaders who will continue his work. They are his legacy. For Shishpal, social work is not a job. It is not a responsibility. It is his life’s purpose. He does not seek recognition, nor does he expect rewards. His only goal is to ensure that no one is denied their rights simply because they were never told they had them.

The above story has been written and published with the explicit consent of the individual involved. All facts presented are based on WTPA's direct interaction with the individual, ensuring accuracy and integrity in our reporting.