'Research with the People' (RWP)
Project Summary
Research with the People (RWP) SEARCH’s ‘Research with the People’ (RWP) project, under the Wellcome Trust ‘Centres for Exchange (CfE) initiative, seeks to reimagine public health research by applying Gandhian values and principles in contemporary contexts. It places communities at the heart of research and healthcare services, emphasizing innovation, participation and equity. In concert with other CfEs and partner organizations across the Global South and North, SEARCH will document and and draw upon its four decades of pioneering work through the framework of Arogya Swaraj (People’s Health in People’s Hands). By producing a range of communications products—books, a website, audio-visuals, workshops and collaborative exchanges—the project will democratize knowledge and highlight grassroots innovations while creating opportunities for cross-cultural dialogue. In doing so, RWP and SEARCH will challenge entrenched hierarchies in knowledge production and advances. Ultimately, it aims to empower communities and influence global research and policy towards just and sustainable health solutions.
Organisation Snapshot
The Society for Education, Action and Research in Community Health (SEARCH) was founded in 1986 by Dr Abhay Bang and Dr Rani Bang in Gadchiroli, Maharashtra. Today it is a globally recognized leader in community-based health research and action. Inspired by Gandhian values, SEARCH pioneered transformative models such as Home-Based Neonatal Care (HBNC) and community-led pneumonia management, which have shaped global policies and been adopted in over 80 countries. Its mission is Arogya Swaraj (People’s Health in People’s Hands), guiding its work across 269 villages through research, healthcare, youth leadership and de-addiction programmes. Its campus at Shodhgram (meaning ‘a village for research’) serves as a hub for innovation and service.
Project Team
Sopan Joshi
Project Director
Sopan Joshi is RWP’s Project Director. As a researcher, writer and editor, he has worked for about three decades in journalism and social communications. His work has focused on bringing together the best of indigenous practices, in their lived socio-environmental context, and the best of modern science-based knowledge. He writes in English and Hindi, covering a range of subjects that include land and agriculture, water and forestery, indigenous peoples and public health, sports and adventure. He is the author of six non-fiction titles, the latest being Mangifera indica: A biography of the Mango (2024). He designs and conducts training workshops for, among others, journalists and teachers. He writes regularly for children’s publications. He has an M.A. in English literature from the University of Delhi.
Somita Pal
Project Coordinator
Somita Pal is RWP’s Project Coordinator. A journalist and communications professional with nearly two decades of experience, she has covered public health, social issues, and civic affairs in Mumbai, Maharashtra. Having worked across journalism and healthcare communications, she brings expertise in storytelling, documentation, and coordination. At SEARCH, she leads content creation and dissemination, connecting Gandhian principles with contemporary public health research and community engagement.