"But the story of the Ganga is inextricably intertwined with the women who live near her banks, who we spoke with at length.  When the women who serve as the water providers of the household are educated and their involvement in water resource planning is facilitated, even the most well-engineered river clean up efforts will become more effective."
-Avantika Rao, 1997, "Discussing Ganga"

"I, for one, believe that regardless of where we go in life, wholeness comes from engaging with the difficult questions and accepting the ensuing vulnerability.  By daring to wholly understand the "other" or a different perspective, you leave yourselves open to the possibility of change, of shifting your intellectual and personal stance."
-Avantika Rao, 1996, "The Wellesley Forum"


"[Author-activist Taslima Nasrin] did not condemn the audience's disrespectful behavior arising from their angers, fears, and hatreds, but rather welcomed them as the very real feelings that arise when people are dealing with serious issues."
-Avantika Rao, 1996, "Manushi" (Indian feminist magazine)