Irom Sharmila's Poem

When life comes to its end
You, please transport
My lifeless body
Place it on the soil of Father Koubru

To reduce my dead body
To cinders amidst the flames
Chopping it with axe and spade
Fills my mind with revulsion

The outer cover is sure to dry out
Let it rot under the ground
Let it be of some use to future generations
Let it transform into ore in the mine

I'll spread the fragrance of peace
From Kanglei, my birthplace
In the ages to come
It will spread all over the world.

-lrom Sharmila

Zindagi Milegi Na Dobara – Part 2

Some of my well-wishers say - Its hightime man for you to have worked for last 8 years after your graduation. You should take a break and do some course; it could be development economics, development studies or agriculture. ( Smart enough for not proposing me to do studies in chemical engineering – which I would rather enjoy more after a span of 6 years) With two strong experiences of working in chemical industry after completing my graduation in engineering and not finding much correlation between my studies and my work (Rather I would put it differently that as much as I am able to put the relevance of my study and my work together) and largely in Pradan, where there is hardly any correlation between what I studied as a subject and what I am doing – who would still think that it is relevant to study further! I was wondering how would be it be, if there would be no higher education after graduation. All further studies would have to be carried out on-job as per one’s inclination! So a strict no for ‘higher’ studies. Education has ruined me enough to survive, henceforth let education be another enterprise.

If I could take up options of studying further what courses would I choose: Travelling, Films and Dancing. How about degrees like M. Trav., M. Fil (eqivalant to M. Phil.) or Ph. D. (Dancing)! And all these courses being offered in different institutes.

I want to go for a trekking by associating with Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM). While I surfed the site, I found Basic Course on Mountaineering and Adventure Course interesting and suitable for my initial curiosity and excitement.

I want to do a Film Appreciation Course at Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune which is scheduled every year in May month. Getting admission there is very tough, but what’s wrong in dreaming so..

While doing my graduation we were a couple of guys and gals participated in Gyrations out of blue, absolutely not knowing that we would enjoy so much leave apart the prize we won. I was wondering then, looking at the life of other adults around except film stars – how bad it would be after leaving college, we would never be able to dance except the marriage ceremonies. Why to live in memories? - I am keeping my fingers crossed if Patya, Ashu, me, Samya, Banya, Ratta, Chassy, Mangya could come together and give a public performance once again. Dear Readers, I promise, we aren’t that bad! Patya, are you reading this!?

When I joined company soon after my graduation, on first day I met one of our college seniors in his mid thirties saying those four years of graduation including the hostel life were best – I lived only for those four years! I was so taken aback – would my life be like this when I will be of his age.. I don’t think anyone deserves life to be like that. Kya pata Zindagi Milegi Na Dobara!

I will keep on posting my progress as I complete my Masters and PhDs in times ahead. Till then you are free to pull my leg and inspire me to seriously pursue my higher studies..

A visit to Sahyadri School, Pune

(A Krishnamurti Foundation India School)

25th-26th February 2011

On 25-26th February 2011, I visited Sahyadri School, Rajgurunagar (Pune) affiliated to Krishnamurti Foundation India (KFI) Schools. Famous Rishi Valley School was the first among the series of the schools founded by KFI. Sahyadri School is based on a beautiful hillock of Sahyadri ranges. Bike travel from Pune to Rajgurunagar was an amazing experience.. Following is an attempt to put down my interaction with people I met during the stay. Its a must experience for all those who have slightest lethargy towards mainstream primary education methodology. I am thankful to all associated with Sahyadri School for having given me this wonderful opportunity to explore..

The high point of my visit was meeting Clifford, Madhav and Aditya. In the late afternoon, when I was returning to room after spending time with Amresh Sir, Prabhat Sir; one boy standing outside the common room with a gentle smile and a very special inviting gesture inquired how my day has been? In a place where you are stranger, shying away from meeting new people inspite of having so many questions in your mind. Such an open-ended, inquisitive question made me relieved even before replying to Clifford. We again met but didn’t speak while we were going towards Ashtanchal (During sunset students and teachers dressed in white cloths gather at a spot where they can watch sunset.) There is something magical about Clifford that was difficult to figure out in such a short span of time..

After returning from Asthanchal, (a routine practice where all the students and staff dressed in white kurta-pyjama, at the time of sunset go to a point, from where they can watch sunset - to be with close association with nature and self) I saw Aditya and Madhav coming together with a pack of fruits to distribute in their dormitory. Aditya was forthcoming and articulative, Madhav was speaking after fathoming from deep inside silently and clearly. They were to appear for the 10^th board exam scheduled from 28^th February 2011. There were reminiscing about past 5 - 6 years spent in School. We learn with teachers as not our authority but also learning together with us. Some of our questions, even teachers cant answer there itself, we find out answers together. If we are studying pin of a box (showing the example of a box comprising of fruits put in front of us), then we not only study the pins but the entire box. Our focus is not on mugging up what we study but learning the basics and deriving from there - that is how we are encouraged to learn. They are confident, approachable, listened me patiently, comfortable with their being, adding on to each other- supporting each other, well-brought out kids who are much matured of their age. When they arrived they thought it would not be as interesting journey as it happened. They would try to go to another KFI schools for 11^th and 12^th. Aditya would like to do his engineering from IIT – he came out as confident of appearing for JEE because he like science and he has experiences of conducing science practical in innovative ways. Madhav wants to pursue commerce after 10^th because he find stock exchange, share dealings attractive. However he said he is not fully clear what he wants to become. They referred life several times when they spoke! At times, they find lectures by J. Krishnamurti boring. It is not necessary that since he is the founder of our school, we should listen to his speech and follow him up. I saw them being naughty with their dorm teacher, asking him silly questions and he replying them in child-like manner. When I was sitting in common room, one said that when exams were introduced in 9^th, I was told by my parents that if you don’t study well, you would be brought back from Sahyadri School. It was too much than to be studying for exams!

I saw one of an interesting theatre workshop which revolved around trust. It was participatory. After initial discussions, trust evolved as a value - children formed subgroups and enacted how they would show trust by mime. It was interesting how creatively these children came up with showing trust. I was reminded of a faculty who said that at times we underestimate how capable children are..

I felt as if it is an ideal part of world from the rest of the cosmos – where things are happening as perfect as they could be. The most impressive was meeting children – compared to mainstream students they are much more matured, and in sync with themselves. Whatever I had read about Krishnamurti’s writing, even with a brief interaction, I could see that in reality with 3 children I met.

The school is what it is because of the brilliant and committed teachers it has. If quality education has to be imparted to masses then there is no alternative to competent staff working at the grassroot - a principle same as that of Pradan. But the question is how many such competent teachers/development practitioners do we have at country's disposal!? How to extend the best of the practices to the common mass is the biggest mystery yet unsolved..