Comrade!

Comrade Apoorva!

 Times have changed and years have passed,

Together all the time, but now apart,

Reasons unknown how it all began,

Certainly not by choice, but by chance!

 Relationship so rare, past a motive,

Nurtured all along, with concern and care,

Not knowing how it would all end,

At a time when both so young!

A phase in life filled with extreme dislike,

Built a strong foundation, against any tide,

Influenced by  detractors, but withheld strong ground,

Came again the days again, when both were one!

Lived in the same city and apart,

But not a zilch of difference in the talk,

Choices respected; dreams supported,

Be it on this end of the globe or that!

Positivity I get, when you believe,

Motivation I draw, when you trust,

 I say to myself, a chance well taken,

As I have a Comrade for life!

School – a Distant Dream

Quick to offer help, spontaneous to take any sort of menial work at her home and a proud Pratham Open School of Education student- Anita, Tilak Nagar Center. She vividly has images of her parents in her mind now. Her life from then on has taken unexpected turns from the time both her parents left her alone to face the world.

Nothing comes for free and this was proved in her case. Her relatives were her support system but she had to compensate this doing some work for them. She was forced into being a household maid at a tender age – five years old. Apart from this she was also asked baby sit her relatives’ son and the work seemed never ending. If she rejected doing something then the cane would do the talking. The fear made her runaway from her relatives forever.

She was found on a railway platform by Amaan Vedica – an NGO. She journeyed so far with the help of them. They have been by her side from the age of seven.  

Her caretaker in Aman Vedica says. “She has always been a quite girl who never rejects any sort of work given to her. She gets involved completely until the work is not done.” She also adds, “Everybody is assigned some sort of work, but when it comes to Anita she is involved in just doing some kind of work all the time.” After repeated counselling sessions by both the Pratham staff and her teachers in Aman Vedica she gave in and started attending the Pratham Open School of Education classes.

As Anita had such disturbing childhood she was not ready to take up education like other children when she joined Aman Vedica. Also with time she was not eligible to attend the regular school as she was over –age.  Then they came along the Pratham Open School of Education which has given her an opportunity to be back on track.

Anita says, “I can read, write and understand whatever that is being taught now. I wish to get through all my exams and will then think of what I want to do next. I also like the feeling of going to school which I never imagined for myself.”

Her caretaker smiles on the annual day celebrations at the center and says,” we never expected her to change so drastically, she is so confident and open to suggestions. What a remarkable difference Pratham Open School of Education has made in her life.”

Hardworking Sisters!

If there is a will there is a way says an age-old proverb. This was put into action by two sisters at Pratham Open School of Education– Jyoti and Manjuamatha. They migrated to Hyderabad a long time ago under stress as they did not have any source of livelihood in their village. 

Jyoti the eldest among the two studied up to class nine, her sister Manjumatha studied up to class eight. The family situation demanded them to work as n semi-skilled, unskilled construction workers on Sundays which is a weekly off in their school, to begin with. But after a certain point they had to completely discontinue regular school as the daily wage of both their parents was not sufficient to feed a family of five. Both sisters recall that that as the worst moment in their life.

Getting semi-skilled, unskilled jobs in the Construction Sector is an easiest way out for all the migrant families. This gives them an option to work under one roof. The entire family is engaged in the doing unskilled work at various construction sites in the city – Hyderabad. They earn Rs. 300 a day with which they fulfill their basic need on day-to-day basis.

From the past one year they have been attending both cluster classes and hub center classes. The tutor says, “both are hardworking girls and the interest with they approach this opportunity is very delightful”.  However, they still continue working at the construction site occasionally as and when required. When asked about the aim in life, Jyoti says, “I want to work on the computer in an office as a data entry operator. I will enroll in computer classes once I have a class tenth certificate.”

Pratham has always ensured equal participation by the community as this will increase the ownership of the community members. One such thing is the Examination Fess which has to be paid by the student as this will increase their ownership towards the program. Both of them were one of first to pay up their fees. Manjumata says,” We paid one fees with two day’s wage of the entire family as I do not want to continue doing unskilled work like my parents”

It is hearting to see that though they were in dire circumstances they did not give up till the end. Their parents also realized that unskilled, semi-skilled work could be done only until a certain, only until they have physical power and not forever.

Small Celebration with a Big Heart!

As India celebrates its 65^th Republic Day, all the Pratham Open Schools in Andhra Pradesh join the celebrations in their own little way. Final examinations are fast approaching for the current batch students, alongside the teams are also gearing up for the upcoming batch in the next academic year. The mobilisation process was started in November in all six centers. Five new cluster centers have been started in Hyderabad; one center has been started in Baptala. Republic Day was celebrated in all the new cluster centers with the new enrolled students.

In the new cluster center – Jaipuri Colony all the POSE staff members participated in the republic day celebrations of the “Mahila Samayaika Group” –SHG group. About 60 – 80 women attended the meeting. The entire group was oriented about the POSE program.  The President of the colony encouraged the women by offering the community hall for the cluster classes. This space also has a toilet and drinking water facility. He nominated the SHG group leaders to help the tutors during mobilisation as this will help them reach out to a larger group of girls/women in the community. It was a humbling experience to see all the women take a lead in the flag hoisting ceremony in their basti.

Chaderghat – a new cluster celebrated the Republic Day with the students, ward memebrs, couselers and local leadres of the clusters. As the cluster was started in December not many people in the community knew about the POSE program. The republic day celebrations was an ice-breaker in this community. The local leaders promised their support to help mobilise drop girls/women. Various competitions were conduted for all present.  The celebrations here ended on a happy note by distributing  small gifts and sweets.

Shivarampally cluster center celebrated the Republic day with the community leaders. All the clusters students particpated in the celebrations. Community leaders participated in the event. They promised to let a free space in their community for the cluster level classes. They also gave their suggestions about lesser known communities where mobilisation could be done. The celebrations ended on a good note with the State Head thanking the community for their support and encouragment.

In Baptala, the republic day was celebrated in the District Inspection office and the one present cluster center – Karlepalem. All students and officials were oriented about the POSE program. The officials were elated to know that dropout girls/women are being supported for completing their class ten exam.

All the community centers recognised the need for the Pratham Open School of Education. All of them were not only aware of the benefits with a class ten certificate but also recognised that no better platform can encourage girls/women to be a part Institutional learning within in their own communities. 

Clay was Play when I was eight...

                          Clay was play when I was eight…

            Terracotta – the oldest Jewelry from the Mahenjodaro civilization…

Clay was play when I was eight…

      Terracotta - “known as fired earth” in Italy in this century …

Clay was play when I was eight…

      Terracotta – a unique art that requires immense patience and skill…

Clay was play when I was eight…

                                                           Terracotta  - an opportunity to Color the Earth…with our imagination…

Clay was play when I was eight…

      Terracotta - can be moulded into any shape and size…

Clay was play when I was eight…

     Terracotta - simple, yet insanely beautiful in colors…

Clay was play when I was eight…

      Terracotta – a choice you have to wear the earth…

Clay was play when I was eight…

The first thing that comes to my mind when I think about clay is playtime as a child. I was introduced to a a whole range ethnic jewelry which can be made from clay i.e terracotta jewelry, it can be converted into something so beautiful after putting in a lot of creative effort so I am amazed....:)

Rote learning to skill building!

              

Opportunity is all that makes the real difference in today’s world.   The education system of our country does not promise equal opportunity to millions of people who are born and bought up in small villages. Rote learning in schools for long years does not justify when it comes to choosing a livelihood option almost for every individual. Kalu Ram from the village Gataralli in the Southern Rajasthan is one such boy who took the opportunity given to him by Aajeevika Bureau’s Skill training and Placement Academy (STEP). He enrolled for the one-month skill-training program offered by Academy.  

Kalu like all his friends in the village followed the norm and completed his schooling in Secondary Education. He then left his village in search of employment. He was involved in unskilled work in the neighbouring state – Gujarat. Many young boys like him are involved in unskilled and semi skilled labour work from many years now in Gujarat. He heard about the various trainings conducted by Aajeevika Bureau when he had come to visit his family in his village from work. Out of all the available options, he was inclined towards learning and becoming a well-trained electrician. When asked to reason this particular choice, he quickly replied that, “there is no electrician in his entire village and thus I wanted to fill in the gap”. He also added by saying,” that there is not much of manual labour involved in this vocation, all you need to know is the right techniques and methods and then I can find work either in the village or in Gujarat”.  

“Lifting the drilling machine and drilling holes at a height was very challenging for me!” explained Kalu Ram. He further adds, “At first, I did not seem to understand the technique behind the whole process. I persisted and repeatedly asked questions during the training and then with time I found clarity on the subject. Before I even realised I was learning thoroughly and enjoying the work on real work sites. The most helpful part of the training now I understand was the timely interactions with different people on timely basis.  The stories they told us then make complete sense to me now, after seeing a bit of reality.”

Kalu Ram is now a proud electrician of his village. After the completion of the course, he immediately took a contract of lighting up his very own school in his village. To complete this assignment he further employed two young people as helpers in his village. This assignment not only bought him recognition in his village but also deep satisfaction of earning his own money. The successful completion of the school assignment gave him immense confidence and he thus decided to try the options available in the neighbouring state – Gujarat.

He immediately found satisfactory work in Gujarat with a local contractor. Kalu Ram proudly says that, “After working for six months with the contractor I asked him to increase my pay and the contractor happily agreed without any kind of negotiation.”

In-credible India!

Demanding National Holiday on Wed- 30th March for IND vs PAK match! Is a group on Face book formed after the super amazing victory of “Incredible India” over Australia. A request for the same sent by my good friend

Akil Kartik . My immediate reaction to this was “You can’t be serious”. I chose to ignore the request anyway. My wall on Facebook is flooded with “Who will win the semi-final?” India is currently dominating this pole with a great margin. Couldn't help but notice that the numbers kept increasing with every minute passing. There is a rush about the situation (Off course I know it is IND vs PAK. I also know that we have been waiting for to kick the unbeaten champions (AUS) for nearly 11 years now).

There is something about this country. Some power which goes unnoticed all the time. I somehow today very strongly feel that we are not a “developing nation” anymore. It is just that we are LAZY not to put the power we have to use. I really hope that someday the same kind of enthusiasm is expressed during ELECTIONS, such kind of talking happens about “Leaders of India” on platforms like Facebook etc. (Sure we talk about politics when we are facing issues, eg:- Telegana ) The irony is that “the yo

uth” believes in things like vastu and what not during a cricket match. (Sitting in the same pl

ace for hours, getting an acidity attack etc…) How do you comprehend these things? The

high that you get while watching a cricket match is just un- match -able with anything under the sun, totally agree!!

I finally managed to catch quite a bit of the IND vs AUS match on the 24.mar.11. This was my first match in the world cup, being from family of cricket enthusiasts. Surely I wanted India to win with all my heart. But then life goes on after a while!! I believe that right now at this point for me I just can’t stop and ask where all this enthusiasm goes when it is the most needed? What happens to us when we are still called the developing nation still after 60 b***** years of Independence? Oh yes…how I can forget, nobody cares!!Sure-fair enough!!

India will soon be nation with more than half the population less than 25 years!! I don’t see a lot changing with this “I don’t care” attitude. Least you can do is to VOTE for your government. We are so privileged to be in a democratic economy today unlike the Egyptians. We surely don’t know the importance of this. The youth of India has a power to make it or break it, just like anything else. Not too late to do your bit for this country, so that you can proudly say “Incredible India”. But for now let’s get the Pakistanis for life!!!

Jai hind!