Basant Panchami

January has been a good month. School started off well. We had four very enthusiastic and lively volunteers who not only helped teach but took care of a lot of chores around the project. And it’s been a month of celebrations. Bonfires on Saturdays, Bansi’s birthday, Republic Day and today to end the month we celebrated Basant Panchami/Saraswati Puja.

The day started as usual. I decided to shed my winter wear and go back to wearing dhoti-kurta, which is my standard wear for summer. It’s still cold, but not too cold.

To begin with we had assembly as usual. We distributed the weekly shampoo sachets. The kids went to class. We had one period of learning/studies and then while the younger kids went out to play, the older children helped prepare the prasad for Saraswati Puja.

Once they were ready, I performed the puja. Then we had assembly all over again. This time we distributed the prized to the kids who stood 1st, 2nd and 3rd in their respective classes. Following this we distributed prasad and the kids went home. It was a quiet, dignified and disciplined affair. The rest of the day was free. But by the time the kids went home, it was lunch time anyway. The rest of the day was as usual except that since yesterday Tak and Dani have been meditating.

Nilambar showed up with a suitcase. So we have a new teacher. I hope he will like the place enough to stay. He seemed a bit bored this evening. But that’s probably because he hasn’t still got into the rhythm of things here. He just stood and watched the volunteers watering the plants. If only he had joined them and interacted with them he may not have felt so out of place. He seems like a sensible and sober person. I’m sure he’ll fit in eventually.

What is unfortunate is that I may have to go to Kolkata soon to attend to some personal business. It’s a pity. I would have liked to stay here for Nilambar’s “breaking in” period. Show him the ropes, tell him about the organization and what we are trying to achieve here. He’ll probably get some information from Bansi. But will it be the right sort of information?
We have all been pulling Bansi’s leg of late. He made the mistake of saying he wants to contest the next election. Wow! So Bhola and I have already started calling him MP saahab – or Mr Member of Parliament. He obviously has no idea what it entails to enter the electoral fray!

From tomorrow I will be posting the blog at www.dakshinayan.rediffiland.com. So you can bookmark the address if you are interested in keeping in touch with daily happenings on the project.