The good tidings for Dakshinayan started from 14th April itself, a day before the Bengali New Years Day. Right in the morning Mr.Tarun Saha came over with solar fittings for Roldih. There were ten solar lamps and the charger and also a solar panel for charging the laptops there. The Panel was put up on the roof of one of the classrooms and the charger was fitted in the main bedroom. It turned out that all these were gifts from Mr.Vijay Mahajan who had recently visited Roldih. We are very thankful to him and the fact that he has zeroed in on the exact need for the project in this moment even in his very short visit. Those solar lamps and the solar panel will come in very useful on the project.
The 15th of April is the Bengali New Year Day and also the day foundation stone was laid for the first time in Roldih in the year 2005. It is celebrated with the children and the villagers every year. The kids offered to bring in the rice and the pulses to which a little more was added and khichdi was made to feed an army. All the children came from early in the morning and an offering of sweets and fruits was done at the Baba Lokenath Temple on the project, which was later on distributed amongst the children and the villagers who came. Then everybody sat down to eat under the old banyan tree and ate off plates made from leaves. Around 250 people ate on that day. Everybody had a good time.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Sunday, April 17, 2011
5TH APRIL
On 5th April evening the Austrian volunteer, Philip Auinger and me, we left for the project on the night bus from Kolkata and was picked up by Bhola in a private taxi from Porayahat early next morning. The weather was balmy on the way. In Roldih the weather was hot and dry but it cooled down in the evenings so there was some respite. Also, the funny thing about the weather there is that when it becomes too hot it is a sure sign of the rains or at least a storm cooling everything down.
We had the Bihar famous litti one evening for dinner. Bhola is an expert at it and brought all the things needed to make it. It is supposed to be made in cowdung cakes fire and the litties were put in the fire to dry roast for some time. Then they were taken out and dunked in ghee(clarified butter) and a spicy chutney was made on the side and also, mashed potatoes with spices. The whole affair was quite enjoyable and we ate under the stars outside the kitchen. Bhola’s father was our guest as he brought in the much needed ghee in the last moment as the previously bought ghee could not be found.
During the day, Philip and I both taught English in classIII and classIV as those two classes were missing their English lessons so far. We took turns in alternating both the classes so that the kids don’t get bored and the classes were kept interactive. In fact, after I came away also, Philip was using the same technique and bhola is guarding the alternate class where Philip is leaving the kids to do some work and going to the other class to teach. I have told the children that intensive English classes will go on if I or the volunteers are on the project so, as not to be absent during those days. The satisfaction of teaching the kids was high as usual and I returned to Kolkata on the night bus from Godda.
THE ADMISSIONS 24th MARCH
I went back to Roldih within a short period for two reasons, one was that the admissions were due, another was that Tomoyo was going to end her one month stint and given the recent situation in Japan I wanted to give her some companionship.
Bhola had already spread the word about the admission date through the children of the school and village visits. On the D day children with their parents started to trickle in from early in the morning. By the time it was 9 o clock- the designated time to start the admission process- the crowd was so big that we had to send Bansi and Shanku to organize by numbers. So they started to send them one by one to where Bhola and me were sitting. The process of interviewing the parents and kids went on till late morning. The kids who wanted to join class I or higher were asked to read a passage from the English and Hindi Readers. They were taken in those classes if their reading was found satisfactory. Even after we closed the admissions, there were people coming in throughout the day and the next few days.
From the money that was collected, we could pay off the dues which had accumulated over the last few months both in the salaries and the provisions department and miscellaneous expenses. After it was all over, Tomoyo and me, we came back by the night bus to Kolkata. Tomoyo learnt a lot of Indian cooking on the project and she was carrying all kinds of spices to Japan.
FINAL RESULTS 14th MARCH
This year we decided to hold the final exams in the month of March instead of in December as all the other schools in the surrounding areas have their exam during this time. This change was made so that the outgoing students don’t have to wait to join the other schools and can directly take admission. The exams went on without a hitch and the marksheets were ready within two days.
Lea, an old volunteer wanted to do some research on santhali language and she with her assistant Minu wanted to make Roldih as a base, so, they were traveling with me and Tomoyo Kaneko, a Japanese volunteer who was going to volunteer for a month. The four of us traveled by the Shantiniketan Express to Shantiniketan and stayed there overnight and visited the Saturday Haat there- a very colourful affair. The girls went crazy buying things.
The next morning, we left early for Roldih. We had breakfast in Massanjore and after that the road was a riot of orange and green as the palash trees were in full bloom all through the road. We reached Roldih before lunch and then it was a whirlwind of activity of getting the report cards ready. The next day was result day and the children started to come in early, some grinning and some grave faced, not knowing what the results were going to be. There was a lot of clapping for the first, second and third toppers. Some also failed. It was mostly in nursery class that students failed which was not much of their fault as the teaching has been erratic. But now, thankfully, it is in order and we are hoping for better results next year. We celebrated the end of session by making and having Alu Paratha(Potato stuffed Indian bread) for dinner.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Roldih still Rocks
For those who are wondering Baba Gyan Mandir still exists, let me say that it not only exists, it rocks. I was there briefly on 21st February. My friend Vijay and I arrived in the afternoon and left soon after assembly the following day. Vijay, who is on a Shodh Yatra (read his blog at http://vijaymahajan.wordpress.com) wanted to visit the projecct -- he had heard a lot about it, supported it, but had never found the time to visit it. These days I too don't find the time to visit the project. So I felt this would be a good opportunity to go and see how Bansi was managing the show. I must admit I am satisfied. But I do find him spending too much time in the kitchen. Was it because there were two additional mouths to feed? Shanku is there, but it was obvious that he would not do any work unless prodded to do so.
Anyway, it was also obvious that school was doing ok. Attendance at the assembly was quite good. Vijay did not get to see the school in progress, but I hope he was impressed by the discipline of the children. He did enjoy the peace and quiet of the project and also managed to get some rest from his busy and sometimes grueling travel schedule. I should know. I was with him in Sundarbans and have just come back from Garhwal.
Bansi has started visiting the villages again. That is good. He is also sticking to a routine. Which is excellent. But his inter-personal skills hasn't developed much. But I know he is not entirely to blame. But there's something that is bothering me now -- A few days ago, while I was in Garhwal, he called to say he wanted a salary raise! I was quite surprised because after literally begging me to take him back on the project and agreeing to work for no money and appearing grateful for the honorarium I offered him, this was quite a turn-around! And that too within a couple of months of joining the project! I do wish to pay him more money as he is now so crucial to the project and is working so well. But to be told he wants a raise immediately was rather disconcerting.
In a couple of days I will be in Patna helping to conduct yet another training programme. I will not be free till the 16th. Meanwhile, Tomoyo, Lea and her assistant are going to the project. Thankfully, Mitali has agreed to escort them and settle them in. Tomoyo is coming as a volunteer while Lea will be using the project as a base for conducting research work in the area. She has a letter from the Chief Minister, no less! I am hoping I will get some time to be there with them on the project after my Bihar programme.
Bhola is well. It seems that the medicines he's taking are helping to cure the tumor in his head. He needs regular checkups. Meanwhile, he got into some trouble with a "bad charater" from his village is having to spend a considerable time running from police station to lawyers. I hope his problems get sorted out soon. He seems to be having a run of bad luck.
Right now I'm wondering if I should move back to Delhi. I feel terribly homesick whenever I go there. Also, the climate in the east is not suiting me. The moment I arrive in Kolkata, I fall ill. I remember being very "sickly" while I lived here as a young person. So perhaps it is time for me to move back. I think I'll find more opportunities to work if I live there. I'm 50% decided at the moment. There are a few things in the pipeline and once they either come through or fall through, I'll know for sure.
Meanwhile, I'm doing whatever I can to keep the project alive -- even if it means giving away whatever I earn from my training programmes.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
An Update
I returned to Kolkata on the 29th after a rather tiring tour of UP and a brief visit to Patna in Bihar. I don't know whether it was the fluctuating weather, the long car journeys through the dusty countryside or if it was the "cheap" hotels I've had to stay in, no sooner had I arrived in Kolkata, I fell ill. I don't know what's wrong. I have low grade fever and a terrible cough. Hence, my plans to go to Bolpur upon my return and then on to the project from there, is now on hold. At least I have Raj and Mitali to take care of me here in Kolkata. There's no one in Bolpur and it would be suicidal to go to the project while ill as there are no doctors there!
So I'm trying to rest as much as possible. Watching TV, catching up on mail and paperwork. And hoping that I'll soon be well enough to travel to the project. Meanwhile though, I have been in touch with Roldih through Bansi, whom I call occasionally. He seems well settled. The project seems to be functioning without a hitch. And they managed to celebrate Republic Day without much help from me or Bhola. I'm a little disappointed that I could not be there as the occasion gives me the opportunity to talk to the villagers. The next opportunity I will get is on the 8th of February which is Basant Panchami, a day when students celebrate Saraswati Pooja.
Bhola has been in hospital in Burdwan all this while. The doctors confirmed that he has brain tumor. But since it has been detected at such an early stage, he can be treated with medicines. He will, however, have to go for monthly check ups. I've asked him to take it easy till he is completely well. His father informed me that they have sold his van. So Bhola will not be moving around too much. Just as well.
I have not been able to talk to Renee or Lucy, their phone seem to be switched off all the time! Or at least when I try to call. But Bansi tells me that they are ok and seem quite happy spending time on the project with the children. I suppose he's right because if they had problems, I'm sure they would have called.
So I'm trying to rest as much as possible. Watching TV, catching up on mail and paperwork. And hoping that I'll soon be well enough to travel to the project. Meanwhile though, I have been in touch with Roldih through Bansi, whom I call occasionally. He seems well settled. The project seems to be functioning without a hitch. And they managed to celebrate Republic Day without much help from me or Bhola. I'm a little disappointed that I could not be there as the occasion gives me the opportunity to talk to the villagers. The next opportunity I will get is on the 8th of February which is Basant Panchami, a day when students celebrate Saraswati Pooja.
Bhola has been in hospital in Burdwan all this while. The doctors confirmed that he has brain tumor. But since it has been detected at such an early stage, he can be treated with medicines. He will, however, have to go for monthly check ups. I've asked him to take it easy till he is completely well. His father informed me that they have sold his van. So Bhola will not be moving around too much. Just as well.
I have not been able to talk to Renee or Lucy, their phone seem to be switched off all the time! Or at least when I try to call. But Bansi tells me that they are ok and seem quite happy spending time on the project with the children. I suppose he's right because if they had problems, I'm sure they would have called.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Roldih Re-organized
It's was the worst bus journey from Godda to Kolkata I've had in a while. The bus was packed to capacity and the conductor insisted on taking on more migrant labour who were all over the place! They had no standing room. Some were sitting in the passage and other standing over them and quite a few falling over the passengers who were seated. I was one of the fortunate few who was seated. Anyway, Rajiv, Mitali and I survived the journey back to Kolkata from the project. Our brief trip to the project was over.
We almost didn't make it to Roldih on our journey there. Renee, Lucy, Rajiv, Mitali and I were headed out to Godda and everything was fine. Suddenly the truck in front of our bus braked and we slammed into it. Fortunately, Apart from shattered windscreen and windows and a few grazed knees, we got off without any major injuries. The bus' radiator was damaged, but the driver was resourceful. He patched it up with soap and we were on our way to Godda in a bus that was freezing because there was no windscreen to stop the wind. The passengers were somewhat sheltered by the partition of the driver's cabin. But we are lucky that the driver did not freeze to death! He brought us safely to Dumka. I had called ahead and so there was a taxi waiting to bring us to the project.
The three days on the project was rather hectic. People kept dropping in to meet me since I hadn't been there for a while. And to make matters worse, on the night we arrived, Bhola had yet another epileptic fit. He had just driven back from Godda with the volunteers and was laughing and joking with them in the kitchen while they were having dinner. And the next moment he came to my room to say he was not feeling well and before I could figure out what was happening, he started having a fit.
We called his father and his friends and they all came over accompanied by a local "doctor". But by that time he was back to normal but totally disoriented. They took him home and he was not on the project during my stay there. He was, however, able to attend the "final" meeting I had with the staff. This was good and necessary as I've made some major changes on the project.
Bansi is back. He has changed. For instance, he now looks like a Sikh after his year-long stay in Punjab where he worked in a nursing home. He wears a turban and has grown his beard and hair like a Sikh. But besides his outward appearance, he has changed as a person too. He is more self-assured and confident. He seems more serious and sensible. And what's more, he appreciates being back and also being on the project. He admitted that the project has really cared for him and he has discovered this by being away. He now wants to sincerely run the project with all his heart and soul. That sounds good. And I am hoping he will like up to his commitment.
So now Bansi is in charge of the project and the school. Shanku is there to assist him. Renee and Lucy are there to help him run the school along with Kartik and Raiman -- both of whom I could not meet because they had taken leave for Shankranti, an important festival for both tribals and non-tribals. School was open. Children came to study. It was good to have Renee and Lucy to fill in. Before leaving I made a routine for the school so, from today, the school has a routine and teachers had definite classes and subjects to teach. Renee and Lucy will be teaching English and Maths. The new routine was necessitated by Radha's departure. She will no longer be teaching in Roldih school.
Bhola too will not be living on the project any more. He will be associated with the project and getting an honorarium for doing "outside" work and liaising with the Cheo centre. This way he will be able to run his shop and taxi service and help the project with receiving volunteers, getting them registered at the police station, marketing, finding people for work on the project -- repairs etc. And since he will be "free" from Roldih, I am hoping he will visit Cheo once in a while to check on what's going on there.
I decided NOT to close down the Cheo project. I have reduced the honorarium we've been paying Ramnath and Chandrama and have told them they can now charge a monthly fee from the children who come to attend school and this money will also be part of their honorarium. Ramnath, who attended the meeting, agreed to this arrangement and is, in fact, very excited about it. He realizes that this is perhaps the first step in makin the Cheo school self-sustaining and independent. Since admissions to Cheo school will start in March, he has ample time to convince the villagers that after so many years of practically free education, they need to contribute to the schools survival. If they pay monthly fee, their own level of involvement will increase and the teachers' commitment and responsibility to run the school will also increase. The mission schools charge Rs 3000 per annum as school fees. Parents in Cheo will be paying only 800 per annum including a Rs 200 registration fee. The money collected from registration will be used for various annual events -- Independence Day, Republic Day, Saraswati Puja, Diwali, etc. We will also be asking for nominal contributions on these occasions like the other schools in the area. We all feel this is a good survival strategy which will ensure the projects continuance.
Perhaps we will do the same for Roldih too. This year, the children organized a picnic on New Year's day from personal contributions. We hope they will contribute to make Republic Day on 26th January, a memorable event. We are hoping there will be more active participation from parents if they contribute to the event. We will know soon enough.
Unfortunately, I will not be able to attend. In fact, I'll be away in Farrukhabad in UP on Republic Day for yet another trainning session. Life has been rather hectic for me since the 20th of December. I've been travelling all over central UP conducting trainning programmes and flying in and out of Delhi and Kolkata attending meetings and briefing sessions. Even though I feel very tired at times, I enjoy the work and that keeps me going. It also helps me earn enough money to guarantee the project's survival even if no volunteers show up! Thanks to some generous contributions I've received and the money I've earned in the past three weeks, I was able to clear up all project debts till the end of December 2010. It feels good to be debt free.
2011 is looking good so far. It's nice to have Bansi back. It's good to know that Cheo will survive and I don't need to close it down. School is going well. And I have a few assignments to look forward to. The only sad news is Bhola's illness. But since it has been discovered in the early stages, proper medication should put him back on track soon. Ramnath, who has a similar problem, has been hail and hearty for the past many years. Let's hope and pray that Bhola will also remain well.
We almost didn't make it to Roldih on our journey there. Renee, Lucy, Rajiv, Mitali and I were headed out to Godda and everything was fine. Suddenly the truck in front of our bus braked and we slammed into it. Fortunately, Apart from shattered windscreen and windows and a few grazed knees, we got off without any major injuries. The bus' radiator was damaged, but the driver was resourceful. He patched it up with soap and we were on our way to Godda in a bus that was freezing because there was no windscreen to stop the wind. The passengers were somewhat sheltered by the partition of the driver's cabin. But we are lucky that the driver did not freeze to death! He brought us safely to Dumka. I had called ahead and so there was a taxi waiting to bring us to the project.
The three days on the project was rather hectic. People kept dropping in to meet me since I hadn't been there for a while. And to make matters worse, on the night we arrived, Bhola had yet another epileptic fit. He had just driven back from Godda with the volunteers and was laughing and joking with them in the kitchen while they were having dinner. And the next moment he came to my room to say he was not feeling well and before I could figure out what was happening, he started having a fit.
We called his father and his friends and they all came over accompanied by a local "doctor". But by that time he was back to normal but totally disoriented. They took him home and he was not on the project during my stay there. He was, however, able to attend the "final" meeting I had with the staff. This was good and necessary as I've made some major changes on the project.
Bansi is back. He has changed. For instance, he now looks like a Sikh after his year-long stay in Punjab where he worked in a nursing home. He wears a turban and has grown his beard and hair like a Sikh. But besides his outward appearance, he has changed as a person too. He is more self-assured and confident. He seems more serious and sensible. And what's more, he appreciates being back and also being on the project. He admitted that the project has really cared for him and he has discovered this by being away. He now wants to sincerely run the project with all his heart and soul. That sounds good. And I am hoping he will like up to his commitment.
So now Bansi is in charge of the project and the school. Shanku is there to assist him. Renee and Lucy are there to help him run the school along with Kartik and Raiman -- both of whom I could not meet because they had taken leave for Shankranti, an important festival for both tribals and non-tribals. School was open. Children came to study. It was good to have Renee and Lucy to fill in. Before leaving I made a routine for the school so, from today, the school has a routine and teachers had definite classes and subjects to teach. Renee and Lucy will be teaching English and Maths. The new routine was necessitated by Radha's departure. She will no longer be teaching in Roldih school.
Bhola too will not be living on the project any more. He will be associated with the project and getting an honorarium for doing "outside" work and liaising with the Cheo centre. This way he will be able to run his shop and taxi service and help the project with receiving volunteers, getting them registered at the police station, marketing, finding people for work on the project -- repairs etc. And since he will be "free" from Roldih, I am hoping he will visit Cheo once in a while to check on what's going on there.
I decided NOT to close down the Cheo project. I have reduced the honorarium we've been paying Ramnath and Chandrama and have told them they can now charge a monthly fee from the children who come to attend school and this money will also be part of their honorarium. Ramnath, who attended the meeting, agreed to this arrangement and is, in fact, very excited about it. He realizes that this is perhaps the first step in makin the Cheo school self-sustaining and independent. Since admissions to Cheo school will start in March, he has ample time to convince the villagers that after so many years of practically free education, they need to contribute to the schools survival. If they pay monthly fee, their own level of involvement will increase and the teachers' commitment and responsibility to run the school will also increase. The mission schools charge Rs 3000 per annum as school fees. Parents in Cheo will be paying only 800 per annum including a Rs 200 registration fee. The money collected from registration will be used for various annual events -- Independence Day, Republic Day, Saraswati Puja, Diwali, etc. We will also be asking for nominal contributions on these occasions like the other schools in the area. We all feel this is a good survival strategy which will ensure the projects continuance.
Perhaps we will do the same for Roldih too. This year, the children organized a picnic on New Year's day from personal contributions. We hope they will contribute to make Republic Day on 26th January, a memorable event. We are hoping there will be more active participation from parents if they contribute to the event. We will know soon enough.
Unfortunately, I will not be able to attend. In fact, I'll be away in Farrukhabad in UP on Republic Day for yet another trainning session. Life has been rather hectic for me since the 20th of December. I've been travelling all over central UP conducting trainning programmes and flying in and out of Delhi and Kolkata attending meetings and briefing sessions. Even though I feel very tired at times, I enjoy the work and that keeps me going. It also helps me earn enough money to guarantee the project's survival even if no volunteers show up! Thanks to some generous contributions I've received and the money I've earned in the past three weeks, I was able to clear up all project debts till the end of December 2010. It feels good to be debt free.
2011 is looking good so far. It's nice to have Bansi back. It's good to know that Cheo will survive and I don't need to close it down. School is going well. And I have a few assignments to look forward to. The only sad news is Bhola's illness. But since it has been discovered in the early stages, proper medication should put him back on track soon. Ramnath, who has a similar problem, has been hail and hearty for the past many years. Let's hope and pray that Bhola will also remain well.
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