[Reader-list] The Stars of Tilonia

[Chintan]

Hi Kshmendra

Thanks for that warm and thoughtful note.

Do try to visit the Barefoot College sometime, if you haven't yet.

It's an amazing experience.

Chintan


On Thu, Apr 22, 2010 at 2:04 PM, Kshmendra Kaul <kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com>wrote:

> Dear Chintan
>
> Thanks. Such excellently pleasing information.
>
> May I also remark that you are one of the few people on this List who
> consistently focusses on positivities of the human spirit overcoming
> disadvantages, not succumbing to them but innovatively overcoming them and
> creating productive opportunities and systems.
>
> Thanks again.
>
> Kshmendra
>
> --- On *Thu, 4/22/10, Chintan <chintangirishmodi at gmail.com>* wrote:
>
>
> From: Chintan <chintangirishmodi at gmail.com>
> Subject: [Reader-list] The Stars of Tilonia
> To: "sarai list" <reader-list at sarai.net>
> Date: Thursday, April 22, 2010, 10:10 AM
>
> Excerpts from http://www.teacherplus.org/profile/the-stars-of-tilonia
>
> "Maangi bai knows hardly any English, but has taught herself to use the
> English keyboard. A cardboard chart by her side shows the correspondences
> between the Devanagari (Hindi) alphabet and the English characters. A
> visitor from England who happened to learn about this wondered why Maangi
> bai doesn’t use a Hindi keyboard. Maangi bai simply said, “This is what we
> have got, and we are happy with this.” The visitor was amazed, and she
> muttered, “I am useless. You are incredible.” Maangi bai also trains women
> from poor African countries to use the computer. The African women know a
> bit of English; Maangi bai speaks only Hindi and Marwari, but she has
> taught
> herself to use the computer. Here too one discerns a wonderful synergy. The
> African women pick up computer skills; Maangi bai picks up a bit of
> English.
> When spoken language seems a hurdle, Maangi bai simply uses her finger to
> point out where the cursor should be moved using the mouse."
>
>
> "Barefoot College is full of such amazing stories. There is Raghav Mahto, a
> 23-year-old from Vaishali in Bihar, who used to fiddle with wires and
> microphones while putting up shamianas for wedding functions, and learnt to
> make a radio. He now runs a community radio station at Barefoot College.
>
> Women with no formal qualifications work as ‘barefoot dentists’ here. They
> not only share tips about dental hygiene with children, but also clean
> tartar and carry out tooth extraction for adults living on campus and
> visiting from outside. A doctor providing allopathy and homoeopathy
> medicines, and a pathology laboratory run by barefoot technicians are among
> the other services available here.
>
> Men who have no degree or diploma in media and communication studies have
> learnt on the job and become ‘barefoot photographers’, ‘barefoot
> filmmakers’, and ‘barefoot communicators’. The last of the three is a term
> used to designate a group of puppeteers on campus who spend their time
> making puppets, playing music, and creating skits to generate awareness and
> facilitate discussion around local issues by travelling to night schools
> and
> presenting shows on other important occasions."
>
> "Our last stop for the day was a night school at Thal village, the most
> memorable experience of my visit to Barefoot College. This is one of around
> 150 night schools run by Barefoot College in the numerous villages of
> Rajasthan. It starts at 6 pm and ends at 9 pm. Most of the children who
> come
> here are girls, since boys do get the chance to go to day schools.
> Rameshwarji asks the children to tell me what they do during the day. Some
> spend their day grazing goats, sheep or cows. Others have to chase away
> peacocks that threaten to disturb their crop. Yet others, especially girls,
> stay home to take care of younger siblings. It was amazing to see their
> energy and enthusiasm at the end of the day. The night holds a special
> meaning in their lives. It is when the solar lanterns in their little room
> spread light on the wall, and the ground they sit on. A time for them to
> sit
> with children their own age, when laughter passes around quite playfully,
> unstressed by the chores that tomorrow will bring. I am reminded of the
> stars that welcomed me into Tilonia. I can see them again in these eyes."
>
> Read the entire article here:
> http://www.teacherplus.org/profile/the-stars-of-tilonia
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