Located in Manali is NGO Support. A look at how it tries to move towards साक्षरता (literacy).
Beyond just a school visit
Like in any other school, Class X was giggling when their Principal, Mr. Shekhar introduced me to them. We were on a round of Manali Modern School, mostly for the underprivileged but underprivileged only in some ways - the students are smart, responsive, and disciplined. Almost disciplined for I knew of their private jokes. I had an urge to sit with them and attend classes. Five years seemed too long ago and I was missing school.
Then how long ago do 12 years seem?
“I have lost all my hair,” jokes Raju, Mr. Hemraj Thakur on papers. Founded by him in 1997 the school then had 2 students and hundreds of applicants for the teachers’ position. Today it has 10 teachers and 165 students, thanks to consistent hardwork – Raju’s most important lesson learnt in life. “An AIDS awareness program was started by the people of Manali. Despite a good response, it failed because people just stopped working. You have to be consistent,” he says.
Of course people told Raju there are things he can’t do. There were things Raju told himself he can’t do, like driving a car.
As Mr. Shekhar and I moved from one class to another, he left me alone with the students for an interactive session. “The Prime Minster of India is not Indira Gandhi,” I told Class 2. Every other class got it right. Only the school building is modest of all that I saw. An unfinished building, Raju’s own. Tiny classrooms, big enough for number of students per class. An open ground in front of the school, for everything - morning assembly, classes and sports.
It’s a good thing in a small package.
Earlier the school provided a means for Standard X dropout students to sit for exams. The program had a good response so now classes are held for Standard X as well. It follows an NCERT syllabus and when I asked, the students found it easier than the State Board syllabus. Although Mr Shekhar thought they said so only because they were scared of me. I’m 5’5” and weigh 40 Kgs. But anyway I liked it.
Later sitting in the principal’s office, Raju narrated a story from the Mahabharata over a cup of tea. “Guru Dronacharya once taught the 5 Pandavas to always speak the truth and asked them to memorize a certain lesson. Next day he asked them turn by turn if they remembered the lesson. All except Yudhishtir did. This went on for 20 days and on the 21st day Guru Dronacharya told Yudhishtir what a fool he was to not remember such a simple lesson. Yudhishtir said that he was trying to practice what was taught and only now did he find that his words were fully true.” Raju and Mr. Shekhar want their students to inculcate the same values.
Mr. Shekhar had been a teacher for 6 years until in 2006 when he was made the principal of the school. Like so many principals, favorite subject Maths.
A social worker, Raju believes that unplanned development, improper waste disposal and drugs were a major cause of worry for Manali, his hometown. “Manali won’t be the same in 10 years. There is increasing commercialization,” he says with concern. And what was Manali without its quiet ways?
“My wife has been a big support. I asked her before marriage, what do you see in me? I am handicapped. She said she didn’t think that’s how I was different,” said a smiling Raju, later as we drove around Manali with him behind the wheels.
Then how long ago do 12 years seem?
“I have lost all my hair,” jokes Raju, Mr. Hemraj Thakur on papers. Founded by him in 1997 the school then had 2 students and hundreds of applicants for the teachers’ position. Today it has 10 teachers and 165 students, thanks to consistent hardwork – Raju’s most important lesson learnt in life. “An AIDS awareness program was started by the people of Manali. Despite a good response, it failed because people just stopped working. You have to be consistent,” he says.
Of course people told Raju there are things he can’t do. There were things Raju told himself he can’t do, like driving a car.
As Mr. Shekhar and I moved from one class to another, he left me alone with the students for an interactive session. “The Prime Minster of India is not Indira Gandhi,” I told Class 2. Every other class got it right. Only the school building is modest of all that I saw. An unfinished building, Raju’s own. Tiny classrooms, big enough for number of students per class. An open ground in front of the school, for everything - morning assembly, classes and sports.
It’s a good thing in a small package.
Earlier the school provided a means for Standard X dropout students to sit for exams. The program had a good response so now classes are held for Standard X as well. It follows an NCERT syllabus and when I asked, the students found it easier than the State Board syllabus. Although Mr Shekhar thought they said so only because they were scared of me. I’m 5’5” and weigh 40 Kgs. But anyway I liked it.
Later sitting in the principal’s office, Raju narrated a story from the Mahabharata over a cup of tea. “Guru Dronacharya once taught the 5 Pandavas to always speak the truth and asked them to memorize a certain lesson. Next day he asked them turn by turn if they remembered the lesson. All except Yudhishtir did. This went on for 20 days and on the 21st day Guru Dronacharya told Yudhishtir what a fool he was to not remember such a simple lesson. Yudhishtir said that he was trying to practice what was taught and only now did he find that his words were fully true.” Raju and Mr. Shekhar want their students to inculcate the same values.
Mr. Shekhar had been a teacher for 6 years until in 2006 when he was made the principal of the school. Like so many principals, favorite subject Maths.
A social worker, Raju believes that unplanned development, improper waste disposal and drugs were a major cause of worry for Manali, his hometown. “Manali won’t be the same in 10 years. There is increasing commercialization,” he says with concern. And what was Manali without its quiet ways?
“My wife has been a big support. I asked her before marriage, what do you see in me? I am handicapped. She said she didn’t think that’s how I was different,” said a smiling Raju, later as we drove around Manali with him behind the wheels.