February 2005

From the Editor's Desk

Hello readers!
A warm welcome to our new subscribers. People who have been seeing our newsletter must be finding this one different in terms of the format. We have tried to bring in certain changes hoping that it will be likable! We had a roller-coaster ride in the last two months, the idea of which you will get in this issue’s matter. Please get back to us with your comments and suggestions.
- Anupama (Editor)

A document worth your time

Remember, the last issue mentioned of the Seminar we had held on "Elementary Education and the Minorities in India"? This experience was a great learning for us, which tossed up serious issues that needed attention, and the findings from it sharpened our perspective. Substantial time was dedicated to come up with a comprehensive document containing the presentations, the plenary proceedings and the recommendations. This appreciated document is in circulation now. Have a look.

A silent revolution...

It all started in a classroom, in our Bigha School. During the EVS class, the teacher was having a discussion on types and quality of soil-, and asked the students to think of the names of the various types of crops that they saw in the field and also said them to go back home and ask their parents and grandparents, if they can add to their list. It turned out to be pretty interesting. They came to know of several names, many of which they never saw or heard about. Not only this. People at home got interested, came to our school, and enquired as to why these were being asked? From the initial discussion on ecological balance and agricultural know-how's, we partnered with an organisation (who are working in this field) and arranged for many subsequent sessions with the farmers. And it snowballed into far-reaching consequences. Gradually, they realized about the importance of the bad effects of pesticides, how organic cultivation is preferable keeping in mind the ecological concerns, and when they brought these into practice, major changes got to be seen. A good account of this came out in a newspaper recently.Read the article….

Minority issues vis-à-vis Democracy in India

Do visit our Web Discussion Board Web Discussion Board. Hope you remember we had started of with a general note on the essentiality of equity in education, and we have come up with a new one now. The topic this time is "Minority issues vis-à-vis Democracy in India". Certain questions have been raised this time, and it invites everyone to join in and enrich the discussion. Please Post your Comments….

Ikri Mikri 2005

It was a time to rejoice. Vikramshila has completed 15 years of its existence. In celebration of this, we conceptualized our annual cultural programme in a different manner this time. The Ikri Mikri Fair 2005 came alive on February 1st and 2nd at Madhusudan Mancha Courtyard. In these two days we attempted to highlight the talents of children with whom we work to show that they are in no way different from their privileged counterparts. The simple statement we wanted to put across was that they do not need our charity. They just need our understanding and awareness - and a little bit of support. Children showcased their talents by participating in drama, dance, rhymes, juggling, painting, and puppetry. Film show and story telling sessions were also arranged for the little ones. Since the fair was held in the open and anyone could drop in, the fair had a complete festive look, visitors ranging from celebrities to people who just came in and joined us out of curiosity, out of love for the cause. Catch Glimpses of the fair.

An interesting workshop with teachers

A teacher's role is not limited within the classroom. S/he has to be aware about the macro issues related to education to understand the dynamics around, and effectively be an agent of change, which we always visualize them to be. Our teachers who teach in the Nabadisha centres took part in a two-day issue-based workshop organised by us. It was something refreshingly new for the teachers, since they got to know about major landmarks of Indian education, some relevant issues that is so integrally related to their work. The best part of it all was they could relate to the things being discussed, and enjoyed the process which went on through presentations, discussions and group work.

WATIS partners with Calcutta International School

After our organised efforts the 'Wipro Applying Thought in Schools' (WATIS) programme finally got kick-started. We feel extremely proud to announce that our first partner school is Calcutta International School (CIS). With this programme, Vikramshila is making inroads, for the first time, into the elite schools of the city. The programme is essentially an in-service teachers' training exercise with special focus on the needs of each individual school. We have already conducted 4 sessions in CIS and from the response that we have received so far it seems that this too will be another successful venture of our 15-year-young organisation.