Back to Paldi
March 22
Pawanji asks me... do you want to come with my to Paldi, there's a small function there, only for a day? I jump on the opportunity.
Paldi is the village, about 2 hours North of Delhi, that Sampat an I visited back in December. Ran Singh Arya lives there, and that's who we were visiting back in December. I stayed there for about 7-8 days, and got to know some of the people there, and all... so I was exciting to go back. And, I'd be in the car with Pawanji for a long while... so, we'd really get an opportunity to chance about various opportunities at SIDH, about education in general, about Jeevan Vidya, etc.
On the car ride... I found out that the function was being held because Dharampal-ji, a famous Gandhian and Indian historian, was going to be there. We had been introduced to Dharampal's work the first time we came to SIDH, with his book Rediscovering India, and later came across his book again when we visited Jay, who was working with infinityfoundation. Dharmpal's main work has ben redifining the history of India, especially uncovering the myths that were a result of the British rule. Often going back into the British documents, themselves, he goes on to show that India wasn't as "backwards" as the British made it out to be. It had its own systems that were often superior to those of the West... however, the British, through various methods broke down those systems at their roots - because they didn't understand them and to be able to rule India.
Dharampal-ji is now 85... but once again, for an old man.... a lot of fire in his voice. He was also walking around on his own, and seemed in good health. During the small function, he didn't speak much... but a common theme was that India's minds are still colonized. He says Indians must understand who they are, what their history is, etc... before making decisions. In an interview a few years back, Dharampal says, "What is great about India?...we need to understand this...the greatness of this country is that the ordinary people in this country have a certain understanding, that everything in nature is connected...and they have built their lives around this understanding...this is the greatness of this country."
I conversed with him a little bit... he knows about Swadhyay and Dadaji... so, we talked about that for a little bit.
Although I was in the gaam for less than 24 hours.... it was good times... a warm feeling! This little girl that lives in the same house that I had stayed at... comes running up to me... "Raj bhai... raj bhai..." I try to remember her name... try... try... nothing. The little girl of 4 has a better memory than I do. Haha.. it's all good.
The car rides with Pawan-ji were good. I really like what these people are all about... and so, even Pawan-ji wants to know if I'm down for something long-term...... there are visions of starting a B.Ed. program (teacher credential program).... and there are also visions of starting a completely independent residential school somewhere in India. And that would start from scratch... getting people on board... buying land... etc. In India, all schools are associated with some "board"... either the state's education board or the country's education board... and very few select schools are associated with some international boards. Basically... each of these boards has exams that the students must follow to pass on to the next grade. When they graduate school, they get a certificate from that particular board.... some colleges would consider some boards "better" than others. Bottom line is that these schools must teach to these "Board Exams" so the students can pass the exam and move on to the next grade.
There school currently run at SIDH is trying to bring relevant, holistic education to its students, but it's often limited by having to teach towards these board exams, the expectations of the parents on what a school should be, and the conditioning of the teachers (who are also developing and learning in the process.)
There are other alternate education schools in India, including a Krishnamurti school and an Aurobindo school.... but, Pawanji says that even these have been limited by having to teach towards boards.
Basically... these exams are to get you to college to get you a job... the standard village to city to abroad series.
So, the idea is to start a school that basically says "We're just going to go completely against the grain, and screw the boards."
So, maybe, over the next few months... the first seeds of this idea can be planted....
Pawanji asks me... do you want to come with my to Paldi, there's a small function there, only for a day? I jump on the opportunity.
Paldi is the village, about 2 hours North of Delhi, that Sampat an I visited back in December. Ran Singh Arya lives there, and that's who we were visiting back in December. I stayed there for about 7-8 days, and got to know some of the people there, and all... so I was exciting to go back. And, I'd be in the car with Pawanji for a long while... so, we'd really get an opportunity to chance about various opportunities at SIDH, about education in general, about Jeevan Vidya, etc.
On the car ride... I found out that the function was being held because Dharampal-ji, a famous Gandhian and Indian historian, was going to be there. We had been introduced to Dharampal's work the first time we came to SIDH, with his book Rediscovering India, and later came across his book again when we visited Jay, who was working with infinityfoundation. Dharmpal's main work has ben redifining the history of India, especially uncovering the myths that were a result of the British rule. Often going back into the British documents, themselves, he goes on to show that India wasn't as "backwards" as the British made it out to be. It had its own systems that were often superior to those of the West... however, the British, through various methods broke down those systems at their roots - because they didn't understand them and to be able to rule India.
Dharampal-ji is now 85... but once again, for an old man.... a lot of fire in his voice. He was also walking around on his own, and seemed in good health. During the small function, he didn't speak much... but a common theme was that India's minds are still colonized. He says Indians must understand who they are, what their history is, etc... before making decisions. In an interview a few years back, Dharampal says, "What is great about India?...we need to understand this...the greatness of this country is that the ordinary people in this country have a certain understanding, that everything in nature is connected...and they have built their lives around this understanding...this is the greatness of this country."
I conversed with him a little bit... he knows about Swadhyay and Dadaji... so, we talked about that for a little bit.
Although I was in the gaam for less than 24 hours.... it was good times... a warm feeling! This little girl that lives in the same house that I had stayed at... comes running up to me... "Raj bhai... raj bhai..." I try to remember her name... try... try... nothing. The little girl of 4 has a better memory than I do. Haha.. it's all good.
The car rides with Pawan-ji were good. I really like what these people are all about... and so, even Pawan-ji wants to know if I'm down for something long-term...... there are visions of starting a B.Ed. program (teacher credential program).... and there are also visions of starting a completely independent residential school somewhere in India. And that would start from scratch... getting people on board... buying land... etc. In India, all schools are associated with some "board"... either the state's education board or the country's education board... and very few select schools are associated with some international boards. Basically... each of these boards has exams that the students must follow to pass on to the next grade. When they graduate school, they get a certificate from that particular board.... some colleges would consider some boards "better" than others. Bottom line is that these schools must teach to these "Board Exams" so the students can pass the exam and move on to the next grade.
There school currently run at SIDH is trying to bring relevant, holistic education to its students, but it's often limited by having to teach towards these board exams, the expectations of the parents on what a school should be, and the conditioning of the teachers (who are also developing and learning in the process.)
There are other alternate education schools in India, including a Krishnamurti school and an Aurobindo school.... but, Pawanji says that even these have been limited by having to teach towards boards.
Basically... these exams are to get you to college to get you a job... the standard village to city to abroad series.
So, the idea is to start a school that basically says "We're just going to go completely against the grain, and screw the boards."
So, maybe, over the next few months... the first seeds of this idea can be planted....
posted by Raj Kanani | 4:20 PM
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