Gandhi Jayanthi Oct 2, 201506-10-2015 20:39 IST
The Aseema Trust marked Gandhi Jayanthi with Rukminidevi
Natyakshetra and Pathashaala KFI on October 2, 2015
I. Twelve sessions of Spinning on the Charkha and Gandhi dialogues were
organised with A.Karunakaran and Choreography of Mahatma Gandhi Kathai
and Aadu Raattai in Bharathanatyam by S.Premnath in the month of September at
Rukminidevi Natyakshetra, Mogappair.
II. 1st October 2015. 30 students and teachers traveled from Mogappair in two
vans to Vallipuram 90 kms away for Pathashaala (
http://pathashaala.pcfl-kfi.org/).
They danced to the song "Mahatma Gandhi Kathai" and "Aadu
Raattai" and did spinning on the Charkha in the evening. Images and videos
of Gandhi were screened and M.K.Gandhi was remembered. Students of Pathashaala
and some visitors were a wonderfully appreciative audience. Visitors were
overwhelmed by the fantastic night sky at Pathashaala and found the solar
lighting adequate and beautiful.
III. 2nd October 2015. Early morning wake up to a glorious sky, assembly hall
where the visiting children distributed themselves into the different groups
that were going to the different toilets to harvest the compost of the dry
toilets.
http://pathashaala.pcfl-kfi.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/dry_toilets.pdf .
It was a major learning experience for the visiting students who had never
experienced nature in such a manner and had never heard of dry composting
toilets to save ground water from pollution, over usage and spread of disease.
They all took part in the harvesting of the dry toilet compost and spread the
manure in the garden.
IV. A team from NDTV came to film the event for national TV. The harvesting of
compost and opinions of staff, students of Pathashaala and the visiting
students was aired live at 8.08 am on NDTV.
http://www.ndtv.com/video/player/news/mahabalipuram-s-students-work-for-a-hygienic-tomorrow/385212
V. The students also experienced, for the first time in their lives, bathing in
the gushing farm pump and delighted screams were heard as they bathed. They
also learnt about the cultivation of rice in the school, treatment of black
water and organic gardening.
VI. Assembly farewell consisted of full throated singing of songs and bhajans
by all Pathashaala members and a Carnatic piece by RNF's Hariprashanth and
Sachin.
VII. Pathashaala showed love and affection in the most beautiful manner in the
care every member gave to the visitors and the gifts of a piece of weaving and
pottery done by the students to the visiting adults. Pathashaala students
also made friendship bands for the visiting students and tied them on their
hands.
Great take away learnings: Swadeshi, Swatchatha, Svavalambhan, Samatha,
Swastha, Samyatha and Shreya in action.
Here are some
pictures from the experience