Sowing Native seeds in the young Minds : Part two

The Inauguration

Ms. Hepsiba Rain Korlapati inaugurating the year long project accompanied by  Valli and
 Mr. Japamale the Headmaster

Thursday, August 04, 2016, the Higher Primary School at Kadabur in Marthally Panchyath were all in festive mood. The kids were in their best pair of uniforms. Anisha had organized the inaugural function of their year long pursuit of establishing organic Kitchen Gardens in the remote schools spread out around MM Hills. Every body was into some sort of an “N^th” minute fixture. The kids had tided up the entire premises. Some parents joined hands with the school in erecting the shamiyana against the autumn Gail. Members of Anisha were putting up their pictures and posters along the corridor. Valliammal took charge of setting up a seed exhibition. Native seeds were showcased in numerous transparent jars and earthen pots colorfully hand painted.  Chinnathaiye, one of workhorses of Anisha’s Seed bank took to decorate the stage. She made beautiful floral patterns on the stage with seeds of various colors and in the centre placed pots upon one another to create a platform to place a lamp to be lit by the guest.

The Poster and Native Seeds on display add colour to the School

The CEO of Chamarajanagar arrived well ahead of time and took everybody by surprise. Like the staff, the children too ran towards the car to greet the guest. In a click of a moment, the school band began with a loud bang, to give her a wonderful guard of honor. This young lady must have got embarrassed with such an unexpected pomp. She was briefed about the program and taken around the seed exhibits and the existing garden.

None of the invitees from the education department turned up so a few chairs had to be removed from the dais. In fact the large stage looked rather empty with only the chief guest Ms. Hepsiba Rani, Valli and the shaky headmaster. Rajan didn’t want to occupy a chair on the dais as there was already a representation from his organization. With the arrival of children and staff from the neighboring schools the shamiyana was teeming with people against the empty looking stage. Also the shamiyana seemed to be pitched slightly away from the dais. Since there was a huge difference in heights of the dais and the floor; there could not have been a question of joining them together as the two roofs of the shamiyana were at different heights. Hence the dais and the gathering were looking a bit far apart, as though it was put up for a huge political rally. Nothing could have been done now. The shyamiyana people had done their job with out anybody’s consent before hand and left the spot.

Ms Hepsiba Rani was already a thing of utmost curiosity for all the villagers as she was   unbelievably socializing with children. The program began with a welcome address by    Mr. Palani Swamy, who teaches Kannada language in St. Charles Rural High School in Marthally.  The job of introducing the works undertaken by Anisha and the current project of developing Organic Kitchen Gardens in schools through Eco clubs was my responsibility.

The CEO meticulously inspects the exhibits

The project was an out come of the longstanding experience individually held by Anisha as well as Hasiru Hejje. Fortunately Anisha had the right set up and resources to perceive such an intensive program against many odds. This year-long project in the schools, keep the school eco-clubs active. Every child could be involved in the Kitchen Garden that would not only be a source of nutrition but an inspiring laboratory for teaching Science.

She inaugurated the program through lighting a lamp. When her tern to address the gathering came she got out of her chair as though she was just waiting to do that.  She said that she felt too far from children being on the dais. She moved to the edge of the stage and in an authoritative tone said “let me also sit with you” and sat on the floor! She introduced herself as though there were only children in front of her and beautifully narrated her colorful childhood in rural Andrapradesh.  She stressed upon how important it is to study and come up in life; if no the same beautiful world may become difficult to live in with out a job and self respect.

Ms. gives a try at Gardening.....

She then shifted her dialogue with elders and questioned “Whose children are they after all?” The parents, members of the School Development Committee and elected representatives of Martally Panchyath were all spell-bound for a minute. Ms. Hepsiba Rani called upon the community to ensure that the children get healthy and nutritious food instead of junk food and useless beverages. While stressing upon the nutritive value of organically grown Vegetables and fruits she insisted every house hold to also have a toilet for a healthy living. Every house hold prioritizes upon an expensive motorbike and a mobile phone but ignores to have a toilet in their back yard.

The CEO getting down to reach the children 

While the organizers and the compeer- er Mr. Palaniswamy described her as a source of inspiration to the children, Ms. Hepsiba instead considered the children of Kadabur School as her source of inspiration to set up her own kitchen Garden back home.  She also personally offered awards to the best performers in the program at school and in their individual backyards. She also called upon the Valli Rajan the Executive Director of Anisha to take initiative of all the Anganavadi Centers (Govt. run kindergarten) of the region into the folds of the project.

It was a wonderful program and missed out by many invitees, especially the headmasters of the neighboring schools, the BEO and the PDO and the elected representatives. However Xavier Jayasheelan, a head master who accompanied his school children felt that the program was an event of great learning and inspiring to students. On the occasion was Mr. Britto, president of the Primary School Association of Hanur Block to stand along with the Head Master of the host school Mr. Japamale.

-Manu K