ಇರುವಿಕೆ ಆಗುವಿಕೆ

ಹೆಚ್ಚು ಕಡಿಮೆ ದಿನದ ೨೪ ಗಂಟೆಯೂ ವಿದ್ಯುತ್ ಪೂರೈಕೆ ಇರುವ ನಮ್ಮ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿನಲ್ಲಿ, ಅಪರೂಪಕ್ಕೊಮ್ಮೆ ಕೆಲ ನಿಮಿಷಗಳ ಕಾಲ, ಅದೂ ರಾತ್ರಿಯ ವೇಳೆಯಲ್ಲಿ, ಪೂರೈಕೆ ಸ್ಥಗಿತಗೊಂಡ ಕ್ಷಣಗಳು ಅಪೂರ್ವ. ಅದೇ ದಿನ ಮನೆಯ ಇನ್ವರ್ಟರ್ ಕೆಟ್ಟು ಹೋಗಿದ್ದರೆ, ಆ ದಿನ ಸುದಿನ! ನೂರಾರು ಲೆಕ್ಕಾಚಾರಗಳಲ್ಲಿ, ಗೊಂದಲಗಳಲ್ಲಿ, ಕರ್ತವ್ಯಗಳು ಎಂಬ ಭ್ರಮೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಮೂಡುತ್ತಿರುವ ಕಾರ್ಯಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಮುಳುಗಿರುವ ನಮ್ಮ ಮನಸ್ಸಿಗೆ, ಆ ಕಿರು ಕತ್ತಲ ಜಗತ್ತು ಕ್ಷಣಿಕ ಧಿಗ್ಭ್ರಮೆ ಹುಟ್ಟಿಸುತ್ತದೆ. "ಕರೆಂಟ್ ಇಲ್ಲದೆ ಏನಪ್ಪ ಮಾಡುವುದು ಇವಾಗ?" ಎಂದು ಹಲುಬುತ್ತ ನಮ್ಮ ಮನೆನೆತ್ತಿಗೆ ಹೋಗಿ ಕೂತರೆ, ನಿಜಕ್ಕೂ ಆ ದಿನದ ವಿದ್ಯುತ್ ಅಭಾವ ಸಾರ್ಥಕತೆ ಹೊಂದಿದಂತೆಯೆ! ಸುತ್ತಲಿನ ಕತ್ತಲಲ್ಲಿ ಎಲ್ಲಿಂದಲೋ ಮೋಡುತ್ತಿರುವ ಮೋಟಾರಿನ ಸದ್ದು, ಪೀ ಪೀ ಹಾರ್ನು, ಯಾರೋ ಮೊಬೈಲಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಅರಚುತ್ತಿರುವ ವೈಯಕ್ತಿಕ ಗುಪ್ತ ವಿಚಾರಗಳು, ಬೇಕರಿಯ ಎದುರು ಪಾನಮತ್ತ, ಧೂಮಚಿತ್ತ ನಶೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ನಡೆಯುತ್ತಿರುವ ರಾಜಕೀಯ, ಸಾಂವಿಧಾನಿಕ ಚರ್ಚೆಗಳು. "ಈ ರಗಳೆಗಳೆಲ್ಲ ದಿನಾ ಇದ್ದಿದ್ದೇ" ಎಂದು ಕತ್ತೆತ್ತಿ ನೋಡಿದರೆ, ಮೊಡಕವಿದ ವಾತಾವರಣ ಇಲ್ಲದಿದ್ದರೆ, ನಾವೂ ನಿಮ್ಮ ಜಗತ್ತಿನ ಆನುಷಂಗಿಕ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿತ್ವಗಳು ಎಂದು ಮಿಂಚಿ ಸೆಳೆಯುವ ನೂರಾರು ನಕ್ಷತ್ರಗಳು, ಶನಿವರೆಗಿನ ಗ್ರಹಗಳು, ತದೇಕಚಕ್ಷುವಿನಿಂದ ಗುರಾಯಿಸಿದರೆ ಕಾಣುವ ಆಂಡ್ರೊಮೇಡ ನಕ್ಷತ್ರಪುಂಜ, ನಮ್ಮದೇ ಮಿಲ್ಕಿವೇ ಆಕಾಶಗಂಗೆ, ಇವೆಲ್ಲದರ ಹಿಂದಿನ ಬಿಲಿಯಾಂತರ ವರುಷಗಳ ರೋಚಕ ಇತಿಹಾಸ; ಎಲ್ಲವೂ ಸಂಕುಚಿತ ಸ್ಮೃತಿಪಟಲದಲ್ಲಿ ಕ್ಷಣದಲ್ಲಿ ಹಾದು ಹೋಗುತ್ತವೆ. ಈ ಅನುಭವವು ವರ್ಣಿಸಲಸದಳ.

           ಈ "ಗ್ಯಾಪಿ"ನಲ್ಲಿ ಕೆಲವು ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆಗಳು ಏಳುತ್ತವೆ. ಕೋಟ್ಯಾಂತರ ಜ್ಯೋತಿರ್ವರ್ಷಗಳ ವ್ಯಾಪ್ತಿ, ಬಿಲಿಯಾಂತರ ವರ್ಷಗಳ ಸ್ಥಿತಿ,ಲಯಗಳಿರುವ ಈ ಬ್ರಹ್ಮಾಂಡದಲ್ಲಿ, ನಗಣ್ಯವೆಂಬಂತಿರುವ ಸೌರಮಂಡಲದ, ಅತಿಪುಟ್ಟ ಗ್ರಹಗಳಲ್ಲೊಂದಾದ ಭೂಮಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ನಮ್ಮೆಲ್ಲರ ಜನನವಾಗಿದೆ. ಇಂತಹಾ ಅಗಾಧ ವ್ಯಾಪ್ತಿ, ಇತಿಹಾಸಗಳ ಗೋಲದಲ್ಲಿ ನಮ್ಮ ದಿನನಿತ್ಯದ ಬದುಕೇ ಈ ಗೋಲದ ಕೇಂದ್ರಬಿಂದುವಿನಂತೆ ನಾವು ಬದುಕುತ್ತಿದ್ದೇವಲ್ಲಾ! ಇವೆಕ್ಕೆಲ್ಲಾ ಒಂದು ನಿರ್ದಿಷ್ಟ ಅರ್ಥವಿದೆಯೇ? ನಾವು ಬದುಕಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಇದಮಿತ್ತಂ ಎನ್ನುವಂತಹ ಸ್ಪಷ್ಟ ಗುರಿ ಹೊಂದಬೇಕೆ? ಕ್ವಚಿತ್ತಾದ ತತ್ವಗಳನ್ನು ನಂಬಿ ಅವುಗಳ ನೆರಳಿನಲ್ಲೇ ನಮ್ಮ ಜೀವನ ಸಾಗಿಸಬೇಕೆ? ಇವುಗಳೆಲ್ಲದರ ಸಮ್ಮಿಳಿತದಿಂದ ಹುಟ್ಟುವ ಸಾರ್ಥಕತೆಯ ಸೋಗಿಗೆ ನಮ್ಮ ಜೀವ ಹಪಹಪಿಸಬೇಕೆ?

         ಈ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ತರಲೆ ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆಗಳಿಗೆ ಧನಾತ್ಮಕ ಉತ್ತರಗಳನ್ನು ನೀಡುವ ಜನರೇ ನಮ್ಮ ಜಗತ್ತಿನ "ಸಾಧಕ"ರಲ್ಲಿ ಅಗ್ರಗಣ್ಯರು! "ಮರುಜನ್ಮ ಇದೆಯೋ ಇಲ್ಲವೋ ತಿಳಿದಿಲ್ಲ. ಮನುಷ್ಯನಾಗಿ ಹುಟ್ಟಿದ್ದೇನೆ. ಏನಾದರೊಂದು ಸಾಧಿಸಿ, ಬದುಕು ಸಾರ್ಥಕಗೊಳಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳಬೇಕು" ಎಂದು ಒಳದನಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಅರಹುವವರಲ್ಲಿ ಹೆಚ್ಚಿನವರು "ಸಾಧಕ"ರಾಗಿ ಕುಲಾಂತರಗೊಂಡು, ಜನರ ದೃಷ್ಟಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಮೇಲ್ವರ್ಗದ "ಜಾತಿ"ಗೆ ಸೇರುತ್ತಾರೆ! ತಮ್ಮ ಜೀವನಾನುಭವ, ಒಲುಮೆ, ಆಸಕ್ತಿ, ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿತ್ವಗಳ ಸಮ್ಮಿಲನದಿಂದ ಒಂದು ನಿರ್ದಿಷ್ಟ ಗುರಿಯನ್ನು ಸ್ಥಾಪಿಸಿ, ಅಲ್ಲಿಗೆ ತಲುಪಲು ಸ್ಪಷ್ಟ ಮಾರ್ಗಸೂಚಿಗಳನ್ನು ಹಾಳೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಕೊರೆದು, ಜೀವನದ ಯಾವ ತಿರುವಿನಲ್ಲೂ ಗುರಿಯು ಸಂಚಲನಗೊಳ್ಳದಂತೆ ಖಾತರಿವಹಿಸುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಅನೂಹ್ಯ ಅನುಭವಗಳಿಂದಲೋ, ಸೂಚ್ಯ ಪ್ರಯೋಗಳಿಂದಲೋ ಕೆಲವು ತತ್ವಗಳನ್ನು ನಂಬಿ, ಅವುಗಳು ತೋರುವ ದಿಕ್ಸೂಚಿಯಲ್ಲಿಯೇ ಪಯಣ ಸಾಗಿಸುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಇದು, ಕಷ್ಟದ ಮಾರ್ಗವೇ ಸೈ! ಕಣ್ಣುಮುಚ್ಚುವ ಮೊದಲು ಆಂತರಿಕ ತೃಪ್ತಿ, ಮುಚ್ಚಿದನಂತರ ಲೋಕದ ಹೊಗಳಿಕೆ (ಕೇಳಲು ಕಿವಿಗಳು ಆಗ ಮಣ್ಣಾಗಿದ್ದರೂ!) ಪ್ರಯಾಸದಿಂದಲೇ ದೊರಕುತ್ತದೆ.

        ಆದರೆ, ಈ ಮಾರ್ಗವನ್ನನುಸರಿಸುವ ಜನರು ಜಗತ್ತಿನ ಜನಸಂಖ್ಯೆಯ ಶೇಕಡ ೧ರಷ್ಟು ಮಾತ್ರ. ಹಾಗಾದರೆ, ಇನ್ನುಳಿದ ೯೯ ಪ್ರತಿಶತ ಜನರು? ಜಗತ್ತಿನ ಲಿಖಿತ, ಮೌಕಿಕ, ಸ್ಮರಿಪ ಇತಿಹಾಸದಲ್ಲಿ ಅನಾಮಧೇಯರಾಗೇ ಉಳಿಯುವವರು ಇವರು. ಲೋಕದ ದೃಷ್ಟಿಯಲ್ಲಿ "ಸಾಧನಾ"ಶೂನ್ಯರು. ನಿರರ್ಥಕ ಬದುಕ ಬದುಕಿದವರು. ಹೌದೇ? ಹೌದಾದರೆ, ಲೋಕದ ಎಷ್ಟೋ ತಾಯಂದಿರು, ಗುರುಗಳು, ಸ್ನೇಹಿತರು ಮನುಷ್ಯ ಸಮಾಜದ ಆಂತರಿಕ ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥೆಯ ಶಕ್ತಿಕೇಂದ್ರಗಳಾಗಿದ್ದರೂ, ಅವರು ಐತಿಹಾಸಿಕವಾಗಿ, ಲೋಕದ ಸ್ಮೃತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ "ಸಾಧನಾ"ಶೂನ್ಯರೇ! ದಿನಬೆಳಗಾದರೆ ಹಕ್ಕಿಗಳಿರುವಲ್ಲಿ ನಡೆದು, ಆಲಿಸಿ, ಮುದಗೊಳ್ಳುವ ನಾಲಾಯಕರು; ಜೀವನಪರ್ಯಂತ ಸೋಜಿಗದಲ್ಲೇ ಅನ್ವೇಷಣೆಕೈಗೊಂಡ "ಬಿರುದು"ಶೂನ್ಯ ಸಹಸ್ರ "ವೇಸ್ಟ್" ವಿಜ್ಞಾನಿಗಳು; ಮೈಕೈ ಕೆಸರುಮೆತ್ತಿಕೊಂಡು ಗದ್ದೆ ಊಳುವುದರಲ್ಲೇ ಬದುಕಿನ "ಸಾರ್ಥಕತೆ" ಕಂಡುಕೊಳ್ಳುವ ಲಕ್ಷಾಂತರ ಕ್ಷುದ್ರ ರೈತರು; ಇವರೆಲ್ಲರೂ ಕಡಲಿನ ಅಗಣಿತ ಮರಳುಮಣಿಗಳೇ!

         ಇಷ್ಟೆಲ್ಲಾ ಹರಟಿದ್ದಕ್ಕೆ ಒಂದು ಕಾರಣವಿದೆ. ಮಾನವರೆಂದಮೇಲೆ ನಮಗೆ ಇಂತಹ ಸೈದ್ಧಾಂತಿಕ ಮಂಥನಗಳು ಸಾಮಾನ್ಯವೇ. ಕೆಲವರಲ್ಲಿ ನಿರ್ಥಕವೂ, ಸ್ಥೂಲವೂ ಆಗಿರುತ್ತವೆ. ಇನ್ನುಳಿದವರಲ್ಲಿ ಈ ಸಮಸ್ಯೆಗಳೆಲ್ಲಾ ಗಹನವಾಗಿ ಯೋಚನಾರ್ಹ, ತಕ್ಕಂತೆ ಯೋಜನಾರ್ಹವಾಗಿ ಕಂಡುಬರುತ್ತದೆ. ಇವೇನೇಇದ್ದರೂ, ಈ ತಾತ್ವಿಕ ತಿಕ್ಕಾಟಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಸಮಾಧಾನಕರ ನೆಲೆ ಕಂಡುಕೊಳ್ಳುವುದು ಅತ್ಯವಶ್ಯಕವೆಂದೇ ನನ್ನ ಅಭಿಮತ. ನಿರ್ದಿಷ್ಟ ಗುರಿ,ತತ್ವ ಹೊಂದಿದ, ಅವುಗಳ ಫಲವತ್ತತೆಗಾಗಿ ದುಡಿಯುವ "ಸಾಧಕ" ಪಂಗಡ ಒಂದೆಡೆ. ಇವ್ಯಾವುದರ ಪರಿವೇ ಇಲ್ಲದೆ, ಇದ್ದರೂ ಹಲವು ಶಕ್ತವೋ, ನಿಶ್ಯಕ್ತವೋ ಕಾರಣಗಳಿಂದ ಈ ನಿರ್ದಿಷ್ಟತೆಗಳನ್ನು ಬದಿಗೊತ್ತಿ, ಅ-ಐತಿಹಾಸಿಕ, ಅತಿಸಾಮಾನ್ಯ, ಆದರೂ ಅತಿಮುಖ್ಯದ ಜೀವನ ನೆಡೆಸುವವರ ವರ್ಗ ಇನ್ನೊಂದೆಡೆ. ಈ ಎರಡು ವರ್ಗಗಳ ಸಮನ್ವಯತೆ ನಮ್ಮ ಸಮಾಜದ ಸಾರ್ವಕಾಲಿಕ ಅವಶ್ಯಕತೆಯಾಗಿದೆ. ಆದರೆ, ಯಾವ ಮಾರ್ಗದಲ್ಲಿ ನೀವು ನಡೆಯ ಬಯಸುವಿರಿ ಎಂಬುದು ನಿಮಗೆ ಬಿಟ್ಟದ್ದು. ನಿಮ್ಮ ಇರುವಿಕೆಯ ಸ್ಥಿತಿಗೆ, ಆಗುವಿಕೆಯ ಬಯಕೆಗೆ ಬಿಟ್ಟದ್ದು.

        ಮುಗಿಸುವ ಮುನ್ನ ಒಂದು ಮಾತು. ಜೀವನದಲ್ಲಿ ಯಾವುದೇ ಅಚಲ ಗುರಿಯಿಲ್ಲದಿದ್ದರೂ, ಲೋಕದ ಅಂಕೆಯಲ್ಲಿ "ಸಾಧಕ"ರು ಎನಿಸಿಕೊಂಡವರು ಕೆಲವರಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಈ ಕೆಲವರಲ್ಲಿ ಅತ್ಯುನ್ನತ ಉದಾಹರಣೆ ನಮ್ಮ ನಾಡಿನ ಕೆ.ಪಿ.ಪೂರ್ಣಚಂದ್ರ ತೇಜಸ್ವಿ. ಕೋವಿ ಹಿಡಿದು ಸ್ವಚ್ಚಂದವಾಗಿ ಕಾಡು ಸುತ್ತುವುದನ್ನೇ ಪ್ರಾಯದ ಅಪ್ರತಿಮ ಆದರ್ಶವೆಂದು ತಿಳಿದಿದ್ದ ಅವರು, ಆ ಸುತ್ತಾಟದ ಅನುಭವದಿಂದಲೇ ಕನ್ನಡ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯಕ್ಕೆ ಹೊಸ ಭಾವವುಳ್ಳ, ಶೈಲಿಯುಳ್ಳ, ಅರ್ಥಗಳುಳ್ಳ ಕೃತಿಗಳನ್ನು ನೀಡಿದರು. ಅವರ ಸುತ್ತುವ, ಅರಿಯುವ, ಅಚ್ಚರಿಪಡುವ, ಸಂಶೋಧಿಸುವ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿತ್ವ ಹೇಗಿತ್ತೆಂದರೆ, ಅವರ ಕೃತಿಗಳನ್ನೂ ಮೀರಿ ಅವರ ದೈನಂದಿನ ಚಟುವಟಿಕೆಗಳೇ ಅವರಿಗೆ ದೊಡ್ಡ ಅಭಿಮಾನಿವರ್ಗ ದೊರಕಿಸಿದವು. ಅವರು ಕೂತದ್ದು, ನಿಂತದ್ದು, ಕುಡಿದದ್ದು, ತಿಂದದ್ದು ಎಲ್ಲವೂ ದಂತಕತೆಗಳಾದವು! ಇವೆಲ್ಲಾ ಸ್ವತಃ ತೇಜಸ್ವಿಯವರಿಗೇ ಇಷ್ಟವಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ. 

ಯಾವ ಗುರಿ, ತತ್ವಗಳ ಹಿಂದೆ ಹೋಗದಿದ್ದರೂ, ಅವರ ಘನೀಕೃತ, ಸಹಜ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿತ್ವದಿಂದಲೇ ಅಪ್ರಜ್ಞಾಪೂರ್ವಕವಾಗಿ ಹೆಸರು ಮಾಡಿದವರು. ನಿಮ್ಮ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿತ್ವವೂ ಇಷ್ಟೇ ಘನವಾಗಿದ್ದಲ್ಲಿ, ಬದುಕಲು, "ಸಾಧಿಸ"ಲು ಈ ಯಾವ ಸೈದ್ಧಾಂತಿಕ ಸಮಸ್ಯೆಗಳ ಗೋಜು ನಿಮಗೆ ಬೇಕಾಗಿಲ್ಲ. ಅಲ್ಲವೇ?

ಅಮರ ಕಾರಂತ ಹೊಳೆಗದ್ದೆ

(೨೫ ವಯಸ್ಸಿನ ಇವ ಜೀವನದ ಎಳೆತ ಸೆಳೆತಗಳಿಗೆ ಸಿಕ್ಕಿ ಈಜಾಡಿ ಜಯಸಿದವ. ಒಂದು ಸಿಗರೇಟು, ಒಂದು ಪೆನ್ನು ಮತ್ತೆ ಒಂದು ಹಾಳೆ ಸಿಕ್ಕರೆ ಇವನಿಗೆ ಅಷ್ಟೇ ಹಿತ. )

Education- For the sake of Learning

Education system in India- Although there have been several severe criticisms against the education system in India, the progress level still remains dismal. The recently introduced Right To Education (RTE) act which makes education a fundamental right of every child in the country between 6 and 14 years of age that includes the right to free, compulsory primary education for all and the obligation to develop secondary education accessible to all, has still a long way to go due to several  constraints. To explain further, the RTE act has a selection process through which children are selected for admission to pre-nursery or Class 1, based on the availability of seats in a particular school. If the applications are more than the number of seats, lots are drawn in the presence of education officials and the selected children will be allowed to pursue free education. This may not ensure free education to all underprivileged children since a lot of them may not even be aware of this opportunity; they could be migrants who do not understand the local language and changed laws, well-off families may try to make use of the act, business-minded schools may not implement the act in a fair manner or simply because they weren't lucky enough to be selected.

But the more important question is; does this so called ‘basic education’ prepare our kids to life in any way? 

Whenever I see the pictures of 10^th standard, 12^th standard kids who are the toppers in their schools or in the state, I wonder do they even have an idea of what life is beyond exams and high scores. And that academic excellence does not imply excellence in life. I do not think that scoring high is bad, but scoring a mark without understanding the concept is meaningless. Here is my personal experience that I would like to share which would help illustrate the above point better.

I had a Mathematics teacher in high school; his name Panchakshari sir or SBP sir, as we used to call him. He was my teacher for only one year-10^th standard. Until high school, everyone had only one thing to say about my academics” she is good in all subjects-languages, science and social, but her ‘weakness’ is Mathematics and she just can’t understand it.” So in the final year of our school life, we were introduced to this great teacher who was a simple man with amazing teaching abilities. He taught Mathematics in such a way that I began to really understand the subject and feel that it is an easy, fun subject which is relevant everywhere. He used to teach us Geometry by explaining the shapes of the objects around us, he used to make us read timings using a clock which does not have numbers marked on it, and also to measure on the scale not always beginning from zero. Stuff like these fascinated me and got me involved in his classes. 

If we made a mistake, we were never cornered, instead he would behave as if he expected better from us. This amazed me and for the first time in my life, I actually wanted to learn and I wanted his approval that I did well. This pushed me to study harder and harder and finally in the board exams I got a 99/100. I still remember how he congratulated me and asked me where I lost that one mark. Nothing else was a happier and satisfying moment for me as a student. The final result is that now, I am not afraid of mathematics anymore and even today I can pick up any text book of it till engineering and teach it to kids.

Incidentally, I had another teacher in school who taught Kannada for us. I had just joined high school and since my parents had always encouraged me to write my own answers, I was completely confident about myself and did not exactly follow the notes word-by-word, as given by my Kannada teacher. That was until I scored less in the first unit test. When I asked my teacher about the low score despite of me answering all the questions well, she told me that I would be given full marks only if I followed her notes and wrote exactly the same answer as given by her. As I had been a good student and then scoring less would unnecessarily complicate things at home, I decided to do as she suggested. I did not think too much and started following the prescribed route.

Even though we had 2-3 pages answers written in a long note book, I could easily remember them after revision. Since my visual memory is dominant, with practice, I can remember which word comes after what and hence I could replicate all answers into the test paper. Not only did I score well in her classes throughout the three years she was my teacher, but I even got a 114/125 in my board exams. All was well, I had scored well and my parents were happy with the results. But, what I did not realize at that time was that this process killed my ability to write and express in Kannada. Today I find myself searching for words to talk in my own mother tongue. All I learnt in this class was to mug up and throw it on the answer sheet.

The reason I gave the above examples is just to show that high scores do not mean learning. No, it simply means high score and it certainly is not a measure of the student’s capabilities. In my case, two different teachers with two different approaches had the same intention of their students scoring well. But one’s approach of inspiring, liberating teaching methods made me let go of my fears and gain knowledge while the other’s confining approach stubbed my growth. Sadly, in today’s world, we have more number of the second category teachers who push the children only to score “95% and above” to become ideal machines for the demanding career they will join and not the first category of teachers who encourage them to learn, have fun in the process and grow to their complete selves. All we are doing through this kind of an education system is develop shallow, materialistic, sad human beings. Is that what we want of our future generation? 

To allow kids to learn and accumulate useful knowledge in all creative ways possible so that education is not just a namesake but is one which teaches them life skills is the intention and this is our standpoint.

- Madhushree Lakshman

(About the Author - Madhushree is not just another young Bangalorean who passes-by without notice. Change is a way of life she believes, driven by her will to solve the problems around her. Co-founder of 'Volunteer For a Cause (VFC)' a registered non-profit, she knows from experience what it takes to tackle a real world problem and is on the path towards solving it)

Belaku Annual Day - A Candid Expression of a True Spirit!

“To serve is beautiful, but only if it is done with joy and a whole heart and a free mind.”

Pearl S. Buck (1892-1973);
Writer, Nobel And Pulitzer Prize Winner

This comes at a time when we have just finsihed successfully executing our flagship project, Belaku Annual day. The amount of energy that just sprung up from nowhere was simply amazing. There was a focus. It was a challenge. The motivation levels were beyound measurable limits. Although it was a bit lethargic upfront, the way the spirits rose was amazing. Ego free volunteering at its best. 

This is was what one of our volunteers Archana (Archies) who choreographed a beautiful dance had to say about her overall experience:

Until I came to Belaku on the first day for choreography, focus was only on choreography. However I had never thought it would open up to new bindings that would make me come back to it again and again.  

The spirit of team Kaleido is awesome!!! I appreciate the dedication and every bit of support and encouragement that was provided all through the practice and event. Team is so comforting and very much inclusive in a way it works, makes even the first timer gel up well with the team. 

The one and a half months of sweat was unlimited fun. We have been working with these kids from 2011. Going back to belaku is like going back to a friends place. Well, you know when you are carrying this feeling that the purpose is served well. They are no different. Just that they have to live with an inevitable compromise in life. And that we have to deal with, together. What are friends for?

You learn from the kids, more than what you teach them. Their innocence surely breaks your ego and brings out the child in you. Thats the best part in the whole process. You are not affected by opinions, you do not carry any obligations and you simply are free. One of the volunteers Sathya Pramodha (Saty) who possibly was the best choreo this year was greatly satisfied with her involvement in the whole event. She is not new to Belaku and has time and again produced some of the best shows pushing the kids' capabilities to the next level everytime. This is what she had to say:

practice sessions -> fun
event -> soooper fun
Totally awesome experience to meet such talents and nurturing it

The whole showcase was filled with energy. It was bright and as Gautam says It was Colourfull!!

If the event was a success, the major share also goes to those who encouraged by playing a wonderful audience. They saw the whole thing through a different eye. We got lots of feedback. It was all positive. Some had to comment on the technical issues that we faced while managing shows. We accepted it. But we knew at the end of it all that we had done a good job. Some of them had a different opinion though. Our own volunteers had a different mood viewing, like the one below. 

We realy hope that he was lost enjoying the beautiful songs that our kids sung. The actual reaction however was as Madhuri put it:

Kaleido volunteers great Job guys... Loved the way it was organised. Yello Jhinugiruva, Paper Paper, Remix song, Roudra (Narasimha avatara), Remix dance, Mono acting by sri raksha and eerakka, Nidhi skit, Kavana by bhagya..everything was too good. All together it was a treat to watch kids performing. Super talented kids and Mentors [Kaleido volunteers] :):) Cheers..keep up the good work.. :):)

At the end of it all, it was a great team effort. Amazing dedication by all the volunteers, tremendous perseverence shown from the kids and great support from the Belaku Board. The whole spirit behind the event motivated all of us to push our capabilities to the limits to ensure a successful showcase. As Archies remarked later:

In short Kaleido is a set of right things fallen in right place! I 'm happy that I was part of it and would like to continue to be.

Awesome. Really Awesome.