Then And Now


Raghavan and I are frequently asked a question, “The school has been around for 21 years, so what are your children doing now?”
The answer to that lies in many layers.

Arasavanangkadu, when we came here from Mumbai, to live here and start Shikshayatan, was like any village in any part of India: ; malnutrition a major health hazard to children; no light except may be an occasional zero watt; no school except an ill maintained and ill equipped primary school about a kilometre from here and an equally ill equipped high school about four kilometres from here; labourers whose daily wages were paid in kind and a big bonus of five rupees; rife with caste issues though never brought out into the open. 

Over the years, observing the social milieu, we came up with a simple admissions policy:
Not more than 20 to a class
at least 4 challenged children per class
economically backward children from any caste
then preference being for girls
and finally, boys.

Considering all the above conditions, have we made it to MBBS? Engineering? Yes, one BDS, 5 engineers, many diplomas in engineering, now 6 students are doing their engineering, three are in school of art and design, one doing her bio-chemistry with a view to working in labs, many in sciences and arts and some who have jobs in banks, one engineer with TCS, two in MNC -HRD, some in software companies, skilled workers in factories, some self-employed skilled workers like masons, tiling masons, painters, tractor drivers, cab drivers, franchise of aqua-guard, girls who are tutoring their way through college... Of the resident students from Mumbai, one is a danseuse and helping her parents run their Waldorf school in Mumbai, one chef who is right now rearing to go to Las Vegas, one who did his management studies at Symbiosis, Pune, and two who are already leading their family business. Of course, no politician from our school.

What are their strong points?
Self confidence, ready to learn always and everywhere, ease in working in any team and an integrity that people find surprising. Even those who began with us as challenged are doing well. They may not have gone to college but they have an intelligence that makes them the leader of their group.


And among the children who are with us, what are their aspirations?
Be a yoga teacher, become an art teacher, learn to work with land and plants, go to a mountaineering school to learn to climb, photography, be a teacher, IAS, IPS, journalism, work with BBC, art tourist guide, and of course the inevitable doctors and engineers…

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