Bansa Library Hindi Writing Program led by Garima ji
For two months, for one hour, fortnightly, we would become kids and travel through a structured hindi writing program of poems, stories and writing exercises with Bansa Library kids.
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Initially, when the program was being planned, I thought how would 4 sessions cover it all? But Garima ji planned it so well that each session was enriching. We wrote as a group at the end of the session too.
And yes, there were a few hindrances.
Online Engagement. We know how many treat Online Meetings.
Yet, we managed to pull it off. Garima ji kept her camera on and so did the children and thus, we did too, atleast mostly. Also the interactive learning kept us going.
Another hindrance was Homework. With the advent of latest tools, doing 'homework' has become close to not doing it at all or doing in the most convenient way. So after the first two sessions, Garima ji moved to a 'in the class writing' approach. That way the children don't have the pressure of writing outside and any interested generated to write would be on own.
Writing is a format that brings you alive on the page. You write your deepest fears, your deepest desires, what keeps you going.. and there's a lot of catharsis that happens. Garima ji kept the workshop colloquial and also focused on potential of Hindi to make a living to make sure the children whose parents are farmers / daily wage workers / MNREGA workers, find value in the workshop.
Yet, we managed to pull it off. Garima ji kept her camera on and so did the children and thus, we did too, atleast mostly. Also the interactive learning kept us going.
Another hindrance was Homework. With the advent of latest tools, doing 'homework' has become close to not doing it at all or doing in the most convenient way. So after the first two sessions, Garima ji moved to a 'in the class writing' approach. That way the children don't have the pressure of writing outside and any interested generated to write would be on own.
Writing is a format that brings you alive on the page. You write your deepest fears, your deepest desires, what keeps you going.. and there's a lot of catharsis that happens. Garima ji kept the workshop colloquial and also focused on potential of Hindi to make a living to make sure the children whose parents are farmers / daily wage workers / MNREGA workers, find value in the workshop.
Ending with a poem we wrote in the session:
नीम का पेड़
by Kids of Bansa Library
गाँव के मेरे बीचों-बीच,
इक नीम का पेड़ लहराता है |
इससे वायु मिलती है,
दूर-दूर तक जाती है |
नीम निबोरी देता है,
बीमारी दूर भागता है |
टहनियाँ देती है दातून,
नीम में हैं हज़ारों गुण |
न मैं डॉक्टर, न मैं ओझा,
न ही हूँ मैं कोई वैद्य |
हर रोग का हल देता,
मैं हूँ बस नीम का पेड़ |
अब शहर में मैं रहता हूं,
गाँव याद मुझे बहुत आता है ।
नीम के पेड़ के नीचे,
हम दोस्त बैठा करते थे।
ढ़ेर सारी बातें होती थीं,
और मौज किया करते थे ।
Bansa Library is a rural library in Uttar Pradesh which caters to 36 villages. It also doubles as a community center. Founded by Jatin and his team, the library has been a hub for many educational activities for the children and adults alike.
Reference: https://medium.com/@mishra.garima/ | Gaon Connection article on Bansa
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