Surely you're Joking, Mr.Feynman!

-by Richard Feynman

To start with, book along with being extremely inspirational is also strangely extremely humorous.

Intelligence had always fascinated me and so I find myself reading about intelligent people.Although I am still not sure what are the criterias which ensures that a particular man belongs to a specific grade of intelligence but after knowing about the Howard Gardner theory of multiple Intelligences one thing is sure, everyone is intelligent in one or other field. Intelligence traditionally is primarily associated to scientists, so I stumbled upon this book on a very famous and curious character Richard Feynman-he won a noble award in physics.

The book is so inspiring that you actually dont feel like putting the book down, you feel like going and doing something, anything to make yourself a bit moreintelligent because the freedom and pleasures that he experiences owing to his intelligence makes one really jealous.

Like every autobiographical book, it starts with the description of his childhood wherein his curious character makes him famous as 'the child who could repair radios just by thinking!!'. He describes many incidents where he tries to reason and change things to accomplish his end in his very own peculiar way. Some experiments succeed while others turn out to be disastrous, nonetheless he continues with the experiments describing everything in a very humorous way.

His interest in drawing and music adds color to his character. His curious nature with readiness to experiment with anything(he conducts experiments even with ants, plays around with locks),outgoing personality, mathematical genius and a mischievous attitude combines to create a lot of interesting events. He refusal to accept the conventional, frankness in pointing out faults and problem solving attitude makes him stand out of the ordinary.

His love for teaching, the faults in textbooks and his way to infer students real understanding are a joy to read.

Finally, I think that if I had read this book earlier during my college days it would surely have helped me be a better learner.So especially for technical folks this is a must read.

Note: - Looking at the book one might get impression that it is a pure technical book but it is not, So don’t miss reading it under this wrong impression as sufficient effort is made to keep it simple for normal reader.

-Anwar Sahib

Letters to Shivani

Whenever difficult terms and concepts are told in simple format they are better digested. Here is a book which tries to summarize and make us understand basic concepts of ‘Bharateey sanskriti’. Bharateey sanskriti was written by Sane Guruji in 1937. He tried to explain different facets of Indian culture. In this book, he has given different relevant examples from Vedas, puranas and worldwide history. The most beautiful part of this book is Sane Guruji relates all these concepts to day to day life and makes them relevant to time.

It has become routine to say that now a day people do not follow Indian culture. But have we ever realized the real meaning of culture? Does following an Indian culture just means to blindly follow all traditions of Ganapati and Diwali Festival or does it have a meaning beyond these traditions? Indian culture does not only have great history but also has some vision. Sane Guruji spoke about this vision. In ‘Bharateey sanskriti’ written by sane Guruji, there are 23 articles. Starting from the concept of ‘Advait’ (oneness), he has covered different edges related to culture. He has spoken about importance of knowledge, work, mental and physical health, non-violence etc. The concept of four stages and ends of life as explained in puranas is very nicely explained by him in this book. He has given different Sanskrit shlokas (along with meaning), Marathi stanzas to make them interesting and simple for common people. Language in the book is lively and contains many conversations. We feel as if the writer is talking to us and making us understand the great Indian culture.

The last article in this book is the most touching article, I feel. The title is ‘mrutyuche mahakavya’. The philosophy and the beauty in the concept of ‘death’ infact reveal the beauty of life! Bharateey sanskriti not only looks at life as an art but also at death!!

कर ले श्रिंगार चतुर अलबेली.
साजन के घर जाना होगा..

मिट्टी ओढावन मिट्टी बिछावन..
मिट्टीमें मिल जाना होगा..

नहाले घोले शीस गुंथा ले..
फिर वहांसे नही आना होगा..

Converting such beautiful yet difficult concepts in simple article form can not be an easy task. G.P.Pradhan has written 18 letters in the book ‘letters to Shivani’.He has focused on important concepts. Language is simple. Even though he has attempted to write all the articles in ‘letter form’ (as a sane Guruji had done in ‘sunder patre) they do not really have a feel of letters.

So, ‘Letters to Shivani’ is a simple book to understand few facets of Bharateey sanskriti and sane Guruji but it is not at all a replacement for the book ‘Bharateey sanskriti’ written by sane Guruji.

-Mukta Gundi

अनुभव

On last saturday, myself along with Anwar, and Anwar's friends went to an orphanage in Dapodi, Pune. It is located in a slum-like area and run by Mrs Tulve who started it in 2000. On reaching there we had a discussion with Tulve Kaku (or simply Kaku now onwards).

The story goes like this in her words-

"I was in affection with orphan kids from times even before starting the orphanage. Once I saw a small orphan girl raped by somebody and the girl was left on road with her pains. I rushed that girl to hospital but she died in a few days. I was shocked to see this. Then I came across 3 orphan kids and asked an existing orphanage if they could admit the kids. The orphanage refused to admit the girls because girls are needed to be provided with extra social security. I found this weird because that is what purpose of an orphanage is.

So I decided to start an orphanage myself with these 3 kids in the year 2000. I registered it with few other ladies from my colony. Later on, looking at the responsibilities, the rest of the ladies left the work, but I couldn't and didn't want to. I had few conflicts with my family initially but later on my family not only accepted it but encouraged me and started contributing to my work.

There are always days of problems. We had few funds and ourselves not being from elite class, we had to manage our expenses and expenses of the orphanage from my husband's salary at times. In October, I got one more shock. My husband (aged around 45-50) expired in October 2008. It is hard to see him not here with us, but I have to go ahead with my kids."

One might feel that only money is the major problem for running an orphanage. But there is a huge list of problems. There are kids of all age, even some of the kids are brought into the orphanage the very day they were born. To grow up these kids, to look after their education, their eating habits, nourish them emotionally is not an easy task. Also, the distant relatives of the kids rise all of a sudden and take them away without thinking about the kid's education. In that case, she has to convince the kid's relatives, even file a police case at times. The elderly girls have to be given more protection. The problem listed here can be an indication to the actual list.

On asking her where did she apply for any grant from the government, Kaku exclaims "Yes, we did. Firstly they said, I need a bigger place to get a grant for orphanage. If I could get it, why would I ask for a grant? Secondly, they asked for a bribe of Rs 25000. My kids will have their food for 2 months in this sum. Why should I pay the officials so much money just on the belief that they will give grant to my orphanage on some day?"

The place where the kids stay are two small rooms of approx. 10 by 12 feet each. Out of which, one has tin on the top (so one can imagine the summer joy). The number of kids staying there is 34. All of them have to use public toilets and bathrooms of the colony. So one can imagine the "luxury" the kids are having. Kaku stays just next to it in a same sized house.

After visiting the orphanage, many questions arose to my mind. Looking after the orphanage, I was convinced that she is doing it genuinely. She is not running an business NGO as many people do just to earn funding and then abuse that funding. Kaku herself is not "formally" educated. So how did she have the courage to go against family and register the orphanage, handle its administrative and legal formalities? She is also not from elite class. So didn't she feel little worried about the future of her family and orphanage? I stay here in my comfort zones and hardly bother to care about somebody under-privileged, talk about taking "calculated risks" and here a lady who is "illiterate" is taking so much "pain" and responsibility when she is not "needed" to have it? How and why could she do this?

I found that she had an extreme urge to do something for the orphan kids without need of heavy words or heavy philosophy. She had found joy and satisfaction in running an orphanage, that is why after so much apparent pain, she is happy with whatever she is able to do it.

Now, what is that we can do?

1. Monetary help. The orphanage still doesn't have grant. So the expenses of the kids food, education, health are entirely based on donation.

2. Find out what all is required in registering and getting a grant for the orphanage. File RTI, visit officers.

3. Work with Kaku, understand the problems they have in getting grant and work with them to apply and followup the grant approval. But this will need frequent visits, concern for them and committment.

Meantime while we were discussing about the grant issue, Kaku said - "The officials say that we don't have separate toilets and bathrooms for the girls and boys. We cannot do better. The girls and boys have to share the same toilet and bathroom of the colony. Now you guys tell me, do we have 3 bathrooms in our home where 5 people are staying?" I didn't have daring to say her that yes we have and we consider it a necessity :(

-Dhananjay

नसत्या इंगळ्या डसल्या नसत्या.......

दया पवार- अर्थात ’दगडू मारुती पवार’. (१९३५-१९९६). स्वत:च्या ’दगडू’ या नावापासूनच त्यांनी आपल्या अस्तित्वाचा शोध घ्यायला सुरुवात केली. ते दलित साहित्य चळवळीतले एक महत्वपूर्ण लेखक. जन्म धामणगावातला (अकोला). १०वी पर्यंतचं शिक्षण संगमनेर इथल्या शाळेत. नोकरीच्या शोधात त्यांनी मुंबई गाठली. परळ इथल्या पशुवैद्यक महाविद्यालयात त्यांनी सहाय्यक म्हणून काम पहायला सुरुवात केली आणि त्यातून मिळणाऱ्या कमाईवर आपले शिक्षण पुढे चालू ठेवले. anatomy department मधे काम करताना मेलेल्या प्राण्यांची कातडी सोलून त्यांची body preserve करण्यासाठी त्यांच्या शिरांमधे अल्कोहोलचं इंजेक्शन देण्याचं काम त्यांच्या वाट्याला आलं. एका संवेदनशील माणसाला हे काम करताना काय वेदना झाल्या असतील...

त्यांचं बलुतं हे आत्मचरित्र नुकतच वाचून झालं. ’दगडू’नं दयाला सांगितलेलं हे आत्मकथन.जणू स्वतःलाच स्वतःची जुनी ओळख दिल्यासारखं. ”आयुष्यात किमान एकाला तरी घडलेलं सगळं सांगावं” या आईनं दिलेल्या शिकवणीशी प्रामाणिक राहून घडलेलं ’सगळं’ त्यांनी सांगितलं आहे. सगळ्यात शेवट मग ’दया’नं लिहिलेलं एक मनोगत आहे. ही कथा कुण्या ’हिरो’ची नाही. यात आयुष्यात काही ’कर्तबगारी’ करून दाखवलेला कुणी ’पुढारी’सुद्धा नाही. कुठल्याही एकाच कडव्या विचारानं यात बाजी मारलेली नाही. यात एक साधं विश्लेषण आहे. आलेले अनुभव, विचारांचं उठलेलं मोहोळ, जीवनाच्या पटावर भेटलेली टोकाची माणसं.... या साऱ्या भूतकाळाकडे बघणारं एक संवेदनशील मन. स्वतःच्या झालेल्या चुकांवर पांघरूण घालायचा कुठे केविलवाणा प्रयत्न नाही. नरेंद्र जाधव यांनी ”आम्ही आन आमचा बाप” मधे जशी ग्रामीण बोली वापरली आहे तशी बलुतं मधे दया पवारांनी वापरली असती तर ते जास्त जिवंत वाटलं असतं का, असा मनात विचार आला. असो.

आश्चर्य एकाच गोष्टीचं वाटत राहतं की या माणसाचं मन इतक्या भयंकर जीवनानुभवानंतरही इतकं संवेदनशील राहिलंच कसं? दारू आणि स्पिरिट च्या व्यसनी लागलेला बाप, काबाडकष्ट करून नवरा गेल्यानंतरही मुलांना शिकवण्यासाठी कष्ट उपसणारी आई, समाजात सतत वाट्याला येणारी उपेक्षा, शिक्षणामुळे येत असलेलं सामाजिक भान पण ते व्यक्त करत असताना होणारी घालमेल, आजूबाजूच्या स्त्रियांचं हलाखीचं जिणं, लहान वयात पाहिलेले, अनुभवलेले भयंकर प्रसंग या सगळ्यात ’दगडू’ हरवला कसा नाही? किंवा तो नावाप्रमाणे ’दगड’ कसा झाला नाही?? आयुष्याच्या प्रत्येक टप्प्यावर त्यांची सत्वपरीक्षा घेतली गेली जणू. त्यांच्या एका कवितेत ’चिलया’ बाळाच्या कथेचा उल्लेख येतो.

”देव एवढे का दुष्ट असतात..

चिलयाचे रक्त,मांस मागतात...?”

...... दया पवारांनी आयुष्यात कधी चिलया बाळाचे तर कधी त्या चिलया बाळाच्या आई-बापाचे अनुभव घेतले.... या कथेला आपण ”भाकड कथा” का म्हणतो?

बलुतंची पहिली edition १९७८ सालची. त्या काळातलं हे साहित्य ’विद्रोही’ म्हणावं का. खरं पाहता बलुतं ने प्रस्थापिताला धक्का दिला पण तरीही ते ’आत्मकथना’च्या पठडीत जास्त चपखल बसणारं आहे. वाट्याला आलेल्या दुःखाचं त्यात शेअरिंग आहे. दुःखाकडे ’अन्याय’ म्हणून बघण्याची त्यात द्रुष्टी दिसत असली तरी ती तितकी ’विद्रोही’ स्वरूपात व्यक्त मात्र होत नाही. ती खरी व्यक्त झाली आहे त्यांच्या ’कोंडवाडा’ या काव्यसंग्रहामधे. बलुतं च्या निमित्तानं मी कोंडवाडा सुद्धा वाचलं. यातल्या कविता दुःख आणि अन्याय या दोन्ही पातळ्यांवर व्यक्त होणाऱ्या आहेत. आंबेडकरांच्या विचारांचा प्रभाव, महार समाजाच्या उन्नतीसाठीची आतून व्यक्त होणारी तळमळ, दलित समाजाला, तरुणांना प्रत्यक्ष व अप्रत्यक्षपणे केलेलं आवाहन आणि अंतर्मुख होऊन मांडलेला अनुभवांचा लेखाजोखा; हे सारं त्यांच्या कवितेतून व्यक्त होतं. कोंडवाड्यामधे आणि बलुतं मधे केवळ सामाजिक बाह्य संघर्ष नाही. यात सामाजिक संक्रमणाबरोबर आंतरिक संघर्षही आहे. शिकल्यामुळे होणारं white collar मन आणि त्यातूनच आपल्या समाजापासून तुटल्याची येणारी भावना यात वेळोवेळी व्यक्त झाली आहे.

कोंडवाडाचं मुखप्रुष्ठ बोलकं आहे. त्याचा ३/४ भाग हा दगड-विटांनी बांधलेल्या (एकही खिडकी नसलेल्या) कोंडवाड्याची भिंत आहे. त्या शेजारून एक ठिपक्याएवढा दिसणारा माणूस (ज्याचा चेहरा दिसत नाही. खांद्यावर झोळी आहे. अंगावर कपडे चांगले आहेत) चालला आहे. दया पवार यांची कविता ही त्यांच्या आयुष्याच्या कोंडवाड्यातून बाहेर पडण्यासाठी त्यांना सापडलेली पायवाट होती. त्यांनी कष्टानं घेतलेलं शिक्षण, केलेलं वाचन एका अर्थानं त्याना मोकळा श्वास घ्यायला शिकवत होतं तर कधी त्यांच्या वेदनांच्या खपल्या उघडणारं होतं. त्यांनी कोंडवाडा कवितेत म्हटलं आहे-

”कशाला झाली पुस्तकांशी ओळख? बरा ओहोळाचा गोटा..

गावची गुरे वळली असती, असल्या इंगळ्या डसल्या नसत्या..”

दया पवारांची कविता वास्तवदर्शी आहे. ”मला निसर्गात रमणं आणि त्यावर कविता करणं कधीच जमलं नाही.” असं त्यानी म्हटलं आहे. किडे-मुंग्यांकडे कौतुकानं बघण्याची त्यांची मानसिकता नव्हती. ते शक्यही नव्हतं. इथे किड्याना खायला रव्याचा दाणा मिळू शकतो पण आमच्यासारख्या माणसांना एक वेळचं खायला मिळेल याची शाश्वती नाही, हे त्यांचं वाक्यच त्यांची मनःस्थिती सांगतं. बलुतं मधे जरी त्यांनी म्हटलं असलं की ही कथा माझ्या पराभवाची आहे तरी तसं पूर्णपणे खरं नाही. ’दगडू’ ते ’दया’ हा प्रवासच मुळी त्यांच्यातला सकारात्मक बदल दाखवतो. कोंडवाडामधे त्या कोंडलेल्या जीवनातून बाहेर येऊन ते म्हणूनच आवाहन करतात-

”प्रखर तेजाने तळपणारा सूर्य केव्हाच अस्तास गेला आहे

ज्या काजव्यांचा तुम्ही जयजयकार केलात

ते केव्हाच निस्तेज झाले आहेत

आता तुम्हीच प्रकाशाचे पुंजके व्हा

अन क्रांतीचा जयजयकार करा.”
सुरक्षित जगात जगलेल्या माझ्यासारख्या मुलीला बलुतं आणि कोंडवाडा हादरवून सोडतं.......

- मुक्ता गुंडी.

’बदलते विश्व’ आणि सॉक्रेटिसचे ६ प्रश्न

कुमार केतकरांचं ’बदलते विश्व’ पुस्तक नुकतच वाचून झालं. पुस्तकाबरोबरच मनामधे एक आपसुख विचाप्रक्रिया सुरू झाली. पुस्तकाचे एकूण १० विभाग आहेत. ते वाचकाच्या सोयीसाठी केले असावेत. कारण संपूर्ण पुस्तक एकसंध आहे. कुमार केतकर वेगवेगळ्या विषयांवर स्वतःची मतं नोंदवतात, सर्व बाजूंनी एखाद्या गोष्टीचा विचार मांडतात पण विचारांची साखळी तुटू देत नाहीत. पुस्तकाबरोबर आपले सुरू झालेले विचार पुस्तकाच्या विभागानुरूप बदलत नाहीत तर त्या विचारांची एक साखळी तयार होत जाते. कुमार केतकर हे पुस्तकात अनेक नोंदी, दाखले देतात, आपली मतं ते नोंदवतात, आपल्याला अनेक प्रश्नांच्या वेगवेगळ्या बाजू दाखवतात पण कुठल्याही ’निष्कर्षाप्रत’ येण्याचा अट्टाहास धरत नाहीत. निष्कर्षांच्यासुद्धा अनेक शक्यता आपल्यासमोर मांडल्या जातात. आपण नकळत विचार करायला लागतो. पुस्तकाचं नाव ’बदलते विश्व’ आहे. केतकर या पुस्तकात खरोखरच ’विश्वाविषयी’, त्याच्या इतिहासाविषयी, भविष्याविषयी, प्रश्नांविषयी, झालेल्या, होत असलेल्या चुकांविषयी आणि सामाजिक, राजकीय, मानसिक, आर्थिक परिणामांच्या शक्यतेवर बोलतात.

मला आठवतंय, २.२ च्या वेळी केतकर आले होते. आपण त्यांना कित्तीतरी प्रश्न विचारले होते. अपेक्षित होतं की आपण त्यांचं ’बदलते विश्व’ वाचून यावं. मी वाचलं नव्ह्तं. पुस्तकाचा काहीच भाग मी वाचून आले होते. त्यामुळे ते जी काही उदाहरणं देत होते ती मला क्लिष्ट वाटत होती. सिस्टिम विषयी ते बोलले, दहशतवादाविषयी बोलले पण त्याआधी मी त्यांचा ’माणूस दहशतवादी होतो म्हणजे काय?’ हा लेख जर वाचलेला असता तर मला काही गोष्टी नीट कळल्या असत्या. त्या माणसाचा वाचन, अनुभव यांचा अवाका इतका मोठा आहे की त्यांच्यापुढे बसताना मला ''basic logical and analytical power'' वापरून विषय समजावा इतकं तरी मी वाचलेलं असलं पाहिजे!

त्यांच्या एका लेखात त्यांनी क्रिस्टोफर फिलिप्स यांच्या 'सिक्स क्वेस्चंस ऑफ सॉक्रेटिस' या पुस्तकाचा उल्लेख केला आहे. हे ६ प्रश्नसुद्धा त्यांनी दिले आहेत, ते असे-

१) चारित्र्य म्हणजे काय?
२) धैर्य म्हणजे काय?
३) न्याय म्हणजे काय?
४) श्रद्धा म्हणजे काय?
५) औचित्य म्हणजे काय?
६) ’चांगले’ कशाला म्हणावे?

मी हे पुस्तक वाचलेलं नाही. वाचायला आवडेल. पण हे प्रश्न वाचून मनात आलं की त्या काळात विचारल्या गेलेल्या या प्रश्नांची किती उत्तरं आजच्या काळापर्यंत मिळाली आहेत? हे प्रश्न आजच्या काळाशी सुसंगत आहेत का? या प्रश्नांना उत्तरे आहेत का? socrates ला हे प्रश्न का पडले असतील?! यातल्या प्रत्येक प्रश्नाचं उत्तर तसं पहावं तर व्यक्तिसापेक्ष बदलणारं आहे.

यातला पहिला प्रश्न वाचला आणि मला आपल्याला २.१ मधे दिलेल्या एका group discussion च्या विषयाची आठवण झाली. ”नदी ओलांडताना” असं त्या कथेचं नाव होतं. माया नावाची गरीब मुलगी आपल्या नदीपलिकडे राहणाऱ्या, आजारी असलेल्या प्रियकराला भेटायला जाऊ इच्छित आहे. त्यासाठी मायाला नाविकाला शय्यासोबत करावी लागणार असते. कारण तिला तिचे नातेवाईक पण मदत करत नाहीत. परंतु तिचा प्रियकर मात्र तिने आपले शरीर विकले हे ऐकून संतापतो व तिला हाकलून देतो. शेवट प्रश्न होता- ”तुमच्या मते यातील सर्वात वाईट व्यक्ती कोण?” यात प्रश्न उभा राहिला होता की ’चारित्र्य’ म्हणजे काय बरं? या एका प्रसंगातून आपण मायाला ”चारित्र्यहीन’’ ठरवणार का? तिनं जे केलं त्याला आपण ”धैर्य” म्हणू शकतो का? जेव्हा प्रश्न विचारला जातो की ”तुमच्या मते वाईट कोण?” तेव्हा नकळत आपल्याला ”चांगले” कोण हेही ठरवावं लागतंच की! बर तिनं जे काही केलं ते त्या परिस्थिती नुसार ”उचित” होतं का? तिच्या प्रियकारानं तिला घरातून हाकलून दिलं, हा तिच्या त्यागाला मिळालेला ”न्याय” होता का? तिनं प्रेमावर आणि प्रियकरावर जो विश्वास ठेवून हे धाडस केलं ती तिची त्यांच्यावर असणारी ”श्रद्धा” चुकीची होती का? कथा एकच- प्रश्न मात्र बरोब्बर ६... socrates चेच प्रश्न.... उत्तरं किती? नाहीच की असंख्य???

२.१ मधे दिलेली एक कथा. त्यावर झालेली घमासान चर्चा... चर्चेतून एक उत्तर निघेल आणि अमुक एक व्यक्ती ”वाईट” एकमतानं ठरेल अशी आशा ठेवणं, हा विनोद आहे. कारण प्रत्येक व्यक्तीच्या जडणघडणीवर, विचारांवर, संस्कारांवर,सामाजिक आणि कौटुंबिक पार्श्वभूमीवर आणि संवेदनशीलतेवर यातल्या प्रत्येक प्रश्नाचं उत्तर अवलंबून आहे. माणूस, काळ, परिस्थिती जशी बदलते तसं त्याचं उत्तरही बदलत जाणार असे हे प्रश्न. म्हणजे फ़क्त व्यक्तिसापेक्ष नव्हेत तर कालसापेक्षसुद्धा!! मी २.१ च्या वेळेला या कथेविषयी विचार करताना खूप गोंधळलेली होते. खरं तर अजूनही आहे. मला ”सर्वात वाईट कोण” ते अजूनही नीट ठरवता आलेलं नाही. म्हणजेच मला या प्रश्नांची उत्तरं सापडलेली नाहीत. आपल्या दैनंदिन व्यवहारामधे आपण याच प्रश्नांना भिडत असतो ना? प्रत्येक प्रश्नाच्या कित्येक छटा आहेत. माझ्यावर होणारा ”न्याय” हा दुसर्‍या कुणवर कधीतरी ”अन्याय” असू शकतो निदान त्या व्यक्तीला तसं वाटू शकतं. श्रद्धा आणि अंधश्रद्धा यांच्यातली सीमारेषा ठरवताना होणारे वाद आपल्याला माहीत आहेतच. आधुनिक युगामधे ’चारित्र्य’ ही संकल्पना झपाट्यानं बदलत आहे. चांगले कशाला म्हणावे; हा प्रश्न तर रोजच्या जेवणापासून सुरू होतो! भाजी मला ”चांगली” वाटेल.... कुणाला ”बेचव”...! नोकरी सोडून गावात जाऊन काम करणं कुणाला ’धैर्य’ वाटेल, कुणाला ’कर्तव्य’ वाटेल तर कुणाला ’मूर्खपणा’!!! किती साध्यासुध्या गोष्टीतून आपल्याला हे प्रश्न भेटत असतात. पण आपण त्यांची मांडणी socrates सारखी करत नाही.... :)

दररोजच्या व्यवहारात आपण या ६ चाकी प्रश्नांच्या गाडीवर बसलेले असतो. ideal system ती का ज्यात यातील एकही चाक puncture झालेलं नाही...? गाडी इतकी सुरळीत चालण्यासाठी काय बरं करायला हवं...???

’बदलते विश्व’ मनात खूप प्रश्न निर्माण करतं. ”बदला” प्रमाणे ते गतीमान आहेत आणि ”विश्वा”प्रमाणे खूप मोठे आणि अनाकलनीय.........विश्व-बदल झपाट्यानं होतोय... आपल्याला या ६ प्रश्नांची उत्तरं कधी सापडणार आहेत..?

- मुक्ता गुंडी.

काकू आणि कार्तिक

I visited Orphanage twice this week.

Saturday

When I went on Saturday, construction was going for the top room of orphanage.The roof is made of tin sheets, which becomes unbearably hot during summer and leaks during rainy season. So a new roof is being made. I told Kaku that we can help out with some part of the money.

Interesting Idea

Two software engineers were also present there. As they both did not knew Marathi, I had to be a translator between them and Kaku. They have written a book and had decided that the orphanage will get the royalty amount. The idea was interesting. It will also help in the sale of their book plus the orphanage will get contributions.

To take or not?

Kaku said that there was a one year old boy who needs help. I am thinking whether I should take him or not. She asked me,”What should I do? There is no space here and also cannot leave the boy”. I had no other option. I just gave a helpless smile.

Fresh Addition to orphanage

As I had promised Kaku that I will help out in construction. I went to orphanage after office yesterday. Kaku had adopted the baby boy. His name is Kartik and he is very cute. :).

Kaku said,"I had to accept him. What is his fault?"

Unimaginable Problems:-

Kaku said some people were asking for adoption from orphanage. But they were specifically demanding children of age 10-12. She said that later they came to know that there was no one to work for the old parents in the home. So they wanted children more for their house work rather than adoption. Just another form of ‘Child Labour’.

Kartik

Asking about story of Kartik we came to know that, Kartik’s mother is a 20 something girl who got married to a guy. Later she came to know that the guy already had some 10-12 wives. She went into depression and is extremely sick now. She is not in a position to take care of Kartik. I don’t know about the details of her disease and all. She has officially given Kartik to Kaku.

Notable point

In the last two visits only I saw 5 software engineers other than me visiting the orphanage. Good to see people (esp software people) getting connected to at least some problems around them.

Questions that arise in my mind

1. Kaku is hardly educated (6th pass). She doesnt read books or havent met people with great thinking in her life. Then how come she has such high level of thinking?

2. How can she so easily accept other people's faults and love them unconditionaly?

3. There are so many children there yet after so many visits, how come I never see anybody get irritated with children?

4. She is working hard and struggling for children. But she is getting so much of love in return.

She has a very nice purpose for her life. Isn't she also getting many things in return?

-Anwar

5th June 09

वाचले... so what??

निर्माण विशेषांकाची ओळख करून देणारा एक लेख लिहिण्याचं काम मी मध्यंतरी केलं. त्या निमित्तानी आपला विशेषांक अगदी नीट आणि त्यातल्या जाहिरातींसकट पुन्हा वाचला. हे काम करत असताना मला माझ्यातल्या काही त्रुटी खूप जाणवल्या. ते तुम्हाला सांगावसं वाटलं. २.२ च्या वेळी अंक हातात घेतला. चाळला.. मग त्यातले काही लेख नीट वाचले. काही राहून गेले. दत्ता काकांनी हा लेख लिहायची आयडीया देईपर्यंत मी ते राहिलेले लेख काही पुन्हा काढून वाचले नव्हते. विसरून गेले होते. किंवा त्याकडे दुर्लक्ष केलं, असं पण म्हणू शकतो आपण... लेख लिहायला घेतला आणि पवन च्या चित्रापासूनच अडायला सुरुवात झाली! त्याला फोनवर चित्राचा अर्थ विचारला आणि अंकातला इन्टरेस्ट वाढला. २.२ मधे त्यानी त्या चित्रा विषयी सांगितलं होतं खरं पण लिहायला लागल्यावर मला काही सुचेना! अंक वाचताना मला मी तो जणू काही पहिल्यांदाच वाचत आहे असं वाटलं! अंक तोच होता, मी पण तीच होते पण माझी भूमिका बदलली होती. आधी मी एक त्रयस्थ वाचक होते पण आता मात्र त्या अंकाविषयी इतरांना काही सांगू पाहणारी त्याच अंकाची आणि गटाची सभासद. आता मोघम वाचून चालणार नव्हतं ना!

लेखानिमित्त श्वेता आणि चारुताशी बोलले. त्याना हा अंक काढताना कसं सगळ्यांना ’पुश’ करावं लागलं आहे याचा अंदाज आला. मनुष्यबळ कसं कमी होतं. हा अंक निर्माणचं मुखपत्र होऊ नये यासाठी त्यांनी केलेले प्रयत्न यांचा अंदाज आला. लेख निवडण्यामागे त्यांची काय भूमिका होती हे समजलं. या सगळ्या गोष्टींपासून मी आधी किती आलिप्त होते!कुठलेही पुस्तक वाचताना मी अशी आलिप्तच असते का? वाचन करताना पुस्तकात व्यक्त केलेल्या भावनांचा, भूमिकांचा, माहितीचा मी एक ’छापील मजकूर’ म्हणून विचार करते की त्यापलीकडेही ती पुस्तकं मला ”त्रास” देतात? हो! त्रास देतात का मला पुस्तकं? पुस्तक संपल्यावर मला किती वेळ अस्वस्थ व्हायला होतं? झालेच अस्वस्थ तर मी ते बाजूला सारून पुढे जाते की त्याची नीट शहानिशा करते? अस्वस्थ हा शब्द नकारार्थी नाही हं. एखादं आनंददायी पुस्तक मला किती काळासाठी आनंद देतं? माझ्या असं लक्षात आलं आहे की मी कित्येक वेळा पुस्तक वाचताना ’passive' असते. मी वाचते- अस्वस्थ होते- सोडून देते. ही प्रोसेस अतिशय धोकादायक आहे, नाही का? अस्वस्थतेचं काहीच प्रोसेसिंग होणार नसेल तर पुस्तक वाचून मी वेळ वाया घालवत आहे. असं दर वेळेला होत नसलं तरी हे पूर्णपणे टाळायला मला आवडेल. विचार करण्याचा actively प्रयत्न करायला लागतो. त्यातून analyse करून काही एका निर्णयाप्रत यावं लागतं, निर्णय नाही तरी निदान एक प्रोसेस सुरू व्हावी लागते. मी याचा कंटाळा करते असं मला वाटलं.. पुस्तक वाचून त्यविषयी मी कुणाला तरी काही सांगू शकले तर मलाच ते पुस्तक जास्त चांगलं समजेल. आणि ही प्रोसेस सुरू होईल, मझीच नाही, त्या ऐकणार्‍या व्यक्तीची पण!

निर्माणच्या पुढच्या अंकासाठी मी नक्की मदत करीन. वाचन जास्त अर्थपूर्ण करता यावं यासाठी मला प्रयत्न करायचे आहेत. हे मला हा लेख लिहिताना समजलं.

-मुक्ता गुंडी

मोर्चा...

मोर्चा...

काही दिवसांपूर्वी आम्ही एका मोर्चात भाग घेतला.छ्त्तीसगड शासनाने त्याच्या निषेध करण्यासठी दर सोमवारी रायपूर ला सत्त्याग्रह करण्यात येतो.6 एप्रिल च्या सत्त्याग्रहात भाग घेण्यासाठी पुण्यातून एक तुकडी जाणार होती.त्यानिमित्त्याने रॅली आणि जाहीर सभा होती.आमचा मोर्चा हा त्याचाच एक भाग होता.

संध्याकाळी 5 वजता रॅलीला सुरूवात झाली होती.त्या आधी आम्ही सगळे मुक्ता च्या घरी जमलो.आणि आम्ही लक्ष्मी रोड वर रॅली गाठली.ऊन बरच होतं.तरी रॅली मधे सत्तर ते ऐंशी लोकं होते.आम्ही देखिल चालायला आणि घोषणा द्यायला सुरूवात केली. आपण काहीतरी वेगळं आणि भन्नाट करतोय असं सारखं वाटत होतं. नुकताच ‘हजारो ख्वाहीशे ऐसी’पाहिला होता..त्याचा प्रभाव अजून कायम होता.त्यात सिद्धार्थ ची भूमिका करणारा के के मेनन असाच मोर्चात भाग घेऊन स्वतःला अटक करून घेतो.शाळेत असताना आम्ही प्रभात फेरीत जायचो.त्यानंतर कुठल्याच रॅलीत भाग घेतला नव्हता.त्यामूळे या मोर्चाबद्दल खूप एक्साईटमेंट होती.

आजपर्यंत अशा निदर्शनांबद्दल केवळ ऐकून आणि वाचून माहिती होती.प्रत्यक्ष मोर्चात भाग घेण्याचा अनुभव खरच वेगळा.सगळ्यांच्या नजरा आपल्यावर खिळून आहेत याची सतत जाणीव होत असते.रस्त्यावरचे लोक बॅनरकडे,पाट्यांकडे,त्यावरील मजकूराकडे पाहात असतात.एवढ्या ऊन्हात आरडाओरडा करत, घोषणा देत फिरण्यामागचं कारण काय आहे हे कुतूहलाने आणि गमतीने पाहात असतात.

’’लोकशाही जिंदाबाद,

हुकूमशागही मुर्दाबाद’’

म्हणत आम्ही मोठमोठ्याने घोषणा देत होतो.प्रत्येक चौकात ट्राफिक पोलीस तत्परतेने पुढे होऊन लोकांना अडवत होटल आणि मोर्चाला वाट करून देत होते.आमच्या हातातल्या पाट्या वाचून विषय समजून घेत होते.अनोळखी लोकांकडे पाहून मोठ्याने ओरडताना मजा वाटत होती.आणि आम्हां मूठभर लोकांच्या घोषणांनी छत्तीसगड शासनाला काय ढेकळं धक्के बसणारेत,असाही विचार मनात येत होता.

आपल्या सगळ्यांमधे ही खूमखूमी असतेच.अन्यायाविरूद्ध आरडाओरडा करण्याची.पण कधी निषेध करून,कधी बोलून,संतापून,फार फार तर दोन शिव्या घालून आपण शासन व्यवस्थेविरूद्ध बोलतो.पण असं जाहिरपणे रस्त्यावर मोठ्याने ओरडून निषेध व्यक्त करण्याची संधी क्वचितच मिळते.आम्ही त्या संधीचं सोनं करत होतो.लोकशाही नावाची जकाही तरी व्हर्च्युअल गोष्ट असते असं एवढे दिवस वाटायचं.मोर्चा काढून निषेध व्यक्त करता येणं हा त्याच लोकशाहीचा भाग आहे हे आता कळत होतं! घोषणा देत असताना खोट्या सौजन्यशीलतेपलीकडे जाऊन आपण ओरडतोय हे लक्षात येत होतं.मोकळं वाटत होतं.

खरं तर मोर्चातल्या लोकांच्या संख्येपेक्षा निषेध महत्वाचा.

शिव्या घालून मोकळं होण्यापेक्षा दोन पावलं चालून,थोडे कष्ट करून लोकांपर्यंत हा निषेध पोहचवला पाहिजे. असं केलं नाही तर जे काही सुरू आहे ते आम्हांला मान्य आहे असचं वाटत राहणार. या सगळ्यात एक्साईटमेंट अर्थातच होती.मोर्चा आणि घोषणा रोमांचकारी असतातच.पण नायना म्हणतात त्याप्रमाणे यातून लर्निंग काय झालं तेही तपासून पाहायला हवं.

महत्वाचं म्हणजे या निमित्त्याने डॉ.बिनायक सेन आणि त्यांचं काम वाचण्यात आलं.1980 पासून छ्त्तीसगड मधे लोक स्वतंत्रता संघटना (PUCL) नागरी हक्कांसाठी काम करते.खासगीकरणामुळे विस्थापनाला विरोध असणारय्रा आदिवासींसाठी ही संस्था काम करते.जमीन हस्तगत करण्याच्या सरकारच्या धोरणाविरूद्ध आवाज उठवणाय्रा आदिवासींना नक्षलवादी ठरवून त्यांना छत्तीसगड स्पेशल पब्लिक सेक्युरिटी ऍक्ट (CSPSA) खाली अटक करण्याच्या विरोधात डॉ.सेन यांनी सक्रिय सहभाग घेतला होता. तुरूंगातल्या नक्षलवादी नेते नारायण संन्याल यांना भेटून त्यांना पत्र लिहीण्याच्या आरोपावरून छत्तीसफगड शासनाने बिनायक सेनांवर नक्षलवाद्यांचे साथीदार असल्याचा आरोप केला आणि त्यांना अटक केली. स्पेशल सेक्युरिटी अँक्ट खाली गेल्या 22 महिन्याँपासून डॉक्टर बिनायक सेनांना तुरूंगात डांबून ठेवलं आहे.

माओवाद्यांच्या विरोधात शांततामय मार्गाने ‘सलवा जुडूम’ मोहीम सुरू आहे म्हणत शासन स्वतः च्या आर्थिक लाभासाठी त्याचा उपयोग करून घेत आहे. सलवा जुडूम ची मोहीम आणि तिचा शासनातर्फे झालेला गैरवापर याविरोधात सेन यांनी आवाज ऊठवला होता. त्यांना स्थानिक आदिवासी लोकांचा पाठिंबा होता आणि अजूनही आहे.अनेक नोबेल पुरस्कार विजेत्यांसह वैद्यकीय आणि सामाजिक क्षेत्रातील नामवंत व्यक्तींनी,सामाजिक संस्थांनी,व्रुत्तपत्रांनी डॉ.सेन यांच्या सुटकेची मागणी केली आहे.सर्वोच्च न्यालयालयानेही सलवा जुडूमला विरोध करून डॉ.सेन यांना नैतीक पाठिंबा दिला आहे.

या निमित्त्याने ‘ माओवाद ’ नेमका काय आहे,सलवा जुडूम मोहीम नेमकी काय आहे हेही वाचले.(Key Concepts in Politics: Andrew Heywood) फ्री बिनायक सेन कॅंपेन या त्यांच्या साईट वरूनही बरीच माहिती मिळाली. एखादा विषय कसा नीट पेटवता येतो हेही या निमित्त्याने लक्षात येत होतं.तिथल्या कार्यकर्त्यांच्या कामाची पद्धत लक्षपूर्वक पाहात होतो.मोर्चा,सत्याग्रह,जाहीर सभा,ग्रुहमंत्र्यांना पत्र या सगळ्या गोष्टी खूप पद्धतशीरपणे पार पाडल्या जात होत्या. मोर्चा नेण्यासाठी ताशा आणि माईक पासून ते दोन चार तगड्या आवाजाची माणसं आणि आकर्षक घोषणा देखिल लागतात हे कळालं.एवढे लोकं एकत्र जमतात आणि शिस्तीत काम करतात तेंव्हा त्यांची तयारी आणि कमिटमेंट खरच ग्रेट असणार हे जाणवत होतं. हा मोर्चा शेवटी निवारा व्रुद्धाश्रमाजवळ येऊन जाहीर सभेत विसर्जित झाला.

आपल्या निर्माण च्या मूलांना सुद्धा मोर्चा काढता यायला हवा हे डोक्यात घेऊनच आम्ही तिथून बाहेर पडलो.मोर्चा हा प्रकार आऊटडेटेड झाला असं वाटायचं.पण त्याच मोर्चाने खूप काही शिकवलं.

-सागर जोशी

The new realities, Peter Druker

"This book is hard to understand”, was the way I was introduced to this book. That only motivated me more to read it.(I hope it does the same for you).

Published in 1989 by the management guru Peter Drucker who has actually transcended above this title. He has became a specialist when it comes to matters of management, organizations and inadequacies in economy and government. Every chapter puts forward an idea/s which more than often challengesthe traditional beliefs. This is done with help of numerous examples, events and data to support the idea. The best thing that I liked about the book is the way in which author looks at the current situation from a very broad perspective. This coupled with his immense knowledge about sociopolitical history and its apt use in relevant places makesit a really interesting read.

The book is divided in to four parts of 'The political realities','Government and Political Process', 'Economy, Ecology and Economics' and the last 'The knowledge society'. The first two parts are pure treasure of political/history knowledge and how to interpret that knowledge (those who are interested in such things please don’t miss it). In third part the ‘paradoxes of economic development’ i.e. 10th chapter is really good. For me the last part was most interesting as it is more recent and most of us form a part of this knowledge society. Besides this some very nice terms like "Transnational" (i.e.spread or existing in many nations) are used.

To be frank sometimes one feels like there is too much information, especially for a person who has little knowledge about world political history (like me :) ). Thus one should only aim at understanding the main core or crux of the chapter. No need to panic even if you are not familiar with the various examples that the author is citing. The various intermediate headings inside the chapter actually help a lot to keep one on track about what author is emphasizing. Besides content the other things that I really liked about this book is its font, a bit bigger than conventional but very soothing to read.

To conclude I will pick up the lines from the preface of the book itself This book is not futuristic but it does attempt to define the concerns, the issues and the controversies that will be realities in years to come. The author contends that the toughest problems we face are those created by the successes of the past - the success of thewelfare state, the invention of the fiscal state and the knowledge society. This book does not focus on what to do tomorrow. It focuses on what to do today in contemplation of tomorrow.

Note: The last chapter "Conclusion: From analysis to Perception: The new World View" is just outstanding in terms of the facts that are mentioned. So if you find the book, sit, read the chapter then and there. It will surely be worth the 15 min time you spend.

-Anwar Sahib

Book Review -Diva Swapna

I had seen Gujibhai’s name mentioned in Shikshan - Anandashan by Panse Kaka. I was searching for some books on  primary education and found this one. The moment I saw that Gujibhai were its author it was decided that I will read this book. A decision, which proved to be very good one.

The book was first published in Gujarathi way back in 1932.  Strange that the struggle for improvement of primary education was started long back and still there is so much to do. Written in extremely simple language, the book tells a fictional story of a teacher who seeks permission from the education officer to conduct experiments related to education on 4th std students.

Trying to swim against the current by purposefully shunning the orthodox methods of education he faces many difficulties. He is largely disappointed to see theoretically ideal things were not so easy to implement practically. He then devises various creative and intelligent ways to help teach children in a completely new way.

I am very much tempted to reveal some of the methods of his teaching but I won’t, read it for yourself.  One thing that I liked very much is the way he goes into the details of his experiments and reader is amazed at how nicely he devises ways to solve the problems that are confronted due to the syllabus that is mandated for him to teach.  This book shows that teaching primary children is no child’s play which requires lots of creative hard work and patience. Now method to read this book according to me, 

1) The book is again a small one with only 58 pages. The language used is simple but   since events take place at a very fast pace I suggest that it should be read with appropriate breaks.

2) 4 to 5 pages of reading in a sitting and about couple of sitting in a day could help you finish the book in a week.

3) Sometimes the author goes in more details. It can be a bit boring to read narration of actions of student by a third person when the experiments are being conducted but the way and the outcome of experiments compensates for it.

4) The best part which I liked is the way he teaches grammar to students by helping them understand the core concepts.

NOTE :- Even if you don’t read the entire book, One page Preface given at start is a must read as it gives a hint of present  education system.

The Rally

We had been a part of the rally conducted by the 'Binayak Sen mukti samiti' for precisely the same reason. Dr Binayak Sen as people know has been wrongly accused of being naxalite and incarcerated in chattisgarh for 22 months now. He has been denied bail by the supereme court for reasons best known to it alone. 8 of us  - me, ashwini, neerja, mukta, sagar, amrut, vedvyas and prayag participated. 

I had been to a rally for the first time and i must say i really enjoyed myself. I initially wondered why the rally took place in seemingly unimportant areas like mandai and laxmi road .. I mean it should have been outside the BJP regional office ( BJP rules in chattisgarh)  or the collector office or the police head quarters, but then realised that the purpose of the rally was only to make people aware and generate media hype ( i do not use these words in a negative sense). Following are the observations made -

1. The boards were a little small in size and the font too was small for people to read from a distance.

2. The overall management was good. We did not create problems for the traffic inspite of it being crowded.

3. The photographer only took pictures of a foreigner  :)

4. Mr. Bhai vaidya who was invited to speak on the subject digressed to telling how BJP was biased and how even varun gandhi could get a bail etc .. he thodassa khatakla

5. Lack of 'good' loudspeaker made synchronisation of the slogans difficult especially for people at the extreme end og the rally

6. They also distributed pamphlets describing the problem to people in the streets which was good.

7. We generated  quiet a bit of curiosity in the people standing by. Some people even came forward to ask for the pamphlets

Over all we really liked the experience in the sense it was fun and yet could be quiet effective in generating attention to the topic you want.

Everybody loves a good drought. P. Sainath

Gem of a book, deserves to be read by every Nirmanite. A book which has the power of changing our very attitude towards the poor. The title seemed too interesting for me to overlook the book. Ifelt that there was a strange mocking irony in it. But once I started reading the book, the title was as straight as possible. Just that the title was written from the point of view of the rich. I had already heard Nanda kaka (Nanda Khare) and Arun kaka (Arun Deshpande) mention it. So there was added eagerness to read it. I picked up the book, it said 'Stories from the India's poorest districts'. I started reading it and I still wonder how and when I finished this 470 pages book. To start with the book provides a well-researched, real and a heart-rending account of the condition of poor in our country. Written with lot of passion it gives daily account of the way poor manage to make a living. In a world when only dry statics are provided regarding the poor, P.Sainath paints a clear picture of the real facts which are overlooked in statistics. As one reads the book, an unavoidable anger towards the oppressor mixes with the sympathy felt towards the oppressed. Few selected photos are sparsely distributed over the book. Some of them have such great impact that they still hover in front of my eyes. P. Sainath has beautifully captured how haphazardly government project are planned, reasons behind total failure of these projects, how rich people cunningly use such government schemes/projects for their benefit and finally how some projects do more harm than good. The book is nicely divided into various sections. Primarily there are accounts of rural poor in various areas like health, education, displacement, usury and drought. Each section contains very interesting insights in the life of poor with detailed study of the reasons leading to it. Postscripts are added at regular places to suggest the changes in situation when author visited the same place after some time. The book ends with accounts when poor have fought back. Like in the entire book here also P. Sainath maintains his style of reporting stressing more on facts and not describing it as a heroic story where the good triumphs over bad. According to me all those who aspire for journalism can very well consider this book as an Ideal to follow and all those who are searching for problems to solve can find many in this book. To end with one of the very important point that is brought forward here is that the poverty is covered as events i.e. when some disaster strikes or when many people die of mal-nutrition but the process that leads to such events is largely ignored. Journalism should attack that process and not just cover the events. Now we come to how to read. 1) Firstly the book is very much captivating and I say one should read each and every part. 2) There are some repetitions of couple of lines here and there so don’t skip paragraphs as that repetition is limited to some lines only. 3) If in worst case you want to have selected reading, then the chapters ‘Still crazy after all these years’, ‘Beyond the margins’, ‘Lenders, Losers, Crooks & Credit’,’ Everybody loves a good drought’ and ‘With their own weapons’ are must read. 4) Needless to say poverty, development and press should be read just to get an idea of how much away the press is from its actual purpose. Now the question that stands in front of me, aren’t somewhere we ourselves responsible for this deviation of press from its purpose? According to me the answer is, yes we are. 

- Anwar Sahib

The Scrap Collector! The Flute player!

This Monday was unlike any other day for me as well as for the residents of Tilak road, Nal stop and Nav Sahyadri society. For these people saw today a scene which they had probably never seen before.

An unusual pair was walking down the streets. There was a scrap collector with his handcart, wearing his usual rags and along with him there was a well dressed youth shouting, “Scrap collector, waste papers…” just as the ragged old man shouts!

Why is this nice young man behaving in such a strange fashion? He appears to be from a good family from the look of his clothes and from the way he talks! Then why is he collecting scrap? These were the questions arising in the minds of the watching people…

And the answer? Only one.. Deepa Tai’s email! Because that youth was me! I was highly influenced by the film ‘Tomorrow’ which we had seen in Gadchiroli just like everyone else. I had read Deepa Tai’s mail around 5th or 6th of August and decided that I’ll spend 16th August collecting scrap with the scrap collector. But for some reason the 18th dawned. Anyways…

After reading the title of the article you must be wondering at the connection between the flute player and the scrap collector. It was the afternoon of 28th July that I was returning after posting a letter near the Nav Sahyadri post office when I heard some very melodious notes of the flute. When I reached the source of the sound, I saw that the scrap collector was sitting under a tree and was playing the flute very beautifully! The flute was broken in several places. He had apparently repaired it and was playing some very melodious songs. On asking him, I found out, someone had given off that flute as scrap some 5 to 6 years back which he had picked up. He

repaired the flute and started playing it… Over time, he quite liked his new pastime and developed it as his passion through diligent practice and perseverance without going for any music classes. Today he can play around 20 songs on the flute, new and old alike!

I met him on the 13th and asked him if I could accompany him on his rounds on the 18th. Accordingly on the 18th of August, we set off on our rounds at around 1 in the afternoon and walked for 8 to 10 km till 5.30 in the evening. After walking so much, our profit was 130

rupees.

The scrap collector earns Rs. 170 to 220 on an average per day, after walking for almost 10 to 20 km. in such a meager profit, I wondered how he managed to raise his kids, pay the rent for his home and spare money for all his other expenses. Hesitating a little, I asked him this question. He told me he had a small farm in a village near Ahmednagar. However, he could not depend on this farm as his sole means of income and so he shifted to Pune. In the evening, I brought him home and gave him some snacks. And then he played some 7 – 8 songs on the flute foe all of us at home, my mother, my father and my grandmother. I have even done some video shooting on my mobile!

I still had some questions in my mind but didn’t have the courage to ask him… I did learn a few things though!

1. I had completely lost my shame (not that I had much in the first place!).
2. I experienced his life of endless efforts.
3. And I learnt to find the silver lining for every cloud!

--- Siddharth Prabhune

Ramesh Panse's work

Ramesh Panse kaka is working on बाल शिक्षण (early childhood and elementary education) since last 23 years. He underlined the importance of improving baal-shikshan. It is one of the most important education and one of the most ignored in our country. Early childhood is the effective age during which mental capabilities such as grasping, understanding, memory of a kid are developing.

Rameshkaka made us think from the simplest things (right from seating arrangement for kids) to the complex things (the curriculam nature and its effects) about this education. To know more about Ramesh Panse please click here.

Nature of the problem

People as well as our education system thinks that baal-shikshan is obvious and it is not needed to pay much attention. Sagar pointed out the principle that Nayna told - try to identify a problem which the socienty/communitiy feels that it is a problem. But for this education, there hardly seems an demand or urge of people because they do not feel that it is a problem. Panse kaka's reply to this : Some problems of the society are not even known to people that they exist. Panse kaka mentioned that for such problems, one is needed to work at multiple levels - spreading awareness, scientific research and studies, hitting at the right points in the administrative network (such as approaching the education ministry for changes to implemented throughout), giving "proof-of-concept" for the theories/principles. Some of these steps might not show results immediately, but they are needed.

Principles of Gram-Mangal (as I understood)

We didn't have a discussion on education in higher classes, nor have I read any book of Panse kaka yet, so, for time being, I am writing considering only baal-shikshan.

1. Importance to children/students rather than importance to teachers : As an example, why is it needed for a teacher to have a table and chair (or a dias) in the class? Why can't he just sit with students? Also, why is that benches are needed till 4th standard? Can't it happen that children are sitting on covered floor which is more suitable for their sporty/unstable nature? etc.

2. No homeworks till 4th standard : Panse kaka and the teachers in school mentioned that all studies till 4th standard can be done in class only.

3. Project based learning : Rather than teaching all subjects independent of each other, can they be somehow combined? For example, consider a learning scheme based on web-charts. Consider water as a project/subject - there will be a chapter related to water in science, there can be a poem on water/rains in languages, there can be environmental awareness regarding water, there can be essay writing on usages or water, and a lot of it. For the exact benefits of this scheme, I guess one has to read the books on this subject.

4. School as something enjoyable : Students should love to come to school and they should feel homely there. As a simple example, the principal of the school (Kadekar sir) mentioned that, the sir and madam are not called "sir" and "madam" by the students. Instead they are called "kaka" and "mavshi" which makes children feel more closer and secure.

5. Group based learning : Rather than teaching the whole class, where students of different capabilities are addressed together, group based learning is emphasized. What that means is, one student might have more interest in languages and less interest in science. So, for a languages class, there will be some students who will lead the others - form groups of students of same level for each subject and teach/address the students in groups rather than as a whole class. Group based learning assures attention to every student and it caters to student's learning needs.

Different fronts that need to be worked on

As already mentioned, Panse kaka is working at various levels to tackle the problem.

1. Research is needed and is motivated. He himself has done lot of research in this and written a number of books based on his research.

2. Spreading awareness : He's running a monthly educational magazine

3. Gathering people who have similar thoughts and exchange thoughts: Baal shikshan parishad is an organization to which Panse kaka has contributed a lot (I am not sure if he founded it, sorry for my ignorance). The conference (adhiveshan) of the Parishad is conducted once a year which is happening in November this time. I will post the details in a separate mail.

4. Running schools implementing the principles/ideas at Vai and Aina (may be at some more places as well).

5. Creating a movement which will pressurize the government to take concrete actions

In my mail, I have just tried to give an overview of Panse kaka's work and thoughts about बाल शिक्षण.This by no means is complete. Interested junta can read his books for more understanding.

-Dhananjay