When I entered the Easy English School, Wakeshwar Vidyalaya Peth, Pune, an initiative by ITNL (IL&FS Transportation Networks Ltd.), it did not matter that I had had a long day’s travel behind me, or that the pitter-patter of the rain just did not seem to give up; what mattered was that this basic abode of learning housed energies, which were beyond just the average. For, perhaps, the ‘nth’ time I understood in life how many things, we humans, just take for granted in the run of a day, and that includes, of course, the countless blessings bestowed on us in our respective lives. I reminisced, with a sense of déjà vu, how difficult it is to learn something new, especially if the resources are the bare minimum; but, mind you, bare minimum is sometimes so much more than what these words just give away.
Unknown domain
I was invited by the headmaster of the school, Mr. Ashok Valse, to visit one of the classes in order to interact with the students, for whom English had not been a mother tongue, but who had gathered their guts, resources and wits to venture into a domain unknown — learning a language hardly used in their day to day lives. It reminded me of my days when I took to learning German — my ‘mother tongue’, whose learning evaded me till my later years. I understood the challenges of learning a foreign language, a language hardly used, but yet the will to master it — either to prove a point or to just to evolve. These youngsters were no different.
I could relate to the efforts they made, when they placed words together to make sentences, when they struggled with vocabulary or shyness and insecurity, or when the mind would just go blank in front of an audience. I did understand, I did relate, but what caught me off guard was the determination to shine, no matter what.
With reverence
Lalita Kashid, the English teacher of the class, is a lady who has carved a path for herself. Most of the language learning she now imparts has been self-learnt, polished with the passage of time, and experience, making her quite a force to reckon with. Her students adore her — not only because she is their teacher, but because she brings along with her a zest for learning, and an energy for living life to the fullest. Lalita invites Shrushti, a young girl, around 14 years of age, to speak in front of the class on the subject of superstition, which won the youngster the top position in a competition. Shrushti obliges; with powerful intonation and expressions, she completes her speech, leaving us all stunned — a young girl, from a village, in the middle of nowhere, aligns and modulates her thoughts so well! Her inspiration? Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, and his book Wings of Fire. Tanvi, another student, from the same class, talks about her family, comprising of 12 members; her narration captivates because of the meaning and emotion it carries. Sanika talks about how education is vital for the development of the girl child, and hence the community — the correlation of both these subjects is, in itself, a realisation. The expressions begin to flow as the class begins to ‘open up’ to a set of strange faces. We absorb and assimilate the experience.
It helps me re-assert to myself that for an individual to teach or learn, it is not the only the infrastructure and technology available that matter; they are, of course, facilitators; what matters is the human touch, which help transform pedagogy from mere transmission to transformation, accompanied with grit and determination to make a difference.
As I take my leave from the class, I look at the cheerful faces, with eyes that host a million dreams, and I replenish that fire in me to live life to the fullest, now and always.
The writer is advisor, Communications and Media Outreach, IL&FS Education and Technology Services.
