So, what is common between Chakyar Koothu, a traditional performing art, and economics?
Nothing, it seems. But Pramod Malyankara, an economics teacher at S.N.V. Sanskrit Higher Secondary School, Paravur, has innovated to establish that improbable link to teach economics through Chakyar Koothu.
The beneficiaries will be first and second year students of commerce and humanities departments at the school. They will get to learn their economics lessons from the Chakyar.
The idea is to shoot performances based on economics lessons, burn them into CDs to be distributed free of cost to students. It will also be uploaded on YouTube so that economics teachers and students from other institutions will also benefit.
“A three-day rehearsal camp as a prelude to the shooting was completed recently. All arts are based on some tale, and here, we are replacing that tale with economics lessons. We are now waiting for the rain to subside and the examinations of the B.Tech student who is set to enact the role of Chakyar to get over to begin the shooting,” said Mr. Malyankara, who has written the script.
Sreeshakh R. Nair, who will don the grease paint as Chakyar, is a school alumnus and a former first prize winner in Chakyar Koothu at the State Youth Festival. Students Midhuna Suresh, Ashiq K.S., V.R. Reshma, K.M. Meghna, and Abhilash Kumar will also participate in the making of the video.
Innovative teaching techniques are nothing new to Mr. Malyankara as he believes that visuals help students grasp lessons much better compared to conventional teaching.
He had in the past taught using art forms like Ottanthullal and mime and even musical album and computer graphic.
In fact, his innovative teaching aid had received recognition at the State Social Science Fest. His teaching videos on economics had also received good reception from students and teachers.
Efforts are being made to get the CD released by the director of the Higher Secondary Education Department.
