Resident trustee of Asia Plateau, the IofC centre in India, sends this report of ‘a truly unique and, for us, historic programme that was launched last Sunday, setting the town of Panchgani buzzing’. The event was the launch of ‘India I Care’ programme in Panchgani.  This report is by Mandakini Mathur, a local Panchgani filmmaker and environmentalist.

Mandakini Mathur from Panchgani town, environmentalist and film-makerThe Panchgani Chapter of India I Care (IIC), an initiative of ‘Initiatives of Change’ (IofC), was launched on 7 February, 2010. A unique feature of this small hill town is the presence of more than 30 residential schools that has given it a reputation of being a centre for education. It won’t be an exaggeration to say that more than half the population of Panchgani comprises school children. Taking this into consideration, the India I Care campaign in Panchgani was focused on the school community. The growing up years is the best time to inculcate right values which can go a long way to build a strong nation. IIC provides a platform where good intentions can be translated into action.

The venue for the launch event was New Era High School, one of the well established schools. About 450 students from the VII and VIII grades of twenty schools participated in a day long programme which began at 9.30 am and concluded at 5.30 pm. Apart from the schools of Panchgani and its neighboring villages, we also had two schools from Pune and Baramati. What was special about the day was the mingling of the so-called elite schools with the vernacular medium village schools. This was made possible through activities and collaborative games played by Swati and Agyat and their team of fourteen volunteers from the Department of Creative Media for Children, SNDT College, Pune. Swati and Agyat run a NGO called PLAY (Peace Leadership and Young People). The MRA-IofC interns too, joined hands with them.

Students paintingThe lamp was lit after a prayer by the MRA interns. After the keynote address by the Resident Trustee of MRA, Asia Plateau, Sugandha Upasani sang the national song, Vande Mataram. Soon the meaning of this Sanskrit song came alive through a dance performed by five students of New Era to the Hindi translation. February 7th also happened to be the day for the annual fair, or jatra of Panchgani town. Like most Indian festivals, it is a day of celebration and worship where the local deity is brought to the market square in a palanquin. To emphasize the fact that mere worship of mother Nature is not enough; we have to take active care, two one minute ‘TV spots’ made by Mandakini Mathur were screened. Students of Sanjeewan Vidyalaya put up a skit which highlighted the unity in diversity of Indian culture and how the divisive forces were tearing apart the national fabric. A felicitation of Mr Uttam Singh for his 30 years of sincere service in the municipality to keep Panchgani clean was the next item. The MRA family sang ‘Better to light a candle…’ before the short juice break. Next we watched the New Era kids perform a 20 min play called ‘Trees Don’t Vote’. The play throws light on the lack of political will to attend to the issues of environmental concern –be it the saving of forests, rivers or the tiger but more than that it also reinforces the need for every individual citizen to shoulder the responsibility. Panchgani and Mahableshwar area is a bio-diversity hot spot and has been declared an eco-sensitive zone by the government where urgent action for conservation needs to be taken. IIC, Panchgani will certainly focus on this in its action plan for schools.

Playing gamesThe morning session in the auditorium wound up by 12 noon. After this the children were divided into sub groups each accompanied by a facilitator. They were soon outdoors in their own selected spaces exploring the idea behind IIC through collaborative games and activities. One main activity involved depicting the IIC concept with colours on a 1 sq. ft. piece of cloth. Later these pieces were stitched together to form banners / flags which each participating school would have for its own IIC club.

At lunch The New Era school prefects’ help in serving food and guiding the 500 participants was invaluable. The group activities resumed till 4.30 pm. Then everyone assembled back in the auditorium where the IIC Character Bank / Deposit Slip idea was explained and explored. ‘Deposits slips’ in which are recorded specific decisions to follow ethical norms and societal laws would be made by individuals, and deposited into a ‘drop box’ of the ‘Character Bank’ to build up the ‘moral and ethical balance’ of India. T.P. Mukherjee from Pune an IIC activist since its inception elaborated on its concept. He stressed on the fact that the resolution/commitment has to spring from deep within the individual before it can join hands with others to form a powerful agent of change.

A skit about IndiaA skit by the MRA family, including Kaun Hai Zimmedar song by the Baramati orphanage kids was also woven into this exploration. Priya Sharma, IIC coordinator focused attention on the forming of the IIC school clubs. A vote of thanks was given by Mr Prabhakar Vartak, Secretary to the MRA Trust. The National Anthem provided the last note to this day long celebration and exploration of the India I care theme.

The challenge now is to sustain this unleashed energy and enthusiasm. The eagerness to be part of this movement was evident on each and every face. How this will translate into concrete project ideas in different schools is something we all need to work upon. One great achievement is the creation of a forum for positive action where all schools will come together through the mediation of Asia Plateau. An idea which has come up to keep this interaction alive is by reviving the theatre culture at Asia Plateau. Inter school theatre festivals under the theme of India I care could be held. The municipality has shown keen interest in being part of the campaign and has made a generous contribution to the expenses incurred during the event. This would be a great support to the schools for their projects related to cleanliness, water management, eco-tourism etc.

Right now one feels as if one were riding a wave of positive energy. Anybody who wants to get assimilated and wants to contribute in whichever way to this swelling force is most welcome!