Keya Sarkar: Beyond classroom learning

It was soon after I shifted to Santiniketan that I met Rahul and his wife Kirsty, who had settled there a few years ago. They had chosen to settle in a predominantly tribal village on the outskirts of Santiniketan. The land they had acquired was large and in it stood their mud house with a thatched roof. Although built in Bengal, the house had an English cottage look about it, making the collaborative effort between the couple apparent to any visitor.

They then ran a restaurant, which was open only in the evenings. In between this and bringing up their three children they also managed to teach a few village children. But as their children grew, their energy to run the restaurant waned and was soon given up. The teaching, however, continued. Together with home schooling for their own children, Kirsty and Rahul seemed to get more and more involved with children in the area who wished to learn more than what was being taught in their village schools.

Named "Suchana", the endeavour was designed not as a substitute for school but as a school plus resource centre. Suchana was meant to give the children a peep into the world beyond, through classes, interactions and activity plans. From pottering in clay to simple science experiments, the children could experience more beyond wisdom from books. More significant, however, was the interaction between the kids, who were Santhali, Kora and Bengali. They were learning each other's language and customs. Thanks to Kirsty's own children playing and learning with them, the village kids also managed to understand a sprinkling of English.

We followed with interest the growth of Suchana, which was funded by Rahul and Kirsty and their family and friends. Kirsty's family in England not only helped raise funds but actually made trips to participate in Suchana's annual cultural or sports functions. Soon it was apparent that the home school needed more funds to accommodate the growing interest among kids from surrounding villages. Thankfully, a few hits and misses later, Suchana found a sympathetic and stable sponsor. This allowed the growing number of young learners to find a place of their own. Close to where Suchana was born, they managed to find land and built a modest building. It was only then that their ambition for the children started to take shape. From housing a library to starting computer classes, the resource centre began to grow. Open from seven in the morning to seven in the evening, the centre allows children to come in anytime. Since from 10 to three they are away at school, Suchana uses that time to teach older kids, who have finished school.

Over the years we have been invited to many of Suchana's functions. This year, too, Kirsty sent us a mail to invite us for the annual day. When we reached for the afternoon do, the sky was overcast but the childrens' colourful art and paper decorations gave the place a festive air. The 250 children who are now regulars at Suchana sang, danced and recited in Bengali, English, santhali and kora. The audience comprised all parents from around the villages dressed in their Sunday best, and many like us who had seen Suchana being so lovingly nurtured over the years.

After the singing, Kirsty took the opportunity to share all that she thought Suchana had achieved. For the kids and their parents such milestones seemed irrelevant. They were just happy to be a part of the journey that Kirsty and Rahul had embarked upon.

I often complained that we never saw them anymore. That they had become too busy to meet for an occasional beer. That day as I saw the contended faces of the children and their parents, I thought giving up on the occasional beer was indeed a small price to pay.