Reverencing The Past
By Anitha.S
05 February, 2014
Countercurrents.org
I am Sharon. I am 13 years old and live in Thiruvananthapuram city in Kerala. I study in a huge English Medium Private school with big buildings and concreted walkways. The school has no trees except a few coconut palms and there are anthuriums in pots that need so much water and care. We do not have a playground and most often the Free period is inside the Computer room. I do love outdoors and never miss a chance to go out with my father.
Last evening, my father took me for a program in the Gandhi Park located in East Fort, a heritage zone in the city but much crowded and congested. I am afraid to go there because you see old people and children trying to cross the road and getting trapped in between buses and other vehicles. But once inside the park, there is space and greenery and a lawn- like an oasis in the desert. The program was organized by Tree Walk and The Attakulangara Central High School Protection Samiti.
When we reached a group of men and women were singing a song. It caught my attention as there were minimum instruments like the harmonium and tabla. I love to play the tabla. They were singing a song by the famed poet of Kerala, O.N.V.Kurup. The lines Manishada resounded in the park area – stopping humans from the killing of trees. I was moved by the song and the impact it created about the uncontrolled destruction of our green friends. Standing in the open at dusk watching the crescent moon and the sky, I felt the lines “ The tree which shoulders tiny delicate flowers, and extends hands towards the moon- how can you raise the axe towards it?” really relevant as we stood there. Later at home, I heard my father explain to my mother and sister that the group is called M.B.S.Youth Choir started in the memory of music composer Sri.M.B.Sreenivasan 25 years ago.
What made the program special was the banner which said very simply PROTECT THE ATTAKULANGARA CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL. As I listened to the brief speeches by poetess Sugathakumari, educationist Hridaya Kumari and teacher Yesudas, I understood that this school has a history of 125 years. I was amazed to know that the total area of the school is 3 acres. There are over 100 trees belonging to 32 species spreading shade and coolness. The mention of the huge play ground where children and youth from all over come to play made me think of the concreted ground of my school where 2000 students sit hunched in the benches all day with little chance to stretch our legs. Many of my classmates have neck pain and swelling due to long hours of sitting and reading. How wonderful that in the same city, there is this school where children can relax, sit under trees and dream, play and interact with friends, meet and make new friends… all this is what makes childhood and youth the most beautiful part of life.
When I heard about the teacher who had worked in the school for 30 years mention that she would bring children from all her neighbouring areas with her every morning, make sure they cross the road safely it made me realize the true role of a teacher. If school is a home away from home, it is so essential that teachers become parents – scolding, advising, reprimanding, yet loving and caring. I wonder if my father who is a teacher is like that with the 3000 children he interacts with in his school. It brought tears to my eyes to hear the story of the Headmaster who along with the Parent Teacher Association made the children bring newspapers from home for 3 months. The money made from the sale of this went into building the stage that is still there. The Headmaster Peer Mohammed who is 87 was heard saying recently that children are always willing to correct and learn and it is the adults who do not show the patience and kindness. So true! I thought of the shouting, impatient, unkind teachers in my school, many of whom behave like as if we are their enemies. I wonder what pressure and stress they must be undergoing to become so hard on us.
The memories of students who studied in the school also made a special impact on the audience. The vegetable garden that was made in the school with the help of students and teachers remain an unforgettable memory in the minds of the children. The State Youth Festival that was held here in the campus in the 1980s reflect on the capability and prestige of the school. As we heard of the Kathakali classes that were held here even before Kerala Kalamandalam was formed and the presence of stalwarts like Nelliyod Vasudevan we wondered about the glory of the school. As we listened to the poem Shameless by Tamil poet Neela Padmanabhan the past history of the school unraveled before us.
I was shocked to hear that now there are only less than 100 students in the school. It made sense to me when it was discussed that effort should be made to upgrade the school to Higher Secondary status, improve the condition of buildings and quality of education here as all facilities can be provided in the vast space available. When we saw the documentary Verukal Murikkumbol which was screened about the school, we understood the value of what is being lost and how with a simple effort this space can be converted into a real oasis in the concrete desert of the city. Tree Walk has suggested that this be retained and developed as a Children’s park, a walk way for senior citizens and a de- stress zone for young adults. It excites me to know of the proposal that Kerala Council for Historical Research has given to the Government. They want to develop a Imaginarium in the century old school campus which will give the public an opportunity to walk through human history- how wonderful a learning this would be! My father told me this morning that a renowned historian Romila Thapar has written to the Kerala Government to accept the KCHR proposal. The Heritage Walk group has also seconded the need to conserve this space.
As we left the Gandhi Park last evening after an intense and interesting time, I looked at the huge rain trees peeping out of the school wall, planted so many years ago by someone with long term vision and compassion for future generations. I then understood what Smt.Hridaya Kumari meant when she said that now we are after short term gains where the voiceless- nature and humans do not matter.
The crescent moon and the stars, the bats flying overhead, the feelings of all those who joined in the signature campaign all echoed one thing- Let this green lung be conserved for posterity, for children to play and learn, for the public to breathe in pure air and let us be a generation that has reverence to the past.
Anitha.S in conversation with Sharon, Sabu, Veena, Paul, Ravi, Gomathy, Saji, Swarnalatha and Santhi on 2nd Feb 2014.
Please visit www.treewalk.in and sign in the Campaign to Save the Attakulangara Central High School. For details of campaign material – the Biodiversity Report and documentary contact [email protected]
Comments are moderated