Saturday, February 6, 2010

Gurukul


While surfing the net, I came across a photograph showing a class room. This may look like a scene from a period film by Steven Spielberg.
I like that single seat and desk system and the earnest look on the children’s face, all ready to answer the question.
But in Pune there is a school in which the classes are held in the bogie of a train.
The story goes that due to lack of funds, these bogies were bought at an auction held in Bombay and then carted down to Pune where it was given a face lift and converted to class rooms.


Had visited this school some years ago and had clicked some pictures there. As seen above some kids were all ready to pose. One wanted to show off her swinging skills on the make shift swing.


The teaching method too is quite different from the normal school, and hence the school was appropriately named as Gurukul. The land was donated (on a temporary basis) by the Agriculture college so the view from the school too is fabulous.


The physical training class in progress (the movements were that of a mix between dandia and legim)


Nothing like a game of kho kho to hone up your skills on reflex action




The kids have the meal that is provided by the school and I observed that each student washed their own plates after the meal.


Here is a view of the “Drawing Class” that is being held in one of the “Class rooms”

Drawing Class

Later on with contributions, a proper school building was erected but they build it over the train, maybe as a reminder of the humble beginning.



Teachers at the lunch break in one of the bogies:


The desks in the class room too were designed in such a way that they formed a hexagon when assembled together, by which the students sat facing each other for group discussions.


They even had a sign board (like on a railway station) indicating the height from the mean sea level.

Thought for the day on one of the black board: click on the picture to see the complete writing.
Writing on the wall.

Some of the girls were bashful and coy when I clicked them.
By the way, how many of you visit your old school once in a way? If you don’t, please do and see how it rejuvenates you.

41 comments:

Gauri Gharpure said...

lovely photos.. i visit my school at least once a year and my teacher almost every time am back home. rejuvenating is the word, yes. :)

Holly Lefevre said...

Thanks you for visiting 504 Main the other day. I very much enjoyed your photos and post. My mother in law loves India and in fact is there right now for one month...she travels there at least once a year.
Holly @ 504 Main

Ash said...

Lovely write up..... I loved every bit of it.... The school is totally awesome & I loved the bogie classrooms....

I visited my old school at Mangalore & brought those memories with me.... in the form of videos & pictures... It has undergone several changes.... I met 2 of my teachers, one who is not the Headmistress of the school & the other retired voluntarily.... but still drops in at times.... I was lucky to have met them that day.... They were so happy to see me & the teacher who retired even recalled my name herself, which really meant a lot.... I loved her then & even more now..... GOD BLESS THEM ALL..... I blogged about them too.....

Way back then , we connected with our teachers, but that bonding is seen no more.....

KUDOS TO U for that write up!!!!!

Ash.....
(http://asha-oceanichope.blogspot.com/)

Ash said...

****OOps!!!! there was a mistake... one of whom is now a headmistress is what I meant....

Anuradha Shankar said...

wow! this is totally awesome!!!!!

BK Chowla, said...

This is true involvement and dedication.

Joanne said...

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog!

Awesome pictures and info...I feel like I've learned so much about this place.

PJ said...

Very interesting post and the pics. I have read about Gurukul but never visited it, reading your post though I feel as if I have visited the place now. Enjoyed reading many of your older posts too, the mehendi one is wonderful too. Thanks so much for stopping by Ginger & Garlic!

The Holy Lama said...

A novel idea and it clicked. Good luck Gurukul. Have visited school once after leaving after a gap of 10 years. Most teachers had changed. Some renovation was on. I felt kind of outsider there then. Next time, i did go in and let my imagination recreate the classrooms and assembly i knew once

Shruthi said...

This is wonderful. Would love to visit this school if ever I get a chance to visit Pune.
Btw I love your profile pic :)

Neha said...

this was a wonderful write up...the images are fantabulous..:)

ARUNA said...

Wow nice gurukul.....don't know y but it is taking me to Harry Potter movies, only wizardry is missing here!

Shalini said...

Awesome!!
The "Harry Potter" comment is true...hehe.
Yup...going back to school really makes you happy.

BonBon Rose Girls Kristin said...

Visting our roots is such a fabulous idea!

Gomathy S said...

Very nice school...we need more schools that would actually make innovations happen!

lostworld said...

Lovely post. You captured the true essence of blogging by spreading the word :)I want to be a teacher..reading this makes me more wistful!

Deepa Jagarlapoodi said...

very interesting and thoughtful..love this post of urs

Lakshmi -Celebrations said...

just came over jumping form blogs to blogs.Amazing blog you have.good work,

Joseph Pulikotil said...

Hello:)

Greetings:)

Very informative post and lovely photos.

I studied is a co education school in Chennai but now it is exclusively for girls. I was told that the teachers couln't manage the boys:)

Best wishes:)
Joseph

Santanu Sinha Chaudhuri said...

Lovely pictures of a novel school. Thanks.

Sh@s said...

U always come up with something interesting each time u write. I had heard about Gurukul school when i was in Pune but never knew about this it has rail coaches as class rooms. Am sure it must be fun for the students as well coz its different. Glad to now dat the students are made to wash their own plates after meal, a good start to learn to do ones own work.

Mandy (ZenMonkeyMind) said...

I always learn things I never knew before when I visit your blog! Thank you for showing us that there is more to the world than what we see when we look around our own little universe!

Chubskulit Rose said...

The thought for the day is very inspiring. Those smiles of the kids made me smile too.

Cheryl Pitt said...

Oh wow thank you! What a great peek into another culture :)

MADHU RAO | (INDImag.COM) said...

Haddock, We have selected this amazing story chronicled by your for our top-5 this week. Do visit us :

http://www.indimag.com/2010/02/14/top-5-february-14-2010/

Roses and Lilacs said...

Using train cars for class rooms is a great idea. As a child I went to a tiny rural school and the school wasn't much larger than a train car. Very interesting how they incorporated the train into the new school.
Marnie

walk2write said...

Hello, Haddock! I think I prefer your Gurukul to the ones we have here in the U.S. It has respect written all over it--from the preservation of the old train cars to the children washing their own lunch utensils. Thank you for giving us a peek at that marvelous school.

shahana said...

Interesting writeup and nice clicks!!!

Pink Mango Tree said...

Absolutely amazing! :)
What an idea sirji... hats off to the school authorities.

Cheers!

Anonymous said...

I learn a lot here from you! Nice job!

RamNarayanS said...

Bright and lovely post, both in content and in your pictures. Thanks for posting this.

Casuarina said...

Wow, now that was a really interesting post. I must thank you for so many photos to help us along the reading route.

And you're right. I do visit my school once in a while and I love it when all the teachers greet me just as before... I feel like a child again. And you know what, even though I'm not a student any more, I still feel that mixture of respect and reverence that so characterised that period of my life. It's like coming home, in some sense.

Bullshee said...

I haven't been back to my old school ever since I passed out over 8 years ago...which is sad in a way.Must make it a point to visit some time soon...

I think the way this school has been designed is very innovative and refreshing! Thanks for the great write up!

SURYA said...

Hey 'Gurukul' reminds me of a Japanese novel called 'TOTTO-CHAN:The Little Girl at the Window' written by Tetsuko Kuroyanagy, which also deals with the same concept of using railway train cars as full fledged class rooms. The only difference is that this was in practice during the early 1900's. Never knew that something of this kind is there in India. Thank you for this lovely piece of information.

Anjuli said...

what a wonderful post!!! Amazing beginnings- and lovely pics. This is really inspiring.

Amrit said...

In all honesty, this is an excellent post. I learnt a lot from this post. Very informative and very well written. Thanks for posting it. Absolutely brillent work to gather all information, pictures and articulate it nicely.

Haddock said...

@ A / @ Anjuli
Thanks for the appreciation and honest opinion.

@ Bullshee:
Don't forget that visit (and make it a relaxed one)
@
Calsuarina:
Good to know a bout that.
@ all the others:
My idea was to make sure that this school gets maximum exposure as the method of teaching is different from other school.
Glad you all liked it.

Anonymous said...

I can't wait to be back at my school..

awesome post :)

My Diabetic Sweet Life said...

Wow that's a really interesting post. I love how they built the new school over the old carriage. I never go back to my school - it didn't really hold any happy memories for me...sadly.

anushka d said...

Hey
This is my skl Gurukul
We are the current seniors
dude i love the way u have written abt our skl
thanxx

Anonymous said...

i used to go to gurukul..but i had to leave for 2 years I'm to get admission again next year in 6th it is indeed an extraordinary school, with wonderful teachers and lovely people......i miss it so much....fabulous place....i remember when i was in the junior section of gurukul waiting eagerly for the day i'll be learning in a train carriage.....it is amazing!!!!!! Thanks for speaking\vlogging so nicelyabout our school