Shravanthis marks

 When parents are agricultural labourers, landless. When they put their child in a government hostel for studies. Hoping her ways open out.

When the school sends a postcard of the child s progress to the parents. And when the happy mother sends a picture of it to me immediately. A child one has known since she was born. Well beloved.

Happiness and pride well up.

Whatever my larger objections to the schooling system. A child who works against all odds and persists. Deserves a salute.

Paalaguttapalle Dalitwada.

Vamsee Juluri I dream of the day there is an "indigenous thought" subject column there too. I bet the parents know it a lot more than left or right give credit for.


Aparna Krishnan I dream of the day there will be neither schools nor such colomns. And we didn't claim the superiority to sit in judgement on a community far wiser and far more rooted than us. On the community or on its children.

Till that day dawns, I perforce need to walk this pathway with the children.

And yes, the right and the left, neither know nor acknowledge the depth of wisdom, knowledge and roots that our people have. In every village and hamlet.