In fieldwork where the variables are ever changing and change doesn't appear ever at hand, harvesting hope on a regular basis helps. Finding kindred spirits amongst children, teachers, community members and functionaries, is a treasure. They give assurances of strenuous yet certain improvements in the current state of things. I find respect for them as they take responsibility for their work despite many constraints.
On day I sit into lows, with tiredness and unreflected feelings, going to schools and working with children brings me back to energies and purpose. From the past three years, I have had the good fortune to spend time with various age-groups and contexts of children. Each time gaining comfort and learning their many thoughts and happinesses is meaningful. I see them as bright hopes of a smarter, better future, when taken along paths of progress.
In this series of little anecdotes, I will try to articulate field experiences which brought me peace, love and hope.
From my notebook on September 9, '25, after spending time with grade 2 students on an English poem in PS Shuklabhata -
When we spend time with children, they like us no just because we become like them but importantly because they cherish learning and exploring. Their minds attend and are utilized when engaged with care and encouragement. They look forward to meet us because a safe environment is held for them to err and learn. Amidst fear - anger and uninterest grow, leading them eventually to leaving the school for good. What we do as examples, demonstrations can easily be distilled into the school cultures. The willingness matters.
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On September 3, '25, grade 5 students of PS Bodra discussed their Hindi lesson 'सुनीता की पहिया कुर्सी' with a few questions and cues from me. They wrote a few sentences they had to say and ask to Sunita to become friends with her. Laxman and Digesh who wouldn't participate in their Hindi teacher's class, contributed in mine. I asked the students if they would be interested in writing a letter to Sunita from the sentences we had made in class, they agreed. Since Laxman and Digesh lived next to each other, I enquired if they would be able to make a small wheelchair. They quickly asked questions on how to make it and what to search on YouTube. I was not sure they would work on this.
I had some work with their teacher so I went to school the next day and these two children rushed with a small wheelchair in their hands! They told me how they had made it and that it needed a footrest, which they assembled very soon.
Believing in the different intelligences and strengths of the children brought me hope in this class.
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| Children's questions for Sunita |
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| Laxman and Digesh with the wheelchair model |
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