- << Change Album
- Event date: 27/11/2024
- Updated on: 17/12/2024
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Total Photos:
86
Description: On 27th of November I along with a group of 40 students accompanied by our teacher, Dr.Punam Gupta. incharge of the Tarumitra group visited Manthan an NGO run by Jesuit Fathers in Khagaul. It was an educational and cultural excursion, aimed at broadening the understanding of social issues especially related to marginalised communities for the students of Tarumitra. Manthan was established in 1989.by Fr. Philip Manthara, S.J. with a vision of marching with the marginalised for a dignified life. It is a residential school for ablout fifty musahar children in grades 6, 9 and 10. The visit included a tour of Manthan, an insightful conversation with the Musahar community in a nearby village and a heart-warming cultural exchange from both the sides. The day ended with an interactive session where the students and the children of the NGO prepared a simple salad and shared a meal of dal and rice together.
We reached the place by 9: 30 a.m. and were warmly welcomed by Fr. NishantTomy, S.J. Through a power point presentation acquainted with the establishment and operation of ofManthan. It highlighted the holistic approach the NGO takes towards community empowerment. It was the time to act. We were given a list of some questions which we were supposed to ask the people we were going to visit. It included their life, means of earning, their dreams, low social status etc.
We were taken to a nearby village, Shiwaalapar, 3kms from Danapur, inhabited by the Musahar community. The Musahars, historically marginalised are one of the most economically disadvantaged communities in Bihar, known for their traditional involvement in manual labour. In the village, we were given an opportunity to speak to some of the families of the Musahar community. The interaction provided valuable insights into theirstruggle for daily needs and aspirations. One of them explained the hardships of daily life, from limited access to basic resources such as clean drinking water, proper sanitation, health care, to the prevalent social stigma that keeps the community isolated.
Upon returning to Manthan after the visit, the students were warmly welcomed by the Musahar children with a lively cultural programme. The children, filled with enthusiasm, performed traditional dances and sang different songs, showcasing their talents and cultural pride. A dance programme and a song was presented by our members which filled the atmosphere with joy.
The final part of the visit involved an engaging and educational activity: Preparing a simple salad with the children over there. We, along with the children, participated in preparing the salad by chopping vegetables and learnt about each others names and backgrounds, creating an opportunity for learning beyond the classroom.
After the salad preparation, everyone gathered together to enjoy a traditional meal of dal and rice , vegetables, pickles, some sweets etc. with the inmates. The simple yet nutritious meal was a symbol of unity and solidarity, as the students and children shared not only food but also stories, laughter, and a deep sense of connection. The experience of eating together was a reminder of the power of community, and how food can bring people from different backgrounds together in harmony.
This educational trip was a vivid reminder of the power of community support, the importance of education, and the need for empathy and solidarity in building a more inclusive society. After meeting the Musahar people in that village, I had just one thought in my mindthat for being happy you don’t need money. School is a place of learning. It provides not only the knowledge based on books but through life experiences. This excursion provided an opportunity to thank God for blessing us with all the benefits of life and at the same time made us realize us of our responsibilities to lend a helping to the needy. In this way we can live the motto of our school, ‘For God and Country’.