How crazy a Friday can get? Getting ready for a long drive after a tiring night shift? To add on, a drive in a route which was a puzzle to GPS device too? Yes it may sound crazy, but yes exploring is always crazy.
Quitting the Bangalore city roads we entered the gravel road, which had tar patches. Dust in the air, slush below the tires, and senseless traffic. We had a long hard way to go, or did we know how much we had to go? As the dark clouds started their game, we kept moving, defying the conditions around.
After a long ride as we reached Pestalozzi School Machohalli, we were happy at one thing; we made it, before it was too late. Coming across a post in Facebook we had decided to take up this trip to Pestalozzi School. Trailer of the day was put down in simple words:
Just a glimpse of the cultural extravaganza that will take you across continents while we bind you with the threads of love and togetherness.
Our story starts with children getting ready to go to a regular school, robotic in their ways, conditioned to fit into moulds that we have created for them. As they slip into a patterned way of thinking, a Special child comes into their lives to show them how exciting and creative life can be. They all then set out on a journey on their magical kite to distant lands looking for a school that will just let them ‘be’. As they travel from country to country, they discover various facets of love….
Starting with love of animals in Spain to compassion towards the disabled in Mexico, divine love in China, parental love in Malaysia, love towards the elderly in France, love of money in Russia, love of flowers in Brazil, patriotism from Scotland, love for the better half from Egypt, brotherly love from USA, love of nature from Australia and love of culture from South Africa. The children then showcase the ideal school where emphasis is given on ‘life skills’ and creative arts thus leading society towards a more caring and sharing world. With the need of the hour being ‘unity’, India comes forth with the maxim Vasudaiva Kutumbakam, One World, One Family.
Come and be a part of this journey across the world, as we realise that we are all one, there is no difference between all of us.
We were welcomed by Mahendra Pyati, one of the trustees and a man with golden heart, who has dedicated his time and energy to bring a change in the lives of Autistic, took us across the event which we had almost missed.
We had read about ‘Speaking Tree’, but that day we witnessed the tree that spoke. The huge Banyan which has stood the test of time, which has seen a village grow to city and being left out by his peers as they ended up giving space to new roads, buildings and what not. The roots of this Banyan had flags hung, a picture to be remembered, framed, worshipped and to be reprised. Yes it shouts one message for the humanity, “your flags are different so is your culture. Your ways are different, so are aims. But your roots, all began down here under a tree, through the Mother Nature. When she doesn’t discriminate why you do?” The annual day celebration function was staged under the banyan tree, school premises became the auditorium and children with their ‘Specially abled’ peers the performers.
It is believed that to term the Autistic or Down syndrome children as ‘Special’ is discrimination, but on a path where we are aiming to make every one special or normal, one is compelled to use the term, else it goes unnoticed by society as it always has been.
Mahendra and his team are driven by the noble idea of bringing the Autistic to the mainstream, which they believe doesn’t happen by just accumulating grants and protesting. In the rural Bangalore, they have come up with India’s first of its kind model of integrating Specially abled with normal world setup.
The Pestalozzi School a mainstream private school run by trustees, has been integrated with vocational training Centre for the Autistic. The vocational training Centre, trains Autistic in various skills, and helps them to be financially independent. Spoon feeding the needy has never created changes, but extending opportunities have always written history. Children at the school are encouraged to play with the folks at the Centre, so as to create awareness among the children, which is the best way to create a long term awareness chain so that the chain never breaks and the term ‘specially abled’ is taken away.
Commemorating the annual day function an exhibition of the hard and skill work was in display. People were invited to buy the products, which had unadulterated dedication and a layer of beauty of its own. “The kids have a dedication and yearning that most us of don’t have. We tend to postpone our work, but they don’t. Be plate making, or jewelry, or dying saris and Kurtis they neither complain nor leave it half done, and maybe that’s what makes them special” said the trainer with broad smile and pride for her kids reflecting in her eyes.
The school and the premises spread across 96 acres of land, with nothing but lush green trees and bushes, a spot where one can sense the smell of the soil that once we had played on. Pestalozzi Trust welcomes people to walk in, spend their quality time with the kids and also enjoy in the cradle of Mother Nature. With a vision of creating a better world for everyone Mahendra and team are leaving no stone unturned, to bring up the place as the epicenter for the change.
Waving good byes to the golden hearts and few special friends that we made, we started our back, with a promise to return not as audience but as the volunteers for the change.
Notes: The unplanned trip from VFC to Pestalozzi School Magdi Road. Our team, of four, Suren, Madhu, Divya and me, thank Mahendra for giving us the opportunity to be a part of the great event, also hoping to work together for future events. We congratulate Mahendra and his energetic team; also wish all of us good luck for the future endeavors