2011
Ashram asked some of its parents to take of their kids and admit somewhere. And when some demanded free transport the answer is same again.
This decision of mine turned out to be a severe punch. A sudden drop out in numbers ( already low) was attributed to my foolishness. My wife is shocked to see the happenings. My mother is very silent. My dearest called me paranoid and unstable.
I started to rethink. Suggestions after suggestions followed. They ranged from selling to closing down to...I spoke to all my well wishers.People identified me as a crybaby. Slowly i found out a new enemy in me. A new identity which is crushing my genuine will power and courage.
At this point i thought a lot. Where i began and where i am going to end? Is this the price we are paying for treading the path alone? Am i misfit in this educational set up?
1996
four of my students Sekhar, Pathak, Krishna and Venkatraju along with my brother jagan were working relentlessly to dismantle a thatched erection established to run a school. It was curtains down for ignorance, innocence, foolishness and honesty called "ARUNASHRAM". It was curtains down for aspirations, hope and faith. It was the end of a mans dream who is thousands of miles away from the place. My brother and my students swallowed the bitter pill and continued with life. I too flowed with the different streams of life.
This first attempt to set up a ideal system of education collapsed in a grandeur.My brother tried a great deal to infuse life but i am never able to breathe fire in it. The final shadows slowly started to disappear as life demanded different versions to survive. It remained a myth forever. It carried a spirit.....spirit of never ending energy levels of jagan .......spirit of dedication and loyalty of four young lads........spirit of faith of one friend on another.........spirit of hope that lies with a myth that one day it will rise... to conquer.
2004.
Ashram established.
I still remember me dining at apparao garus house for days and how they treated me. I feel the confidence of Rama Rao garu even today . I still remember the energy of satyanarayana garu. I remember how prasad garu and kumara swamy garu sacrificed their time for a cause called Ashram. It was that time when pramods mother was severe on any one who spoke against school. Manohar garu s house became a office plank for planning. The confidence shown by chandrasekhar garu is still roaming in ashram.How can i forget satyaprasad garu? How can i forget jagan whose very presence stirred momentum. How can i forget shanta srinivasu garu for his support. And how can i forget babu ratan and neelakantam who stood rock solid for me. And how can i forget my students who made my day that day.
yes. It was happening that day. The phoenix rose from ashes with an energy that was without parallel. With faith as a foundation block and love as pillars Ashram began its tryst with destiny.
Yes. The personality of Rama krishna was sky rocketed. Expectations flew like magic brooms.The kids who were inspired by their teachers words made him a magician. People around him expected him to turn tables and build castles. New friends with hopes and lure for easy money, new acquaintances and life is energetic.
Alas! No one ever understood that the school and its mentor are not fit into the regular commercial set up. Rama Krishna is quite ordinary and his vision for education is different from what others aspire. And the aspirations of people made rama krishna run a different course. The conflict with in and the shy nature to accept started making a different persona.
And in a short time aspirations began to fall with not more than 60 being admitted into school. The school never understood the exact course it should tread. The fees structure never suited the economics of school. Its always the ideal Vs need of the day. For ideal Rama krishna the question paper and answer sheet should bring out the best in the student where as the need of the day is what ever the student should pass. This put the school in grave economic crisis.To tide over loans are taken , more and more went in. But the confusion made everything gloomy. Years rolled by. No improvement in numbers made hardcore supporters also shook their heads in disbelief.
The idea of Rama Krishna making Ashram into some corporate stuff ended in a exaggeration. The exaggeration ended a dedicated teachers magical way of teaching. The exaggeration transformed Rama krishna into a joker of sorts. The exaggeration made people make fun of Ashram. And Ashram started to slip into heavy debts with less numbers. And this very exaggeration ended me in pursuing against my own self.
Almost years later this exaggeration of a simple teacher who made students work miracles out of their own led to the destruction of teaching skills.
So where we stand? Is nothing there to be proud of?
Under this exaggeration emerged set of students who always carried the flag high.The always stood by the ideal Ashram craved for. Ashram fought battles against parents who never understood children and earned more wrath from public.To support and satisfy the exaggeration mob the school went through hell. Those who understood are of two kinds: One with less financial status and others out of their own will.
2011: present
What is Ashram? A Myth or An Exaggeration
With criticism every where, evaporated dreams and mounting debts shall we call the end of the show?
My Answer is a plain "NO"
Its never yes because majority say so. Its never down because one can scale anytime. Its never "never".
Cutting across their limitations certain parents stood by me. supported me with all they have. How can i forget sacrifices made by them? How can i forget when ever my brother visited he ran up to school just to savour the academic flavour. My student Sekhar fought for Ashram like hell. My student swamy made it a mission. My student somasekhar ran everywhere to see that Ashram stands. Vikranth never said a no to school.I still feel tears of santosh palisetti. I still remember sivashankar running back from cinema in middle just to see everything is safe at school. I still remember sreenivas praveen putting himself against everybody for the school. My friends Rajagopal hardly slept when we went through a deep crisis and made its day at every needy hour. My friend Ramesh made Ashram his own family and always pushed his cause behind schools cause. My aunt from vizianagaram always stood for cause. ASHRAM CONTINUES FOR THESE ASPIRATIONS ARE FROM THE PEOPLE FOR A CAUSE FOR NOT ONE MANS EMPOWERMENT. ASHRAM TAKES PRIDE IN THIS THAT IT HAS SUCH STUDENT COMMUNITY.
Cutting across every short hurdle there are lots who willingly supported the cause and waited for a approval.
Even last month putting their time across my friends Ramesh kamesh, mohan, my aunt , sekhar, somasekhar swamy vikranth and a lot perspired along with me to save the school from a mess of financial disturbances.
For Ashram education is not business. Its preparing a child for what he is destined. Its teaching citizenship.Its making realize the value of life and its givers( parents) . Its serving and enhancing economy intellect valour and pride of Nation in what ever way they can. Its MAKING CHILD A COMPLETE CITIZEN.
Braving injuries
Battling dipping finances
Combating greedy society
maintaining clean humour and dignity ............................... we are not enjoying. we are leading or evolving a struggle for value based education.We are fighting for the rights of countless millions of children who are victims of whims and fancies of modern day society.
Yes its a myth still unlocked. Once unlocked the treasures are countless
Yes its an exaggeration for it does not not fit today system.
Ashram will reinvent itself this year. Like a phoenix it has in it the power of regaining energy. Till then let the myths and exaggerations stay.
