Interview 6: Smt. Sreeja Arangottukara

§  Sreeja Arangottukara, an income tax officer by profession was chosen the next personality to be interviewed. A popular theatre activist, Sreeja is an organic farmer cultivating rice, vegetables, cash crops and other items on nearly 25 acres of land at Arangottukara, in Thrissur district as well. Prior to the interview with Smt. Sreeja on July 9, 2017 at Arangottukara, a farm-based training session on organic farming and identification of varieties of paddy seedlings was arranged for the project team comprising CSRS volunteers and Botany students of the U.C College. The three hour long interview was profound and inspiring for the students as Smt. Sreeja narrated her experiences and the multiple roles she has undertaken.

Smt. Sreeja

Team attending a class on the need to preserve the traditional varieties of paddy seeds

Team members involved in the group activity of identifying the varieties of paddy seeds in association with Arangottukara Padasala

Project team with Sri. Alias, a farmer who is popularising the traditional agricultural practices

Team having a hands on experience in the paddy field

Interview session with Smt. Sreeja

Project team with Smt Sreeja

Little magazine release on Fr. Bobby Jose Kattikkad & Smt. A.K. Rajamma

The two little magazines, Snih and Ka Ka, based on the interviews with Fr. Bobby Jose Kattikkad & Smt. A.K. Rajamma respectively was released on June 23, 2017. Sri. Liboose, Assistant Professor in Malayalam, St. Thomas College, Kozhencherry and Dr. Anila E.I., Associate Professor in Physics, U.C. College released the magazines.

Release of Snih by Sri Liboose

Cover page Snih

Release of Ka Ka by Dr. Anila E. I.

Cover page Ka Ka

Interview 5: Sri. C.K. Saseendran

The fifth interview under the project was with Sri C.K. Saseendran, people’s representative from Kalpetta in Kerala’s Legislative Assembly. A man of simple living, this down to earth Indian Politician is facing threats from Maoists because of his enthusiasm in solving issues of the tribal people in Wayanad. The interview was an informative one as the politician waxed eloquent on the various projects planned for the upliftment of the region particularly of the tribal population.

Sri. C.K. Saseendran

Project team with Sri. Saseendran

Interview 4: Sri. Shaji and Smt. Shiji

     The next personalities identified for the interview was a couple – Sri. Shaji and Smt. Shiji. They were chosen for their unique way of caring the inmates of three centres of Akasapparavakal a rehabilitation home for the least and the lost in Bangalore. A preliminary visit to one of its branches in Malayatoor, Kerala was made on April 8, 2017 to understand the functioning of the centre and to gather information about the couple.
The project team also decided to present a music performance for the inmates at the Akasapparavakal in Bangalore. In view of this, Amal T. Anoop, one of the team members took a session on understanding music therapy on April 18, 2017 followed by rehearsals.

Amal presenting some tips on how to make a music session effective

Preparatory session before the journey to Bangalore

Three days visit to the Bangalore centres of Akasapparavakal was an entirely different experience for the team. Apart from musical performance the team also got an opportunity to prepare lunch for the inmates. The interview with Sri. Shaji and Smt. Shiji opened a new insight on a life far different from that of an ordinary couple.                 

Sri. Shaji

Interview session with Sri. Shaji @ Akasapparavakal, Bangalore

Inmates dancing in tune with the music

Project team preparing food for the inmates

Serving food

The Warden couple in front of their small house nearby the Centre

Project team with Sri Shaji & family

                  

Release of Little magazine on Daya bai

  A little magazine Kanal vazhiyile Pachasooryan carrying the experiences of students with Daya bai in the form of articles, notes, poems, drawing and reviews on her book and documentary was released on February 22, 2017 by Mr. Jettish Sivadas, Research scholar in Malayalam, U.C.College. 

Cover page of Kanal vazhiyile Pachasooryan

Interview 3: A.K. Rajamma

On January 22, 2017, the project team visited Vinobhaniketan at Trivandrum, to meet Smt. A.K. Rajamma. She was the founder of the institution which was the seat of Bhoodan (Land Gift) movement in Kerala run on the Gandhian principles. The interview with the ninety year old lady was an exhilarating experience for the team. A walk around the Vinobaniketan campus and its Museum provided an opportunity to comprehend the strong will of Smt. Rajamma to adhere to the ideals of Truth, Non – Violence and Compassion to all living beings on the planet – Earth.

Team interviewing Smt. A.K. Rajamma

Painting of Sri. VInobhabhave in the Museum

Instillation of Buddha, Mahatma Gandhi and Vinobhabhave

Project team with Smt. A.K. Rajamma

Interview 2: Fr Bobby Jose Kattikkad

The third weekend of the New Year was so special for the team as the rejuvenated young minds were excited to meet Fr. Bobby Jose Kattikkad, the renowned writer, known for his unique ways of providing spiritual sustenance. The meeting and the interview session with him was arranged at Maramon Retreat Centre, Kozhenchery, Kerala. During his session Fr. Bobby narrated the meaning and qualities of Bio-man (ജൈവമനുഷ്യന്‍), a concept coined by Anand.

Interview session with Fr Bobby Jose

Photo Courtesy: Jeeno Murali, CSRS project member

Interview team with Fr Bobby Jose

Project team with Fr Bobby

Fr Bobby Jose

The session was followed by a visit to Anchappam, a restaurant in Kolenchery unique for its humanitarian concern. The restaurant follows a different social service; anyone whose is hungry can visit here and no one is bothered whether you can pay for it or not. In the evening the place turns into a library, where instead of food, books are served to cater your intellectual thirst. Associating with Kerala Students Christian Movement the project team extended their hand in serving and feeding those who visited the restaurant for lunch.

Anjappam restaurant

Rendering service at the restaurant 

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