Audrey BadjouenDzouabet ’24 a Sociology/Anthropology major, Megan Cablk ’25, Grace Prince ’25, and Sigrid Edstrom ’24 a Religion major and Medieval and Renaissance Studies minor spent their Winter 2023 studying abroad on the Globalization and Local Responses in India Program. During their time there, they were featured in a local newspaper article about a local arts and crafts festival they attended.
The headline reads “Handicrafts and Local Art are Given New Dimensions at Sri Aurobindo Ashram” and the caption says “Children are becoming craftspeople, as Talla Ramgarh Sri Aurobindo Ashram hosts a festival, with women’s mountain products, and schoolchildren learn about handicrafts”
In the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, local Delhi Branch, in Talla Ramgarh, arts and handicrafts are being given a new dimension. Self-employed area women came together at the ashram bringing their handicrafts, and gave government school children training in their handicrafts.
Saturday at the Aurobindo Ashram a unique festival was held. Under Director Dr. Anju Khanna’s leadership, with the elementary child care learning center and the village livelihood project, Khushali, the festival was inaugurated by chief guest NCVT consultant Vineeta Agarwal. At the festival, the relationship between life and education were displayed. Naresh Modi, Block Development Officer Anup Singh, the principal of Sunrise school, and the state primary school at Talla Ramgarh, along with 60 women of Khushali, presented local arts and handicrafts in light of Sri Aurobindo’s principles of “Integral Education”.
At the Holi festival, Vijayalakshmi Bose, and four students of Carleton College, USA, gave their support. Afterwards, to encourage its prosperity, the heritage of Kumauni culture was presented. On this occasion, Vineeta Agarwal, Naresh Modi, Anup Singh and others were present.
Translation by faculty director Brendan LaRoque
