Three institutes, including an NGO, went beyond hoisting the national flag to celebrate Independence Day.
One institute organised a programme to motivate children from financially deprived homes, another invited children from a village to celebrate August 15 with individuals with autism, and a third encouraged children to narrate the history of colonialism and the freedom struggle through art.
Creating aspirations
A group of children who live on streets sang patriotic and other songs in front of an audience on Motilal Nehru Road, where many with backgrounds similar to theirs were present.
Calcutta Social Project, an organisation working with underprivileged children, women and the elderly, celebrated Independence Day in the open with an audience of parents of other children and the young ones. Many in the audience live in makeshift homes.
The children, who took music lessons, put up a 20-minute performance.
Arjun Dutta, president, Calcutta Social Project, said: "We did it in the open because we wanted other children, and their parents, to see it and understand that if they have talent and sincerity, they, too, can be trained.”
“Parents send children to our centre thinking they can be kept there for a few hours, but the development of the child is not a priority. We want to show them what the children are capable of and the possibilities in front of them,” said Dutta.
Inclusive celebration
Children from a village in West Burdwan, 160km from Kolkata, celebrated Independence Day with children with autism.
Ananda Ashrama at Jamdoba village is a residential facility for children with autism and their parents. It was started by a couple from the city.
On August 15, the institute invited children from the village to celebrate the occasion.
“We have seen that children in villages are more accepting of our children than those in the city. They do not have knowledge about autism but they know that our children are different. Despite that, they do not isolate them,” said Sudeshna Chowdhury, principal, Ananda Ashrama.
History through art
Around 30 students of Indus Valley World School participated in a workshop conducted by Delhi Art Gallery in their school. Students of Classes VIII, IX and XI studied the Santhal rebellion, Swadeshi movement, indigo revolt and textile trade and narrated the episodes through textiles and various art forms.
“It is an interdisciplinary approach and an example of art-integrated learning," said Amita Prasad, director, Indus Valley World School.