I would like to brief you about my experience documenting the Granny School Story. When I saw a small write up about Granny School in one of the leading newspapers, it struck me that it is a wonderful topic to document and let the world know about it. I tried to figure out the location of the Granny School with the help of my associates and visited the place that very week. It was an amazing experience of my life.
All the ladies who went to school were in the age of 60-90. The ladies were happy and excited like kids and enthusiastic to go to school for the very first time in their life. Whether it was their own inspiration or encouragement from the family and friends who helped them take this wonderful step of changing the course of their life.
The uniform of Granny School is Pink which symbolizes tenderness, sweetness and it is universal colour of love and encouragement. The women are encouraged to go to school in pink uniforms as she gets motivated by the same. Also the pink uniform against the green background comes up amazingly like back street girls. These women are happy to go to school as they are not able to do much work at home due to their age. Secondly, they always wanted to study but there was no scope earlier when they were kids. Their journey to the Literate World begins at 90!
I visited the granny school last year and once again this year and have seen the changes that have taken place in due course of time. These women love to study and they become like kids and enjoy every aspect of going to school. They have fun with friends, dance and sing together. This is the most wonderful time of their life. They respected me and blessed me when I visited the place. One of the grannies ( also made tea with her own hands to serve me.
Telling you something about the place, the Village Phangane is a remote place in Thane district, some 100 plus km away from Mumbai. It has remained remote in all aspects without public transport, or health centre. But last International women's day it created a history by opening the Granny School (Aajbaichi Shala) for the elderly women folk! Daily about 30 women in the age group of 60 to 90 attend this Granny School. They have a pink uniform which is nine yard saree. Some come walking while others are being dropped to school by their grand children.
The school timings are in the afternoon from 2 to 4 as these women can manage their homely responsibilities. The teacher is aged 30, whose mother-in-law is also one of the students. The school is conducted in two living rooms donated by a villager for the purpose and is run by a village trust. The undying wish of these women to avoid putting thumb impression in banking and other transactions is the source of the foundation of this unique school where age is no bar for learning. These elderly ladies just do not want to learn to sign their names, but to sign their future.
I really feel blessed by looking at the pictures of Granny School and the happiness they spread by sharing their feelings about going to school. It is an amazing step taken towards women empowerment and I am really happy the way world is moving forward and becoming literate. These women wanted to study because they did not want to die illiterate, while a few wanted to study to read the holy books. Everyone had a different motivation which encouraged them to take those baby steps to go to school.
Satyaki Ghosh
