As soon as we walked out of the sliding glass doors at the Chennai International Airport, my senses were overwhelmed. The air was hot and humid, so much so that you could taste it with every breath. All I could hear was horns tooting one after another. A police officer was ushering people along, blowing a loud shrieking whistle every few seconds. There were men with signs standing behind a barricade shouting out a stream of names, presumably picking up important people as they arrived from various places around the world. The rain was drizzling down, but not like the rain we get in Wellington, which is usually accompanied by strong gales and icy southerlies. This rain was more of a warm shower, like something out of a jungle story.
I soon spotted the IndoGenius crew. They were standing to the side, all with big smiles as they greeted us. As we walked out of the airport a band of school kids began to play their drums. I started to tear up. Before that moment, the idea of going to India had seemed surreal. But hearing them sing and play their music with so much passion and energy… everything began to catch up with me. We spent our first six days in India in Puducherry, but after all the amazing experiences we had there, I would probably need an entire book to describe it all.
Today I am writing from my bed in the Isha Yoga Center in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. If I was still in Wellington, you could probably find me doing this work in a cafe or tucked in some corner of the Old Government Buildings. However, because the Isha campus is a sacred space for self-transformation and inner growth, electronic devices are not allowed outside of the rooms. I think it’s a beautiful principle. The campus is stunning; most people walk around in bare feet across the stone tile paths or use the free bikes to explore. You can see people having conversations with one another, smiling and acknowledging each other as they walk past. It is a refreshing change from the streets of Wellington where most people walk along Lambton Quay with their eyes glued to their phones.
During our time here, we have visited two different schools. One was the Isha Vidya Matriculation School, and the other was the Isha Home School. We spent most of our time with the older students as they showed us around the campus. At both schools, something I soon noticed was how passionate the kids were about their education. They all seemed to love learning and their teachers. Both schools shared similar philosophies; the students were trusted and were encouraged to follow and explore their passions and interests. The teachers were there as guides, fostering their curiosity and helping them realise their dreams. Approximately 80% of the children at the Isha Vidya Matriculation School were on scholarship because their families would not be able to send them to such opportunistic-oriented schools without some financial aid. I was able to see how grateful the students were to be able to learn and educate themselves. It was clear to me that a model of trust worked well because these kids were truly thriving.
Although I really enjoyed both school visits, I am aware that both schools were essentially private and might not be an accurate representation of the millions of children who are receiving state school education. The students themselves expressed how lucky they were to be pupils at their respective schools. I would be interested to see if children at state schools also express that level of enthusiasm and confidence. I suppose in every country there will be disparities in education that often relate to wealth. Anyhow, I was very impressed with their intelligence in both an academic sense as well as in an emotional maturity sense.
We have had so many more amazing experiences that I would love to share with you, but there’s lots to see and explore right now… ka kite!
