Tastes and traditions

Five schools learn more about what makes India unique via a special educational programme

In a unique initiative, five schools in NSW are a part of ‘India Calling’, an educational programme organised in coordination with the NSW Department of Education and Training’s ‘Expanding Horizons with Asia initiative’. The objective of this educational programme is to develop an understanding of India and an insight into the Hindi language. Face-to-face lessons by a specialist teacher and video conferencing technology connect 520 students in Years 3 and 4 across participating schools.

School children are encouraged to learn respect for each other’s cultures, customs and religions and students from the schools meet on significant days in the Indian calendar to participate in cultural activities.

The five participating schools in 2012 are Ashbury Public School (‘Mumbai Indians’, Maharashtra); Carlton South Public School (‘Rajasthan Royals’, Rajasthan); Cronulla Public School (‘Kolkata Knight Riders’, West Bengal); Double Bay Public School (‘Chennai Super Kings’, Tamil Nadu) and Mascot Public School (‘Kings Eleven’, Punjab).

Recently, students from the participating schools celebrated Harmony Day on March 21, and Holi, the festival of colours, on March 23.

Cooking cheers on Harmony Day

It was an ‘Indian food’ theme at the Harmony Day celebrations at Carlton South Public School this year, with guests Kandiah (Kamahl) Kamalesvaran A.M, Dr Phil Lambert (Regional Director, Department of Education and Communities), and Raju Varanasi (Director, NSW Curriculum & Learning Innovation Centre). All the other ‘India Calling’ schools participated via video conferencing, a delivery method that the program has been using to great advantage.

The strains of the peace song Hum Honge Kamyaab, sung by students of all schools, signified the importance of Harmony Day. Kamahl sang One hundred children and spoke briefly on the importance of living in harmony. The guests then donned special ‘India Calling’ aprons, and got cooking! A demonstration on how idlis are made was well-received by students and guests alike.

Kulwinder, a Hindi teacher for ‘India Calling’, and Mala Mehta, founder and teacher of IABBV, conducted the interactive cooking session with a powerpoint presentation, also naming some of the vegetables and fruits.

The students took on the roles of sabziwallas and sabziwalis, phalwalas and phalwalis, and moved around selling their fruit and vegetables to all present.

Kulwinder described the process of preparing aloo sabzi and pooris, followed by a display of Indian cooking utensils and their uses, conducted by Mala.

An appetite for lunch was worked up with those dance moves taught by Purvi Didi: Jai Ho and Nachle. After presenting Kamahl, Dr Lambert and Mrs Elizabeth Maher, Principal of Carlton South with thank you gifts, the video conferencing ended with a big Namaste and Dhanyavaad to all present. The students from Carlton South then enjoyed their Indian lunch.