LESSON OF EQUALITY Song to help think beyond class divides
U.K Kids to study Onam, Mahabali
Catch them young
The Onam song about King Mahabali and the festival have been included in the general syllabus of London’s ‘key stage 2’ students
K PRAVEEN KUMAR / DC
KOZHIKODE, MARCH 21
KOZHIKODE, MARCH 21
When the youngsters in Kerala are moving away from the traditional art forms and losing touch with their mother tongue, the school children belonging to different ethnicities and classes in the U.K. will learn the Malayalam couplet “Maveli Nadu Vaneedum Kalam Manusharellarum Onnupole” and the importance of equality.
The Onam song about King Mahabali and the festival have been included in the general syllabus of London’s ‘key stage 2’ students, which is equivalent to 3rd and 4th standards in India.
Our Story Onam, a project funded by Heritage Lottery Fund of U.K. and Malayali Association of U.K., has launched a pilot project at Hartley Primary School in East Ham to train the school faculty.
We have provided them the resource material and training to teach the children about Onam. During the inaugural of the programme on March 12 we also introduced several traditional art forms of Kerala and the response was excellent, “Edwin Thomas, who heads the programme, told DC.
“The syllabus includes audio-video materials on the importance of Onam festival, the story of King Mahabali and the social message his story carries.
The children as well as the teachers were excited about the story and the message of equality that it carries. The parents believe that it would help their children to think beyond class divides and be more socially responsible,” Jasline Antony, who developed the course material, told DC.
“After the pilot project, we will get the suggestions from the teachers and parents and re-work the course material if necessary,” Rohoney Ravi, project director of Our Story Onam, said.
Courtesy:
Courtesy:
DECCAN CHRONICLE, Kochi, Saturday 22- March 2014
