Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, Jun 29: It was a sight to behold as health minister U T Khader joined several children in playing rural sports. This rare incident happened at an agricultural field adjacent to UBMC School at Konaje Parande near Ullal on Sunday June 28.
The initiative was taken by an institution, which proved to be different from others, to take children back to the traditional agricultural way in which their forefathers lived.
U T Khader fell on the slushly field and got wet all over with the muddy water after the rope used for tug-of-war got torn when playing with the children. He had was seen struggling to stand up in the slippery agricultural field, but at the same time thoroughly enjoying himself.
Ramakrishna High School Harekala had organized traditional agricultural practicals for scouts and guides in Konaje village on Sunday. The programme was meant for scouts and guides from the taluk. Khader, who took part afforestation, demonstration of traditional cultivation, Tulunadu food festival and sports festival in slushy field, entered the field after the children insisted on him to do so. He was accompanied by some local people's representatives, organizers, etc.
Khader, in his first attempt, took sides with boy scouts in the tug-of-war. Then he went to the side of guides, and was tugging at the rope, when the rope got snapped. Khader fell down into the muck. He was helped by his assistants and organizers to stand up.
Khader continued to run around and play with children after this incident, and allowed the children to freely throw slush at him. With this, the minister proved again that he was ready to do anything to feel comfortable everywhere, and distribute happiness.
In the programme of practicals on traditional farming, scouts and guides from the district learnt to transplant seedlings. They were taught how their food is grown, what activities go into growing of rice, etc. Local farmers supported this effort by showing the children practically how it is done. To give them a feeling of traditional methods of agriculture, folklore songs rendered by locals rent the air. For most of these city-based children, this was the first ever first hand experience in farming.
Competition of breaking the pot by blindfold children provided a feast to the eyes of the audience, as the inexperienced children frequently fell into the slush and enjoyed the experience to the hilt. In affect, their free fall entertained the people gathered there.
An exhibition comprising many things our ancestors used but are hard to find now, kicked up lot of interest among the children. The Tulunadu food culture was also introduced to the children through an exhibition comprising mouth-watering food items made of jackfruit, colocasia, etc, which had been laid out
All in all, the initiative undertaken by an educational institution towards introducing our traditions to children has succeeded. It is ardently wished that more such efforts would be made to ensure that the next generation does not lose out on valuable experiences and invaluable traditions of the region.