Creative moves to instill Diversity, Inclusiveness and Pluralism: The Khoj Way Week on week, Khoj’s diverse band of ---engages with students of six schools in Varanasai, Purvanchal instilling joy, curiosity and questioning among the young; in Mumbai 24 schools have opened their doors to the Khoj interventions

15, Nov 2024 | CJP Team

This experiment that began over three years ago in Purvanchal (in Maharashtra our work goes back decades) forges ahead with our team, headed by Dr Muniza Khan, every week ensuring learning through joyous expression for middle school children. Apart from our regular weekly modules, self-Portrait, Problem Solving, Letter to God, Family Histories we devote Movie Watching Time and also ensure creation of the Khoj Library.

Here we take you through some engaging sessions:

Letter to God: 

In one of our key modular activities “Letter to God” conducted in Harsh Inter College, children were invited to engage in articulate their feelings and dreams by asking children to share their thoughts with God. This approach goes beyond the traditional classroom learning and encourages children to develop a deep sense of self-awareness, and a better understanding of the society around them. Children wrote interesting letters in which they expressed their feelings and ideas. 

 

One of the students wrote, “I will ask God that all of us live together, never fight or quarrel.” This statement reflects a desire for peace and unity. It also suggests that the child recognises that there are fights happening between believers of different Gods, therefore the young kids emphasised on the importance of cooperation and peaceful coexistence. Another student wrote, “I’ll pray to God that people of all religions, Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians live together.” The child’s wish reflects an ideal of pluralism, a society where people are not only tolerant of each other’s differences but actively seek to coexist and learn from each other’s beliefs and practices. This is kind of unlearning students showing that people should not live separate and divided. One student wrote, “I am very poor, God help my family.” This highlights real world issues beyond beliefs and focuses on the universal human desire for dignity, equality, and a better life. The child’s plea for help is a reminder of the disparities in wealth and resources that exist within Indian society, and it reinforces the importance of addressing poverty and inequality as part of building a more just and compassionate society. 

Addressing Gender Issues:  

During the discussion on the increasing assaults on women and the importance of gender equality, the case of RG Kar Hospital in Kolkata came up, prompting strong reactions from the students. Some expressed extreme views, including violent suggestions like killing the accused, reflecting deep impact of how things are unfolding around kids and how adults are reacting to violence against women. Recognising the intensity of these emotions, the teachers guided the students towards a more thoughtful and constructive approach, explaining that while the anger is understandable, justice should always be sought through lawful means. Teachers emphasised the importance of the legal system in ensuring fair trials and accountability, and encouraged students to focus on positive actions that promote equality, respect, and the safety of women in society. This discussion helped students reflect on the significance of both justice and compassion in tackling such serious issues.

In an effort to reduce gender inequality and encourage interaction between boys and girls, Khoj team organized an outdoor game aimed at fostering inclusivity and teamwork at Dream India School. Traditionally, boys and girls sat separately in the classroom, with limited conversation between them. The game provided an opportunity for all students to come together, breaking down gender barriers and promoting equal participation. During the activity, the children were introduced to the objectives of the Khoj program, which focuses on learning through interactive experiences. 

 

In first game students were asked to focus on instruction of teacher and act upon it. It is an engaging and inclusive activity that promotes focus, physical coordination. The key rule of the game is that all players must respond to these instructions at the same speed as the teacher is speaking. The game encourages players to remain focused and agile, as they need to listen closely and act quickly. However, there is a catch: if any player makes a mistake (for example, if they fail to follow the correct action, or act out of turn), they are out of the game. This keeps the game competitive and exciting. The game is gender inclusive because there are no separate rules for boys and girls. Both genders are given equal opportunities to compete, and their success depends solely on their ability to listen, respond, and act quickly, not on gender. This makes the game both fun and fair for everyone involved. 

 

For the second game, two teams were formed, and students were asked questions related to the Indian Constitution and Khoj activities. The team that answered correctly earned points, making the game both educational and engaging. This initiative not only encouraged teamwork and cooperation but also helped reduce discrimination, as both boys and girls worked together to achieve a common goal. The purpose of conducting this game was to revise the sessions conducted in Khoj class, Khoj field educational trip, children’s film show or other information which students learned during the Khoj classes from time to time.

Hindi Diwas and Linguistic Pluralism: 

On Hindi Diwas, students at the school introduced to the rich linguistic diversity of India. In addition to learning about Hindi, children were informed about more than 22 other languages spoken across the country, highlighting the cultural and linguistic pluralism that defines India. They discovered the significance of languages like Tamil, Bengali, Telugu, Marathi, Punjabi, and many others, each with its own history, script, and cultural importance. The discussion helped students understand that while Hindi is a widely spoken language, India’s strength lies in its multilingualism, with every language contributing to the country’s unique identity. This celebration of languages encouraged students to appreciate the value of linguistic diversity and fostered respect for the various languages spoken across the nation.

Khoj Movie Time: 

Khoj screen socially motivated movies for school children. It has been more than a year Khoj is working in the Dream India School and had not got the opportunity to screen the movies. It was also a time when Khoj teachers are discussing about Religion in classroom under its worksheet activities, the team decided to screen the short movies which are also touching the topics of religious harmony. Movies such as “Laddoo” are screened for the kids in Dream India School in the month of July. Laddoo is Sameer Sadhwani & Kishor Sadhwani directed short film that has a wonderful message for the viewer – the universal nature of faith. No matter the name we choose for them, Bhagwan or Allah, they are all the same. The film uses the innocent questions of a child to remind adults the simplicity of a truth they have forgotten while raising imaginary walls and boundaries around religions they believe. School kids up to class 9th attended the movie screening. 

Audio-visual learning tools are very effective and create a lot of enthusiasm among students. Sessions are enlivened and this can be observed in the way students have been actively taking part in organizing screening setup. Students prepared the black board and has given name for the session- “Khoj Movie Time.”  As it intended, the screening saw churning of thoughts among students and it reflected in the discussion followed. After watching the movie ‘Laddoo,’ Vaibhav of class 7th said that Allah and Bhagwan are not two but one. We should believe in everyone’s God and respect everyone. Khushi, a student of class 5th said that “We all humans are one and God is one, still we fight over religion. We make fun of other religions, but this is wrong and it should not happen.” Anurag Y said that God is one whether you call him Allah or Bhagwan. Khushi, while giving her opinion on the film shown on communal harmony, said that “Earlier, the Hindu girl did not consider the Muslim to be good, but when the same Muslim girl donates blood to her and saves her life, she starts considering her good. Both of them become friends. Uttam said after watching the movie ‘Yeh Gulistan Hamara’ that we should not differentiate between girls and boys. Another student says that everyone should be treated equally whether they are girls or boys. Diwakar S said that girls and boys, everyone should get equal rights.

As each of our sessions grow week after week, we innovate create and inter-act. At heart is the deep conviction that the young possess the capacity and maturity to navigate complex issues, provided they are given the space, dignity and choice. The Khoj Story that began in 1998 is rooted in the firm conviction that “Peace Begins in the Mind of the Child. So does a sense of Justice.”

Related:

Khoj: Educating Young Minds To Question The World Around Them

This Is How Khoj Educates Students About Justice And Equality

Almost 3 Decades And Counting – Khoj, A Year In Review

Building Tomorrow’s Foundations: Khoj In Purvanchal

Resilient And Resolute In Their Mission To Advocate For The Rights Of All And Counter Prejudice