GIVE THEM SOME ROOM TO READ

Every writer of every genre I can think of has something in common; we all need readers. What’s the use of writing if there’s no one to read them?

I have been to a couple of shoots for Room to Read, an international NGO that works in the area of early literacy interventions – among other things. To start with, it was just another shoot for another NGO; but RtoR started growing on me.

I’ll tell you the incident that piqued my interest.

I reached a school at the end of nowhere, in district Champawat, Himalayan foothills; around four kilometers of walk through the woods led our camera team into a primary school which was a real cliffhanger; I mean beyond the school, there was nothing, just an endless gorge.

I have been to such remote schools earlier, thanks to my close to a decade’s work with school going (and not going) children; but somehow, at first look, this school seemed different; we are not used to see such organized, colorful schools in remote India.

When we usually go to these schools and have to interview students or make them do something creative – we ask the teachers to pick the best of the lot. We make positive stories, so we like confident, verbally eloquent students; no discrimination intended - that’s just the job.

Here, I did the same; I asked the lone teacher who was busy arranging tea for her city guests (us!!!) to select the right students who could read properly. From my past experiences, I knew that a large number of students in rural government schools, especially in the primary sections, are not good readers. In fact many of them can’t read at all. Hence, to make a convincing film, I wanted her to choose the right students.

To my awesome surprise, she told me – “Go pick anyone you like and any book from their classroom. All of them can read.”

And that’s true; gosh!!! Primary school students that have gone through the Room to Read process can read, and that too fluently, with comprehension; school after school, it has been the same story, in all RtoR aided schools that I have visited; and they didn't choose those schools for us, we took our pick.

Fact is, they do something with students that someone should have done to me when I was 6 years old. And they also have excellent books for kids to read in well stocked libraries – some of which I love reading even now.

I can just go on and on about my fascinating experiences with Room to Read, but please allow me to restrain myself; my current boss is an avid reader of my blog, who might end up thinking I am looking for a job with RtoR; which I am not.

Rather, with due permission from Room to Read, let me show you some happy memories of our Champawat shoot, which happened last November.

#IndiaGetsReading is Room to Read India’s three-month long National Reading Campaign for India. Partnering with State education departments, the campaign will release a set of impact videos, posters, quotes and graphics promoting reading through Social media. Please keep track of them on their facebook page. I will.

And yes, see if you can spot her somewhere among all those happy faces. For me, I will never ever forget her smile of innocence…