ಐದನೇ ಆವೃತ್ತಿ, ಸಂಚಿಕೆ ೧೦ : (Season 5, Episode 10 : Building the future generation, one TLM and folklore at a time)

Welcome to this episode of ‘Pratibimba’, where we are in conversation with Smt. Jahnavi S. Siddhi.

Smt. Jahnavi is a teacher who hails from a small village in Kumta taluk of Uttara Kannada district. She has a 39-year old career and of those 39 years, she served for 22 long years as a teacher in the same place. She then went on to work at the government primary school in the Taluk of Kumta for another 17 years as a senior teacher and additional principal and is currently working as the headmistress of the Government School of Kadagal.

She has participated in and led many cultural and social extra-curricular activities all these years. She stands excelled and recognized for creating Teachers’ Learning Materials (TLMs) for the children, that facilitate the students in learning various subjects by working/learning with them.

She has personally devised unique models of Gulliver’s device that are constructed from everyday staples. She also used her personal hobby as a stamp collector to benefit the learning of her students by spicing it up with her crafty hands that can see a simple matchbox as an aid to learning some scientific methods and principles.

She has written a book called Akshara Kalika that serves as a learning aid for students, and her creativity has led to the creation of a whopping 947 TLMs. All this only goes to show the extent of her enthusiasm, dedication, and commitment toward better learning in her children. In recognition for her efforts, she has been conferred with many awards.

Jahnavi's other interest is folklore. It pains her to see the decline of original folklore. Her immense knowledge about the art form is thoroughly reflected in her narration while she quotes from various songs and dance traditions of the past. She has used various folklore to train and teach students about various subjects.

A workshop that she attended 35 years ago motivated her to learn about and document various folklore of Karnataka. She also penned a book called Janapada Kalakshetra, with the intention of introducing old and rich folklore to the future generation. 

Hope you enjoyed listening to this recording by Akshara Foundation. This podcast tries to bring out such unique stories that are motivating, inspiring, and interesting.  If you have an interesting story, please share it with 98450 79590.