The Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya, Narendrapur, is considered by many to be a prime example of everything that a school ought to be. Since its opening in 1958, it has been a residential school for boys established on the foundation of the high ideals of Swami Vivekananda, implementing the man-making and character-building ideals of education as propounded by him. The Vidyalaya is envisioned in the image of the Indian Gurukul system where precious traditions and cherished values of the past and modern educational concepts have been integrated. It presents a synthesis of all that is best of the Eastern and Western models of education and follows the trail as a paradigm of excellence to promote its culture and tradition.
To be in its hallowed precincts, to interact with the students, and to be blessed by the monks who run the institution, is an honour that rarely comes one’s way. Thus, when Prof K C Janardhan expressed his desire to talk about handwriting, lettering, and calligraphy to the students of RKM Narendrapur, we seized the opportunity with both hands. The monks were equally receptive to the idea, and a two-hour slot was allotted to us on Friday, the 26th of July, on the eve of the 6th Inked Happiness Lifetime Award Ceremony, for which the Maestro was in town.
And what an experience it was. The auditorium was full – eleven hundred odd students from Classes V to X were in attendance, accompanied by their teachers, all the way to the Principal, Sandipan Maharaj, under whose benevolent tutelage, the school is ascending newer heights. Prof Janardhan, the powerful speaker that he is, soon had the audience enthralled as he took all assembled through his captivating presentation about the fine art of handwriting and the seven elements that make good handwriting great.
However, the most eclectic part was when the session was thrown open and the boys were encouraged by Prof Janardhan to query him and seek his guidance on any handwriting issues that they may have. “What good is flowery handwriting, if it eats into the time allotted to finish an examination paper, leading to the scoring of lower marks” asked one. Another went even better, asking “how to write fast, that too legibly, and score the maximum, keeping the time constraints in mind.” Other concerns, like finger fatigue, the best way to grip a writing instrument, and the relative advantages of embracing a fountain pen and ink, were also raised and answered. How the two-hour time limit was breached as the discussion became more and more animated had to be seen to be believed. Suffice it to say, that the audience and the speaker had an equally great time, while we sat there engrossed by the sheer brilliance of the conversation, a little overwhelmed, even.
Prof Janardhan, who has held such sessions in many parts of the world was impressed to put things mildly: “The quality of the questions that were put forward by the students was indeed exemplary” he said, adding “I have not had such spirited participation from students in a very long time. I had heard about this great institution in the past, and it is indeed an honour to see for myself just how great it is.”
He expressed his willingness to visit RKM Narendrapur again in the future to help the young achievers take their handwriting to the next level. His excitement was shared by the monks who reciprocated by extending their invitation to the Maestro.
The program was organised by Kalam Club, a not-for-profit trust that has taken upon itself the task of spreading the virtues of handwriting in general and the use of fountain pens and inks in particular among the students. Kaushik Maitra, the Managing Director of Sulekha, the man behind Kalam Club said, “it is such a pleasure to be going around the schools and interacting with the students, as we try to explain the virtues of handwriting and presenting to them the most sustainable writing option. That we have been able to bring someone of the caliber of Prof Janardhan to this temple of knowledge in Narendrapur, makes us feel humbled by the experience.”
It will not be out of place to mention here that Kalam Club has already held such outreach programs in various schools around the state and is in the process of unveiling many such innovative steps.