Jai Jawaan, Jai kisan.... remember this??? A famous slogan by our late Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shashtri. What brought me to recall this slogan? Well, the story goes as follows.
In my short visit to India a month back, I got a lucky chance to pay yet another extremely short visit to a village by name "Kanakamajalu". It is situated in greenery filled Sullia taluk of South Kanara district of Karnataka. One day when I was just browsing through a local newspaper, one small news article captured my attention - "Kala gramavaagi kanakamajalu" (literal translation means kanakamajalu as art village). It was an event wherein the whole village was converted as an outdoor canvas or art gallery. The school compound, trees, house walls etc all these turn as a canvas for the artists and the artistes generally make use of locally available materials (even waste materials like plastic) to create the art. Many years back (I think in 1993), Sonangeri, yet another small village from the same taluk was shot to fame by hosting art event like this. I still remember reading about it and vividly remember the artwork, wishing to go there. Well, this is around 16 years back and I hadn't got to visit Sonangeri that time. But now, I was residing very near to Kanakamajalu and I didn't want to miss yet another chance. Luckily, annadevru (Srivatsa) offered to drive us to the village. There we were wondering where to start and whom to ask (the event was already over). Again, as luck by chance, we met one of Mr.Lakshminarayana, one of the organizer and state youth award winner. He was happy to show around the art pieces. The event was organized by "kanakamajlu yuvaka mandala" (youth organization). I thoroughly enjoyed watching them, hearing to the theme or idea behind that art….
More than anything, I felt like saluting the members of that youth organization. Most of them are farmers and also either work elsewhere or study. Everyday they have to manage the daily chores in their farms, yet still have the enthusiasm and zeal to arrange and participate in such events. And this is not their first. In the past, they have actively organized movie shows, sports, vanamahostav etc etc. Such events not only bring together the people, but also create awareness and help to invent new talents. These youth organizations, women self help groups (SHG’s) have always amazed me. Will write about the SHG’s I have come across sometimes in future posts. Their works and contributions to the building of the society are just commendable.
"Jai jawaan, jai kisan" (jawaan here refers to young people).
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When I googled "kanakamajlu" I got pleasantly surprised to see a blog dedicated to this youth organization. Not even in my dreams, I had imagined to see a blog dedicated to one youth organization of a remote village (No offense here…). I was soooooooo wrong. Life is full of surprises. So, for more pictures, visit the below site.
http://yuvakanakamajalu.blogspot.com/
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