Live simply to let others live !!

It's a slogan of Timbaktu.. As i heard about it for the first time, it is a small school for underprevileged children to mould their lives economically, socially and importantly to be simply human. But there is much more to it, as i have been there quite some times, to know about the place.

Can u think of a place close to nature, a good educational institute, a social awareness center, an environmental protective organisation ?? Timbaktu is all of them put together (still i doubt, there is more to it) !! My love for Timbaktu is for the first two of the above qualities..
As it is situated 5km far from a small village( Chenna kottapalli, Anantapur Dist, A.P.) surrounded by hills, one can have the previleges of being with the nature around, listening to the music of wind instead of motor horns nad mobile tones, watch the mighty stars in dark nights instead of dazzling brightness of lights, feel the seasonal changes around in complete way ! No words to describe the view of sunrises and sets from the hill ! No electricity consumption there, the power comes from the solar plant, for little lights to just show the way in nights. Nights look like nights really !

About the school and children.. The children are very enthusiastic and keen to learn that they induce them to visitors even. Their day starts actively at 5.30 morning. They have classes in languages, basic maths and science in the morning session. The emphasis is more to mode of learning than the matter of learning, which is lacking in most of the modern schools. There is no syllabus as such, but there is a good collection of books in the school. The one in Timbaktu is only upto 7th, and they have one in village till 10th class. One thing i like is, the mode of addressing is akka/anna (sister/brother) by anybody to anybody. The same holds even with the students to teachers or visitors ! Funda of universal brotherhood doesn't limit to just addressing, but extends to real affection !!

Post meals session is for vocational training, in which they learn tailoring, handicrafts, knitiing & embroidery, cycle repairs, farming and others. One has to see the glow in their faces while showing their works to the visitors.. So many little joys! Then the play time in open air. They have got table tennis also recently. Then evening bath, followed by dinner and story session and then to sleep !! How enjoyable it is !!

Every sunday they have a cultural session by children, in which they sing, dance, play some musical instruments and what not.. There is no stage fear in most of them. They know some foreign songs too, which are leant from foriegn visitors due to bubbling enthu to learn something new. I'm stunned when i heard the explanation of movie "Gandhi" while watching, from a timbaktu guy who had just passed his Bachelors , being with Timbaktu.

The people involved to make it possible and striving to make a difference, consists of Phd's from IITs and engineers also.. Too humble and simple when one approaches them. The underlying funda is only one : Live simply to let others live !!

Want to know more about Timbaktu ??? Click http://timbaktu.org/