Disco & Chanya Choli: A School’s Art Performance in Surat

Earlier this week, I was lucky enough to go to to the Shri. P. H. Bachkaniwala Vidhyamandir school’s Silver Jubilee. Bachkaniwala, as it is familiarly known, is one part of a major initiative in Surat’s urban center. Years ago, a trust was formed to support the families of factory workers. As we travel and learn more and more about Indian NGOs, we have seen such trusts are quite common; one trust will parcel out funding to several different NGO partners. In Surat, this particular trust supports the Bachkaniwala school, a hospital, several housing estates, and a pharmacy. Twenty-five years ago, Dr. Rashida started a primary school in the living room of her apartment. Thanks to partnering with the trust, Bachkaniwala now goes all the way up to 12th standard and provides financial and logistical support to students who wish to go on to college. Bachkaniwala has a strong math/science emphasis while still offering many artistic and cultural opportunities to students.

A pre-K student poses in an elaborate Goan fisherman's costume.

To my mind, Bachkaniwala exemplifies some of the best of Gujarat’s educational system. The staff has made a huge effort to reach out to the community and provide a holistic learning environment for children. The intense pride of parents and students alike was palpable as people made last minute adjustments to hair and make-up, and reviewed complex dance routines. For me, it was an incredible chance to see costumes, songs and dances from all over India. However, my favorite part was the sheer joy and passion that all the students brought to their performances, and the hundreds of families that cheered wildly for each act. From the 4 year olds bopping over the stage in Goan fishermen’s costumes to a disco dance performed on roller skates, the Bachkaniwala Silver Jubilee was a wonderful experience that made me feel much more connected to the local educational community. Claire and I are very excited to work with such a dynamic and progressive group of teachers and administrators, and cannot wait to start doing workshops at the Bachkaniwala School.

A young girl dressed for classical Indian dance.