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| Shajina, Anappara, Nilambur, Malappuram |
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She is the sweeper and headmistress in that one-teacher school. Everyday she has to walk at least 10 km through thick forest to come to the school. On days when the bus from Anappara to Muleppadam in Nilambur does not ply, she has to walk 16 km one way, to do her duty. Her husband Jameel and relatives have told her repeatedly to quit the job in the forest. And yet what makes 26-year-old Shajina carry on the mission of teaching tribal children in Ambumala adivasi colony for a not-so-handsome salary of Rs.2000 per month?
“Because of the job I can be self-reliant in times of need. This job is very important for me,” is her soft reply. She teaches 22 students, both boys and girls, aged between 5 and 14 in the Alternate School. The students are segregated into 3 grades and different training is imparted to each group.
After completing Hindi Vidwan, Shajina got a chance to be a tribal volunteer. On completing 2˝ years on that job, when the school came into being, she had completed her teacher-training course and thus became an automatic choice for the one-member faculty.
With no formal training in sociology or anthropology, she understands the needs of her wards. The Alternate School organizes cultural and sports meets besides taking the students on study tour. “These students are like my own son. If I go on leave for a day, these people will cross forests and streams to come home to enquire about me,” the teacher explains the bond of love that exists between them all.
During her trek through the jungle, she has had to face wild beasts. Once she landed up in front of a lone tusker and at another time in front of a tigress with cubs. On both occasions, she instinctively ran back as fast as she could and thus saved herself. On another occasion, she observed thousands of butterflies huddled together on a tree, giving the camouflage effect of dried leaves. In an instant, they all took to the skies, filling the sky with a riot of patterns and colours.
Courtesy: Sharmila (text), P. Azeem (photo), Gruhalekshmi, February 2004
Contributed by: Administrator
