Mounesh Vishwakarma
Daijiworld Media Network – Bantwal
Bantwal, Apr 10: Sliding down haystacks, spinning tops made from coconut fronds, crafting clay pots in the mud — these were not scenes from a bygone era, but lively moments from the unique summer camp ‘Ajjimane’ held at Balavikas English Medium School in Mani Peraje. This special camp, which concluded recently, offered children a delightful experience of life as it once was — in a time before mobile phones and modern gadgets.
Titled ‘A Time Before Mobile Phones’, the camp drew participation from 211 students representing over 40 educational institutions from Maharashtra, Bengaluru, Mangaluru, Puttur, BC Road, Kalladka, Uppinangady, Vittal, and other parts of the district.
On the very first day, Prapulla Rai of Mani welcomed the children into the world of ‘Ajjimane’ (grandmother’s home), recreating the rustic charm of olden days. Through stories and explanations, Rai brought to life the environment of traditional homes, childhood games, and folk songs of the past. Children eagerly participated in various activities that involved creating toys from natural and locally available materials — including rings, carts, fans, watches, spinners, rockets, bows and arrows, spectacles, and hand fans.
On the third day, the children visited the ancestral house of D Ramadas Rai in Atrabailu. They were awestruck by the traditional design of the home. Children played age-old games like tyre-rolling, farmyard cricket using coconut stalks as bats, blowing whistles made from leaves, and enjoyed rural games such as marbles, lagori, stone games, and bubble blowing. Feeding cattle added to their joyous rural experience.
To introduce children to traditional rural craftsmanship, demonstrations were held featuring skilled artisans. These included a thatch weaver working with coconut fronds, a potter, and a basket weaver. Children were also taught about seasonal preparations typical of the monsoon months — from harvesting jackfruits and making papads to roasting soapnut seeds and building temporary huts using jackfruit leaves.
This was the first phase of the Ajjimane summer camp, organized by Balavikas Educational Institution exclusively for students of other schools. The organizers provided free transportation and traditional snacks. These included rice balls, flattened rice with roasted Bengal gram, sweet drinks (panaka), puffed rice laddus, upma, hibiscus beverages, and native fruits like jamun and black plum. The camp also introduced children to vintage children's magazines such as Balamangala, Tunturu, Chandamama, Mayura, and Mangala.
Under the guidance of school director Prahlad J Shetty, leadership of secretary Mahesh Shetty J, and the concept developed by headmistress Supriya D, the camp was successfully executed with the school’s own teachers serving as resource persons. On the final day, a workshop was also conducted for parents, which included fun games and educational sessions.
Speaking about the camp, Mahesh J Shetty, secretary of Mani Balavikas Trust, said that this first phase was intended for students of other schools, and a similar camp would be organized for their own students in May.
Headmistress Supriya D stated that the Balavikas institution aims to provide culturally rooted and traditional education through models like the Ajjimane camp.