‘Rural exposure’ opens up new horizon for city students

The very motto of St Aloysius College, Mangalore, states that the purpose of the institution is to present to the world and our nation, men and women with knowledge and creativity and hearts burning with genuine love and concern for others. This end of the college was fulfilled in a practical manner when a group of students doing the post graduate studies in the college went to remote villages across Mundgod and Hangal in north Karnataka for a week-long rural exposure. Like every year, the students were divided into groups and sent to different villages to stay and work with the rustic folk. Most of us went there with mixed feelings of excitement as well as anxieties. But after the exposure, I can say for sure that it was the most incredible experience of our college life.

A group of Christian priests called the Jesuits have been working in Mundgod and Hangal area for quite many years among various tribes. Their works extend to 78 villages where they are really active and now they are trying to reach out to a few more villages. They are running a school, 13 village hostels, and 38 tuition centers. They also have a couple of tailoring centers and computer centers. To cater to the needs of students they have four public libraries which are known as “Child Resource Centers”. They have a number of clubs such as children’s club, youth club etc. There are 330 women’s self-help groups. The Jesuits also work among the HIV positive people. They provide medicines and take care of the other health related needs. They have 15 Cluster Level Federations and one Loyola Janaspurthy Trust. We had the opportunity to be in some of these centers and share our hands in their works last month.

Being in the villages was really wonderful. Our presence brought life in the village. It was a time to know people, their struggles, aspirations and their attitude towards education, the world around and to be satisfied with whatever resources they are given with. We, the students were from different religious, linguistic and social background. The exposure was an adventure as we stayed with different families who belong to different groups.

Alwyn Misquith, one of the students, who is perusing MA in Economics says, “I saw life in its fullness in people of Mundgod, their hard life, large heart, sharing and caring has enriched my life and challenged me to have a heart for the poor.” This was the experience of almost every student who was a part of the rural exposure programme.

Another advantage of the exposure programme was that it built a kind of bond among students from various streams. While we hardly knew out counterparts studying in other streams our rural exposure programme helped us make new friends.

The memory of rural exposure is unforgettable and we would cherish it in coming days. Today, even several days after returning to Mangalore, we miss those beautiful sunrises and the fascinating landscapes. We can’t ever forget the village streets and the children flocking around us. We came back from those villages with a changed perception of life and most importantly with new friends from a very different background.

Fr Arun Louis SJ, the Director of Loyola Vikasha Kendra, who seems happy and contented with the exposure camp says, “It is good, because most of the students experience what rural life is for the first time. Secondly, it is to have social concern for the poor, and thirdly, to experience the hospitality of the people.” He goes on to add, “In spite of having nothing they take care of most of the students so well. It is to see how exactly the Indian villages exist, what are the basic difficulties they face, and amidst all these odds and ends how they live rather good and enjoyable life. To experience all these it is good for the students to participate in this kind of rural exposure.”

“It is a nice exposure for the students of St Aloysius to get in touch with the reality of the poor which they do not experience in college, so that in future they may work for the betterment of these downtrodden people,” says Sch. Pradeep Crasta SJ, the Asst. Director of Loyola Vikasha Kendra.

Dr. J. Vijayalakshmi, the Assisstant Professor from the Department of English, who accompanied the students to those villages, shares her experiences very poetically:

“Groaning, mumbling and complaining,

We went to an unknown place,

Pondering over the question,

When would we return?

But after three days,

We just questioned

Why should we ever return?”