12-16-2008, 01:26 AM
<b>Vedic chants echo in Naxal hotbed</b>
15/12/2008 10:29:14 http://www.deccanchronicle.com
Adilabad, Dec. 14: Vedic chants now fill the air in the Naxal bastion of Allampalli in the district which once reverberated with revolutionary slogans. Hundreds of tribal and non-tribal children start their day by chanting slokas from the Vedas in the Chinna Jeeyar Swamy Gurukulam in the jungles of Allampalli.
It was in the same area that the Naxalites triggered the first landmine blast in the country on August 16, 1987, killing 10 policemen. Ironically, the Jeeyar Educational Trust selected the same area for establishing its gurukulam on January 26, 2004.
Tridandi Chinna Srimannarayana Ramanuja Jeeyar Swamy set up the gurukulam with the purported aim of serving the tribals and other people. The trust is also running a gurukulam in Bheersaipet village. Thanks to the influence of the trust and Vedic education, the tribals and non tribals of Allampalli now greet each other by chanting Jai Srimannarayana.
It was the landmine blast which brought the hamlet to national attention and forced the state government to focus on it. The then Chief Minister, N.T. Ramarao, visited the interior Allampalli village located in the dense forest and hills in Kadam mandal. After noticing the abject poverty there, his government decided to "adopt" the district to make it a model one. NTR promised to create 1,000 teacher posts for tribal youth with basic educational qualifications and also announced a special package of Rs 100 crore for the welfare of the tribal populations. He also promised to curb the migrations of Banjaras to the district from the bordering Maharashtra.
Allampalli was literally ruled by Naxalites in those days. They enjoyed the total support of the tribal population. Top Naxalite leaders used to take shelter there and marriages of Naxalite activists were also held here. The area is totally transformed now. At present, 320 students are studying in the Jeeyar gurukulam in Allampalli and majority of them are from the Lambada and Gonds communities.
"We teach Ramayana, Bhagavad Gita, Bhagavatham and other scriptures and epics to the students," said Ms Ajjarapu Ushasriraju, caretaker of the gurukulam. "Students recite slokas every morning before going to class. We are planning to establish five more gurukulams in the district."
She added that the study of Vedas would help the students become more disciplined and virtuous. The Jeeyar Educational Trust is also running single teacher schools in tribal villages in Chittaguda, Dattajipet, Mangalsingh Thanda, Gangapur and Pareguda. However, Mr Lingampalli Srihari of Allampalli said one should not undermine the contribution of Naxalites, who ended exploitation of tribals and the menace of liquor in the area.
"Earlier, the government used to blame Naxals for acting as a hurdle to development but even after the Naxals influence abated, the government is not taking up development works," he added. "This shows the government has no sincerity."
"We ourselves have seen no Naxals in the area and have never faced problems from them though local people say that this was once a hotbed of Naxal activity," said Mr Srinivasa Ramanujam, correspondent of the gurukulam. "It is possible that peace has come to the area at last." Most tribals are illiterate donât know even in which class their children are studying. But they do know the value of education. "We donât know what they are learning it is a joy to see them going to school wearing uniforms," said Karipetha Lakku of Allampalli.
http://www.haindavakeralam.com/HKPage.aspx...eID=7798&SKIN=D
15/12/2008 10:29:14 http://www.deccanchronicle.com
Adilabad, Dec. 14: Vedic chants now fill the air in the Naxal bastion of Allampalli in the district which once reverberated with revolutionary slogans. Hundreds of tribal and non-tribal children start their day by chanting slokas from the Vedas in the Chinna Jeeyar Swamy Gurukulam in the jungles of Allampalli.
It was in the same area that the Naxalites triggered the first landmine blast in the country on August 16, 1987, killing 10 policemen. Ironically, the Jeeyar Educational Trust selected the same area for establishing its gurukulam on January 26, 2004.
Tridandi Chinna Srimannarayana Ramanuja Jeeyar Swamy set up the gurukulam with the purported aim of serving the tribals and other people. The trust is also running a gurukulam in Bheersaipet village. Thanks to the influence of the trust and Vedic education, the tribals and non tribals of Allampalli now greet each other by chanting Jai Srimannarayana.
It was the landmine blast which brought the hamlet to national attention and forced the state government to focus on it. The then Chief Minister, N.T. Ramarao, visited the interior Allampalli village located in the dense forest and hills in Kadam mandal. After noticing the abject poverty there, his government decided to "adopt" the district to make it a model one. NTR promised to create 1,000 teacher posts for tribal youth with basic educational qualifications and also announced a special package of Rs 100 crore for the welfare of the tribal populations. He also promised to curb the migrations of Banjaras to the district from the bordering Maharashtra.
Allampalli was literally ruled by Naxalites in those days. They enjoyed the total support of the tribal population. Top Naxalite leaders used to take shelter there and marriages of Naxalite activists were also held here. The area is totally transformed now. At present, 320 students are studying in the Jeeyar gurukulam in Allampalli and majority of them are from the Lambada and Gonds communities.
"We teach Ramayana, Bhagavad Gita, Bhagavatham and other scriptures and epics to the students," said Ms Ajjarapu Ushasriraju, caretaker of the gurukulam. "Students recite slokas every morning before going to class. We are planning to establish five more gurukulams in the district."
She added that the study of Vedas would help the students become more disciplined and virtuous. The Jeeyar Educational Trust is also running single teacher schools in tribal villages in Chittaguda, Dattajipet, Mangalsingh Thanda, Gangapur and Pareguda. However, Mr Lingampalli Srihari of Allampalli said one should not undermine the contribution of Naxalites, who ended exploitation of tribals and the menace of liquor in the area.
"Earlier, the government used to blame Naxals for acting as a hurdle to development but even after the Naxals influence abated, the government is not taking up development works," he added. "This shows the government has no sincerity."
"We ourselves have seen no Naxals in the area and have never faced problems from them though local people say that this was once a hotbed of Naxal activity," said Mr Srinivasa Ramanujam, correspondent of the gurukulam. "It is possible that peace has come to the area at last." Most tribals are illiterate donât know even in which class their children are studying. But they do know the value of education. "We donât know what they are learning it is a joy to see them going to school wearing uniforms," said Karipetha Lakku of Allampalli.
http://www.haindavakeralam.com/HKPage.aspx...eID=7798&SKIN=D