Day called Tiloniya

Written by Moksh Juneja / 03 February 2009 / Read Moksh Juneja's latest blog entries.

Unbathed plants, barren soil, chilly winds, brown scenery are the best words to describe the village of Tilonia. While travelling in train is fun, driving across the countryside in Reva we have had our share of adventures and no doubt Tilonia possibly was one of the most technologically advanced villages we have been. At the same time, we had our enjoyable moment driving on Kuccha roads leading to the Barefoot College in Tilonia.

Though I was personally skeptic about the entire concept of tiloniya being a "Model Technological village" but then moment we visited the Barefoot College everything was crystal clear. Talking about technology, Tilonia is one of those villages which had access to email way back in 1997. From indigenously developed solar cookers, solar cells, lanterns the word technology is something that has been there for quite some time. With women coming from all over the world to name a few countries - Bhutan, Afganisthan, Malawi to get training at the famous Barefoot College established by Bunker Roy, Tilonia in true words is a global village.  

Though it was close to evening by the time we reached Tiloniya, we had a warm welcome function and then a quick tour of Barefoot College and having looked at the indigenously made gigantic solar cookers, we met the man responsible for the transformation Bunker Roy. The session with Bunker Roy where he shared his experiences during the journey as a Social entrepreneur, was probably the most inspiring and most informing one.

Barefoot college is one of its kind first and unique initiatives which is more about un- learning and goes against the conventional rules of education. The fact that almost the entire working staff at the Barefoot College is barely qualified as a graduate, but can beat qualified engineers when it comes to development and execution of solar technology still amazes me. The barefoot college although has trained 1000's of students the concept of certification is something Bunker Roy is absolutely against.

After the session with Bunker Roy, thanks to the people of tilonia, we were audience to a spectacular puppet show. Our day which usually would have ended with the Solar Punch performances pumping energy back into the team but then this time they had company from the local musicians with the most amazing aalaap of Anwar Khan Saheb and his team. Towards the end there was Jugalbandi with Solar Punch and Anwar Khan Saheb and team. It was perhaps one of the better fusion musical nights that I have attended and perhaps the best possible way to end up the "Day Called Tiloniya"

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