One Teacher’s Experience in India

Recently, I was one of sixteen educators from across the country selected to participate in the Fulbright-Hays Seminar Abroad to India. The participants came from all parts of the country and taught a variety of subjects including art, music, social studies and English. For a high school visual arts instructor from Philadelphia, India was a feast for the eyes and senses.

Upon arriving in Delhi, we were overwhelmed with the sights, colors, scents and sounds of the capital city. Our first few days there included meeting Indian Fulbrighters, attending seminars by well-known Indian scholars and getting acquainted with Indian customs and traditions.

From Delhi we continued our journey to various parts of the country. Delhi itself was a study in the contrasting nature of India. New Delhi displayed wide streets, world-class museums and fine architecture to rival any capital around the world. Old Delhi revealed tiny streets with crumbling facades, crowded markets and Jami Masjid, one of the largest mosques in India. This city filled with contrasts would only begin to reveal the journey we were embarking on.

Our trip continued to Agra, home of the Taj Mahal, and to Jaipur, the pink city of Rajasthan. These two cities celebrate the grand achievements of the Mughals, but also show how the average man and woman work and live. India is a country that is truly alive, showing the good, the bad, the happy and the sad parts of life on every block and street corner.

We also traveled to the southern part of India and visited the cities of Chennai, Hyderabad, Aurangabad and Cochin. The south is different in climate, appearance and lifestyle, providing a sharp contrast to the north. We were able to visit educational institutions in these cities, including a Hindu school, a Muslim elementary school and a university. These visits gave us insight on education in India, particularly curriculum, class size, classroom management and teaching styles popular in India.
       
As we traveled to Varanasi (Benares) and Kolkata (Calcutta), the true cultural and religious diversity of India revealed itself. Varanasi, the holiest city for the 800,000,000 Hindus of India, is a living lesson about Hinduism. Hindu practices and rituals by the Ganges River described Hindu devotion and faith. It was perhaps one of the most moving segments of the trip because cremation, prayer and devotion occurred side by side along the river for everyone to witness and share in the experience.

While in Varanasi, we also had the opportunity to visit a madrasah, a traditional Muslim school for boys. It was interesting to see how young men and boys studied the Koran with such devotion and faith. The students asked many questions about the United States and our concepts of religion and politics. Visiting the madrasah gave some insight on the large minority of Muslims (120,000,000) in India and their status in Indian society.
        
Personally, the city that affected me the most was Kolkata. In addition to being the cultural capital of India, Kolkata is a vibrant city full of life and energy, where beauty, joy and sadness are etched in every wall, street and face. As I walked along the streets, I realized why this city inspired Mother Teresa so many years before. The people of Kolkata exuded a generous and kind spirit, even those who have very little.

India changed me as a person, artist and educator. Its ancient culture, amazing people and rich heritage have inspired me and made me look at the world in an entirely different way. It has truly been a life-changing experience.

top of page