Jalajakshi KD

Jalajakshi, an assistant teacher at Government Higher Primary School, Kolcharu, Sullia Taluk, Dakshina Kannada District, is a theatre artist who believes that theatre can have a positive impact on the overall development of students. Through theatre she believes creativity can flourish, academics can improve, and means of self-expression can be developed.

Children studying in this school are well-versed in languages such as Kannada, Tulu, English and colloquial Kannada language. She has identified lessons from the text books in Kannada and English Language which can be enacted as plays. This swap between text and performance will facilitate a process of mutual redefinition, while allowing students to explore learning through a creative process. Being an enthusiastic teacher, Jalajakshi will also encourage children to understand and experience the form of theatre from different perspectives. Starting from reading the texts, translating these to their colloquial language, to writing and editing the script - every aspect of the performance form will be part of the children’s learnings. Aided by a series of workshops run by artists and writers the project will establish a dialogic relationship between the lived experiences of the children and the texts by connecting the syllabus to the local context.

The outcome will be stage performances which will be presented at two to three school venues. The deliverables of the grant would include photographs and a 10 to 12 minute video documentation.   

This grant is made possible with support from Citi India.