Adivasi Seva Sahayak and Shikshan Prasark Sanstha, Navapur's
Shri D.H. Agrawal, Arts, Srirrang Avadhoot Commerce and
Shri C.G. Shah and Shri M.G. Agrawal Science College,
Navapur, Dist. Nandurbar

The CDI Program at the college

Four years ago, Jai Hind College, Dhule selected five partner colleges to implement the activities of the second phase of the Campus Diversity Initiative Project funded by the Ford Foundation. The Arts, Science and Commerce College, Navapur was one of them. Jai Hind College probably selected this college, as it is located in a tribal area.

From the Chief Editor: Ms.Sharada Nayak -

Mother India and Modern India: Krishen Kak

Ruling By The Pen:Dr.Ganesh Devy

CDI Student Workshop:Constitution, State Policy and Politics:Tribal Perspective

CDI Program at the college

Student's Meet: A Memorable Event of My Life: Prakash Barku Bhoi

Devendra Vasave's:Adivasi Poems: Translated by  Prof. B.P.Jadhav

Folk Theatre:Habib Tanvir and Chattisgarhi Folk Theatre: Lasting Romance

The CDI Camp: A Golden Moment in My Life Bhushan Nikam

Neither Suited for the Home nor for the Fields:Inclusion, Formal Schooling and the Adivasi Child

ERC News, Visits &  Events

Navapur is situated on the northern most border of Maharashtra, near Gujarat. Groups of adivasis have settled in small villages around hills & forests with population ranging from hundred to five hundred. These villages are called "Padas" in the adivasi language. The young boys and girls of these padas come to Navapur college for higher education. The town also has a large population of Rajput Patil families. The Christian missionaries have worked to improve the condition of the life of the tribals, and run a well-equipped hospital at Chinchpada, ten kms from Navapur. Students from various cultures come together to learn and play together on campus. They speak different languages like Gujarati, Ahirani, Urdu, Hindi, Marathi and sometimes, English. [Refer Table below]*

The major activities conducted in the college under the Campus Diversity Initiative from 1997-2002 were as follows.

The college introduced the teacher guardian scheme to understand and solve the problems of the students. One teacher was appointed as a guardian for thirty students.

The Director of Physical Education organized training camps for sports like kabbadi, kho kho and volley ball in the campus, as the tribal students have a special affinity for sports.

A series of lectures of eminent thinkers was organized on the following topics: 1. Religion and Politics 2. Women's Empowerment 3. Conservation of Forests 4. Population and Planning 5. Spiritualism and Science 6. Influence of Foreign Television Channels on Indian Culture.

The college hosted the "Tribal Cultural Festival," a three-day program in February, 1998. Ms. Judy Frater from Kalaraksha, an NGO in Kutch, delighted the students with her speech in Marathi. Dr. Ganesh Devy, of the Bhasha Trust, who has done considerable work with the tribal community in Gujarat was one of the notable speakers on the occasion. Various speakers highlighted the problems of the 'adivasis', discussed the prevalent superstitions, the ways to fight injustice and ignorance and the various schemes of the government for the benefit of the 'adivasis'. The most exciting feature of this festival was an exhibition of the various objects, weapons, ornaments, costumes, utensils and literary works of tribals collected by the students from the region. A special "Poetry Symposium" was arranged in which adivasi poets presented their poems. The festival concluded with a visit to Ukai dam, which is in Gujarat and 25 kms away from Navapur.

The college has been conducting a foundation course entitled "Forests and Human Life", in which forests and plant life are studied. Lectures were arranged on topics like medicinal plants, conservation of forests, bee -keeping, vermi-compost and vermi-culture.

In order to instill self-confidence in the tribal students, an event. "Presentation of Self" was organised, where every participant expressed in his/her mother tongue his/her personal experiences and shared information in different fields.

A one-day workshop titled "Problems of Women and their Solutions" for girl-students was organized. Advocate Kalpana Patil inaugurated the workshop and spoke about "Women and Law"; Prof. Mrs. S.B. Pawar, Vice Principal, Jai Hind College; and Mrs. Usha Patil,and Prof. Sushma Date spoke about the Awareness and Consciousness of Womanhood and Women in Literature. A hundred girl-students participated in the workshop.

A three-day Vocational Guidance camp for adivasi students was organised. In addition to lectures by eminent persons, students also presented papers. The support of the then Vice-Chancellor of North Maharashtra University Dr. S.F. Patil was greatly appreciated by the participating students. Shri. Vilas Chavan, Director, Students Welfare, North Maharashtra University, Jalgaon presided over the valedictory function. A total of one hundred and seventy five students, of which seventy - five were from the host college, participated in the camp.

Various tribal festivals like "Raksha Bandhan" "Wagdeo" (worship of tiger god, Pola village Kolda), Gaav-Diwali at Navagaon were documented under CDI.

Under the CDI project, our students participated in camps and conferences organized in different colleges, such as the five-day camp on "National Unity and Integrity" at St. Xavier's College, Palayamkottai, four-day National Conference at Kozhikode, and the National Conference at Dehra-Dun.

The college faculty attended training programs at Jai Hind College, Dhule and North Maharashtra University, Jalgaon.

The CDI activities, like the leadership camp for tribal students, trekking, tribal cultural festivals, a special camp for girls to discuss their problems and various other programs brought about a wonderful change among students. The Diversity Project especially helped the tribal students who are generally very reserved and indifferent, by bringing them in contact with students of other communities and the leadership camp gave them a platform to express themselves. The series of lectures certainly helped them to understand their problems, their rights, and various schemes for their community. Now these students who were initially indifferent are ready to take part in most of the programs. They are more open and expressive of their opinion. The noteworthy change among the students of this college is that before participation in the CDI activities, the students from tribal community and non-tribal community were hesitant to come together and mix with the other group. But, the activities like tribal cultural festival and activities organized by other CDI colleges really encouraged them to know the importance of unity in diversity. They were more participative and communicative than before. Now, these students are more assertive and express their concerns about their problems. This is undoubtedly the result of the CDI programme.
Unfortunately these activities continued only for three years. We hope these activities can be continued to enable these disadvantaged students to look at life in a positive way.

* The strength of our college for the year 2001-2002 shows this diversity.