KANAVU: SCHOOL OF DREAMS

There are many organizations established in Kerala to help care for the welfare of the tribal communities. NGOs and government groups develop programs that address issues like health, education and living conditions. These programs are usually criticized as much as they are praised for their efforts. We came across a very interesting and effective program that had been established by a man named K.J. Baby. K.J. Baby is a very respected member of the academic community in Kerala. He has written a number of books and plays that have addressed the tribal condition. He is also a versatile musician and poet. After winning a major award for his book (Nakatak), K.J. Baby decided to do something tangible for the tribal communities he had studied and written about for so long. He wanted to help the tribals by educating them about their own culture and traditions.

It is true that the tribal condition throughout India is very poor. They are forced to live outside their native forest, in degraded conditions, and as a result are losing a vital connection to their past. Tribes are slowly assimilating into mainstream society to survive and in doing so are losing the knowledge of and pride in their own heritage. K.J. Baby founded a school for tribal kids named Kanavu. Kanavu, means "dreams", and is a self-sufficient school located in a very rural part of Wyanad. Kids here are taught their tribal history and learn about their own cultural traditions. In addition they learn standard education such as science, math, language etc. Most of the children belong to the Paniyan, Adiyar, or Nalkes tribes.

These children help to grow and cook their own food, and are responsible for the upkeep of the school grounds. K.J. Baby has helped these students to discover their great musical, artistic, or writing talents. They have formed a musical group within Kanavu. Kids play their native drums and sing and dance. These kids love to perform for their surrogate father Baby, and are gaining recognition throughout Kerala for their talents. They travel to various locations and put on concerts to raise money for their school. Kanavu is a wonderful environment for these tribal children, who often come from impoverished homes. These students often enter Kanavu scared and ashamed of who they are. But after some time, they grow to learn about the accomplishment so of their ancestry and are instilled with a secure identity of who they are.