Foreign nationals pledge their lives for restoration of Gurukul form of education
Kalkeri Sangeet Vidyalaya on the outskirts of the picturesque and sleepy Kalkeri village near
the culturally rich Dharwad city in Karnataka has many feathers in its cap. It’s not just another
residential school imparting formal education in the rural areas but one founded by foreign
nationals who have literally sacrificed their lives to ensure that the ideals of Gurukul continue to
remain unabated since 2002.
Mathieu Fortier from Canada and his French wife Agathe Meurisse are the co founders while
Adam Woodward from Britain is the Director along with other members of the governing board
who are striving incessantly to successfully run the educational cum music organization without
any financial aid from either the state or central governments.
Looking back at the history of inception of this residential school it reminds one like a script of a
super duper hit film. Mathieu Fortier studied in Shantinekatan for a brief while and during his
stint there developed immense interest in Indian history and culture.
As his enthusiasm for understanding the country’s ancient past continued to grow in leaps and
bounds it was at such juncture that he happened to meet Agathe from France who also by then
had imbibed rare qualities of appreciating and living a true Indian life in letter and spirit.
In terms of outlook and thoughts they blossomed into a perfect couple having the same ideas,
aspirations and aims. This unanimity triggered in them the noble thought of setting up a
residential school catering to the less privileged children of the society.
Initially they started in a humble way by setting up a formal facility for imparting education at
Gowli Galli near Saraswatpur extension of Dharwad. The area inhabited mostly with people
grazing cattle for selling milk sent their children to the school. But as these kids grew they ran
back to their homes perplexing the people behind the educational institution.
It was then that the foreign couple resolved to shift their base to a little bit far off place away
from the city. Thanks to a well wisher who suggested Kalkeri village and it was in this way they
set up their base on three acres of gramatana land during November 2002.
Kalkeri Sangeet Vidyalaya(KSV) happens to be a charitable and residential educational
organization basically focusing on performing arts and thereby enabling, empowering and
ensuring less privileged children to accomplish their full potential.
The key people behind setting up and running the unique institution are confident that by this
approach the resident wards will be able to realize a brighter future for themselves and
contribute towards conservation and diffusion of India’s vast cultural heritage.
Mathieu Fortier further explains: KSV apart from providing education in academic subjects also
gives a special thrust in imparting traditional form of talents like Hindusthani classical music,
Bharatnatyam dance and drama while instrumental forms like Sitar, Tabla, Bansuri and
Harmonium are also made available.
Perhaps what is pleasing to hear is the hardcore fact that everything here, education,
accommodation and health care are all completely free, thanks to the magnanimity of local and
overseas donors and philanthropists’ who go out of the way in coming to the rescue of the
children here.
As KSV is wholly dependent upon the goodwill and generosity of its donors in running the show
it’s practically impossible to think the very existence in the absence of generous support and
involvement of the benefactors.
Such predicament either depicts a path of roses all along the way as Mathieu Fortier sums it up:
We were able to manage Rs one and odd crore annual expenditure so far but now it looks the
finance is developing into a tight rope situation!
17 years back local people rejoiced when we offered them meager Rs 50/- as daily wages and
since then it has increased multifold. It’s the same plight when it comes to payment of
remuneration to the visiting faculty of different music forms, narrates Mathieu Fortier.
He also admits at the same time: The financial situation may not be alarming but at the same
time let there be no doubt that we still lack enough funds to have a smooth functioning.
Another interesting aspect of KSV is that all those who matter and happen to visit Dharwad also
make it a point to have a glance of Kalkeri Sangeet Vidyalaya for whatever short time feasible in
their hectic schedule.
Among many such visitors include local and other bureaucrats from elsewhere, Jagadish
Shettar, former chief minister, Rahul Gandhi, AICC President and a host of many others. But in
realistic sense all such visits have not made much expected significant impact for betterment of
the institution imparting free residential education.
Financial assistance is one obstacle but even the land on which the organization has been
functioning since 2002 is still not in its name and efforts in this direction are yet to bear fruits.
However a sigh of relief is the liberal financial aid of Rs 63 lakhs for tapping solar energy. This
generous help from an Abu Dhabi based philanthropic organization has taken care of many of
the challenges.
For instance there are three ways in which the aid has come to the rescue of KSV. A mini grid
has been set up with a capacity of generating 14 kilowatt of power while another solar pump set
has been commissioned for pumping water. Solar water heaters are provided to all hostels for
bathing.
But what is amazing is the typical Indian traditional way all four daughters of Mathieu Fortier and
Agathe Meurisse are living in this residential school deprived of all modern amenities.
The local villagers and people of the surrounding villages are quite happy since many of the less
privileged children have got an opportunity to meet their aspirations and about 25 of them have
got employment for a livelihood.
But the local birds and animals don’t seem to have felt so as the crows flock in big numbers
during lunch hours to taste the school food which is prepared in only one kitchen. Likewise do
the monkeys from the adjoining forest terrain which also barge into the houses in search of
food.
-Manohar Yadavatti
 |
| Image by chiragbarry via instagram |
Kalkeri Sangeet Vidyalaya on the outskirts of the picturesque and sleepy Kalkeri village near
the culturally rich Dharwad city in Karnataka has many feathers in its cap. It’s not just another
residential school imparting formal education in the rural areas but one founded by foreign
nationals who have literally sacrificed their lives to ensure that the ideals of Gurukul continue to
remain unabated since 2002.
Mathieu Fortier from Canada and his French wife Agathe Meurisse are the co founders while
Adam Woodward from Britain is the Director along with other members of the governing board
who are striving incessantly to successfully run the educational cum music organization without
any financial aid from either the state or central governments.
Looking back at the history of inception of this residential school it reminds one like a script of a
super duper hit film. Mathieu Fortier studied in Shantinekatan for a brief while and during his
stint there developed immense interest in Indian history and culture.
As his enthusiasm for understanding the country’s ancient past continued to grow in leaps and
bounds it was at such juncture that he happened to meet Agathe from France who also by then
had imbibed rare qualities of appreciating and living a true Indian life in letter and spirit.
In terms of outlook and thoughts they blossomed into a perfect couple having the same ideas,
aspirations and aims. This unanimity triggered in them the noble thought of setting up a
residential school catering to the less privileged children of the society.
Initially they started in a humble way by setting up a formal facility for imparting education at
Gowli Galli near Saraswatpur extension of Dharwad. The area inhabited mostly with people
grazing cattle for selling milk sent their children to the school. But as these kids grew they ran
back to their homes perplexing the people behind the educational institution.
It was then that the foreign couple resolved to shift their base to a little bit far off place away
from the city. Thanks to a well wisher who suggested Kalkeri village and it was in this way they
set up their base on three acres of gramatana land during November 2002.
Kalkeri Sangeet Vidyalaya(KSV) happens to be a charitable and residential educational
organization basically focusing on performing arts and thereby enabling, empowering and
ensuring less privileged children to accomplish their full potential.
The key people behind setting up and running the unique institution are confident that by this
approach the resident wards will be able to realize a brighter future for themselves and
contribute towards conservation and diffusion of India’s vast cultural heritage.
Mathieu Fortier further explains: KSV apart from providing education in academic subjects also
gives a special thrust in imparting traditional form of talents like Hindusthani classical music,
Bharatnatyam dance and drama while instrumental forms like Sitar, Tabla, Bansuri and
Harmonium are also made available.
Perhaps what is pleasing to hear is the hardcore fact that everything here, education,
accommodation and health care are all completely free, thanks to the magnanimity of local and
overseas donors and philanthropists’ who go out of the way in coming to the rescue of the
children here.
As KSV is wholly dependent upon the goodwill and generosity of its donors in running the show
it’s practically impossible to think the very existence in the absence of generous support and
involvement of the benefactors.
Such predicament either depicts a path of roses all along the way as Mathieu Fortier sums it up:
We were able to manage Rs one and odd crore annual expenditure so far but now it looks the
finance is developing into a tight rope situation!
17 years back local people rejoiced when we offered them meager Rs 50/- as daily wages and
since then it has increased multifold. It’s the same plight when it comes to payment of
remuneration to the visiting faculty of different music forms, narrates Mathieu Fortier.
He also admits at the same time: The financial situation may not be alarming but at the same
time let there be no doubt that we still lack enough funds to have a smooth functioning.
Another interesting aspect of KSV is that all those who matter and happen to visit Dharwad also
make it a point to have a glance of Kalkeri Sangeet Vidyalaya for whatever short time feasible in
their hectic schedule.
Among many such visitors include local and other bureaucrats from elsewhere, Jagadish
Shettar, former chief minister, Rahul Gandhi, AICC President and a host of many others. But in
realistic sense all such visits have not made much expected significant impact for betterment of
the institution imparting free residential education.
Financial assistance is one obstacle but even the land on which the organization has been
functioning since 2002 is still not in its name and efforts in this direction are yet to bear fruits.
However a sigh of relief is the liberal financial aid of Rs 63 lakhs for tapping solar energy. This
generous help from an Abu Dhabi based philanthropic organization has taken care of many of
the challenges.
For instance there are three ways in which the aid has come to the rescue of KSV. A mini grid
has been set up with a capacity of generating 14 kilowatt of power while another solar pump set
has been commissioned for pumping water. Solar water heaters are provided to all hostels for
bathing.
But what is amazing is the typical Indian traditional way all four daughters of Mathieu Fortier and
Agathe Meurisse are living in this residential school deprived of all modern amenities.
The local villagers and people of the surrounding villages are quite happy since many of the less
privileged children have got an opportunity to meet their aspirations and about 25 of them have
got employment for a livelihood.
But the local birds and animals don’t seem to have felt so as the crows flock in big numbers
during lunch hours to taste the school food which is prepared in only one kitchen. Likewise do
the monkeys from the adjoining forest terrain which also barge into the houses in search of
food.
-Manohar Yadavatti
blog handled by Infinity Techsyst Dharwad,Karnataka,India
Visited this place during 2013, lots of things to learn from the life of founders n directors. Dedication and Sacrifice in real sense for a cause.
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