KOCHI: Sitting in the corner of a room at the Renewal Centre in Kochi, Shiva and Aiswariya from Chennai were busy explaining how the portable charkha can be used to weave thread from pure cotton. Charkhas are a common sight in the North Indian states. But unlike the traditional ones, the charkha which was demonstrated by the duo is light and can be carried around.
“We use it to teach people who have never seen a charkha in their entire life,” said Shiva, a wellness expert who has been associating with cotton farmers for some time now. The demonstration unravelled the process of spinning thread, something the Kochiites considered till then a complex procedure.
“It took only minutes to convert a ball of cotton into a spindle of thread. It was beautiful learning experience,” says a visitor.
Shiva says, “Me and my wife spin thread on the charkha everyday. The process is a soothing one.” “The instrument is a symbol of peace and can soften even the most toughest person.” According to Shiva, you need oodles of patience to get a spindle of good thread. “Otherwise, you can never make it,” he said.
The charkha, which can be bought from stores across India for just Rs 1500, was just one among the many wonders at the two-day convention.
Flexibility the word
For Yoga Vinod flexibility is not just a word. It is his mantra. He is well known for his flexible methods of teaching the discipline and at the workshop taught various body movements. “In one method, the yoga instructor stood on the belly of a participant. According to him, this helps in bringing down the fat level,” said K K Jayan, coordinator Kochi Time Bank. Though the method sounds bizarre, the yoga instructor advocates the need for doing the impossible, if one wants to overcome fear.
Alternative Education
The Learning Unconvention also became a platform to advocate for alternative education which includes unschooling and deschooling. Rajesh, who has homeschooled all his children, spoke on how kids benefited from the concept of homeschooling, which is a far cry from factory kind of education. According to experts, there is a lot of natural learning taking place through homeschooling. Children are given opportunities to go to the field and directly learn from nature. Also, for them, the plumber, electrician and the cook who comes to your house becomes their teachers. The biggest benefit is that unlike in conventional schools, kids learn with people from different ages. In another corner of the room, Reba Daniel held a class on natural birthing.
Why the convention was different
The Learning Society’s Unconference aims to provide an ecosystem where different methods can be used in various walks of life. “No rules and regulations are followed here. Participants can become teachers and vice versa.”E Nandakumar, Kochi Time Bank member, said the response to the two-day workshop was positive. “It gave people an opportunity to explore themselves and has also helped in boosting their confidence level. We definitely plan to hold another workshop,” he said.The two-day workshop concluded on Saturday.