Venkatesh Prasad HD

This Foundation Project implemented by IFA will engage sixth grade students of the Morarji Desai Residential School in Nuggehalli village in Hassan district with the world of the bamboo – its history, stories, and various uses – in order to connect the text from their environmental science curriculum with the art of bamboo handicrafts. Venkatesh Prasad HD is the Coordinator for this project.

Venkatesh Prasad HD, a theatre practitioner from Hassan, has completed his diploma in theatre from Rangayana, Mysore. He has a doctorate in arts and literature and a postgraduate degree in science and mathematics. Venkatesh has been part for many theatre festivals organised by Rangayana, and directed and performed in theatre plays across the state. He has also published his collection of poetry titled Vichitra Pisu Maatu. Given his experience he is best placed to be the Coordinator of this Foundation Project of IFA.

Bamboo is the tallest growing plant that belongs to the grass family. It has medicinal elements that cure diseases. Of the thousands of varieties of bamboo, India is the home for more than 136 kinds. Among these 15 to 20 kinds are available in Karnataka. The lifespan of a bamboo tree is more than 170 years, and it has many uses ranging from cuisine to handicrafts to construction. In this project titled Karakushala Kale Enda Patya Dhedege (From Handicrafts to School Curriculum), students will attempt to understand the history and the many uses of the bamboo in the country. They will engage in workshops by the experts on various topics related to this study. Field visits will provide students with and experiential learning experience. Students will attempt to research and document the different kinds of bamboo available in their region. During the course of the project, students will be encouraged to study the various kinds of musical instruments that are made out of the bamboo and learn some through musical sessions. Students will visit the handicraft shops and manufacturing units in and around the village to interview craftsmen and their stories.

Since the project also aims to develop reading and writing skills among students, they will be encouraged to write short stories on the bamboo which will be put together in a as a publication at the end of the project. Venkatesh will help students to apply their learnings to their environmental science curriculum and develop a theatre script which will be performed in the presence of school staff and villagers. Through this project students will gain knowledge about the bamboo and improve their writing, creative thinking and language skills.

The outcomes of the project will be a performance in the presence of school staff and villagers and a publication. The Project Coordinator’s deliverables to IFA with the final report will include the publication, along with photographs and video documentation of the performance and the entire project.

This project suitably addresses the framework of IFA’s Arts Education programme in the manner in which it attempts to connect students and their curriculum to the ecologies within which they are located.

IFA will ensure that the implementation of this project happens in a timely manner and funds expended are accounted for. IFA will also review the progress of the project at midterm and document it through an Implementation Memorandum. After the project is finished and all deliverables are submitted, IFA will put together a Final Evaluation to share with Trustees.