Muskaan’s Fresh Approach To Promote India’s Literary And Cultural Heritage Among Students

By Author: Uttam Kumar
Total Articles: 519
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Project `Muskaan’ – an initiative of Prabha Khaitan Foundation
and Education for All Trust and supported by Shree Cement - will reach out to thousands of
students across India to popularise heritage literature and culture by engaging them in cultural
programmes, story-telling, dance, music, puppetry, theatre and art. Distributing nutritious food
and basic hygienic amenities are also a part of this project for the needy children.
Over 100 schools from all over India are on-board with Muskaan’s various initiatives. Muskaan
has started interactive sessions on literature and cultural heritage of India by involving eminent
Indian writers and social workers like Ruskin Bond and Sudha Murty. These sessions, organised
in collaboration with a pan-India network of schools and educational institutions, have added
performing arts onto the school’s extended curriculum and have helped talented students get
national exposure.
Project Muskaan is the brainchild of Kolkata-based social activist and culturist Sundeep Bhutoria
of Prabha Khaitan Foundation. “The Indian ...
... literary and cultural universe is so vast that it is
impossible for any syllabus to cover it fully. We, as children and students, have missed out on so
many aspects of our rich Indian heritage. Project Muskaan is an attempt to fill in this gap in a
playful and entertaining manner. Muskaan also addresses the various needs and issues faced by
students. We are very thankful to Shree Cement for supporting project Muskaan as a part of
their corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative,” said Mr Bhutoria who also spearheads
Education for All Trust – a not-for-profit organisation for promoting education among the needy
students.
“Shree Cement, as a part of its CSR initiative, has, over the years, started many initiatives for the
empowerment of women, support for the elderly, spread of education and skill development,
supporting the family of martyrs and so on. Muskaan is yet another great opportunity to help
the marginalised students and also spread awareness of our rich Indian heritage and culture,”
said Mr H M Bangur, Managing Director, Shree Cement.
The Muskaan project is in line with India’s New Education Policy and aims to make education
more effective and widespread by adopting modern pedagogical methods. “The idea is to promote
and create awareness of our rich Indian heritage beyond the text books. In order to address other
needs of students, Muskaan conducts sessions on stress management before exams, motivational
talks, career counselling and public speaking,” said Ms Sumitra Ray, Student Programme Advisor,
Prabha Khaitan Foundation.
Other activities of Muskaan include skill-building courses and workshops for the marginalized
students and helping them with tuition/coaching classes, stationeries and study materials. “We
started with pilot projects in the National Capital Region and have now covered major cities of
India. The various events and sessions hosted by Muskaan have garnered great appreciation
not only from the students but also from principals, teachers and parents,” said Ms Ray said.
“Mrs Sudha Murty taught us the importance of giving and the power of simplicity. She lives by
the principle of simple living and high thinking. In a very short session she taught us an
important life lesson - Kindness,” said Annanmay Daga, a class five student of La Martiniere for
Boys, Kolkata.