Passing On Our Past Life

“Education is the right to respect and dignity for all society,” shares Sunita Kumari, articulating a profound belief held in Ghorawal. For this community, learning is the vital thread that weaves together generations, ensuring that “the next generation can know about our way of life” and “our cultural program can be seen and understood by our coming second generation.” It’s about more than just facts; it’s about conveying “what is happening in our society” and preserving it for the future. The desire to “pass on knowledge from your past life to the next generation” is central, specifically “traditional forest and tribal knowledge.” This deep connection to heritage is also fostered through practices like “The Sanskrit program [which] connects us to our ancestors.” To facilitate this crucial transmission, there’s a clear call for formal learning: “There should be a school where the children of our village can study,” a sentiment echoed in the advice to the government for a “school system in our village.” The community understands that “Our society is like this due to living in the forest and education,” recognizing the transformative power of learning. They advocate for “awareness education for women, good education for all children” to overcome challenges like “illiteracy,” ensuring that every child has the opportunity to learn and carry forward their rich heritage.