During my fellowship’s exposure visit, I had the privilege of attending a transformative five-day workshop titled “Re-imagining Education” at Swaraj University, located in the peaceful Tapovan Ashram amidst the Aravali Hills of Udaipur. But to call it just a workshop would be limiting. It wasn’t merely an academic engagement it was a journey of reflection, courage, and deep personal discovery.
What unfolded during these five days was a profound questioning of everything I had known about education. I began to wonder: Why don’t we consider life itself as education? Why is our learning system so disconnected from real-life experiences?
A Journey of Unlearning and Reclaiming Joy
Each day was filled with stories, silence, nature, music, exploration, and heartfelt conversations. The learning here wasn’t confined to four walls or textbooks it flowed in the air, in the forests, and around the dining table.
• I, someone who once almost disliked bottle gourds, joyfully ate a full meal made entirely of them.
• Despite being hydrophobic, I found myself attempting to swim something I never imagined I could do. All thanks to Ms. Pratibha, whose gentle encouragement helped me face this fear.
• A passing wish to paint a wall was fulfilled when Manish Jain bhaiya handed me a brush, some colors, and a blank wall. The wall is now a part of my journey.
These moments were small yet deeply symbolic. They reminded me how often our current education system boxes us in curbing imagination, curiosity, and the courage to explore the unknown.
Reflections from the Spaces We Visited:
Tapovan Ashram: Here, I witnessed the power of simplicity and spiritual discipline. Integrating nature, self-reflection, silence, and yogic practices into everyday life brought a sense of inner clarity and peace that I had rarely experienced. It was a reminder that traditional Indian wisdom still holds timeless relevance in our quest for holistic well-being.
Shikshantar: This was where the idea of unlearning became a living philosophy. It promoted the radical belief that learning is a lifelong, self-designed process, not confined to formal schooling. The emphasis on gift culture, community collaboration, and breaking free from consumerist patterns was liberating. Shikshantar values local knowledge systems, hands-on creativity, and self-reliant living ideas that resonated deeply with me.
Hulchal Cafe: Run by youth, for youth, this cafe is more than a food space it’s a vibrant platform for expression, reflection, and social action. With its non-judgmental atmosphere, it empowers young voices to explore their identities, share bold ideas, and grow in confidence. It showed me that food, art, and conversations can be catalysts for transformation.
Manzil Welfare Society (Mr. Ravi Gulati): Meeting Ravi bhaiya was a masterclass in humility and grassroots leadership. At Manzil, education is not charity but solidarity. Everyone is both a learner and a teacher. Through peer-to-peer learning, young people take ownership of their growth, fostering a culture of listening, sharing, and mutual respect.
Involve Foundation (Ms. Pratibha): This space believes that teenagers can be mentors and leaders when trusted and supported. It redefines the teacher-student relationship through peer teaching, which not only deepens learning but also builds responsibility and confidence. Leadership here isn’t taught it is lived.
Creativity Adda (Mr. Ashish): At Creativity Adda, learning unfolds through music, art, dance, coding, and free expression. Children are seen as capable changemakers, and the adda becomes a safe haven where school dropouts transform into leaders. I was amazed at how trust and creative freedom could reshape lives.
This experience left a lasting imprint on my heart. It taught me that education is not just about facts or skills it’s about trust, courage, relationships, and finding joy in the journey of becoming.
A deep thank you to Manish Jain bhaiya for the thought-provoking sessions, for handing me the brush literally and metaphorically and for showing us a new way of looking at life. Gratitude to everyone who shared their stories, held space, and walked alongside me in this journey.
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