My Experience In The Camp

My Experience in the Camp

I reached Muthu Veera Kandiyanpatti near Thanjavur on 2nd June ’09 . There were about 35 students participated from various colleges all over Tamil Nadu This was a good exposure for me . This is my first experience in a village atmosphere . Now, I wish to share my experience with u all .

This camp was arranged by All India Catholic University Federation (AICUF) . The program started on 3rd morning at 7:30 AM . We had meditation daily . On the second day a professor Mr. Rajendran from “BISHOP KEEPERS COLLEGE” , gave us a lecture on Personality Development . He shared his views on personality . He says, it is not color that determines a person’s character or growth in life . Personality is determined by a individual’s actions and deeds . Hence he says be good hearted people .

Mrs. Sherin , the proprietor of Velcham (Light) is helping more than 200 students to complete higher secondary .She said ,she is helping only the Dalit community of the society. She also shared her experiences and sufferings she underwent as a child . Mrs.Sherin acknowledged us with “Who are Dalits ? And problems they face in day to day life .

On the third day of the camp Mr. China samy spent half a day with us to share his views on Dalit community. He says, higher community people treat them as slaves . They are given menial jobs with less salary. For example, they are not given education facility . they are exempted from entering into temples. He requested youngsters to work for the betterment of Dalits.

On the fourth day, the camp co-ordinator Rev. Fr. Arul Ravi, segregated the students into three groups. Each group went to three different villages. Our group was asked to go to Thodarayanpadi to know their life style and their occupation . Their main occupation is agriculture . They grow paddy . Some are well qualified. But some have completed higher secondary and doing menial jobs. Their homes are generally huts. They are friendly with their caste people . But when it comes to other caste they fight with them . They use different copper glass for other caste and silver glass for their caste. They distinguish people not with their education but with their caste. Even though a person is an I.A.S. Officer , people say he/she is a Dalit or he/she is treated as a lower section of the society.


Moral of the Camp:
As a younger generation of the society we have to take positive actions to abolish caste difference among people particularly in villages.

Swami Vivekananda has said : Youngsters have to work for the development of our Mother land , India.