Ravi Devaraddi

This Foundation Project implemented by IFA will engage eighth grade students at the Government Higher Primary School in Hesaruru, Gadag district in a project titled Prakrutiya Nartana Rangam (Nature’s Dancing Theatre). In this project students will explore and appreciate the rich heritage of the Kappatagudda hill. By examining their relationship with nature and environment, the project seeks to connect these concerns to their curriculum in language and science. Ravi Devaraddi is the Coordinator for this project. 

Ravi Devaraddi is an Assistant Teacher from Mundaragi in Gadag district. He has a Masters in Science from Karnataka University. With a rich experience in teaching for the past 25 years he is passionate about nature conservation in the region and constantly looks for innovative ways to bring awareness among students and the community. Given his experience he is best placed to be the Coordinator of this Foundation Project of IFA. 

The forest in Kappatagudda near Gadag is spread across a vast region of 17,000 acres and has over 21,000 species of medicinal plants. In recent years the area is facing serious threat from illegal mining and frequent incidents of ‘accidental’ fire. The need to protect the biodiversity of the area is becoming crucial. The State Government and Department of Forest had promised to transform Kappatagudda into a medicinal forest and protect it against intruders. However, not much has been done in these conservation efforts.

The Project Coordinator feels that environmental issues like water conservation, understanding of endangered flora and fauna, decrease in seasonal rain, and related issues have been ignored when it comes to education. Through local stories and arts interventions, he wishes to bring issues relating to the hill of Kappatagudda to the lives of children and facilitate an understanding of their immediate environment. This project incorporates environmental experiences like guided walks, creative writing workshops and dramatising chapters of BGL Swamy's book Hasiru Honnu.

Bengaluru Gundappa Lakshminarayana Swamy (1918-1980) also known as BGL is the author of Hasiru Honnu, a book that documents the botanical expeditions he took with his college students. This book is a treasure trove of detailed descriptions, ecology, conservation, botanical folklores and myths, and references to plants in Sanskrit, Kannada and Tamil literature – all narrated in a typical humorous style. Generations of students have been inspired by his vast knowledge of plants and the scientific, cultural and historical lores associated with them.

During the project, students will also read the book Karvalo by Poornachandra Tejaswi and Kadu Thota by Shivananda Kalave in groups. After that, they will organise a debate competition, essay writing and small skits to offer summaries of the books and perform them at the school. These activities will serve to make them aware of the ecological richness of Kappatagudda. 

To engage the students with the local biodiversity the Project Coordinator will use both science and art. The scientific exploration involves a group field experience led by area environmentalists leading observations and providing information on Kappatagudda; the artistic interventions include written reflections and theatrical productions. The goal of the project is to enrich the students’ personal growth, collaboration skills as well as provide them with authentic learning experiences. It will strengthen their relationship with nature through phenomenon-based cross-curricular learning. 

The project culminates with a students’ play based on the chapter Prakrutiya Nartana Rangam from Hasiru Honnu. For this performance, children and the Project Coordinator will prepare the script together. Gururaj L, Shahntamani KB and Ningu Solagi will collaborate to bring it to the stage. All of them, as we know, have successfully implemented IFA’s arts integrated projects in their schools. Drawings and writings by children will also be displayed at this final sharing.

The outcomes of the project will be a series of performances, an exhibition and a publication. The Project Coordinator’s deliverables to IFA with the final report will be the publication, and photographs and video documentation of the entire project including the exhibition.

This project suitably addresses the framework of IFA’s Arts Education programme in the manner in which it attempts to connect students and schools to the cultural knowledge of the local communities they live in. 

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.