DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE
Fr. Philip Manthara, SJ
Founder, Manthan
Manthan: A Centre for Awareness, Action, Research and Training had conducted four summer camps.
1) Kharagpur (1976), 2) Lakshmipur (1977), 3) Bariarpur (1977), and 4) Bariarpur (1978).
The Provincial asked if I could organize similar camps closer to Patna. So, we decided the fifth camp at Khagaul. Thirty trainees, mostly Sisters, joined the camp, starting with an orientation at Catholic Church at Khagaul on 14th April, 1979. Then we moved to Jamsaut, a village, three kilometres from Khagaul. Ten Musahar tolas were chosen in Nargada-Raghurampur Panchayat. In each of these tolas were sent three Sisters. The villagers happily gave some place for them to stay. The Sisters went through many inconveniences. But they were ready for such inconveniences.
When the parents went out for work in the morning, the children were left behind. So, the Sisters assembled the children and had singing, dancing and various kids-games for them. The parents got opportunity to see the performance of their children. Children were also taken to government schools.
During the day, I used to stay at Khagaul where people used to come to me.
Towards the evening, I would go to Jamsaut which was about an hour walk. After their night meal, the people would gather for a meeting to discuss their many problems. The drinking water problem was discussed and the block B.D.O. was approached and he solved it. Similar problems were taken up as time went on.
As time went on, the Bihar Government asked us to apply to the District Resource Unit to train village teachers for non-formal and adult education. This would be a funded scheme by the Central Government. Since we had to legally register for it, we did it in the name of Manthan in 1989-90 under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. We got the funds for a little over 10 years. Then we had to approach other funding agencies. Manthan conducted hundreds of training programmes of quality. Of the 18 DRUS (District Resource Units) in India, Manthan was declared the best.
Fr. Joseph Velamkunnel, SJ did a study of the training and other activities. This study gives a larger picture of Manthan's activities though not complete. A large number of Brothers, Sisters and youth contributed to Manthan' effort to enable the Manjhis to get their constitutionally guaranteed rights to live a more dignified life.