Residents Of Syamantak
“A University OF Life”
Mrunalini
Youngest and first resident of the Syamantak family. She was three years old when she migrated with her parents from Bhopal to Dhamapur. A un-schooler having multi-dimensional skills and knowledge in Indian classical music, writing skills, natural dying natural paints, stitching and knitting etc. She is pursuing her taleem in Indian classical music (Vocal, Tabla and Rudra Veena). In her spare time she also assist Syamantak volunteer lawyers in drafting social and environment related cases. Mrunalini is presently receiving taleem on Rudraveena of original unmodified style (holding the instrument entirely on the body and in playing Dhrupad genre) under the tutelage of Vidushi Jyoti Hegde. She is pursuing her academic studies in journalism from YCMOU.
Vishwas
He has skills and knowledge that you can only gain from him with personal experience. Vishwas is not so academically inclined towards reading and writing but his hands-on skills and experience in natural construction, cooking and cattle farm is exceptional. He was a child with dyslexia but considered as a mentally challenged student by his school teachers therefore couldn’t gain much from his school education. As a resident of Syamantak family since 2010 he has remarkably excelled in hands-on skills to become a mentor of various appropriate technologies in indigenous constructions, crafts and culinary art.
Mohammad
One of the first resident student of Syamantak, a nature-obsessed boy from Konkan. His first-hand knowledge and multi-skill approach to learning at Syamantak laid the groundwork for Indigenous culture and technologies. Mohammad is a member of the Wetland Brief Documentation Committee for all districts in Maharashtra’s Konkan Division. He received his Masters of Arts degree in Rural Development and submitted an outstanding dissertation on Dhamapur Lake, which was based on his field research in Syamantak. In 2017, he gave a very inspiring TEDx talk at Goa University based on his life journey.
Shobha
She is the Syamantak family's elder sister. She is in charge of kitchen waste management and composting. Shobha is also assisting in the instruction of stitching, knitting, and other arts and crafts.
Meenal
Born and brought up in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, then moved to Dhamapur village in 2007. She began the Syamantak community's process in an old traditional house in Dhamapur. She promotes upcycling old clothes into new garments and the reuse-remake of everyday materials. Her master's thesis in rural development was the impetus for saving Dhamapur lake, which evolved into a documentation process of 480 wetlands spread across five districts in the Kokan region.
Sachin
Founder of Ad-Venture Infosys, initiated computer-aided learning in Madhya Pradesh's rural and urban schools. He began the Syamantak community's process in an old traditional house in Dhamapur village. He has been an outspoken supporter of Nai talim education and Gramudyog. Through his talks and interviews on various educational platforms, he has shared the practise of hands-on learning and sustainable living.
