Padhese Bastar : Support Multilingual Education for Social Justice in Bastar

[Pallavi Dehari]

Who Am I?

Hello everyone. I hope your midweek is going well. I’ve been meaning to write this email for a while, but I’ve been finding time at odd hours. Sincere apologies for that, and of course, for the long email. Some of you may know me, while many of you may not. My name is Pallavi (Gauri) and I too am a part of the NALSAR community, and many of you amazing people have supported me through my law school journey.

What Is ‘Padhese Bastar’? (https://donateabook.org.in/product/padhese-bastar-bastar-district-administration/) 
I am currently working with the district administration of Bastar, and we recently launched a campaign called ‘Padhese Bastar’ in collaboration with Pratham Books’ Donate-a-Book initiative. This is by far the largest crowdfunding campaign that Pratham Books, the district administration, and I have set out on. Our goal is to collect funds for 1,00,000 books.

Why Are We Focusing on Education?
Two years ago, I had the privilege of working as a research associate on a study for the NHRC, which examined the significant achievement and opportunity gaps faced by indigenous, tribal, and minoritized children. Our research led to several key recommendations, including the establishment of multilingual libraries, inspired by those we observed in the KGBVs of Gadchiroli.

The status of foundational literacy and numeracy in Bastar is deeply concerning and highlights the urgent need for intervention. Many children in the region struggle with basic reading and math skills, which significantly impacts their overall educational progress. These challenges are compounded by the district’s history of conflict, limited access to quality educational resources, and the predominance of indigenous languages that are often overlooked in mainstream education. Without a strong foundation in these critical areas, children are more likely to fall behind, leading to long-term consequences in terms of academic achievement, future employment opportunities, and civic participation.

How Are We Making a Difference?
We are striving to set up libraries in 1,526 primary schools in Bastar.  We aim to create meaningful learning spaces filled with books in the children’s home languages and mother tongues—specifically Halbi, Gondi, Dhurwi, and Bhatri; with age-appropriate books covering themes essential for holistic development.

By promoting mother tongue education, we also provide opportunities for children to learn opportunity languages like Hindi and English. This dual approach creates a more enabling learning environment for cognitive development, leading to better academic outcomes, increased access to opportunities, civic participation, and ultimately, the realization of social justice. Following this campaign, we will also focus on training language teachers for culturally and linguistically responsive education so that no child is left behind.

What Do We Need to Succeed?
To realize the RIGHT to multilingual and culturally relevant quality education, we need  RESOURCES. We are actively involving the community through self-help groups and Panchayati Raj Institutions to ensure the sustainability of our efforts. Specifically, we are anchoring this initiative to community-based reading programs and child-friendly Panchayats by integrating Bal Sabhas (children’s assemblies) to build a supportive ecosystem.

Why Is This Important to Us?
I wanted to share this with you because I believe you understand the significance of language. As one of my beloved professors often emphasizes, “learning to read, reading to learn” is crucial for everyone. (Here is a link to a very important language survey conducted by the Writing Lab at NALSAR.)

How Can You Help?
If you would like to contribute to bridging the gap between rights and resources, and policies in practice, please consider donating to our crowdfunding campaign. One book costs 75 rupees, and a complete library costs 7,500 rupees. Any contribution, no matter the amount, makes a significant difference. The campaign will remain open for a while, allowing you to revisit it at your convenience.

Where Can You Find More Information?
If you need more details, my contact information is below. I would appreciate it if you could share this message with as many people as you can; we would be incredibly grateful. (There are many ways to contribute beyond just one). If you know of any UHNIs, philanthropists, CSR divisions, or other potential funding sources, please connect with us.

If you'd like to share about the campaign on your social media, here are the posts. Stay tuned—we’ll be doing more outreach on these platforms after Diwali. If you are an influencer or know someone who is, we could use some additional help. 

https://x.com/BastarDistrict/status/1843531680151417074
https://www.instagram.com/p/DA47hvhzNv5/?igsh=NXlhZXptdWw5d3B5
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/WCWhFhbnggaSFKPS/

Thank you for taking the time to read this. Good night. I am going to go and dream about more kids from Bastar successfully navigating CLAT and thriving in law schools.

May the soft whispers of the winds in our jungles carry the warmth and beauty of Bastar to you.

Pallavi Gauri Dehari 

Public Policy in Action Fellow-Bastar District

Transforming Rural India Foundation

Creative Facilitator | Non-Lawyerly Lawyer 

(+91-8374522241)