Editor Aparigraha Jain
Editor Carla Geerdes
| | Our first encounter with Prof. Talesra was in the computer department of JVBI where we went to check emails. A very kind lady was working busily in front of the screen. When we entered, she looked up, gave a warm smile and welcomed us. We introduced ourselves and so did she. Already eager to know her because we had seen her name on a poster announcing her book ‘Educational Management - Innovative Global Patterns’, we were happy to meet her personally. Then she invited us to her home on the campus of Jain Vishva Bharati. When we entered the house, a heartily laughing little girl came out, and Prof. Talesra explained that the neighbour’s daughter enjoyed too much joking with her after work. |
 | Before we started talking together, Mrs. Sayar Benjani, senior vice-president of JVB Ladnun’s women’s wing, entered to remind prof. Talesra of the evening meeting at the house of one of the women. They all use to dine together once a week, mutually hosting each other. JVB Ladnun’s women’s wing is one of the sponsors of JVBI’s women’s education program. Prof. Talesra lays special stress on women’s education because their backwardness is - according to her, in concordance with the scientific community all over the world - one of the main factors having social relevance for sustained development. When we had tea together, our attention was attracted by a photo in the room, showing prof. Talesra being awarded with the Peace Education Reward. |
 | Then she showed us a choice of her more than 20 books in different languages, and was happy to announce those in the press, ‘Cultural Heritage And Educational Initiatives’, ‘Management Of Educational Researches’. Web-based Learning (no wonder that we met her first in the computer section of JVBI), and ‘Development of Citizenship Habits Among Indigenous People’ are two of her internationally well received books. Then she told us how it came that she is working for JVBI since six years. Acharya Tulsi’s dream to make education possible for rural Rajasthani women was shared by her. So she started as visiting professor at JVBI already when she was still head of Udaipur Institute of Advanced Education. Now she is managing all educational administration work and all kind of related formalities at JVBI. |
 | A new project, concerned with teacher training for girls will start in July 2005. It is an outcome of the educational work especially in favour of village girls in the past 7 years. In several villages ‘Acharya Tulsi Shiksha Pariyoga’ centres (schools for alphabetising villagers) had been established with the support of communal administration. The mayors gave the buildings for the centres, and JVBI was running the schools. During the teaching experience it turned out that women’s education met with many difficulties, resulting from the traditional understanding of women’s role in society. |
| | The plan to educate women from childhood on came into being. Special efforts were made to inspire girls not only to learn how to read and write, but to aim at formation for extension of the family budget. A lot of conviction work had to be done, for the girls, as well as their families, had to be convinced of sense and realisability of this possibility strongly promoted by their mothers. We had met many women in India, being very aware of their backwardness and the resulting hardships there from, opening out their support for daughters or daughters-in-law. Once the realisation of girl’s education was started, they turned out to be highly motivated, but were not able to follow a rigid time schedule in the beginning. So it was clear that a flexible system, different from formal schools should be applied. Program and timing were not fixed, but followed an open system according to the necessities of the girls and their families. |
 | After basic education, the opportunity to continue at JVBI’s college was given to the girls. After college, the girls now may start for B.A. Study is free for them, JVB Ladnun’s women’s wing, Mahila Mandal, is donating the fees. As an example for the girls’ and women’s attitude towards learning, prof. Talesra described the case of a newly married young woman, being about to complete college. In spite of her pregnancy, she had passed nearly all exams, except for the ultimate one. The fixed day she was not able to come, for she then gave birth to her baby. But a relative was sent to inform the examination board. A new date was fixed only three weeks later. Prof. Talesra was worrying a lot, for she supposed the young woman not being able to finish college due to her new circumstances of life. But alas! the fixed day three people appeared, the young mother, her baby and a relative to take care of the baby when the mother was completing her exam! Asked by prof. Talesra for the details, the young woman replied that due to even these new circumstances of life, she feels extremely motivated to continue her own formation because she wants her daughter to follow her example. |
