For Mother’s Day 2019, we bring you the inspirational story of Durgesh Nandhini, a 33-year old mother of two, is breaking the stereotypes of conventional schooling as she travel-schools her two daughters, 5-year old Thanvi Sarkar and 2-year old Tamaraa Sarkaar.
According to her people form the crux of life, thus she looks for people, to learn from their experiences and stories.
It wasn’t an easy decision for her to take. Before deciding her course of action, Durgesh did her research for three years. She got in touch with educationalists, parents who have homeschooled their kids, and attended seminars and conferences in Bengaluru before coming to a decision.
She realised that Bengaluru as a city wasn’t as dynamic to learn from and thus moved to Chennai.
Ever since then, the mother-daughter trio has been travelling everyday. On days when they do not have elaborate travel plans to far off destinations, they take a stroll within their neighborhood.
So far they have traveled across the state together and have witnessed a lot of learning experiences. They have camped under the stars at an alternative school by the Jawadhu Hills, taken the Metrorail in Chennai, took a ride in a bullock cart to a cattle market in Antiyur, learnt to appreciate art at the Cholamandal Artists Village on the east coast road.
Even the birth of her second daughter involved an adventure of its own. Durgesh travelled to the Birth Village in Kochi with her family for the delivery. She stayed there in Kerela for one and a half months before and after the delivery.
Her younger daugher Tamaraa, has been travelling since she was 2 months old.
Living on the road with two children cannot be easy. But Durgesh has figured out that the secret lies in travelling light. She only carries a backpack with the essentials like a water bottle, an umbrella, a wallet, plates, reusable straws, a change of clothes for the girls, and fruits.
They eat raw fruits and vegetables but often take a bite from something from the market.
For Durgesh, the purpose of travel-schooling her kids is not simply going to places and seeing them. She allows her daughters to observe, wonder, and ask questions.