On 18th April, 2018, a four-member SEL team (Dr. Vishnu K. Singh, Ajeet Chowdhary, Sapana Kashyap and Amartya) proceeded to Baluwakot near Jauljibi, Pithoragarh to provide support to Principal Investigators Prof. Kavita Rastogi and Ms. Madri Kakoti for their Foundation for Endangered Languages (FEL) funded project titled ‘Revitalising Raji: A workshop series to reintroduce script and encourage its usage’.

Objective of the Project

• To encourage Raji child to use the earlier developed script and
• To motivate Raji women to make their traditional jewellery

Workshop 1

The team members helped the PIs in organising the workshops. The first workshop was held at Rajakiya Ashram Paddhati Uchchatar Madhyamik Vidyalaya, Baluwakot in which 19 students took part. Over a period of 4 days (19th– 22nd April), students played games which were especially designed by the PIs to encourage the usage of script and writing practise.

After the workshop wooden plaques were provided to the students to prepare ‘name plates’ for their homes to further the goal. The children designed their name-plates as per their wishes and painted them. On the final day, SEL team members visited their hamlet with a few students to hang the ‘name plates’ in front of their homes. Some gifts like drawing books, pencils and toffees were also distributed among the Raji children by the SEL team.

Workshop 2

The second workshop started on 23rd and the team had a tough time convincing Raji women to participate in this Jewellery-making workshop. After a lot of cajoling, two elderly Raji ladies agreed to teach others the method and process of preparing ‘gilke’ i.e. a necklace. Slowly a few young Raji ladies got interested and crafted a beautiful ‘gilke’ and three hand bracelets.

Yoga Camp

During their stay the team also organised a Yoga camp for the students of Rajakiya Ashram Paddhati Uchchatar Madhyamik Vidyalaya, Baluwakot on the request of the principal, Mr. Garsaari ji. This fruitful field visit ended on 25th April 2018.