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STORY - FROM THE INDIA-PHILES - "Let India do some of the work"
By Tracey Edstein, Editor of Aurora
This injunction, given to a would-be traveller overwhelmed with itineraries, lists of requirements and other logistics, proved prophetic for the ten participants in the Study Tour led by Director of Schools and self-confessed India-phile Wayne Tinsey in September-October.
Since arriving in the diocese early in 2004, Wayne had been keen to share with colleagues, principally teachers in schools, his ongoing love affair with the sub-continent. “I owe India so much. India led me to become a teacher, because it showed me the difference education could make. India led me to travel farther, to South America, where I met my Peruvian wife Lita.”
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A distinguishing feature of Wayne’s ninth visit to India was the fact that each member of the group viewed the experience through the lens of education. While it is impossible not to see the evidence of poverty at every turn, even while visiting the splendour of the Taj Mahal, a teacher can also see the way forward. Although the classroom may be small, crowded and lacking in resources by Western standards, it is that doorway, more directly than any other, that leads to a future filled with hope.
While plans for the Study Tour were taking shape, Wayne said, “The diocese is committed to making social justice education a priority. India offers an excellent opportunity to pursue issues of globalisation, equity, human rights and development. It also allows visitors to consider these themes in both a multicultural and an interfaith context.”
One of the strongest impacts on the ten travellers from Maitland-Newcastle, eight of whom had not visited India before, was the pervasive role of religion in society. An Australian textbook might well consider “culture” in one chapter and “religion” in another; in India, the two are inextricably linked. The simplest evidence of this is the expression Namaste, accompanied by a bow with hands joined for prayer, which means, “I bow to the God who dwells in you.” This gesture is just as appropriate in a silk emporium or restaurant as it is in a school or temple.
The various traditions followed in India, notably Hinduism and Buddhism, but also Jainism, Sikhism and others, are constantly “in your face”. Only 2% of India’s population is Christian, although Christianity in India originates with the tradition that the apostle Thomas preached there. In fact, one scholar has made a case for Jesus himself visiting India before the resurrection. Although this is somewhat unorthodox, it makes good train reading!
While neither words nor pictures can capture it all, the following stories offer a glimpse of a journey that promises to have significant repercussions for our diocese.
FROM THE INDIA-PHILES:
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