Dear Jeyamohan Sir,
Hope you are doing well.
My daughter and I have just returned from the birdwatching programme, and I wanted to write to you while the experience is still fresh with us. It was truly a wonderful and memorable experience.
It was one of those rare programmes that felt scholarly, enriching, and deeply meditative at the same time. The way Vijay began by referring to Peter Matthiessen’s thought — “To know one living being completely is to know the entire universe” — immediately set the tone. It was clear from the start that this was not just about birdwatching, but something much deeper.
As parents, we always hope to cultivate a scientific temper in our children, but outside the school system, such avenues are very limited and one really has to search for them. In that sense, this feels like a very important cultural initiative for young, growing minds.
What we especially loved was how the entire session seamlessly blended hands-on learning with thoughtful classroom discussions.
There were so many beautiful moments. One that stayed with us was an evening walk where Eswar sir and Vijay sir asked the children to sit quietly for nearly 20 minutes, simply observing and listening to the sounds while overlooking a slope. Opportunities like this are rare.
Outside school, it’s not often that children hear names like Darwin and Wallace, and even more rare is the way their relationship marked by generosity and deep scientific respect was explained to us.
My daughter absolutely loved it when Vijay sir narrated the Visumbu story. In fact, the next day she was asking why there wasn’t another story session
Another thing we really appreciated was how the programme opened doors to new personalities and books. Through this, we got to know about K. A. Rathnam, Guha’s writings on nature, Tim Birkhead’s book on birds, and The book Life of Robbins. These introductions are very important for kids to shape their curiosity.
The way the programme concluded by remembering M. Krishnan his life as a naturalist and photographer was very moving. Walking us through his life and ending with photographs from different stages of his journey was deeply emotional. These are personalities we rarely get to hear in our everyday lives, and it is so important that children are introduced to them early on.
On our way back, my daughter was asking many questions about Salim Ali. That, for me, was the biggest takeaway that went far beyond learning about birds; it sparked genuine curiosity about people, ideas, and the natural world.
My heartfelt thanks to Vijay sir, Eswar sir, and everyone behind organizing this programme. I truly believe this place will grow into a meaningful cultural centre for learning and development in the years to come.
I am very much looking forward to enrolling my children in the next Thavaraviyal Vaguppu
Regards,
Sivakumar
