Blog 35 Visiting APSA
Bang Bang Galore!
A Filmmaker’s BLOGELLA
Written by Steve Rosenberg
I travel alone on an autorickshaw to APSA. Although, geographically, it is close to the main hub of the international airport, it feels like I have arrived in a rural enclave. It is difficult for the cab driver to find this place and we are forced to ask directions from the Muslim shop owners after every few turns down another galley. This government sponsored school of three hundred children is comprised of a few story buildings that are separated by open meadow inhabited by a group of urban refugees who live in tents and sort through the city’s garbage.
Mr. Laksha Pati, the headmaster is a balding, good- natured fellow. He is overbooked and fighting the clock, but he agrees to answer a few questions as we stroll across the dirt meadow that leads to his office. “How was your trip to Tamil Nadu?” he asks. “Not that great!” I admit. We didn’t manage to see that many child workers.” Nagaraj told him the same thing. His intrusive cell phone punctuates most of our discussion, but like most people I’ve met here, he rarely gets flustered. “I was surprised you didn’t choose to focus on our school.”
It was Nagaraj and his pamphlet that drew me to Born Free. Nagaraj spent one year in The Born Free Art School, but eventually transitioned to APSA to continue his formal education. In chatting with Mr. Pati, I sense there is mild tension between the directors of both schools. On our trip, I recall John lamenting how much Nagaraj had changed. “He’s lost his fire since he’s been with APSA.” That comment came at the start of our trip. It was only a matter of days before he resumed his extroverted ways.
“ What do you think of John Deveraj’s Born Free Art School?” It was a bold question that should never have been asked without the camera rolling. He starts gently by reminding me that John does his best with a limited budget, but it is obvious he sees John as a maverick creating false expectations for his students. “Why force a child to explore art, when there are so many other things in the world that also need attention. John does not ask the child if he wants to be an artist. He became an artist, so he assumes, all of his students should aspire to pursue the same goal.”
Mr. Pati finally articulated many of my concerns in a very cogent manner. “Mr. Pati, I know you are running late, but can we continue this conversation again when I have my camera rolling?” He smiles thoughtfully “yes, maybe in a couple of weeks.” Yes, in a couple of weeks! How many times have I heard that line before?
