The Bhavya concept has been in existence for some time – since 1991 actually. Sita Nayar had then started a preschool program for one of the existing schools in Kochi. I discovered this place in 1993 when we were transferred to Kochi and were looking for a learning environment for our child (who was three and a half, then) where he would be respected for what he was. We wanted an environment which would not try to ‘school’ his thought processes and responses. As I entered the building where this program was being run, I remember thinking that here is a place where my child can grow freely in accordance with his nature.

By the time I joined Sita, the management of the school wanted her to bring about some changes in the program that she felt will be detrimental to the program. She tried to talk to the management. But they would not be convinced. So she decided it was best to leave. But the parents of the children who were in this program had seen their children growing beautifully and wouldn’t let her go. Finally, with the help of these parents, in June 1994, Bhavya had started to function as an independent unit. At that time we were six adults and sixteen children. (The number grew to 32 eventually). Unfortunately, the adults on staff began to leave one by one, as their spouses were transferred out of Kochi. I was there till 1997 when we, too, were transferred to Assam.

After that, Sita continued with Bhavya till April 1998. She found it extremely difficult, however, to find people who could truly understand the work Bhavya was trying to do. Added to this was the problem of financing the setup.

My husband and I, having seen our children grow beautifully at Bhavya, couldn’t send them to a traditional school in Assam as we felt it will be like caging their free souls and stifling their development. From 1997 to 2001, during our stay in Assam, we all decided to explore the possibilities of learning together without going to any school. And the purpose was not to do at home what is generally done in the schools. The very clear purpose was to let them blossom and discover life.

During this time, Sita, from 1998 to 2001, tried to generate enough financial and human support to start Bhavya on its own in Bangalore or Chennai as she felt she would find people in these cities who would understand the Bhavya concept better. But nothing materialized at that time. During this time, she worked as a consultant with schools, of which the TVS schools at Aviyur, Tumkur and Hosur were some. In June 2002, she joined Poorna to set up a program for younger children from the age of 3 years to 9 years.

In the meantime, in 2001, we got transferred to Delhi. By then our older son wanted to learn with other children. Thus both our children (at the age of 11 and 6 and a half) joined Mirambika, an alternative school in Delhi. Mirambika went as far as class VIII only. In 2004, when our older son completed his eighth class, we decided to move to Bangalore. At that time we were faced with two options. We could either stay on at Delhi, sending our older child to a traditional school while we home-schooled the younger one, or we could move to Bangalore where we believed that we might have a better chance to provide for our children the kind of learning/growing experience which we desired. We opted for the latter. Both of them joined Poorna in June 2004.

As a result of major differences in the working philosophies, it was decided that it was best for Poorna and Bhavya to separate and function as independent entities so that each organization could freely take its program through to its perceived conclusion without either one hampering the other’s growth.

In April 2005, I joined Sita in setting up Bhavya. Bhavya once again enjoys an independent existence. Now three of us, my two sons and I, go to Bhavya. My older son (fifteen and a half) is preparing for his tenth class exams with help from Bhavya. He will take his NIOS examination in April 2006.

Presently, Bhavya is located in Kodigehalli. We are five of us: Sita, Mamata K., Mamata S., Selena and I. We have nineteen children now, sixteen of whom have been with the Bhavya program for two to three years. Our aim is to have at least thirty children by the end of this academic session. We are also looking for like-minded people who, if interested, can become a part of Bhavya as a parent or as a supporting adult. Even if they don’t want to become a part of Bhavya, it will be very empowering to keep in touch with like-minded people.

- written by Vineeta