Sharing Thapati Chintapatla's summer interniship experiences at Jeeyar Guruklam Allampalli and Nethra Vidyalaya in Telangana, India
There are some moments in life when you feel like you have been changed forever, and my internship to Allampalli was just that. Nestled in the heart of a tiger reserve forest, Jeeyar Gurukulam Allampalli in Telangana, India is a light that provides education to hundreds of tribal children, enabling them to pursue their dreams.
Before going on the internship, I was nervous and didn’t know what to expect, as is the average emotion of an intern before arriving at Allampalli. However, when I stepped down from the bus, I was greeted with a hug from Santharam Swamiji and drum beats from the children who were lined up, hands folded and faces shining. My nervousness disappeared, instead replaced with excitement and anticipation for the days to come.
The first morning, we woke up at 5am for yoga. I watched the students each master a unique yoga pose in wonder and awe.
I taught Carnatic music and violin to the students, and was unsure of how they would grasp the concepts as both are very nuanced and difficult art forms. We started with the basics and in a flash, the kids were singing in tune with each other! They keenly listened to every correction I gave them, even skipping the break to continue learning!
From this, I myself learned how much I am taking advantage of my gurus and the numerous resources I have at my disposal. After lunch, more students came flooding into the library where I was holding classes, hearing from their friends how fun it was and came in eager to sing! When I taught Carnatic violin, students asked to stay back after school and even gave up parts of their study time to come and learn. Although the other students were playing cricket and volleyball outside during the break, these dedicated learners stayed inside on the floor of the library, their eyes focused solely on the instrument in front of them.
One of the highlights of the internship was visiting the Thandas, or the villages surrounding Allampalli.
We sat in the newly inaugurated temple of one of the villages, and chanted the Hanuman chalisa. As we chanted, students flooded into the temple in their traditional attire and sat down, devotion filling their eyes. During the evening Vishnu Sahasranama Parayanam, the same devotion was evident and the children were so eager to come up to the front and chant in the mic. The level of passion, devotion, and dedication that these students have is unmatched, and there is an ocean of qualities that we can learn from them. But something stumped me. How were they so happy? They didn’t have even the slightest of luxuries that we enjoy. It was then that I realized true happiness doesn’t come from luxury, but from a heart full of gratitude, a mind eager to learn, and the courage to embrace every opportunity with purpose and passion.
One student, Shashi Vardhan (10th class), said he wanted to be an RMO. Another student, Lavanya (9th class), said she wants to be an IPS officer. Yet another 4th class girl said she wanted to be an IAS officer. The dreams that these students have, IPS, IAS, doctor, teacher, are all unique to their own talents and aspirations, reflect their determination to rise above their circumstances and make a meaningful impact on the world.
Soon, the children of Allampalli became my friends. We would gather on the ground after school and play volleyball, or sit on the steps of the terrace and tell stories. We shared inside jokes, nicknames, selfies, and drawings. We braided each other’s hair, and I even taught the 10th class some math tricks! When we were running through the rain to get to the hostel, I then realized the true happiness that these children experience every day.
For me, the main highlight of the internship was when we celebrated my birthday in Allampalli. When Santharam Swamiji announced that it was my (nakshatra) birthday, the whole school sang happy birthday and clapped. The overwhelming feeling of gratitude and happiness I experienced throughout that day, handing chocolates to the kids and hearing the occasional “happy birthday sister!” in the hallways, is one that I will never forget.
On the last day of our visit in Allampalli, there was a farewell event held for the interns. In this event, the students sang “Narayanathe Namo Namo,” the krithi that I taught them over the past 4 days. The overwhelming joy that I felt hearing them sing with passion was a feeling that I had never felt before. This was that moment where my outlook on life changed completely. I realized the true power behind what we have, which is an education. If, in the middle of a tiger reserve, these children were able to do so much, then what can we truly do as students of top high schools in the United States?
I saw similar things in Nethra Vidyalaya, the school for the blind, where we were warmly welcomed. A couple of students sang some songs for us, and one even qualified for Padutha Theeyaga! They never let their inhibitions stop them from reaching the stars. Seeing the amazing accomplishments and strides that these talented learners are making made me more and more inspired to do the same.
In the last few days, we were given the amazing opportunity to volunteer at the JIMS Ayurvedic Hospital. Observing the difference in medical treatment and care given in such an environment was astounding, especially listening to how attentive and compassionate the doctors were with each patient. I was able to shadow an OB/GYN for a few hours and learned so much more about how not to just treat the disease, but to be able to treat the patient as a whole. As someone aspiring to enter the medical field, this component of the experience was eye-opening and truly changed my perspective.
We concluded the internship with receiving certificates from Swamiji, and blessings. I owe my utmost gratitude to Swamiji for instituting the tribal schools and the internship, so more and more students like me can see the struggles of students our age in other parts of the world. There are many words I can use to describe my experience, but one in particular stood out to me: transformative. This internship has been life-changing and taught me the value of the life that we live right now. From the early morning yoga to the evening parayanams, the students of Allampalli and Nethra Vidyalaya taught me that true fulfillment lies not in what we have, but in how we embrace life’s opportunities with purpose, passion, and a heart eager to learn.
There are many words I can use to describe my experience, but one in particular stood out to me: transformative. This internship has been life-changing and taught me the value of the life that we live right now. From the early morning yoga to the evening parayanams, the students of Allampalli and Nethra Vidyalaya taught me that true fulfillment lies not in what we have, but in how we embrace life’s opportunities with purpose, passion, and a heart eager to learn.
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