I Wish... A session by Seema Didi - Class IV

In a session with Class IV, Seema Didi, our Primary School Head, took forward the Shabd Manch experience of wide exposure to books and their authors with a dramatised reading from one of their favourite books ‘I Wish / 'मेरी आरज़ू'.

The interaction began with a discussion on how it is natural for us to wish. Children often dream of different things that they are fond of or imagine experiencing, sometimes with words and sometimes with pictures. When pictures and words come together with dreams, they can turn into wishes. The book is a collection of these wishes and emotions sent to the author by children of schools from different states across India.

Seema Didi narrated the book to the accompaniment of music along with creative movements from Didis and Bhaiyas. As she shared each wish, Didis quickly changed into regional costumes representing the state from which the message to the author was sent and dramatically re-enacted the wish. The energetic story portrayal created a vibrant space that celebrated the cultural diversity and traditions of India and its regions.

Some wishes were simple and innocent - “I wish to sit among flowers in a garden. Or visit a library.” Others were deeper - “No one should stop me from learning”, “I wish women the freedom to go anywhere in the world.” These wishes are often effective as they spur adults on to make the world a better place for their children. The wishes led to children sharing their own related experiences and reflecting on how they felt when they could not get what they wished for.

Seema Didi touched upon the importance of setting a goal to work towards one’s wishes and turning them into reality. When our wishes come true, she suggested that we should remain thankful and that we have a responsibility to be mindful to utilise them to the fullest in working towards our goals.