Archive for March, 2009

Cartoon Comic Strips by Children: Series 17

Monday, March 30th, 2009

The cartoon strip highlights the narrow thinking and close mindedness of the Indian society when it comes to interaction between the genders.  A girl is beaten up by her teacher when he catches her talking to a boy. The girl complains to her mother about the teacher’s behaviour. The mother goes to the girl’s school and makes the teacher see reason. She explains to him that just like his talking to a female teacher is not wrong similarly the little girl’s talking to her male classmates is equally harmless.

The cartoon strip makes a case for female emancipation in a society where women venturing out of the house are looked down upon. A girl is refused to go to a picnic in town on account of her being a girl. At that moment the village chief arrives and allows the girl to go to the town. He explains to her parents that there’s nothing wrong in a girl going out to enjoy herself.

A very bright girl is forced to leave school owing to her parent’s dwindling financial resources. One of her teachers comes forth to help the girl continue her education by providing her monetary help. The girl grows up and become a successful lawyer. She thanks her teacher for supporting her and credits him for her success.

A student is severely beaten up by his teacher when he fails to answer the question asked by the teacher correctly. The student complains to the school authorities. As a result, the errant teacher is brought to the task by the authorities. The teacher realises his mistake and vows never to beat up children again.

The cartoon highlights the shameful crime of sexual abuse in schools and its traumatic effect on the victim. A girl is molested by her teacher in the school. She feels quite traumatized but due to her mortification doesn’t tell her parents anything about the incident. The next day when her mother asks her to go to the school she refuses on the pretext of illness.

You can click on the images to view them in their original sizes in a separate window.

Please note these cartoon strips by children are based on what they see in their schools and not actual happenings. Also, the name of the children who have created the strips have been omitted to protect their identities.

Cartoon Comic Strips by Children: Series 16

Friday, March 27th, 2009

This comic strip highlights the blatant discrimination that the girl child faces in Indian society.  A boy asks his father for money to go for a picnic in Mumbai. The father happily gives him the money but when his daughter asks him for money for shopping, he out rightly refuse and asks her to quietly go in and do the household chores.

This cartoon strip brings to light how boys are privileged over girls in Indian households.
A boy comes home after playing with his friends. His mother offers him milk to overcome his fatigue. But when the girl asks for milk after finishing the household chores, she refuses. The girl feels neglected and rues the discrimination that the girl child has to face at their homes.

This comic strip highlights a girl’s strong will and her efforts to educate herself. The girl is refused to attend school by her mother as she wants her to help her with the household chores. However, the girl doesn’t lose heart and decides to squeeze time out from household chores and attend school regularly.

This comic strip gives out the positive message of how hard work brings rich rewards. A boy steals his classmate’s geometry box.  He complains to his parents and the boy is beaten up by his father.  However, his teacher calls the boy and explains to him the importance of hard work. He promises the boy that if he would stand first in the class he’ll reward him with a geometry box. Encouraged by teacher’s kind words, the boy works hard and tops his class and gets rewarded with the promised geometry box.

The comic strip highlights how domestic violence can spoil a child’s life and scar her forever. A girl is caught talking in the class by her teacher. The teacher in her anger thrashes her so severely that the girl loses her hand forever. When the teacher comes to know about the girl’s predicament she realizes her mistake and feels sad for the girl.

Please note these cartoon strips by children are based on what they see in their schools and not actual happenings. Also, the name of the children who have created the strips have been omitted to protect their identities.

Cartoon Comic Strips by Children: Series 15

Wednesday, March 25th, 2009

A boy asks his friend why his sister doesn’t go to school. The friend replies that she can’t because she has to do household chores. The boy advises his friend to send his younger sister to school as his elder sister also goes to college regularly. The friend takes his advice and requests his parents to send his sister to school with him. The parents agree and from then onwards his sister starts going to school regularly.

Tarun goes out to get chalk for the teacher’s conveniences before he arrives in the class but is beaten up by the teacher for getting the chalks without his permission. Tarun complains to the headmaster who reprimands the teacher for his misconduct. The teacher realizes his mistake and asks for Tarun’s forgiveness.

A boy reaches school late and is severely punished by the teacher. He is made to clean the school, stand in the sun and beaten up with a stick for his non-punctuality. The boy feels sad and vows to reach school on time.

A girl gets late for school due to household chores and requests a friend to drop her to school on his bicycle. Her brother’s friend sees this and complains to her father. On returning home she is badly scolded by her father for going with a boy and her studies are discontinued.

A newly appointed teacher drinks in the class and neglects his duty as a teacher. One day he gives his students some problems to solve at home which none of them succeed in solving as they had not been taught anything by the teacher. The teacher gets angry and beats up the students severely. The students complain to the principal who reprimands the errant teacher. The teacher realizes his mistake and vows to mend his ways.

Please note these cartoon strips by children are based on what they see in their schools and not actual happenings. Also, the name of the children who have created the strips have been omitted to protect their identities.

Cartoon Comic Strips By Children: Series 15

Wednesday, March 25th, 2009

A boy asks his friend why his sister doesn’t go to school. The friend replies that she can’t because she has to do household chores. The boy advise his friend to send his younger sister to school as his elder sister also goes to college regularly. The friend takes his advise and requests his parents to send his sister to school with him. The parents agree and from then onwards his sister starts going to school regularly.

esai-mili-barabri1

Tarun goes out to get chalk for the teacher’s convinience before he arrives in the class but is beaten up by the teacher for getting the chalks without his permission. Tarun complains to the headmaster who reprimands the teacher for his misconduct. The teacher realizes his mistake and asks for Tarun’s forgiveness.

galatfahymi

A boy reaches school late and is severely punished by the teacher. He is made to clean the school, stand in the sun and beaten up with a stick for his non-punctuality. The boy feels sad and vows to reach school on time.

dari-ka-sabak

A girl gets late for school due to household chores and requests a friend to drop her to school on his bicycle. Her brother’s friend sees this and complains to her father. On returning home she is badly scolded by her father for going with a boy and her studies are discontinued.

galat-nazar

A newly appointed teacher drinks in the class and neglects his duty as a teacher. One day he gives his students some problems to solve at home which none of them succeed in solving as they had not been taught anything by the teacher. The teacher gets angry and beats up the students severely. The students complain to the principal who reprimands the errant teacher. The teacher realizes his mistake and vows to mend his ways.

darudiya-ro-pachtavo1

You can click on the images to view them in their original sizes in a separate window.

Please note these cartoon strips by children are based on what they see in their schools and not actual happenings. Also, the name of the children who have created the strips have been omitted to protect their identities

Cartoon Comic Strips by Children: Series 14

Tuesday, March 24th, 2009

The comic strips encourage girls to raise their voices against discrimination. A girl’s studies are discontinued by her parents after she finishes seventh class. Her parents see the meager education sufficient for a girl and she is asked to give out a helping hand in the household chores. However, the girl refuses to meekly submit in the face of this injustice and decides to protest against it.

The following comic strip highlights the all pervasive issue of gender discrimination in India. A farmer whole heartedly supports his son’s decision to join a computer course while discourages his daughter to join an embroidery course on account of her being a girl. According to the farmer it’s worthwhile to invest in his son’s educational betterment as he would support the family when he grows up while a girl has to ultimately settle down with her in-laws family.

This Comic strip again highlights the issue of gender discrimination prevalent in Indian households. A man encourages his son to go to Lucknow in search of a good job while sees household chores as the only job fit for her daughter. The daughter protests against her father’s discriminatory attitude and is badly snubbed by her father.

The following comic strip appeals for equal opportunities for the girl and the boy child. A man offers his thanks to God because he “blessed” him with a boy after two girls to support his household. On hearing this his daughter protests against her father’s attitude. She tells him that a girl, given an opportunity is equally capable of supporting her family. The father realises his mistake and vows never to discriminate among his children.

The comic strip shows how gender discrimination can be eradicated with education. A boy learns about the ill effects of gender discrimination at school. When he comes home he tells his parents about the need to educate the girl child and convinces them to send his sister to school with him.

Please note these cartoon strips by children are based on what they see in their schools and not actual happenings. Also, the name of the children who have created the strips have been omitted to protect their identities.

Cartoon Comic Strips by Children: Series 13

Monday, March 23rd, 2009

This cartoon strip addresses the issue of gender equality. It depicts a family where the father blessed with daughters grieves for a son who can carry forward the family lineage. But, with time when the daughter grows up and becomes a doctor, the father realizes his mistake and agrees that daughters can be an asset to the family and carry ahead the lineage with equal pride.

This cartoon strip brings to light the helplessness of a poor boy in getting proper education. Here a boy from a poor family craves to study but his name gets struck of the register as he is unable to pay the fees, his pleas for extending the date for fee submission fall on deaf ears.

This cartoon strips addresses the twin evil of school drop out and sexual abuse in schools. The cartoon strip shows a teacher abusing a girl, when the girl along with her friends protest the treatment meted out to them the teacher beats them up. This leads to a tragic end where the girls drop out from school.

This cartoon strip addresses the issue of gender discrimination. It depicts a family where the boy is obviously pampered over the girl child. When the girl questions, a flimsy explanation about girls having to learn living and serving her in-laws post marriage is meted out.

This cartoon strip addresses the problem of gender discrimination and bullying. Here a brother slaps his sister for talking to a boy. When she questions him about the reason he replies that it was wrong because she is a girl and girls should not talk to boys.

Please note these cartoon strips by children are based on what they see in their schools and not actual happenings. Also, the name of the children who have created the strips have been omitted to protect their identities.

Cartoon Comic Strips by Children: Series 12

Friday, March 20th, 2009

This cartoon strips addresses the issue of gender discrimination as an impediment to women empowerment. Here the in-laws grudgingly let their daughter-in-law to work outside home. But when she uses up a part of her salary they abuse her and plan to stop her from working. She is left in a pathetic condition as she is unable to reason out with her in-laws.

This Cartoon strip makes a case against gender discrimination. Here a mother asks the daughter to quit school and learn household chores as it would help her in the future, while asking the son to study. Seeing this father asks the mother not to discriminate, thereby changing the narrow views of the mother. The daughter expresses joy over her father’s views.

This cartoon strip addresses the issue of gender discrimination is schools along with corporal punishment. Depicted here is a classroom where the teacher asks a question and when the students are unable to answer, the boy gets punished while the girl is let off the hook.

The cartoon strip emphasizes on the need to change the age old social beliefs. Narrated here is a story of two girls who loose their father, but are not allowed to perform the last rites as they are not boys.

This cartoon strip showcases an ideal teacher. It depicts a happy classroom where the students freely and fearlessly ask their queries and questions creating a healthy environment that boosts learning.

Please note these cartoon strips by children are based on what they see in their schools and not actual happenings. Also, the name of the children who have created the strips have been omitted to protect their identities.

Violence Free School is Every Child’s Right!

Thursday, March 19th, 2009

The video was shot as a part of the school contact programme under the Learn Without Fear campaign. The program is unique as it creates a platform where children freely express their thoughts about school to their teachers and school authorities.

Under the program children staged plays and shared the experiences they had undergone in school environs.Children raised their voices to advocate for their rights against corporal punishment, sexual violence and bullying.

This video highlights some of the key issues raised by the children.

Please note this is a drama enacted by the children based on what they see in their schools and not a recording of actual happenings. Also, the name of the children involved in shooting the video or in the video have been omitted to protect their identities.

Cartoon Comic Strips by Children: Series 11

Wednesday, March 18th, 2009

The cartoon strip pleads the case of equal opportunities for the girl and boy child. Given an opportunity a girl child can do as well for herself and support her family as a boy child. A girl seeks permission from her father to allow her to work in a different town where she’s getting a good job. However, her father refuses on the plea that her brother being a boy can work out of town but not her. On girl’s insistence the father agrees and allows her to leave. After three months the girl gets promoted and starts earning very well. She uses the money to support her family.

The cartoon strip points towards the need for the parents to deal with their children with love and patience. Raju’s studies are discontinued by his father after he fails in his class. Despite, Raju’s repeated pleas his father refuse to give him another chance at improving his results and insists on his working to earn his livelihood. Due to working at an impressionable age, Raju falls into bad company and acquires bad habits. When his father scolds him for his habits he misbehaves with him and asks him to leave the house.

A farmer sends his sons to school but doesn’t allow her daughter the same privilege. He even doesn’t like his wife addressing him as Rekha’s (daughter’s name) father. Seeing his attitude his friend tries to make him see reason and tells him that by his logic he should be embarrassed to call out his wife’s name as well. The farmer refuses to give in and retorts that investing in a girl child’s education is worthless as she would ultimately have to leave the house to settle with her in-laws after marriage. Hearing her father’s views his daughter, Rekha, feels hurt and rues the discrimination that a girl child faces in the Indian Society.

The cartoon strip highlights the features of a model school. These include- clean school premises, a school which offers good facilities for extra curricular activities and where teachers are patient with the students and teach them with love and affection.

Two boys cut classes everyday to have a good time at the railway station. One day a friend of their father spots them at the railway station during school hours and complains to him. The father punishes them. The boys realise their mistake and vow never to bunk classes again.

Please note these cartoon strips by children are based on what they see in their schools and not actual happenings. Also, the name of the children who have created the strips have been omitted to protect their identities.

Cartoon Comic Strips by Children: Series 10

Friday, March 13th, 2009

The comic strip offers solutions to encourage the education of the girl child. The Villagers of Trilokpuri refuse to send their daughters to school. They perceive women fit for household chores only so investing in their education is considered futile by them. When the villagers hear about the government’s free education scheme for the girl child they enthusiastically send their daughters to school. Consequently, the number of girl students in the school exceeds the number of boy students.

Reshma, a college student’s teacher makes advances at her. She culls up courage and boldly slaps him hard. The teacher threatens to strike off her name from the school but Reshma refuses to give in and threatens to beat him up with a stick. The next day the guilty teacher runs away in terror at the sight of Reshma.

The comic strip highlights the gender discrimination which pervades in the Indian society. In Indian households, while special attention and resources are spent on the education and bringing up of the boy child, the girl child is grossly neglected. She is seen to be fit for household activities only.

Soni and Moni’s school is in a dilapidated state. The roof requires repair and during monsoons it starts leaking due to which the classes are disrupted. Despite repeated complaints the government doesn’t take any action to improve the condition of the school. The students question the apathy shown by the government towards the issue.

This comic strip again brings forth the issue of gender discrimination in India. The father allows his son to go to school while his daughter is left to do household chores. Seeing the father’s injustice to his sister, the son educates his father o how women’s role is not just limited to household activities but should be educated so that they could procure jobs for themselves and live independently.

Please note these cartoon strips by children are based on what they see in their schools and not actual happenings. Also, the name of the children who have created the strips have been omitted to protect their identities.