A diversion on the highway took us to Ujwa on the Delhi-Haryana border. The bumpy drive through dusty winding roads was compensated by the sight of unending rows of mustard flowers dancing merrily in the cool winter breeze. The school is just another senior secondary school, with faded walls, shaky desks, dusty corridors, notice boards, painted chalk and some cups and trophies won by the school teams. There is always a shortage of classrooms, you are told, so classes are sometimes held under a tent or even in the open. Nonetheless, the children are enthusiastic. As the teachers and class captains get them organized to sit on the ground and “quietly watch the programme”, Naina of the India International Rural Cultural Centre (IRCEN) introduces the artiste and explains the purpose of the visit. Before long, the idle curiosity of the children changes. From merely welcoming a break from the school routine, they become involved participants, answering questions put by the danseuse. And by the time the final abhinaya item is over, the youngsters have realized the importance of this unusual experience By Aruna Narlikar…