  SHIKRA
The adventure of environmental awareness
Since 1998 a small team of Aurovilians has been
working on the production of a small, cute booklet that is instrumental
in the raising of children's awareness regarding the general environment
in and around the Auroville area.
Swift, light and lively language
The booklets, published under the general header 'Shikra',
have been written by Ditra, a longtime Aurovilian lady from USA who has
an outspoken feel and eye and love for the birds, smaller animals and
trees in the area. In a swift, light and lively language she tells
stories and anecdotes, providing quite some basic information, and
humour, along with them. When the story felt complete, it was taken up
by Auroville´s main illustrator, Emanuele (Italy), who then highlighted
them with his exquisitely amusing and superb illustrations. After some
lay-outing done by a third member of the team, the world was a lovely
little booklet richer.
And so it happened that, aided by a grant from the
Dutch Stichting de Zaaier, every few months or so another booklet rolled
off the press that got distributed to the schools in Auroville and its
bioregion, as well as in the Sri Aurobindo Ashram schools in Pondicherry
and, on request, to schools further away in India.
The Shikra booklets focus on:
-
Banyan tree
-
Jackals
-
Octopus,
-
Shikra bird
-
Owls
-
Chameleons
-
Snakes
-
Health Tree
-
Eagles
-
Flying Foxes
-
Civet cats
-
Hares & Porcupines.
While there are still copies available that could
be ordered, we are most happy to note that we now are allowed to share
some of these with you, one story from time to time. We start with
number one: The Banyan Tree.
Published by SAIIER (Sri Aurobindo International
Institute of Educational Research)
Research: Tim, Regina
Art: Emanuele, Eric
Layout: Luc, Natasha
Editor: Dietra
Printed at Auroville Press
The 'Shikra' has been created as an offering to
Sri Aurobindo and the Mother.
|
