Appendix A (FÆRDIG)

APPENDIX A1
Interview with teacher 29th of April. Interview conducted by Anders Hvass and Manus Bell.
Anders (Q):
First question we have is, what is your goal ... your personal goal for teaching
these girls?
Teacher 1:
What you just asked me?
Anders (Q):
what your personal goal, for teaching.. what you feel is most important…
Teacher 1:
Oh! Why I have chosen teaching?
Anders (Q):
Yeah, and why you have chosen these girls, what you want them to achieve?
Teacher 1:
(…) First of all in my family, my father is a teacher. My mother was a teacher.
Now she is a housewife, and my uncle is a teacher.
So that’s why family is the reason. And my sister is also a teacher
Anders (Q):
Okay
Teacher 1:
So me also, is teaching.
Apart from that I love teaching actually.
I love those students, the kids, okay?
How they are expression their views, their opinions to us. means, once upon a
time we were kids, isn’t it. That’s why. We love them. Teaching means, look, means ehm.. I know something. I am going to deliver
my knowledge to someone, okay?
This is a, ehm.. (XXX) that’s why I chose teaching
Anders (Q):
ehm.. and you teach.. what are your classes? What do you teach?
Teacher 1:
ehm.. specially, 8 – 9 -10.
Anders (Q):
yeah
Teacher 1:
And some of the classes I have in 11, 12
Anders (Q):
What subjects?
Teacher 1:
Math
Teacher 1:
Math. Okay.
ehm.. I want to ask you to.. to what extend do you believe that this education
here, improves the students living standards?
Teacher 1:
in their future life?
Anders (Q):
yeah, in their future life?
Teacher 1:
ehm.. I think that.. ehm.. most probably you have already known about our
school, okay..
So from our school students will know their capability. Their inner self, okay.
And we also. We, the teachers, believe that Prabhuji, you know our lord
actually.
So he, teachers has not.. he made us what we are. And we, the teachers, will
make them know, means our children – our students, that they will make some
difference to our world. They will make some new things to our generation.
And to their generation.
They will make some ehm.. creativity. They will create some.. they will invent
something that will help us.. that will help our society.
I believe that.
Anders (Q):
By this education, that you receive here as a student…
Teacher 1:
Yes
Anders (Q):
…do you believe the pupils, or the students, becomes established individuals?
Teacher 1:
Obviously. Look, everyone has an individuality.
We are us. We three are here. You are different from me. I am different from
you all.
So, all these students are having their own individuality, okay.
According to their individuality they will establish their future life.
Suppose some will establish as a teacher. Someone will establish herself as a
coordinator. Someone will be establish as a socialist/journalist?.
But we are very very very much sure, that they will establish themselves, okay.
In any.. in many ways (XXX)
So, look. So (XXX) I think so that. So (XXX) are a complete package of
(XXX)
[INTERVIEW GETS INTERRRUPTED]
Teacher 1:
So what I was telling you that.
Means, I believe that our society is so much about.. I means, collaboration of
many things, okay.
And students, they are the builder of our society. They will build our society,
next generation. We, the next generation to our parents. They are the next
generation to our.. me.. to us actually.
So I thought so. I think that eh.. they will establish very well in the society
Anders (Q):
Mmh, very good
Ehm, when it comes to the teaching..
Teacher 1:
Yes, yes ,yes.. the technicality
Anders (Q):
eh.. how do you motivate your students? Is it hard to motivate your…
Teacher 1:
No, actually look.. all the time, eh.. What I generally do that to motivate
someone, they should know themselves, first of all.. I let them know herself,
always.. What you know. What you can do.. first think about that.. What you
can’t do. What you don’t know. Don’t think about that. Because those negativities
always comes to our mind, and what is happening after that, that some
negativity coming and then our inner self will be.. means, exploit.. means,
what I’m trying to say that.. Means eh.. We can’t raise to our capability.. with the negativity.. I want them
that they will reach at their capability.. at least, okay.
So first, you know your capability. Then try to explain.. try to explain your
capability. Try to observe all others capability, all others means.. Try to
observe everything around you, okay. Make that.. I generally motivate them,
okay. But sometimes, what happened to them.. eh.. some pupils, few actually..
few students.. that they.. others believe that they don’t know anything. They don’t.. they can’t do anything, okay. So already in their mind.. so we have to,
means we the teachers actually, we have to incorporate our views. Incorporate
our positive views in their mind.
So first of all I’m thinking, as I’m teaching math, that’s why I’m taking the math, okay.
Suppose there are doing some math. Everyone is not good at math, okay. You
know that.
Anders (Q):
Yes, we know that (laughs)
Teacher 1:
So, I also believe that I was in my childhood.. I was not good in math, okay.
But when I was a kid, I had a teacher. Good teacher, okay. She always
motivated me to do math, and to do (XXX), okay.
Me, as a teacher, always motivate them to practice, to do, means not only
math. Every aspect of your life. That is that. Then you will (.09.36.). Look
when I was a kid. I am a Bengali girl. I didn’t know English language. Even now, still now, I am having tough learning English language, okay. But I can
try. By trying and trying I can achieve that. That’s why I have a.. so I just
motivated them like this.
Anders (Q):
Nice.. So you from Bengali area, and..
Teacher 1:
Yes I am a Bengali girl
Anders (Q):
Can we ask, were you took your education? Which school you went to..
Teacher 1:
Oh, school.
Anders (Q):
Yeah.
Teacher 1:
At eh.. My school was eh.. (something) High School its.. do you know (XXX)?
He is a patriot and hero of country. So, as his name, we have taken our schools
name: (XXX)
I have completed my schooling. Then I completed my college, means
graduation, from one college of Bakura, Bakura District College. Okay then, I
have taking my Masters, means (XXX) degree from Gardun University, okay.
Then after I have completed BA also, okay.
Means before getting my BA degree, I joined this school. And in between that
I have taking one leave, to complete my BA degree, and then I re-joined.
Anders (Q):
Okay. So this job that you have here..
Teacher 1:
Yes, this is so much of my family
Anders (Q):
.. Would you consider this a dream job for you? Is this really what you..
Teacher 1:
Yes. No problem with that. That word, that particular word. The dream job.
Yes I believe that. Yes.
I, myself always believe that someone like me, who motivates me. (XXX)
Anders (Q):
Mmh.. ehm.. do you, when you are teaching, do you combine the academia
and the spiritual in your teachings?
Teacher 1:
Not all the times spiritual, okay. Because math.. that’s why.. actually I can’t do the spiritual. But when we have a life searching class.. You know our life
searching class?
Anders (Q):
Yes we were there yesterday
Teacher 1:
Life searching class. They, means our students, they all know about Prabhujis
spiritual thoughts, okay. But means, not actually, we don’t incorporate these
spiritual thoughts in our math class, okay. Not in normal class.
Anders (Q):
But do you feel that your teaching is somehow influenced by Prabhujis
teachings?
Teacher 1:
Yeah, obviously.
Yes, teaching not teaching. Every purpose is influenced by something. Isn’t it? So teaching is always influenced by my inner self. My spiritual thought.
Teaching is eh.. I was just say before teaching is very, very, very much holy
job. So that’s why I also believe, that.. I think that eh.. teaching.. when I teach
someone, that means I have to think positive. I have to believe in someone.
You believe in Jesus Christ. We believe in our lord. Okay, Like that.
Anders (Q):
Eh.. so you personally also follows the ideas of Prabhuji?
Teacher 1:
Obviously spiritual life
Anders (Q):
Ehm.. do you think this school offers you the opportunity to become better at
being a teacher?
Teacher 1:
This school?
Anders (Q):
Yes this school. Your job here.
Teacher 1:
Ehm, not really. But I know, and they know, what we build up.. then this
school will be the great school, okay. But not now.
Anders (Q)
Okay.. it takes some time?
How.. you talked about your education. How is that different from the
education that students..
Teacher 1:
Teaching..
Anders (Q):
... the education you had throughout your life. How is that different from the
education, the students here receive?
Teacher 1:
Actually when.. what I’m going to say that, formats are different.
When I was in school, that was 15 or 16 years ago. In 15, 16 years the whole
world have changed. So that’s why, every aspect of our life, every belief of our life, every way of.. means, of living our life has been changed. So why not
education. Isn’t it?
Manus (Q):
Eh.. how has it changed?
Teacher 1:
Format has changed. But some.. means when I was a student I generally
believed that our teacher is our guide, our teacher is all of.. our teacher is our
lord actually.
But now we are the facilitator, we are the guide, we are not the lord. (.15.20.).
This is the basic difference between our time and theirs.
Manus (Q):
Big difference..
Teacher 1:
Yes, big difference. Basic and big. Too big.. (laughs)
Anders (Q):
we also have been talking about, that the question of.. that when these students
going to the other part of India so to say..
Teacher 1:
Yes.
Anders (Q):
...To Dehli or Kolkata.. Do you think that there will be a problem for them to
integrate themselves into a city life or another context?
Teacher 1:
Most of the students of our school, most of the residents and students of
school, they generally come from the city life. Most of them.
Anders (Q):
So they are used to it?
Teacher 1:
Yes they are use to this. And one thing I’m telling you, actually it’s a funny
one, that all the students are very, very smart, okay. Very, very smart means,
they always work, okay. So we belive that they will go to city life and the will
enjoy, and they will come so, so, so about the city students. So no problem at
all.
Anders (Q):
But there is a.. it is very different culture?
Teacher 1:
Cultures are different, okay. Basic.. our thoughts are different, but our life
search will not be different. 5 years if you live in India, you will be Indian.
Like that. 5 months they will live in the city, they will be other student. They
are very much, means what I’m trying to say that.. they are much collective. All our improvements.. they are kids. Now they are kids. They are raw
material. So what are we trying? We are trying to incorporate into them, they
are all (XXX), isn’t it? So when.. while they’re studying in school, or in college, or in post-education like that, they will collect all their education. Now
look, this is a very rural area you know, but staying in rural area they all know
about internet very well. They all know about facebook. We don’t know about facebook, they all know.
Manus (Q)
the new generation..
Anders (Q)
Ehm.. the last question I have here is just a practical question, where do you
life? Do you live in..
Teacher 1:
Bakura
APPENDIX A2
Interview with teacher 29th of April. Interview conducted by Anders Hvass and Manus Bell.
Anders (Q):
What is your personal goal for teaching this …
Teacher 2:
This school? …
Anders (Q):
Yeah …
Teacher 2:
First of all this is my native place, my home is twenty minutes from this place,
I am also from a village XXX my home is for our village, this is also situated
in a village, so I have something from them (XXX) backward, they can’t have vermins. Their financial problems, just help them out to make them suitable for
this environment, for this society, so my goal is to make them … my dedication is to give this school, to make the girls even, to deal with all day stuff situations
in life.
Anders (Q):
That is your motivation?
Teacher 2:
Yes.
Anders (Q):
To what extend do you believe that this education here, offers the student a
better living standard in the future?
Teacher 2:
From this school?
Anders (Q):
This school.
Teacher 2:
See. Education does not mean only, is not only limited to the books. Education
is not limited to the books. Education means all development of a person;
social, moral, everything. So from this school, they will not only learn, they
will not only get the bookish knowledge. Else from that they, they will also
know how to handle situations in their life, maybe their personal life and their
professional life. So this school helps each and every child develop skills in all
possible society so they can match the society.
Teacher 2:
Suppose I am staying here in India, and tomorrow I have to go to your country,
and I have to (favor) situations there, I have to deal with that kind of
environment, weather condition, everything. So this school prepares children in
such a way so they don’t have any problems to mix up with the situations in the country, in other country, all other situations in other place. This is aim of this
school.
Anders (Q):
So these students do believe that they become established individuals?
Teacher 2:
Establishment doesn’t mean you have to earn something in life. Earning money doesn’t mean establishment …
Anders (Q):
But becoming individuals?
Teacher 2:
Establishment means how you are living your life and how it is becoming an
example for others to follow. So as of here (XXX) Prahbuji’s guidance, and he is rea(falling/firming), he is a life (XXX), he is speaking and we are following
him in the school, so I think the students of this school, at least they will get
something in them so that they can also create their own establishment, not
only related to (XXX) life, that is to earn money. That they will do, but other
than that, keeping Prahbuji’s values in their mind, they will also live their life in such a way that they will become an example for others.
Anders (Q):
So do you believe it is the individual process?
Teacher 2:
Individual process, it varies from person to person what (XXX) like others, so
one is having their own features and individual kits. That is (XXX).
Anders (Q):
Do you believe that this school helps the students in becoming individualized
and understanding themselves?
Teacher 2:
Of course, if you have gone through the classes of our school, you can see
there are many girls, that come from a very poor family even that cannot afford
to buy the books, (XXX) giving them the books from the library, as well as
they are starting in our school free of cost. Many girls are there, some girls are
there whose families means they are having some personal problems, family
problems, they are all here. So they are coming from different types of … means they are having to face different types of problems in their lives, coping
up with those types of problems they are leaning how to manage (XXX)
studying here, some girls are whole students (?) some are the day (XXX). So if
they are not having any individuality in them, how are they going to cope with
that?
Anders (Q):
Yes …
Teacher 2:
They are having something in them, that is why they are facing these problems,
they are challenging them and then they are trying to become something in
their life.
Anders (Q):
How do you motivate the students in class?
Teacher 2:
I motivate…
Anders (Q):
Is it hard to motivate?
Teacher 2:
First of all, while taking a class, (XXX), means they should not feel bored, it
should not become monotonous for them. So suppose as we have some
(Dilemmas/Silemmas???) we have to cover it, we have to end it till the end of
the sessions. I think reading processes are (XXX) during the class, other than
that, some activities just to keep them some (XXX), just to change their mind,
sometimes while writing may become bored and sleepy, just to switch on their
energy, some practical activities, like you can perform something. Sometimes I
give my real life experiences, I share it with them, to make them laugh to have
some energy from them, then I share something, obviously they also got some
experience and share it. (XXX)
Anders (Q):
This job you have here, is that a dream job for you? The perfect job for you?
Teacher 2:
I cannot say … Perfection is not so easy to (XXX). But this is more closer to perfection. Because I cannot become a perfect person I think, because
somewhere I will have some faults in me, because I am a human being, so
human beings are made of faults, so while you can overcome these faults, then
comes the next one. So perfection is … I can say that this job is quite near to the perfection, but perfection cannot be attained so easily.
Anders (Q):
But for you, is it a job you really want to do?
Teacher 2:
Yes I am happy, I am very happy. You don’t know, but mothers they know, when I was in my class (XXX), I was a student highest second (Win??), that
time. Vacancy came up from the school, I came, to give interview, and that
time the mother asked, my age was 17 years old that time, so mothers asked me
that if you are going to work here, then how are you going to do your studies
for your studies? So that’s why I didn’t came. But after completing my graduation, again I came, (XXX), so I have some attachment to this school,
that’s why I came back again and after graduation I joined this school. Anders (Q):
Do you think you will stay here and teach?
Teacher 2:
No, no I don’t stay.
Anders (Q):
You don’t stay? You want to teach somewhere else afterwards, or?
Teacher 2:
See as I got married, my in laws are staying father from this place, and also I
am doctor for one year, two months, so it’s quite a big problem for me, I am
just having … There is a (XXX – DWARF??) I just meant/met, so I am
assisting there also, I am here also here, staying with my own father and
mother, and my husband and in laws are staying at (Azanzu?), which is one
and a half hour away from this place. So my daughter is now small but I don’t have to pay for her also, but she is also my responsibility and also has some
responsibility towards my in laws, so in future the future I can’t know what I am going to do, at present I am here and I am giving my best to this school.
Anders (Q):
Would you like your own daughter to attend this school or?
Teacher 2:
Yes of course, I would like my daughter to such kind of school, maybe not this,
but she is very small and don’t have a (XXX) soon as possible for her, because
she is very lean and clean. Okay, if you give she will go away, so it will
become a quite problem for her health also, so maybe not in a small village
(XXX) …
Anders (Q):
When we have, we have been here for days, we experienced some spirituality,
do you combine your teachings with spirituality? In how you teach? Do you
bring in the spirituality as well?
Teacher 2:
See spirituality means uhhmm, I think you are talking about meditations or
not?
Anders (Q):
Yeah well, just the feeling, yeah?
Teacher 2:
The (bad??) feelings, that I told you earlier also, that in my class I give some
experiences of my real life, so if I don’t have such feelings that I am not going to share it with my students, as they feel that they are more closer to me and are
part of certain institution where you can share if there is a problem, (XXX)
experiences each and everyone, and therefor it is based on spiritualism.
Anders (Q):
So you bring the philosophies of Prabuhji into the teachings?
Teacher 2:
Yes, of course. Because whatever is philosophy? This is for all human kind,
not only for the students who are living here, but it is for all persons all over
the world to follow. Of course we have to follow it.
Anders (Q):
And you follow Prabuhji(ism)?
Teacher 2:
I try my best to follow it, I cannot tell the years I strictly follow, I can try my
(lempest?) follows of these things, but we are in so many surroundings, so
many circumstances, we have to manage certain types of key situations and
sometimes maybe we can’t follow it, but we try our very best to follow it, in my, (XXX) my own life, not about the school, but my own personal life,
because his ideals are not only for teaching in the school, but also in ones own
life you need to follow it, so I try my very best to follow his guidance in my
own life. To a certain extend I follow it also at least under certain difficult
circumstances as we are (fond??) of it, so many things, little bit, maybe there is
a lack.
Anders (Q):
Do you think this school offers you the opportunity to become a better teacher?
Teacher 2:
Yes, I feel both there are so many sessions and so many, some, often either
(XXX) … some teachers, some experience, education (XXX) … They are coming to a school to help us, exchange our teaching styles, to improve our
teaching style, as well as our principle, the mothers, they also help in us to find
our faults that we are having, to overcome these problems, and to give us a new
technique of teaching, because this is changing and we also need to change our
teachings to the modern days. Sessions are there, training are there for the
teachers to improve our selves. It is happening at this school.
Anders (Q):
Your own education, as we talked a little bit about, how was that compared to
the students at this place?
Teacher 2:
I, I have read from (XXX) public school, (XXX), (XXX) student. I have passed
out to my A test, that is highest country of 2005, and we were very dear, very
close to our teachers, like, as they are, I didn’t have any problems with teacherstudent relationships, doesn’t mean only that are come and are teach you, and I
will learn and I will come back to you. I don’t feel like this type of relationship is not teacher-student relationship, teacher-student relationship. But I have
faced in my life, our teachers were very friendly with us, we used to discuss
our problems to certain extend with them, and they used to give their solution
to each. And uhm, we respected them a lot. It is also meant, still today
whenever I meet my teachers, I (XXX), and say I give a (XXX) to them, I
(dodge??) their feet, and I say if they can’t recognize me, I make them recognize, but I am also being (XXX). You were teaching us these things. So.
To a certain extend this school and the teachers and my school was pretty
close, they can share many things with their teachers that they cannot share
with their parents.
Anders (Q):
When coming from this school, finishing this school as a student, do you think
that the students here will have a problem integrating themselves into,
Kolkatta, or Delhi, I mean the biggest cities…
Teacher 2:
Yes (XXX), what you mean is that this is a girls school?
Anders (Q):
Yes, it’s a very small area, it’s a rural area?
Teacher 2:
Yes, there is a chance yes, it can be, because this is a small area, population is
also a little bit, the surroundings are also very much remote as it is, we can call,
it is not a city or town, if we are going to a city or town you can see that the
students vary from the students of our school. They are, uhm, behavior,
language, their … life type, values, so maybe, I don’t know, I cannot tell on behalf of the whole school, on behalf of the whole students whether they will
feel a problem or not. But maybe one or two can, but life is adjustment, you
need to adjust with all types of situations, so they will also learn how to adjust
to other situations, so it doesn’t matter. Anders (Q):
That’s it for us, we don’t have anymore. Thank you very much then. Teacher 2:
Anything else?
Anders (Q):
Yes that’s everything we need.
Teacher 2:
Thank you.
APPENDIX A3
Interview with informant 3. Interview conducted by Anders Hvass and Alan Kernahan.
(Discarded)
Anders (Q): Ehmm, all the questions we will ask you is based on the questionnaire you did
for ... so it’s based on your answer here, so we want some more answer.
Alan (Q):
You understand?
Anders (Q): Ehmm, when you are not studying and into classes, what do you do?
Informant:
Mmm, what?
Anders (Q): When you are not in school, when you are not, you know… in class, what do you do when you are not that?
Alan (Q):
What do you do in your free time?
Informant:
Oh. Freetime I, ehmm, I play and ehmm, and gossiping in friend, ehmm,
whispering in ehmm, or fighting in ehmm friends… hmm, like that, is. And. And in free time, I eh, I have classwork, ehmm any other home, homework. And
ehmm. And…
Alan (Q):
Yeah.
Anders (Q): Do you have a lot of friends here?
Informant:
Yes?
Anders (Q): Do you have a lot of friends here at the convent school?
Informant:
Friends?
Alan (Q):
Friends…
Informant:
Yes, I …
Alan (Q):
Do you have a lot of friends here… at the hostel? Do you have a lot of friends?
Informant:
Ah, yes…
Alan (Q):
So eh, you write here… you write “My school is a sacred place for me”..
Informant:
Yes…
Alan (Q):
So we would like to know..
Anders (Q): A bit more about what it means to you that its “sacred”…
Alan (Q):
Yeah, why is it sacred to you?
Informant:
Because it’s a nature, it’s a very beautiful, ehmm. And ehhm and ehmm School is ehmm, school is so… school is so ehmm.. what is.. speechless. My school is
so sacred and sacred because.. ehmm.. what can I say…
Anders (Q): It’ okay… ehmm. You also write it is important to you to get educated.
Informant:
My … educated?
Anders (Q): Yeah, to get educated is very important to you…
Informant:
Yes.
Anders (Q): Can you tell us why it’s important?
Informant:
Because my life is a started in the education because I, I, I wish I wish and I,
just for the and I try for the job and the standard living and society… and is so
good … and my… what do say… i also interest … I am interested in in education. And ehm … I am also interested but ehmm but ehmm … so many subjects are not good and … like maths. Math is not my good subject. (Alan (Q)
and J laughs) This is so hard. Physics formular. So hard.
Anders (Q): Yeah, we think it’s hard too (J laughs)
Informant:
Yes, but eh … sociology, geography … ehmm others ... English … is very… fine, it’s my good subjects and I’m educated and try to ehh high level and a job like engineer …
Anders (Q): So you enjoy some of your classes?
Informant:
Yes, yes…
Anders (Q): You write that educations offers you …
Alan (Q):
Rules and regulations and disciplines.
Informant:
Yes, rules, regulations, disciplines it’s a mainly important, because like ehhhh,
school uniforms it’s a rules and eh … and eh … school discipline means… all student, ehh, what can say … mmm. So many student are, so many student like ehh they are bad student. Like ehhm..Boys.. girls also.. is ehh.. is fighting or ehh
… bad language use … bad language … it is a break of rules and regulations and regulations means I come in a prayer these mornings and daily there is ...
this is eh ... discipline … this is a discipline and regulations mean, regular ... I, I … I go regular to school… this…
Anders (Q): Yes, you write something that education offers you, offers you to be obedient.
Informant:
What?
Anders (Q):
Obedient, you write here that education offers you.. ehh..
[Alan (Q) shows her the paper]
Informant:
Oh..
Alan (Q):
Obedient … eh … so how, how does education make you obedient? How does it help you become more obedient?
Informant:
Help means ... ehh Obedient means ehh … I read in school and I help in mothers, teacher … and eh … student ... good obedient student, talented
student.. so … and eh helping eh computing ... and eh … and eh … like eh … you are all , you are coming to Shamayita and I and we are, we are all ... ehmm.
We are all good … All are good, that means ehh.. I look in a good ehh … mmm … You all are come and I see and I, I hope, and I hope and I hope I am go in a
Denmark in a project. I tell the sister, sister please Im go to Denmark in a
project, so so ... and Denmark is a not … Denmark ... Other countries or other place to stay. So I go to the stairs and eh ... but eh ... or eh … introduce in a ... obedient people ... eh ... say...
Anders (Q): We asked you what your everyday concerns were. And eh, you answered that
eh, one of your answers was your educations.
Informant:
Yes.
Anders (Q): Your education is one of your concerns for you ... wrote down. Why is it a
concerns for you, your educations … What concerns you?
Informant:
Educations is a good, but ... so many times, boring boring educations is ... it’s a ... like eh ... my eh my eh my mind is not fresh, but eh ... my mind is not fresh,
so eh then. My sisters ehh tell please enjoy, please ehh read, why you are sitting
here, why you ehh gossiping, why you ... bla bla bla … yes … [J laughs] This is a constant … Education is good, in a good line, but it is a bad line also [J
laughs]
Anders (Q): Okay. Ehmm
Alan (Q):
You also wrote you’re concerned about play … About play? What do you mean about? Or why do you … or why are you concerned about play? In what way?
Informant:
Play? I like play ... ehh ... like ... ehh you know hide and seek?
Alan (Q):
Yes, yes
Informant:
Hide and seek, ehh (XXX), tennis, but all are, alle are eh student, child ehh, like
ehmm 7 and 6, 7 is a totally in a play, eh play but eh but eh but eh hmm but all
the child ehh children ehmmm all the children is aeh what do you say ... its not,
its not ehh understand but ehmm but the play is not important things of a life.
Education is ehh is also ehhh im im im important thing in a life and ehh but
(XXX) humans boys and girls students (XXX) students are not a understood
that. It is a….
Alan (Q):
So, so ehh We asked a question: what are your hopes for the future. And you … one of the answers or the most, most important hope for the future, you said: to
be an honorable person.
Informant:
Yeees, I want honorable persons, I try to honest person, i try to (XXX) in a
society, the society say: she is a good girl, she’s a good girl, she’s a not a bad girl, ehh not a ... ehmm ... not a ... ehmm ... another things means … not a
(XXX) or the same language or others means ehmm ... not not a bad behaviour.
Alan (Q):
So so, what.. you say: a good girl…
Informant:
My ...
Alan (Q):
What is a good girl?
Informant:
I, I hopes in my future, i hope i, i am good girl.. i, i am, i look in a sky, then I
hope like the stars I like ehmm so so many minded, i like eh scientist or
others… Alan (Q):
But what makes a good girl?
Informant:
Yes?
Alan (Q):
What makes a good girl? If you are to be a good girl … What do you have to do?
Informant:
I ... ehmm ... I have ehh ... you can say ... please you ehh ehhh ehhh repeat the
question.
Alan (Q):
If … if you have to be a good girl?
Informant:
Yes
Alan (Q):
If you want to be a good girl…?
Informant:
Yes
Alan (Q):
What things do you have to do to be a good girl?
Informant:
Yees, I hope I no, I hope, I no good girl, but I hope I will in time a good girl,
then I help in a society, who in a poor, ehh poor people, I help the poor people
ehh and ehmm ... and in helping all the people on the eh … animals peoples and then ehh then all India, my country, India, all will say she’s a good girl and then, then I hope that I help to all ehh people … how do you say…
Anders (Q): Eh, you also write that you want to help poor people and you say as well that
you want to help poor people. How do you imagine yourself helping … What would you like to do?
Informant:
Poor people, like houses sooo, ehmm Houses so bad condition is a is a is ... what
do you say, is a farmer, but is a farmer but is a good, is a bad condition in a ehh
cultivation, then I try to in help in a farmer, then I take a rupees, eh money, and
this is a help in a money and so many () are not help, are not helping child in a
ehh what do you say ... education. Then so many father mother sister, one target,
my child is a big in girl so big, then I marry to eh ... this is not a good thinking,
this is not a good thinking, this ehh then I help in a in a educations and i give
for money. This a poor conditions help.
Anders (Q): Okay. So ehmm, you also write it is very important to you to have a good job.
Informant:
Yes
Anders (Q): You write that it’s important to you to have a good job
Informant:
Yes
Anders (Q): Why is it important to you?
Informant:
Because I am a girl and my mother is married other boy, she, he is a well set in a
big house, car , but i am a normal girl, this is no good, i hope, I try to good job,
important job, then so , so my, my husband and my … I am a well setted in a big house so…
Anders (Q): So you’re equal?
Informant:
Yes, eh...
Anders (Q): What kind of job would you like?
Informant:
I, I am interested in eh ... I interested in a job because…
Anders (Q): But what kind of job would you…
Informant:
What kind of job…
Anders (Q): What kind of job?
Informant:
like ehh ... fashion designer
Alan (Q):
Fashion designer?
Informant:
Yes … or fashion designer … IS or …
Alan (Q):
IS? You ... you what does it mean? IS?
Informant:
Indian… I don’t know IS … or fashion designers or good artist ... famous artist
... ehmm I try to (XXX) is a good persons, is a famous persons in the whole
world ... all sing a song ... I try to ...
Alan (Q):
Okay [J laughs]
Alan (Q):
We had a question about the most important things in life and eh,
you wrote that the most important thing in your life is education?
Informant:
Yes
Alan (Q):
Could you explain a little bit more about why is education the most important
thing in your life?
Informant:
Because I, it is a not good, I, Im, I try, Im indepedant girl. In 18 years, 18 years
in May 21st my birthday and 18 years, complete 18 years, then I’m independent girl. Education because I, I try to eh good girl, educated girl in a high level job
and education is a best friend. Books are best friend in my life. My life. And this
things are not rejected me.
Alan (Q):
They didn’t reject you?
Informant:
Rejected means … means lost, means ... my friend is a best friend but she is fighting fighting ... fight ... then she say, I hate you, but book are not
tell this. [Everyone laughs]
Alan (Q):
They don’t do that
Informant:
Not tell that.
Anders (Q):
You also write that it’s important to you to respect senior citizens
Informant:
Yes?
Anders (Q):
Senior citizens, it’s important for you to respect them?
Informant:
Oh…
Anders (Q):
Why is it important?
Informant:
Yes obviously … I respected in a ... mothers like … first respect in a gods, parents, Prabhujis, very respected.. speechless … and then in mother ... all the seniors people i respected, then junior also look that, then respected in a
senior and it’s a cycle.
Alan (Q):
Yes you also write ... that you ... that you find Prabhuji..
Informant:
Yes
Alan (Q):
You write Prabhuji is very important to you
Informant:
Yes
Alan (Q):
In what way is Prabhuji important?
Anders (Q):
What does he mean to you?
Informant:
He is a speechless word, Prabhuji is like a god, like my all, like all.
My feelings, I share Prabhujis and … see he’s a like, like ... what do you say ... speechless word ... I feel bad, my friends are fighting and then I written letter
and give in a Prabhujis and Prabhuji say what happen and I totally, I tell, so he
say, what the problem, I always say this is problem, then I success.
Anders (Q):
So Prabhuji helps with your problems?
Informant: Y
Yes and he’s a god. Look a here, what happen here and say look here.
Alan (Q):
Yeah…
Anders (Q):
Yeah, as we have asked the others as well, we have some personal
questions. So if you don’t want to answer it’s okay, but if you can it would be
perfect: We want to ask: do you have a boyfriend?
Informant:
Boyfriend? No I don’t have a boyfriend.
Anders (Q):
Okay, when you are to be married, are you going to be deciding
yourself or is it going to be an arranged marriage, because we hear a lot about
India and arranged marriages.
Informant:
Yes, I like arranged marriages, because my mother is a, my mother
and father, all try to good people and hand my hands and I think love marriages
is a good, but 90%, 99% arranged marriage is good.
Alan (Q):
So you don’t want to ... do you think sometimes about falling in love?
Informant:
Love is ... Love is, I love in friends, in teachers, Prabhujis, my
family but I don’t love in a boys in my same age who propose me and I say yes
yes, is not a good…
Alan (Q):
Well, that’s all the questions we have, so thank you very much for coming and talking to us.
APPENDIX A4 (Pilot informant)
Interview with Pilot Informant. Interview conducted by Alan Kernahan and Anders Hvass.
Q:
What do you do when you are not in school?
Informant:
When I am not at school?
Q:
When you’re not studying… when you don’t have classes.
Informant:
Actually I used to … I used to stay in Hostel. So I’m, my hobby is to draw. I
also draw. (XXX) Gossip with friends.
Alan (Q):
So when you get off school, do you just sit and draw all day?
[Someone asks inaudibly from the door]
It depends on the answers, half an hour to an hour … Ehm … I mean, do you sit and draw? Describe it a little bit, like when you get off from school where do
you go? Do you go home? Do you sleep a little bit? Wh-wh-what do you do?
Informant:
Actually, I don’t stay in home I stay in hostel.
Alan (Q):
Yes but then in hostel, that’s what we mean.
Informant:
I sleep … uhm … eating together with friends. Gossiping with friends. Talking about home. About friends in my home. Something about studying something
about general knowledge.
Q:
Do you have many friends at the hostel?
Informant:
Yes.
Alan (Q):
But also at home?
Informant:
Yes.
Alan (Q):
Do you keep in contact with them?
Informant:
Yes.
Alan (Q):
By mail or…?
Informant:
By phone, by facebook, social networking sites.
Alan (Q):
Do you miss them?
Informant:
Yeah a lot.
Anders:
How long have you been here living at the hostel?
Informant:
I’m from class 8 so for five years. Anders:
Five years. And you only go home in weekends and…
Informant:
No not in weekends. In vacations.
Anders:
And then you visit your friends and family?
Informant:
Yes.
Q:
Tell us something about what is good ... ehh ... About studying here the convent
school.
Informant:
This convent school? (long pause) we get many general knowledge from here.
Something about spiritualism. Uhm. My friends are very good. They’re … they help each other. The speaking, the English speaking is very good over here in
convent school. Teachers are very good. The teachers are very nicely. They, if
we have any problem in any topic, they repeat it many times.
Alan (Q):
So they help you a lot?
Informant:
Yeah. They uhm they help us a lot.
Anders:
Spiritualism, is that important to you that you have spiritualism in your everyday
life?
Informant:
Yes that’s important.
Anders:
Can you tell us something about, why it is important to you?
Alan (Q):
Yeah cause in the map you wrote that it is the second most important reason for
going to this school. You phrased it “to get knowledge about spiritualism” so we’d like to, maybe if you could explain a little why is spiritualism important to
you?
Informant:
It’s important for us because if we are staying in this world the … we believe that this world is created by god and if he want to destroy it he can. It is his wish
he can do.. he can make me a good student he can … he can … if I am devoted to him then he can make me a good, very good.
Alan (Q):
Do you feel like spiritualism is important when it comes to education or is it a
more personal matter?
Informant:
It’s important when it comes to education…
Alan (Q):
In what way?
Informant:
Uhm …
Alan (Q):
Let me rephrase the question: is it … do you think being or having knowledge
about god or about your inner self, does this help you academically? So in
school or does it help you on a personal level as a person?
Informant:
Personal life, not in academic.
Anders:
Before you started in eighth grade here, class eight, did you start at class one
here?
Informant:
No, not here.
Anders:
When did you start at the school? Was that in class eight?
Informant:
Class 8.
Anders:
Oh class 8.
Alan (Q):
Where were you before?
Informant:
Before in Durgapur.
Alan (Q):
In Durgapur? Another (medium?) school?
Informant:
Yes.
Anders:
Has there been a big change in your spirituality from that school to this school?
Informant:
That was an international school.
Alan (Q):
Why did you change?
Informant:
Because I had some communication problem. There no hostels there so I had
some problem.
Alan (Q):
So your family situation, you have to live in a hostel?
Informant:
Yes. My father, I mean my parents wants that I stay in hostel.
Alan (Q):
So you couldn’t stay at home so you had to find a school that had a hostel?
Informant:
Yes.
Alan (Q):
So that’s the reason you changed?
Informant:
Yes.
Alan (Q):
Did you like your old school?
Informant:
Yeah
Alan (Q):
It was also in English?
Informant:
Yeah.
Alan (Q):
So you didn’t have a problem changing?
Informant:
No
Anders:
Uhm … just going back to the spirituality, when you changed from that school to this school you came to know Prabhuji, I assume, so that must have been a
change from that to this? How did you experience that?
Informant:
Many thing. Like uhm … when I was in that (XXX) people school I used to go
by bus and I used to stay, almost all the time I used to stay in home… so all time scolding from my parents. Here no scolding always love and …
Anders:
Hmm … okay. You write in your … question one on map one. Alan (Q):
You write about being confident. So we wanted you to talk a little bit more
about øhm, why it is important to be confident. Why confidence is so important
to you and how, how do you become more confident? In what way?
Informant:
Okay it’s important for me to become confident because if I’m not confident then I can’t speak … if I am afraid then I can’t do anything in my life I will be like backwards … I’ll stay in back. And I’m confident to mothers, to teachers, to my friends, they help me a lot they make me more confident.
Alan (Q):
They build you up?
Informant:
Yes.
Alan (Q):
Is this done by giving you responsibilities or is it by praise? How do they make
you more confident?
Informant:
By encouraging me to do that work. If I am interested in something but I am
afraid in doing that work they encourage me.
Anders:
That’s very nice. Uhm ... yeah you write that it’s important to you to have a
good job and good (XXX).
Informant:
Yes. Of course.
Anders:
Why do you feel that is important? Why do you feel that it is important to you to
have a good job?
Informant:
I … actually here in India … before independent, after independent also … girls are treated very backward. So I want to be a settled one? I want to show that I
am a girl, being a girl I can be … uhm I can be a talented one. I am the talented
one. I want to show that, my talent, my interest to everybody.
Alan (Q):
So it’s not so much for personal gain, it’s not so much for money or…
Informant:
No not for money, I want to get respect! That respect that every girl doesn’t get. Anders:
That come with the job? The good job?
Informant:
Yes. And not a job that I want to do a job that will give me more money not like
that. I want to do a job that will give me more respect.
Anders:
So a good job for you could be? What do you imagine would be a good job for
you?
Informant:
Uhm … I want to be a … I want to do Indian administrative service. Like
(XXX) my respect.
Alan (Q):
When you talk about a job, a job where you have respect. Is it a job where you
uhm … where you … is it a job where you have control over a lot of people and you know like a management, where you say “you do this, you do that” and they respect you because you are their superior?
Informant:
No not like that, because we are a democratic country, india is a democratic
country … uhm I want to be a honest I want to give them freedom, I want to
treat them well, there are many poors. I want to treat, I don’t want to treat them… I don’t want to separate rich and poors. I want to treat them equally. So
for that, for doing something like that I will build up some theories and policies
I will do.
Alan (Q):
So more like a role model?
Informant:
Yes… What that mean?
Alan (Q):
A role model is someone that people can look up to and see “she’s doing a good job, we want to be like her”… Like the mothers.
Informant:
Yes of course.
Anders:
Uhm … so the … this map … the questions we ask you are based on the answers you gave in this map. So you write as the third most important reason
you write “to learn discipline and be more obedient” and we just wanted to ask you why do you think discipline is so important, why is obedience important?
Informant:
Discipline is the foremost thing for a student … uhm … we … we … we’re admitted to school to learn discipline as well as education. Behavior is a
foremost thing I think… discipline is a main thing we learn because if I stand first in my class, the society will not know that, but if I behave with them
properly they will understand that I am a good girl so it’s necessary to behave
with them properly… discipline, I’m disciplined well. Alan (Q):
In what ways do you think you are taught to be disciplined?
Informant:
Behaving properly with others. Respect others, respect mothers, respect
teachers, respect my parents.
Alan (Q):
How are you taught this? Is it through the mothers telling you what to do? Or is
it…
Informant:
No they don’t order me but they tell it politely so we have to follow, follow
them.
Anders:
You write here “to be an ideal girl” is very important to you as well. In your words, what is an ideal girl?
Informant:
A girl who is uhm, a girl who is very good from whom, many girl can inspire.
Anders:
That’s the core of being a good girl?
Informant:
Yes.
Alan (Q):
So it’s more to be inspiring to other people, not to be… more like an ideal person or is it like there are certain things you have to do as a girl that you want
to achieve?
Informant:
(XXX) (She doesn’t understand the question)
Alan (Q):
Yes is it more … when you write an ideal girl. So you are a girl.
Informant:
Yes.
Alan (Q):
Do you want to be an ideal, like is it more in the sense of being an ideal person
or is it more in the sense of fulfilling certain ideas of what a girl is?
Informant:
Yes a girl is ... what a girl, a girl can do many things. Not only the boys can do,
not only boys can build up many things. Not only boys, men get only the xxx
(17,19).
Alan (Q):
So a woman who doesn’t get aducated is not an ideal girl?
Informant:
Yes of course. Ideal girl.
Alan (Q):
Also an ideal girl?
Informant:
Yes ideal girl. But she has to inspire others, she has to inspire others.
Alan (Q):
So it’s about inspiration for you?
Informant:
Yes … if she is the ideal girl she should inspire others.
Alan (Q):
You write about your everyday concerns which are interesting to us … What you think about every day, what you think about. And here you wrote something
about your bad habits, that this is what concerns you.
Informant:
Yes.
Alan (Q):
So what are for example your bad habits?
Informant:
My bad habit is not maintaining. I’m not (XXX) means I can’t wake up in morning. I have a bit of sleeping late nights.
Anders:
Ah we know that, we can relate.
Informant:
And I’m having a problem of always opening my social networking site that my
parents doesn’t like ... It’s a bad habit. Anders:
So do your bad habits clash with how you’re supposed to behave. How people expect you to behave? Is that a problem that you have these bad habits?
Informant:
Yes yes. They expect me that I should behave with them properly I should be
regular… I should wake up morning and I should sleep at top 10 and health is
(XXX) so I should take care properly at my health.
Anders:
So you want to achieve … You want to remove your bad habits.
Informant:
Yes, of course.
Alan (Q):
Interestingly enough you wrote, you number one concern you said “boys disturbing girls” Informant:
Yes, a lot.
Alan (Q):
Which is interesting, it sounds… could explain a little bit more what you mean
about this?
Informant:
Yes uhm … actually not only in village side, but also in city side the uhm… they used to, the boys used to tease girls uhm…
Alan (Q):
Are you teased a lot by the boys at the school in the village?
Informant:
Not like that.
Anders:
Are you teasing the boys?
A [giggles]: Not like that. I used to read newspaper and there many newses are given.
[STOP – INTERRUPTION]
Anders:
Sorry, you were talking about how you read newspapers.
Informant:
Yes in newspaper, it said that boys used to tease girls … they used to make funs of girls and in many … and in many uhm … so in our society many parents believe that a son … a son can do everything the girl can’t. so … Alan (Q):
This is upsetting to you?
Informant:
Yes.
Anders:
But do you think a lot about boys, in general? Do you know a lot of boys or do
you have girlfriends who have (XXX) (21,36)?
Informant:
Yeah I think.
Anders:
You also write that you’re concerned about your future. What is it about your future that concerns you?
Informant:
Uhm… I have some ambitions so it concerns me when… I have to read, I have to read a lot but sometimes I think that I should just read. I used to go sit with
friends so I should go read… I have to more… I have to more concerns with my
studies that I don’t do. That concerns me. Alan (Q):
Are you scared that you can’t live up to your expectations? Informant:
Yes sometimes.
Alan (Q):
Do you feel there’s a lot of expectations on you?
Informant:
No, not like that. I have some expectations.
Alan (Q):
Of yourself?
Informant:
Yes of myself.
Alan (Q):
So not from mothers or from parents?
Informant:
Yes they have but not like that, they don’t force me. Anders:
It’s more your own expectations? Informant:
Yes.
Alan (Q):
So you write… [muttering in Danish…] … yes you write that you would like to
be a student with the best of all qualities. Which is, you know, it’s very ambitious. Do you think it’s at all possible to be the best? Informant:
Yeah it’s possible. If I try I can. So… I try… Alan (Q):
Even in a country as big as India?
Informant:
Yeah.
Anders:
What is it to be the best for you? Is it being the best at your job or being the best
at being you?
Informant:
It’s… of course if I can uhm… if I’m doing something good for the society then of course they will support me uhm… not only supporting they will uhm… love me they will think me that yes I am the one who are caring about them, who are
good for them. So they will think that they… if they have chosen me… so they have done the, they have done good thing because I am the best.
Alan (Q):
So we come to map about one of the more important things which is about the
very big question. You wrote you felt “to respect elders”. Xxx (24,57) so could
you explain a little bit about, why is that so important?
Informant:
If I respect elders, then I will get respect from juniors and they will… if they respect me, if the junior respect me they will get the respect from other juniors.
So there will become a cycle and everyone will respect each other. So it’s important to respect each other.
Anders:
So respect in general in society is very good?
Informant:
Yes yes.
Anders:
You write that one of the important things in your life is to have the guts to face
difficulties
Informant:
Of course.
Anders:
Do you have the guts to face it?
Informant:
Yes!
Alan (Q):
Are you sometimes scared? Do you get scared ever?
Informant:
I’m scared about ghosts…
Alan (Q):
About what?
Informant:
Ghosts.
Anders:
Ghosts? That scares you… but not the challenges that you are going to face?
Informant:
No.
Anders:
Because, I believe that when you are done here and you have to go to university
and study, there’s going to be a lot of other people going for being the best.
Informant:
I will, I will try my very best. I… I’m not telling I will only try I will do! Anders:
If by any change that won’t happen will you be very sad that it doesn’t happen to you?
Informant:
No I don’t think something negative. Always positive… some way or the other,
some way or the other, other way is there. I can manage. I will have xxx (26,55)
Anders:
That’s a good spirit. Uhm… we have two rather personal questions and if you don’t want to answer them that’s ok but we wanna ask you if you have a boyfriend?
Informant:
I… no I don’t have any boyfriend. Anders:
Ok. Uhm… Alan (Q):
Yeah, in your family. We heard from xxx (27,30), who we have spoken to here,
that arranged marriage is something that happens quite a lot, do you think, when
you are one day to be married, that this will be arranged or do you think for love
or…?
Informant:
I… arranged. Alan (Q):
So your parents will (XXX) (27,50)?
Informant:
Yes. Because, my parents will choose the best for me, I think. And after, after
(XXX) I can love that person. So it’s important, I am the… I am the small one in my family. I can face many difficulties means that I … I love that person. That person may have (XXX) (28,28) I am loving that person. I my father, if my
father has arranged marriage for me he can look after all the problems, so it is
the best for me. He will choose.
Anders:
So you’re not going to search for a boyfriend yourself?
Informant:
No I’m not going to search for him.
APPENDIX A5
Interview with informant 1. Interview conducted by Manus Bell and Marcus Egholm
Manus:
As you know this is completely anonymous…
Informant:
Yes
Manus (Q): The only people, who will know, are you, me and him and our Danish teachers,
no one else will know
Marcus:
We have made some questions based on your answers on the questioner, so we
are just going to ask you the questions now and you can just try to elaborate,
okay?
Informant:
Sure, sure, sure
[The real interview begins.]
Manus (Q): What do you do when you are not in school? In your free time?
Informant:
I use to read story books and meet with my friends and we use to go sleep, and,
and that’s all. And! And I like to do Facebook also.
Manus (Q): Do you have a lot of friends here?
Informant:
Yeah, here we are friends but not in my home.
Manus (Q): Not at home? Only here? Is that because you are here all the time? You stay at
the hostel right?
Informant:
Yes.
Manus (Q): So you have your friends here because you spend your time here?
Informant:
Yes
Manus (Q): So when you lived back home, with your mother, did you have friends there?
Informant:
No. I don’t have friends, only my brother. I live with my brother and I spent my
time with him only.
Manus (Q): Okay, why is that?
Informant:
It is very much understanding my brother, and I like to share with him only.
Manus (Q): How were you admitted to this school? How did you get in to this school?
Informant:
I… at that time I was very much small, I was only 6 years old when I came here.
And I got this address by advertisement, and my relative was here, she also gave
me this address.
Manus (Q): Okay, okay, did you have to take a test to get in? Or how did you get in?
Informant:
Yeah, there was a test, but small test, and there was an oral test also, and I got in.
Manus (Q): Okay, How many years have you been here now?
Informant:
Including this year, I am covering 10 years.
Manus (Q): How often do you see you’re family at home?
Informant:
Yes Mmm… When we get holidays we can go home.
Manus (Q): How often do you get holidays?
Informant:
For summer holidays we are off for 30 days, and we have Puja and there we off
for 20 days. Not more than that.
Manus (Q): Okay, so 2 times a year you go home?
Informant:
Yeah and winter we get to go home also.
Manus (Q): Okay, so you see your family 3 times a year?
Informant:
Yes.
Manus (Q): Ok, do you miss your family while you are here? Do you think about the a lot?
Informant:
No… When I was new in this institution I missed, but no, not now because I am happy to live with this environment, so no need of missing.
Manus (Q): And that’s because you have friends?
Informant:
Yeah.
Manus (Q): Can you describe what your mother does?
Informant:
What pardon please?
Manus (Q): What your mother does?
Informant:
Nothing.
Manus (Q): Everyday she is at home?
Informant:
Yes. She is a housewife.
Manus (Q): And your brother is he your big brother?
Informant:
He is in class 9.
Manus (Q): Ok, so little brother? He is your younger brother?
Informant:
Yes.
Manus (Q): Ok. If nobody works in your family how do they get an income?
Informant:
Income… We have a big room and two rooms are out for rent. We get rent from that.
Manus (Q): What is spiritualism in your words?
Informant:
In my words spiritualism is knowledge of ideology. I mean we have Prabhuji
and we get hard knowledge and hard thinkings, he gives us is knowledge to us
and we follow it, we like it also.
Manus (Q): Do you agree with the philosophy?
Informant:
Yes
Manus (Q): Why is spiritualism important to you?
Informant:
That’s not important for me in every part of my life, but I am here from my young age, and I’m habituated with this word spiritualism and I don’t think it is important in my life, but my further life. I don’t think that is very much important for me, but as I respect Prabhuji that is why I follow him only.
Manus (Q): You say here (mind-map) that it is very important for you to be independent in
the world as well. What does it mean to you to be independent in the world?
Informant:
When I will get a settle job.
Manus (Q): A job? Ok, so to be independent is about income, money?
Informant:
Not for money, actually we have umbrella from our parents, they are cares for
us. And even, the also forces us out of for many kinds of things and situations,
which we want to do but my parents don’t want to support that. At that time I think I will be independent, at that time economically I will get that support,
after that my parents cant restrict me.
Manus (Q): So it is also independence from your parents?
Informant:
Yes
Manus (Q): To be able to decide yourself?
Informant:
Yes
Manus (Q): How can this school make you feel independent do you think? Or make you
independent?
Informant:
By giving us a proper and well education. By this only I can get a better job.
Manus (Q): Can you describe what it means to be an ideal girl?
Informant:
Honorable, and then respectable?
Manus (Q): Why is that important?
Informant:
Because in India, girls are not respectable and I want that only. Not in every
cases, girls are not respectable but in many cases girls are not independent an I
think I would get that way. I should get that only. (Respect)
Manus (Q): So how to become respectable and honorable? What must you do?
Informant:
Of course I will get a communication with many higher authorities, and I will
get knowledge from them and some idea how to be that. (Respectable and
honorable)
Manus (Q): Can this school teach you how to become honorable and respected in society?
Informant:
Yes. Some how.
Manus (Q): You write that this school offers you to become disciplined and obedient. Why is
it important to be obedient and disciplined?
Informant:
If I don’t be obedient one, and if I don’t be a disciplined one, then no one will follow my discipline and no one will follow my obedience. If I want to be like
that and if I want to be a respectable one then I should have that kind attitude
and behaviors.
Manus (Q): So when you say obedient, obedient to who?
Informant:
To my elders.
Manus (Q): How may being obedient and disciplined coexist or exist together with being an
independent girl.
Informant:
Obedience is a part of a discipline. Disciplines we have to follow each and every
time of my life and in that obedience also comes and we have to be obedient to
my elders.
Manus (Q): According to being obedient, following rules, doing what society wants you to
do, be respectable and honorable, is this not hard when you are trying to be
independent at the same time?
Informant:
They will help, this type of attributes/attitudes will help me to be independent.
Manus (Q): So you half to learn to be disciplined and obedient before becoming
independent?
Informant:
Yeah. We learn disciplines from our young age only, from class one we used to
learn these attitudes, and obedience teaches us that only.
Manus (Q): What do you see as a brighter future? What are your wishes in the future? What
are your dreams?
Informant:
My father was a chemist and he was having a bright future, and I followed him
but in my interest of the first step of my life I have lost my father and after that I
thought that I will be like my father only, but part of my education is not
supporting that so I thought that I will be a professor of computer-science. By
that I can be, I can have a bright future. And after that, Indian culture is there
also with marriage and all.
Manus (Q): Why is your exam your biggest concern?
Informant:
I don’t like to study, that is my problem more.
Manus (Q): Do you think it is boring?
Informant:
Yes sociology is boring. I am having that subject and I do not like that subject,
that’s why studies may become more boring to me.
Manus (Q): Are you worried about passing and failing?
Informant:
No, I am confident that I will pass, because I’m not bad student. I will not say that I am very much good student, but I am mediocre. That’s why I don’t worry about failing, I know I will pass. And as I’m having that subject computerscience I will definitely pass because I like that subject and I scored the
maximum in that subject. And I want to go with further studies with this subject.
Manus (Q): You write that you are concerned about your mother and brother? What
concerns you about them?
Informant:
I live with my brother and sometimes we used to quarrel, my brother and mother
always scolds me that way.
Manus (Q): Why is it important to you to get higher educated?
Informant:
If I don’t get a higher education then I cant be a professor, and even I cant be an independent one. Every step of my life is connecting this.
Manus (Q): But you cant become a professor here, which city would you like to go to?
Informant:
Not yet decided but I think I may go to Ansesul, I may go to Kolkata also.
Manus (Q): When you leave, would you come back here to that Math sometimes to visit?
Informant:
Yes I will come.
Manus (Q): Why would you come back?
Informant:
Because I’m getting my knowledge and education from here, and how I will forget this institution? When I got admitted here only 60 students where there, in
the hostel and one of them was I and I was the smallest one in this hostel and I
got very much love. I like mothers and Prabhuji. I love them. I will come.
Manus (Q): Why is it specifically computer-science that you want to study?
Informant:
It is very much interesting first of all and I like it very much. Comparatively it is
very much easy to me, like sociology and geography I don’t like those. If I don’t get a chance in computer-science then I will switch over to English, I like that
subject also.
Manus (Q): Do you feel like you decide yourself, what you want to do when you are finished
here?
Informant:
Yes
Manus (Q): Is that your decision?
Informant:
Yes
Manus (Q): What does your mother want for you? Does she want you to decide or does she
want to decide?
Informant:
My mother never forces me with studies, she tells me that whatever you get
comfortable with you will do that only.
Manus (Q): So it is your decision?
Informant:
Yes.
Manus (Q): Where do you see yourself in 15 years? Where do you live? Are you married?
Do you work? Do you have children?
Informant:
After 15 years… I don’t know. [Susmita laughs]
Manus (Q): What would you like? What are your wishes?
Informant:
I will study at that time, and if not I will definitely be a professor and I will live
with my mothers thinking of marriage.
Manus (Q): You write (mind-map) that it is important for you to be respected I society. Why
is that important to you, and how can you achieve that?
Informant:
I want to be a respected on because as I told you before, Indian girls are not
respected to everybody. Especially the old ones, they don’t give important to us and I want to break that type of idea that we, girls cant do anything and I want to
be like that who can do everything. A girl can do everything. That’s why I want to be a respected one to show everyone that type of thinking that a girl can do
whatever she wants.
Manus (Q): Do you have a boyfriend? We will not say anything, this interview is completely
secret.
Informant:
No… Yeah… How I say? Yes yes.
Manus (Q): Where is he from?
Informant:
He is from Makuraum.
Manus (Q): How often do you see him?
Informant:
When I used to go to my aunt’s home. I mean my mother’s sister, when I go to her I see him.
Manus (Q): When you are to be married, will you decide who you want to marry?
Informant:
Yes I will decide because if my mother decides that then I think I will not be
comfortable with her decisions. I think to do love marriage in my decision
because I will see him and see if he is perfect for me or not and I will see this by
spending much time with him and how he will keep me happy.
APPENDIX A6
Interview with informant 2. Interview conducted by Marcus Egholm and Manus Bells
Manus:
Before you answer anything I just want you to know that this is completely
anonymous, no one, no Mother, no one will know this is just for us, and for
Denmark, so no one will know, so you can be honest.
Marcus:
Okay, you can say whatever you like.
Riya:
Yes
Manus:
We will not tell anyone.
Riya:
Yes
Marcus:
Perfect
Marcus (Q): Okay, ehm…. Let’s see, you live at the hostel right? Riya (A):
Yes
Marcus (Q): But your family live in… is that a city ADRA (referring to the information page of the map)
Riya (A):
No it is not a city, it is a town
Marcus:
Okay it’s a town.
Riya:
It is down in district Pulia.
Marcus (Q): Okay, do you miss your family?
Riya (A):
Yeah’, I miss my family a lot.
Marcus (Q): You do, how often do you see them?
Riya (A):
Ah… I used to see them every month, they used to come to meet me
Marcus (Q): They come here?
Riya (A):
Yes, to meet me.
Marcus:
Okay.
Marcus (Q): And how were you admitted to the school in the first place, how did you find out
that the Shamayita Math school was for you?
Riya:
What sir?
Marcus (Q): How did you get to this school in the first place?
Riya:
At first… ehm… I what I feel about my school?
Marcus (Q): No how did you get here? Why are you going to this school?
Riya (A):
Oh.. hmm.. I, I have seen the advertisement of Prabhuji in TV, in television I
have seen the advertisement of this school, and I get this school, and I, I ehm… I thought of getting admission in this school
Marcus (Q): Okay, and how long have you been here - how many years?
Riya (A):
Hmm… I am from six (short pause 3-4 seconds) - Seven years
Marcus:
Seven years
Marcus:
These questions now will be in relation to what you have answered to the
second map, okay?
Riya:
yeah’ Marcus (Q): And here we have a question…. You write that this (the school) is a sacred place
for you, what do you mean about that?
Riya (A):
ahm.. Means that I don’t only came here to study, I, I, have come here to learn
something about religious things also, ehm.. I learn, in our hostel there is a
prayer held, a prayer hall, I learn to ehm, how to be religious… Marcus (Q): Okay, and that is important for you?
Riya (A):
Yeah’
Manus (Q): Is this a specific religion, is it Hinduism (interrupted by Riya…)
Riya (A):
Yes Hinduism, and ehm, my Prabhuji is a god for us, Prabhuji is a god for us,
and how I know him, ehm, it is not really only a school for me, it is really a
sacred place for me
Marcus (Q): And you write that that is more important than to be educated, but why is it
important to be educated?
Riya (A):
Education because, school is only… school gives us education, school teach us, they do not only educate in the means of giving information about books only, it
teaches us how to be obedient, how to be respectful towards our elders, how to
help others, how to be kind to others
Marcus (Q): And it is important to help and be kind to others?
Riya (A):
Yes yes
Manus (Q): When you say it is important to be obedient, who is this towards - who do you
have to be obedient to?
Riya (A):
Ehm… To our Mothers, to my parents, to Prabhuji, and all other elders Marcus (Q): Okay… You also write here that you want to become a successful person, what
does that mean?
Riya (A):
Means that, ehm… I’m coming to school to be educated, what ehm.. If I, if I learn something so I want to be something, I am now dependent on my parents, I
cannot earn on my own self, I cannot earn by my own self, so I want to be
independent, I can ehh… income my own money, and to be independent and to be a successful person, and an honoured person in the society
Marcus (Q): Okay, and you also write here that it is important to follow the ideology of
Revered Prabhuji… [interrupted by Riya…]
Riya (A):
Eh.. our Prabhuji is there, he teaches us many things about… so I think that is school is not only the place to be educated, he teaches how to be kind.. ehhh
how to be… so I think [interrupted by a teacher entering the room, 5 seconds]
Riya (A):
I should… I should not only eh... I should respect him, and ehh…. And ehm, follow his ideology everywhere, and eh, and do all the things by taking his
ideology, and ehm.. his messages, like he have spread to every people
Marcus (Q): Have you ever met him?
Riya (A):
Yeah’, many times I have met Marcus (Q): How was it?
Riya (A):
Really it was very good to meet him at first time when I came to this school,
really I found something in him that gives me lot of peace, I found really..
ehm… I.. eh..
Marcus (Q) Yeah’ okay, it is difficult to explain…? But peace? Riya (A):
Yes nothing to explain about him
Marcus (Q): Okay let’s move on to the next map, so this is the one regarding what do you think education offers you, Why is it important to be disciplined, that is the first
thing you write?
Riya (A):
It offers to learn disciplines because school is not the eh… school is… We are educated, why we are educated to learn disciplines that we should not ehh… that we should not treat others in a wrong way, we should treat others in a good way,
ehm… we should behave properly with others, we should respect our teachers, we should not ehm… abuse them Marcus (Q): And now we talked a bit about this before, you write here again it is important to
be punctual and obedient
Riya (A):
yeah’ Marcus (Q): Do you mind elaborating a bit on that
Riya (A):
Education does not only give what is written in the book, it eh… it teaches how to be punctual, it means eh… eh… we should come always at the right time in
school, everywhere we should be punctual, and obedient means we should
respect what our teachers say, we should follow it
Marcus (Q): And you write that you want better employment what (interrupted by Riya…)
Riya (A):
Yes education, we are getting education so… we should get a better job, so that only for we are starting, we have a great hope that we are studying so that we
should get a good job, so I wrote like we should get a better employment
Marcus (Q): But is a good job a job where you earn a lot of money, or is it a job where you
are really happy and you can follow the ideology of (interrupted by Riya…) Riya (A):
No no, job in ehm… no. I am not getting job for money, I should get a job to that I will get happy so that I will get a success in my life, that I have been, that I
have eh… I have from my small age studied up till now, and I have got a good job it had made me independent, now I can earn my own money, and what I
think about I can do that
Manus (Q): Okay, but it is more important to you to find a job that makes you happy, than to
find a job with a lot of money?
Riya (A):
No it will make me happy that I can ehm… earn my money, and that I can ehm… earn my savings, and I can do with that savings what I want. Now I cannot do what I want because my father earns money, he will not give me
enough money that I want
Manus (Q): What is eh.. your wishes yours aims for what job you want to succeed?
Riya (A):
I am reading in science, so I have dream to become an engineer
Marcus (Q): Okay the next map is what are your everyday concerns, and your first concern,
you are concerned about regularity can you explain that?
Riya (A):
It means that I should be regular to my school I should be regular to my work, I
should take my food daily, I should go to school daily, I should respect my
teachers, I should be kind to others, I should be obedient to teachers, that will
regularities
Marcus (Q): And the next one here is… ehm… about my future to be safe, how do you do that, how do you make sure you have a safe future?
Riya (A):
As I am a girl ehm... I know that ehm… I have many ehm… I know that ehm.. As I am a girl. India is a country where there is a ehm.. where girls are… Girls belong to a bad society, girls cannot be as men. Now in society boys can do all
things, girls cannot do, so girls are not in a safe manner, so think that as I am a
girl I should be safe, I should think about my safety
Manus (Q): Maybe you can elaborate… Do you feel in this school in particular they focus
more on equality and teach you that boys and girls should be like this (hand
gesture to symbolize equality)?
Riya (A):
Yes I ehm.. I should think that boys and girls should be in an equal way, but in
our school the girls and boys are treated equally, but there is no boys, but we
think that boys and girls are treated equally, but in the scoeity, not here but in
other place boys and girls are not being treated equally, so I think not girls are in
safety, as when it happened when girls were abused, as I a girl I should be safe
Manus:
Yes I understand
Marcus (Q): This is just coming back to the school, you write that you are concerned about
your exams, what happens if you fail the exams, what would you do?
Riya (A):
I have never failed and exam so, if I failed it would be a great shame for me, that
my father and mother that there is affording me, they are eh… they are doing so
many things for me, they are earning money to get me educated and I cannot
success in… they have a great dream with me, if I do not pass the exam they
will be sad for me, and I also would be sad
Marcus (Q): So you are concerned about your exams?
Riya (A):
Yes exams, they are my concerns
Marcus (Q): And you write here that you are concerned that I am a girl, that is a bit strong,
try tell us a bit about that?
Riya (A):
Yes I am a girl, I know that in a society if a girl get marriages… If a girl get married, a Dhauri is taken, Dhauri means a huge amount of money is taken from
them, I know that my father no hmm.. I will be something in my life that ehm
nah… if I get married that is my father is not to afford all things ehm… That I am a girl, my father has not put down his head anywhere for me, he can always
say that he has a girl, he has a child that is a girl, who had done something great
for him
Marcus (Q): Okay, moving on to the next map, okay this is regarding the future of yours,
who write that you hope to be an honourable person (interrupted by Riya…)
Riya (A):
Honourable person, many in India they are so honourable, so I also want to be
an honoured woman that everyone wants to ehm… that that I can do something for the society that all can remember
Manus (Q): So to to… How do you get to be honoured?
Riya (A):
Means by ehm… by helping ehm… by helping on the backs of society, I have a dream
Manus (Q): So helping people in need?
Riya (A):
In need
Marcus (Q): Then you write you want to fulfil your parents’ dreams, what kind of dreams is that?
Riya (A):
Yes my father has a dream like I should get a job, and I eh... should get a job,
that he is earning so much money by doing so much work, he works in railway,
so he earns so much work by going duties and all, but should also give
something to him, that he is giving me so much, so I think he has so much of
wishes, so I think I should also fulfil that
Manus (Q): Okay, is it more important for you to fulfil your parents’ dream than your own dream?
Riya (A):
No I ehm… It is more important for me to fulfil their dreams because, my dream
I something, my dream is also their, but my dream should be their dream
because they are only affording to make my dream true
Marcus (Q): If you were to decide to do whatever you want to do in the future what would
that be? You can decide everything
Riya:
Means if I decide?
Marcus (Q): If would could decide… If you were to pick now whatever job you wanted to do, just in the future?
Riya:
If I don’t want to do any job in the future..?
Marcus:
No no… Manus (Q): What are your wishes? If you close your eyes and think into the future what do
you hope for?
Marcus (Q): What kind of job would you have?
Riya (A):
I think that I can be a successful engineer, I am real familiar to that so I like that
job
Marcus (Q): So now we have been through all of the maps, so the last question now is do you
have a boyfriend?
Riya (A):
No
Marcus (Q): Why?
Riya (A):
I think that I live in the society and that all is not good for me, at this age it is
not good for me I do not know what is right for me and what is wrong for me, so
if I have a boyfriend I do not know how he will be, I think I will marry that boy
who my father will choose for me, because the know the society, he will tell me
Marcus (Q): So when you are going to be married you father will choose for you?
Riya (A):
Choose yes
Marcus (Q): SO how do you feel about that? IS it alright that you don’t choose yourself? Manus (Q): DO you think it is okay that your father decides for you instead (interrupted by
Riya…)
Riya (A):
Yeah’ I think… no… I can eh… I can do anything for my father and my parents if their… if I fall in love I will leave him, but I will marry the boy which my father choose because he know well than me the society, I think that what he
will choose is what is right for me
Marcus (Q): SO if you fall in love with a bo, and your father say you can’t marry him, you would leave the boy?
Riya (A):
Yeah’ I would leave the boy

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