AHMEDABAD: Samjunath Wadi was a world-famous magician, whose tricks included turning a brick into a venomous serpent — now, his son Gorakhnath Wadi hopes to coil the enchantments of education around snake charmers’ children.
The ban on the public display of snakes has put snake charmers out of business. So Gorakhnath decided to set up a school, at Vinchiya near Sanand, for the sons and daughters of the Wadi or snake charmers’ community.
Thirty-five children have already begun attending the school in this small hamlet. Called Samjunath Wadi Pathshala, the school for now comprises a temporary shed. It lies close to the area where the Wadis live, so the children are happy and their parents are reassured.
With no other livelihood options, the community members were forced to beg, said Gorakhnath. “If these kids get proper education, they will be able to get jobs and earn a decent living,” said Gorakhnath, who is also a magician. The school has hired a full-time teacher.
Run by a charitable trust, the school has purchased toys worth about Rs 80,000. Most of the elders of the Wadi community, clad in saffron robes, still go around begging for alms.
As for the kids, this is the first experience of formal education. Apart from lessons, they also get meals. “We plan to take the kids to some nearby schools so that they can understand the importance of school learning,” Gorakhnath said.
Guru Mahant, a revered figure in the Wadi community, stressed the importance of education in the pursuit of a good life. The school is based on his dreams and vision for the community.
In Vinchiya, one can sense the excitement in the 300-family Wadi cluster as kids head to school.