MaDePro 2012

The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology of Lausanne (Ecole Polytechnique Federal de Lausanne - EPFL) organized a Certificate of Advanced Studies in Management of Development Projects (MaDePro) in 2011-2012, for which I was one of the faculty. After several months of distance learning, including my 2-week module on sustainable development, the 26 participants from around the world experienced a two-week immersion in the realities of development in India from 26 February to 9 March 2012, for which I was one of two accompanying faculty. Our local collaborating institution was the Indian Instutute of Science (Tata Institute) in Bangalore, where some lectures and practical exercises were organized, but the highlight was a week in the small village of Chennakeshava Pura (C.K. Pura) near Pavagada in Karnataka State about 170 km (4 hours) northwest of Bangalore. Our host in the village, Sheshagiri Rao, is a scientist who returned to his village to try to solve the problems this semi-arid region faces with climate change and a declining groundnut (peanut) cash crop economy. This was the same village I had visited with a previous EPFL course two years ago (see photos). For photos of the Hindu temple we visited on the way, and views of the countryside and rural life in this part of India, see my separate travel page.


The first two days at the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore included lectures on village life and exercises in inter-cultural communications. They were also an opportunity for the participants to get to know each other after communicating for several months only at a distance. Participants had come from as far as the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Honduras, Mexico, as well as Europe and south Asia.

Bangalore . Bangalore . Bangalore
After an initial lecture, different working groups presented their results

Bangalore . Bangalore . Bangalore

After a four-hour trip over increasingly poor roads in an Indian bus of uncertain age, and a stop to visit the Lepakshi Temple, the group arrived in C.K. Pura and an initial introduction to village life.

group in CKPura . group in CKPura . Sheshagiri Rao's house
A first view of the village, and the entrance to Dr. Rao's house, newly painted for our visit

walking along bund . walking along bund
A walk along the bund of the tank (rainwater reservoir) adjacent to the village

groups at work . groups at work
There were meetings with local villagers, and government officials from the nearby town to understand local problems

groups at work . groups at work

There were two weddings in the village while we were there, and one couple came to pay their respects to Dr. Rao.

wedding party visiting . wedding party visiting . wedding party visiting
Visit of the newlyweds

Early one morning, much of the group went for a hike up one of the rocky hills that dot the landscape

hike up hill . hike up hill . hike up hill
Setting off towards the hill in the distance

hike up hill . hike up hill . hike up hill
On the way up. Dr. Rao's son was one of the most energetic hikers.

hike up hill . hike up hill . hike up hill

hike up hill . hike up hill . hike up hill
We descended by another route

hike up hill . hike up hill . hike up hill
Some participants decided to walk all the way back to the village

farms around CK Pura .
A small farm with some irrigated fields

groups at work . groups at work . groups at work
The groups worked hard on their project proposals

groups at work . groups at work

One evening two village drummers came, and had most of the group dancing in the courtyard
drummers . dancing to drums . dancing to drums
Dr. Rao and the drummers
dancing to drums . dancing to drums . dancing to drums

dancing to drums . dancing to drums . dancing to drums

dancing to drums . dancing to drums . village women and children
A crowd of villagers came to watch the visitors that had fun just like they did

groups at work . groups at work . groups at work
The groups were so deeply into their projects that it was hard to get them to stop

groups at work . groups at work . groups at work

Yuri . tea break
Yuri Changkakoti, the course coordinator from EPFL, and a tea break

All the female participants were taught how to wear beautiful saris
selecting saris . selecting saris . selecting saris
Selecting the most appropriate sari with the help of Mrs. Rao

participants in saris . participants in saris . participants in saris
The full immersion in village life was exactly that
participants in saris . participants in saris . participants in saris . participants in saris

participants in saris . participants in saris . participants in saris . participants in saris

participants . participants . participants
Sheshagiri Rao and his extended family (wife and children, sisters, brother-in-law, father-in-law) all hosted us beautifully

gift to school . giving presents of thanks . giving presents of thanks
The participants made a gift of sports equipment to the local school, and gifts of thanks were presented to all of the household staff

giving presents of thanks . giving presents of thanks .

group photo . group photo
The group photograph


Wikram Rao with great-grandfather's sword . Wikram Rao and his grandfather
Vikram Rao, with his grandfather, showing off his ancestors swords

Bus
We took the bus back to Bangalore with regrets on leaving the village where we had been received so well

On our return to Bangalore, each project team presented their results
project presentations . project presentations . project presentations

project presentations . project presentations



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Last updated 23 March 2014

Photographs copyright © Arthur Lyon Dahl 2012