Adhyayan Vatika (The Study Garden)

Amidst the concrete jungles of South Mumbai, is an island of greenery known as S. K. Patil Udyan which harbours this monument in one of it’s lost corners. Simple in architecture, but uncomparable in utility, this scanty corner has seen many a careers take shape, not to mention, also mine.

Formally known as the “Adhyayan Vatika", but colloquially as “Study Corner”, this octagonal shaped, wall-less structure with a few chinks in its roof, was built by a local politician some 26 years ago as a virtue out of necessity (as politicians always do to gather votes). Comfortably sitting in one of the corners of this ‘grand’ structure, on a higher pedestal is a statue of ‘Saraswati Maa’ (Goddess of Knowledge as per Hindu Literature), as if monitoring the work of each of the ‘jnanayogis’ (pursuant of knowlege) sitting there. It under her transcendental supervision that these pursuing dilettantes traverse their journey to virtuosity.

Another marked feature of this ‘jnanabhoomi’ (land of knowledge) is its Indian-ness. It is diversity personified pursuing a unified goal. It has seen students of all castes and creeds. It’s alumni list encompasses all faculties of engineering, all organs of doctors, all denominations of Chartered Accountants and Company Secretaries, all sections of lawyers, all compositions of graduate students and not to forget all classes of school children. Such is the diversity of this ‘down to earth’ place that even the best of universities will envy it.

If there is any place where the ideals of Rabindranath Tagore’s “Shanti Niketan” are followed religiously, then it’s “Adhyayan Vatika”. It’s normally under the natural tent of trees, on the lush green carpet of grass coated with sparkles of dew and with the background music of chirping birds that this “Saraswati Aradhana” takes place. Though benches and chairs are available, they seen far too sophisticated.

This place serves as the only ray of hope for the students of the lower and middle class families living in chawls of Girgaon. The chawl system with all its peculiarities and advantages brings with it cramped houses and a commotion filled ambience making studying nearly impossible. This is where “Adhyayan Vatika” comes to the rescue. Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar would have been surely happy to see this, as he wouldn’t have had to go through the pain of night study in his chawl had this ‘jnanabhoomi’ existed then. Another marked feature of this ‘novel’ utility is the ‘student-cum-teacher’ status of each of its participants. Knowledge here propagates in the same disciplic tradition as the Vedas and Bhagwad–Gita did for thousands of years. Whatever is received from a guru (senior) is passed onto the shishya (junior) and thus the flow of knowledge (notes and books) continues. Such has been the influence of this tradition that it has discouraged classes and tuitions in many a student here (many of whom cannot even afford it).

Just as a final touch, something where this institution stands apart from other educational institutions in India, is that it is open to all, admits everyone who wishes to come and does not have any government imposed Reservations. So just as an advice to our leaders supporting Reservations in IITs and IIMs, let us start building more “Adhyayan Vatikas” in India. Lets build places for students of all strata to come together, learn together ad live together. I don’t know how well these solutions work on paper except that I have seen generations of doctors, engineers Chartered Accountants and what not being churned out from here. It’s just a visit to this place that is required to understand what our forefathers meant when they said …

Sa Vidya ya Vimuktaye
(Salvation Through Knowlege)

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Chetan Bhadricha