Not Just Books

In his film,Ishu draws distinctions between the Tibetan and the Indian system of education at various levels,which goes beyond academics. “The schools focus on building creativity of children. For instance,children are taught self-reliance by learning to sweep their own classrooms and washing their own clothes. Cooking and stitching is part of their curriculum. Teachers and students sit on the floor and learn. In a math class,for instance,the teacher uses slides and graphics to make learning more relevant,” says Ishu,who teaches them filmmaking.

An independent filmmaker,he delves on socially relevant issues. His earlier work,Fatal Love,on smoking,in 2010,earned him a spot at the India Pavilion at the Cannes Film Festival,while Sold Out,looks at child trafficking in Uttar Pradesh.

Beyond Education has earned him criticism from Indian school principals for suggesting that the Tibetan method is better. But Ishu stresses,that the film does not suggest that the Tibetan system of education is better than other systems,only that “it is unique.”

Beyond Education was shot in 15 days using a 5D digital camera. Ishu spent a few months living with the children at the school and observing their method of learning. “I was convinced that this film would shed light on another cultural aspect of the Tibetans,” says Ishu,who screened the film in Majnu ka Tila last month and showed it to the Dalai Lama too.