Clay Walls, Open Skies, and Curious Minds: A New Education Movement in Assam

In a remote village of Assam’s Goalpara district, something magical is unfolding under the open skies. Here, children aren’t crammed into concrete classrooms. Instead, they’re learning surrounded by trees, fresh air, and the rhythm of nature. Welcome to ‘Swalishunthar’—the Mud School, where education begins not with textbooks, but with touch, play, and imagination.

The school’s foundation is made of earth, not cement—both literally and philosophically.

Before ABCs, They Build with Blocks

Each morning, the children of Rampur village gather to play—yes, play—with clay blocks, colors, and mud. But behind the laughter is a deep purpose: to train their fingers before their minds. These playful activities help strengthen fine motor skills, boost focus, and awaken creativity before they even begin learning the alphabet.

Instead of rote learning, the emphasis is on hands-on learning—cutting, pasting, dancing, drawing, listening to stories, and creating freely. Children build a natural bond with learning, unafraid of making mistakes.

A Software Engineer’s Unlikely Dream

The heart behind this revolution is Nishal Mothukuri, a former software engineer from Bengaluru. He left behind his career in 2022 to pursue a deeper calling: transforming education where it’s needed most. Inspired during his travels to the Northeast in 2015, he realized that the regions with the least resources needed the boldest ideas.

With support from the Badungduppa Art Center, he built Swalishunthar entirely out of mud, bamboo, and local materials. There are no walls that confine. Instead, the school expands with each breath of the forest wind.

“We started with just a nursery class,” says Nishal. “Every year, we’ll add one more class. But never more than 15 children per class. We want every child to feel seen, heard, and empowered.”

Learning from Mistakes, Not Fearing Them

Teachers at Swalishunthar don’t punish mistakes. Instead, they let children experiment, explore, and self-correct. Education here is not about competition, but connection—with nature, with creativity, and with one’s own potential.

Villager Ramesh, whose child attends the school, says, “This is unlike anything we’ve seen. My child loves to go to school now.”

Affordability with Dignity

Despite the innovation, the school is highly affordable. A symbolic fee of ₹150 per month covers books, stationery, and other learning materials. The goal isn’t profit, but purpose—to make quality education accessible in places often left behind.

Why This Matters

At a time when modern education often feels disconnected from reality, Swalishunthar School is proof that powerful change begins in the simplest places—a handful of mud, a tree’s shade, a curious child.

Cosmic Earth Foundation celebrates such grassroots movements that blend sustainability, innovation, and compassion. These stories remind us that real transformation doesn’t need tall buildings—it needs grounded hearts.

Cosmic Earth FoundationReconnecting humanity with the Earth through stories, solutions, and spirit.

COUTSEY DAINIK BHASKAR https://www.bhaskar.com/