Traditional Media

Rajasthan has a rich tradition of puppetry. String puppets have been used to tell stories from local myths and legends of the valour of kings. Adapting from the traditional string puppets, the Barefoot College puppeteers have created a variety of eco-friendly, glove puppets made from waste paper. The puppeteers have also since 1998 been experimenting with masks.

More than 2,750 barefoot communicators have been trained to produce puppet shows to communicate with semi-literate audiences on issues of health, education, and human rights. Over 500,000 people have viewed these performances in 4,200 Indian villages since 1981.

One of the most popular puppet characters is Jokhim Chacha. He is 365 years old and enjoys the privilege of a wise old man among all the villages of Silora Block. Jokhim shares news and new ideas and engages his audience of rural villagers in debates on social and community issues.

A variety of modern media are also used by the barefoot communication team at the College. Barefoot printers run the College's silk screen printing presses. They produce posters on health, education and other social issues, announcements and pamphlets for Balmelas, Mahilamelas, and educational material for the night schools. The letterhead and envelopes of the SWRC are all printed by this unit.

Barefoot photographers and audiovisual technicians produce and manage slides and photographs, and over 600 audio and video cassettes.

The photographs of the Barefoot College photographers have been published in an anthology, BARFUSS IN DIE ZUKUNFT, by Frederking & Thaler. The book is available online from Amazon.de

Social Work and Research Centre
Tilonia, Rajasthan, India