The Janwaar Castle: A Contemporary Indian Temple

An awesome, stylistic and graffiti-clad skate park, sounds rad; you’d expect such a contraption in the suburbs of New York. Yet, we find one such monument of human collaboration, in the remotest of villages in India, Janwaar, Madhya Pradesh. The story of the barefoot skateboarders of Janwaar, is a fascinating one.
Janwaar, a remote village, plagued by dormant governance, unemployment, lack of sanitation, yet, rewarded with an endearing youth, who are turning the village around, day by day. Rampant poverty and lack of employment are evident problems in most Indian villages and Janwaar is no exception. Even rudimentary healthcare and education is missing in the village. A half-finished hospital and a school up to the 8th grade are the only institutes found here. Yet, the kids of Janwaar learn and grow together. I witnessed firsthand, the Janwaar Castle, as it is popularly called, tagging along with one of the architects of this sandbox, Mrutunjay Mishra.
A group of professional and passionate skateboarders built a skating park in the middle of this village. Kids were taught to skateboard and they learned it splendidly. More importantly, they learned how to learn and collaborate. Kids taught other kids, encouraged others, and built an atmosphere of learning and practice. Simple rules such as “no school, no skate-boarding” improved attendance in schools, instilled important values in school going children. Gender equality was taught to kids using an innovative method named “Girls first!”, where any girl gets a right to use a skateboard first. All she needs to do is ask. The kids understand the value of the skate park and respect its integrity. Shooing away village dunks, cleaning and maintaining the park, are all activities carried out by a few natural leaders among the kids themselves.
A temple of many sorts, the skate part holds an aura that is mystifying. It promotes self-learning, introspection, and inspiration. It is a community center, a school away from school, home away from home and so much more. Truly, a modern day sandbox. Village meetings take place here, problems are discussed, and solutions manufactured. The park has brought tourism and commerce into the village. Visitors get a chance to interact with the villagers, experience their hospitality by spending a night or two with them, skate board with the kids, and at large, detox in the midst of nature. Villagers gather here from time to time, discuss their problems, come up with collaborative solutions, interact with visitors.
A close friend I made, was 9 year old Ankush. A dashing young man, with the spirit of Tom Hawk himself! I interacted with many residents. The honesty children radiate, help me understand the dynamics and psyche of the village.

The kids are truly shaping their own future. The awareness within them is all inspiring. These young learners, seem to have unlocked the power of self-learning and collaboration. They have learned to learn and teach. They have harnessed the power of collaboration. All it took, was a sandbox, where individuals from varied backgrounds worked together. It is up-to them to solve their own quandaries, they are mindful of this. They’re channeling their energies into synergies, via productive means, grabbing opportunities, thinking, tinkering and telling stories to the world.
Casteism and gender inequality is prevalent in the village, which is not a big surprise. A heartening sight, however, was that of kids overcoming such man-made obstacles. The rapport among them cuts across everything. Adivasis (tribals) and the privileged kids of the village, abandon all biases when they enter the skate park. Gender stereotypes are brushed away as and when their minds are put to a better use, nailing that Ollie 360! They skate together, laugh together, and learn together.
The tale of the barefoot skateboarders of Janwaar is truly a fascinating one. Sounds of wheels buzzing, not bells ringing, brought this village’s next generation together. A modern Indian temple, it is.

