Jab Periyar river early morning rays mein chamakti hai toh Manappuram Desom Kadavuu me chahal-pahal shuru ho jaati hai. 61 years ke Saji Valasseril apne students ko dheere-dheere paani me utarte huye dekhte rahte hain. Aluva me ak furniture shop owner, Saji last 16 years se Periyar river me free swimming classes de rahe hain. Unhe apne students ki counting yaad nahi hai lekin unka anuman hai ki ye sankhya 15k se jada ho sakti hai.
Unke system ko alag banane wali baat ye hai ki training ke har ak stage ko school education levels ki tarah naam diya gaya hai. Saji ne bataya, “Beginners ‘Pre-KG’ stage se paani ke neeche rahne ki practice karte hain, jisse wo 60 seconds tak apni breath ko hold kar ke rakhte hain, halanki jadatar shuruaat me keval 30 seconds hi aisa kar paate hain. Lagbhag 5 din aur 1 test ke baad wo ‘LKG’ me jaate hain, jahan wo Superman-like position me swimming seekhte hain. Iske baad ‘UKG’ aata hai, jahan students aage ki or kick karne ke liye apne legs ka use karte hain, uske baad ‘Lower Primary’ aata hai, jahan wo swimming ke saath-saath arm strokes bhi add karte hain.”
Saji iss simple belief se inspired hain ki swimming life ki most essential lekin aksar nazarandaaz ki jaane wali skills me se ak hain. Unhone 2009 me apni classes start ki jab wo Thekkady boat tragedy se behad sadme me the, jisme 45 log maare gaye the.
Jaise-jaise wo aage badhte hain, learners ‘Upper Primary A’ and ‘Upper Primary B’ stages me pahochte hain, jahan wo 1-2-3 count kar ke baari-baari se side-breathing ki practice karte hain. ‘High School’ stage me, wo longer distances tak tairte hain, nadi ke one-fourth part tak ki distance cover karte hain. ‘HS Tube Test’ unhe safety tubes ko handle karna sikhata hai aur isme riverbed se sand retrieve karne ke liye underwater diving shaamil hai. ‘Plus One’ and ‘Plus Two’ stages wo breathing capacity build karte hain aur emergencies ke liye prepare rahne ke liye ak haath se rescue tube hold kar ke swimming ki practice karte hain. ‘Degree’ stage me, swimmer nadi me fanse hone ka anukaran karne ke liye ak ghante tak paani me tairna seekhte hain aur ‘PG’ stage me, wo ise double kar ke 2 ghante kar dete hain.
River cross karne ke final attempt se pahle, har ak learner ko ‘PhD’ stage complete karna hoga, jisme ak ghante tak bina ruke ak buoy-marked area me swimming karna hoga. Mandapam Kadavu me held final test me nadi ko total 750m cross karna, midpoint tak pahochna aur safely return hona shaamil hai.
Saji ne 6 saal ki age me apne father se swimming seekhi thi. 2007 me, unhone apne bachchon, Merin and Jerin ke saath-saath do aur local bachchon ko bhi swimming sikhai. Jab unhone Periyar river ko successfully cross kiya toh ye baat teji se faili aur aur log seekhne ke liye unke paas aaye. Time ke saath ak chhoti si koshish se start hua ye program ak structured programme me change ho gaya jo ab 1000 learners ko har din 2 batches me train karta hai, jo subah 4:30 baje se start hota hai. Har ak session lagbhag 45 minutes tak chalta hai, jisme students ko paani me confidence build karne ke liye Saji dwara design kiye gaye training frames ka use kiya jata hai.
Saji apne students me responsibility ki spirit ko encourage karte hain. Training finish karne wale students aksar group leaders ka role play karte hain, newcomers ke dekhrekh karte hain aur unki safety ensure karte hain. Ye classes sabhi ke liye open hain. Unhone kaha, “Parents ne bhi bataya hai ki inn classes ke unexpected benefits hain: bachche apne phone par kam time spent karte hain kyunki wo subah jaldi uthte hain, jisse naturally unko raat me jaldi nind aa jaati hai.”
Safety ke liye boys ko ak local guardian ko saath lana hoga aur women and children ko parents ke saath aana hoga. Well-wishers ki help se facilities arrange ki gayi hain, jisme Malayattoor ke ak donor dwara sponsored toilets and changing rooms shaamil hain taaki log baad me seedhe school ya kaam par ja sakein. Halanki classes completely free hain lekin cost ko cover karne me help ke liye 100 rupees per month voluntary contribution accept kiya jata hai. Ak DSP ke suggestion ke base par, har din ak ambulance aur ak local boatman ke help ki arrangement ki jaati hai, jisme Valasseril River Swimming Club har ak ke liye 300 rupees ka fees cover karta hai.
Saalon se Saji ke dedication ne kai logon ki life ko touch kiya hai. Tripunithura ke differently-abled children bhi yhan training lete hain. Saji ne bataya, “Iss saal, aise 11 students aaye aur unme se ak, Arush, Periyar river ko successfully cross kar gaya.” Kozhikode ke Aseem jaise aur students, training ke liye aankhon par patti bandhkar ya haath-pair bandhkar swimming ki practice ki hai aur emergencies ko calmly handle karna seekha hai.
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