To make mathematics interesting for the students and teachers and to provide them with hands-on techniques of learning so that they can feel and experience the numbers and see the captivating beauty of mathematics, under the Social Initiative Program of Sri Aurobindo Ashram-Delhi Branch, a comprehensive Integral Education & Experiential Mathematics workshop was conducted on the Ashram campus between December 23rd to 29th, 2023 for 50 teachers of remote regions across India from a total of 22 schools from Uttarakhand: school 3, teacher 7; Andhra Pradesh; School 1, teacher 1; Karnataka: school 2, teachers 4, Rajasthan: school 2, teachers 6, Odisha: schools 7, teachers 17; Assam: school 1, teacher 2; Leh: school 1, teacher 2; Gujarat: school 1, teacher 2; West Bengal: school 2, teacher 4; Tamil Nadu: School 1, teacher 2; Jharkhand: school 1, teachers 2.

The workshop commenced with lighting candles at the lotus feet of The Mother and Sri Aurobindo by Dr Aparna Roy. This was followed by lectures on integral education by Dr Aparna Roy, an inmate of Sri Aurobindo Ashram Delhi Branch. Dr Roy lucidly explained the philosophy of Integral Education and how it encompasses all levels of being – physical (gross body and matter), mental (thoughts and reason), vital (life force and emotions) and psychic (the divine element).

The resources of mathematics were Mr. Narayana Meher and Biswajit Sahoo. The former has been working in the field of experiential mathematics for the last 17 years whereas the latter is a retired Mathematics and Science teacher. Their experience and understanding of mathematics helped each participant to enjoy learning difficult concepts.

The concepts of number sense, four operations, fractions, decimals, and geometry were covered using manipulatives to deepen conceptual understanding as well as how definitions and rules/algorithms emerge in each case.

Hira Das conducted innovative minor games involving mathematical concepts such as the measurement of distance using body parts. Fire on the Mountain game was played using four operations, making a clock and fixing time as per instruction by moving the minute hand and hour hand and making mandalas and different shapes like square, triangle and rectangle.

Some of the other activities that the group did were shramadan, yoga classes, meditation and Delhi Darshan. Each school was given teaching aids at the end of the workshop.

The workshop was funded by Tata Investment Corporation Limited, Elphinstone Building 10, Veer Nariman Road Mumbai 400 001.