In 1997 the first Waldorf Kindergarten opened its doors in Hyderabad. In the following years, four additional Waldorf or Waldorf-inspired-schools came into existence, as well as one in Mumbai. In Bangalore two kindergartens are now starting  grades schools, and additional initiatives in Bangalore, Chennai and Mumbai have started. Since 1997 there have been many teacher training courses and workshops in Hyderabad, with the help of many teachers from different parts of the world, and now also experienced Indian Waldorf teachers.

Since 1997 there have been annual  Waldorf education seminars in Khandala organised by Aban Bana for all teachers from all over India in search of holistic education.

In August 2008 a nursery and kindergarten training course began in Hyderabad. It takes place monthly. Because of the huge distances in India, colleagues are now searching for ways to make this training possible in other parts of India as well.

Education has become a business in India;  Waldorf education can help to bring the golden treasure of early childhood back into the schools, and help to connect education with the ancient spiritual wisdom of India once again.

In addition to huge pressures for early intellectual learning, India has another challenge in education as well. The many years of British domination have left behind not only English language, but also English culture, which gets often more attention in schools than the Indian culture. The Waldorf  teacher training courses are working to bring back the precious wealth of the Indian culture in all its variety.  Festivals, natural processes and human work come  to expression in stories, games and other course activities.

Anthroposophy is the key to help to “unlock”  hidden mysteries. The name of the kindergarten teacher training course is Aja Graha Anjama –“ when the force of the unborn comes into the world, the world changes” . It  is led by Miriam Haenen (miriamhaenen@gmail.com). For more information on other antrhoposophical work in India, go to www.anthroposophyindia.org.