nwasianweekly.com
Dec. 3, 2005

 (Photo by George Liu)
Shelly Krishnamurty volunteers to teach students about Indian culture, traditions and cuisine. She wants to erase any misunderstandings people may have about Indians and Indian Americans.

Understanding comes from education

By Pat Tanumihardja
For the Northwest Asian Weekly

A trunk full of saris and cultural and religious artifacts, an assortment of Indian delicacies and a repertoire of folk tales — these are Shailaja “Shelly” Krishnamurty’s arsenal in her personal campaign to educate schoolchildren about India.

Krishnamurty, 46, organizes school visits to educate children about Indian traditions and culture. It all started post-9/11, when she had a hostile experience at the Atlanta airport. “It was the first time I was treated the way I was,” says Krishnamurty. “People think just because I’m brown-skinned, I’m part of that group.”

Already an active volunteer at the school her children were attending, The Overlake School in Redmond, Krishnamurty took things one step further. She started making regular visits to the school to share her culture with students of all ages.

By weaving culture, history and mythology, Krishnamurty engages her audience, enriches their understanding of Indian traditions and clears misunderstandings about the country and culture. “I talk about myself, how I am an Indian living in this country while still maintaining my roots,” she says. “The kids can ask any questions … and one question leads to another … it’s a dialogue, not a monologue.”

Susan Arndt first met Krishnamurty at Overlake six years ago and is now a close friend. “Shelly is very open and hopes people ask questions about her culture,” says Arndt, a fellow volunteer at the school. “I’ve been to (Shelly’s) classes … and listened to how she encourages the kids to ask questions. If it’s too personal, she’ll tell them, but her motto is ‘If you don’t ask, you don’t know.’”

Krishnamurty covers topics ranging from religion to arranged marriages to, very importantly, moral values. “I teach these children about respect, not just to their elders but their peers and their teachers,” says Krishnamurty. “I tell them a lot of stories from Hindu mythology that relate to all these things.”

Hands-on activities include playing dress-up with Indian clothing and jewelry and sampling delicious food.

It’s not just about India, though. Krishnamurty believes in promoting understanding across all cultures. She says that even if you know just 10 percent about another person’s culture, “your conversation will be much better, your thinking will be much better, your perspective on life will be much better.” 

Krishnamurty does all this on a voluntary basis. “I don’t expect anything from these children except their smiles and the lovely letters they write to me,” she says.

So deep is her passion for India and her love of working with children, Krishnamurty doesn’t even let Parkinson’s disease distract her. “I’ve had Parkinson’s for 10 years, but believe me, nothing stops me,” she says.

Arndt agrees. “Shelly has tremendous focus,” she says. “In class, even when her body is misbehaving, she just tells the students that she is not in pain and keeps her mind on track.”

From one school in 2001, Krishnamurty’s visits have increased to 20 to 25 schools every year. She is also involved with the World Affairs Council and has been invited to present at the World Language Day program at the University of Washington, a gathering of 4,000 high school students from across Washington state, for the past three years.

Aside from her work in the schools, Krishnamurty is also an active member of the community. She is a Seattle Asian Art Museum board member and is involved with Children, Relief and You (CRY), Chaya and the Indian Association of Western Washington Seniors Group. 

And she truly enjoys all her volunteer work. “My biggest satisfaction is that I’m doing something to help somebody.”

For her dedicated volunteerism, she will be among the recipients of the Top Contributors to the Asian Community Award on Dec. 8. The ceremony, organized annually by the Northwest Asian Weekly, will take place at Four Seas Restaurant in Chinatown/International District.

Krishnamurty, who was born in Kathmandu, Nepal, and came to the U.S. in 1979, owes her giving nature to her parents. “They’ve been a big influence in my life because from day one, I have been told, ‘The more you give, the more you get,’” she says, “not necessarily in a materialistic way, but just a smile or a thank you should be enough payment.”

Unfortunately, they didn’t teach her how to say no. “My husband, Rajan, has been my biggest supporter … but he told me once, ‘Your parents didn’t teach you the alphabet, or if they did, they only taught you 25 (letters), but they didn’t teach you the one between m and o, which is n. There’s a word that starts with the letter n and ends in o,” she says, laughing. “I can never say no to anyone.”

Arndt can vouch for that. “Shelly is a devoted friend and person,” says Arndt. “She puts other people first all the time “

Krishnamurty doesn’t mind setting her own needs aside. “My biggest pleasure is serving, and … if I touch just one person, my entire day is made.”  

Pat Tanumihardja can be reached at scpnwan@nwlink.com.

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