Priyanka Gandhi bakes cake at a bakery in Wayanad:Congress leader learns baking from staff; visits school named after Rajiv Gandhi

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra made a cake and tried to make cupcakes at a baking unit in KINFRA Park during her visit to Kerala’s Wayanad on Thursday. Priyanka wore a hairnet and iced the cake. She also tried to fill the cupcake moulds with cake batter. The chefs and staff present there taught her about baking. During the visit, she also went to the Rajiv Gandhi Memorial Model Residential School in Kalloor, Noolpuzha, where she danced with the students. Priyanka Gandhi also answered the children’s questions. Responding to a girl’s question, she said that she had studied at home from the age of 12. Her brother Rahul Gandhi had also studied at home with her. Pictures from Priyanka Gandhi’s Wayanad visit… She made the remarks at the Rajiv Gandhi Memorial Model Residential School in Sultan Bathery, Wayanad, Kerala. Priyanka was answering a question from a 14-year-old student. The student had asked her about her childhood and her experience of growing up in a politically influential family. Priyanka said her grandmother and former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had been assassinated at their home. Priyanka said that after this, she stopped going to school. She continued her studies at home until she completed her schooling. Life changed after Indira Gandhi’s assassination Priyanka said, “Have you heard of Indira Gandhi? She was my grandmother. We lived in the same house.” She said, “When I was 12, they were murdered in the house where I lived. After that, I did not go to school.” Priyanka said that she and Rahul Gandhi studied alone at home. They could not go out much and did not have many friends either. She said, “The two of us were largely confined to the house.” Priyanka told the student that it was a good thing that she could go outside, travel around and enjoy her life. Described woman working in the household as her role model Another student asked Priyanka about her role model. The Congress MP said that her role model was a woman who had been working in her household since her children were three months old. Priyanka said that the woman was strong. Despite facing many difficulties, she had worked day and night in their household. She said the woman looked after her children like their mother and gave them love. Amid struggles and hardships, she had always stood up for herself. Priyanka said that even when the woman lost one of her children, she came to work the next day. Priyanka had told her to rest and stay at home. She said, “She refused. She said she wanted to work.” Studies declined after Class seven Priyanka said she had been a good student until Class seven. After that, her academic performance declined. It improved later. Responding to students’ questions, she also spoke about her favourite subjects. She said she liked physics, mathematics and biology. Priyanka said, “I was good at biology, but not at mathematics.” Talks about preserving tribal culture During the conversation, Priyanka said the Congress wanted to undertake several initiatives to preserve and protect tribal culture. She described tribal culture as a national heritage. She said their ancestors learned from one another. They also learned from forests, rivers, mountains, seas and nature. Priyanka said their ancestors had learned to live with and respect nature. According to her, people who consider themselves very intelligent have forgotten this. She said tribal culture and traditions held knowledge that was extremely valuable to the entire world. This knowledge was even more important than many things gained from books and major institutions. The dream of a tribal university in Wayanad Priyanka said the initiatives of the Congress-led UDF government in Kerala included establishing a tribal university in Wayanad. She said its aim was to provide opportunities to tribal children and preserve their culture and heritage. Priyanka said, “Our dream is for this university to offer the best opportunities available anywhere in the world. You should study in a modern and excellent environment.” She said a significant part of the university’s education would be connected to tribal traditions, culture and heritage. Priyanka told the students that they had an ancient heritage, culture and traditions of their own. They should be proud of them. She expressed hope that the university would become a centre of excellence in education. At the same time, it would also become a global example of preserving tribal traditions. Priyanka said it would be a unique university. Teachers from tribal communities would also join it. She said this would enable students to understand their traditions, languages and cultures. They would also learn to respect and learn from them. She said that alongside these, students would be able to study all the subjects taught at leading universities around the world. Priyanka said, “This is our dream. We want it to become a centre for academic excellence and the preservation of tribal cultures across India.” ​