United
Nation’s “The Universal Declaration of
Human Rights” which
was adopted by the UN General Assembly on 10 December 1948 in the face of
experience of the Second World War, declares
in Article 2:
“Everyone
has the right to education.
Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental
stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory.”
“Education
shall be directed to the full development of the human personality
and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.”
The due to
education was given in a time bound plan under United Nations Millennium Development
Goals 2000, by declaring to ensure that, by 2015, children everywhere, boys and
girls alike, will be able to complete a full course of primary schooling and
that girls and boys will have equal access to all levels of education.
Constant
realization and efforts of Indian Government, in the face of rising
International credence, we started with Sarv Shiksha Abhiyaan in 2001. Under
SSA initiative 2001, India passed Constitutional Amendment Article 21A ensuring the Right to Education as a Fundamental Right
to all its citizens and enacted Right to Education Act 2009 that was executed
from 1st April 2010.
One would
for once think “Why so much of Lullaby?” Some may oppugn the world singing the
same song of ensuring education and the economic value or may be everybody is
convinced that it is important.
I would
like to bring forward a small story.
A person sitting at his home once
asked the housemaid to maintain the personal hygiene of the kid that she used
to bring with her to work. It was her child who looked dirty, unhygienic and
rolled in mud while the mother was busy cleaning the house to maintain the
hygiene for this family. For the first time this maid realized that she needs
to care for her child’s hygiene as well.
This ‘person’ while sitting and
seeing this child playing one day started teaching him the basic alphabets.
While rehearsing a,b,c… and ka, kha, ga.. with this innocent child brimming
with life, he asked his maid “are there other maids who have kids and
accompanying their mother on work instead of getting educated?” The maid
obviously replied in consent “yes they do.”
“Ask them to send their child with
yours if you can” the man said candidly. A mid elderly man, sitting with a few
kids and teaching them very basic fundamental of life, “There is no limit to
human mind”, giving them small wings to fly, an immortal picture of a Vedic
Guru imparting “Knowledge”.
From an informal group of a few kids
to an organized force strengthening the growth, germinating values and ethics,
“Giving the Fire of Desire to the future” this idea is now a concept “Apna Ghar Social Welfare Society” (http://apnagharsociety.com) an
organization working for elementary education of under privileged children
under leadership of ‘the person’ Mr. Aridaman Johri.
Early
setback in form of Nithari Kand, but never short of energy and vision this man
started a school with 20 children which now is a school of over 100 student and
infrastructure facilities for classes up to V.
How does
such organization works for the Society?
The answer
lies in simple things and is not a juggernaut of jargons.
a) The school
invites, by means of survey,
interviews and public meetings, local people and inspires them to send their children to school. Such initiative
allows the interaction of the educated and well to do class of the society with
the under privileged. On the very first hand it diminishes the gap of disparity
that grips our present day society.
b) The school
is an attractive place for children. There is persistent effort to make it attractive and interesting while keeping it educative
and informative. The aim is not just
force people to growth. The school thrives on the eagerness of the child who
opens his arms to this new world filled with rich experiences. There is never
shortage of enthusiasm, never a lack
of energy; everybody wants to spend maximum time in the school.
c) School
also organizes events on Teacher’s Day, Republic Day, Independence Day etc.
various competitions, expeditions, picnics and other challenging activities to
create overall growth of the
Children.
d) It hires
people from local community. Hires capable teachers from the downtrodden
nearby, thus creating jobs and self esteem.
e) Trains
students and teachers for extracurricular skills. Gives vocational training to
the community people. Thus giving them a sense of self reliability and
achievement.
Why
discuss in such bullets? Rather let me tell you in the words of another man who
is also attached to this cause and younger brother of Mr. Johri. Mr. S.D Johri,
while expressing himself, after the school kids performed an Inaugural Dance on
the Raising Day of Consultancy Wing, NTPC Limited he said with a very heavy
voice and almost red eyes “These kids when they started could barely stand
properly. They never projected the confident future of my society. How could I ever
imagine them standing here on this stage; so confident, so poise and so full of
the zeal. This has definitely changed them; they will never be weak again
because they have seen their strength. They can never fall as they have seen
the flight.”
I
categorically remember the response to one of the questions raised by me to
these kids on a Teacher’s Day program. I had asked after a few general
questions about why and how the Teacher’s Day is celebrated, I asked “Shiksha
se kya hota hai?” (What does education give?)
The answer
that I shall take to my grave and probably reiterate a thousand time before its
time came from a standard I student, Tiwari Jee as I call him. He said “Shiksha
se desh mahan hota hai” (Education brings greatness to the Nation.)
There they
stood in front of me, not timid but candid and echt. Not shy but sparkling eyes
ready to take on. Not looking for help or generosity but standing tall to the
occasion beside me matching prodigious
self.
This
person himself may never have thought of where it would lead to nor can anyone
else see the future of this beginning but what matters is the fact that this
beginning took place. While talking of the social, economic and political
development and empowerment of the people of the nation, the first thing that
will always come to any mind is “Education”.
विद्या ददाति विनयं, विनयाद्यति पत्रता।
पत्रत्वाद्प्नॊति धनधर्म्ं तता: सुखम् ॥
Knowledge
(education) brings humility, with humility comes worthiness, worthiness brings about wealth and this wealth
is used for righteousness cause to create prosperity and happiness. One must
understand the above Shloka with the goal of Inclusive Growth and reducing
disparity. Education gives direction to desires, ignites aspirations, imparts
values and ethics and thus creates the social base.
A nation is as is its youth, the
present, is shaped as is its children, the future, and basks in the glory of
its elderly, its past. This Nation can only fly on the wing of these pupil and
only as much as is their limits. Let’s spread this conviction for the cause of
nation for the cause of our children and for the cause of mankind, we must
learn and get educated.
~ ~ Nalini Atul ~~
