AN ATTEMPT TO EDUCATE

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 1^st 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 ~~