Yesterday I have gap shap with some children of class seventh. They study in St. Joseph School, only English medium school of Rihand Nagar. In the evening near auditorium I found them with tiffin boxes in their hand. As I already knew some of them, I approached them to have some gap sap.
"What are you doing here?"
"SSG classes."
"For what?"
"It is a foundation classes."
The term seemed unusual for me, a little inquiry revealed that foundation classes is basically a classroom coaching for preparing students for ensuring success in IIT entrance exam. I amused, when they should pass through foundation of values, ethos, culture and love for country to widen their knowledge for making a complete, matured human being; they are given training for to know what is IIT and how to crack it. I knew these courses will only misguide them and will make them weak in study.
"So, you all want to go in IIT."
"Ya, it is true."
"But is it necessary for doing foundation classes at this very early age. I don't think so."
All were started looking at me. When I told them, I have studied in IIT. Some of them amazingly asked,"Are you from IIT?" Those who knew this mocked at others for their ignorance. Really children say what come in their mind. After some gap shap, they started saying they don't like coming SSG. Unknowing they got enrolled here, and so now they are bound to attend.
"Will you debate?"
"Yes I will do." Some were confused over this sentence. I will help you in getting good guidance for becoming good debaters. When I told them it is time for you to stay good in mathematics and other subjects, but simultaneously develop other traits of life, they all appreciated this idea. Creativity makes life beautiful. They all seemed enthusiastic.
When I asked them what you want to become in life. Traditionally they replied.
"I will go in IIT and then become IAS officers." said one and the other and almost most of them. Really Indian have not come out from feudal mind set, although they are well educated. All want to rule and none of them aspire to make life beautiful.
"I will go in IIT and then will join ISRO." told one of them. He wanted to become scientist. "You should go in IIT, study hard there, join some reputed university of the world, work in some reputed research lab and then come back here in India, then you will be able to serve the country better.
After some gap shap, I just proposed to visit nearby villages, meet people and learn the society, if you want to become renowned IAS officer. "Mammi will not allow us to go outside the campus." So, you all are frightened from villagers. "Yes" all told in a single voice.
If you have fear from villagers, if you can't meet people, how will you develop compassion for them which will refine your life to become good IAS officers, scientists. Anyway there is nothing to fear from villagers. It is quite probable some of them are not good, but still they will love you. When you will take my name or mention the name of my team mates, they will love you and they will also protect you.
After completion of primary school, I found out one good high school was located six kilometer away from my home. Till then, none of my villagers had gone there for education. I put the idea to my friends. Although that school would have been only three Km away from their villages, they all have notional fear that students of that school were very dirty, infested with criminal minds and bully those who were from far off places and hence refused to take that step. On those days I used to be the weakest among my friends. Yet I have nothing to fear in my mind. I just took my bicycle and went there. My father also reached, he got me enrolled. The six months which I spent there was very memorable in my mind. "Shyam Sundar" was adored by all. My friends used to take me at their homes and in that way I saw about ten villages of my area, some of them infested with Ranveer Sena and the other with Naxalism. Although I was physically weak, my legs were trembling when asked to speak publicly, but I was too vocal to spread the Idea of India among my friends. Some Muslim children were coming there. Sometimes they are mocked by Brahmin students. After getting in my touch they were befriended. It is my observation that if you have fear, you will never get real knowledge, you will not get real friends and you certainly can not serve your country well. Rihand Nagar is really good place for learning, for making ethos, but this could not be achieved by restricting students going outside, meeting people. Parents should assist them, guide them to understand society and facilitate them to interact them, organize some programs for village kids. This is good opportunity for children in Rihand Nagar. Fortunately Prayas Team and Sewa Kunj Ashram could play a great role in this endeavor.
"Make your son strong. Make him complete." "He will certainly bring honour for your family."
George Pancham was not the Bharat Bhagya Vidhata. A strong, sensible child is Bharat Bhagya Vidhata.
Jai ho!
Bharat Bhagya Vidhata!
