“What you did should be done by each and every student. This is a process of learning to understand the pain and difficulties of others. And towards those who help us in times of need to develop the spirit of gratitude and recognize their help,” Dr. Kiran Bedi told me
when I was called for internship by her NGO Navjyoti India Foundation situated at Bawana, in the outskirts of New Delhi in the month of June.
It was wonderful experience as I attended the special project instituted by Dr. Bedi wherein I was required to teach the slum & under privileged children enrolled from class 5th to 10th of the Primary & Secondary Remedial Education Centers at Bawana. I had just completed my 11 std exams and when I was in a quandary not knowing how to pass the summer vacation came the offer from Dr. Bedi. As I went to see these children I felt they were not fortunate enough to be like me. Either they belonged to a municipality school or were illiterate living in by-lanes totally neglected and uncared for. My experience with the kids was both profound and humbling.
Dr. Kiran Bedi is presently deeply involved in as a social activist though she retired as Indian Police Service (IPS) officer after being the first woman to join the IPS in 1972. Her experience as a no-nonsense police officer who had held the post of Director General, BPR&D (Bureau of Police Research and Development), Ministry of Home Affairs was a boon to me as I saw her disciple and her commitment to work.
When I met her for the first time in my life in person I was a bit nonplussed, especially about her Navjyoti India Foundation. When I queried about the significance of forming such an NGO, pat came the reply: “Dear son, Navjyoti India Foundation is all about self reliance & empowering people for self-help. It is all about growing up to reject deprivation & also broaden the opportunities.”
I have been all along enamoured since childhood about people who not only shine in their respective fields but also stand out as an example of being a good citizen. In this connection I wish to say that two of the present day great personalities for me have been Dr. Kiran Bedi & the former President of India Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. I had the good fortune of meeting Dr. Kalam many times who has been instrumental in encouraging me to be a good student and a good citizen. “You cannot be a good student without being a good citizen,” Dr. Kalam once told me.
My challenge was two-fold. I myself being a student of 12th standard had lot to learn and lot to understand. Can I do justice to these poor kids? Secondly I had to teach them not in English but in Hindi. But I decided it is no time thinking or brooding about my infirmities. My only option was to take the bull by the horns. On the first day of my 15-day long internship, I took a class for 5th explaining to the kids how role models can be a powerful force in learning and achieving one’s objectives. They’re not only important in the progress of one’s career, but for achieving fulfillment in everything you do. You ought to have role models in every stage of your life.
As I concluded my lecture I reminded the children that having good role models means to learn in a positive way by being self- motivated and self-learners. Einstein said, “Imagination is more important than knowledge.” By pointing this out to the children I hoped that the importance of role models will be imprinted on their very impressionable minds. I also pointed out Dr. Kalam as a great example to follow. He encouraged the youth of India to dream big and achieve those dreams. He came from a poor family and yet became the President of India. This is because he dreamt big and was brought up with the right moral values. He inspires us to do the same.
Referring to Dr. Kiran Bedi I told the kids that she was the one who daringly broke the stereotype and traditional image of Indian women. She made tremendous contribution to the country through her grit and determination by becoming the First Lady IPS Officer. With Dr. Bedi being the General Secretary of Navjyoti India Foundation it indeed was a honour to me to interact with these poor kids as they came to learn from me with great passion.
On the eve of "World Environment Day" on June 5, 2010, I celebrated the day with the students by participating with the kids of std 5th & 6th in making creative dustbins out of waste materials such as cartons, thermocols, polythenes, plastics, etc. The main objective for asking the students in making the dustbins was to make them aware of keeping the environment neat and clean by disposing the garbage into the dustbins. At the end all the children kept their creative dustbins in their respective classes.
I taught children the importance of trees & even encouraged them to indulge in plantation activities. I told them that trees are very important to our environment since it purifies air and also provide us food and shelter. They also provide us fire, wood, furniture and medicine.
Trees also provide oxygen, and we obviously need oxygen to breath. Then again, some trees grow fruit and animals eat that, going back to the life cycle again, we eat the animals that eat the fruit and we need that to live. For those people who do not eat meat, they also depend on trees for fruit.
I asked the children to read books as much as possible since they would broaden their imaginations & also improve their vocabulary skills.
As my internship was drawing to a close I decided to meet my Dr. Kalam at his residence who was happy that I had taken up the challenge of teaching the kids. I am also happy that after I represented Gujarat as its cultural ambassador to Japan during a Cultural-Exchange summit in December 2009 the Gujarat Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modi had called me and appreaciated my role in representing the Indian ethos abroad. He wanted that it was kids like me who can be the true ambassadors to preserve and represents our unique cultural heritage. I am sure as we meet others our world view too would change in bringing peace to this troubled world.
