Delhi shopkeeper uses metro bridge to teach kids from poor backgrounds for a few hours every day
- By Karuna Madan, Correspondent
- Published: 21:02 February 10, 2014
New Delhi: Under the roof of a rumbling metro bridge, in the open heat
and dust, with only a torn rug to sit on, one man is changing this
little corner of the world with his missionary zeal to empower poor
migrant children.
Undoubtedly, of all the gifts that can be given, education is one that cannot be taken away.
In the heart of Delhi, 43-year-old Rajesh Kumar Sharma runs a makeshift
school, bringing hope of a better life for disadvantaged children with
few options.
The cost of what he puts in can easily be measured — a temporary
shelter and the daily two-hour labour of the teacher. But the output is
simply incalculable. Who knows, one of the students may become a Prime
Minister, another a bureaucrat and others scientists or renowned
doctors?
Class routine
The children turn up early every morning to sweep the floor clean and
spread their rugs. School founder Sharma, the owner of a nearby general
store, arrives at 9am, leaving his brother behind to tend to his
business for the next couple of hours.
The routine, which involves teaching elementary reading, writing, arithmetic and some geometry, sometimes extends to weekends.
Starting with two children five years ago, Sharma has come a long way.
His school under the bridge in Shakarpur now has over 150 children
between the ages of 3 and 16.
Initially, Sharma had a tough time convincing local labourers to send
their children to study. They refused as the children’s labour added to
the meagre incomes of their families. But he managed to light the fire
of knowledge in the children who now come to school willingly. Most
children at his school are later admitted to various government schools.
“Every time I meet the poor families living in the slums, I tell them
that only education can make a difference in their lives. If they want
their children to do better in life than they did, they must change
their mindset and welcome education.
“After a lot of persuasion, I have managed to get local labourers,
rickshaw pullers and farmers to allow their children to attend my
school. They now very well understand that only education can fight
poverty,” Sharma tells Gulf News.
Sharma sees the drastic shift in the attitude of the parents, who now
encourage their children to study at his makeshift school, as a big
achievement. Most of his students only have notebooks that are sourced
from social workers. The notebooks are often later passed on to juniors.
Delhi-based social activist Sapna Bhat praised Sharma’s efforts.
“Forget blackboards, Internet, email — it comes down to what happens
between a teacher and students. What an amazing duo! People who have
little themselves are so often the most generous. This is the new breed
of people going out of their way to empower the underprivileged with
education. Humanity at its best,” Bhat told Gulf News.
How the idea came
The idea to open a school came to Sharma one morning during a walk
along the Yamuna riverbed, when he saw some children whiling away their
time for lack of better things to do. Assisted by Laxmi Chandra, a post
graduate science teacher, Sharma has now decided to teach needy children
in other parts of Delhi too. Since the labourers moved from one
location to another in search of work, he decided to set up more such
makeshift schools.
“This is heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time. What an
inspiration and a lucky community to have these dedicated teachers. I
love the enthusiasm that you can see in the children’s eyes. [Sharma’s
work] is an example of sheer selflessness and proof that there is still
hope in the form of a few good men,” says Kunal Aggarwal, a local
resident.
“The kids are lucky to have a good Samaritan like this! This really
reaffirms one’s faith in humanity. It is always great to know that there
are some spectacular human beings in the world. It shows that money
does not need to be thrown at education to make it work. It shows that
in difficult circumstances, humans can solve their own problems,”
Aggarwal adds.
Donations, volunteers
Initially, Sharma paid all of the costs of the children’s textbooks and
stationary from his own pocket, but with volunteers and donations
trickling in, he can manage resource much better.
The parents are a happy lot
“I always wonder who these people are; all of a sudden someone comes,
changes a little scene, and it becomes a little world with hope inside
of it. Sometimes I think they may be angels in disguise sent by the
Almighty to show an example of what can be done,” parent Ram Khilawan, a
rickshaw puller, told Gulf News.
But Sharma takes each day as it comes. Since he does not have a permit
to run such a school, he is prepared to be asked anytime by the
authorities to wind it up.
Under the Right to Education Act of 2009, free and compulsory education
is guaranteed to all Indian children between the age of six and 14.
However, government schools are often accused of offering a poor
standard of education.
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