Travelling from CST to Lokhandwala everyday for almost a year thanks to my previous job, I had become accustomed to carrying my music and books to keep me occupied. Considering it was a good one and a half hour commute, sleep also was a part of it. There was nothing adventurous about this journey; but one day, quite by accident, something caught my eye as I looked out of the bus. A bunch of kids with school bags and books, sitting on a footpath near Jeevan Nagar, Andheri West, being taught by two dedicated women. Day in and day out, I’d see them running their footpath school with a passion I couldn’t quite explain. It made me feel incredibly happy, and sad at the same time, to see these kids and teachers struggle in order to run the school.
After almost a year, I finally had the opportunity to meet these kids and their teachers, who come from Asha Kiran Trust that works towards building a better future for these slum kids. The children come from various backgrounds. A few of them are children of construction workers and the other live in slums nearby. Many of them are migrants and their mother tongue is Tamil or Telegu. Naturally, it’s a little difficult for these teachers to communicate with them, as they do not understand Hindi or Marathi. But with time and regular classes, these little ones are taught English, Hindi and Marathi. The teachers use a book called Uncle P, which is in English and Hindi so the children can understand better.
Aged between seven and 15, the children are taught the alphabet as well as words and sentence formation. They are also served biscuits, banana and vada pav as breakfast. As most of them come from very poor families and study in municipal schools, they cannot afford tuition; that’s why this footpath school that takes place every day from 8 AM to 11 AM under the tree, near the Jeevan Nagar signal is a boon to them.
Vijayshri Mahajan, one of the teachers, enjoys teaching these kids. “I believe in spreading knowledge so that the kids can think of a better future and achieve a better quality of life,” she says with conviction. Vijayshri is a housewife and has two kids. Another teacher, Sadhna Bansode, finds solace making a difference to the lives of these kids. The two women together run this school and help these kids dream again!
Apart from the Jeevan Nagar signal, these classes are held at various places in Andheri that include a space in Lokhandwala, a place near MHADA and another near HDFC Bank’s Andheri branch. All of these cater to different children.
Being around these kids, you can actually feel their joy. Learning is not a drudgery for them. Just to learn that one new English word makes sitting on the footpath, with the sun shining bright and honking cars passing by, worth it. They all have dreams and aspirations. While one wants to become a policeman, another dreams of being a doctor one day. Their zeal to learn left me humbled, but grateful.
But after all this time, why haven’t they moved to a better place, I ask. Sadhna says, “We have now reached a point where the lack of a roof and the honking cars don’t affect us. We are too engrossed in teaching the kids that we don’t care about the lack of comfort. This place has become as a landmark as many people come and donate things.”
So the next time you pass the Jeevan Nagar signal in Andheri, stop by this school and restore your faith in humanity. While you’re at it, donate something towards the cause – stationery, books, or food, your efforts will be appreciated.
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