Aapulki—Where Young Minds Find a Safe Harbour

In an age where students are constantly juggling expectations, racing against deadlines, and battling unseen emotional storms, mental well-being often takes a back seat. While classrooms focus on grades and playgrounds shape physical fitness, the silent struggles of young minds frequently go unnoticed. Breaking this long-standing pattern, Nanded Education Society’s Science College, Nanded, has stepped up to the plate by launching an innovative initiative, ‘Aapulki,’ a dedicated mental health support center, under the guidance of President Dr Venkatesh Kabde, Vice-President CA Dr Praveen Patil, and Secretary Shyamal Patki, that places compassion at the very heart of education.

True to its name, which signifies warmth, care, and emotional closeness, 'Aapulki' offers students a safe space to open up and find their footing. At a time when pressure threatens to overwhelm, this initiative stands as a timely reminder that nurturing the mind is just as important as sharpening the intellect. What is Aapulki? It is more than a word, more than a programme, and far more than a room within college walls. Aapulki is the warmth in relationships, the quiet glow of affection, and the sense of belonging that makes one feel heard, understood, and cared for. Giving this very name to a mental health support center is not accidental; it is deeply intentional.

Recognising that students today are often caught between academic pressure and emotional turbulence, the college has taken a pioneering step by setting up a dedicated mental health support center named ‘Aapulki.’ Just as sports teachers are appointed at schools and colleges to nurture physical fitness, the college acknowledged the equally vital need for mental well-being. By reading the writing on the wall and understanding the silent struggles of students, the college has brought mental health out of the shadows and into the mainstream of campus life.

The idea of the ‘Aapulki’ center was proposed by renowned cardiologist and president of Nanded Education Society, former MP Dr Venkatesh Kabde. The choice of the name itself speaks volumes. The word carries compassion within it; it invites rather than intimidates. Dr Kabde believed that a support center should not feel clinical or distant but should draw students in, helping them open up without hesitation. When the name itself feels like a gentle embrace, half the battle is already won. The center is coordinated by Sangeeta Modi, with Chaitali Kakde providing counselling support.

The center was inaugurated on September 26, 2025, in the presence of Dr Venkatesh Kabde and Kunjama Kabde, along with the principal, Dr L.P Shinde, Vice-Principal Eknath Khillare, faculty members, and students. The occasion marked not just the opening of a facility but the beginning of a more empathetic academic culture.

At its heart, ‘Aapulki’ aims to support students navigating emotional storms and help them get back on their feet. In an age where anxiety, stress, and emotional overload are becoming part of everyday life, the center works as an anchor, enabling students to cope, adapt, and grow. It focuses on students’ emotional, mental, and academic development, helping them deal with pressure related to studies, relationships, and self-expectations.

The purpose of the Aapulki Mental Health Support Centre is clear: to safeguard students’ mental well-being by offering emotional support in a safe and trustworthy environment. It provides a space where students can speak freely about stress, anxiety, depression, and other psychological concerns without fear of being judged. Here, problems are not brushed under the carpet; they are talked through, worked on, and gradually resolved.

Initially, the center was started with students of Class XI and XII in mind. Over time, as the ‘Aapulki’ word spread and trust grew, undergraduate and postgraduate students from BSc and MSc courses also began to seek support. Counselling sessions may be individual or group-based.

Two guiding principles form the backbone of Aapulki. The first is privacy; everything shared by a student remains strictly confidential. The second is a non-judgmental approach; students are never labeled or criticised based on their problems. These golden rules encourage students to speak their minds openly and unburden their hearts without holding back.

(The writer is a journalist based in Latur. Views personal.)