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By:

Shoumojit Banerjee

27 August 2024 at 9:57:52 am

Classroom of Courage

In drought-scarred Maharashtra, a couple’s experiment in democratic schooling is turning child beggars into model citizens In the parched stretches of Maharashtra, from Solapur to the drought-hit villages of Marathwada, a modest social experiment has quietly unfolded for nearly two decades. It is neither a grand government scheme nor a corporate-backed charity. Since 2007, the Ajit Foundation, founded by Mahesh and Vinaya Nimbalkar, has worked with children living at the sharpest edges of...

Classroom of Courage

In drought-scarred Maharashtra, a couple’s experiment in democratic schooling is turning child beggars into model citizens In the parched stretches of Maharashtra, from Solapur to the drought-hit villages of Marathwada, a modest social experiment has quietly unfolded for nearly two decades. It is neither a grand government scheme nor a corporate-backed charity. Since 2007, the Ajit Foundation, founded by Mahesh and Vinaya Nimbalkar, has worked with children living at the sharpest edges of society in Maharashtra. The foundation has become a home for out-of-school children, those who have never enrolled, the children of migrant labourers and single parents, and those who scavenge at garbage dumps or drift between odd jobs. To call their foundation an “NGO” is to miss the point. Vinaya Nimbalkar describes it as a “democratic laboratory”, where education is not merely instruction but an initiation into citizenship. The couple were once government schoolteachers with the Solapur Zilla Parishad, leading stable lives. Yet what they witnessed unsettled them: children who had never held a pencil, begging at traffic signals or sorting refuse for a living. Prompted by this reality, the Nimbalkars resigned their jobs to work full-time for the education of such children. Leap of Faith They began modestly, teaching children in migrant settlements in Solapur and using their own salaries to pay small honorariums to activists. Funds soon ran dry, and volunteers drifted away. Forced out of their home because of their commitment to the cause, they started a one-room school where Vinaya, Mahesh, their infant son Srijan and forty children aged six to fourteen lived together as an unlikely family. The experiment later moved to Barshi in the Solapur district with support from Anandvan. Rural hardship, financial uncertainty and the pandemic repeatedly tested their resolve. At one stage, they assumed educational guardianship of nearly 200 children from families that survived by collecting scrap on the village outskirts. Eventually, the foundation relocated to Talegaon Dabhade near Pune, where it now runs a residential hostel. Twenty-five children currently live and study there. The numbers may seem modest, but the ambition is not. Democracy in Practice What distinguishes the Ajit Foundation is not only who it serves but also how it operates. Within its walls, democracy is practised through a Children’s Gram Panchayat and a miniature Municipal Council elected by the children themselves. Young candidates canvass, hold meetings and present their budgets. Children maintain accounts and share decisions about chores, activities and certain disciplinary matters. In a country where democratic culture is often reduced to voting, the foundation’s approach is quietly radical. It treats children from marginalised backgrounds as citizens in formation. The right to choose — whether to focus on sport, cooking, mathematics or cultural activities — is respected. “We try never to take away what is their own,” says Vinaya Nimbalkar. Rather than forcing every child into a uniform academic mould, individual abilities are encouraged. A boy skilled in daily calculations may not be pushed into hours of bookish study; a girl who excels in cooking may lead the kitchen team. For children who have known only precarity, standing for election, managing a budget or speaking at a meeting can be transformative. On International Women’s Day, the foundation seeks visibility not just for praise but for partnership. If you are inspired by their mission, consider supporting or collaborating—your involvement can help extend opportunities to more children in need.

Bollywood’s eternal ‘He-Man’ departs

Sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik creats a sand sculpture to pay tribute to veteran actor Dharmendra at Puri beach, Odisha, on Monday.
Sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik creats a sand sculpture to pay tribute to veteran actor Dharmendra at Puri beach, Odisha, on Monday.

Mumbai: One of the most beloved icons of Hindi cinema, actor-politician Dharam Kewal Krishan Deol - universally adored as the heart-throb Dharmendra - passed away on Sunday after a prolonged illness at his Mumbai residence, barely a fortnight before his 90th birthday.

 

He was 89. His entire family was by his side during his final moments, even as the news sent a wave of shock, grief, and nostalgia through Bollywood and the millions who grew up watching and admiring him.

 

Admitted to a private Mumbai hospital earlier this month, Dharmendra’s declining health had put the nation on edge.

 

His family had repeatedly appealed for calm as unfounded rumours of his passing circulated, underscoring the deep emotional connect he shared with audiences.

 

Renowned for his gentle charm, quiet dignity, and earthy Jat masculinity, Dharmendra’s screen presence spanned the transition from black-and-white cinema to widescreen colour spectacle.

 

For generations of film-goers, he was the epitome of the affable hero - handsome, courageous, and emotionally vulnerable. For a time, even his simple hairstyle became a national trend as fans proudly asked barbers for the “Dharmendra Cut.”

 

The late thespian Dilip Kumar once famously confessed a touch of envy at Dharmendra’s striking looks - a compliment that spoke volumes about his charisma, which could give even the most confident heroines wobbly knees.

 

Born on December 8, 1935, in Nasrali village near Sahnewal, Punjab, Dharmendra was mesmerised by cinema from an early age. He would excitedly cycle miles to watch the latest film releases in neighbouring towns.

 

His life changed in 1958 when he won Filmfare magazine’s national talent-search contest, rewarding him with his debut role in “Dil Bhi Tera, Hum Bhi Tere” (1960) alongside the legendary Balraj Sahni.

 

He is survived by his wives Prakash Kaur and Hema Malini, six children, and a large, grieving family, besides millions of teary-eyed fans.

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