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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.

From Kho-Kho to Hockey, Rutuja leaves imprint

Mumbai: At just 23, Rutuja Dadaso Pisal has already established herself as a regular in the senior Indian Women’s Hockey Team, emerging as an influential presence in the midfield and has been included in the squad for the upcoming FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 Qualifiers Hyderabad, Telangana, scheduled from March 8 to 14.

 

Hailing from Phaltan, a small village in the Satara district in Maharashtra, Rutuja’s journey into hockey began somewhat unexpectedly. “Before hockey, we used to play Kho-Kho in school. It is very popular in Maharashtra. Our teachers noticed that we could run well and had good stamina, and they encouraged us to get into hockey. From there my journey began,” she shared.

 

“I started playing when I was around 12 years old. I had to give a fitness and endurance test to get into my academy in Pune. I passed the test and that is where I started playing hockey,” she added.

 

Coming from a village where women playing sports was uncommon, Rutuja acknowledged the support she received during her early years. “In my village it was not very common for girls to play hockey. At that time families were still thinking whether they should send their kids outside for sports or not, but a coach in our village supported us and encouraged us to go ahead,” she said. From there Rutuja made her way from state and national level tournaments to the Junior Women’s Hockey Team where she helped India win the Women's Junior Asia Cup in 2023 and earned a spot in the Senior camp.

 

National Camp

Rutuja has now been part of the senior national camp for over two years and believes the experience has helped her grow significantly as a player. “There are many similarities between the junior and senior camps, but the intensity needed to train with senior players is much higher. Being in the camp for the last couple of years has helped me improve a lot,” she explained.

 

Despite operating primarily in the middle of the park, her intelligent movement inside the circle makes her a constant goal threat, as she has already registered seven goals in her 20 appearances for the senior side. This is majorly because Rutuja also has plenty of experience playing as a forward under her belt.

 

“I am currently playing as a midfielder, but earlier I used to play as a forward. In the team, sometimes there are more players in one position and fewer in another, so we have to be ready to adapt and contribute wherever the team needs us,” she explained.

 

Speaking about the team’s current focus, Rutuja emphasised the importance of the upcoming tournaments. “Right now our main goal is to qualify for the FIH Hockey World Cup. After that, of course, the big dream is the LA Olympics. We want to qualify for every major tournament and perform well,” she stated with confidence.

 

On a personal note, Rutuja added, “My strength is scoring goals and creating penalty corners so I am working on that. I am also focusing on regaining the ball quickly and my dribbling speed. I need to push myself even more and support my teammates in tough situations so that we can keep getting better as a unit.”

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