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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.

Rewriting the Meaning of Old Age

Growing older isn’t slowing down—it’s choosing joy, peace, and what truly matters.

AI generated image
AI generated image

Growing older doesn’t mean slowing down; it means moving differently—living for your own joy, valuing peace over opinions, and choosing quality over quantity.


Old age becomes beautiful when you decide: I will not suffer. I will not depend. I will not stop living. I will celebrate every day. As we grow older, we all need to prioritise the list.


Emotional independence

Your first pillar of graceful living. Detach without becoming cold. Emotional independence isn’t cutting people off; it’s not being shaken by their moods or silences and never tying your happiness to who calls or remembers you.


Stop expecting and start enjoying—expectations hurt; acceptance brings peace. Releasing expectations from children, relatives, or society makes you feel lighter and freer.


Value your self-worth. Age doesn’t reduce your value; your experience, character, love, and resilience make you richer than ever.


Build a soft heart and a strong spine. Be warm and kind, yet firm about your boundaries. Say 'yes' with love and 'no' with confidence.


Physical independence

Staying strong, mobile, and capable. Ageing gracefully requires strength and mobility. Make daily movement non-negotiable: brisk walking or cycling, light stretching or yoga for flexibility, and gentle strength training for bones and muscles.


Bio-friendly eating

Bio-friendly eating supports healthy ageing. Choose nourishing foods—protein from dal, chana, rajma, paneer, tofu, and sprouts; calcium from curd, sesame seeds, and ragi; iron from spinach, beetroot, and dates; and gut-friendly fermented foods. Simplicity nourishes. Discipline protects.


Sleep is like a ritual.

Treat sleep as a ritual. Peaceful ageing comes with deep, restorative rest—avoid screens at night, sip warm water, and unwind with calming music or a good book.


Financial independence

Your Freedom, Your Backbone. Money in old age is about dignity, not luxury. Financial independence means never feeling obligated, dependent, or afraid. Spend wisely—choose comfort, convenience, and health, never guilt. Follow a simple monthly plan: essentials, healthcare, an emergency fund, a small pleasures fund, and long-term savings. Never feel guilty about spending on yourself—you’ve earned it.


Social independence

This includes choosing your circle consciously. In this phase of life, you don’t need a large crowd—just a few kind, uplifting people. Keep distance from those who drain your energy through complaint, criticism, or negativity. Choose friends who laugh easily, because laughter keeps the soul young. Stay connected, but not entangled, and protect your emotional rhythm.


Mental independence

Keep Your Mind Sharp and Curious. Your brain thrives on curiosity. Learn something every day—new hobbies, online courses, music, languages, or creative pursuits like art or gardening. Read regularly and sit quietly by yourself for 10 minutes daily to build inner strength. Stay mentally agile by understanding technology, digital payments, and apps; today, digital independence is true self-reliance.


Purposeful independence

Waking up with meaning. Retirement or age should never diminish your sense of purpose. Purpose gives each day meaning—whether through teaching, volunteering, creative work, writing, helping a neighbour, or caring for plants or animals. Small purposes are enough; a life without purpose feels heavy.


Emotional Luxury

Give Yourself Permission to Enjoy. Old age should not be about sacrifice but enjoyment. Give yourself permission to savour simple pleasures—flowers, favourite snacks, good clothes, a beautiful space, short trips, and celebrations. Pamper yourself occasionally, because joy is also a form of health.


Freedom from the past

Old age becomes golden when you release old wounds. Forgive not because others deserve it, but because you deserve peace. Let go of guilt, regrets, and what-ifs; the heart feels lighter, the face calmer, and the mind clearer.


Spiritual independence

Anchor yourself in inner peace. Spirituality in this phase of life is not about rituals but about silence, gratitude, and inner stability. Begin with gratitude, practise gentle breathing or meditation, and find comfort in music or spiritual reading. These habits create a calm inner anchor.


Depend on yourself.

This does not mean loneliness, but self-sufficiency. Be able to manage your finances, move independently, make your own decisions, keep your routine, and stay emotionally steady even when others disappoint you. Live happily without seeking approval—this is true independence and the real beauty of old age.


Celebrate your age

Remember—you have survived every challenge. You are stronger, wiser, and clearer about what truly matters. Choose peace over chaos and joy over fear, and celebrate who you have become.


Your golden age

When emotional strength, financial planning, physical health, and a joyful mindset come together, old age becomes graceful, peaceful, free, and deeply meaningful. You are not nearing the end but entering a rich phase of life where pressure is less, wisdom greater, clarity sharper, and beauty comes from within.

Live with dignity. Live with style. Live with strength. Live with joy!

 

 (The writer is a tutor based in Thane. Views personal.)


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