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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.

Solo Outings — An exploration

Being alone is not loneliness. It is the much-needed peace that follows celebration, noise, and fun.

There comes a time when being alone stops feeling like loneliness. It starts to feel like peace. It’s a deep exhale after years spent surrounded by noise, opinions, and unmatched energy. Then solo outings turn into more than a walk or a coffee break. They become a celebration of self.


Stepping Out Alone

For most of us, going out alone once seemed strange. We believed outings were meant to be shared—with friends, family, or a partner. But solitude has a magic of its own. When you step out alone, you answer to no one’s timing, mood, or preference. You walk at your own pace and linger where your heart feels light. You hear the quiet conversations between your thoughts and the world.


A solo outing doesn’t need to be grand. It could be as simple as visiting a park, sitting by a lake, exploring a heritage walk, visiting a temple, or just sipping tea at your favourite café. The joy lies in being present — fully, peacefully, joyfully.


Discover Yourself Again

When you go out alone, something subtle shifts inside. You begin to observe—not just the world around you, but your own inner world. You notice what truly brings you comfort, what excites your curiosity, and what calms your soul.


You may realise that you love slow mornings, that you find peace in old architecture, or that a quiet bookshop feels more healing than a crowded mall. You begin to see how much of life you were missing while trying to fit into someone else’s rhythm.


Solo outings gently remind you that your own company is enough — more than enough.


Freedom From Social Energy

Let’s admit — being around people can sometimes be draining. Conversations that revolve around complaints, comparisons, or negativity leave us feeling heavy-hearted. On the other hand, when you spend a few hours by yourself, your energy resets. You stop performing for the world. You become your truest self — calm, curious, and comfortable.


In solitude, there’s no pressure to talk, impress, or respond. You can simply be. And that stillness brings an incredible sense of freedom.


Turning Solitude Into Celebration

Make solo outings a little ritual of joy. Dress up for yourself. Spray your favourite perfume. Carry a diary or a camera. Capture moments that make you smile — a tree full of blossoms, the sound of temple bells, a child’s laughter, or the aroma of freshly brewed coffee.

Treat yourself to a nice meal or a soothing cup of tea. Sit quietly and observe life unfolding — without rushing, without judging. These little acts fill your heart with gratitude and remind you that happiness was never outside; it was always within you.

 

Why You Should Try It Often

  • It builds confidence – you learn to rely on yourself emotionally.

  • It strengthens intuition – you begin to listen to your inner guidance.

  • It deepens peace – silence becomes your friend, not your fear.

  • It nurtures gratitude – you start noticing life’s small blessings.

  • It clears emotional clutter – you return refreshed, lighter, happier.

  • A solo outing is not an escape; it is a return to yourself.

  • It is about realising that your joy does not depend on company or conversation; it lies quietly within you, waiting to be rediscovered each time you step out alone.


So, the next time you feel like going out, do not wait for someone to join you. Put on your most comfortable clothes, carry your calm heart, and step into the world — just you and your beautiful self.


Because sometimes, the most meaningful conversations happen in silence, and the best company is your own.

 

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

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