RAYS OF SUNSHINE OF "SUNRISE"
Kids are adorable. Aren't they? Eyes shining with innocence and hearts oozing out purity. Bet you would agree, even if you have come across the most notorious ones. They are so full of life. But would you agree if it were a kid wandering in streets collecting garbage or pulling your clothes and begging, or washing dishes in the restaurant you last ate at. Most of us would shoo away such kids, try to be as far from these kids as possible. Won't we? Well! Babita Gupta, Nidhi Singh, Salma Sandu and Sudesh Gupta belong to those few who would not. They would rather try to educate them.
Babita Gupta, Nidhi Singh, Salma Sandu and Sudesh Gupta are pillars of SUNRISE PUBLIC SCHOOL, CHANNI HIMMAT, Jammu J&K. It is a school established by SUNRISE EDUCATIONAL TRUST (SET), which is a "registered, non-governmental, non-profitable, non-political trust formed by a group of professionally- qualified social workers from different reputed institution educated locals, having real interest and the commitment to serve the people of different religions, languages and especially the locals who are in need" as told by its founder and Chairman Rajesh Sharma. It is a school which provides free education to poor children; and to motivate them provides free uniforms, bags, books, notebooks and other required study material. The school stresses on the over-all development of the children who have spent all of their lives in miseries, and not just educating them. So they introduce and teach these kids, a better way of living by making them aware about manners and hygiene along with other extra-curricular activities. It started three years ago with 10 students, in a rented house and today there are almost 100 students. Each of these students is coming to the school due to persistent efforts of the trust's team who surveyed, repeatedly visited and convinced and compelled the parents to send their wards to school to brighten their future, which were otherwise playing around, collecting waste materials, begging or laboring and were doomed to live their lives in darkness. Even parents are invited to school frequently and are made aware to help their kids do well. They are even taught basics like signing on their kids' report card, rather than giving thumb impressions. Rajesh told Akriti that he got inspired by a write-up by Dr. A. Samantha, who is founder of Kalinga Institute Of Social Service Bubneshwar, Orrisa and he started a school to provide free education under a tree with 100 students which today has strength of above 25000 students. Rajesh adds on, "Imparting quality education and illuminating the lives of the masses through modern and efficient education system is a challenging and noble task. It is the right time for us at this information age, to prepare for the progress of our country and society. This would eventually lead to the prosperity of the nation as well as Humanity"
An institution does not runs and grows by initiatives and establishments; its growth lies upon its roots and it moves forward because of its wheels; just as strength of a building is not just based upon it's foundation but also upon its pillars and for Sunrise Public School for free education, such roots, wheels and pillars are the women who teaches those 98 kids, which come here. Correcting ties, belts and sometimes whole of uniform, teaching, reciting poems, telling stories, making kids aware of things outside, in this world which aren't covered in books, checking and even sharing tiffins to ensure that kids aren't eating anything stale, talking to parents; that's how a normal working day of these four women pass by. Every Saturday is fun day; extra curricular activities and competitions are organised and students are allowed to do what interests and pleases them. And every now and then these women survey around and visit parents who haven't sent their kids to school yet to convince them to do so.
These women are Babita Gupta, principal of Sunrise Public School, in her 40's. She has been principal of this school for two years now. She used to be a government teacher but because of certain circumstances quit her job, when she could resume her job; she decided to do it not just for income but for a cause. Now she spends her time teaching the poor kids of Channi Himmat and planning for their betterment. Salma sandhu is also in her 40's; she is the senior most teacher of the institution, being associated with it right from the beginning. Sudesh Gupta is the oldest of all being in her 60's; she has joined in few months ago. The sole purpose of her joining this institute was to do something and contribute in some greater good.
Nidhi Singh is in her early 30's and is basically from Bhopal; she is wife of an BSF Officer. Her husband is about to get promoted and so transferred but she has decided to stay here for couple of years more. On going back to her hometown she has decided to establish a school that would provide free education just like Sunrise School.
These women reflect a sense of responsibility as well as satisfaction regarding their work. Talking to the kids, one really cannot tell any difference between these students and any other students of upper strata. They are as capable as any other kid and sometimes even sharper and smarter. The most amazing fact is that is that you'd find children of even 13 years and beyond studying in class 1st. It is unfortunate that they couldn't start studying at the right age but the fact that they are sitting in those classrooms and learning restores our faith. Yet there are many more who have not crossed the threshold of schools yet but there are also others like these women, few if not many, that want to make Right to education a reality.