When his dad and mom would depart house for work, 10-year-old Ajay Ahirwal would accompany them to vacationer spots throughout Delhi, the place his father labored as a labourer. He, too, would have interaction in menial work, and his training remained ignored. Three years in the past, nevertheless, issues started to vary.
In fluent English, he tells his identify to The Higher India. “Ma’am ji, earlier I had by no means gone to high school, however now I examine in school 5. I examine Social Science, Hindi, Maths, and English. Of all topics, I like Social Science essentially the most and I aspire to turn into a Police officer like uncle ji, and I’ll train youngsters like he does,” says Ajay, whose father works as a labourer at vacationer spots.
Like Ajay, almost 80 youngsters from slum areas in Delhi, who had earlier been concerned in odd jobs like rag choosing, are capable of examine. That is because of the efforts of constable Than Singh.
How Than Singh ki Pathshala was born
Born in Rajasthan’s Bharatpur, Than Singh himself was raised with two siblings within the slums of Delhi. Whereas his father would iron garments for a residing, he would promote corn on the road as a baby. However he by no means underestimated the significance of research, he says.
“I might examine at a college for a payment of Rs 3. My father wished to turn into a police officer, however he couldn’t. I wished to satisfy his dream. I’d juggle work and research. In 2009, after two makes an attempt, I cleared the examination for Delhi Police constable and obtained my posting in 2010,” the 34-year-old tells The Higher India.
Reminiscences of his childhood rushed again to him in 2013, when he noticed a number of youngsters promoting plastic bottles on streets and choosing up rags close to Crimson Fort. “Many vacationers would come and click on their images, mocking their circumstance, I hated to see that. These youngsters had been doing odd jobs for Rs 50 as a result of their dad and mom didn’t have sufficient assets to handle them.”
“Additionally, I discovered these youngsters had began consuming gutka (betel nut). There are various individuals who affect youngsters to stroll the mistaken path, however only a few come ahead to assist them. I wished to search for choices in order that these youngsters may do what they’re meant to do at this age – examine,” he says.
Whereas discovering options, the constable understood that it was tough to enroll these youngsters to varsities. “For those who go to high school for admission of a 12-year-old, ideally they need to get admission in both Class 6 or 7. And for that, they need to not less than know how you can learn a e-book or not less than the alphabet. However most of those youngsters had by no means seen a college, and it was not attainable for them to enrol in a single,” he provides.
So two years later, he began a one-of-its-kind faculty generally known as Than Singh Ki Pathshala to show underprivileged youngsters totally free.
“I volunteered to show these youngsters in order that they can come a bit par to their friends. For this, I began assembly the dad and mom. Police are the one section that go to individuals regardless of their socio-economic standing and get to grasp their issues. After assembly their dad and mom, I satisfied them to not fear about youngsters and ship them to our pathshala,” he says.
“My principal goal to show these youngsters was to forestall them from committing crimes in future and instil good behaviour amongst them,” he provides.
Class of 80
Beginning with 4 youngsters in 2015, immediately Than Singh teaches greater than 80 youngsters from Raj Ghat, Vijay Ghat, Shantivan, Crimson Fort, Lohe-wala-pul (Outdated Yamuna Bridge).
On daily basis, youngsters within the age group of three to fifteen years flock to Sai baba temple situated at Crimson Fort parking space, the place Than Singh and his group of volunteers look forward to them. Many battery rickshaw homeowners have volunteered to take these youngsters from their houses to the pathshala, he informs.
The lessons start at 3 and conclude at 5:30 pm, and the college opens all days of the week, together with Sunday. The college capabilities by way of donations from varied stakeholders and with the assistance of fifty volunteers. “We get all the things by way of donations – from meals, uniforms, books. We don’t take cash,” he says.
Final yr, with the assistance of DCP Sagar Khalsi, Than Singh was capable of enrol almost 70 youngsters within the government-run faculties. “Though these youngsters have began going to high school, they arrive to us to clear their fundamentals in order that they’ll carry out higher in school and never really feel lower than their friends. Ten of my youngsters have topped within the faculty,” he says, beaming with satisfaction.
“I wish to give these youngsters an excellent environment as a result of their dad and mom go to work and there’s a likelihood that they might wander on streets. That is why we proceed to show them after faculty. Additionally, when different youngsters obtained to know that they’ll get admission after learning with us, an increasing number of youngsters began coming,” he provides.
Speaking about managing work alongside educating youngsters, he says, “There are not any mounted working hours for a constable. We work for twenty-four hours. But when it’s a must to do one thing, then it’s a must to attempt for it. Since my posting and pathshala are on the similar place, I’m able to handle each work,” he says.
“There is no such thing as a different peace than working for these youngsters. I could possibly be the rationale in direction of bringing a change of their lives with just a bit assist. What may have been higher than this for me?” he asks.
Edited by Divya Sethu
