Bridges of Shikshantar, by Rukmi Didi
Aug 21, 2023
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a sin
– Lao Tzu
In the year, August – September 2011, many of us living in Gurgaon were going through moments of hope, anxiety, anger, disappointment, achievement and so many more emotions within a single week as we applied for school admissions. Parents would walk out of schools with moist eyes as their ward would not have got through the school of their choice. The experience is no joke. Debates can be called, books can be re-written and battles can be fought in that phase of life.
Among all the school visits and interactions with school authorities, we came to a school with trees and green grass. Here my child got some time to play in an open space without parent’s intervention. We got a chance to look around at all the competitive faces around us. Among those desperate expressions, a gentleman walked in with a smile of wisdom. He walked gently around with utmost calmness. Even before we could initiate a discussion about him, he was ready for the ‘draw of lots.’
Damn!
He called out names with the same calmness and smile. My child’s name was the twelfth that he called out. As the process came to an end, he had transferred his calmness and smile to many of us. Soon we received an invite for school orientation.
The day of orientation was over-crowded and noisy. I looked around for a familiar parent face but no luck.
Yes! I saw the man with that smile of wisdom. His presence again calmed it all. He whispered into the mic and everything around settled. He was Mr. Sunil Batra – Sunil bhaiya for Shikshantar.
It was an open interaction and a new corridor opened for me. As a parent complained, “My child doesn’t like to share”: Sunil bhaiya countered after a pause, “if your brother takes away your favorite shirt from the cupboard, will you like it?”
Within an hour he built new bridges between the parent and the child. Many of us were stirred by his noesis about a child. It is not easy to be a parent of Shikshantar or a facilitator. It endues us to respect a child. Shikshantar taught me to bend low and listen to a child. Children have likes, dislikes, mood swings and ego as we adults do. They are simply candid about it. This bridge built by an institution like Shikshantar enables us to evolve as sensitive adult.
So here I am today, sharing a glimpse of my experience with Shikshantar and feeling blessed to have met Sunil bhaiya. Without him situations might feel wobbly at times, but his convictions and teachings are deeply rooted in each brick of Shikshantar.
As some say that there are no coincidences or accidents on this planet; may be my association with Shikshantar was destined. I am full of gratitude for being a part of this community.