February 28, 2020

The uphill road to the school is all dug up, dusty, with open drains and mounds of sands and stones that one has to meander the way step by step.

The classrooms and labs are on the small front rooms of small tenements in parksite. In a ten feet by twenty feet room with dim lights, scant ventilation, a few noisy fans and rough floor sit about 150 children. You forget all these issues when you see their radiant faces flashing smiles, bubbling enthusiasm and sparkling eyes. Vivek Govilkar, Past President and I were invited to Ravi Kiran school on February 28 to celebrate Marathi Divas and Science Day.

One class room wall was decorated with poems written in beautiful handwriting. Thr intensity in the poem by a std XIII girl is astonishing. The picture is here.

Another had students displaying science projects. With simple every day material – balloons, cells, ice cream sticks, plastic water bottles – they had made confetti, steam boats and so on.

A dramatic monologue by one of the girls brought tears to the young girls as well as the adults in the audience. The topic was female foeticide.

Many students are so talented and multi faceted – toppers in dramatics, monolgues, dance and sports – like the girl above ?They had brought back the awards the got from our club at Powaifest and the District awards given at TZP and received them in front of the whole school amidst thunderous applause. The dedication of Principal Pawar and Shantha madam and the teachers is very evident.

Lack of space, light, facilities – nothing has eroded the enthusiasm of these kids. If only we can give them a huge building and all essential facilities.. a huge sigh escapes. If wishes were money, then every child will go to a beautiful well-lit school and every teacher will have conducive environment.