Amazing wisdom

Presented the baffling case of a girl who lost touch with the school and probably lost interest in studies due to covid phase of lockdown. Now she is enrolled in the well-known Marathi medium school and the hostel. Along with her, many girls are facing similar challenges. The education system is working hard to bring the girls into the main stream of schooling. Teachers and administration are also struggling to help all.

Her hostel administration too is trying it's best, encouraging girls to catch-up with the lost period . After a couple of months when she went home for a couple of days, all were eager to find how is the progress. She appeared to be changed a little. Found many new friends, now has a set routine, and found that her matron is an understanding woman. There is a lot of space around the school and hostel. All enjoy an evening stroll every day. There is a big playground area. She is trying to explore new surroundings. It is really very heartening that she is trying to get accommodated.

But more pleasing was the reaction of her mother and grandmother. Both were very very happy to witness a positive change and her honest efforts. Initially, when they came up with a proposal of getting her enrolled in a boarding school, it was not an easy decision. No one could predict how would it turn out to be. All were trying to psychologically prepare her to join the new routine. Initially, it was seen to be an experiment in which everyone wanted to succeed.

Her mother naturally wanted her to get sufficient education, be independent and learn some skills which will make her self-reliant. She prepared herself to pay for her boarding facility. It is certainly not an easy task. Her family shifted to Pune some years ago. But the grandparents of the girl(let's give her a name- Maya) could absorb the new thoughts in Pune. Though Maya's mother who is the youngest daughter, was already married,had to come to her parents after the birth of her two kids as it became impossible to drag herself and her parents did not refuse support. Of course Maya's mother is a brave woman who started working as a domestic help to earn livelihood.( Fortunately found work too ) She enrolled her son and daughter in a nearby school. When she understood that Maya lost interest in schooling,she didn't ignore her. Discussed the problem with the people she is working with. And came the solution of a boarding school.

Maya's grandmother supported her, and said," why do we earn ultimately if it can't help our children?" "This money is not wasted if it changes the Life of Maya. We must give her one chance to go to school and find out if she succeeds. As the schools have started this year we should try once. If things change, it is good. And let us hope that things will take a positive turn." And to everyone's contentment, she shows initial positive signs. For some days she was a bit home-sick, but now after a couple of months when she could get new friends and a supporting environment, she is happy and trying to make up for the lost years.

Maya's grandmother's maturity made everyone think about the wisdom of her generation. She could realize that her responsibility for Maya is to be entrusted with an institution that could help bring the focus back on education. She knew that she will not be able to help Maya as she too has to work to give the family some more stability. Acceptance of one's limitations is the first step in problem-solving. And there are many such families where they cannot give secured atmosphere where children, specially girls can focus on education.

There are many slippery pathways that can create a labyrinth where it is impossible to find a way out. Many mothers live with the fear that girls and boys will destroy their lives by entering this chakravyuh or a maze with multiple defensive walls. So they feel the need for some educational institutions with boarding schools which would help the future of our country to develop well. Probably we are once again endorsing the Gurukul system for our children. The children from the small towns need good institutions to get quality education and children from our cities need such institutions as many parents have to work for long hours to be able to sustain and are unable to help their children in the crucial phase of life.