Today I reached early for an ‘Every Child Counts’ class at a construction site. The children were getting ready for the prayer. Their enthusiastic welcome and ‘namaste teacher’ infused me as usual with their infectious energy. I smiled and folded my hands and joined them.
Soon, their sweet clear voices recited the prayer:
“Dear God, Grant me the good sense to know right from wrong (hey parmeshwara, mala changli budhi de)
Give me an opportunity to go to school (Mala shalela jayachi sandhi de)
No matter where I go, I promise I will find a school (Me kuthehi gelo/gele tari me shala shodhoon kadhin)
I will attend school regularly and learn all that I can (Shalet jaoon khoop shiken)
No matter what difficulties and obstacles come my way, I will never stop going to school (Kitihi adchani alya, kitihi traas jhala tarihi shala kadhi sodnaar nahi)
I promise not to remain an uneducated and illiterate being.”(Ashikshit adanni rahannar nahi)
I pinch myself…Did I really hear this prayer? Not only a simple request straight from the heart but also a prayer full of promises.
First as a student and then as a teacher, I have recited innumerable school prayers in honor of various deities; sung hymns glorifying different saints, patriotic songs, and those in praise of nature. I think hard and try to remember if I have ever said a prayer for an opportunity to go to school….. No, I don’t think so. I remember praying to stay away from school…that our school closes down due to floods or some other calamity and we get a long holiday in the middle of the term. But a prayer, ardently asking the Almighty to grant me an opportunity to go to school, no matter what the circumstances? No, that prayer is definitely missing from my prayer book.
Did I ever have to look for a suitable school? No, my parents did that for me and ensured my school attendance was up to the mark.
Did I have to overcome difficulties and obstacles to attend school? I come up with a list of most ridiculous answers…. getting out of bed when the alarm rang; completing homework and projects on time, and yes, being on time for the school bus! And in spite of everything being readily handed to me for my school bag, did I work to the best of my ability and learn all that I could? I truly can’t say I did. The usual remark I got was “Good attempt, can do better.”
Why is it that we do not value things that come easily to us? True value is often revealed only after we struggle, sweat and strive. Or, as in this case, by a simple school prayer.
The prayer is over and I request the teacher to write it in my book. I read through it again with the clamor of children all around me. They want to share with me a hundred different things. I look at their eager faces and ask for two minutes and write down another prayer for myself:
“Dear God, Grant me the good sense to know right from wrong (hey parmeshwara, mala changli budhi de)
Give me an opportunity to help children go to school (Mala mulanna shalet ghalayachi sandhi de)
No matter where I go, I promise I will find out-of-school children ready for school (Me kuthehi gelo/gele tari me shalela tayar asleli muley shodhoon kadhin)
I will help them get admission to a nearby school so that they may attend school regularly and learn all that they can (Shalet pravesh milvun roj jannyas madat Karin va ti khoop shiktil ashi soy karin)
No matter what difficulties and obstacles come their way, I will counsel their parents and do what is required to enable them to go to school (Kitihi adchani alya, kitihi traas jhala tarihi shala kadhi sodnaar nahi hyachi khatri karin)
I promise not to let any child remain an uneducated and illiterate being.” (Ek hi mool ashikshit adani rahannar nahi yachi khaatri karin)
I am sure there are many others who will join me in this prayer because we all want to see our children in school. We were lucky to attend school without being aware of the obstacles involved. Let us now help those who are not so blessed. Let us join hands through the ECC Citizens’ Campaign and ensure that all six year olds are in school in June 2012 and work towards educating each and every child in Pune.
For we all know, every child counts, has a right to education and deserves every opportunity to attain it.
Archana Vyavaharkar
archana.vyavaharkar@gmail.com
everychildcounts-pune.blogspot.com
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