The word ‘Education’ brings in a sundry range of meanings. The first image that rushes through one’s mind is a bundle of books and, of course, a teacher. But to me, it is beyond any book or an instructor. It is a never ending and a lifelong process that makes one’s life worthwhile and the journey pleasurable. The Rig Veda, thus, rightly says, ‘Education is something which makes a man self-reliant and selfless.’

Ever since I was a little girl, I always wanted to do something meaningful, something through which I could help the needy ones, bring them out of their cocoons and make them live a healthy and cheerful live. I remember the day when I was on my way home from school, and there stood a little girl of around eight to nine years of age, begging in front of a row of a cars. I was tired and the blowing horns of the vehicles made me sick, but the sparkling eyes of the girl captivated me. I keenly observed the girl. She was all alone on the street carrying a small tin box and roamed about the street asking for money. When the car pulled away, I was still looking at her. I kept on turning my head till she was out of sight. This brief encounter with the little girl moved me so much that I ended up in tears. A strong shower of emotions overpowered me. I had a feeling deep inside that the girl was in trouble; her eyes had spoken for her, and she badly needed help. And all the way, thoughts of her hovered on my mind that day.

The next morning, when I got myself ready for school, the first thing that was running on my mind was to talk to the little child, to rescue her, and to show her the path to happiness and freedom. In other words, I wanted to educate her and impart her knowledge, so that she could stand on her own feet. The intensity of my excitement was at its peak. I hurried from school and ran towards my car. When the car stopped at the same place, my eyes started searching for her. I fixed my eyes to a far distance, but she was nowhere to be seen and I never saw her again. This small girl was gone, but her eyes kept on reminding me of the fate of other under privileged children who are deprived of the essence of a happy life. The reason is, of course, inadequacy of education. The thought of teaching and imparting education would absorb me day in and day out. And, one fine day, I came up with this idea of teaching a handful of under privileged children. As I was brought up in a tea garden, I got a chance to teach the young ones of our garden. I would ask the maids and the servants to bring their children to me, so that I could teach them the values of life and the importance of education. It gave me immense pleasure to see the children stooping down, trying their best to write, which seems to me as if they were carving their destiny on a plain sheet of paper.

Today, I am a grown up girl, but the same spirit is still alive in me. Whenever I turn the pages of my bygone days, somewhere I come across the little girl whom I met on the streets; smiling at me, as if trying to say ‘thank you’. But, it is I who should thank her. Without her, I could never have changed the lives of a few children and without her, I would never have understood the true meaning of education.

Chandni Khaund