They wear hats of teacher, student with aplomb at Panjab University

CHANDIGARH: Here’s a bunch of students who like to give practical shape to their theoretical class.
Out to make a difference, 10 MA students of Panjab University Centre for Emerging Areas of Social Sciences don the robe of teachers in the evening. And it is a noble cause that makes them wear two hats. They hold a special class in the corridors of the centre – a class that comprises children of construction labourers who work on the campus.
So, what made them take up the initiative? “We often saw these children loitering around in the evenings. One day, we decided to better their lives. And the next day, we motivated their parents to send them to our class to learn. We make it a point to hold the class after our classes get over,” says Amol Kaur, an MA student.
They spare no efforts to keep their initiative — “Aao Padho, Aage Badho” — going.
“We have been taking the class since two months. Usually, children come on their own to attend it. But when on rare occasions they don’t, we go to each of them to ensure their presence in the class,” says Aditya Kaushik. “We educate them on health and hygiene too, as most of their families are unaware about it. We also teach them meditation,” says Anamika Rana.
Besides studies, children take part in an array of activities. The PU students also reward them for their achievements.
Amol, Aditya, Pranshu Kaushik, Anamika, Cheena Taneja, Jince George, Priyanka Pahwa, Himani Negi and Payal Bhatia take the class on rotational basis.