A Lifelong Journey in Education and Equality

Even as an eight-year-old, living in colonial railway quarters where separate ‘out-houses’ were designated for household staff, I was deeply aware of the inequality around me. My parents encouraged me to play with the children from the out-houses, but I could sense the invisible lines that divided our worlds.

There were kind and familiar faces in my childhood—Govind Bhaiyya, a railway employee who sometimes cycled me to school, and Narmada Tai, a gentle yet firm lady who brought my lunch to school and ensured I finished every bite. Looking back, I believe these early experiences planted the seeds of my lifelong commitment to social activism.

As I grew older, those seeds took root. On my way to college in Mumbai, I saw children begging for food, selling flowers and pens at traffic signals—young lives caught in a struggle I couldn’t ignore. But the moment that truly changed me came in 1981 when I traveled to Jejuri, a small temple town in Maharashtra, as part of a literature study group exploring Arun Kolatkar’s evocative poem.

We were a small group of students from the city, visiting a place unfamiliar to us. A young boy latched onto our group, eager to be our guide. At first, we hesitated, but then we let him lead us, whispering amongst ourselves that we wouldn’t pay him more than fifty rupees—after all, there wasn’t much to see. He spoke about Khandoba, the temple steps, the rituals, and the significance of the offerings. We even took a picture with him using our Kodak camera.

Finally, the moment came to pay him. With the unconscious arrogance that sometimes comes from privilege, we asked how much he expected. Without hesitation, he replied: “Don’t pay me money. Can you buy me some books?”

His words shook me to the core. That day, I felt incredibly small.

And so, since the age of twenty-one, I have been buying books for the underprivileged, teaching wherever I could, and spending time in government schools and evening classes. I believe, with all my heart, that knowledge has the power to make people self-sufficient. Knowledge is the true path to SwaRaj—self-rule and independence.

There are countless causes one can champion—sustainable development, climate action, animal welfare, support for the disabled, rehabilitation of the displaced, conservation of migratory birds, and many more. For me, the cause has always been Education.

We belong to a land where, for centuries, the highest wisdom was shared freely. The commercialization of education is a betrayal of that legacy. When education becomes a privilege rather than a right, children like those of Govind Bhaiyya and Narmada Tai are left behind. That is my mission—to ensure that no child is denied an education simply because of its rising, senseless cost.At Seniors For Change, I have the opportunity to work toward this goal every single day. And that, for me, is the greatest fulfillment of all.