Welcome to our Post-Retirement Journey at Gurgaon

After spending 42 years of active life, leading many companies in senior management roles, our retirement began at Jal Vayu Towers, Sector 56, Gurugram. Little did we know then that we would not be settling down here for a relaxed, carefree life. 

We watched a group of very poor children huddle every afternoon under a tent on the roadside footpath, in front of Jal Vayu Towers, Gurgaon. We decided to find out if they needed any help.

In 2015, we bought them a lot of exercise books and stationary as they said they didn't need anything else. 

When we enquired again in 2016, they said they had sufficient food from passers-by but didn't have any experienced teachers. We immediately decided that it would be our best way to spend time doing what we loved best - To teach and to be amidst children. We started teaching English and Mathematics at the roadside 'Jyeshtha Primary Free School' for underprivileged children for one year and nine months since February 2016. 

While I had more experience in Mechanical Engineering, my wife who was a Founder Principal of DAV Kapil Dev Public School and Principal of DAV Ashok Nagar, Ranchi, two established schools in Ranchi had much more experience in the education field. Out of the many social issues that her schools had catered to, like eye-camps for the visually handicapped in remote villages etc., a particular one remains very close to our heart. 

Thirty five years back, she had taken several tribal children in her reputed school. There was lots of opposition from the elite class of the society, but she stuck to her decision, provided them with uniforms and transitioned them into normal school as any other fee paying student. Those children got established in their life after completing school and then college.

Four children out of 15 to 20 really took up studies seriously and learnt very fast. We along with Mr. Amit Kumar, another voluntary teacher like us got these four children admitted in some good schools in Gurugram.

Teaching on a footpath at a road-side free school