Get to Know The Man Behind The Movement

“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” – William Butler Yeats

Some people see the world differently, some perceive only the part they want to see, but only a few are built differently, possessing the ability to change the world for the better. Abhishek, the founder of “Shuruaat Ek Jyoti Shiksha Ki,” is one such compassionate individual. Shuruaat is dedicated to transforming the world by providing education and empowering women and girls who seek to break societal norms and become independent emotionally, financially, and mentally.

Abhishek was just a young boy, from a middle-class background, pursuing his bachelor’s degree with dreams of serving his country by cracking the UPSC exam. He lived a normal life, doing what boys his age typically did. Until one day, he saw an 8-year-old girl begging on the streets. She held his hand and kept asking for money. He knew that giving her money wouldn’t help her in the long run. So, he bought her a packet of biscuits. Her eyes screamed of her helplessness and her will to grow from the confines that the world had caged her in.
Driven by curiosity and compassion, Abhishek took the time to talk to the girl and asked her why she begged on the streets and whether she went to school. She told Abhishek about her younger sister who was also forced to beg, her father, who was a drunkard, and her mother who had passed away two years ago. He asked the girl to take him to the Basti where she lived, to learn more about the harsh realities he was hearing.

What he saw in the Basti shook him to the core. He saw more children struggling, living in conditions that no child should endure. He asked them about school. They mentioned a government school they used to attend, but only in name’s sake They went to school only for the midday meals. At that moment, he realized that he was meant to be the change everyone wants to see in the world.

Abhishek offered to teach them, and at first, people mocked and laughed at him. He was called names and was verbally abused by the residents of the Basti. They had seen many people come, take photos, make empty promises, and leave. But Abhishek stayed true to his word and started teaching the kids in his free time. He also dropped out of college and stopped preparing for UPSC to make time for the kids. What little money he earned from tutoring; he invested in the children’s education. Initially, there were about 30 students, which dwindled to 15, and then just five. But as people saw his dedication, more and more joined, and the rest is history.

Abhishek believes in the concept of good and bad donations. Giving money to kids is a bad donation because we don’t know what they will do with it. Instead, Abhishek believes that we should talk to them, offer them food, or direct them to places where they can get help. He also believes that studying can be fun, and to keep children interested, it’s crucial to make learning engaging and rewarding.

The story of Abhishek and “Shuruaat-Ek Jyoti Shiksha Ki” is a testament to the power of compassion, dedication, and the belief that one person can make a difference. From a single act of kindness to a transformative movement, it continues to light the way for underprivileged children, breaking the cycle of poverty and igniting the flame of knowledge and opportunity. This is not just the story of an NGO; it is the story of a community coming together to make a lasting impact.