Students get memorable experience in the lap of nature
Aakanksha N Bhardwaj
Jalandhar, June 26
Anshu Kumar (10) was awestruck when he saw mountains for the first time during his journey to Tara Devi to take part in the state-level Cubs-Bulbul Utsav organised by Bharat Scouts and Guides. Boys in the camp are known by the name of ‘Cub’ and girls by the name of ‘Bulbul’. The four-day utsav concluded on Sunday. The students put up at the state headquarters of Punjab Bharat Scouts and Guides which is situated at Tara Devi near Shimla.
Twentyeight government school students, aged 5-10 years, from Jalandhar, were mesmerized after experiencing nature so closely. Those belonging to lower or middle-class families went out of their own district for the first time and for them it was nothing like a sweet treat and a lifetime experience.
They all expressed their gratitude towards their teachers who took the responsibility of giving exposure to these children so that they move out and experience different things in life.
When asked if he had ever gone to Tara Devi before, Anshu, son of a factory worker, replied, “Nahi. Kahin nahee gaya. Ye pehli baar itni badi badi cheesein dekhi har jagah.” He paused for a second, asked his sir about other places they had been to and then added, “Hum Shimla bhi gaye, bahut maza aaya.”
Aarushi (7), whose father works at a food joint, also shared the same feelings. “Mummy papa ko jab bataya toh bahut khush hue. Pahad bahut sundar they. Sab badhiya tha,” she conveyed. These students may not be able to express themselves properly, but the cheerfulness in their voices was a tell-tale sign of the entire journey and how much fun they had.
Central head teacher Bura Ram from government primary school, Rurka Kalan, Ashok Kumar Chachrari, a teacher from government primary school, Chachrari, and Charanjit Kaur from government primary school, Beer Bansiya, took the initiative and ensured that the students participated in the utsav.
“It is for the first time that the event was organised for small children. They would wake up at 5 in the morning and then start exercising followed by various activities. I was so overwhelmed looking at them, enjoying every bit of nature and then doing every activity with all their hearts,” said Buta Ram.
