These children light up their dark world with joy

November 14 — while a section of children get to celebrate Pandit Nehru’s birthday as Children’s Day, what does the day mean to the many not-so-privileged kids living on streets, in slums and special schools?

We visited the National Association for the Blind, RK Puram, on Thursday morning. The ambience was happy, warm and welcoming. The grey building with green tiles resounded with the laughter of happy children. The little boys and girls of the institute might live in ‘darkness’, but the light of education radiates their lives.

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Stubby fingers with dirty nails ran across the stylised dots swiftly, taking in the words, relishing each one of them. “Children’s Day is celebrated on November 14, the same day as Chacha Nehru’s birthday,” said eight-year-old Komal.

Asked whether they celebrated Children’s Day in school, the students excitedly told me about the competitions that were organised on the occasion and the prizes they were awarded. Reading and writing in Braille topped the list of the favourite activities of these children, but they all seemed to enjoy the song and dance competitions as well.

“I want to win a prize on Children’s Day,” said Depansh, punching out the words, “I like my school very much” on paper.

Akshyeta Suryanarayan, Springdales School & Aakriti Shaproo, Vivekanand School