Farmers Movement Archive

‘Sikhya da Langar’ satiates hunger for knowledge

SINGHU BORDER (SONIPAT): Food is not the only thing that langars (community kitchens) offer protesters at Singhu border. A“Sikhya da Langar” in one corner of the protest site is providing education to children from nearby slums and even satiating the intellectual hunger of those camping here. Groups of lawyers, businessmen, farmers and other professionals camping at the protest site have set up a “Sanjhi Chhat (A roof for all),” where they are providing basic learning skills and other creative activities to children living in slums around the protest area. Every day, around 50 children are taught by youngsters from Punjab who are into teaching profession. The children are not only being provided teaching material and stationery but also meal, juice and refreshments. A small library has also been set up in this area, where anyone can come and read Punjabi literature and books related to revolutionaries like Bhagat Singh and Fidel Castro. From 8 to 10 pm, people also share their ideas and thoughts about the major agitations in the world and how they succeeded and the factors that led to their failure. Although during the daytime it is open for all to visit and access, evening sessions are restricted and not permitted to be recorded by the media. According to Satnam, an arhtiya from Anandpur Sahib, ‘Sanjhi Chhat’ is the brainchild of their group comprising Garry Warring, Dinesh Chadha, Inder Bajwa and a few others. “After staying here for days, we realised we cannot spend an entire day roaming around the protest area and should do something creative,” Satnam added. Activist and Punjab and Haryana high court advocate Dinesh Chadha said when they noticed that small children from slum areas were visiting the protest site to collect plastic bottles, they decided to hold classes for them and also do something to keep the area clean. “We bought a large number of dustbins and fixed them on tractor-trolleys. With this, people started maintaining cleanliness around their area and these children started enjoying reading at Sanjhi Chhat. Luckily, we are also able to provide good food to them as long as they stay here,” Chadha added. Another activist, Inder Bajwa said to ensure youngsters and other visitors/elders can spend their time and read literature, they decided to set up a small library by providing books and daily newspapers. According to Satnam, they have also ensured these children are not unattended after the stir ends. They have tied up with a local NGO, which would teach these children and their group would provide assistance. In the evening, people come and share their ideas and thoughts about protests to keep morale high. Initially started with five persons, it has now turned into a large group which also is managing social media platforms of the protest and publishing a newspaper, called “Trolley Times”.

The Times of India

2020-12-23

Chandigarh