25 year Gagan has a demeanour that instantly draws people to him, he is counted sometimes as shy, however, it is only a matter of few a minutes that Gagan opens up, smiling as he goes along. His conversations traverse far and wide reflecting the values he has imbibed in the ashram. A major in Computer science, he is now preparing for his GATE examinations.
“I came here when I was four years old”, recounts Gagan. Gagan has spent his childhood here and has grown amidst these walls. “Besides taking care of us and giving us the best of education, at Manav Mandir, everyone has treated us like their own children. We have got so much love from Mataji”, he says. “We are beyond a family” he adds with a sense of pride in his eyes.
When I came here, I didn’t know a single word. My earliest days were spent reading and learning-I started from the basics. It was here that I first saw teachers. It was only because of Manav Mandir Gurukul that I was able to get an edge in school. In school, Gagan quickly got counted among the best students. He cleared IIT-JEE exam in a single attempt and was able to manage a pretty good rank.
It was in class 11 inspired by his inner inkling and, Nitin Jain a prodigy he came across on the newspaper who had topped both the engineering and medical entrance exams in 2010, that Gagan decided to major in computer science. Aware of his limits and Computer science being an expensive course Gagan was conscious of taking the leap forward. It was Mataji who has always encouraged kids to do bigger and better, who encouraged him to take the giant leap forward and since then there has been no turning back. Manav Mandir Gurukul has been funding his higher education and stay.
The college has been a learning experience. “It has made me more confident. It sets the tone right, I guess. Life is about growing and you learn from ups and downs in college and that is what college is about, is it not?” He considers himself lucky enough to have studied his favourite course. It was in college trying his hands at as many competitions and online learning courses as possible that he got interested in research, “Groundbreaking researches are taking place in the world, technology has taken all over with a boom.”
Gagan has grown amidst these walls. If anything the building and he have grown together. With times, Manav Mandir Gurukul has made its own journey. From its humble beginning, Manav Mandir Gurukul has taken tiny steps and now hosts of a library, teachers, tuition and an organic kitchen garden. Gagan attributes Ashrams success to its people and well-wishers. Kindness goes a long way in making the world better.
Looking back, Gagan had always seen himself shying away from taking responsibilities. But at this moment Gagan likes caring about children and their future, their education. “Now I think I can also play a role in their future” Being a senior he is cognizant of the dilemma and the dreams kids have in their life. He wants to be an active participant in shaping the future of the kids in the Ashram.
Inside the ashram, life has come a full circle for Gagan, “I’m simply passing on this legacy, Mataji helped me, it is my time to help others.” Gagan devotes his time between helping kids with physics, chemistry and mathematics while at the same time guiding them about their future and diverse careers.
Children recount his class with much enthusiasm,” he makes studies fun!” recounts Prachi excitedly. He never gets tired of our questions, adds her friend Divya.
The Gagan of Gagan’s dreams is spread far and wide and he is marching fearless in his pursuit to be able to live his dreams.