Where freedom begins with education: Pehchaan The Street School
On every 26th January we celebrate Republic Day in India, and with each passing year we
are taught of ideals that our nation stands tall on, ideals like liberty, equality, fraternity and
justice. These are not mere words of our constitution but these are values that every citizen
must live by yet there are still children out there for whom these are just distant dreams. And
to fulfill that dream, Pehchaan The Street School emerges, a humble yet powerful
movement.
The word Pehchan itself means ‘Identity’
, and it's not just a word but the recognition of one's
dignity, potential and place in society. A simple word yet with powerful meaning which
defines the mission of the organisation, to give children a chance to dream, learn and to be
seen as dignified citizens of India, who otherwise are invisible to the system. Pehchaan has
its core set at freedom to learn, which should belong to every child and is not accessible to
many due to socio-economic barriers.
And when we are talking about freedom, we should understand that Education is not just
about literacy, it's much more than that. It's freedom, freedom to think, freedom to dream,
freedom from social stigma and freedom to aspire and Right to Education holds a special
meaning, when it's clearly visible on the ground.
Right to Education is a guarantee provided by our constitution to every child but this promise
becomes hollow for many marginalized families due to school fees, uniform and social
barriers. Pehchaan tries to bridge that gap by removing formal barriers and providing free
education by bringing learning directly to those who might never be able to step in a regular
school. And it resonates deeply with Republic Day, as India's republic is built on the belief
that irrespective of birth and wealth, the power and opportunities should be given to all the
citizens. Pehchaan empowers a child to claim their citizenship fully when it teaches them
how to read and write. It's not a mere transfer of knowledge but the empowerment in true
form.
Pehchaan’s focuses on holistic development and not on rote learning, by nurturing creativity,
confidence, emotional skills and life skills and not just literacy. Here students learn to
express themselves and learn to think and imagine through drawing, dancing, storytelling
and community engagement. Not only that, this school also prepares the older children for
the real world opportunities by emphasising on vocational training and skill building and
helps families envision economic freedom. From children who once wandered the streets
transforming into young adults pursuing higher education, stepping into universities and
joining the mainstream workforce and jobs their lives change significantly through this
comprehensive approach.
Impact is not measurable in mere numbers, it is visible in different stories as one of the
students from Pehchaan went to gain admission in one of the prestigious universities,
something which he thought would not be possible given the journey he started from the
streets, stories like these conveys a larger truth that pattern of poverty and marginalisation
can be broken by education. It can be broken by providing choice, dignity, and self-belief
alongside knowledge and these stories are a constant reminder that freedom is earned and
nurtured continuously. As republic day celebrates these spirits of independence, Pehchaan
offers the classrooms where these spirits are lived everyday by consistency in efforts,
encouragement and compassion and not just by quotes and slogans.
Pehchaan also stands above the rest because of its volunteer based model as individuals
from diverse backgrounds be it students, young professionals, creators or thinkers, come
together to join their hand, and collaborate to teach children the life lessons. For them, it's
not just a social service but a transformative experience as they lead to reform and reshape
children’s understanding of freedom and citizenship. By this collaboration, Pehchaan
highlights that it's not about being a hero that saves people, but a partner in growth who
walks alongside as they learn to navigate through life. And through this partnership, they
reflect the true meaning of a democratic society, where change happens not because of
authoritative rescue but because of collective individual responsibilities.
Education not just liberates the individuals from limiting circumstances but also keeps the
power which transforms the community as Pehchaan keeps its constant presence in urban
poor localities which helps in shifting perceptions about slum children and the challenging
stereotypes they face which dismisses them as uneducable or unworthy. Children who were
invisible to society are now standing tall with their peers, claiming their place in society. Such
transformations are extended beyond classrooms as families have begun to prioritise the
learning and neighbours turned into advocates as communities start discovering that every
child has potential to contribute to the strength of the nation. This collective assertion of
identity is a powerful testament to our democratic values on this republic day.
But despite these impacts, the Pehchaan faces ongoing challenges be it limited
infrastructure or complexities of retaining students in transient communities, they face it all
and still it's community driven learning model is spreading throughout because of active
volunteers, internship and supporters who keeps believing that education is the foundation of
freedom and equality. And in future, it would be vital to keep scaling this model, as it reaches
more and more children by securing sustainable resources, and forging institutional
partnerships and nothing can overshadow the truth that education in its true form is not a
luxury but a basic right and a freedom in practice.
So, every lesson that is performed in Pehchaan keeps on carrying the promise of freedom,
freedom from ignorance, freedom from social marginalization, freedom to dream and aspire.
And as we reflect on the values that form the soul of our nation, on this republic day, we
must also celebrate the initiative by supporting these ideas that bring those ideals to life
because at the end, the school like Pehchaan, with not walls whatsoever, teaches us
something profound, which is that freedom, in its true form, does not solely comes from
mere laws, but from opportunities realised, identities affirmed, and dreams pursued.