The Power of Joyful Learning ft. Babar Ali

• Do not expect success in a day or two. All you need is a firm will and determination to achieve what you really want.
• It is important to learn in a joyful environment.
• Education is more than just facts – it is that which forms character and helps build a human being.
• With love, you are on the right path. You must always carry love in your heart along with purity and honesty.
• We are so much more than our religion, caste, and other backgrounds. Before all of that, we are Indian.

1. “Education is the manifestation of perfection already existing in man”, quotes Swami Vivekananda. What according to you is the purpose of imparting and receiving education?

I believe education is not a vocation, not a pack of information, but it is the making of a human being. Swami Vivekananda is my role model and from him, I have also learned that education is that which forms character, increases strength of mind, expands intellect, and by which one can stand on one’s own feet. We need to get that kind of education which will help us to become a real human being and help us think for others. The plan is to create at least a hundred literate people not only from my institution but across the country especially from the marginalized communities. I would like them to know that education is the way to fight poor teams. I also especially focus on girls’ education or women’s education because women need to know about their rights and raise their voices more. Every mother needs to be educated because we cannot have a greater teacher than our own mother.

2. Do you have any specific childhood incident that inspired you to move into this specific field and understand its importance? What inspires you to do the work you do?

When I started my journey, I did not understand what was to be done. It came from my heart and out of love. In the year 2002, when I was a student in grade five and a boy of nine years old, it was tough for me to get an education. I am the first child in my whole family who was able to get a secondary education. And after returning from my school, I used to see children of my age engaged in work. Some were collecting garbage and some were working in the fields. The girls were working in different homes. I decided to do something positive for those helpless children. Whatever I learned from my school, I would share with those children. Firstly, I had the love to teach others. And the second thing was the realization that I, myself, was getting an education, so I could do something for others. These two things helped me start my mission, and of course, continue my mission.

3. How has the perception of education changed ever since you were young? What do you think of the Indian education system today? Why is it important for learning to be a joyful process?

You see, there is no bridge. There is no equal opportunity. During Covid, students in schools like ours were totally deprived of their education. But the students from the city or the metropolitan city had enough resources for online education. Even if schooling or technology is advanced, there is no bridge, there is no equal part to meet.

The second thing is even if you have a good education and sound technology, you are still somehow losing hope. In today’s day and age, students are suffering from anxiety and other mental health issues. There is no joyful learning on these school premises and that is why the students succumb to poor mental health. That is where the holistic development of a child is necessary. My school is called Ananda Shiksha Niketan – The Home of Joyful Learning. We need to bring in a joyful atmosphere when it comes to learning. And the teachers play a strong role here. 

That is why we need to bring in passionate and dedicated teachers. Teaching is a very nobel cause. It’s true that money is necessary, but if your only goal is to earn money as a teacher, then it will not benefit society. You need something more than money and property to be happy. You cannot buy happiness, freedom and joy. But if you spread love and help others to be free, you’ll feel happy. Being a teacher, I must say that even if you are a teacher, keep in mind you are always a learner. 

4. What are some words of wisdom that you’d like to impart to today’s youth and children watching this with respect to their approaches towards literacy and academia?  

I have mentioned love so many times. Love can conquer everything. I had the call of love in the core of  my heart and I proceeded and ultimately succeeded. With love, you are on the right path. I have had so many good people who came forward to help me. Our school is dependent on donations from all across the globe, especially from our country. They came forward to support us. You see, I started my journey under a guava tree in our family backyard. Today, it is a three-story building – a recognized institution. It is recognized by the state government, and it isn’t easy to get such an affiliation. 

You are the only one who can create your own destiny. And you can definitely do that if you have the belief, the strong willpower, and the realization that you can fight for and bring about change in both your life and society.

Don’t be demoralized. Learn from your mistakes and failures. You cannot expect success every time and failure should not demotivate you. Believe in yourself, even if others doubt your plans. Dreams become true once you start to believe that it is achievable. Nothing can stand against firm determination and conviction. The only things you need to have in your heart are courage, purity, honesty, and above love. 

Go on bravely. Do not expect success in a day or year. Always hold on to the highest. Be steady. Avoid jealousy and selfishness. Be obedient. Be eternally faithful to the cause of truth, humanity, and your country, and it will move the world.

Babar had firm determination and will, along with the love for teaching. He worked hard to make a future for well educated adults and strives to show everyone that education is a powerful weapon and poverty is one of the evils it can conquer. There is nothing that firm determination and will cannot help you achieve. Do not be discouraged and do not expect success in a day or two. Dream and bring your dreams to reality with the strongest weapons you can own – firm determination, strong will, honesty, purity, and of course, love.