One of the most exciting explorations done with the secondary school students of a school was very engaging right from the moment the idea occurred till the experience came to an end. This was in the academic year 2012–13 and the feedback was so heart–warming that we repeated this adventure for two consecutive years.

One fine evening, I shared with a few students of Class 12, in a very informal manner that we should all spend one night out of the school campus without any agenda and without much preparation. Most of them were excited with the idea and expressed their exhilaration, which such an out of the world idea invokes in one and all. However, gradually as the idea sank into them, they started asking me what we would do and where we would go. As is usually done by teachers, and accepted by students as a truthful response, I said it will be kept a secret till the day on which we move out. They trusted me and decided to wait for the secret to unfold later.

I floated the idea appropriately with some teachers, only with those who were not too conservative and traditional. Very few teachers seemed to be interested in spite of me being the Head of the School and the tentative day for the possible program was clarified to be a Saturday night so that we could all rest on Sunday.

What later proved to be very memorable day for all, rather night, dawned and the students and teachers demanded to know further details from me, to review whether they would still be interested to come or drop out. I did not relent and did not share the details. It was optional for the students and teachers to join the expedition or stay out. To my surprise, about thirty students and five teachers remained loyal!

We had dinner and assembled in the moonlit night for an introduction of what the night held for us! As we started assembling, some of the people who would accompany us loaded a large Gas Stove, LPG Cylinder and various types of utensils into the van. This let out a part of the secret!

Shortly thereafter, the special group, was served hot, steaming coffee, which they otherwise had to “steal” from the dining hall because, being students, they could take only milk! Students being children express their elation so spontaneously and truthfully. All of them said that those who are not going with us should not get coffee. I do not remember how this challenge was resolved!

After coffee, I explained to the group that we would visit the entire town and see and experience how it looks like in the night. We would also do some other things which will be demystified as the night advances. In the meanwhile, I requested them to bring whatever garments, shoes, clothes, and bed sheets, blankets they do not use any more and which they would like to discard. We soon collected a large number of discarded items and started our adventurous night out. I too joined them in the bus and they were very happy that I did not use the car.

We reached the temple town of Triambakeshwar, which is about eight kms. from our school, by about 10.30 PM. We parked the mini–buses in the main bus stand and walked through the lanes, saw the temples from outside. We also saw monuments and gardens which were open. After walking for a while we sat in a little garden close to a crematorium, which was on the bank of a small rivulet passing through the town. We had a cup of tea and talked to each other. The students were less surprised on this occasion and wore sombre looks, overwhelmed with how the town looked when pilgrims did not throng the place and perhaps with many other emotions. Some of the students were born and raised in that town because their father’s were priests in the temples. They had never experienced their town in this way before.

We left the place at about 1 PM to visit the Central Bus Stand of Nasik town and saw the life of the different kinds of people who occupied it. They obviously varied from the busy tea shops with people having hot cups of tea to the poor who were sleeping with the bare minimum bedding or none at all. On the other hand, the staffs related to the bus services was busy preparing to leave the bus stand with passengers or coming in to berth in the stands. Some shops were selling their plastic rich, junk food to the eager passengers or to people waiting for their bus. I requested the students to pay a visit to the public toilet. They were appalled and none could use it. The exposure must have affected those who visited deeply, albeit in different ways.

At 2.30 AM, as we went towards the railway station, we found many pavement dwellers sleeping below the flyover. We got dropped and requested the buses to proceed and wait for us at the Railway Station. We walked down. I requested the children to place the bed sheets and blankets they had brought over the people who were fast asleep, without adequate covers. I requested them to observe this state of living in depravation as closely as they could. I am sure some of them would have realized that the depth of sleep experienced by the deprived may be richer than what some of us experience with the best bedrooms and the best facilities.

We soon reached the railway station and walked through the platforms, and across the tracks, from one platform to the other. It was the first time they jumped over the tracks instead of walking over the foot bridge. Although we violated a few norms, I could not resist the temptation to do this because I was raised in the lap of Indian railways with all these activities!

We bought a few biscuit packets and some fruits from the odd shop, which was still open. Stocked with these goodies we walked down the tracks well beyond the platform, where one could see the “points” where diversions of trains from one track to another takes place. I explained to them the mechanisms used to achieve this. They were all thrilled to see and understand how the train remains on the track and how the signals work.

At about 4.00 AM we started back for the school. They were disappointed that we are going back to the school after a nice trip. I let the secret out that we are about to break for the interval!

We halted at the precincts of an old temple on the bank of a tributary of river Godavari. It had a few cement benches and space for the forty odd that our group comprised of. The Gas Stove with two large burners was connected and the teachers started cooking the Magic “Maggi” Noodles. One should see the joy on the faces of the children to believe. Very soon the “delicious” and piping hot noodles were served to all the students and teachers, as much as they wanted on this occasion.

By the time this late night party was over it was close to 5.30 AM and time to rise from our beds! It was also time for the Sun to rise! We wanted to welcome the Sun from atop a hill. We travelled by the buses up the motor able road to the top of the largest hill near our school. We reached there just on time to witness sunrise.

Lo and Behold! One of the most beautiful sunrises experienced from atop a hill overlooking our school down below! It was an amazing sight for all of us. It filled us with the energy of life. Down below the school looked insignificant in front of the quiet majesty we were witnessing.

The majestic and overwhelming spectacle was also fleeting and soon the sun rose completely above the horizon. We quietly walked down the hill to the school. We had breakfast and then retired for the day.

Many students remembered this experience much more than the other “important” ones like attending the regular classes.

What is education, one wonders?