In 2006, she retired from her services in Delhi administration and thought, after getting relieved of family responsibility, that it was time to do a bit for society.
She told her family that she would like to spend all her pension on the education of
poor kids. But it took much more than her pension to pursue her dream.
To start with, she walked the streets and convinced the housemaids, ishtriwalahs, and drivers in the neighbourhoods to send their children to her school by the roadside. Out of the 80 children she initially gathered, 50 left within a few weeks. It took all of her willpower, dedication and persistence to reach the current point where Gaurav Niketan has 250 students on its roll, all belonging to the underprivileged section of the community.
She is Snehlata Hooda, fondly called "Gaurav Maa" by the students and locals of Gurgaon. She teaches the students Hindi, maths, English, science, history, and geography with the help of her regular volunteers.
Realizing that formal education is not enough for the children since most of them need to start earning early, she arranges for their vocational training as well. Snehlata Hooda is now past 70 years of age but is still invincible in spirit and continues to move her foundation forward. Her achievements continue to encourage her students. She took part in the Delhi marathon at 68. This April, she went to New Zealand to represent India for javelin throwing at the World Masters Game. Yet her principle goal always remains the same: to teach her children and improve their lives until her very last breath.
"These kids are my own now and I don't want to give up on them. I want these kids not only to help themselves but also to help their next generation. After all, only education can bring change” - Gaurav Ma.
We love and cherish her for showing us that life truly starts at 58, for her tenacity and stamina to continue in the face of adversity, and for being a beacon of hope to all the children who depend on her.
Gaurav Maa is a multi-tasker and believes that one should be very cautious about his/her health and surroundings. (Add the photos in the folder “About Gaurav Maa”) and then add the following –
Click on the Links below to see the interviews of GM Sneh Hooda