GYANODAYA EXPRESS :Fun, knowledge chug along

1,000 DU Girls Embark On Unique Educational Trip By Train 

Manash Pratim Gohain TNN 

New Delhi: The Safdarjung railway station wore a festive look on Sunday morning as the air reverberated with partriotic song H u m S a b B h ar a t i y a H a i n.A thousand girls from across 36 Delhi University colleges set-off for a train journey to five destinations in Gujarat,Maharashtra,Goa and Kartanaka in a unique educational train journey.

Excited students,accompanied by their guardians,reached the platform way before the 7.30am reporting time.There was anticipation in the air as the students found their way to the respective coaches to mark the first journey of Gyanodaya Express.

This educational train journey will take the students to Ahmedabad,Wardha,Mumbai,Goa and Bangalore and educate them about Navy and dockyards,Sabarmati Ashram and non violence,ISRO and new technologies all aiming to broaden their learning horizons.This train jouney will be a unique experience and a great way of learning about the country which was showcased none other than Mahatma Gandhi.I wish such a train journey was there when I was a student, said the Vice Chancellor of DU,Dinesh Singh,who accompanied the students for a part of the journey.

The train is equipped with a library comprising 400 titles.Students can also access internet on laptops though wi-fi.The journey is a fine balance of fun-filled learning experience since the students will also be engaged in project works during the journey they can choose from 100 projects divided into science and humanities.We have to choose from subjects like color and texture of soil for different types of agriculture,historical/ archeological studies,philosophy for living together for two weeks,a recipe and its cultural explanation,and many more, said Ruchika Sharma of Daulat Ram College.

Accompanying the students till Ahmedabad,Umesh Rai,director of South Campus said: This is not just a train journey but education beyond classroom.Students and even the accompanying teachers (80 of them) will discuss interesting subjects like a local leader and her charisma,the biography of an unknown woman and impressions of a naval ship,among others. Each student must read a book from the library and by the end of the journey they will have to produce a review of the same,along with a group project.

With 940 students and 80-odd teachers,safety and security is of prime concern.According to deputy chief coordinator,Gyanodaya Parminder Sehgal of railway police,We have made strong security arrangements.There is a lady doctor and paramedics on board in case of an emergency.Railway staff will monitor the hygiene and quality of food served. 

GYANODAYA EXPRESS 

Journey: July 8 to 19 

No.of students on the first trip: 940 No.of participating colleges: 36 No.of teachers: 80 

Destinations: 

Ahmedabad,Wardha,Mumbai,Goa and Bangalore The 16-coach train is equipped with a library having 400 titles,Wi-Fi connectivity Students will undertake 100 projects like mapping and improvement of coaches,study of water quality/soil/ rock/crop of different states,historical/archaeological studies and oral narratives of places or communities.
Source: Times of India, 9th July 2012, Pg. NO. 3