Gonda: Instead of marking his birthday with a private celebration, Dr Pankaj Srivastava chose to spend it with schoolchildren, and in the process, drove home a message that hygiene, discipline, and a healthy lifestyle can go a long way in shaping young people both physically and mentally. The occasion was organised as a student interaction programme by the Janus Initiative on Monday at SDD Ranjeet Singh Educational Institution in Naya Basti Bakshipur.
Dr Srivastava, a senior cardiologist at Hind Hospital and founder of Janus Initiative, spent the day with the children on his birthday, handing out hygiene kits to students at the event. He said that a birthday feels far more meaningful when celebrated by sharing joy with the community and with children, rather than keeping it limited to a personal occasion.
Talking to the students, Dr Srivastava spoke about the importance of personal hygiene, eating nutritious food, exercising regularly, getting enough sleep, and following a disciplined daily routine. A healthy body, he told them, is where a healthy mind truly develops, and the habits children pick up early in life tend to stay with them and keep them well for years to come.
Also present at the event was Dr Pragya Tripathi, MLC representing the Shravasti-Bahraich region, who encouraged the children to stay mindful of cleanliness and health in their everyday lives. She added that it is healthy, aware young people who ultimately lay the foundation for a strong society.
As part of the programme, children were given hygiene kits and encouraged to make cleanliness a regular part of their daily routine. The children, for their part, joined in celebrating Dr Srivastava’s birthday with him and wished him well.
The event was attended by A K Tripathi, Nirbhay Singh, manager Surendra Kumar Singh, Ompal Singh, Durgesh Shukla, Dr Kaushal Pandey, Dilip Dubey, Waqar Ahmed, Samay Prasad Maurya, Hafiz Ahmed, and Anwar Ali, along with several teachers, parents, and students from the school.
