Students of Montessori School, Patna, take out a march against corruption on Monday. Picture by Jai Prakash

Patna, Aug. 8: They may not really understand the gravity of issues like corruption, unemployment and poverty, but students of Montessori School, Patna, still trekked almost a kilometre (from their school in New Yarpur to Kalibari and back) to raise their voice against such social problems.

Dressed up like Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Nehru, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and Kasturba Gandhi, the 45 children from classes II to V did manage to draw the attention of the passers-by, but at the cost of risking their health and safety.

In the morning when the march began, the clouds looked ready to pour any moment. While most children, dressed in school uniform, were lucky to escape the rain, the ones dressed like freedom fighters had to bear the pain of walking barefoot on the unpaved roads, strewn with garbage and waste items.

Suraj Sinha, the secretary of Montessori School, said: “I did not notice the children were walking barefoot. Also someone wearing a Gandhi costume could not have worn school shoes. It won’t go with the dress.”

About the march, Sinha said: “Quit India Movement led by Mahatma Gandhi played a crucial role in the Independence of India. Our school administration thought of organising this human chain so that people seeing it can recall the ideals promoted by Bapu.”

Dr Suneel Kumar Agarwal, a city-based physician, said it is not a good idea to make small children walk barefoot on wet earth for so long during rainy season when the atmosphere moisture is exorbitantly high. “The children could hurt their soles or could develop mild skin infections due to this. This is a season of rampant viral fever and I will not be surprised if some of these kids develop common cold or fever after this meaningless exercise,” he said.

The logic behind making the children go barefoot to raise voice against serious issues like unemployment and corruption remained a mystery even for those taking part in the event.

When The Telegraph asked Vishal Raj, a Class II student holding a placard “Quit India Movement – 2011”, about the cause, he said: “I don’t know what’s unemployment. I don’t even know what is Quit India Move- ment. I joined the march because I was asked to by my teachers.”

The only lure for the 45 children who walked hand-in-hand was the costumes a few of them got to wear to send across their message.

For them the event was more of a fancy dress show. “My mother took around half-an-hour to make me ready for the event. She was very excited while doing my make-up. I am also happy with my look and the role I am playing,” said Deepesh Kumar, a 13-year-old who donned the look of Mahatma Gandhi.

Asked about the cause, Deepesh, said: “Corruption and inflation are the biggest problems of our country. Gandhiji was a hero who fought against social evils. I also want to follow his ideals and be a superhero for others.”

Aadrash Kumar, a Class III student who dressed up as Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, raised slogans against illiteracy and communalism but was clueless on how these social evils affect our lives.

Ramesh Kumar Sinha, an employee of a mobile company who came across the human chain on his way to office, said: “It is the most beautiful human chain I have ever seen. I think the children are too small to march for such causes, but I appreciate their effort at such a tender age. I hope the message makes an impact on the minds of people.”

The students also painted their cheeks and raised slogans as they marched from Jhunjhun Mahal in New Yarpur to Kalibari temple. After spending half-an-hour at the temple, the children returned to their school.