Breaking Silence, Jitendra’s Journey to Confidence
A specially abled boy from the Badheda village of Udaipur was pushed by life’s circumstances to fight battles much larger than his age. Jitendra Kumar, just an 18-year-old boy, from Badheda village in Udaipur district, Rajasthan, was born in a modest family. His journey in education has never been straightforward. From a young age, he had to fight not just academic challenges, but also the quiet struggles of confidence and self-expression.
His schooling began in a Kendriya Vidyalaya, where the quality of education was high. But circumstances changed suddenly, and he had to leave. At his father’s insistence, Jitendra joined Guru Govind Singh Higher Secondary School, Udaipur, where he completed his education from Class 7 onwards.
After completing high school, Jitendra joined BTC (D.El.Ed.) at Vidya Bhawan Gandhian Institute of Educational Studies, Udaipur, not out of choice, but due to a reality check that he had to do something with his life. Like many young people from small towns, he was an ordinary student who had never been given the opportunity to represent himself or speak up in classrooms. This silence soon became a part of who he was.
At college, Jitendra was a quiet student who never asked questions and was almost invisible. Monosyllabic answers were his style.
Sterlite EdIndia Foundation also works with the same college where Jitendra studies. Our Project Coordinator, Jaynesh Pandya, conducted special workshops and learning circles for many young educators, Jitendra included. The focus of these sessions was drawn from everyday life experiences.
Looking back, Jitendra recalls how difficult it was for him to speak up in class. He would sit quietly at the back, avoiding questions and discussions. Over time, silence became his habit. The lack of confidence slowly limited his ability to learn. “In my earlier schools, there wasn’t much space for every child’s voice,” he says. “I never felt encouraged to ask questions or share my thoughts.”
Things began to change when Sterlite EdIndia Foundation introduced special workshops and learning circle sessions for BTC students. These sessions were designed around experiential learning, where examples were drawn from everyday life, making it easier for students to connect and engage.
Jitendra was still quiet, silently observing, but he was encouraged every day to participate. When he was asked to speak up, he shared, “I never felt encouraged to ask questions or share my thoughts.”
This was the turning point; for the first time, he felt equal to his peers. The classroom no longer felt like a space where he had to hold himself back. Teachers and fellow students treated him with the same respect, which gave him the courage to participate.
Yet, one question remained, would he really be able to break his old pattern of silence and hesitation?
That answer came during the first workshop, Creating a Safe Learning Environment. The session encouraged students to see why appreciation matters, how a supportive classroom can make a difference, and why every voice deserves to be heard. It was in this workshop that Jitendra decided to take a leap of faith. For the very first time, he stood before his classmates and confidently shared his thoughts. His peers applauded him, and in that moment, something shifted inside him.
“I spoke with confidence in class for the first time, and my classmates appreciated me,” Jitendra recalls with a smile. “It was a historic moment for me.”
Project Coordinator Jaynesh Pandya, who observed him closely, noticed the difference too. “In the beginning, Jitendra was always silent, he never asked questions or spoke in discussions. He would quietly sit at the back and leave after class without engaging. But after the workshops and learning circles, I saw a change. He started expressing himself and sharing his thoughts with confidence.”
The transformation is still a work in progress.
Jitendra is learning to participate more actively and consistently, but the journey has already begun in the right direction. His story proves an important truth: when students are given a safe and supportive learning environment, when every voice is valued, and when learning connects with real life, confidence starts to bloom.
Jitendra’s journey is a reminder that sometimes, all it takes is one opportunity, one safe space, and one moment of courage to break years of silence.
Learn more about EdIndia program, an exceptional teacher education and training initiative designed for both pre-service and in-service educators.