Samaj Darshan: Understanding Solapur’s Railway System

Samaj Darshan: Understanding Solapur’s Railway System

Every year, we at Jnana Prabodhini, Solapur, conduct the Samaj Darshan initiative—an experiential learning programme designed to help students know their society, understand real systems, and connect with culture, heritage, and civic life.

The objective of Samaj Darshan is to help students observe, explore, and understand their immediate surroundings and societal systems, fostering awareness, inquiry, and a sense of responsibility towards society.

While planning this year’s edition, a question guided us: How can we help students truly connect classroom learning with the functioning of the real world?

The answer lay right around us—in the very tracks that run through our city. In 2024, we chose to focus on Solapur’s Railway System, a living example of civic structure, human coordination, and nation-building in action.

Why Understanding Systems in the Functioning of Society is important

Modern society operates through a network of interconnected systems—such as transport, governance, education, health, and trade—each playing a vital role in ensuring order, growth, and well-being. The objective “Know Your Society” is rooted in helping students recognize that human life is sustained not in isolation, but through structured cooperation across various institutions.

By observing how systems function—such as the Railways in transportation, Municipal Corporations in urban management, or local markets in trade—students begin to understand the complex fabric of society built on human interaction, role responsibility, and institutional coordination.

Why Railways for Samaj Darshan?

Understanding Railways as a System for Nation Building and Integration

Samaj Darshan is more than just a field visit—it is a thoughtfully designed, multi-stage learning programme aimed at nurturing civic awareness, social sensitivity, and systems thinking among students. It encourages learners to go beyond textbooks and actively engage with the functioning of real-world societal systems.

The Indian Railways is one of the world’s largest public systems, operating through coordinated efforts across multiple departments. It ensures the smooth transport of people and goods while supporting economic growth and employment. More than infrastructure, it symbolizes nation-building and integration by connecting diverse regions and communities. Exploring the Railways helps students understand how public systems shape a united and progressive Bharat.

This year, we chose to focus on the Indian Railways, and the choice was intentional. The Railways are not just a means of transportation—they are a symbol of national integration, an economic lifeline, and a community-building system that touches millions of lives every day.

Through this initiative, we aimed to provide students with opportunities to:

·       Provide students opportunities for real-life observations through experiential learning to understand how large public systems operate and expose them to functioning societal systems such as transport, governance, and public welfare.

·       Facilitate interactions with personnel managing critical services to recognize the human efforts and collaboration behind railway operations

·       Encourage students to reflect on and internalize their roles as responsible citizens.

·       Foster civic participation, pride and responsibility toward public infrastructure and national infrastructure, and awareness of its challenges and opportunities.

Competency focused:

The programme aimed to develop key competencies in students, including inquiry and research skills through firsthand data collection during visits and interviews. It enhanced communication abilities by guiding students to conduct structured interviews and prepare reports. Critical thinking was fostered by system analysis, analysing real-world challenges, while collaboration grew through teamwork across different age groups and to gain civic awareness by understanding public systems and practiced reflective thinking by expressing their personal learning.

Pedagogical Approaches:

Our approach combined guided input sessions that provided students with background knowledge about Indian Railways and the significance of Solapur Junction. We emphasized exploration-based learning, encouraging student-led inquiry through interviews and site visits. Experiential fieldwork allowed students to explore railway departments and related social services firsthand. Through group learning with vertical grouping from grades 5 to 10, senior students mentored juniors, fostering collaboration and leadership. And reflective practice was integrated by having students write reports and personal reflections, deepening their understanding and critical thinking.

A Timeline: From Idea to Implementation

·       Conceptualization and Team Formation
The core planning team, including teachers, parents, and alumni, collaboratively designed an experiential learning programme. We adopted a vertical grouping model (Std. 5–10) to foster mentorship and leadership among students. The aim was to connect academic learning with real-world systems through collaborative exploration.

·       Orientation Sessions

To lay the conceptual foundation, students were introduced to the history and structure of Indian Railways, the regional importance of Solapur Junction, and how public systems function. These sessions prepared them to engage meaningfully during field visits.

“Solapur Junction is not just a station— it's a utility hub that connects our city to the world.”

·       System Mapping Activity

Students explored the 12 departments of the Solapur Railway Division—Engineering, Construction, Commercial, Operations, Electrical, Water Supply, Security, Human Resources, Signal and Telecommunications, Finance, Gati Shakti, and Scouts and Guides. In groups, they developed Railway System Maps to visualize how these departments interact and depend on one another.

“It amazed me how much planning and teamwork is needed to run a single train on time.”

·       Interview Preparation & Field Visit Planning

Using the system maps, students framed department-specific interview questions. Sessions focused on interview etiquette, active listening, ensuring thoughtful and respectful interactions.

Students also prepared to explore the Railways’ social engagement—visiting railway-run schools, hospitals, welfare offices, and sports grounds. Observation prompts helped them focus on the community-building roles of public systems.

“Now, when I see a porter, I understand their effort. They are part of something much bigger.”

·       Field Visits & Interviews

Accompanied by teachers and senior peers, students conducted on-site visits to the DRM Office and multiple railway departments. They interacted with loco pilots, porters, ticket examiners, station masters, and union leaders, gaining insights into the challenges, coordination, and human effort behind daily operations. These interactions illuminated the emotional, social, and civic dimensions of public service.

"This was the first time I realized how many people and departments work behind every train ride,"

·       Reflection & Documentation

This final phase helped consolidate students’ experiences into deep personal insights. Through reports, group discussions, presentations, and reflective essays, they connected their learning to broader civic themes and social understanding.

"Each person, from the security guard to the ticket controller, is vital for the system to work smoothly,"

·       Extension Activity

As part of Samajdarshan 2024, selected students took part in a model-making project based on their railway study and interviews. During Ganeshotsav, they built a creative replica of the Solapur Railway Station along with a moving model of the Vande Bharat Express. This hands-on initiative enabled them to study and showcase their understanding of railway infrastructure and operations. The activity blended technical skills, artistic expression, and civic pride.

Reflection – “My Learning During the Event”

Encourage students to consolidate their experience, reflect critically on their learning, and express personal insights gained through the Samajdarshan initiative on the Railway System.

·       What did I observe during the visit?

"The work done by all railway departments

is very difficult and sensitive."

"I learned about the daily challenges faced in railway operations."

Students closely observed the functional complexities of the railway system and the demanding nature of work in each department. This shows heightened awareness through real-life exposure.

·       What surprised or challenged me?

"Seeing how the railway administration manages these tasks while also contributing to social welfare made me feel very proud."

"This initiative gave me an opportunity

to see a different side of the railways."

Students discovered unexpected dimensions—such as social welfare initiatives—alongside logistics, shifting their prior assumptions about what the railway system entails.

·       What did I learn about the railway system and its people?

"Various departments need to coordinate closely

to ensure smooth train operations."

"The Railway Ministry plans various schemes

to modernize and upgrade stations."

"The railway station plays a vital role

in expanding Solapur’s textile industry."

These responses show systems thinking and conceptual understanding of how governance, planning, and economic development are embedded in public infrastructure like railways.

·       How did this experience help me understand society better?

"Solapur Railway Junction is a utility hub,

which brings international recognition to our city."

"The railway acts like a lifeline, carrying

millions of passengers every day."

Students connect local infrastructure to global and national significance, recognizing how transport systems influence community identity and societal functioning.

·       What would I like to learn more about or improve in the future?

"From now on, whenever I travel by train, I will remain aware of the railway’s functioning and share this knowledge with my friends."

This shows intention for future engagement and continued reflection—a critical step in experiential learning that leads to responsible citizenship and peer awareness-building.

Importance of the Event: A School-Based Whole-School Design

The Samaj Darshan initiative exemplifies a holistic, school-wide approach to learning that extends beyond conventional classrooms. By adopting vertical grouping—bringing together students from Grades 5 through 10—the programme fosters collaborative learning across different age groups and standards. Senior students mentor juniors, creating peer-led teams that enhance communication, leadership, and teamwork skills.

This integrated model also involves teachers, parents, alumni and community members, promoting a shared responsibility for students’ social and academic development. The initiative connects academic concepts with real-life societal systems, encouraging active participation, empathy, and civic awareness.

Such a whole-school, collaborative design nurtures a vibrant learning community, where diverse stakeholders contribute to meaningful, experiential education that prepares students to understand and engage with society effectively.

Samaj Darshan 2024 was not just a project; it was an experiential journey that transformed students from passive learners into active, thoughtful citizens. Through field visits, interviews, and reflection, they developed empathy, systemic thinking, and civic awareness. Through immersive fieldwork, meaningful dialogue, and reflective practices, students learned to see public systems not as distant mechanisms but as living, human-centered networks. As educators, we see this as a vital step toward nurturing responsible, nation-building youth—moving from surface-level observation to thoughtful analysis, and from personal insight to a broader understanding of society.

Penned by

Prashant Divekar,

Jnana Prabodhini, Pune

based on interaction with organizing team from

Jnana Prabodhini, Solapur