“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.” – Benjamin Franklin

On 19th February, students of Grades 7 and 8 went on an exciting field trip to the Madhi Sugar Factory and a textile processing industry in Surat. The main aim of this visit was to help students understand the different stages involved in producing everyday products such as sugar and clothes.

At 8:30 a.m., the students gathered near the school administration building, where they were briefed about the plan for the day and given important instructions. Soon after, the buses rolled out of the school gate, carrying with them a wave of excitement and curiosity. Inside the bus, the atmosphere was lively with cheerful conversations and laughter.

During the journey, the students looked out of the windows with great curiosity and admiration at the breathtaking scenery. The landscape was dotted with lush green farms, open fields, canals filled with water, and ponds blooming with lotus flowers. On the way, the group halted briefly near the sugarcane fields to observe the lives of rural labourers working there. Initially shy, the students soon engaged with interest and sensitivity. They asked thoughtful questions and gained a deeper understanding of the hard work and challenges faced by rural communities.

The first destination was the Madhi Sugar Factory, a large cooperative established in 1964 in Bardoli Taluka. The vast expanse of the factory left the students amazed. After a short refreshment break, the exploration began.

The children first learned about the locational advantages of the factory. It receives an abundant supply of sugarcane from nearby farms and has access to an uninterrupted water supply from the Tapi River through canals. Moreover, the factory is located close to Madhi Railway Station and the National Highway, making transportation smooth and efficient.

Inside the factory, the students were fascinated to see the massive machines in action. The factory staff explained the entire automated process, beginning with the weighing of sugarcane, followed by shredding and juice extraction, and then moving through the boiling, filtration, centrifugation, drying, and packaging stages, ending with the large storage facilities. The clear and engaging explanations of the guide kept the students captivated throughout the tour. The children observed attentively, asked a plethora of questions, and some even took notes.

A delightful moment arrived when the guide generously allowed the students to take handfuls of freshly produced warm sugar from the conveyor belt, bringing smiles and excitement to their faces.

After the insightful factory tour, it was time for a delicious lunch at the Red Chillies Multi-Cuisine Restaurant. The students quickly formed their groups and enjoyed their favourite dishes in a relaxed and cheerful atmosphere. After lunch, they explored the ethnic village-themed area within the restaurant campus and had fun on the rides in the garden.

The afternoon also brought a pleasant surprise. The students celebrated the birthday of our Respected Vice Principal, Swayam Ma’am, along with Manav Bhai from Grade 8. The cake-cutting ceremony filled the air with joy and laughter, making it a memorable moment for everyone, especially for Manav Bhai.

The journey then continued to Dhanurdhar Processors Ltd., a well-known textile processing unit specializing in bleaching and dyeing. Here, students learned how different fabrics such as cotton, silk, polyester, viscose, lycra, etc. are dyed using various techniques including jet dyeing, beam dyeing, pad dyeing, and continuous dyeing. They also gained insights into the functioning of steam drying machines and hot oil/convection drying systems, which are capable of drying millions of meters of fabric each day.

The highlight of the visit was the rare opportunity for the students to interact personally with the owner of the factory, Mr. Virendra Govindlal Agarwal. He conducted an engaging interactive session, answering a wide range of questions from the curious students. Topics ranged from company turnover and profits to government subsidies, taxation, labour employment, worker safety, environmental concerns, and risk management. The students asked thoughtful and insightful questions, truly reflecting the spirit of future entrepreneurs of India. Mr. Agarwal warmly answered each query and appreciated the curiosity and enthusiasm of the students. As a gesture of encouragement, he presented the students with pen sets as souvenirs and wished them good luck for the upcoming examinations at school.

In the words of the great Albert Einstein – “The only source of true knowledge is experience.” The field trip proved to be an enriching and memorable learning experience for the students. It helped them connect classroom learning with real-life industrial processes and understand the effort involved in producing everyday commodities. From observing rural life in the sugarcane fields to witnessing the transformation of raw materials into finished products, the students gained valuable insights and developed a deeper appreciation for the world of industry. The day ended with minds full of knowledge, hearts full of joy, and memories that the students will cherish for a long time.