As a horse trots around the School of Social Work at Roshini Nilaya here, the whole campus gets excited. Sikandar, the seven-year-old horse of Avinand Achanahally, a student, has many fans here.
Communicating with Sikandar in Hindi, Mr. Achanahally guides it to a tree, under which he would leave it till it is time to go home. Sikandar is left to play with the students, who occasionally feed him.
The final year student of Master of Social Work uses Sikandar on most days to commute between the college and his house at Falnir. “It is a 10-minute ride for me,” he says. With the college even facilitating a stable for Sikandar, Mr. Achanahally has no worries. The horse is well-behaved and does not bite or kick people, he said.
“He is naughty with our girls,” said Principal Sophia N. Fernandes. “They give him a warm hug. He nudges at them and through the window of my room I can see the girls bursting into a laugh,” she told The Hindu on Tuesday.
One of the girls, Puja H.N., a classmate of Mr. Achanahally, who was seen playing with the horse said, “The horse is new on the campus. We are very proud of him”. Mr. Achanahally said he has been fond of horses from his childhood and had been hoping to own one. “Every time I saw a horse, I would stand still and watch with amazement,” he said. His dream came true when a family friend, M.P. Ganesh of Guardian Infrastructures and Developers, helped him procure one a couple of weeks ago. Mr. Achanahally, who hopes to save fuel by using the horse as often as possible, will soon start teaching horse riding to others.
First night on campus
Tuesday night will be Sikandar’s first night on the campus of School of Social Work at Roshini Nilaya, according to its Pricnipal Sophia N. Fernandes.
“We have already prepared food for him, she said cheerfully.
She is happy that students spend time with the horse and get positive energy — something that happens when you vibe with nature — instead of wasting time on mobile phones.
