A new chapter of my life

I went to my native place( Chittoor) last week. I had been planning this trip since long, but could not. Finally I could. I wanted to meet a school teacher of mine who had started a school for poor people working as labourers in slums. I was very happy to see his excitement and passion for social causes. He had earlier taken care of around forty handicapped students and had taught them various alternatives. Unfortunately, because of some operational and financial glitches, had to leave them back at their homes. Now, he started a school for poor people in a proper location. Government had relocated 10,000 families from slums to an area in outskirts of chittoor, built small houses and gave them. My teacher started a school in that location. I do not think he could have gotten better one.

Its so sad to hear that sometimes you take the brunt of other people's irresponsible behavior. But these obstacles are nothing compared to determination and passion of human mind. His passion and determination made me humbler! Initially, he had met a couple of funding agents from Europe and they too made a couple of visits to the premises of the school. The owner of the premises had agreed to promote the cause and allowed them to use a particular building. Soon, he changed his mind all of a sudden and decided he would not give the building! My teacher had to find some other suitable location and arrange for all things in just 3 days time for the arrival of funding agents for inspection. The funding agents had come with 40 lakh Rs to fund the school, if everything was good. Unfortunately, they saw that the school building was no longer the same and returned without giving a single penny. Meanwhile, he had promised several poor families that the school would provide uniforms, books, pencils etc.. and had motivated them to send their children to school. Despite all these setbacks, he ventured forth and put in his personal money for a while, took contributions from his relatives/friends/others for running the school. He also told the poor about the families about the problems at school and asked them to pay nominal charges ( 20Rs, 30Rs to 120 Rs ) per month for education. Some of them pay some of them do not. I was shocked to see the entire condition. The running of the school cost 1500 rent + 1600 for other operational expenses ( salaries + stationaries + others). My teacher's relatives had agreed to sponsor for the rent and half of the expenses were being funded by the fees. They were struggling hard to collect the remaining 800Rs and were trying to talk to relatives, friends etc.. The point also is that in a place like chittoor where people hardly get salaries more than 5000Rs, it becomes difficult for each and everyone to donate even 100Rs per month for such causes. I have seen the same with my parents. Though they wanted to do a lot for the poor, they could never do so. They could spend time, but not money.

Despite all these obstacles, the determinatino and passion of my teacher and his wife was unfazed! I was discusssing various options available, plans of funding etc.. then asked him why he could not contact go beyond relatives and friends. He told me that the main obstacle was that the school was English medium and people view that there is not much need for an english medium school. A school for poor people is "ok" if it is telugu medium school. But my sir was correct! This day in order to succeed and with globalisation,knowledge of english is highly essential for even little-paid-jobs. He wanted to truly impact people at the grassroots. He realised the need of today's jobs and corporate sector, went beyond the conventional thinking! No financial backup, operational hickups - each and everyday spent in convincing people and battling these obstacles, yet defying convention and thinking beyond the accepted thinking for making impact and transforming lives of students! Just one word for this - "Profound". I asked him how he could go on.. He called a student of the school ( His parents work as labourers ) , Vijay, studying in 3rd class. Vijay talked to me in english fluently. My teacher later mentioned that vijay had studied in a slum school till 2nd in a telugu medium school and in 6 months, he could learn english ( pls note he did not even know alphabets before coming to this school ). I was simply shellbound. My teacher then told me about such several examples with other children and told them that they motivate him. Very true, they are too very intelligent and bright... only difference no oppurtunities and no one to tell them the importance of education.

Although I keep talking to students at my junior college and encouraging students to study further, I realised that my efforts were miniscule compared to his! Probably by the time I am as old as he, I would have earned enough support to undertake such things on a big scale....

After seeing all these I formally joined as a committee member of the school - Gabriel School and as a volunteer in the trust under which the school operates .

Apart from promising a small sum, I will now be an active contributor to the school. I intend to take up the cause and find out details of funding agents through internet and visit the school regularly and motivate students , encourage students etc... Some day a few years down the lane, some student would say - Your contribution made a change in my life :) A new chapter in my life begins, which will definitely bring me a lot of satisfaction.