It was again one of those awful days I had to make it to office. The boring bus journey, the usual crowded roads and loud horns. Not a day has passed without me cribbing about working in this company. This Monday was no different. The only difference being me deciding to listen to songs in my mobile through my earphones. I thought I shouldn’t worry about anything as I was happily listening to the Maestro’s songs. Neither was the loud horns heard, nor was fights picked up by the fisher folk in the bus with the conductor.
The only irritant was the standing crowd falling on those seated. Thankfully I got a seat; unfortunately it was one near the door. So the crowds thronged the bus and with the door being near my seat it was getting even worse. And this small fellow was continuous trampling my feet without even being apologetic. He must be around 8-9 years and I certainly thought age should not be an excuse for not apologizing. He was wearing a school uniform with a huge bag behind him.
The only factor that stopped me from abusing him was the fact that he wasn’t hurting me much by stamping my feet. And I realized that he wasn’t wearing any footwear.
Well, I lost interest in the music I was listening to. “What’s your name?” I asked the little boy. Vignesh was his name. Upon further inquiry I found that he studied in a Tamil medium school which is meant for the poorest of poor. A bright student who held the 3rd rank in his class. High marks, hard-working student and a bright future. His father was a construction worker and mother a home-maker (that is what they ought to be called as opposed to being called a “house-wife “).
The poor soul couldn’t understand one bit of English. He wanted to become a police officer (I thought, thank God at last I found someone who did not want to be a software engineer or a doctor). I understood that the boy was living amidst acute poverty. Thankfully for school students, all of them in TN were eligible for a free bus pass. Else the literacy of the state would have been left languishing at the bottom.
He got down at the Velachery Check Post. A weird sense of imagination was running in my mind. He was 8 years old. What would he do for his college education expenses? Assuming he was a state-ranker. He would be awarded the scholarship. But what about his travel and accommodation expenses? When his daily bread is itself a doubt these days, how could he lead a comfortable life studying and at the same time stay happy? Well, he getting a state rank is a very highly optimistic view. From a realistic perspective, college education is never cheap in Chennai. No engineering college offers a course for less than Rs. 50000 per year. Even if he prefers to go for an Arts and Science college, it would certainly cost him about 150000 for the three years. And medical colleges are unimaginable for someone from such a background.
Why is the Government turning a blind eye to such concerns? Why wouldn’t the state intervene and take up such issues with priority. Why should such innocent souls be punished for no fault of theirs? They are intelligent and hardworking. Why can’t they be allowed to bear the fruits of their hard work? Is being poor a sin? Why does the Government allow education be made a means to loot from the rich and deprive the poor of the right to education? If the Government approves educational institutions to continue with the current trend, it means that everyone who is involved in such decision making does not deserve to live in this beautiful world any longer.
I spoke about one Vignesh, with dreams in his eyes and passion in his heart. But he does not have the necessary resources to fulfill those dreams and make them come true. The most disappointing fact is that he is not even assured of nutritious food. There are lakhs of such Vigneshes in our country. It’s time to act. If each of us can take up this issue seriously and voice these views, this would certainly have a huge impact on millions of households in our country, especially children.
Above all, we must understand how gifted we are. Don’t crib if you have to travel by public transport and not by car. There are so many who can’t afford a bus ticket. Stop crying for chicken every day. There are so many for whom a meal a day is in itself a big challenge. Stop worrying if you had missed a movie because of Sunday mass. There are many who haven’t watched a movie in their lifetime.
We are Gifted indeed and let us make this world a beautiful place to live in, not just for us but also for the less privileged in the society.
Season’s Greetings and God Bless.
8 comments:
Hey Conan...Great work.. But please elaborate what others can do for such Vigneshs. Also read about Akshay Patra..it works in Chennai too, U can contact them for these school children.
Keep up the good work.
I knew a blogger must be hidden underneath your skin :-)
Try http://www.cry.org/ or a http://www.worldvision.in/ or a http://www.compassion.com/..... I think each of us has a monetary capacity to support a Child's education if not more ..... try it
incidentally today was my first class at MAD. Its a very professional organisation of volunteers who teach English to children in Orphanages on weekends.
makeadiff.in
check it out Conyboy :)
Hey Conie,,,, nice blog writing, keep it up.... But i would like to quote your sense of thought,,, "Tamil Medium -- The poorest of poor education in TN" your view is absolutely wrong,,,, I believe you know APJ Abdul Kalam,,,, he dint have education like you & me in Matriculation / convent school. He had his education in typical government school (Tamil Medium). There after he raised his life to the extent of Space Scientist. Secondly you know JAPAN & CHINA ? their medium of education is their mother tongue ,Its not English,,,,
Its a scientific proof that if your education system is in your mother tongue , you will create wonders,,,, never degrade by looking at the education medium. Even Chandrayan I, II project head Mr Annadurai he is from a typical village tamil medium student, didnt he achieve ?? I agree the expenses for such education is higher,,, though there are proper funding in our Country nothing is reaching the common man...We express thoughts through blogs,,,social site, where do these young energetic hearts will go ???? one more thing,, becoming Engineer / doctor is also not too easy brother,,,, you can buy the degree but you cant practice it,, easy to comment but the facts are hard to digest,,,, So many things we can do as an NGO,,, for good always there will be nuisance,,, but tolerate we can achieve,,, trust the same nation had thrown English men, why not we can throw these useless Politicians and Government Officials,,,,
Hey guys. Thanks a lot for your responses and suggestions.
With regard to Ronea's comments, I perfectly understand and appreciate your comments and suggestions mate. But to clarify some points raised by you, here you go.
I have no intention of demeaning Tamil medium schools for I am a Tamil lover and my mother tongue is Tamil too. And I perfectly understand that Tamil medium schools are by no means less privileged than English. What I meant was that particular school is meant only for the poor which is itself a noble deed. Don Bosco or Padma Seshadri do not do that. They charge exhorbitant fees and ensure only the top notch enter such schools.
And with regard to Engineers. I seriously don't think we would find so many lakhs of engineers passing out each year if the industry did not pay as much as it is doing now. You think every engineer that has passed out of college was extremely passionate about engineering or medical? I really wonder if they would.
Ronea....I really have nothing against engineers or doctors, for am an engineer myself and it is not in my lifestyle to demean my own profession or language or native. I only meant to sensitize people here that there are professions other than doctors and engineers.
Not meant to hurt anyone. Just wanted to clarify.
Hey Conie, agree with your thoughts and views.Many people like u & me are thinking,planning,trying to execute some real benefits, but all that are ultimately screwed for personal interest.Today am feeling shame to see all these in the modern days.What we gonna do for our brethren? Passionate about profession has become another subject, coz now fellas are being bought rather than recruiting.As a MBA graduate you know.Intention is ultimately monetary measures.If we really care for our fellow human we have to do something,,,,,
Regards
Ronea
And I thought you were a barbarian :P...Well, you have proved me wrong with your views.Its nice to see your empathy towards the needy.If all of us could look at it the same way, perhaps our country would have been a much better place to live in.Keep up the good work buddy.It would be great to have a world where no Vignesh boards a bus barefooted...:)
AMEN!!
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