Of Not Giving Up
There are very few times when a weekday ends in happiness, and not just because it's Friday. The boring person that I am, Friday means the night I sleep early to wake up late next day. But today is different. Today the higher secondary examination results are out in my state. I know what you're thinking, what's it got to do with me? Surprisingly, a LOT!
There's this person who used to drive our car. He is a man this family cannot survive without for he is literally the backbone of my family. He is so trustworthy that when my grandmother was disillusioned and paid him his salary thrice in the same month, he came and returned the extra bit to my mother. He's spent the last few years dreaming one dream, running behind one goal - his son. He's accompanied the boy to every examination he appeared for, provided for every extra tuition he asked for and run from pillar to post to make sure his son completes his education in style. That boy passed his class 12 boards with a first division today.
Our maid. A child bride who has never been to school, bore a few kids and moved to Kolkata a few years back to support her husband who is the caretaker of our house. She talks nineteen to the dozen but never before today did she tell us that her daughter who lives with the extended family in the village went to school empty stomach because no one was bothered about her eating. She never said that the girl had to complete every household chore before she sat to study, else she was beaten up. That the family had to see very hard times warding off marriage proposal after proposal to stand by her daughter's dream to study. That girl passed her higher secondary today with first division marks.
And then, there's this girl I've never met. Ananya, from a village called Dhenua in Bardhaman. A girl who created history by becoming the first in her village to score above 80% in her secondary examinations. Daughter of a father who did not let his limited means affect his daughters' lives adversely. Stood behind them to refuse every single person who advised him to get them married. Because of CRY, I got to write her story two years ago. And I remember the story word by word, till date. I remember her dream. I remember every bit of her struggle - of waking up in the wee hours of the morning and of not giving up in the face of adversity. The same Ananya scored over 84% in her higher secondary today.
I'm not sorry this post is so long. These stories need to be heard. Stories of how determined parents can be, how beautiful their faith in their children can be and how inspiring the journey of their children can then become.
There's this person who used to drive our car. He is a man this family cannot survive without for he is literally the backbone of my family. He is so trustworthy that when my grandmother was disillusioned and paid him his salary thrice in the same month, he came and returned the extra bit to my mother. He's spent the last few years dreaming one dream, running behind one goal - his son. He's accompanied the boy to every examination he appeared for, provided for every extra tuition he asked for and run from pillar to post to make sure his son completes his education in style. That boy passed his class 12 boards with a first division today.
Our maid. A child bride who has never been to school, bore a few kids and moved to Kolkata a few years back to support her husband who is the caretaker of our house. She talks nineteen to the dozen but never before today did she tell us that her daughter who lives with the extended family in the village went to school empty stomach because no one was bothered about her eating. She never said that the girl had to complete every household chore before she sat to study, else she was beaten up. That the family had to see very hard times warding off marriage proposal after proposal to stand by her daughter's dream to study. That girl passed her higher secondary today with first division marks.
And then, there's this girl I've never met. Ananya, from a village called Dhenua in Bardhaman. A girl who created history by becoming the first in her village to score above 80% in her secondary examinations. Daughter of a father who did not let his limited means affect his daughters' lives adversely. Stood behind them to refuse every single person who advised him to get them married. Because of CRY, I got to write her story two years ago. And I remember the story word by word, till date. I remember her dream. I remember every bit of her struggle - of waking up in the wee hours of the morning and of not giving up in the face of adversity. The same Ananya scored over 84% in her higher secondary today.
I'm not sorry this post is so long. These stories need to be heard. Stories of how determined parents can be, how beautiful their faith in their children can be and how inspiring the journey of their children can then become.
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