Vivek Kumar

I have told this story multiple times on various stages wherever I got the chance to speak...it is so touching and impactful, I just can't let it go. Of course, happy to share here too!It was 2018 when I was visiting a place called Muddenahalli outside Bengaluru in the southern Indian state of Karnataka. The place was abuzz with the birthday celebrations of the spiritual master Sri Sathya Sai Baba. The program was a big pillar-less hall where a lot of devotees from all across the globe, a few teachers, administrators of the campus, and also a few students were gathered. Anticipating a bigger crowd, they had put some extra canopies outside the hall too, and as luck would have it, I didn't get the chance to sit inside so I parked myself under those canopies.After the initial formalities, they asked a young girl to speak to the audience. This petite girl was from the sixth grade of one of their girls' campuses, and she walked with cautious confidence...I don't she looked afraid given that the whole hall was filled with people and there was complete silence. I was definitely afraid for her. I did not want her to fumble and struggle lest the audience might make fun of her. Unconsciously, I might have even prayed to quicken the proceedings.But when she started speaking confidently, I was surprised...she spoke in the regional language Kannada, which I didn't understand. However, she sounded belonging to the stage and was going on without any hesitation or confusion. I heard cheers and clapping a couple of times. Before I could get the gist of her talk, I noticed I had started crying silently...the effect of her childish voice and the warmth of the audience overtook me and I could not control myself. In short, everything went very well. Fast forward to the last year: There was a group of CFOs of various companies who wanted to visit the same campus. I was also a part of the team who was receiving them. There was a small meet-and-greet program in a lecture theatre and I got the chance to sit inside.A girl was asked to speak to these C-suite leaders. I was curious. However, I soon had to hide under the desk to wipe my tears because I realized the same petite girl was speaking and I could understand her now because she was speaking in English.She said (Summary only not the exact words): "We are three sisters and our father left our mother because she could not give him a male child. Our mother had to fend for us by doing petty jobs, which are scarce in a village anyway. There was no money for food even; leaving aside the question of getting any sort of education. Then one fine day, a group of people (https://eachoneeducateone.org/) came to our village; noticed our condition, and offered me the chance to get an education--I would not have to pay any fee and also all my needs would be taken care of. Now, I want to become a professor, go back to my village, and give the same opportunity to more children who do not get this chance. During my vacations, I already teach my village kids."I was so moved to hear her story...often education seems like a minuscule effort to do anything positive on society but the impact is always very big. It has the potential to create a chain reaction that can touch a number of lives and give them home, purpose, and the means to become future leaders. A beneficiary becoming a benefactor!Rural India still struggles with a lot of social challenges where girls often become the victim of lack of opportunity. Their talents are hardly honed and their strengths seldom valued, but there is no denying the fact that if we get together to put some efforts in this direction, we not only create the change, we create the changemakers.

This is a first-hand story told directly by the girl. I was part of the audience, and it literally moved me to tears to hear what her mother told her when she encouraged her to continue her studies and believed that the Almighty would reward her hard work.BackgroundIndia is a country full of festivals and we were celebrating the festival of Makara Sankranti, which marks the end of the winter season as the sun starts moving northwards. Almost all states of India celebrate this festival with various cultural activities and welcome the brighter season with glee and joy. Our headquarters was celebrating the occasion differently--celebrating the day as the 7th anniversary of the Sri Sathya Sai Sarla Memorial Hospital (https://www.ssssmh.org/), a unique hospital offering all services free of charge including outpatient consultations, medication, in-patient hospitalization, and even surgeries free of charge to the beneficiaries.However, over the years, it was noticed that rural India lacks healthcare professionals who, after spending millions of rupees on their studies, want to move to greener pastures (cities, where patients' paying capacity is more) to earn back and make a better life. Hardly any doctor would want to go to a village and serve the rural poor. This observation led to an astounding resolve to start the world's first-ever private medical college, which will provide medical education free of charge (Sri Madhusudan Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research: https://smsimsr.org/), including MBBS studies. So, last year, the group ventured to launch the medical college, and the protagonist of this story is a student of the MBBS course in the college.She was speaking on the occasion of this celebration as a beneficiary and how her journey had been with the institute.Her StoryShe mentioned that she came from a rural background and her parents were daily wagers. She completed her primary education in the local village school but had to travel miles for her secondary education. But when it came to appearing for the entrance, the family had to think twice because availing of dedicated coaching meant a huge amount of money. This is where the mother jumped in--she sold her pair of earrings (her only jewelry) and prompted the girl to put in her best efforts. The girl was upset about making her mother sell her precious possessions, but her mother replied lovingly: "Dear one, you are my gold; I don't need anything else!" Can you imagine the love and sense of sacrifice the mothers have to make their children grow in life?The girl scored well in the national entrance exam. However, medical education, like everywhere else, is a pricy affair. But this is where the Almighty had already heard and answered their prayers and rewarded their efforts. Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research offers all services free of charge including the hostel fee, daily needs, food, etc. The family chose the college and is happy seeing their daughter on her way to becoming a doctor and her future vision: "I want to go back to my village and serve the people there and also help more girls who have a dream like me."I leave it to you to measure the magnitude of this work and the impact it will have on the lives of many, offering opportunities, hope, solace, and means to their dreams come true!

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Vivek Kumar

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