Youngest Head Master

 

What a 16 year old kid would do, He might almost completing his high school or aiming to study college or wandering wayward or trying to make a mark for himself in a business or a sport. But, if I say, at 16yr of age, a boy is head master of a school, would you believe.

Yes, It is true, Babar Ali from West Bengal is credited to have this citation. He is called as the youngest Head Master by BBC. He is also awarded as the one of the most influential person by NDTV for the year 2009. By 2023 he completes 20 years of his school and thousands coming out as students. His school presently, has 60% girls and 40% boys.

Born to a poor family, Babar parents in their meagre income sent him to school, 10 km away from his village. Daily after coming from his school, he would see few of his age going children used to work on the fields or household chores. Babar felt it was quite injustice to them for not getting educated. Slowly, he began to teach children at a tree in the evenings after coming from school. It started with his own sister and many others. Many parents were reluctant as they considered it unworthy to get educated and might ruin their chances to earn a livelihood. But Babar convinced them to allow him to teach at his school.

Slowly the numbers began to increase, and Babar was happy with it. But one point always was bothering him, as the children couldn’t get any new food or incentives. He later came to know, if the school is recognized with the West Bengal board of Education, regular students would get 4 kg of rice and other groceries. He tried hard and registered his school with the board. He was happy so were the paretns and the students. During his leisure time at school, he used to watch his teachers in the staff room and how they manage their office work. He used to duplicate the same in his school. This the story of the Youngest Head master in the Country. A man who transformed the lives of many people in his village. His dream is to get every child unprivileged educated. Ananda Siksha Niketan, the school by babar is an inspiration to many people around the Country and the World.

 

                                                    Each One Plant One

There is a saying in Sanskrit “ Vruksho Rakshati Rakshitaha” If we save trees, trees save us. State Government, Central Government held many programmes to improve green cover in the Country. Even Our country entered Guinness book of Records by planting maximum plants on a single day.

Planting tress is a normal phenomenon making a garden is also a normal phenomenon. But creating a forest of about 200 hectares is a Miracle. If I say, a single person has created the forest, then we will definitely say it is impossible and probably a lie. But Govt of India, and many organizations world wide have acknowledged it.

Jadav Peyang, also known as Forest Man of India, is credited to have created a Forest in his home state of Assam on a river island called jorbat. The Island on the Brahmaputra river now houses herds of Elephant, tigers, deers and many flora and fauna in the forest.

Jadav Peyang was about 17 years old when he saw a tragedy on the banks of the river Brahmaputra. Due to drought, many snakes and other aquatic life with enormous heat, those creatures began to die. The lifeless bodies of the creatures melted the heart of the young man. He decided to do something to them.

He worked with the forest officer, a botanical scientist, who advised him to plant Bamboo trees. Every day, Jadav peyang would walk to the shore and plant the bamboo. Slowly by slowly the plants would grow by numbers. Then he began to plant Coconut trees and later planted different types of plants.

When asked how did you plant all them to make it a forest, he replies honestly The plants know how to seed further, the birds know how to sow the seeds, the animals know how to sow the seeds. The nature knows how to sow the seeds and make more plants. Presently, the forest is about 2000 hectares and is the size of about 20 football fields. It all happened in disguise. A wildlife photographer from Jorbat district stumbled upon Jadav Peyang.

                                                     Human Limbs have Spares

In the Year 1984, a movie released in Telugu film Industry but became a sensation in the entire country. The movie name is “Mayuri” starred by Sudha Chandran. It was dubbed into other southern languages, finally remade in Hindi in 1986. The movie is probably one of the first biographies of a person, that too a living one in Indian Cinema.

The movie is the story of a classical dancer, Sudha Chandran who lost her left leg during an accident. But her passion to dance was alive. She yearned to dance again but it is impossible to dance on a single leg. If a vehicle loses a part, there are spares to replenish it. But for humans, the Doctors said, Human Organs don’t have Spare parts. Many lost hopes but she didn’t.

Maybe her dreams were mighty. Maybe, the Saying “When there is Will there is a Way” The dreams were big enough for the creator to show a way for her.

All know, human limbs have no spares. But an agency in Rajasthan, Jaipur has a facility where they produce prosthetic organs for the disabled. Those are low-cost prosthetics, but available to many in the Country. The Jaipur leg put to her made her dream possible, she could again dance and give performances. The Movie became a success because of Sudha Chandran and Sudha Chandran became successful because of Jaipur Leg.

 Since civilization began, there were always chances of accidents and human organs/limbs used to get damaged, but the evolutionary trait makes it impossible for the organ/limb to grow back. And human limbs never have duplicates nor they can re-grow. This makes many people maimed throughout their life and never enjoy the freedom they used to have. Ancient history also has some traces of prosthetics but in modern era. A French surgeon is credited for starting prosthetics.

By 1968, an Indian Mr Sharma and Surgeon Pramod Karan sethi started the prosthetic design with rubber based for prosthetics below the knee. It is highly const effective and can be used for many poor in the entire country. Dr. PK Sethi received honorary awards for the same. But in the first 7 years less than 100 limbs could be fit to the needy. This is very very far from the requirement. As the cause is a noble one, history finds a way to accelerate it.

Sawai Man Singh a young men saw the troubles of people at Jaipur foot factory. He was determined to help the needy. After he became a principal secretary to CM of Rajasthan, requested the CM to do something for this. There was no place to do, old ambulance vehicles were used for the process. 1975 was the year of 2,500 year birth anniversary of Mahavira, the founder of Jainism. The CM office wanted to do in homage to the great saint and founder. Bhagwan Mahavir Viklang Sahayata Samiti was found in 1975 to accelerate it. Mr Sharm known as panditji again came back on BOARD and helped in acceleration. They first chose to eliminate all bureaucratic hassles and support the needy mostly comprise of daily labor and poor people.

Once during a visit to Hyderabad, Guruji came to know about HDPE which is more flexible and usable. He reinvented the limb and helped in making more and more. Now centers are being made in many parts of the country with schedules listed. Even the fitment is done at the door steps of the needy. 

                                             Live for Others as you LIVE for Yourself

A boy was playing on the ground, he was running, jumping, and moving on the ground. After some time, he fell while running, “Amma, Amma, he cried profusely, his mother saw him from a distance ran towards him and consoled him..

Every child in pain, utters his mother. It may be “Amma”, “Ma”, “Mother”, “Aai”, etc.

“God cannot be everywhere hence he created a mother” is another popular saying about greatness of a mother. A child is blessed to have a Mother, Mother a God near you.

But what about people who do not have a Mother?

In Pune, an 80-year-old was in her office and there is a knock from a volunteer, they say a man has come for shelter in our place.

The Lady replied, ok fine. Let him in and give an accommodation

The volunteer hesitated, The lady asked, are rooms unavailable?

Rooms are available, came the answer

Then, what is the problem asked the Lady sternly.

The Old man who has come is from Nawargaon Village and his name is Srihari Sapkal, informed the volunteer

The Lady paused for a second and said, provide him with accommodation and food.

The volunteer murmured, Aai do you remember, he is the person who removed you from his house though you were pregnant. He believed the words of a cunning fellow and left you an orphan.

Don’t you have anger?

Aren’t you feeling bad, Aai lets not allow him, let him pay for his sins.

He left when you had nothing

Let’s leave him when he is having nothing, said the volunteer

What do you call me asked the Lady

Aai !! said the volunteer proudly

And Aai means Mother, I am a mother now, mother to everyone in distress

I take him as a Mother, he is no more my husband. He is a child for me now.

This is a story of Sindhu Tai Sapkal, a prominent lady, who is also called as Mother of Orphans

She took her husband as a child in her Ashram in Pune.

 For all Orphans there is a Mother by Name Sindhu Tai Sapkali !

Many of us have not known her name, many might never have heard her. She is taking care of about 1600 orphans in Pune.

Sindhu tai was born as Chindi, an unwanted child to her parents. She was interested to read and write. But poverty did not allow her, she dropped out of a school at a young age. As Child marriages where prevalent at that time, she was married to a person 20 years senior to her.

As a child, she was the least prioritized one. Her Marriage proved nothing better.

Her in-laws troubled her, her husband too trouble her. But the lady was always in good spirits. She dared against a cunning man in the village, who was duping people. Sindhu tai exposed him, out of revenge, the man created a rumor. He convinced people that sindhu tai had extra marital affairs with another person. Everyone believed him including her family. Her husband left her and send her out of house. She was 8 month pregnant and they didn’t even consider this.

She delivered the baby in a cattle shed, cut the umblical cord by a stone. She was troubled, she was in pain physically and mentally.

Weeping she went back to her mother house, she was discarded here too. The mother family disowned her. Depressed, dejected and destitute, Sindhu tai decided to end her life.

Who will take care of her baby ? was in her mind and she thought to live for her daughter.

She began to beg and feed for herself and her daughter in railway stations. To escape from bad people she began to live in the crematorium. Out of hunger, she even took food that was offered to the corpses.

After sometime she came to know that there are many unfortunate children left unattended by their parents. She began to beg for herself and for the children.

Later, she left her child in an ashram because she thought it might make her partial.

Slowly, she began to ask for funds from people, and thus began her life where she became a mother for orphans. There are more than 1500 orphans taken care by her.

Many have passed out in high academics and serving the society.

When Life gives you Difficulty

You Give Life an Opportunity

 

Obstacle is the Way

   Obstacle is the Way

Verghese Sir is principal of school in a small town, In School, he was teaching children about mathematics. He was teaching the math problems.

“If a wall is built by 5 people in 8 days, how much time it will take for 1 man to build it.

Ramakrishna solved the answer correctly “

Another Student Dharani asked, Sir, is this possible for one person to build a wall single handedly without help from others.

Another Student Nancy replied, it is possible only in Movies and never happens.

Naresh another Student commented, yes it happens in movies, I watched a movie called Manjhi, the Mountain man. The Man built a road through a mountain.

Verghese sir, replied yes it is a reality and the road was made through a mountain. The Movie is based on a real person.

The Time we spent with our Loved ones is as important as the Time we spend for our Loved ones.

Shri Manjhi spent 22 years for his loved one to carve path through a Mountain.

Shri Manjhi lived in village in Bihar. He was married to the girl of his choice. Both were living happily. Once during a small accident, His wife was injured badly and needed immediate medical attention.

But the nearest medical facility for them was 21 km away. Else, they have to walk through a mountain and visit the medical facility. Shri Manjhi took his wife through the mountain and reached the Hospital but it was late. The doctors declared she was brought dead.

This infuriated the sad Manjhi, he vowed to bring down the mountain.

He vowed to make a road

He vowed not to let anyone else suffer the pain he endured

He began to work with a pair of Hammer and chisel

All students laughed and mocked how can some one work with such tools and make a road.

The teacher replied, he had a deadly weapon, which increases the productivity of such small tools

Students were eager to know, what is the weapon

PERSISTENCE replied the teacher

Persistence is a weapon which made his tiny tools highly magical and miracle

Shri Manjhi worked tirelessly for 22 years and after a period of about 15-20 years villagers began to join him and slowly they could carve a small path through the mountain. Later the government of the state brought machinery and converted it into a 40 feet road. The distance from the village to the town narrowed down to 3 km from 21 km.

All this credit goes to Shri Manjhi the Mountain Man. When he passed away, the state government gave 21 rifle salute to him and declared a day of mourning.

Shri Manjhi may not leave a celebrity life nor may not have great admirers but he completed a task which is rare not only in Indian History but World History.

It is sad that a person who made such a gigantic task is hardly known to the people in the Country

 

A Big Salute to Shri Manjhi “The Mountain Man”

Great Solutions lie under the Debris of Greater Problems

 

Great Solutions lie under the debris of Greater Problems!!

Grand Father Rao was talking to his daughter, the summary of the talk was, the Grand daughter who is in Hostel was suffering from loose motions and became very weak. Grand Mother Laxmi got worried and enquired, Is everything ok ?

Rao said she is fine now. Thank God, my granddaughter is safe.

Grand Father Said, Thank ORS, because it helped her out of dehydration and made her normal.

Grand Mother replied even God created ORS sarcastically. In Many families in India and other countries ORS is the first medicine given during any dehydration problem. ORS is also kept as a stock in the homes of many houses

This is a story in a small family in India, similarly there are lakhs of such stories in the Country and entire world. People of different religion, Color, Creed & language understand ORS as the First Single medicine for treating dehydration.

ORS has substantially saved millions of people in the World. About 75% of the World Population knows about ORS and “ORS is considered as the Greatest Medical Discovery of 20^th Century”

As per WHO updates about 500 million people are being administered with ORS during diarrhea and other dehydration illnesses. It is also estimated, millions of children in the African continent and many areas around the globe are administered with ORS. WHO recommends ORS during dehydration problems.

Isnt this impressive?

Isnt it Inspiring?

But they hardly know the person who created it, who started it, who introduced it.

It is Late Dr. Dilip Mahalanabis, a Doctor from the state of West Bengal

Great Solutions lie under the debris of Greater Problems,

In the History of World, Millions of children and adults died due to problems related to diarrhea, dysentery, cholera, etc. Many scientists tried to find out a noble solution for the same. But the available solution, was intravenous rehydration therapy (IVT), what we normally say as Saline drop. This technique needs clinical infrastructure and mostly poor people are unable to afford it. In war like situations and monsoon type seasons it becomes difficult. Statistics say, there is about 40% mortality in such situations.

In the year 1971, East Pakistan (earlier name of Bangladesh) was fighting for its Independence from Pakistan. The War created a big crisis, millions of people were dispersed and living in refugee camps in many parts of India mostly West Bengal. In monsoon, with outbreak of diarrhea, it was finding it difficult to control the situation. There was high mortality about 40-50% among the people, as usual children and women were the biggest casualties.

Mr. Dilip was one among the many doctors who were sent to help during the diarrhea endemic. But the camp under Mr. Dilip was having the lowest mortality rate. From a huge 30% in other areas, the camps in dilip had about 3%. People and mostly children were getting cured of diarrhea.

What is the difference ?

Mr. Dilip used to prepare a solution which was ready for usage. The uniqueness of the solution was that it could be administered by anyone. Mothers, relatives in the camp volunteered for the cause.

His basic solution later known as ORS consisting of a mixture of table salt (four teaspoons), baking soda (three teaspoons) and commercial glucose (20 teaspoons). It created wonders, the same was replicated in many other camps. Within few months diarrhea began to come under the control. Dilip Mahalanabis along with his mentor Mr. Dhimin Barua have done the impossible possible. Now, UN health organization has spread the ORS to almost every country on the Planet. Now, about 50 million lives have been saved by this innovative and unique solution.

ORS has gained worldwide recognition, but the creator is hardly known to many people

Dilip Mahalanabis is recognized by the Govt of India and other governmental organizations by giving him few posts, UNO and other international organizations have recognized him. Dr. Dilip Mahalanabis left this mortal world on 16^th Oct’22. He is Posthumously awarded Padma Vibhushan by the Govt of India

LET’S ATLEAST KNOW HIM, RECOGNIZE HIM AND SALUTE HIM