In the era when families were larger, challenges were faced head-on, and the tough got going when the going got tough, a unique narrative unfolds—a tale of resilience, determination, and an unwavering spirit. As we traverse back in time, we find ourselves in a world where joint families were the norm, fathers were busy in earning with not much time vested in children, mothers juggled household chores. Most of the learning was achieved in the schools where teachers didn’t hesitate to use a cane as a disciplinary measure. These circumstances, I believe, contributed to the development of tougher individuals, a far cry from the over-protected and seemingly softer children of today.
Let’s delve into a true story that left an indelible mark on my mind—a story of ‘S,’ my professor in engineering, born during the British era in a city is now Pakistan. His early life was marred by tragedy. Besides the uprooting and hardships induced by the partition of India, he also lost his father at a young age. Settled in a small place in then undivided Punjab, he faced a society that offered little support to him and his widowed mother. ‘S’s’ mother, a teacher in a local school, run by the Panchayat, became his pillar of strength, instilling in him the invaluable value of never giving up. S and his mother faced the society head on-they fought the paucity of resources, unhelpful attitude of the relatives and problems induced by often delayed release of his mother’s salary. This only made S resolute to work harder to do the best in his studies. He very well knew that it is only educational qualifications that could alter his fortune.
Endowed with a sharp mind, ‘S’ showed immense promise in academics. However, the resources generated by his mother’s meagre salary were insufficient to propel him beyond matriculation. In a time when information was scarce, ‘S’ and his friends found themselves ignorant about where to pursue further education. While the local baniya suggested a mundane path to take an employment in his shop, ‘S’s’ teachers recognized his potential for something greater.
In a bold move, ‘S’ sent a postcard requesting an application form to ‘DAV College, Amritsar,’ which, unbeknownst to him, didn’t exist. The post office, in a twist of fate, corrected it to ‘DAV College, Ambala,’ leading to his admission with the help of his mother’s salary arrears which were sufficient for first six months. At that time S was unaware what he would do after six months. But he pleaded his case to the college authorities for assistance who agreed to help him based upon his performance in the half yearly examination. With his hard work, he impressed the authorities and earned scholarships to see him through his Pre-Engineering examination that was a pre-requisite to apply for engineering degree. Finally he secured admission to the Punjab Engineering College Chandigarh and also secured a National Scholarship to sustain his education further.
As ‘S’ progressed through his academic journey, he faced a bureaucratic nightmare regarding the release of his National Scholarship. Undeterred, he took an extraordinary step. Riding his bicycle to the Chief Minister Pratap Singh Kairon’s residence, ‘S’ sought intervention, presenting an emotionally written letter detailing his plight.
What transpired next was an act of compassion rarely seen today. The Chief Minister, moved by ‘S’s’ story, tore up the letter, reassured him, and ensured the release of the scholarship. The very people who had previously refused to listen were now on a mission to deliver ‘S’ his due.
This story beckons us to ponder—would similar compassion be expected from today’s politicians? More importantly, it urges us to question the need for such extreme measures. Shouldn’t our systems be transparent, automatic, and time-bound, preventing deserving individuals like ‘S’ from resorting to drastic actions to claim their rightful opportunities?
As we celebrate ‘S’s’ triumph over adversity, let’s challenge ourselves to build systems that foster an environment where every deserving individual can claim their rights without hurdles. ‘S’s’ journey serves as a poignant reminder that the tough get going when the going gets tough. Perhaps it’s time for us to infuse a bit of that resilience back into our systems and society.
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