A soldier's first duty is to secure the country from external threats. A soldier-doctor ensures that this is done, and other soldiers stay healthy. This is what IAF Wing Commander, Dr Thyelnai Dawn Khaling has been doing. But that is not the extent of his services to this great nation! In the evenings, he does something unique!
In his small living room in the evening, 30 odd students wait patiently for their class to begin. Dr Khaling, with the help of his wife and a few colleagues, has been running this school. The students are the children of the domestic help or the children of their friends. If someone cannot afford to educate their children in this part of Gulbarga, they send the child here!
I stumbled upon this piece of news on social media, and I wondered how this doctor spends all his evenings ensuring that the underprivileged are getting the best gift they can get - education!
Dr Khaling faced a lot of hardships when he was in college. But his father, the first matriculate in his small village of Manipur, inspired him to go on. "Money should not be the reason for anyone to remain uneducated", he believes.
Dr Khaling started teaching the son of his domestic help, and soon the word spread. Now, 30 students are being educated in a fun manner, where they are encouraged to ask questions! Almost every student can now speak in English, and a few have been even recommended to the Air force School!
This is how teachers are, selfless in their approach, with the welfare of their students on their mind all the time. I have had the privilege to watch a few carefully. It is jokingly said that like parents, teachers end up losing their friends one by one, as they cannot stop talking about their 'kids'! And how true that is! I don't believe that they ever are completely free from the thoughts about their students.
Dr Khaling has set an example in front of all of us, people with means and a bit of education, of what is the potential of giving a child an hour's worth of education. Every one of us has a maid whose children need education. Each of us is talented in some way, but don't know how we can make a difference.
Here are 5 ways in which you can shape the future of that child
1# As a teacher
If you can teach a language, find one hour every Saturday, and ask the maid to bring along her kid. Teach him how to read and write. The books for basic English are not too costly, and the kid would never forget your benevolence.
Teach him how to add and subtract. Answer his questions about science. Light the flame of curiosity in him, and you have helped India progress.
2# As a storyteller
If you feel that Science is not your thing, don't despair. All kids love stories. Stories have the power to change minds! They can erase bad memories and bring in hope. Chose the stories with a moral, as the world needs some morality today.
3# As a role model
If you can, tell the kid what you do, in a way he understands. His world is limited, and he may not have met a good role model yet. Give him something to dream about.
If you are a homemaker, tell him how your job never ends! You can teach him some basic life skills in addition, like cooking! India will progress when the kids have an all round development.
4# As a dream-sharer
You may have had dreams that were never fulfilled. Share those dreams with the kid. Tell him how a man went to the moon and how they have libraries in the world with a million books! Show him the world beyond the television and he might just end up fulfilling your dreams!
5# As a platform
You have the power to bring such kids up. The world works on referral, and this kid might be able to enrol in some activities solely on your referral. The father of a close friend of mine has helped many such kids get into places that would otherwise have been difficult to enter.
Beyond help
You can spend money, buy them books, educate them, but beyond that, you can provide them with an important service: treat them like fellow humans. They might have never been shown dignity, and this is one chance you have at changing the life of a kid.
Be a teacher. Happy teacher's day!
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(Story and image courtesy: TOI)
