I met him at a college. Shabby hair, old jeans, recently grown beard and a confused outlook on life is how I would describe this recent SLC graduate. On the contrary, the lobby of the college did not look any different from an elaborated and lavish five star hotel lounge. The sofa was comfortable enough that anyone would have fallen asleep especially with the expensive Haier air-conditioner over your head. I pondered over the prolific investments.
Breaking the silence I asked him his story. His gullible nature shows through his words. He was a Sherpa, from a remote village in Khasa. His desire to study Hotel Management, brought him to the K-town. Frankly, I inquired if his parents could afford the tuition fee in such high profile and expensive college. He lamented that his father had left them ( his mother and him) for a YOUNGER woman. His mother, still in the village, does odd jobs for a living. Curiosity took toil in my mind and I further asked how he is going to pay the fees. He smiled and replied,” after my SLC, for three months I was collecting? Yarchagumba and made some money for my education”. I was dumb struck and spell bounded by his enthusiasm to study. But he added it’s still not enough.
After thirty minutes he came out of the administrative office. He took out a newspaper from his bag and showed me a colourful and attractive promo of the same college where in bold fonts they had promised genenrous Financial Aid( that’s the word) and Scholarship for under privileged students. He was comfortable sharing his desires, obstacles and stories to a stranger like me. He was denied of any financial aid, for his marks were not upto the college standards.
I browsed through newspapers for some more details about the plus two colleges. Every year, many new colleges are established inside the Valley only. These colleges spend minimum 50 lakhs simply on marketing and advertisements. For instance if there are 10 new colleges the marketing and total expenditure only on advertisement is 5 crores. Now, if only they take out 1 crore for financial aid for such under privileged students, who do you think will benefit at the end of it all? The student only or ????Ok even if we don’t want to take out 1 crore out of the advertisement investment, can we have atleast 1 lakh allocated to a single student who might not have the best marks or results but has the feeling to study and excel in life. If every new college take this initiative of educating one student every session, that dozens an average year. Every year the numbers will cumulate. Close to one thousand students from backward, underprivileged group will benefit in less than ten years.
This kind of youngster might not want to become a doctor or a scientist like most of the boarding school students from the big cities. But all he is asking for is a qualification and training to make his and his mother’s life a little better than now. He is hoping just to earn a living for his family. Cant a five star hotel look alike posh college affords to do that? It was just a simple signature and they would have made atleast ONE single guy capable of achieving his dreams. I am still confused. What are colleges for, Better education for better living or better advertisement for better investment return?
