Aangor ezhaikku

அன்ன சத்திரம் ஆயிரம் வைத்தல்
  ஆலயம் பதினாயிரம் நாட்டல்
அன்ன யாவினும் புண்ணியம் கோடி
 ஆங்கோர் ஏழைக்கு  எழுத்தறிவித்தல்

   Anna chathiram aayirm vaithal
Aalayam pathinayiram naattal
Anna yaavinum punniyam kodi
Aangor ezhaikku ehutharivithal

Bharathi said this which means:

Building a thousand choultries and offering free meals to all those who come; Building ten thousand temples; These are good deeds indeed. But it is far far better and useful if you help a poor student's education.

I wish to narrate one or two incidents I know personally which prompted me to initiate a proposal that follows.

Case I

A tribal girl from a remote village near Tirunelveli was studious and completed her degree in Maths with a first class, having been first in the district among tribal students. With the help of well wishers she managed to get a seat for MCA in a reputed institute. The banks in her locality refused even to hand out a loan application to her. But again with the help of some well wishers she was able to get a loan. But alas the institute had included only the amounts required to be payable to them and she simply applied for that amount. When she was required to purchase a laptop which was so essential for the course the bank refused because it was not included in the loan application and it was not possible to alter the sanction terms. Her parents who were very innocent and poor said if it was so essential and they can't afford it, better she discontinue the studies. But determined as she was, she again found some well wishers to fund the laptop.

Case II

A studious boy from a village near Trivandum, studying in a private engineering college, having managed to pay the fees for the first two years with the help of relatives found himself at the end of the road while entering the third year. He approached a nearby bank who said since his father had availed a loan under a government scheme and was a defaulter his loan cannot be sanctioned. Somehow with the help of some well intentioned people the old loan was settled under compromise and his education loan was sanctioned and he completed the course. But he was not fortunate to grab a placement in the campus selection. It was tougher in the open market. He was forced to do some further computer courses to equip himself better in the job market. Who will fund it?

Case III

A visually challenged boy doing a course in computers required a meagre rs.6000/ to undergo a surgery which will improve his vision and enable him to get a better job. But his family cannot afford it.

I am having in mind such persons for whom even a little help, if offered at the right time, will make a lot of difference.

One more academic year is about to begin. It has always been my passion to offer a helping hand to the deserving and needy students. This time I have a desire to strengthen my hands with those of my friends in order to expand the same. I am sure you will come forward to make me formulate a decent strategy. I list down broadly what I have in mind.

1. Any of the contributors to the pool can refer a student. The student should be genuinely needy. One who refers the student should be personally convinced of this. And it should be verifiable. Amount will be released subject to availability of funds in the pool.
2. He/She should be continuing the studies.
3. Should have a decent (not necessarily exemplary) academic record.
4. Even if he/she has obtained an education loan but requires finance for any reasonable study related expenses not covered by the loan may be considered.
5. Maximum amount may be fixed at say Rs. 20000/ for one person for one year to start with.
6. He/She should make a commitment to contribute to the pool after getting an employment, atleast an amount equal to the help received.

With this in mind I intend to start a pool with the help of all my near and dear ones with a committed contribution (whatever the amount is).

And the pool is to be formed by:

1. Anyone can send a contribution either in a lump sum or by monthly remittances to an a/c used exclusively for this purpose. Remittances will be accepted only from friends and relatives and persons well known to them. Identity of the sender is a must.

2. Monthly remittances may be to the tune of say Rs. 1000/ per month for one year. No upper limit.

The account can be scrutinised by any of the contributors at regular intervals.

We can think of auditing it when the amount grows.

I sincerely seek your suggestions to improve any of the above.

I also seek your liberal contributions.

யாம் பெற்ற இன்பம் பெறுக  இவ்வையகம்

May others derive the benefits that we got out of education.

Why this kolaveri da

Yes. But this is about some real kolaveri(killer rage). I was really disturbed at reading the sad end of a three month old girl child Afreen. She was killed by her own father for no fault of hers but because he wanted only a boy. How can a man after seeing his own baby (be it boy or girl) in flesh and blood commit such an act? This is cruelty with no justification.

But this incident made me ponder over the reasons for prejudice against female child in this country.

I could only think of three major reasons for this:

1. Dowry menace prevalent in the society.
2. Lack of safety for a girl or woman of any age to move about freely.
3. The belief that only a boy can perform the last rites to his parents and only then their soul will attain the right to rest in peace.

We shall consider the first one alone for now.

The dowry system might have come into vogue since there was no inheritance right to women. But then the system is prevalent in Kerala too where a section of the society is supposed to follow matrilineal succession system.

Added to the dowry evil the grand gala Indian wedding expenses make the life of a girl's father quite tough, no doubt. There is a saying in Tamil that if he had five daughters even a king will become pauper(Anju pennai petral arasanum aandiyavan). But today even one daughter's wedding makes a middle class family immersed in debt, if not insolvent.

Yes the dowry system is bad. But the condition stated above is not only because of the dowry system. Consider the expenses incurred in the grand Indian shows called wedding. Everyone wants to outdo the neighbours and friends and end up spending their life's savings for the one day affair.

My dear girls and boys, you show all the courage and confidence to stand up before your parents –right from choosing the dress you like to the course you like and in many cases the life partner of your choice too. (No- I'm not against your choosing your life partners, but show a little prudence. O.K—that is for a different story).

But when it comes to the wedding function you become all too obedient and hide under the cover of parental pressure. You have no stinch of shame in imitating or outdoing some one who has made an ugly display of their wealth, rather their ability to borrow. Your friend or neighbour wants to outdo when their turn comes and the circle becomes vicious. No, I am not against having fun with a lot of guests. In fact it is an occasion to renew forgotten relationships. But creating scenes as in movies and using film cameras to shoot them, isn't it too much? Yes, platforms on which the couple are standing are suddenly raised to some height leaving the guests standing nearby awe struck. Fortunately things have not gone to this height in the south. But Keralites' weddings which used to be a simple and short affair until a decade back are no more simple these days. I have actually seen a wedding using a camera with a trolley used for shooting films. And this extravaganza is taking place in a country where the planning commission is lowering the poverty limit from Rs.32/ to 28/ and is pleased that the population below poverty line has reduced. Again this in a country where we the middle class don't bother to read about female foeticide unless reminded by a celbrity in a TV serial (after getting a hefty pay packet for himself). And that too to click Like button in the facebook. There are many youngsters with social awareness, no doubt. But the majority are not even aware of the harm caused by the show offs. If the younger generation wake up and decide to eradicate female foeticide there will be no more Afreens.