Urban chaos, traffic congestion, loud honking, wandering drunkards and constant street fights failed to distract R. Divya from her studies.
Until the shops on Govindappa Naicken Street, near Flower Bazaar, closed at 9.30 p.m, she sat on the roadside, under the street lights, reading her textbooks. Later in the night, she used torchlight, borrowed from a neighbouring shop, to prepare for her exams.
Living in the streets for the last eight years with her three younger siblings and grandmother who rides a fish cart for a living, Divya has emerged as the topper at Chennai High School on Walltax Road.
After her mother passed away eight years ago in a fire accident, her father abandoned the family, leaving the grandmother to take care of the children. In class IX, she decided to drop out of school to support her grandmother. Her school teachers and classmates persuaded her to return to school. Equally adamant was her grandmother who made sure Divya did not mis school.
The change in syllabus initially worried her. But once she realised the syllabus was easy, she prepared well. Her teachers, Sreemathy and Rajakumari, ensured she did not drop out of school and even took her to their homes, occasionally, to help her with studies.
“Now, I want to study and become an IAS officer and take care of my brothers and sister,” says Divya, with conviction in her deep black eyes.
Keywords: class X examination results
Thank you so much for this great story. I, as a Japanese scholar specializing Indian studies, am strongly impressed with the bright future of Indian people. I introduce this article with my friends.
Teddy
It's an inspiring story. We would like to give a financial gift to this bright child Divya. Can The Hindu facilitate this?
I would like to Rs 5000 to support Divya's education to success in her dream. Please let me know how the money can be sent
Hope anyone can inform this bright girl about NGO-Prerna who helps the 10 std students passeed with 80% with low financial backgound for further studies
kindly someone inform these numbers
Mrs saraswati:9900906338
Mr.Shivkumar: 9986630301
MS.Bindu: 9964534667
Sir: Feel happy about the achievement of Divya. I also like to support
her education to my capacity. How to contact her?
Dear Divya,
You are the hope of India! India needs more children like you. I wish you a very bright future and I pray for an Indian society that can learn lessons from you. Wish you more laurels in the future. Never give up!
We would like to help children like Divya in her studies like absorbing the school fees etc. Are there any NGOs taking care of her or would it be possible for us to directly contact her?
Well done Divya , You have set a trend ,accolades to the Teachers Ms.Sreemathy and Ms.Rajakumari and her persuasive Grand Mother ,
Wow!!! When everybody else give up their dreams with excuses, this is an outstading feat - at an tender age, by an economically challenged person. Hope corporates or celebrities take notice of her and support her to achieve IAS which would help not just her but her siblings and the entire generation of such economically challenged people.
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