His entry into engineering college should have been a proud moment for his father, but instead, it became the fulfilment of his last wish.
Seventeen year old K.R. Birathiunan stood quietly on Thursday afternoon after getting his seat at Anna University’s counselling session.
Just hours earlier, when he was travelling to the university from Vathanakurichi in Pudukottai with his father and uncles, a lorry collided with their car near Ulundurpet.
Birathiunan’s father K. Raveendran perished in the accident.
But not before making a last wish to his son asking him to attend the counselling session and make a career for himself.
“Initially I did not want to come for the counselling after losing my father, but it was his last wish that I attend and use the opportunity to study well. I did not want to let him and my family down,” said Birathiunan, breaking down. With a cut-off of 142 marks, he secured admission to the civil engineering course at Asan Memorial College in Chengalpattu.
The accident left him with a small injury on his nose, while his uncles sustained minor injuries. Mr. Raveendran was a Head Constable in the Civil Supplies wing of the CID.
Relatives, police step in“As he had been given the 2 p.m. counselling slot, they left Pudukottai after 11 p.m. on Wednesday night and the accident occurred at around 2 a.m. They were rushed to the hospital but his father succumbed to his injuries,” said Tamil Muthu, a relative, who is an advocate at the Madras High Court.
While the injured were taken to the Ulundurpet Government Hospital after the accident, Birathiunan boarded a bus at around 7 a.m. to Perungulathur. He was met by a police inspector at the bus stop and taken by bike to Chennai to arrive for his counselling session on time.
“He was extremely brave and focussed on securing admission in the counselling session during the journey and did not speak much. It was only after reaching here that I realised he had lost his father,” said the inspector who helped him.
Before leaving for his village, Birathiunan said that he was sure of being able to manage his educational expenses and would focus on his studies. “I am confident that I can take care of my family, which includes my two younger siblings who are in school and support my mother,” he said.
At Anna University, the day was one of satisfaction for the students as they filed out of the counselling hall where the engineering admissions were being made on Thursday afternoon. They chatted with each other about their choice of college. Birathiunan was wondering if he would be able to return in time for his father’s funeral.
