She is my cousin Rajasekharan’s wife.
She was working as teacher in a private scool at Trichur, after her marriage, for very low salary. She gave it up and came to Delhi where her brother was an IAS officer. In spite of her sincere efforts, she was unable to secure a job.
Then she wrote me and I offered my help. The RAPP School was taking teachers on daily wages basis. The rate is calculated by dividing the normal salary by thirty. So there was no loss; the only disadvantage was that they may be dismissed any time, when regular teachers were appointed. Sreedevi joined the post, the day she came to me. Afterwards Raj. Also came and they shifted to a room outside the project area, but very near to it.
The very first day, she spoke to the class in English, that being the medium of intruction. The children listened attentively, but could not understand a single word! Then, she was asked to teach in Hindi, which she did not know. I do not know how it was resolved. She was very hard working and sincere and became popular in no time.
Once, her brother and some others came and we all decided to visit a shrine of some Muslim Saint, who was a contemporary of the one, whose shrine at Ajmer, is world famous.
After getting down from the bus, we had to walk about two miles through the forest, and then saw the tomb which was very small and unimpressive, without any repairs. The one at Ajmer was constructed by some Emporer, I think. Both saints are supposed to be equally kind hearted and bessed their devotees, irrespective of their religion.
We all prayed and came back. We all were benefitted, one way or other. Vasudevan got a teacher’s post at Lakhery.
Sreedevi too got a regular post at the same place, with Vasudevan’s help, I think. While working there, she was called for interview by Navodaya Vidyalaya and got selected. She was posted at Ganganagar in Rajasthan. I always wanted to be there, so far unlucky. It is now very prosperous, after the construction of Indra Gandhi canal, bringing water from the Sutlej to the Thar desert.
Raj. who is having no work, accompanied her. There in Navodaya school, they get better salary and free accommodation,free food etc. They cannot leave the campus at any time. The timings are also different. After the morning session, Sreedevi comes home to prepare food for her husband, who is not entitled for free mess. Then in the afternoon, lessons are resumed. Students, who belong to all States, specially recruited on merit, including poor tribals, come any time to clear their doubts, even in the night. An excellent system. I stayed with them, when she was working in Malapuram district in Keralam.
Raj. used to roam about near the border with Pakistan, fully secured with barbed wire fencing. He became friendly with the BSF personnel and requested them to allow him to cros the border, albeit for a small distance for a limited time, at his own risk! He sneaked through the fencing and roamed about for some time, just for the thrill of it, and returned safely! So he went to Pakistan without a passport and visa. This is going on all the time, an arrangement from which both the BSF men and smugglers benefit. Earlier, as a bachelor, he worked in Saudi Arabia, about that later on.
In due course, Sreedevi was promoted as vice Principal and, now she is Principal in the school near Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh. I admire her and am happy that, I too contributed to her rise. The shrine in the forest was my discovery, during my lonely sojourn. At that time I felt uncomfortable, the wild animals are known to frequent the area.
Their only daughter is married and now working in Australia. She has inherited all the qualities of her workaholic mother!
She is now expectig a baby
Then she wrote me and I offered my help. The RAPP School was taking teachers on daily wages basis. The rate is calculated by dividing the normal salary by thirty. So there was no loss; the only disadvantage was that they may be dismissed any time, when regular teachers were appointed. Sreedevi joined the post, the day she came to me. Afterwards Raj. Also came and they shifted to a room outside the project area, but very near to it.
The very first day, she spoke to the class in English, that being the medium of intruction. The children listened attentively, but could not understand a single word! Then, she was asked to teach in Hindi, which she did not know. I do not know how it was resolved. She was very hard working and sincere and became popular in no time.
Once, her brother and some others came and we all decided to visit a shrine of some Muslim Saint, who was a contemporary of the one, whose shrine at Ajmer, is world famous.
After getting down from the bus, we had to walk about two miles through the forest, and then saw the tomb which was very small and unimpressive, without any repairs. The one at Ajmer was constructed by some Emporer, I think. Both saints are supposed to be equally kind hearted and bessed their devotees, irrespective of their religion.
We all prayed and came back. We all were benefitted, one way or other. Vasudevan got a teacher’s post at Lakhery.
Sreedevi too got a regular post at the same place, with Vasudevan’s help, I think. While working there, she was called for interview by Navodaya Vidyalaya and got selected. She was posted at Ganganagar in Rajasthan. I always wanted to be there, so far unlucky. It is now very prosperous, after the construction of Indra Gandhi canal, bringing water from the Sutlej to the Thar desert.
Raj. who is having no work, accompanied her. There in Navodaya school, they get better salary and free accommodation,free food etc. They cannot leave the campus at any time. The timings are also different. After the morning session, Sreedevi comes home to prepare food for her husband, who is not entitled for free mess. Then in the afternoon, lessons are resumed. Students, who belong to all States, specially recruited on merit, including poor tribals, come any time to clear their doubts, even in the night. An excellent system. I stayed with them, when she was working in Malapuram district in Keralam.
Raj. used to roam about near the border with Pakistan, fully secured with barbed wire fencing. He became friendly with the BSF personnel and requested them to allow him to cros the border, albeit for a small distance for a limited time, at his own risk! He sneaked through the fencing and roamed about for some time, just for the thrill of it, and returned safely! So he went to Pakistan without a passport and visa. This is going on all the time, an arrangement from which both the BSF men and smugglers benefit. Earlier, as a bachelor, he worked in Saudi Arabia, about that later on.
In due course, Sreedevi was promoted as vice Principal and, now she is Principal in the school near Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh. I admire her and am happy that, I too contributed to her rise. The shrine in the forest was my discovery, during my lonely sojourn. At that time I felt uncomfortable, the wild animals are known to frequent the area.
Their only daughter is married and now working in Australia. She has inherited all the qualities of her workaholic mother!
She is now expectig a baby
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