Big hero in a small town – An inspiring story of village boy.
It’s not a story of rags to riches, its not about adversities its about opportunities, its not about winning, its all about how success follows hardships.
My friend Karan has attained massive success in his life i would say he has arrived in life at the age of 40. I am very responsibly saying massive success for him because he has literally started from minus or nowhere. He was born in a family wherein he could only afford to eat two three meals a day, a pair of clothes just sufficient to keep him covered and a pair of chappals (bathroom sleeper)and his class books which he used to beg or borrow from friends & relatives.
Karan is currently enjoying the beauty of Seychelles, in Africa on vacation with family. A Facebook and whats app freak, he is keeping friends and family informed about his maiden trip to this wonderland.
I was minutely observing his humble reply to all his friends on his posts. He was receiving hundreds of likes and comments including mine. Most of his Facebook friends were acquired friends in recent 15-18 years of struggle. Majority of these new friends were related with his profession.
Am sure some of them must be very close friends to Karan may be more close than me who is friend to him since his childhood. I knew few of them because i visited Karan many times in his various offices. Yes Karan has changed many jobs, I was privileged to visit his several offices and met his new acquaintance.
Anyways, now Karan is living very happily and settled in his life with few millions in his wallet. He stays in Mumbai with his wife, kids and parents. He is very responsible towards his family, parents, uncles, aunts, sisters, brothers and cousins.
He doesn’t let an opportunity go wherein he has to financially support any of them. Bit selective though as he won’t support them for their day today running of kitchen but if it is related with kids education, medical support or may be death in the family he is always with them.
He doesn’t call it giving back to people with whom he has spent worst of his time but due to sheer affection and relationship he cherish with them. He feels that its the blessings of each one in the family, relatives and neighbor which has made him what he is today.
I remember it categorically Karan used to work in field with his father after his school hours during the harvesting days. Then also his explicit desire to excel in whatever he does was evident. He was fiercely competitive in all his activity be it running, kite flying and those other games gilli danda, khokho, football, cricket, badminton etcs. Though he never ever owned a bat, a football or a racket, it was all borrowed, because he couldn’t afford one.
Initially he was just another guy but something has really changed him during his board exams and the same Karan who hardly used to spend time for studies was studying for more than 14-16 hours a day. Three months was to go for board exams and he was trying hard to gallop every bit of his course materials.
A back-bencher till 9th suddenly become one among the school topper in board exams. Karan never looked back thereafter, his thirst for studies has only grown day after day, because he has realized only education can change his fortune. He has successfully cleared his Intermediate and Graduation. Interestingly he has completed his formal studies after board (10th) from his own earned money. He used to take tuition to support his studies and it has really instilled confidence in him.
Karan reached Mumbai in the year 1996 and immediately joined a clerical job in a private firm at the age of 20 years only. He took the job with a clarity in mind that he is not come here to be a clerk but to achieve a rare success for himself. He was doing MBA/PGDM executive program soon after a year of his job. His determination and hard work paid, he was through with his degree.
I must add here that for once Karan felt aback because of his very week English when he has started going to MBA college. He was finding it difficult to converse with class friends and faculty members. Yet again instead of feeling low and saddened because of his past schooling, he has taken it as a challenge started learning English speaking, again he was a winner in no time.
It is also important here to add that once every students of his MBA class were coming in cars or bike, Karan used to take Bus, used to walk for three to four kilometers every day for three years to complete his PGDM degree. He was having only Rs. 700.00 with him to support his fooding, lodging and transportation after paying for college fees and some money to parents back home.
I used to meet him then too and never found him out of place, he was always cheerful and full of life. He used to stay with some of our common friends in a dingy room at secluded place. But he always seemed determined to achieve what he dreamed of. Must say here that he didn’t get any financial support from any one during his toughest of time. But he never had any hard feelings for any one.
The day Karan was awarded with PGDM degree he was having offer from one of the largest corporate of India and in no time he has proved his mettle there too as a Manager. Thereafter Karan has started taking plunge and changed three four jobs in 15-16 years of his career with lot of grit, confidence and reached at the top of the hierarchy of yet another large corporate house.
Now he looks composed yet rest less, always tries to challenge himself in his professional life. Karan is not a meager professional any more, he is an innovator and strategist too. He is always looking for innovation in all walks of life and tries to implement to the extent possible in his own company.
Its my gut feel that he has some brilliant idea cooking up in his mind which he wants to pursue now……
Will wait for the second inning of Karan’s batting, as am declaring him man of the match in his first inning.
Karan has a large fan following back home in his village, people quote him as an example to follow to their kids. He is not an IAS, IPS officer neither a senior government officer yet admired a lot. You know why, because he was not having time and money to spend on preparation of all these exams to be an IAS or IPS officer, otherwise he must have been an IAS officer today.
Karan truly inspires those students or job seekers who don’t have wherewithal to support their education, support their family, support their fooding lodging in metros but still could manage and come out as winner.
The bunch here wants to take the learning forward of hard work, determination and education to be someone like my friend Karan.
