Blogchatter A2Z: Illiteracy

Raghu dreamed of educating his son at a prestigious English medium school. Being illiterate, he never received a chance to visit schools during his time.

Wait!!!

Who is Raghu?

He was an auto driver in the small town of NCR area. He was born and brought up in the same village and lived with his mother, wife, and a kid, Sonu. 

Now, let us come back to the story!

Sonu turned four in January, and Raghu wanted him to start school. He saved enough money to send him to a satisfactory school to secure his future. The real challenge was about to come before him that Raghu was unaware of. He did not anticipate his illiteracy would impact Sonu's admission to school.

Raghu told his wife that he had to visit the school to discuss Sonu's admission during the day, so he would come late at night as he would have to work extra to earn enough for the day. He left home with a broad smile and hope in his heart. He felt proud that his kid would receive the best education and not suffer in the future doing mean jobs like his father's. 

In the afternoon, Raghu visited the school. He was surprised when a guard stopped him from entering the campus, conveying that he was not allowed to school premises looking at his dress. Raghu went straight after dropping a person drenched in sweat due to scorching heat. He informed the guard that he had come for his son's admission. 

The guard could not restrict him, though he warned him with looks about the result Raghu would come across. As he entered the principal's cabin, they shared greetings. The principal gestured to sit and started questioning him in English, which Raghu could not answer. Raghu tried to speak, but his voice choked. After a few trials, Raghu uttered, "Main yahan apne bacche ka dakhila karane aya hu." 

The headmaster understood the gap and called the Vice-Principal in his cabin. He and the Vice Principal communicated in English, and Raghu saw them perplexed because he could not decode what they were talking about. After chatting with the principal, the Vice-Principal asked Raghu to follow him in his cabin. Raghu greeted the principal and walked towards the Vice-Principal's office.

As they entered the cabin, the Vice-Principal started with his queries. Raghu could answer them as he asked in Hindi. After noting Raghu's responses, the Vice-Principal told him that they could not give admission to his kid because of his illiteracy. Raghu did not go to school himself, and it would impact his kid's survival in school, and the school could not take a chance due to its reputation.

Raghu pleaded and told the Vice-Principal that his literacy status should not impact his kid's education. He also informed him that he had enough money to send his kid to that school, but the vice principal could not help and asked him to leave. With a heavy heart, instead of duty, Raghu went home. On seeing him coming early, her wife ran to him and inquired if everything was alright. He did not say a word, and it worried her wife.

She shook him by his shoulders, and he started crying, telling her that their kid could not get admission to the prestigious school because of his illiteracy. His wife saddened and consoled him, but he did not calm. Sonu came with a bag and bottle with a smile, asking Raghu about his admission and informing him that he was ready to go to school as his mother got her new bag and new water bottle for school.

Raghu tried to hide his tears and told Sonu that he would go to school soon, but to which school Raghu himself did not know as his dream of sending his son to the prestigious school withered.

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