Monday, August 07, 2006

One Can Be Rich Not Just By Money

Six years back that was a proud moment for me.
I was the one among my friend circle to get a useful rank in both Venkateswara and Osmania universities.
One of the first hundred BCA graduates who could secure a post graduation seat in Osmania University.

But this proud moment was turning to be a cruel one as the counseling date approached.
Reason is the same with many middleclass Andhrapradesh students -- insufficient money.
I had a lot of relatives, said to be my well-wishers; they end up giving unsolicited advices.

One of them, who did not advise me, got ready to give us some amount as a loan. I am always thankful to him.
But that amount was not enough. My dad and I were looking at the roof, in the relatives' place.
We were dried up of sources, in other words we need to compromise at our pride factor.

At that moment I found an option, my classmate, one of our friends from the close circle.
I just called him over phone, he appeared in front of me in just 20 minutes…
… all the way by bicycle in the scorching heat at 11 O'clock in the morning.
He said, "yes". By that evening I had enough money to join the course.

He had no proof of liability, no promissory note until my dad called him up for his signature.
He was not financially sound too; just another middle class Brahmin with a few responsibilities, who had to work real hard to make his life prosper.
He knew very well that I have no quick source to pay his money back.
All he had was a blind trust in me. What more do I need to regard a person as my friend!
At the age of just 20 years, with a lot of liabilities on my head, in such a poor situation I could generate money.

All this happened in the presence of my helpful relative, in his place.
He was impressed with the very small friend circle that I was a part of, in Kadapa.
That gained me a lot of respect and recognition and changed my reputation -- boy to man.

I gained a lot, I am gaining and learning a lot from the very small number of friends I have.
I am enriched by their support.
But I have done nothing so far except that I have this gratitude for them.

5 comments:

చైతన్య said...

that was great!

i too faced the money problem to join in BCA, and in MSc(IS)... but could cross the bridge somehow...

but am still thinking what did i achieve by doing such a costlier courses!!

Sudhakar said...

Hi Ramana,

Remebering the ones, who helped you ,shows your character.. I really appreciate for that..

I literally completed my studies with the help of scholorship and your post reminded me an incident in our final year of Engg.

Me and my friend has to pay fee of Rs. 3,000 Each.. We don't have money..(We didn't get scholorship by that time) My Another friend's dad gave him 36,000(Payment seat candidate ) to pay as fee.. My friend paid 18,000 as his fee and gave remaining 18k to me and my other friend.. (We had the option of paying by semester wise.. By the time of second semester we got the scholorship and paid his 18k back..)

రానారె said...

Thank you sir, receiving this compliment from you should make me more patient and responsible.

raamam said...

Man, thats a really inspiring journey - from a remote village, without no money for your education to whatever you are now. Congrats!

Am happy, those challenging times just didnt instill a mindless desire in you to make obscene amount of wealth; rather made you think about the old friends that helped you in need..

truly an "enriching" post!

రానారె said...

Paying. Started as soon as I got capable to. Will continue too. Thank you 'man', for 'standing' by me.