Against All Odds
Aragamuffin lay by the fireside, his red chapped cheeks smeared with soot. He was the youngest of five sons and he had four sisters, only one of whom was his younger. Being the favoured child, he was naturally nicknamed Cheche.
Cheche was so loved by his family that they refused to part with him to the extend of not sending him to the school. For in those days, teachers did not believe in sparing the rod and his parents and elder siblings wanted to spare Cheche the pain of punishment.
Though he was seven and the school nearby, Cheche was deprived of the education the other village children were receiving.
On that cold morning as Cheche lay by the fireside, he overheard voices on the path which passed right by his house. Looking out, he saw a group of village children returning to school after their winter vacation. They were dressed in their best and chanting nursery rhymes in a language that was Greek to Cheche.
Just then his father pulled him away from the window and bade him to hide in the orchard from the school teacher, who in those days would coerce reluctant parents to send their children to school. In this way, Cheche missed three years of schooling.
When he was nine years old, a second school was opened in the geog. Now it so happened that his eldest sister and her husband ran a small shop just beside the new institute. They persuaded Cheche’s parents to enroll the boy but his father was adamantly against it. Then his sister requested their mother to spare Cheche so he could look after her little children. This wish was granted.
His sister secretly sent him to school. Cheche adapted famously to his new environment and was soon a topper in class. At 16, he completed primary school and joined high school. His expenses were borne by his sister and a brother who was employed.
He didn’t do too well in his final year exams and needed to take a year off for his supplementary. He found a temporary job and prepared in his free time. At the second attempt he qualified for the three year degree course in Economics.
Following his graduation, he appeared for the civil service and was selected and posted after a period of training to his home dzongkhag as a planning officer.
It was with a sense of pride and accomplishment that he attended his first day at work. He looked around the cubicle that was to be his work space with proprietary pride. Now the only thing incomplete about his success, the icing on the cake, so to speak, was his parents’, particularly his father’s, enlightenment about his achievement.
He longed to return to his home, which was a four day’s walk from the administrative centre. Fortunately a situation arose whereby he had to visit to a project. On the day he was to leave, he dropped into the office for a final check.
There was a fax message awaiting him. His face dropped as he read it and tears ran unchecked down his cheeks. His father had died on the very day he’d joined work, he couldn’t help but notice.
Had all his efforts been in vain? Was his education only self advancement for had he not abandoned his poor parents?
By Duba Yonten, Pema Gatshel Source Courtesy: KUENSEL