THE ONLY SUPERHERO I BELIEVE IN

 

Although the story I will be narrating might draw some parallels with the initial parts of the movie ' Sivaji: the boss’, especially where the protagonist says he was a son of a simple farmer and had to struggle all by himself to reach where he is today, and then when he pledges to put all his lifetime income for the education of children in his hometown. The struggles he must go through at every step towards his aim. Although not as dramatic as the movie, the story I'm narrating will have all the same plotline and it's by far not a fiction as I'm narrating my father’s journey of life.

 

 

Being born in a farmer's family in a remote village in the outskirts of Madurai, he had everything except for what can be called luxuries. Adversities tested him but he challenged them right back and fought through them and continued to triumph in each one of them, unscathed. This brought him recognition in the neighborhood. His teachers were truly impressed not only by his talent but also by his humility and regard for them. A few of his teachers grew so fond of him that they almost adopted him into their families, but as they say "There is no light without the dark”, the sudden recognition didn't just bring joy but also brought some evils along with it. The bigwigs in the village couldn't appreciate someone from a such a simple background getting so much appreciation.  They kept taunting and made every possible attempt to demotivate him to bring him down. All their efforts went in vain as these challenges only ended up making him stronger.

 

After successfully completing his senior secondary schooling, he was faced with the unforeseen task of enrolling in an English-medium school for classes 11 and 12.For someone who studied for 16 years in Tamil and barely knew proper English being placed in a English level circuit abruptly in class 11 would have been nothing less than a nightmare. Although for him it was "just another challenge" and thus instead of running away from it he decided to face it head on! He had to work harder than everyone else as understanding all the concepts being taught in a subject, he didn't understand much was an uphill task. His hard work for the next two years bore the deserved fruits and soon he was enrolled in a B.Sc. Mathematics in a reputed college thus becoming the first person from the village to go for graduation. He didn't stop there as he went for M.Sc. Next and B.Ed. right after. Already a household name in the village, the glory just had to rise here after as his father posed him with another big challenge, Probably the biggest of them all, to try and clear UPSC. Although my father knew it wasn't any easy task and when he confronted my grandfather about it, my grandfather replied "If the other aspirants can do it! Why can't you?" My father had no reply to that and set off on a journey to become something no one in our entire locality would have even dreamt of.

 

What followed is a rigorous year in Chennai (then Madras) where he worked his level best to achieve the 'unachievable' - (A word he doesn't believe in). Although he couldn't clear the prestigious examination in his first attempt, His efforts showed in the result as he was remarkably close to reach there. Everyone thought that one more effort would be sufficient, but his family's financial circumstances weren't particularly favorable. With the finances constantly dwindling, he had two options ahead of him. One, to use the remaining money and go for one more attempt which could subsequently mean delay in his sister's marriage and a yearlong of financial struggle for his family. On the other hand, he could try for other jobs so that his sister's marriage could proceed as planned and he could help his family when they needed it the most.  He opted for the second option and was willing to accept any job in exchange for some quick cash to pay for his sister's wedding. From aspiring to be a District Collector he had to work as an accountant for a few weeks before he could get the next job. He still receives criticism from certain people for not prioritizing, but he doesn't have the slightest of the regrets on that decision.

 

After switching a few jobs in Chennai, He set off for Andaman after being informed by some relatives about the high job vacancies there. Enroute to his first Sea voyage, He couldn't just do it normally and had to take a heroic route (My dad Afterall). Arriving a bit late to the Harbor, he got to know that the Ship had just departed. He saw the ship a few meters apart from the dock and in the most South Indian Movie like way possible, He threw the suitcase into the ship and decided to leap onto the ship.

 

The leap took him to his first job as a Mathematics professor, which went on to build his career later. Although struggling without a proper place to stay in Andaman for the first few days, he continued working hard for his family and at the same time kept trying for other government jobs. Soon one more opportunity knocked the door. JAWAHAR NAVODAYA VIDYALAYA, a Central government run organization throughout the country was hiring professors and soon he got the Government Job, but every blessing in his life came with a hidden problem and this time it was the location he was placed as the professor, Jammu. The situation in Jammu and Kashmir then was significantly worse than it is now . The idea of moving to Jammu from Tamil Nadu for a job in 1990, when Jammu & Kashmir was nothing less than a warzone, was opposed by everyone in the family, but my grandfather once again played his part by asking another but a similar question this time too.  "Aren't the people living there humans then? If they can live there, why can't you?", he asked. Before my father could find an answer to the question, he was aboard a train to Jammu, enroute to the other pole of our country.

 

14th July 1990 marked the date he joined Navodaya Vidyalaya, and he retires today (The day this article is published). On his very first day at the job in a new environment, a new state miles away from home where all the people speak a language he doesn’t know, he had to be the in-charge Principal of the school due to the absence of the principal and any other senior teacher. The journey that started with a challenging day can't be expected to be a smooth one. Even though the odds were stacked against him, he approached them fearlessly. His teaching abilities and outcomes quickly earned him respect throughout the entire region. Within few years he was promoted to Vice-Principal post and in further few years he was promoted to Principal after clearing the examinations.

He served as a principal for 17 years, across a few schools in Maharashtra getting praised for his administrative skills and his vision for the future. His humility and familial treatment of everyone around him, regardless of their occupation, continues to astound me and at the same time inspires me. Soon he had the chance to be promoted to Assistant Commissioner, but he declined since the position would have required him to spend most of the time away from home and because his son (ME) had constant health problems. Thus, he once more put his family above his job and advancement.

 

But opportunity came knocking again as in 2021 when everything in the family was stable, he was offered a promotion again and he decided to take it. Thus, starting the next chapter of his illustrious career. He retires today ,31st of March 2023 and what you've read so far was a small tribute and brief recollection of his career and journey so far by his son.

 

Even though he is formally retiring today, he doesn't have the chance—or, to put it more accurately—he doesn't WANT—to rest. As even before retiring, he had set up his post-retirement tasks and now he sets on to his next chapter, his own private school aimed to bring the students of his village and local areas to city level standards so that they don't suffer what he had to! He didn't hesitate to invest practically all his money on a goal to give the village kids a top-notch CBSE education for the lowest possible cost. Thus, rather than retiring, he is making a new beginning at the age of 60.

His services to the Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti, would always be remembered by those who saw his works. At times even his family would get frustrated at his dedication for the Samiti. Even when admitted in ICU, fighting the lethal Corona virus disease, he asked out for a few documents so that he could sign them and make sure the work doesn't stop in his absence. Every student, every staff member, everyone in the slightest related to Navodaya Vidyalaya was a family to him and will always be a family to him. He often says Navodaya shaped him as a person and made him what he is today. Similarly, not as a son but as someone who has been a part of Navodaya Vidyalaya as a student under him, I can assure you father, you have shaped the Organization
till a certain extent and your contributions will be invaluable.

As a teacher, as a principal, as an Assistant Commissioner and also as a father, Son, Brother, Husband you have justified every role you have played in life and been the best at it.

 

Congratulations on your remarkable career, father. You gave your best throughout the years and have thus inspired a lot of people. I feel blessed every day to call myself your son. You have been my biggest inspiration throughout the years and consciously or unconsciously I try to copy everything you do. If I ever reach even close to being what you are as a person, I'll consider my life a success.

Your way of parenting, your way of caring, your way of inspiring and motivating me throughout the years has brought me wherever I am today. Thank you for inspiring me every day. I love you and I am proud of you.

 

- Janardan