anupama
My blog on Ram Charan got a lot of eyeballs and I admit that I enjoyed basking in the fringes of his limelight!
Well, this blog is a world away from the glitz and glamour of Tollywood. It is about a gritty teen from Nagpur’s bylanes who is determined to carve his own niche in the world.
At first glance, Piyush came across as being shy and reticent. Bespectacled , with a slight build and a spartan buzz cut, he seemed content to let his father do all the talking. But the inner spark burned brightly enough when he was asked why he wanted English Enhancement classes. “I am shifting to Pune to become a software engineer, and I want to be able to converse fluently without any hesitation.”
As an English trainer, I have heard these words often enough, but there was something about this child’s demeanour that set him apart. The son of a cook who worked long hours to support his family’s dreams, the bright lights of Pune beckoned, and he was ready and raring to make it big.
My classes began in due earnest and I could see Piyush progress from the stuttering, can’t- find- the-right word phase to a state of reasonable fluency. One morning, his eyes alight with the sheer joy of mastering English, this avid Man U fan confided in me,” I’ve read ‘Rich Dad Poor Dad’ . I want to create my own kingdom.” I was gobsmacked! Big words and a bigger intent from a mere teen .But then, isn’t it important to dream, to have stars in one’s eyes? The blood, sweat and tears will follow if the ‘iraada’ is ‘pakka’.
Well, here’s to all the Piyushs of the world- I hope you win all your battles in life. Carpe diem!