SHILLONG: Underscoring the value of availing scholarships, Chief Secretary KS Kropha narrated his difficult childhood days when his father, a primary school teacher, faced numerous challenges in running the family.
Kropha was speaking at the 14th Acharya Pranavananda Shiksha Britti Bitaran Samaroha at Bharat Sevashram Sangha (BSS), Jail Road on Saturday where as many as 65 students from various schools in the city were provided scholarship by the philanthropic organization.
While appreciating the efforts of the BSS in providing scholarship to the students from economically weaker sections of the society, Kropha further said that despite the lack of adequate resources, his father ensured that his children received education since it was the only way to come up in life.
Due to severe hardships, Kropha added, he completed his school education with scholarships.
“I think it was Rs 30 per year. I remember even having saved some amount from that and when there was enough money I bought a wrist watch of HMT. I still have that watch with me,” he said adding that the scholarship helped him to meet his requirements, as the students and their companying guardians listened in awe.
He also urged the students from a cross section of the society including indigenous people to appreciate and value the secular objectives of BSS.
Citing the secular taste of India where many religions and philosophies coexist, he said. “It is something to be proud of. Despite many sects, philosophies and school of thoughts we all coexist.”
Pointing to the global religious perplexities he observed that even if people subscribe to one religion, they still divide themselves, create conflicts within that one religion.
“Unfortunately we don’t think for ourselves, we don’t try to understand things as we are guided by what our so called leaders tell us. But education is the courage to follow what is right and what is wrong,” he told the students.
“BSS sponsorship is promoting the values of secularism and you must realize how that scholarship has made a difference in your life,” he told the students.
JB Bhattacharjee, former Vice-Chancellor, Assam University spoke that this scholarship is not just an amount but blessings from the BSS.
Citing the example of Swami Vivekananda, he said, “divinity is within all of us and education is the manifestation of that divinity in us”.
Others who spoke on the occasion include JB Bhattacharjee, former Vice-Chancellor, Assam University, city based industrialist, BP Bajoria and Swami Damodarananda, Secretary, BSS.
