Shepherd boy chooses books over goats
ALLAHABAD:A 10-year-old goat herder belonging to Kol community set an example when he decided to continue his education despite all odds.
Residing in a nondescript village in Jasra in trans Yamuna where most of the boys have to herd goats to add to the meager income of their families, Himanshu is managing both his education and work with the help of his school principal.
He lost his parents a few years back after which his relatives Ranno Devi and Suryabhan took him to their house. There he was admitted to a primary school Bagholava in adivasi basti in Class 2. For three years he was regular in class and was promoted to Class 5th with good marks.
However, in the new academic session in April Himanshu failed to attend even a single class as he was entrusted with the job of herding two dozen goats by his relatives who were labourers. In order to supplement the family’s income the boy had to choose this petty job.
When the school’s principal Dr Surendra Pratap Singh came to know about the hardships faced by Himanshu, he tried to convince his guardians to send him back school, but failed. “Finally, I decided to help the boy in completing his education. Since he is a very intelligent boy I asked him to come over to school every morning for taking homework and then head for his work. He agreed. He attentively follows the lessons I give to him in the morning and then practices them while herding goats in the field. He completes all his homework without caring for the dust and heat in the open field. Next day I check his copy and give another chapter in homework. He is also happy that he’ll be able to chase his dreams of getting a good job after completing education,” said principal Dr Singh.
Dr Singh has also decided to sponsor his education.