I’m sharing a true story.
A girl from a remote village. She scored 3.88 in her SSC—a mediocre result. She enrolled in a fairly decent college near her home. By “near,” I mean four kilometers away from her house. No transportation available—she had to walk, even through knee-deep mud during the rainy season. Many of her classmates had proper teachers from childhood, had the opportunity to attend coaching centers, and being children of conscientious parents, already knew how to study properly. The girl had never even dreamed of such things. She never had the means or opportunity for private tutoring.
One day, the college English teacher told her, “Come join my batch.” She immediately replied, “No, sir! The students in your batch are very good at English. I know nothing, sir. I won’t go.” The teacher insisted, “Come tomorrow morning. We’ll see about the rest later.” The next day, she went to the coaching center with great hesitation. Being a village girl who could barely speak properly, and terribly weak in English besides. She found about thirty students in the coaching batch—all of them far better at English than she was. She continued attending regularly. She was too shy to speak. She would go, sit quietly in a corner through the class, and then head to college when it ended.
One day something happened. She mispronounced an English word in class. One of her classmates laughed so loudly that the sound still echoes in her head. She was so hurt that day that after coaching, she didn’t go to college—she came home, shut her room door, and cried for hours. That very day, she made a silent vow: no matter what, she would learn English! With tremendous willpower and hard work, she began studying. Her English teacher always encouraged and helped her. She had only one desire—somehow, she would score even just one mark more than her classmates! She tried as if her life depended on it. Through continuous effort, she came first in a term exam at their college. And from then on, she always came first. The girl who once couldn’t even pronounce English words, who didn’t understand basic grammar, whose vocabulary was practically zero—that same girl got an A+ in English in her HSC; her marks were the highest in her college. She was determined to do her honors and master’s in “that very English” from Dhaka University. And later, that’s exactly what she did.
Another incident fueled her determination. After taking her HSC exam, before the results came out, she enrolled in an admission test coaching center. She rarely spoke in class. She would only answer when teachers asked her something. One day, a teacher asked in class, “What does your father do?” She answered proudly, “He farms.” The teacher then asked with contempt and disdain, “You mean he’s a farmer?” The girl said, “Yes, sir.” “Then he surely doesn’t know how to read and write. So who teaches you at home?” Hearing this, her classmates were laughing. Fighting back tears with great difficulty, she managed to say, “Sir, I study by myself. My elder brother always encourages me.” That little girl sat down after saying just this much.
After the admission test results, the coaching center called her for a photo. She was the only one from their batch who got a chance at Dhaka University. Her picture with her poor, illiterate farmer father was printed on the coaching center’s leaflet. That day, one of her batch friends had scolded her, calling her stupid for revealing her father’s identity, saying it would have been better to “tactfully” avoid mentioning it. And now that same girl can speak with her head held high, proudly talking about her farmer father and her rural joint family. That little girl will always take pride in her wonderfully beautiful rural family.
In a country where farmers’ children don’t receive their due respect, where during marriages even high-born but low-positioned and tasteless suitors get preference, where students from “bad” schools and colleges are assumed to be “bad” students, where people are still judged by external glitter, where worthless boys showing off superficial smartness are valued, where only rich men’s children get the big chairs, where spineless boys sit waiting to be established with their wives’ fathers’ money after marriage—I believe such a country, whatever else it may be, cannot go very far. This is truly shameful. Our mentality is responsible for this pitiful state of our country.
I myself was a student at one of Chittagong’s “worst” schools—Chittagong Municipal Model High School. Everyone contemptuously calls the school “Balti School” (Bucket School). I had to endure much scorn and humiliation. Today I am proud of my “Balti School”!!
You big-talking young boys and girls! Believe this elder brother—days won’t remain like this forever. When you have to walk with your head bowed before society, where will you run then? While there’s still time, try right now to strengthen your position. Think about what interest those who flatter you have in doing so. Life won’t always go on like this. Try to make your parents honored in society. I know very well how shameful and painful it is to live as a nobody in this world. Respect people, learn to be humble, and develop the habit of working very hard. Now is the time to whip life into shape, not to enjoy it. Best wishes to you all.
Audio clip of this writing:
Among the audio clips in RJ Salman’s voice, this one ranks 2nd among the most-listened clips so far (as of the time this note was saved). ………. While reading this piece, he himself cried and made us cry too.
Listen, share with everyone. Those who think they are in a very small position may find some inspiration to become great in life from this girl from a remote village.
I’m providing the link……….
Download link: