Educationist and activist Virendra Singh, extra standard as Virendra Sam or Uncle Sam, handed away final Tuesday at his daughter’s home in the US (US). His mortal stays have been introduced again to his village in Bulandshahr, and his final rites have been carried out there in step with his needs. Sam adored his birthplace and had left every part within the US to return to his village, Bichola. His story is attention-grabbing and inspirational. I had the pleasure of spending a pleasant night and a rejuvenating morning with him virtually ten years in the past.
That night, Sam shared his love of hockey, which he had performed since childhood, and which had reworked his life. His group was as soon as enjoying in opposition to the Aligarh Muslim College group, when the vice-chancellor of Punjab College seen Sam, then identified by his given title Virendra Singh. The vice-chancellor informed Sam he might get him admission into the engineering school at Bhiwani if he performed for Punjab College. Sam accepted the provide. He quickly received a possibility to play a hockey match in Manchester.
The skilled method of the West he seen throughout that match, left an indelible impression on Sam. After ending his engineering diploma, he labored for a interval at DCM, after which he received admission to the College of Minnesota within the US, the place he earned a grasp’s diploma in textile engineering. This set off the transformation of Virendra Singh, the country youth from Bulandshahr, into “Sam”.
The transformational period of the Nineteen Sixties wanted spirited youths like Sam to take it ahead. Sam finally began working at Du Pont. Married by then, his spouse and he welcomed two daughters into their lives. By this time, the household had blended in with the American society. Sam was at all times filled with power and vigour, instilled in him by hockey. Very quickly, he rose by way of the ranks to move operations for all of Asia and finally to the corporate’s chairmanship. Few Indians within the company sector attained such prominence within the Chilly Battle period. It was amid such success within the US, in 2000, that Sam determined to return to his village. The choice took his household, coworkers, and even individuals in his village without warning. The query all had was: Why?
Sam had succeeded in life, however a fear nagged him. Usually throughout firm board conferences, the CEO would draw consideration to tragedies in India, akin to a ship capsize someplace, a prepare derailment, or a stampede, and everybody on the conferences would observe silence as a mark of respect to the victims. The frequency of such cases disturbed Sam and he more and more yearned to see change. In the future he determined if somebody needed to take the initiative, it was I. Sam stop his job, moved to his village, and began the Pardada-Pardadi Instructional Society.
There may be an outdated saying, “Havan karte haath jale”, which roughly interprets as dealing with sick penalties for making an attempt to do good. His initiative had teething troubles in getting college students to his establishment. A typical response he received from dad and mom when he tried to get woman youngsters particularly to be educated was, “Babuji, I have to marry off my daughter. I can’t educate her a lot that she turns into a collector.” However his hockey expertise had taught Sam endurance, which he used to nice benefit. Within the first 12 months, his faculty received solely 45 ladies to enrol. At the moment, about 4,000 ladies research there. Every woman will get free uniform, three meals a day, books and transportation. Moreover, ₹10 is transferred into their accounts daily. These ladies are promised employment and get coaching in response to their pursuits.
This organisation has helped 1000’s of women in Anupshahr and close by areas to grow to be self-reliant over the previous 24 years. The organisation consists of greater than 7,000 girls who’re studying the best way to produce incense sticks, pickles, and sanitary pads. Earnings from the sale of those merchandise go into their accounts. That night, Sam led us to Anupshahr, the place his society runs a ingesting water ATM on the banks of the Ganga.
Dozens have been getting water for twenty-five paise per litre. After I requested why he charged for ingesting water, Sam defined, “Freebies are usually not revered anyplace on this planet. I provide water value ten rupees for twenty-five paise, to not make a revenue, however to ensure that folks worth and preserve it.” This sensible method to conservation appeared novel to me. Sam could also be gone, however he might be remembered by the 1000’s of households whose lives his efforts modified. Do individuals like Sam ever actually die?
Shashi Shekhar is editor-in-chief, Hindustan. The views expressed are private
