It may sound paradox in this 21st century India. While the Dravidian zealots were on a violent mood against Hindi, destroying all Hindi billboards and signboards in Tamil Nadu as part of the anti-Hindi agitation in the early 1960s, a group of Rajasthani ‘expatriates’ were going around in the city of Chennai offering free text books to students belonging to poor families. This is the real life story of Rajasthan Youth Association Educational Trust, a 55-year-old organisation working silently among the poor and depressed communities in Chennai.
The dreams of more than one lakh poor and needy students in Chennai city could take wings because of this non-descript organisation launched by a group of businessmen from Rajasthan for whom Chennai is a second home. The valour of people from Rajasthan does not need any introduction. But they have proved that in compassion and philanthropy they are far ahead of others even in unhospitable terrains.
M Bhuvaneswari, daughter of a daily wage earner, could not have completed her Bachelors in Business Admini-
stration degree without the Book Bank Project launched by RYA. “I don’t know what would have happened to my studies without the services offered by the RYA’s Book Bank. All text books for my three year course were provided free of cost by this book bank and I do not have words to express my gratitude,” said Bhuvaneswari who has decided to help school students struggling to buy their books.
Vignesh, a B Com student from Chennai’s MKB Nagar, a slum area, was on the verge of discontinuing his studies when he found that the Rs 100 earned by his father Sinnayya, a daily wage earner, was not sufficient to meet both the ends.
“I saw a newspaper inset about the RYA Book Bank and applied for help. The bank has provided me with all the books which needed,” said Vignesh, getting ready for a cost and work accountancy course.
Munoth Goutham , president, RYA Book Bank, said that at any point of time one would find 8,500 students spread out in the three districts of Chennai, Kancheepuram and Chengalpet getting benefitted by the Book Bank.
“The thrill which we get when we see the smiling faces of these poor students makes us to keep the bank going.
Any college student can approach us with their requirements and we provide them the necessary text books. We mobilise the text books in consultation with the heads of departments of more than 100 colleges in and around Chennai,” said Gautham.
He said funding was never an issue. “There are many people who offer us text books as well as financial aid. Students who have benefited from this book bank too come forward with whatever help they could give and there is no compulsion. We have launched a job fair also for the benefit of those students who graduate out of arts and science colleges,” said Gautham.
Former President Gyani Zail Singh and former Prime Minister AB Vajpayee top the list of dignitaries who have made it to Chennai to felicitate RYA’s Book Bank. The mission is continuing uninterrupted in spite of the anti-Hindi threats being issued by the leaders of the Dravidian majors from time to time.