The KISS is the world’s largest residential tribal university, home to thirty thousand indigenous students who are provided nutrition, holistic formal & vocational education from KG to PG absolutely free of cost. It was established in 1992-93 by renowned educationist & social activist Prof Dr Achyuta Samanta. Further it is the embodiment of empowerment of the marginalised, underprivileged group of students who have become change agents for their communities by providing emancipation from acute poverty through education.
Swapna, is a small girl following the trail of light & life from the distant horizon of darkness. She is nature’s child, yet teary eyed facing the vicissitudes of life. Her beloved parents who have shown her the light of the day are no longer in this world leaving her alone to live a life without an identity. Yes, she is Swapna Kujur, the daughter of Sunil and Sia Kujur from the remote Bansikar village of Sundergarh district, belonging to the Oraon tribal community. She had lost both of her parents in early childhood & grew up without parental love & affection.
After the death of her parents, all the three siblings along with Swapna came to the streets with the old grandmother accompanying them. Of course the old & helpless lady could hardly support her granddaughters. Even two squares of meals were out of reach and they suffered from pangs of hunger & acute poverty. She had to go to the forest to gather fire wood to arrange for food. The struggles increased day by day. Swapna became a road construction worker to survive, when she had not understood even the meaning of life. The siblings did not have a roof on their heads. Even the children had no clothes to cover their naked bodies. Such is the condition of dire poverty. Mother nature could no longer tolerate their plight. A good Samaritan of the village gave them shelter in his house, when they were clutching to the last straw for their survival. Memories of late parents surged in & they cried.
But amongst all these troubles, Swapna nurtured a beautiful dream in her heart. She wanted to study. But it was a day dream for her as the village had no roads or schools nearby. At this juncture, her fate took a turn for the better and a determined Swapna could reach KISS, accompanied by a villager who was trying to get her own daughter admitted to KISS. Before this, Swapna had only heard about the institute. Her long cherished dream had begun to take shape & she was admitted to class -I in 2010.
Her ecstasy knew no bounds as she entered the hallowed portals of KISS, the temple of learning for many disadvantaged children like her. She enjoyed first full meal & was lost in a peaceful sleep at KISS on a mattress in the hostel building.
Days have passed by. Swapna is now in Class VIII &. She could find her long lost parents amidst the teachers of KISS. Happy productive days are here for Swapna. Gone are the days, when she did not find a single piece of cloth to cover her body & took refuge under the open sky in the jungles. KISS has given a new lease of life to her & she is enjoying every moment of her new found experience. Yet she is unhappy with the continuing poverty stricken life of her siblings.
She feels the comfort of nature’s lap in KISS. She is aware, had it not been for KISS, she would not have been anywhere. She is indebted to the father like figure of Prof Samanta, who has protected so many marginalised, poor children like her from the jaws of acute poverty & hunger. It is Prof Samanta who has understood the meaning of hunger in its true sense & has been providing free education, food, shelter & clothing to thousands of poor & little children like her.
Because of KISS, Swapna is growing in the path of progress. She is getting opportunity to develop her culture and craft. Now she is the change agent for her community & is in the path of realising her long cherished dreams.