Chennai: G. Bhuvaneswari doesn’t like her father. It has been an hour since the Class 12 results were released. She had secured the second rank overall among students studying in Greater Chennai Corporation’s schools. The commissioner, other corporation officials, headmaster, teachers, friends and other family members had congratulated her. But her father did not share her happiness.
That is because, according to her mother Kalyani, his ‘abstract existence’ is only to live off the measly money she makes from her tailoring profession. “He is in the cine industry. But he never used to work and earn money for the family. When Bhuvaneswari was only four, he walked out on us but he keeps coming back. I allow it only because my child will be considered vulnerable by society” said Kalyani.
Not for Bhuvaneswari who doesn’t feel connected to her father. “This is a man who told me I will go mental if I studied too much,” said the 17-year-old, who aspires to be a chartered accountant.
The last time she saw her father was eight months ago. Then, he had come home only to forcibly take away her mother’s gold jewels and pledge it for some money. “I don’t need a father. I love to learn and I wish to study as much as I can. That is the only way I can take care of my mother,” she added.
For Geetha, mother of C. Sanjana, the third ranker among corporation schools, cleaning dishes was not something she was used to. But when her lorry driver husband passed away, leaving her and their two daughters with no means to live, she did a little getting used to.
“Sanjana was in Class two and my older daughter was in Class seven when my husband passed away,” said Geetha. The Pulla Avenue school headmaster, Bakthapriya, is keen to point out Geetha’s struggles. She still suffers the boils and blisters in her palms due to 10 years of cleaning dishes, she said.
But both her children turned out to be studious. The headmaster added that Sanjana topped the school just like her older sibling. But now, she wishes to pursue chartered accountancy, something that Geetha cannot afford to pay for.
“I have hopes. I have brought her this far. Now it is in the hands of a few good souls like her headmaster who has helped my children a lot. I hope Sanjana can afford the help of our government to realise her dream,” Geetha said.
