New Delhi: In a moving tale that will warm your heart, a cobbler's daughter in Bangalore is on course to achieve her childhood dream of becoming a doctor.
Her father Saravanan has been patching up the torn shoes of customers for over 20 years in HRBR layout in Bangalore's Banaswadi locality.
His wife Selvi washes vessels in nearby homes and they have managed to raise their daughter Ramya on a meagre income.
Ramya was a good student right from her childhood. When she was in fifth class, she told her father that she wanted to become a doctor. He supported her education until eighth class, after which she was admitted to a school that waived half the fees which was a big relief for him.
She got a medical college seat on merit after passing her 12th class and pre-medical exams with flying colours.
When she was offered admission to Dharmapuri Medical College in Tamil Nadu, her father grew anxious. He had no idea how he would pay the lakhs of rupees in college fees.
When he told one of his customers, Rajan, about the problem, the man decided to pitch in. With some friends, Rajan paid up the fees for one year.
After hearing about this, Saravanan's other customers and people in the neighbourhood took turns to spend on her education. When Saravanan makes an appeal to any of them, they hand over a cheque in the college's name.
Now a second year MBBS student, Ramya wants to become a heart specialist. Just like strangers have helped her, she also wants to help heart patients who cannot afford the steep costs by giving them free treatment.
Saravanan is proud of her ambition to give back to society. "She wants to study MD. She says she will first complete her studies and treat the poor before getting married," he said.
