They say, ‘Nothing is impossible’ in this world. Even the word ‘impossible,’ reads I’m possible. In one of the significant chapters in the history of inspiring stories, Vinod Kumar pulled off something great which others can only dream of. Despite sleeping on the footpath, studying under street lights and selling vegetables to make a living, Vinod scored 79% in the recently-concluded SSLC examinations.
Vinod is a Bengaluru resident where he engages with studies at the Krishna Rajendra market, popularly known as City market. It is not so easy to study at a market where the place is so noisy. But, these distractions didn’t stop Vinod from studying as he was fully focused on his work. He always had the willingness to succeed and the will to do things.
Vinod was born in Banni Mantapa in Mysuru. When he was only 3 months old, he lost both his parents in an accident. It was his maternal grandmother, Munirathna who raised the less unfortunate Vinod. Munirathna is a vegetable vendor at the market and Vinod grew up there with her, according to a report in the Indian Express.
Vinod helped his grandmother by selling veggies at the market when he was four years old. Vinod and his grandmother lived on one of the many footpaths near the market. But, Munirathna was very particular about sending Vinod to school. So, Vinod enrolled in the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palika (BBMP) school, near their ‘home’.
Vinod goes to school in the daytime and works as a vegetable vendor in the evening. He had gone through a lot of struggles doing homework and managing studies at night as he would get only less time. His grandmother would be really pleased with Vinod’s result. Vinod’s career attained a transition when he found BOSCO Nilaya which is an NGO that aims to work with the children in need of care and protection in the city.
According to a report in New Indian Express, he regularly attends the free remedial education classes conducted in the evening. After a month, he told Fr. Regi Jacob, Director, BOSCO Nilaya, about his way of living. Jacob came to know Vinod and his life situation. So, he came to forward to help him and bear all of his educational expenses and accommodation. It was only then Vinod became a resident at BOSCO Nilaya.
Apart from his usual work, he actively participates in all extra-curricular activities. He is the leader of the Child Rights Club (Nehru Makala Sangha), Jolly Mohalla, Bengaluru. Vinod was the student representative at the Karnataka State 10th Child Rights Parliament in November 2017. He will be participating in a quiz competition at Hyderabad organised by ISRO to acknowledge World Science day on November 10. Vinod aspires to become an IAS officer and wants to give a luxury life to his grandmother in the times to come.
