Part-2
Menial to Minister: An Adventurous Odyssey of Dr Kuber Dindor
(A biography by Ishwar Prajapati,
Translated into English by Pallavi Gupta)
Kuberbhai, an indigenous adolescent
enrolled in the Santrampur Tribal Boys' Hostel, was diligently pursuing his
secondary education. A committed participant in various constructive endeavours,
he was deeply disturbed by the deplorable conditions within the hostel. The
students were consistently provided with inadequate and substandard meals,
often receiving as little as one or two meagre rotis. It became evident that
the hostel administrators were embezzling the government-allocated grain,
diverting it for their personal gain. The impoverished children residing in the
hostel were thus subjected to chronic hunger. Unable to condone such egregious
injustices, Kuberbhai decided to take decisive action. He formally lodged a
complaint with the Tribal Commissioner, detailing the malpractices occurring
within the hostel. The Commissioner, responding promptly to the allegations,
personally conducted an investigation and summoned Kuberbhai for an inquiry.
The Commissioner's patronizing and dismissive attitude towards the plight of
the students deeply wounded Kuberbhai, leaving an indelible mark on his psyche.
Although the immediate consequences of his actions may have been uncertain,
Kuberbhai's resolute stance against injustice at such a tender age is a
testament to his courage and moral fortitude.
Kuberbhai was an enthusiastic
participant in the diverse constructive endeavours undertaken by the Santrampur
Gayatri Mandir. His involvement in the multifaceted activities of the Gayatri
family not only contributed to his personal development but also shielded him
from the pernicious influences of negative peer groups and harmful addictions.
Having successfully completed his twelfth-grade examinations with commendable
results, he secured admission to the Adivasi Arts and Commerce College situated
in Santrampur. Uncertain about his academic pursuits, he was influenced by the
newly established Hindi department and consequently opted for Hindi as his
major. His innate abilities soon became evident, and his charismatic
personality permeated the college campus. He garnered the admiration of
distinguished faculty members such as Professors Mr Kisorsingh Rao, Mr Ram
Tripathi, and Mr Ishwarbhai Rathava. Despite financial constraints, he
maximized the resources of the college library to facilitate his studies.
During his academic breaks, he consistently assisted his parents in manual labour,
demonstrating a strong work ethic and a selfless commitment to his family.
Kuberbhai's exceptional leadership and
unwavering courage were further exemplified by an incident that transpired
during his college years. A significant controversy arose when the Adivasi Arts
and Commerce College was arbitrarily renamed after an individual of a different
faith. This unilateral decision ignited widespread resentment and dissent among
the student body. Assuming the mantle of leadership, Kuberbhai astutely
navigated this tumultuous period. Through his intelligence and resourcefulness,
he engaged in a dialogue with the college principal and management to ascertain
the rationale behind the name change. It was revealed that a substantial
donation of one hundred and fifty thousand rupees had been offered by an
individual of a different faith on the condition that the college be renamed in
their honour. Undeterred, Kuberbhai mobilized the student body, collecting fee
receipts from his fellow students. These receipts indicated a mandatory
construction fee of twenty to twenty-five rupees per student, which, when
aggregated, amounted to a sum exceeding two hundred thousand rupees. Armed with
this compelling evidence, Kuberbhai and his fellow students vehemently opposed
the name change, arguing that the students themselves had already contributed a
significantly larger sum for the college's infrastructure. Under Kuberbhai's
leadership, a non-violent protest was organized. The students collectively
decided to boycott the supplementary examinations if the examination papers
bore the new, contentious name. Their resolve proved unwavering, as all
students adhered to their decision, refusing to participate in the
examinations. Faced with such a formidable display of unity and determination,
the college administration was compelled to concede to the students' demands
and revert the college's name to the Adivasi Arts and Commerce College. Through
his successful leadership of this movement, Kuberbhai solidified his reputation
as a promising young leader.
Upon the successful completion of his
undergraduate studies, Kuberbhai initiated the enrolment process for a Bachelor
of Education program. However, his academic mentor, Professor Khandubhai
Parmar, advised him to pursue a Master's degree, given his exceptional academic
performance. Recognizing the financial constraints associated with pursuing a
full-time Master's program in a metropolitan city like Ahmedabad, Kuberbhai
opted for a more pragmatic approach. He enrolled in a part-time, external
Master's program, enabling him to concurrently fulfil his academic aspirations
while contributing to his family's livelihood through manual labour.
Remarkably, he achieved distinction in the inaugural year of his postgraduate
studies. Impressed by his outstanding performance, Professor Parmar recommended
that Kuberbhai transition to a full-time, on-campus Master's program.
Subsequently, he secured admission to the esteemed LD College in Ahmedabad.
The year 1993 marked a pivotal moment
in Kuberbhai's life as he embarked on his journey to Ahmedabad for the first
time. His parents, particularly his father, expressed considerable apprehension
regarding his safety and well-being in the bustling metropolis. Driven by an
unwavering academic pursuit, he assuaged their concerns and ventured forth. The
cacophony and throngs of Ahmedabad were an entirely novel experience for him.
Under the rigorous tutelage of the college principal, A.V. Patel, Kuberbhai
dedicated himself assiduously to his studies, ensuring unwavering attendance.
His academic pursuits were profoundly influenced by the biography of Abraham
Lincoln, which left an enduring impression on his psyche. Furthermore, the
profound poetry of the celebrated Hindi poet Nagarjun stimulated his
intellectual faculties. Despite limited access to personal textbooks, he
meticulously transcribed the lectures and diligently reviewed them. His
unwavering commitment to his studies was ultimately rewarded. The publication
of the M.A. Part-2 results in the Sambhav newspaper on August 10, 1994,
revealed that Kuberbhai had emerged as the top-performing student in the entire
LD College, securing an impressive 63%.
His parents, being entirely
illiterate, had no comprehension of the academic distinctions between first and
second class. Upon learning that his peers had achieved honours in their
examinations, his father expressed disappointment, admonishing Kuberbhai for
not attaining a similar level of academic excellence. Amused by his father's
innocent inquiry, Kuberbhai chuckled.
Concurrently, a significant issue
arose in a peripheral region of Santrampur, characterized by a dearth of
essential amenities such as paved roads, potable water, and electricity. The
government had initiated a benevolent initiative, aptly named 'Door Point,'
aimed at providing electricity connections to the tribal community. A total of
seventy-five such connections were sanctioned, entirely free of cost. However,
Kuberbhai uncovered a disturbing revelation: the village sarpanch was illicitly
demanding a fifty-rupee bribe for each connection. Outraged by this blatant
corruption, he vociferously opposed the sarpanch's actions. The gravity of the
situation was further exacerbated when Kuberbhai's father was compelled to
offer a kilogram of ghee as a bribe, owing to his inability to pay the monetary
fee. This incident profoundly affected Kuberbhai, galvanizing him into action.
Alongside his fellow villagers, he lodged a formal complaint with the local
electricity board, vehemently denouncing the sarpanch's corrupt practices. In
retaliation, his adversaries filed a spurious First Information Report against
him. Undeterred, Kuberbhai resolved to expose the corrupt sarpanch and bring
him to justice. This pivotal event marked the genesis of his involvement in village
politics. Reflecting upon this experience, Kuberbhai asserted, "Had I
remained oblivious to the sarpanch's corrupt practices, I would likely never
have ventured into the realm of politics. My resolute commitment to eradicating
corruption and upholding the principles of good governance propelled me into
active political engagement.
After the darkest night, the sun
always rises. For Manubhai’s family, they were now waiting for their golden sun
to rise. Within a week of receiving his M.A. results, advertisements for
professors were published in Palanpur, Rajkot, and Talod colleges. To go for
the Rajkot interview, he did not have enough money for the fare, so he sold
chickpeas to gather the funds. The next interview was scheduled for Talod
College on September 17, 1994, a Saturday. He borrowed 200 rupees from Mr Pratapbhai
Dindor, the village talati, to go for the Talod interview. Talod College had
decided to hire local candidates as those from faraway places often left their
jobs to take up positions closer to their hometowns. Despite this, seeing
Kuberbhai’s talent, the Talod committee immediately selected him and made him
commit to not leaving the job. (Kuberbhai has kept this commitment to this
day.) They handed him the appointment order for the professorship on the spot.
Continues…
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