Some experiences stay with you through out your life. I have created a short story out of one such experience. This short story is from my stay in Mcleodganj. Whenever I think of this story, it leaves me full of optimism and hope for future. It makes me believe in hardwork, dedication and will to follow your dream!
Long time back, I was in Mcleodganj. I had just completed my post-graduation and had decided to travel for one month. I started my trip from Mcleodganj. I loved the place so much that I decided to stay there.
My normal day in Mcleodganj would include relishing delicious food and sipping coffee at a cafe, with a book in hand. I used to talk to random strangers and know about their culture. I made many friends from different countries. I also interacted a lot with the monks and learnt about their way of life.
One day, I was talking to a monk and he told me something which made me ponder. He told me a story about the hardships faced by Tibetians.
Tibetians are peaceful people who live under the dominance of Chinese. From time to time, the Chinese troops ransack their villages, leaving their families in agony. After a certain point of time, these Tibetians tend to desert the village and seek shelter in India. To reach India, they undertake an arduous trek. After tolerating the extreme cold and chilly winds, they finally make it to India.
In India, Dalai Lama’s Temple is situated in Mcleodganj. Hence, many Tibetians take shelter here and become a monk. These monks have a great thirst for knowledge. They love to learn our language. They also love to learn English. In Mcleodganj, there are some organizations who impart free education and teach English to these monks.
When I learnt about this situation, I decided to contribute in the upbringing of the Tibetian community. I thought, even if I am able to teach English to one Monk, I would consider my Mcleodganj stay fruitful.
So, I signed up with Lha Social Organization as a volunteer. I was assigned a student who was elder to me. However, his smile was as innocent as a child! He was very attentive to what I was teaching and was very inquisitive as a student. He used to ask me a lot of questions. I used to give him homework and he used to complete it with enthusiasm.
With my student, Tenzin
I used to conduct his session in a garden. We used to sit on a bench and he used to take notes. One day, I offered him to go to a cafe and have some tea. He joyfully agreed. When we reached the cafe, we ordered for two masala tea. As we waited for the tea, overlooking the valley, I asked him about his life. He explained how he has come to India to get educated and go to Japan. He told me that it has been his dream, since childhood, to go to Japan and become a successful man there. When I asked him what would he do next after reaching Japan? He answered that he would call his whole family to Japan and liberate them from the shackles of Chinese tyranny.
My heart was filled with respect for him.
When I was leaving Mcleodganj, he met me to bid farewell. He was carrying a wonderful silk scarf as a parting present. I gave him some storybooks which would help him in learning English. I wished him good luck and left Mcleodganj. As I started my journey towards Delhi, I prayed only for one thing. I prayed that one day, he should be able to go to Japan and help his family.
This story took place a long time back. But, a couple of weeks back, he messaged me. When I read it, my eyes became moist. His message read “Thanks for the help. I am going to Japan”.