Along with other five members of our
bike club “Motorista”,I started
the journey from Ludhiana towards Spiti. The first two days went pretty well,
but the third day around 6 pm when we were just 50 km behind Kalpa, suddenly one
of the bike had some mechanical problem and at that remote place it was
impossible to find a mechanic. So we approached the local guys for help and
they told us that the mechanic would be available in the morning. There was no
hotel around that area so they suggested us to camp in the government school
ground which was just 100 meter from there so we pitched our tent in the school
ground. We were sleeping till 9 am as we were very tired last night. The moment
we came out of our tent we saw many students around our tents. They were
stunned to see us in their play ground. We all came out of the tents and
started interacting with them. As I am a teacher, I started asking about their
studies. Senior students told me that
they don’t have ample teachers in the school as it is located in a remote
place.
We had a brief interaction with the
kids and I told them if they need any assistant for admission in college across
India they could call me.
After that we bid farewell to the
kids and started our journey towards Kalpa. We reached kalpa at around 2 pm and asked the address of Mr Shyam
Saran Negi. He had become quite famous in that area after the commercial was
being launched by Indian government to promote voting.
We straight away went to his house
to meet him. When we reached there his granddaughter told us that he is not
well and it would be difficult to meet him. We requested her to allow us to
meet him as we came from so far just to meet him. After requesting a lot, she
asked us to wait in the lawn and she went to call him. He came out in the lawn
to interact with us. He was very old around 97 but still very enthusiastic to
interact with us. He shared his stories of his school days during British rule.
He was also a teacher and he used to walk around 25 km daily to school as there
were no roads. We gave him a small memento from our club. He whole heartedly
accepted our token of respect.
The brief interaction with him made
the ride significant and complete. I
felt the motive for which I came to Spiti has been achieved.
After few months, I received a call
from one of the student from kinnaur whom I met in the school where I did
camping. His name was Rohit and he told us that he need assistant to take
admission in some colleges in Punjab. I was pleased that he still remembers us.
I told him to send me his marksheet so that I can fill his form. He was
interested to do BA, so I applied in all the three Government University of
Punjab. I told him to come to Ludhiana for admission. At first his parents were
a bit worried to send him as I was a stranger to them and I have only met him
once. Finally after some days his parents send him to Ludhiana after talking to
me over phone. They had faith on me that I will take care of him. Their faith
motivated me to travel to different university to fill his form. After some
months he got admission in Punjabi University, Patiala. I was so glad that I
kept the promise which I made to him. After all the riders should keep their
promise.
His parents have called me to visit
their village. I am planning to go there this winter. Optimistically, I will
assist some other students from that village to get admission in good colleges
next year.
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