Testimonial
PINDIPROLU SURYA KARTHIK
| From |
Vishakapatnam, Andhra Pradesh |
| Current Location |
Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh |
| Pursuing |
Diploma in Mechanical Engineering |
| College/institution |
Government Polytechnic Kakinada |
When adversity strikes, the brave rise to the occasion. Surya Karthik from Andhra Pradesh is one such example. Financial difficulties in Karthik’s family never stopped him from studying and working hard to build himself a bright future. Karthik is the youngerone of the two sons of Ms. P.L.Alivelu, a single mother, who sought divorce after silently suffering domestic violence.Working as a kindergarten teacher in a small local school in Kakinada,she struggled to support her family and raise her two children without any support from her husband. Karthik’s mother earned INR 4500 per month from her teaching job and an additional INR 1500 by giving tuitions to support their family income. She recently lost her job, as the school where she used to work has shut down and is currently unemployed. She is also suffering from Diabetes and Hypertension for which she is currently undergoing treatment, most of the family income is spent on her medical care.
Karthik and his family live in a rented house where they pay Rs 3000 as monthly rent. With the mother’s meagre salary, the family has faced many financial difficulties in making two ends meet. She had to take loans from her colleagues and friends, who were kind enough to lend money without charging any interest. Karthik was well aware of the financial situation and started supplementing the family income from a very early age. He started giving tuitions to about 15 students which would add an additional INR 2000 to the family income. Even today, he teaches students upto Standard 10th for a nominal fee of Rs. 150 per month but empathises with students who can’t afford his fees and reduces it, just so that their studies don’t suffer. This additional monetary help has ensured that both he and his brother get to study and have access to better opportunities in life.
Soon after he heard about the Mahindra All India Talent Scholarship (MAITS) from his college seniors, he immediately researched about the scholarship and applied for it. This helped Karthik to continue his studies at the polytechnic and also helped reduce the need of taking monetary loans from other relatives.
A sincere and disciplined student, Karthik toils day and night to fulfil his dreams. Sharing his future plans, Karthik says, “After I complete my education, I would definitely want to give back to society by helping students who have the talent but do not have the means to study further. I would like to teach them and give them a part of my income to help fund their education.
My only advice to all students is to share their resources amongst each other, be it knowledge or facilities. We should give others wings and help them fly. Only by sharing what we have in abundance, will we be able to help the youth grow and eventually contribute to the country’s development. MAITS is a scholarship that helps students like me realise our dreams. I urge the talented but financially deprived students across India, to apply for it”.
As per Karthik’s teachers, “he is a brilliant boy and has been doing well in studies, with all his play time and spare time supporting his mother in her travails.” He has just completed his Diploma course, standing First in all the semester examinations, as Institutional topper. Currently, he is preparing for the AP State E-CET examination for lateral entry into the second year of B. Tech course.
Karthik’s struggles and where he is today symbolises the Rise philosophy.
In the recent ECET exam results Karthik secured 24th state rank out of 33000 students and 12th rank in Mechanical stream.
Testimonial
I have known P.S. Karthik over the last several years not only as a bright boy doing well in school, but as a person of grit determined to assist his mother in her struggles against poverty. I came to know later, they used to survive on a small portion of gruel for weeks on, sometimes. But I used to always see him with a smile! From 5th Std. on, he was giving tuitions to raise some money for the family. With his impressive performance in the Diploma course, he is destined to do well in higher studies.
With my past experience as guest faculty for PG programs in IITs and IISc, I feel that Karthik is of material suitable for higher academic achievements and should therefore encouraged to go for higher studies.
R. A. Rao (Karthik’s Mentor)
Since 1956, KC Mahindra Education Trust has impacted the lives of over 22,000 young scholars like Karthik from the socially and economically disadvantaged communities by offering them variety of scholarships. The Trust has provided more than USD 71 million in the form of grants, scholarships and loans with an objective tobring about social and economic development through a literate, enlightened and empowered populace.