Samanta was only four when his father died. At that age, he did not know of death or of the miseries and sorrows it brings. In a restaurant at Bhubaneswar capital of Orissa in which we sat, he narrated to me a very painful and extremely sad story of what he had been through of how he had to go to relatives, from door to door to get food for himself, his mother, sisters and brothers.
The story was not of his trials and tribulations, but a story of great perseverance, persistence, of not giving in. Today, after 42 years, the poor orphan is successfully organizing food, studies, accommodation for fifteen thousand children belonging to sixty two tribes – free of cost. I could watch a sense of fulfillment in his becoming eyes and could assess how comfortable he was inside, with himself. Every morning posing tough challenges while at the end of every day, an overwhelming joy of so many achievements.
What a golden opportunity it is to be in the company of, to hear from a larger-than-life figure, a person who has achieved so braving all odds. Despite his accomplishments, he is such a simple man with no qualms or hang-ups. He brandishes a shirt and jeans, open sandals. No shining shoes, no tailor-stitched or branded three-piece suits, no Rolex. It is confusing – a successful man who is not dressed for success?
In my mind, Orissa is to be placed among one of the most historic places. Kalinga was where long wars were fought in periods before Christ. Here at Dhauli, exists a shanti stupa with white exterior. A scripture reminds: “It was here that Emperor Ashoka laid down the weapons of Kalinga war and came here to rest.”
The Kalinga, a reminder of war, became the icon of peace and now with KIIT, Kalinga stands for knowledge.
Every campus is named after a river or stream of Orissa. It speaks of love for the soil. Doctor Achyuta Samanta learnt from his struggle and sufferings that knowledge is the only weapon and way to eradicate poverty and hunger. It is enlightening that in the backdrop of ancient tradition, centuries old stupas and temples, primitive tribal life, KIIT brings the most modern disciplines of arts, science and technology.
More than 17000 students are pursuing under-graduate and post-graduate studies in management, rural management, law, medical sciences, fashion technology, cinema and media studies and language. The school of sculpture, the school of film and media sciences attracted my attention more than the others. I observed great work on rocks, how they were turned into art pieces.
It was quite an enjoyable experience, standing among the carved rocks. We the people of Pakistan passing through sufferings since our inception can learn much from this role model. The century perhaps belongs to people like Achyuta Samanta who could brave adversities of life with ease, bleeding within yet putting up a stubborn, infectious smile on the face.
How and why he decided to chase a dream is definitely awe-inspiring. In the process of creating a society without poverty and ignorance, he emptied everything he had to create an institution what started as a technical training center in a two-room rented building in 1995 with a meager capital investment of borrowed Rs 5000. The person from whom Samanta could get this loan after several visits was paid back with huge profit. This small training centre has now become a world class state-of-the-art-university. Every brick of it speaks of the continued struggle.
The efforts put into growing something worth Rs 5000 to Rs 325 crore, could have been spent in establishing an empire like Birla or Tata. But this was never a dream for Samanta. The image of being able to provide every 4-year-old orphan like himself with an opportunity was the goal in creating an equitable world.
This passion for an equitable society gave birth to a small school for the aborigines living in the slums of the city. It has grown to become the largest residential institute of the world for 15,000 tribal children who come from the poorest sections of the society. They are provided with food, accommodation, health care and all basic necessities of life, absolutely free. They pursue their studies from KG (kindergarten) to PG (postgraduate) and leave the school with a job in hand as change agents of society.
This is a remarkable contribution of a man who proudly introduced me to the young captain of the rugby team which won the Rugby World Cup in London. Can you imagine how the tribal people feel? KISS is a revolution. It plans to educate two million tribal children over the next decade. Current strength in KISS is a little over fifteen thousand children, 60% boys and 40% girls. These students have been enrolled from 62 tribes of Orissa including 13 primitive tribes.
The capitalistic world is run by the Fortune 500 companies, with others working hard to join the list. Profitability is their final truth. Having said this, here is a business the core purpose of which is to transform a part of population which is so far a liability than an asset through education and to enable them to afford a better quality of life. Here is a business that gives human beings the opportunity to live up to what they were created for. A business that makes strange accounting entries, with no cross entry and continued returns.
That is how change comes in a broader context. The tribal kids at KISS and young students at KIIT are the dream and aspiration for the future of South Asia, the hope for peace through knowledge, the conversion of impossible into possible. KISS, KIIT, Samanta and all those who work there are living legends, a great experience, with the passion and mission, continuing on and on like a river which flows on peacefully, gliding smoothly around the obstacles it meets, cutting deep into the heart of the hard earth.
Thank you Shaam saheb for telling a great story. Both the story and the art of story-telling is so impressive. We all need to read this touching story and tell others about it — how easy it is to make Rs 325 crore with a simple investment of Rs 5000 only — and not becoming Birla or Tata. I too would like to do something Samanta did, but I don't know how!
An excellent article that would catch anyone’s heart. Story & lesson of dedication, affection, and success. If one orphan can end up supporting 16000 kids, what if even 1/4th of his students would follow his path, what if all of us even try to do the same, within years it would be spread all over. The peace would take the place of poverty and hate through knowledge.
Just like fortune 500 companies, all over life we work hard to make money, we do make money but with lack of peace and satisfaction. The article gives the answer; “ I could watch a sense of fulfillment in his becoming eyes and could assess how comfortable he was inside, with himself.”
The truth is the article made me think how can we change this world, convert the liability into asset, I do not know “how” but after reading it, I know it is not “impossible”.
nice article Sir!
Mahmood sham seems great reformer in this heart touching article. most impressive thing which is admiring in this short story type article that he has real and great knowledge, he knows that education and art is the only solution of his nation's problems .this is the only weapon which can eradicate their sufferings . when he wrote how little poor boy Samanta learn t from his life indeed he wants to make us understand that how can our poor people can get rid of from the curse of poverty and hunger. i must say that Mr. Sham always speak as a classical scholar and humanist. May Allah bless him always.
Outstanding Sir, every paragraph has a sentence or two to be quoted. How we all need to learn peace through knowledge as being in this country itself, common people hardly know about such a living legend. And its always a common man whose innocence is easily exploited, positively or negatively.
Tarannum Riyaz
Comments are closed.