CHENNAI: It was in 2017 that Gowtham Kannan was diagnosed with a brain tumour. He battled and survived it with the support of his wife, Nivedha, and friends. In 2018, Gowtham found himself unable to sleep peacefully, troubled by thoughts that made him question the purpose of life.
I was able to recover from a bad phase because of the support systems I had. What about people who do not have any assistance? I realised that the universe was trying to communicate something with me, and I wished to extend my help to others,Gowtham Kannan
As a first step towards his goal, he started the Village Bells Foundation, serving organic, healthy food to people living on pavements. The lockdown in 2020 became a game-changer. “I learnt that a tribal village survived only on tea during the lockdown. With the support of local authorities, I reached out to the villagers and provided them with groceries.”
A life-changing moment came when the villagers moved away as Gowtham sat near them to click pictures. “That was the exact moment I realised that untouchability is still very much rooted in Tamil Nadu. I decided to eradicate it by using education as a powerful tool,” he adds.
After procuring detailed data on remote hamlets in and around Dindigul, Gowtham supported them with food, shelter, and education. “The list includes villages with no electricity,” he shares.
During this journey, Gowtham faced a challenge when tribal students aspired to enrol in college. The lack of community certificates posed a major obstacle. However, with the help of his network, he overcame this barrier and helped the students achieve their dreams. “We faced a major setback when Saraswathi, one of our beneficiaries, quit her job due to superstitious beliefs. Her father believed that villagers were using black magic against his daughter, as she was unable to withstand her growth. We tried to convince them, but in vain. This incident pushed us back to the starting line,” he notes.
Undeterred, Gowtham expanded his focus to include ambitious students from financially disadvantaged backgrounds as well. To date, he has supported over 100 students, including five from tribal communities. “One of the biggest challenges is addressing drug addiction among tribal villagers. Most work under landlords who exploit this weakness to keep them under control,” says the 41-year-old.
Beyond students, Gowtham supports entire families to ensure sustainable livelihoods. He has worked with around 50 tribal villages across Tamil Nadu, benefiting nearly 6,000 families.
Speaking about the students’ resilience, Gowtham’s voice fills with pride as he talks about Sumaiyaa Baanu. “Without fingers and with one eye, Sumaiyaa scored well in her board exams and even met actor-politician Vijay to receive an award. She also does not have a kidney and wrote the exams on her own without fingers. Her words remain etched in my memory: Udal thaan oonam, anna; manasu illai. Another student, Deepa, also does not have one hand,” he says.
Gowtham goes beyond providing educational assistance. “These children overcome barriers only when they trust the process. My support doesn’t stop with education. If they face harassment in educational institutions, I stand by them and help resolve the issue. That confidence helps them move forward,” he adds. To expose them to real-life challenges, he also takes them to volunteer in the field.
Gowtham is currently supporting Venmathi from Boothamalai in Dindigul to pursue teaching.
I am the first graduate from the Paliyar tribal community. My educational journey was not easy, as my village stopped the education of girl children after Class fiveVenmathi
She walked six kilometres daily to attend primary school. After completing her degree in Tamil literature, she aspired to pursue a B Ed, which her parents could not afford. “Villagers still taunt my parents for allowing me to study further, saying that eventually I will get married and stay at home. However, my parents’ support keeps me going,” says the 21-year-old, adding that Gowtham agreed to help her without hesitation.
Inspired by Venmathi’s journey, several girl children from her village are now continuing their education. Another beneficiary, Suren Kumar from Chennai, whose father passed away and whose mother is a heart patient, has secured a job with an annual package of Rs 11 lakh with the assistance of the Village Bells Foundation.
I thought I would have to discontinue my education due to my family’s situation. Today, I am confident that I can improve our livelihood and also support others who face similar challengesSuren Kumar
Behind Gowtham’s initiatives stands his wife, Nivedha. “She is my backbone and my biggest support system. She counsels girl children and women in remote villages to improve their living conditions,” he says.
Gowtham’s vision extends further. His lifetime goal is to build a school offering free education for the financially disadvantaged and a safe hostel for women. “Ten of my students were staying in a hostel in Ayakudi when the ceiling of the mess collapsed and injured them. Due to the election, authorities did not respond, and eight students dropped out, fearing for their lives. The hostel I build should be a haven for girls,” he says, aspiring to support the education of at least 10,000 students in his lifetime.