Beads to Books: 12-year-old Sakthi Ramesh's historical mission on tribal education

Many of us would have come across Narikuravar, the Tamil Nadu based tribes who are known for their skills of making artistic ornaments using brightly coloured beads, often seen on pavements, beaches and public transports, making ends meet by selling these works of art.

Narikuravar who are one among the many tribal communities in the state, are often shunned from the mainstream society and have no access to education and employment. In addition, many do not even possess proof of nationality or for that matter, even identity.

With an idea to change the fate of this society, a 12-year-old boy from the tribe has sought the help of education. Sakthi Ramesh has carved a niche for himself by paving way for hundreds of kids from his society to access to education and a safe life. His perseverance has not only earned him a tag of being the flag bearer of the community, but won him the honour of getting nominated for the International Children’s Peace Prize.

Sakthi’s entire family used to stay in the open, and spent their nights sleeping under trees or in temples. But the worst was awaiting him at his school.

 “As I was from the Narikuravar community, treatment towards me at school was different. When I was in Class 4, I ran away from school as my teacher used to beat me. I returned to my family trade accompanying my parents wherever they went,” recalls Sakthi.

However, it seemed that the dark days would not leave this little boy. Owing to grim sales and poor earnings, on most of the days his parents used to consume liquor and hurl physical and verbal abuses at each other. They could hardly manage anything to eat except for the animals they hunted including pigeons, rats and squirrels.

Alternatively, they would also engage in gathering waste from the vicinity of a manufacturing company to supplement their income. Like others in his family, even Sakthi’s future was laid out and all he had to do was, barely exist.

Being pulled down constantly by discrimination, at the same time unable to leave the passion for education, Sakthi at that tender age could do nothing to make his dream a reality. But life had other plans for him!

During that time, Sakthi’s family with others from their community, had been approached by an NGO, which works towards eradicating poverty through education, job creation and integrated community development. It has a dedicated programme under its wing where dropouts and child labourers are identified and motivated to continue their education through residential special training centres (RSTC). “When Hand-in-Hand (the NGO) approached our family, and asked to send us to school, I was scared. I did not want to encounter ill-treatment yet again at another school. But as they assured me that I would be given good education and fair treatment at the boarding school, I agreed,” reminices Sakthi.

Deepa, a member at Hand in Hand India says that she saw a drastic change in Sakthi in a few months after enrolling at the RSTC in Poongavanam. From his academics to behaviour and attitude, every aspect of him had a positive change due to the free and fair learning methods demonstrated at the school. And thus, he took charge and began advocating the importance of schooling to every other child in his community along with his parents.

“Whenever I visit my locality all my friends would eagerly come to me and listen to my experiences at RSTC, about the teachers, free meals, new clothes and the friends I made there.

Also, I visit all my elders in the community and stress upon the value of education and how it can create a better future for all of us,” recalls Sakthi.

The young lad adds on a lighter note that kids from his community were in awe of his new clothes and he uses it as a tactic to introduce them to education.

Though many would just listen to his stories as a leisure activity and resume their daily work of selling beads, Sakthi did not give up. 

Moved by his words, gradually the adults from his community started sending their children who were above five years of age to join the RSTC.

Today, there are 25 students from the Narikuravar community who have got a new lease of life. The community looks up to him as a role model for change and aspires their children to follow in Sakthi’s footsteps.

Hand in Hand took the step forward and nominated his name for the international award. He was the youngest among the 169 nominees, who barely needed any introduction at that plinth. With the goal to uplift his entire community, he says, “If I could convince 25 kids now, the number would surely increase in few years. I want to be an example to my people to show them what good education can do to a person and give them the hope that they don’t have to live on the streets forever.” 

When we ask Sakthi to divulge about his ambition, the young change-maker buoyantly says, “My aim to is become a software engineer. I instantly had an affinity towards computers when I first saw it. But yes, I would like to equip myself with skills of any kind to help my community evolve and create a better tomorrow for them. I am confident that education can help me with that. You don’t need to from a certain background or speak a particular language to be successful.

Interest, opportunity and curiosity to learn are enough to conquer your dreams."