Menial to Minister: An Adventurous Odyssey of Dr Kuber Dindor
Part-2
(A biography by Ishwar Prajapati,
Translated into English by Pallavi Gupta)
Kuberbhai,
an indigenous adolescent enrolled in the Santrampur Tribal Boys' Hostel, was
diligently pursuing his secondary education. A committed participant in various
constructive endeavours, he was deeply disturbed by the deplorable conditions
within the hostel. The students were consistently provided with inadequate and
substandard meals, often receiving as little as one or two meagre rotis. It
became evident that the hostel administrators were embezzling the
government-allocated grain, diverting it for their personal gain. The
impoverished children residing in the hostel were thus subjected to chronic
hunger. Unable to condone such egregious injustices, Kuberbhai decided to take
decisive action. He formally lodged a complaint with the Tribal Commissioner,
detailing the malpractices occurring within the hostel. The Commissioner,
responding promptly to the allegations, personally conducted an investigation
and summoned Kuberbhai for an inquiry. The Commissioner's patronizing and
dismissive attitude towards the plight of the students deeply wounded
Kuberbhai, leaving an indelible mark on his psyche. Although the immediate
consequences of his actions may have been uncertain, Kuberbhai's resolute
stance against injustice at such a tender age is a testament to his courage and
moral fortitude.
Kuberbhai
was an enthusiastic participant in the diverse constructive endeavours
undertaken by the Santrampur Gayatri Mandir. His involvement in the
multifaceted activities of the Gayatri family not only contributed to his
personal development but also shielded him from the pernicious influences of
negative peer groups and harmful addictions. Having successfully completed his
twelfth-grade examinations with commendable results, he secured admission to
the Adivasi Arts and Commerce College situated in Santrampur. Uncertain about
his academic pursuits, he was influenced by the newly established Hindi
department and consequently opted for Hindi as his major. His innate abilities
soon became evident, and his charismatic personality permeated the college
campus. He garnered the admiration of distinguished faculty members such as
Professors Mr Kisorsingh Rao, Mr Ram Tripathi, and Mr Ishwarbhai Rathava.
Despite financial constraints, he maximized the resources of the college
library to facilitate his studies. During his academic breaks, he consistently
assisted his parents in manual labour, demonstrating a strong work ethic and a
selfless commitment to his family.
Kuberbhai's
exceptional leadership and unwavering courage were further exemplified by an
incident that transpired during his college years. A significant controversy
arose when the Adivasi Arts and Commerce College was arbitrarily renamed after
an individual of a different faith. This unilateral decision ignited widespread
resentment and dissent among the student body. Assuming the mantle of
leadership, Kuberbhai astutely navigated this tumultuous period. Through his
intelligence and resourcefulness, he engaged in a dialogue with the college
principal and management to ascertain the rationale behind the name change. It
was revealed that a substantial donation of one hundred and fifty thousand
rupees had been offered by an individual of a different faith on the condition
that the college be renamed in their honour. Undeterred, Kuberbhai mobilized
the student body, collecting fee receipts from his fellow students. These
receipts indicated a mandatory construction fee of twenty to twenty-five rupees
per student, which, when aggregated, amounted to a sum exceeding two hundred
thousand rupees. Armed with this compelling evidence, Kuberbhai and his fellow
students vehemently opposed the name change, arguing that the students
themselves had already contributed a significantly larger sum for the college's
infrastructure. Under Kuberbhai's leadership, a non-violent protest was
organized. The students collectively decided to boycott the supplementary
examinations if the examination papers bore the new, contentious name. Their
resolve proved unwavering, as all students adhered to their decision, refusing
to participate in the examinations. Faced with such a formidable display of
unity and determination, the college administration was compelled to concede to
the students' demands and revert the college's name to the Adivasi Arts and
Commerce College. Through his successful leadership of this movement, Kuberbhai
solidified his reputation as a promising young leader.
Upon
the successful completion of his undergraduate studies, Kuberbhai initiated the
enrolment process for a Bachelor of Education program. However, his academic
mentor, Professor Khandubhai Parmar, advised him to pursue a Master's degree,
given his exceptional academic performance. Recognizing the financial
constraints associated with pursuing a full-time Master's program in a
metropolitan city like Ahmedabad, Kuberbhai opted for a more pragmatic
approach. He enrolled in a part-time, external Master's program, enabling him
to concurrently fulfil his academic aspirations while contributing to his
family's livelihood through manual labour. Remarkably, he achieved distinction
in the inaugural year of his postgraduate studies. Impressed by his outstanding
performance, Professor Parmar recommended that Kuberbhai transition to a
full-time, on-campus Master's program. Subsequently, he secured admission to
the esteemed LD College in Ahmedabad.
The
year 1993 marked a pivotal moment in Kuberbhai's life as he embarked on his
journey to Ahmedabad for the first time. His parents, particularly his father,
expressed considerable apprehension regarding his safety and well-being in the
bustling metropolis. Driven by an unwavering academic pursuit, he assuaged
their concerns and ventured forth. The cacophony and throngs of Ahmedabad were
an entirely novel experience for him. Under the rigorous tutelage of the
college principal, A.V. Patel, Kuberbhai dedicated himself assiduously to his
studies, ensuring unwavering attendance. His academic pursuits were profoundly
influenced by the biography of Abraham Lincoln, which left an enduring
impression on his psyche. Furthermore, the profound poetry of the celebrated
Hindi poet Nagarjun stimulated his intellectual faculties. Despite limited
access to personal textbooks, he meticulously transcribed the lectures and
diligently reviewed them. His unwavering commitment to his studies was
ultimately rewarded. The publication of the M.A. Part-2 results in the Sambhav
newspaper on August 10, 1994, revealed that Kuberbhai had emerged as the
top-performing student in the entire LD College, securing an impressive 63%.
His
parents, being entirely illiterate, had no comprehension of the academic
distinctions between first and second class. Upon learning that his peers had
achieved honours in their examinations, his father expressed disappointment,
admonishing Kuberbhai for not attaining a similar level of academic excellence.
Amused by his father's innocent inquiry, Kuberbhai chuckled.
Concurrently,
a significant issue arose in a peripheral region of Santrampur, characterized
by a dearth of essential amenities such as paved roads, potable water, and
electricity. The government had initiated a benevolent initiative, aptly named
'Door Point,' aimed at providing electricity connections to the tribal
community. A total of seventy-five such connections were sanctioned, entirely
free of cost. However, Kuberbhai uncovered a disturbing revelation: the village
sarpanch was illicitly demanding a fifty-rupee bribe for each connection.
Outraged by this blatant corruption, he vociferously opposed the sarpanch's
actions. The gravity of the situation was further exacerbated when Kuberbhai's
father was compelled to offer a kilogram of ghee as a bribe, owing to his
inability to pay the monetary fee. This incident profoundly affected Kuberbhai,
galvanizing him into action. Alongside his fellow villagers, he lodged a formal
complaint with the local electricity board, vehemently denouncing the
sarpanch's corrupt practices. In retaliation, his adversaries filed a spurious
First Information Report against him. Undeterred, Kuberbhai resolved to expose
the corrupt sarpanch and bring him to justice. This pivotal event marked the
genesis of his involvement in village politics. Reflecting upon this
experience, Kuberbhai asserted, "Had I remained oblivious to the
sarpanch's corrupt practices, I would likely never have ventured into the realm
of politics. My resolute commitment to eradicating corruption and upholding the
principles of good governance propelled me into active political engagement.
After
the darkest night, the sun always rises. For Manubhai’s family, they were now
waiting for their golden sun to rise. Within a week of receiving his M.A.
results, advertisements for professors were published in Palanpur, Rajkot, and
Talod colleges. To go for the Rajkot interview, he did not have enough money
for the fare, so he sold chickpeas to gather the funds. The next interview was
scheduled for Talod College on September 17, 1994, a Saturday. He borrowed 200
rupees from Mr Pratapbhai Dindor, the village talati, to go for the Talod
interview. Talod College had decided to hire local candidates as those from
faraway places often left their jobs to take up positions closer to their
hometowns. Despite this, seeing Kuberbhai’s talent, the Talod committee
immediately selected him and made him commit to not leaving the job. (Kuberbhai
has kept this commitment to this day.) They handed him the appointment order
for the professorship on the spot.
Continues…
Published on 26th August 2024 on Ishwar Prajapati's Study Room, the link is
