This story is not just about a boy, but about every voice that is suppressed. It tells us that the height of a destination is never a shackle for our feet… we just need to have the passion to fly. Destinations kiss the feet of those who have high dreams.
Achieving your goals is not in everyone’s power. Hard work, dedication, and determination are necessary.
Rohit’s world was limited to the mud walls of the village, where life meant only earning bread and passing the day. His father would go to work at a brick kiln early in the morning, and his mother’s body was slowly hollowed out by TB. There was no electricity in the house, but Rohit’s mind was filled with the stars of the sky. He himself worked at the village tea stall and bore the expenses of his studies himself. One day, he saw a picture in a torn newspaper at the tea stall—a rocket flying amidst a blazing ball of fire. That moment became his destiny. Excitement started surging in his mind. I also want to go to space sitting in a rocket like that. His mind was now focused on this goal. An impossible goal, for a boy like him who had no knowledge about space. But Rohit was determined.
One day in the village school, when the schoolmaster asked him, "What will you become when you grow up?", Rohit said without hesitation, "An astronaut!" There was laughter in the class. "He is just a tea maker, will he go to space?" But from that day onwards Rohit started collecting pieces of newspapers. At night, with the help of the flame of the stove, he would try to understand English words in broken Hindi. Once the corner of his book got burnt by the fire, but he laughed, "This was no less than the fire of a rocket!" He tried his best to absorb whatever information he got.
By the time he was sixteen, Rohit heard that the city library had books on "space science". He asked for leave from the tea stall on Sunday and left at four in the morning. Drenched in the rain, with only one roti in his stomach, he walked 20 kilometers to reach the library. The librarian first stopped this boy in a torn kurta from entering, but when he saw Rohit's eyes-which had a hungry passion-he started showing him the books. Ramu understood "Newton's Laws" for the first time. Now he had made it a rule that whenever he got leave, he would reach the library. Rohit was smart in studies from the beginning. He continued his studies in science subjects only.
One day Rohit's heart started beating after seeing the advertisement of ISRO's competition in the newspaper. The fee for the form was Rs 1500. Father said in a tired voice, "Son, where will I get this money? Your mother's medicines..." Rohit put his hand in the wooden box kept under mother's bed that night. It contained mother's only gold bracelet from the wedding. Mother looked at him, there were questions in her eyes. Rohit said, "Mother, I will bring you a star from the moon." Mother silently nodded her head. The next day, he mortgaged that bracelet to the moneylender. With that money, he filled the form for the competition. And gave the exam. But till now he had not been able to acquire complete knowledge. He could not pass this exam. The villagers said, "Now do you understand? A poor man's son cannot touch the sky." I have to work harder now. I have to complete my further studies. Thinking this, he joined a college in the city. The conditions at home were not good. His father explained to him that son, how will we be able to bear the expenses of your studies. Father, I will find some work in the city itself and will come to the village every Sunday. With great difficulty they agreed and Rohit had now come to the city. He rented a cheap room and started teaching the landlord's children. Slowly, many children started coming to him for studies. After meeting his expenses, he started giving the remaining money to his mother as well.
Rohit's studies were complete. He had done his graduation with his hard work. But the destination was still far away. The pressure from his mother and father had also increased a bit. Son, now you should get married soon. I will also get some relief in old age, his mother would say. Mother, just a little penance is left. After that all our troubles will go away.
Rohit had now started preparing for post graduation. Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam was his ideal. He wanted to achieve his goal by following his ideals.
After getting highly educated, he now started looking for a job in ISRO and other space agencies.
Rohit's efforts were becoming futile. On going to the village, his parents as well as other villagers started saying that you have studied so much, do some other job. But Rohit had made up his mind. He had seen only one dream since childhood. He started working with double enthusiasm. Finally, patience, hard work and dedication were successful. One day the joining letter from ISRO arrived. Rohit had now achieved the post of Junior Scientist. ISRO's letter was in his hand. Tears were flowing from his eyes. But now these tears were of happiness. They were of his dreams. In his happiness, there was also the sparkle of the lamp of patience and hope of his parents. Holding that letter to his chest, Rohit prepared to go to the village. Mother, father, today your son has won. Today Rohit's parents were unable to stop their tears. The news had spread in the village. Everyone was coming to congratulate. The old master of the village said that you are a Kohinoor diamond. Even amidst the scarcity, you have made the impossible possible. I believe that one day you will go to space and bring glory to the country and our village. Yes master, this is the first step towards my destination. And with the blessings of all of you, I will definitely reach my destination.
