CHENNAI: When a zealous 25-year-old answers at a Harvard University interview that his life’s dream is to build a school, the interviewers might not understand the complete implications of it. It is one thing for a young man to shrug off his dream to go ahead and experience the big American dream, but it is another thing to see the vision through and turn it into reality. And that is exactly what Dr Ramu Manivannan did.What initially began as modest evening schools under trees or in volunteers’ homes at 10 different locations in the Vellore district has now officially begun providing free education, uniforms, meals, books and transport to over 170 kids, mostly from poverty-stricken families in the district. The Garden of Peace, or Amaidhi Poonga as the schools are called, cater to the needs of mostly children of the quarry workers and weavers. Currently heading the Department of Politics at the University of Madras, Dr Ramu believes that all of us have an obligation to give back to society. “I come from a very humble family and my interaction with other kids in my hometown who didn’t get the chance to go to school due to various economic and social reasons and the distance factor are what have always made me want to start a school,” says Ramu. “Even when I was a student, I was socially engaged.”At 40, he decided that he had taken enough from society and it was time to give back. “I have gained so much from the blessings of the world and since I had always felt strongly about education, starting a school was only natural,” he says. “But if I had known the problems that I would face in running a school, I wouldn’t have done it,” he jokes.In 2003, when he was with the Delhi University, he used his provident fund from the college to buy the land for the school at Kusumbuppalayam, a one-km-stretch village a little further down Vellore. He managed to set up a shack by 2004, starting the school with seven children and one teacher. Currently working with seven teachers, all of whom certified to teach at the primary level, the school has seen two batches of students graduate. “Currently we have only till Class V, but are expanding till Class XII next year,” informs Ramu. He is also looking to open a community college within the same campus, where parents can help out in many ways, such as at the kitchen or in carrying out repair work.Having been able to raise from others around Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000 out of the over Rs 95,000 required to run the school, Ramu puts in the rest of the capital from his own pocket. “I am doing it because I understand reality and poverty at a deep level and not as a theoretician,” he says. “It gives me a great sense of satisfaction.”Volunteers and interested donors can contact Professor Ramu on 9443348942.
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