Diaspora: Home is where the heart is
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Aparna Banerji
Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, January 28
A state-of-the-art school, a library, a homeopathic dispensary include the many facilities which dot a model village in Jalandhar. The village will shortly get its own ambulance. The slew of upgrades and choicest facilities are owed to NRIs who have steadily supported the village even as they moved abroad ages ago. Every year the students of Government Senior Secondary Smart School, Virk, are awarded cash prizes of Rs2,100, Rs1,800 and Rs1,500 to toppers, Rs1,000 to first division holders and Rs1,500 for those excelling in sports. Thanks to the NRIs belonging to the village the vibrant dream of a smart school was achieved two years ago and has one of the prettiest school buildings in the district.
One of the key donors is Gurmail Singh, a 52-year-old NRI, who resigned from his job as BSF Sub-Inspector and settled abroad after the death of his younger brother in the village. He’s settled in the US. At least three to four NRI families have been looking after the village. Sarabjit Singh, Gurdial Singh, Amarjit Singh and the village’s famous Mukaddam family are part of the caretakers.
Principal Surinder Pal says, “We were donated a 30 marla building. Of the 10 rooms of the school at least five were donated by NRIs. At separate annual functions for sports and merit students scholarships (cash prizes) are announced to students. The general category students get uniforms from NRIs. Our school and village have been blessed by their contributions which have served as a huge encouragement for students. This has bettered results and students are touching new heights.”
He feels that the village is fortunate. The NRIs are all regular patrons of education but don’t even appear for photos. “They want to help us quietly without being dragged into the limelight,” he adds.
Gurmail being a former student at the school has been passionately associated with donating money for construction of brand new toilets and a kitchen at the primary school and also introducing plush upgrades aplenty at the senior secondary school. Much of the work has been dedicated to his deceased mother Mata Ram Pyari.
A 30 marla plot, nine LEDs donated to the school all are NRI contributions. Also, the school has an education garden, beautiful classrooms, an art and craft room, a cultural corner among a host of other additions. The senior secondary school has 363 students currently.
Rajesh Bhanot, a friend of Gurmail, who has been helping the school from here, said, “He has never forgotten his village. He was a BSF Sub-Inspector but had to quit due to a death in the family. His heart is in the village.”
He shared the most recent act of the Good Samaritan. “Some days ago a youth died after falling into a chappar and he announced all kind of help for his family. He has also started a library and a homeopathic dispensary at the village. Now, we are about to start an ambulance which will provide free medical aid to the village. Amid the peak of pandemic, he contributed Rs6 lakh for rations to the village. His soul is rooted in the environs of Punjab.”