Please don’t mind. I too didn’t know him, even a day before I stumbled upon his kind abode where he is, in simplest of terms, serving goodness in his single-dimensional, selfless and charity-driven way of life.
We, the young fellows of the young program ‘Sarpanch Leadership’ under Praas Development Foundation who have stationed in Mandvi near Surat, drove to village Karutha to witness the marvel. Karutha is small village under local governance of the Sarpanch of village Mahudi, and municipality of Mandvi near Surat. Although the village is a neighbor of ecological tourism centre Kevdi, it still lacked a workable road nexus till a few years ago. It has a picturesque location and pleasant climatic condition throughout the year. In spite of the gifts by nature, the village lacked the basic facility of primary education institutions in a radius of 6km, nearest being Pipalwada facilitating a junior high school.
Mr. Ashok Chaudhary completed his post-graduation in the year 2007 from Gujarat Vidhyapeeth with critical financial constraints, still he chose to pave a way in development of education in a village (Karutha) where no previous attempt to educate the needy has been put into action either by a government or private entity. Ashok bhai started his social services immediately after completing his education, starting as a Gram Shilpi (Gram Shilpi was a project by Gujarat Vidyapeeth for its pass-outs in social service sector.) After his initial years as a Gram Shilpi, he continued to work hard to help develop the village he chose, a village he had no previous connection to.
Five years ago, he started the Karutha Ashram Chatralya which provides free of cost- education, nutrition and housing to about 60 students, girls and boys alike. Children from villages around Karutha, but Ashok bhai select the neediest and down-trodden of them due to his limitations. He chooses those who are off-springs of the landless farmers, single parents and those who have migrated and have no apparent way to reach out to education.
He remembers his early days and tells, “I started out without any assistance or funds, I had nothing except the view of my goal on the horizon. I am a follower of Gandhi and his teachings of self-respect held me from asking for help. I don’t seek for help in pursuance of my dream, I work hard alone and those who agree with my ideas, join me in my journey. My parents and my wife did not adhere by my ideas previously; I had to leave them behind. It is only recently that I have been joined by them.”
Ashok bhai tells us that he visited Surat in initial days but he could not ask for financial aid in an outright manner. His host, a businessman asked him of his problems and at the end of a small conversation agreed to help Ashok bhai with cash Rs. 5000 and materials of daily need including utensils and food items. He received the land grant as a gift deed from the villagers and ever since he has chosen against holding his hands out to ask for aid. His good deeds have been his marketing and advertisement. Every person who comes to know of Ashok bhai mechanically helps him in any and every way they can.
He started teaching in the community hall with 17 students but now has over 2.5 acres of land, received as per charitable acts of the villagers. He provides primary education in Gujarati, Science, and Mathematics. In addition to this, he teaches skill development. There is ample provision for education of computers. The students are even taught to sew and cook.
Ashok bhai had nothing of his own when he began, he has nothing even now. But every life he has touched has changed for the better. He still uses the same phone he bought during his days of post-grad. He is a man of little means but he has big dreams which he is determined to achieve. He is a good man, of great self-respect and has a vision that promises to change the landscape of rural education not only in Gujarat but in the entirety of India. His righteousness becomes evident when he tells us about his experience of not paying for electricity he stole for his students and then going to the officials and telling the truth to them, the officials in return chose against punishing him and installed an electricity meter on their own expense.
His works have been recognised by the government recently, receiving the Governor’s award in 2014. He has also been nominated for Rashtrapati Puraskar (President’s Award) in 2016.
Written by – Sarpanch Fellow (Batch – 2016)