67. A Mother's Concern

When Sundar was studying in tenth standard, his mother Valli told her husband Ekambaram, "We had managed to get our son educated in a government school up to the tenth standard, without our having to pay any school fees. He will be able to get admission in a reputed Engineering college, only if he has his higher secondary education in a good school. So, let us put him in a good private school for his eleventh and twelveth standards."

"I cannot afford to pay the exorbitant tuition fees charged by private schools. Moreover, reputed private schools won't admit students who have studied in a government school!" replied Eakambaram.

"Does it mean that our son can't study Engineering?"

"Let us see. What line of education he pursues will be decided by his destiny."

"If we are going to leave things to destiny, what kind of support are we giving him as his parents?" said Vali, angrily.

"It is Sundar's fate that he was born the son of a poor man like me!"

While studying in the eleventh standard, Sundar focused on his studies and worked hard. He scored well in the mid-term examinations.

"Sundar is studying well. He will score well in the higher secondary examination" said Ekambaram.

"The scores he has been getting are not good enough. He can get admission in a reputed Engineering college, only if he scores at least 198 marks in each of the three subjects Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry in the Higher Secondary examination."

"Oh, you seem to have better knowledge about the requirements for engineering college admissions than me!"

"Don't bring you into comparison. You have no concern for the future of our son!" burst out Valli.

"Did you notice? For the past few days, after returning from the school, Sundar has been going out, and returning home late. When I asked him about it, he said that he was going to a friend's house to study along with him. I have a feeling that he is hiding something from me. Ask him about this" Valli told Ekambaram.

"Why do you suspect our son? Why should he lie to you?"

"Perhaps he has been going out with his friends and wasting his time."

"If that were the case, he is not going to change his ways by listening to my advice. He is a grown up boy. He should know what is good for him!" said Ekambaram.

"You speak with no responsibility! It is my fate that I have to go through these!" said Valli, feeling frustrate.

When the results of the higher secondary examination were announced, Valli had a pleasant surprise. Sundar had scored 200, 198 and 198 in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry, respectively.

"How did you manage to get such high scores?" asked Valli.

"Attending the tuition classes made this possible" said Sundar.

"You attended tuition classes! How come I didn't know about this?" asked Valli, in surprise, looking at her son and her husband.

"I have a colleague by name Sankaran. He is well-educated and knowledgeable. I requested him to coach Sundar. Initially he declined my request saying that he didn't know much about the academic aspect of learning and that he was not familiar with the examination system.

"The son of a friend of mine had taken the higher secondary examination last year. He had attended tuition classes. I collected the study materials and class notes used by him and gave them to Sankaran. After browsing through them and collecting more information from the internet, he reluctantly agreed to coach Sundar. 

"I also mobilized some other students, the children of my friends for taking tuition from him. Sankaran refused to charge any fee, but I persuaded him to accept a moderate fee. I thought that only if he received a remuneration, he will have the commitment to deliver his best. However, I told him that unless the students paid the fees, they won't have the seriousness to learn. With ten students taking tuition from him, Sankaran had a fairly good income from coaching. 

"I had told Sundar not to tell you about this till he scored well in the examination and surprised you. In a way, the desire to give you a pleasant surprise acted as motivating factor too! Sundar went to the tuition classes telling you that he was studying with his friends. Not knowing the truth, you were concerned about Sundar going out in the evening without staying at home and studying!

"With only a few students to coach, Sankaran was able to pay personal attention to each of them. All the ten students have scored well. The spectre of ten students scoring high marks has never happened in the history of the school. Seeing the results, many students have been flocking to Sankaran. Sankaran is thinking of quitting his job and starting a tuition centre!" 

After enlightening Valli of what he had done, Ekambaram looked at her, his face beaming with pride.

Valli was dumbstruck.

Ekambaram turned to Sundar and told him, "Now that you have got good marks, you will get admission in a reputed Engineering college. It is my responsibility to pay your college fees and support you till you complete your college education. It is your responsibility to study well, complete your degree with high scores, earn a good job and get settled in your life."

Thirukkural

Section 1
The Path of Virtue

Chapter 7
The Boon of Having Children

Verse 67 (In Tamil)

thandhai magaRkkARRu nanRi avaiyaththu
mundhi iruppach cheyal.

Meaning:

The duty of a father towards his children is to bring them to the forefront in an assembly of learned persons.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'ammA kaNakku' by the same author)

Verse 68
Verse 66