User:Atnesh

 Ahmed Ali 

Ahmed Ali is an illiterate rickshaw puller from remote Assam, India, who became the mascot of education in his society. Ali is credited with the establishment of 9 schools in Madhurband, a village of Patharkandi with his personal earnings. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in recognition of his efforts, mentions his works in the 42nd “Mann Ki Baat “.

 Backstory  : Growing up, Ahmed Ali was faced with poverty. Financial strains forced him to quit school without completing even the basic primary education. From a young age, Ali had to work as a daily labour to help support his family. Even later in his life, he had worked in frequent odd jobs to make ends meet for his wife and children. Ahmed Ali did not want anybody else’s dreams bereaved the way his had been. He decided to set up budget friendly schools for the children of his society. Slowly and surely, Ali succeeds in setting up 9 schools and continues to aim for more.

 Family  : 87 year old Ahmed Ali is a father to 6 daughters and a youngest son. Ali has been constant in his daughters receiving sound education. He did not let financial crisis come in the path of his daughters’ educational career. Today, all his 6 daughters hail from India’s top colleges. Ahmed worked tirelessly, working overtime for his age, pulling rickshaws in the morning and chopping wood at night, gathering the money he’d need for supporting his daughters’ education.

 Work and Achievements:  Ahmed Ali realised the need for schools in his village. The nearest schools and colleges were all at inconvenient distances. Being deprived himself of a chance to education in the face of financial instability, he was staunch that no other person should ever have to face the same difficulties that he had to. Ahmed I starts collecting funds. He kept aside his earnings from pulling rickshaws and went from villager to villager, raising his issue and collecting donations. A lot of people showed enthusiastic participation in volunteering for Ahmed’s cause. Ali sold 32 bighas out of his 36 bighas of land for setting up the schools. Thus he raised the required sum and capital. Ahmed Ali’s first school was established in 1978. It was a primary school. Since then he established a total of nice schools— of which 5 were English Mediums, 3 Lower Primary, 1 high school. He wishes to soon open a college as well Ali envisions establishing a total of 10 educational institutes in his village, the final being a college.

 Recognition : Ahmed Ali, the man whose daily bread came from toiling in the sun pulling rickshaws, soon came to respected and honoured by his people. The people forced him to name his last establishment, the high school after himself. Ahmed Ali High School now receives a grant of 11 lakhs from the government now. In 2018, Ali came to recognised by the government. He was invited to attend felicitation programmes in Delhi. Ali’s untiring efforts even found mention in the 42nd edition of PM Narendra Modi’s weekly programme “Mann Ki Baat” aired on the radio on Sundays.

“..When I get to read in your letters how a rickshaw puller from Karimgunj in Assam, Ahmed Ali, has built 9 schools for underprivileged children, I witness first hand the indomitable will-power this country possesses…” 1

In a video clip, Ahmed is found standing in front of his high school surrounded by students, thanking the PM and the people, for all the support and enthusiasm they all showed to his cause :

''“ I felt elated listening to the Honourable Prime Minister mentioning me in his ‘Mann Ki Baat’. I have found joy in establishing 9 schools for the children of my village. I hope to make a higher secondary school too. I thank every person who supported me in my endeavour. I could not have done it without them..”''

In 2019, the highschool he started in 1990 had 228 students. He had been able to make accomodations till class 10 but was still driven to find government approval and funds for beginning a higher secondary section.