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Journalism of Courage
His is a runaway success story, literally. Fired by the desire to do something ‘‘different and thrilling’’, this year’s Arts topper in the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examination of the Nagpur division of State Education Board did just that three years ago.
He fled his brother’s home in Chakor, a nondescript town in Latur district. While his kin back home didn’t know where he was, Prasad Prahlad Akkanouru concentrated on his goal. Doing petty jobs in a city hotel for a paltry Rs 800 a month and staying in a dingy room, he studied 12-13 hours a day — an effort that fetched him 86.50 per cent marks and put him on top in the merit list.
But Prasad ensured that nobody knew about it. When he spilled the beans today, his teachers and friends were simply floored. ‘‘We were surprised. Something like this has rarely happened,’’ remarked K.G. Kasgikar, principal of the Dharampeth Arts and Commerce College where Prasad studied. ‘‘We are very happy.’’
His favourite teacher D.B. Gedam, who taught him English, too, was surprised. ‘‘He is a gem of a boy and I used to call him ‘man of the college’. I had forecast that he would top. Today, everyone is congratulating me,’’ he said. A visibly relieved Prasad said he wanted his family to know about him through the media. ‘‘I was aiming more for the first column in newspapers than first place in the merit list,’’ he joked.
His grand success at the examination may actually prove to be bigger news for his kin than the youngest member of the family finally being traced.
‘‘Running away has been a tradition in our family. Both my elder brothers had run away to Hyderabad, only to return five years later. Some of my cousins, too, had fled their homes,’’ Prasad said.‘‘But unlike me, they had kept in touch and didn’t excel in studies,’’ he said. His parents, probably, always expected him to return some day, like all his brothers did. That could be a reason why they possibly didn’t search for him.
‘‘It seems they didn’t really look for me,’’ Prasad said. But that doesn’t reduce his affection for them. ‘‘I love them a lot. If they call me, I will go,’’ he said with a broad grin.
But why then did he flee?
When in middle school, Prasad was considered capable of doing nothing and was sent back by his eldest brother (Prasad refuses to give his name) to their native Bothi village where their parents lived. So, he thought one day he would prove his mettle. After passing out his SSC with 68 per cent, he did an electrician’s course in ITI. It was here that the ‘‘thrilling’’ thought came to his mind and he landed in Mumbai. ‘‘But I was looking for a predominantly Marathi place. So, I came to Nagpur. It was my first visit to the place.’’
After three years in hibernation, he has made his point. He gives credit for his success to his teachers Gedam, Shyamali Moharil and Ashok Tote. They are all proud of him and it doesn’t matter to them that he forged his father’s signature in the examination application.
