What Naidu couldn’t, Express readers do

Reddy had two simple ambitions. He wanted his son Jagamohan (20) to join the Army and his daughter G Dhanalaxmi (19) to qualify as a teacher with a Master’s in Telugu Literature.

When drought sapped his fields and money ran out, Reddy had told his wife to cut down on meals rather than stop his children from going to school. Even so, it appeared that his wishes would die with him. When The Indian Express met the family, Dhanalaxmi was going to drop out of Second Year BA because the family did not have Rs 2,000 for her fees. And Jagamohan did not have the Rs 1,000 needed to go for his physical test in Hyderabad to join the police force.

‘‘The story is shocking… She must go to college and complete her studies,’’ wrote R N Sharma, in an email offer of help for Dhanalaxmi.

‘‘If we can treat ailing children from Pakistan in our hospitals, why not show some concern for our own folks in need of help,’’ wrote Pran Kaul. Meanwhile, Sekhar Puli has offered help not just to the family, but the entire village.

Taran Nanda wrote in: ‘‘The report clearly shows how the poor want to do the best for their family and how much they value education and a better future for their family.’’

When this newspaper called up the family to tell their mother G Lakshmi Devi about the response, there was disbelief. No, she didn’t have a bank account. None of her children had one.

The next day, relatives took her to Indian Bank. In the evening, on the phone, she said: ‘‘I first want to clear the debt. It’s a godsend. How else can so many people know us in our little village?’’

Then, her daughter Dhanalaxmi came on the phone. ‘‘I am very happy,’’ she repeated twice. Yes, she wants to finish her studies. Jagamohan, meanwhile, has started practising for his physical examination.