I am sure most of us have heard a number of discourses, lectures, debates and discussions on ‘Right to Education’. I too have heard views of different experts and listened to the debates on this subject - How this is perhaps the most important right and how important is it for children. These, and so many other issues have been so well explained by experts in different forums. Recently I came across a statement on this subject made by Prof Tabassum, which is undoubtedly the most effective.
Who is Prof Tabassum? She was a 16 years old child suffering from Cancer and was admitted in a Paediatric Palliative Care Centre (PPCC). Why do I call her Prof Tabassum? Well, you must read the following paragraphs to agree with me that no one could have made a better statement on 'Right to Education' or explained it better.
On 13th March 2018, she told the nurse on afternoon duty that her school bag was rather old and worn-out and that she needed a new school bag, a few new notebooks, etc. It was a ‘bund’ on that day so all markets and shops were closed. Still, the nurse and care takers sent out the helper boy to get a new school bag. The boy returned after unsuccessful trips to the nearby markets and told the nurse that the school bag could not be purchased and explained the efforts he had made so far.
This was overheard by Ms Ritu Bhalla an executive in the Resource Mobilization Department of CanKids, a charity working on “Change for Childhood Cancer” in India which runs the PPCC. Ritu is a bright young executive in her early twenties. She is also a very brave survivor and has been successful in her two battles with cancer. Despite this, she pursued her studies and has recently been selected to pursue MBA at a prestigious Management College in Delhi.
She could well empathise with young Tabassum. Undeterred by the unsuccessful attempts of the helper boy, she took out her scooty and went from market to market. She went from one market to another and from one shop to another but could not locate an open shop selling school bags. Finally, she went to a shop selling traveling bags/suitcases etc. She requested the shopkeeper and persuaded him to locate a bag which could pass off as school bag. She even went with him to their godown. Finally she succeeded in locating a bag closest to a school bag. She bought it, put new books, notebooks, pen, pencil, etc. and gave it to Tabassum in the late afternoon around 6 pm. Tabassum was mighty pleased and filled with joy. She was happy that she would go to school with her new bag and continue her education. In the early ours next morning at 5:30 AM Tabassum passed away.
I am sure most readers will agree that despite passing away at such a young age she made such a powerful and clear statement on Right to Education and what it means to children.
I am sure you agree that she should rightly be called Professor Tabassum.
