My dear friends,
At the outset, I must apologise for the long delay in writing to you.
For any parent, the academic achievements of their children are moments of immense joy and pride. At BRIDGE too, the performance of our children has given us many reasons to celebrate. Six of our students cleared their Class 10 exams with flying colours, though a few of them told me they had expected even better marks. Four students excelled in their Class 12 examinations, and we are now in discussions with them regarding the courses they wish to pursue further.
One story that continues to move me is that of Mallikarjun Vantigar from Hospete in North Karnataka, whose BAMS studies (he is studying to become an ayurveda doctor) we are co-funding. Mallikarjun completed his first year with outstanding marks, missing Distinction by just two marks.
His journey deserves to be a case study for youngsters who feel life has offered them nothing but hardships. Born into abject poverty, Mallikarjun dared to dream of becoming a doctor despite having almost no means to pursue that dream except sheer determination. In 2022, he lost his father — the family’s only source of support — to cancer while he was undergoing treatment at Kidwai Cancer Hospital in Bangalore.
Yet Mallikarjun refused to surrender to circumstances. He worked as a helper at construction sites and assisted in hotel kitchens in Bangalore to support his mother and siblings, while also saving money to buy books for his NEET preparation. It was during this difficult phase that one of our volunteers brought his story to BRIDGE.
Though we supported him with books and encouragement, I must honestly admit that I was not very hopeful about his chances of clearing NEET. His long working hours left him with very little time to study. But this remarkable young man of just 22 proved me wrong by clearing NEET on his second attempt.
Unable to afford private medical colleges, he secured admission under the government quota at the government ayurveda medical college in Nelamangala, outside Bangalore. Even there, the annual expenses come to nearly Rs 75,000. BRIDGE has been supporting part of the fees, while Mallikarjun continues to earn the rest through vacation jobs.
When he recently sent me his first-year marks along with a heartfelt note of gratitude, I had tears in my eyes. Friends, each one of us can take pride in being part of Mallikarjun’s extraordinary journey. He reminds me of the resilient spirit portrayed in the Hindi film 12th Fail. May the Lord continue to guide and protect him.
Another deeply heartening moment came when I heard from a nursing student from Trivandrum whose education BRIDGE has been supporting alongside her courageous mother. After her husband abandoned the family, leaving her alone with two daughters, this mother went through unimaginable humiliation and hardship. At one point, staring into what seemed like a hopeless future, she even contemplated ending her life along with her children.
But thanks to the timely intervention and support of her daughter’s teacher, she chose life over despair. Working as a domestic help in several homes, she struggled tirelessly to educate her daughters. It was this compassionate teacher who reached out to BRIDGE and informed us about the family’s plight. We were honoured to become part of their journey.
Today, she stands as a proud mother. She is now trying to build a small house on a five-cent plot gifted to her by her late father. Some of my friends have assured support towards helping this resilient woman realise her long-cherished dream of sleeping inside her own house.
Let me now briefly update you on a few more developments.
BRIDGE has joined the efforts of a group of friends who are crowdfunding for Vivek, the sole breadwinner of a family devastated by blood cancer. The family has already sold almost everything they owned for his treatment. His 13-year-old daughter is the donor for his bone marrow transplant, and the surgeries for both father and daughter are expected to cost nearly Rs 30 lakh. The procedures are planned this month. Let us pray that both of them return to good health and brighter days.
Shyma, a single mother whose children’s education BRIDGE has been supporting, suffered a fall and was bedridden for nearly two months. Despite the family’s struggles, her son scored an impressive 95% in his Class 10 examinations. Thankfully, Shyma is now slowly recovering and able to move about.
The youngest among three orphans whom BRIDGE has supported for many years (remember my past mails about them?) is also doing well in his nursing course scoring well in the latest semester. We feel grateful that we could stand beside this family from the very moment they lost their parents.
We have also paid the fees of Gunadarshini from Tamil Nadu, who is pursuing her degree course. Her academic performance has been exemplary. She is another determined young girl who refuses to let adversity stand in the way of her dreams. Her mother works as a domestic help in various homes in Bangalore after she lost her father.
Arun, who has been battling throat cancer, unfortunately does not seem to be responding to treatment, and the doctors have little hope left. BRIDGE has part-funded his treatment expenses and extended support to his wife and two children during this difficult period.
Rita Mary Jude from Coimbatore, who lost her husband to cancer three years ago, continues to struggle to educate her two children. We have helped part-pay the fees of her elder son, who is pursuing law.
Jolly from Kannur, a single mother who fought many odds to educate her daughter, is a very happy woman today. Her daughter has completed her degree in Sociology, securing the 6th rank in the university. BRIDGE is delighted to have supported this deserving family by contributing towards her fees.
We have resumed paying the education and hostel fees of Nilanjana, the student from the North East whom I had mentioned in one of my earlier letters. Under the care of the Sisters at Baridua in Meghalaya, she is blossoming into a bright and promising student.
Another nursing student supported by BRIDGE, Aleena, has now completed her German language course after finishing her nursing studies in Mangalore. She is preparing to leave for Germany, where she has secured a hospital job.
Kripa, another nursing student we support in Bangalore, went through an extremely difficult phase shortly after beginning her course. Persistent headaches eventually led to surgery on her head. Having already lost her father to cancer a few years ago, she is now being raised by her mother, who survives through housekeeping jobs in shops and homes. Thankfully, Kripa has now resumed her studies, and BRIDGE has supported her mother in paying the fees.
There is also a family in Velloor whose breadwinner suffered a severe stroke and is now almost completely incapacitated. The family consists of his aged mother, wife and teenage daughter. One of our volunteers happened to visit them and returned deeply shaken by their condition. They do not even have basic furniture at home. BRIDGE has now begun sending a modest monthly support amount to help the family survive with dignity.
Friends, despite occasional moments of financial strain, we have somehow always managed to stand by our beneficiaries. As I have often told you, BRIDGE has never truly felt helpless. And today, I want to share with you another beautiful reminder of how kindness arrives exactly when needed.
A few months ago, I received an email from Vishnu, a software engineer based in Bangalore and originally from Calicut, Kerala. He wrote to say that a friend had told him about BRIDGE and that he was happy to connect with us. Vishnu had been looking for genuine organisations that worked directly with end beneficiaries and made a meaningful difference in people’s lives.
After learning about our work, he decided to support BRIDGE with a generous monthly contribution of Rs 40,000. I cannot adequately describe the relief and joy this brought us, especially at a time when I had begun to feel slightly anxious about our dwindling resources. But then again, life has repeatedly shown me that whenever BRIDGE has faced difficult moments, compassionate hearts have appeared to carry us forward. Another proof that we are on the right track.
I warmly welcome Vishnu into our BRIDGE family and assure him that this journey of compassion will be deeply meaningful.
I also wish to express my heartfelt gratitude to Mumbai-based Wonderbiz Technologies, our steadfast co-traveller over the years. Their support has brought immense relief to many of our beneficiaries. This March too, the company sent us another cheque of Rs 5 lakh, arriving just in time to pay the school and college fees of our students.
I know this mail has become longer than intended. But before I conclude, I want to thank each one of you for your constant encouragement, prayers and financial support. Without you, BRIDGE could never have touched so many lives over the past decade.
As we prepare to mark the tenth anniversary of our journey, one thought continues to inspire me every single day, that is our organisation’s motto: “There is no greater happiness in life than wiping a tear from someone’s eyes and being the reason for that person’s smile.”
May we continue to become the reason for many, many more smiles in the years ahead.
Thank you
Shibu
A BRIDGE Over Troubled Waters
The Anchor for the Anchorless
Ph: 9739218181; 080-26830545