Newspaper Vendor to Study in IIM-Calcutta.
N Shiva Kumar from Bangalore wouldn't have thought, even in his wildest dreams, that one day his inspirational tale would feature in the very newspapers that he has been selling since Class 6. But dreams do come true, albeit with a lot of hard work and determination. The newspaper-boy-turned-vendor has gained admission in the prestigious business school, IIM-Calcutta after cracking CAT last year.
Shiva, 23, a computer science student of Bangalore Institute of Technology, is the son of an illiterate mother and a father who was a truck driver. He started working as a newspaper delivery boy and for his debt-ridden family of four. Speaking about his struggles to TOI, Shiva says, "Every morning people would come home asking my father to return the money he had borrowed. My father had a truck. But there were more liabilities than what he could earn with it. When I was in Class 3 or 4, I sold flowers that my mother strung into garlands by the roadside.
It was only later that I found the job of newspaper boy.," His luck turned around when he requested a customer to fund his school education when he was unable to pay the tution fees, to which he agreed."I was studying in an ICSE school. In Class 9, I was asked not to come to school till I paid the fees. The next day, I approached the first customer I was delivering the paper to, Krishna Veda Vyasa, and requested him to fund me. He hesitated, and said he didn't even know me. I asked him to do a background check, and he found I was the topper there. I requested him to pay one term's fee, but he paid for the entire year. He continued funding me ever since. I owe it all to him," he said.
He soon found an opportunity to be a vendor and started his own agency when in Class 10.His work continued even when he got admission in an engineering college."It was hard work. I had to get up at 4am every day, deliver the papers and head to school. I had to skip breakfast to be on time for college, but would still be late. But now his life is set to change."Shiva is taking an education loan to fund his IIM course. So what does he want to do after graduating from IIM-C?"After my family stabilizes, I want to start a charitable institution, Educate India, by which I can help the underprivileged gain some education. I could achieve this because someone helped me. In turn, I want to help at least 10 people," he said.
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