THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: While other boys his age are enjoying the privileges of education, Gopikrishnan toils hard to make ends meet and meet the expenses of his education.
The 15-year-old had to quit his Class-X studies at a Government School in Erode midway last year only because he could not afford it. His father Nallamuthu, a daily wage labourer became bed-ridden when he met with an accident during his work. This left the family in dire straits and little Gopikrishnan was burdened with family responsibilities. He had no other go than work.
Undeterred, he joined an automobile workshop nearby to earn a living which was enough to satisfy the needs of his family consisting of his ailing parents and himself. His mother Sarojam had stopped working earlier following a prolonged leg injury.
But Gopikrishnan is determined to continue his studies. This is what differentiates Gopikrishnan from most other child labourers. “When I was in school, I was really good at mathematics and scored good grades in almost all subjects. The sudden turn of events in my life was unexpected and it was with a broken heart that I bid goodbye to school. I was quite unprepared for any kind of job. But when I joined work, I started enjoying it,” said Gopikrishnan.
He receives good guidance from his seniors who are very helpful to him. The atmosphere at the workshop kindled in him an interest in engineering. Gopikrishnan now dreams of becoming an engineer despite all his difficulties and filial responsibilities. Gopikrishnan arrived in Kochi from Erode three days ago in a lorry which transports chemicals to the factories in the city. “This is a job which I take up occasionally to boost my income. As the lorry belongs to someone whom I know, I work as cleaner and conductor. I love travelling to various places as I can meet many people. I have travelled to other states also in lorries,” said the boy.
But all the time his thoughts are centred around school and examinations. He had decided to resume his studies and write his Class X examination. “I have secured some money for applying for the examination scheduled in October. I will continue working and somehow find time to do my studies. But working gives me a rich experience as I get to learn many things which I am sure I will not get to learn from a classroom,” said the aspiring engineer who takes life in his stride.
Gopikrishnan’s elder sisters are married and one of them is settled in Mumbai.