summary of shiva's blessing in 300 words
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summary of shiva's blessing in 300 words
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Fourteen-year-old N. Shiva Kumar was delivering newspapers early one morning. The eighth-standard student was deeply troubled. It was the start of the academic year and his father, an out-of-work lorry driver, did not have `15,000 to pay his annual fees. So Shiva was afraid he'd not be able to continue his schooling. There was nobody he could ask for so much money.
As Shiva was about to toss a newspaper into a bungalow, he spotted its new resident, a kind-looking man named Krishna Vedavyasa, washing his car. In his desperation, something prompted Shiva to get off his bicycle and talk to Mr Krishna, then a 40-year-old father to a five-year-old son and manager at a brand-consulting firm.
"Sir, I also wash cars in the mornings," Shiva told Krishna, "May I wash your car?"
Years earlier, Shiva's mother had sold much of her jewellery to get him into Maruthi Vidyalaya, an English-medium ICSE school not far from their home. A good education for Shiva, his parents reckoned, was their only hope. Quite unlike his well-to-do classmates, Shiva had started delivering newspapers by age ten. He now had a route that catered to a hundred homes, which brought in `150 a month. His father Nagendra, who drove a company lorry, now bought flowers that his wife strung into garlands. Shiva and his elder sister Yogeshwari, who went to a local government school, sold the garlands at traffic signals and other places after school. Despite all the hard work, money was always tight.
"You are too young to wash cars and deliver papers," said Krishna. "Why do you do this work?"
Shiva ended up telling Krishna about his family's situation. Another day, soon afterwards, he also spoke of the school fees he badly needed. "If I don't deposit `15,000, I'll be struck off the rolls." Then, the desperate boy added, "Could you please pay it?"
"But I don't even know you!" Krishna replied, taken aback by the unexpected request.
"Why don't you check me out at my school?" said Shiva, his eyes fixed on Krishna's with hope. "You needn't give the money to me. You can give it to my school so that I may continue with my studies."
The next day Krishna went over to Shiva's school, where he met the principal and some of his teachers. He was pleasantly surprised to discover that the boy had always been a topper. Krishna paid the fees. That evening Shiva went over to thank Krishna. "You don't have to do these small jobs from now. Just focus on your studies, I'll keep paying your fees," Krishna told him.Shiva left smiling, knowing that the fees weren't everything. His family needed cash for rent and food, among other things. So he continued working-and studying-just as hard.
"My day started at four," Shiva recalls. "But I made sure I focused on lessons in school and revised them at home. During free periods, I taught students who were weak in some subjects." That wasn't for money, but it helped him comprehend textbook chapters even before they were taught in class.
Shiva topped his school in the ICSE board exams. As for Krishna, he was as good as his word, paying the fees at the start of every academic year. Krishna, who Shiva called "Uncle," had insisted they converse only in English-which Shiva did not speak at home-for more fluency. On Krishna's advice, Shiva also opted for science in college.
Meanwhile, Shiva's father hire-purchased a Canter mini truck to be a self-employed goods-transport driver. He also gave up their flower work, which spared the children the task of peddling garlands. Now, after classes, Shiva began working late into the night as a salesman in an electronics shop. With not a minute to spare, Shiva had to forego games, picnics or films that other teenagers enjoyed. Once, when his class planned a trip to Coorg, which he couldn't afford, a teacher offered to pay Shiva's excursion fee. But when Shiva happily informed his mother, she refused to accept the favour. "You mustn't indulge in anything with other people's money," she told Shiva firmly. "Enjoy yourself when you can afford it."
Explanation:
Generativity: refers to "making your mark" on the world through caring for others as well as creating and accomplishing things that make the world a better place. Generativity can be achieved by developing and nurturing ideas as well as children.