Many people wait their entire lifetime to materialize their dreams. With unemployment on the rise, inflation and cut throat competition, earning money has become difficult than ever before. We often think when we will get our dream job then we shall start donating or maybe when we get a high package only then shall we be a part of a charitable trust.

Once we fulfill that goal there is no looking back on social issues which were once very dear to us. However, a tea seller from Odisha is different. Devarapalli Prakash Rao is a regular at Cuttack’s Bakshibazar.

Rao has been selling tea for the past 50 years. On January 25, 2019, he got the biggest reward of his lifetime when he was told that he is being conferred with India’s fourth highest civilian award which is the Padma Shri.

What is unique about the tea vendor is the fact that he has been imparting education among 80 children from the earnings he makes as a tea vendor. He wakes up at 4am and runs the stall until 10am.  He runs a school for poor children despite being frugal himself.

His dedication towards teaching and inculcating education is why he is being honoured. His love for education stems from his own past. Rao was always interested in reading and writing. However, his father wanted him to lend a helping hand in the tea business. Therefore, he was forced to quit school even before he could clear class X.

When his father took ill, Rao juggled between tea kettles and paying bills. Soon, running the stall became his primary job and all other dreams vanished into the background. But a fire kept burning inside him. He would look around and see small slum children running errands.

In 2000, he finally decided to act on his dream. He opened a small school ‘Asha O Ashwasana’ and convinced slum parents to send their children to his school. His school provides classes upto only Class III but after that he gets them admitted into a government school.

His takes pride in his students who not only study but also excel in sports competitions. Though, initially he would bear all the educational costs but now more and more people are coming forward to help him.

Rao is a man of many talents. He leaves no stone unturned in helping others which is why he also runs a help center near the SCB government hospital. For the last 40 years, he has been donating blood to help other patients Rao’s efforts were also praised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his radio programme ‘Mann Ki Baat’.  

source: https://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/padma-shri-tea-seller-who-runs-school-for-80-slum-kids-with-his-meagre-earnings-is-an-inspiration-for-all-361120.html