A-22-year old boy from Chennai getting a chance to study advanced automobile engineering at Cambridge University might not be a big deal but it becomes an achievement indeed if the boy's family is into begging.

Jayavel's family migrated from Nellore in the 80s after a failed crop season and to find a living started begging in the streets of Chennai.

Staring at a pavement Jayavel said, "We used to sleep on one such pavement. If it would rain, we would try to find other shelter in any nearby shop until the cops came and chased us out of there." He was one among the many children who were forced to beg on the streets by his parents. Explaining that though his survival depended on the kindness of strangers, his day's earnings mostly used to into mother's drinking.



NO FAMILY SUPPORT



Jayavel's father died when he was very young and his mother became an alchohol addict. He had just one shirt to wear and he never looked clean. All this was done to tap on the alms. In his wildest dreams had he not thought that he would come out of the 'dead end zone' until Uma Muthuraman met him.

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Uma Muthuraman along with her husband Muthuraman were working on a project to depict the lives of children on the streets of Chennai. The couple planned to make a video story on them and named the movie 'pavement flower'. As a part of their project Uma traveled to Kilpauk water tank area where they met Jayavel. "My people actually didn't like them. We even tried to hurt them as we had so many people approaching us under the pretext of helping. But they only used our name to get government funds," recollects Jayavel. These feelings changed as Jayavel's family understood Uma's genuine desire to help them.

They took Jayavel under their own care in 1999. "Jayavel somehow inspired us. After seeing him, we believed that we could help bring a change in his life with him." Uma and Muthuraman through their NGO, Suyam Charitable Trust, helped Jayavel get proper education.

"Everyone in the school knew about me and my family. As we used to live right on the corner of the school on the pavement but that didn't make any difference to me. Though I hated to study in the beginning and only wished to play, my attitude changed as I began to see the difference in life of other people and mine and how Uma and Muthuraman were struggling to educate me," added Jayavel.



EXCELLED IN STUDIES



Jayavel got good marks in his 12th standard which prompted some donors to give interest free loan amount for his higher education. After that he cleared Cambridge University's entrance examination and got a seat in Glendwr University, Wales, United Kingdom to study 'Performance Car Enhancement Technology Engineering', a course that deals with enhancing performance of race cars. He is now going to Italy for further studies.

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"He knew the struggles and efforts we put in for his entire community. We want to project him as a role model in front of his entire community," explained Muthuraman who through their NGO have rehabilitated 95 per cent of the families to give up begging. Many of the children now sell small products near traffic signals instead of begging. Suyam Trust helped some families to get a loan for 'autorikshaw' also to sustain their life.

"Everything started with Jayavel. He started studying well and that inspired other kids. Now, they are pursuing their dreams; some of them are in aviation; some in engineering; some pursuing nursing and one has left to Phillipines to study aircraft maintenance. The inspiration was Jayavel", informed proud Muthuraman.



DREAMS TO FLY



Suyam Trust had already borrowed 17 lakh rupees for Jayavel's studies in London. He is now going to Italy which would cost another 8 lakh rupees for which Muthuraman and Uma are running around to see that Jayavel's education doesn't get interrupted. We struggle a lot. More than appreciation for our work, we only get harassed by the government. I am sorry to say but we have to admit it. Some honest officers are helping us but it is not sufficient", shared Muthuraman. But the couple said that they will ensure that Jayavel leaves for Italy to complete his studies at the University of Turin, Italy.

Jayavel's mother still lives in the streets of T Nagar with a torn mat and bundle of rags which she uses as a head rest. "If he becomes successful, he would definitely take care of his sisters and brothers. But I wish he never turns up like me. If I'm alive by the time he settles in his life, I would definitely like to go and stay with him," smiled Saroja.

Jayavel meets her once in a month as he doesn't like her drinking habit.

After finishing his studies, he wants to come back and help Uma and Muthuraman in running the trust and try to pay back for changing his life.