Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (MS)

Kundapur, Jun 3: In spite of abject poverty, a youth has accepted the post of lecturer to research students of Harvard University due to the support of his parents.

Ramesh Naika, research and final year PhD student of the prestigious Mumbai Tata Institute of Social Sciences is this unique achiever. Ramesh is the first youth of Kudubi community, who is about to get PhD. He is working as a visiting fellow at the water policy center of Aurangabad.

Ramesh says, “I am doing research on agricultural drought situations. Teaching research students of Harvard University is the happiest moment of my life. I used to take online classes of eight students one day in a week. The teaching topic given to me is ‘Youth and Homelessness.’ Harvard University has given me the title of principal investigator. I have the aim of getting a post-doctoral fellowship and continuing education.”

Ramesh completed his primary education in schools around his native place of Thantradi. Later he completed BSW degree in Dr A V Baliga college of Brahmavar. His parents encourage him to study however much he wants. The words of his father Mandarti Puttiah Naika and mother Girija changed the course of Ramesh’s educational life.

After completing a masters in development management course from Mysuru Vivekananda Institute for Leadership Development, he got a fellowship at Scope Institute of Dharwad. He gets trained throughout the country for six months and later works with the community of Harobelavadi village of Dharwad about water and cleanliness, rejuvenation of wells and cleanliness.

In 2016-17, Ramesh completed his master of philosophy and opted for PhD in 2017. In 2018, Ramesh got selected for the Thailand Summer school seminar in which 17 countries participated. He was one among the just two people who represented India. He got the opportunity of exchanging ideas on agriculture and environment with the people of Thailand. He also presented his thesis in the international conventions that were held in 2019 in Sweden, Indonesia and Sri Lanka.

The family of Ramesh works as daily wage labourers in the agricultural land of others. His father, mother and brother are engaged in the same work. Ramesh’s mother said that three of her children did not learn and encouraged him to learn however much he wanted. This inspired Ramesh. Ramesh says that his mother’s encouragement instilled his thirst for learning.

"The World Konkani Centre, which is backing my achievement, is like my second home. For the past 10 years, it has provided me guidance and financial help in my education. Only because of this centre, I am doing PhD in Tata institute of social sciences in Mumbai. Mohandas Pai is my inspiration," he says.

Ramesh belongs to the Kudubi community which is very backward. They are found in some parts of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts. The community is yet to develop financially and educationally. Their total population is 36000. More than 75% are below the poverty line. Nearly 80% are dependent on daily wage for livelihood. Many have left school halfway due to financial issues. Girls of the community work in cashew nut industries leaving the schools halfway. Politically, not a single member of this community has donned the post above taluk panchayat member.

“I will work for my community as my community has contributed a lot to my achievement. I have to create awareness about education, scholarships, government facilities and knowledge of the outside world in my community. I will try to bring the Kudubi community to light,” says Ramesh Naika.