Exactly a week ago, last Sunday I was featured on Kannada daily Vijaya Karnataka. It has such a huge reach that I got calls from friends whom I haven’t met from 4-5 years!! They had no clue about me getting into blogging & all. They knew the guy who was collecting rupee by rupee, make it 15bucks, visit a cyber cafe to check Gmail every week!!
Though getting featured on a news paper isn’t a big deal for me, it is for my mom. She literally called up everyone who were rude about her & me when I screwed up my 2nd year PU. So many people, relatives scolded me with every other word available in dictionary! People said like “Send him to my hotel, I will hire him as a cleaner”, “Let him work in my estate, will pay 1k/month, should be helpful to you”, “Why don’t he hang himself?” & lot lot more. Moms said to their kids “don’t mingle with Prashanth, he’s a bad guy!”. I was all alone, eyes filled with tears, looking out of window. I was abandoned to all functions, even if go it was ending in an embarrassing situation.
Because of all these comments & bad economic status, my father decided to put me on some job. He took me to some factory nearby to get me a job of loading/un-loading goods! Thankfully the manager of that factory didn’t accept me & suggested my father to give me one more chance. Mom still had some trust on me & forced dad to give me one more chance. Dad finally accepted with one condition that I shouldn’t ask for a single rupee from him!
I decided to go for Diploma in Electronics.
Sponsors of life!!
I looked for all diploma colleges in Bangalore, I couldn’t make it to Govt. college since my SSLC aggregate wasn’t that great. Finally chose a private college with very less fees & requested them to accept fees in installments! I visited many Swamijis, ashramas, needing economical support for my studies. Ones who contributed most of my college fees were Vireshananda Swamiji of Ramakrisna Ashrama, Tumkur & a far relative named Vijay. Remaining I collected from relatives & others. Somehow I raised funds for my studies & finished Diploma with first class.
Change in tone!
Though I am into blogging from a very long time, never cared to tell about it to my relatives. They got to know about it only after article on VK. Now they say to my mom “Your son is brilliant”, moms of my cousins ask me “teach something to my boy also na!”. They might have forgotten what they said before, but how can I? I just smile at them & say “Sure, why not?”.
24 Comments
Vijay
November 8th 2009 @ 08:40 PM #
Great to read this.!! Wish you many more success in your future endeavours.
I’m sure, you will be more popular than this
Cheers’
Vj
Prashanth
November 8th 2009 @ 08:44 PM #
@Vijay
Thanks a lot maga.
Nimma baayharike inda hangee aagli
Vinay
November 8th 2009 @ 08:47 PM #
Its sad but true… about the Indian society. We have too much vanity associated to education out here!
Mine is a similar albeit a bit softer story. So I can very well relate to yours.
Priya
November 8th 2009 @ 08:47 PM #
Very Inspiring Story!! Great Going =)
*bows down*
Prashanth
November 8th 2009 @ 08:54 PM #
@Vinay Yeah, I know lot people out there like me, passed through tough times & achieved something really big. Me & you are just one of those
@Priya Thank you
Pradeep B V
November 8th 2009 @ 08:56 PM #
Some things teach us a lot.
A fascinating journey form a film junkie to a social media trend setter.
Hats off to your perseverance and grit.
Vivek
November 9th 2009 @ 09:00 AM #
Whoa.. That was truly inspiring. I am sure you have more media coverage coming for you. And yes i can understand where you are coming from – Well you dont really have to prove yourself to any body – you have made your mark and I am sure you have much more coming !!
All the best
Giribee
November 9th 2009 @ 11:24 AM #
Maga …. this just beginning… neenu bahala munde hogthiya…. hardwork and talent will never go waste…. all the best..
Giribee
November 9th 2009 @ 11:25 AM #
Maga …. this just a beginning… neenu bahala munde hogthiya…. hardwork and talent will never go waste…. all the best..
Akki
November 9th 2009 @ 11:26 AM #
Man,
Its touching…..there’s a saying “keep ur feet on ground eeven wen u can fly”…….justa gentle reminder so that u can go places……….
Akram
Kiran
November 9th 2009 @ 11:29 AM #
Good going prashant……… dont look back… dont mind abt the presnt and past comments…. still need to achive more… not yet finished….. u deserve it dude
Madhuri
November 9th 2009 @ 11:45 AM #
Nice dude… i rememeber those days… quite painful… but u’ve come a long way n shown the world what u r!!! kudos to ur determination:)
kavitha N
November 9th 2009 @ 12:14 PM #
It is really like a cinematic story.very interesting….but its true…Keep going prashanth…All the Best for ur future… one thing u remember “When u r up in life,ur friends know who u r but when u r down in life,u know who your friends are!!!!
kavitha N
November 9th 2009 @ 12:27 PM #
It’s really like a cinematic story.very interesting….but its true…Keep going prashanth…All the Best for ur future… one thing u remember “When u r up in life,ur friends know who u r but when u r down in life,u know who your friends are!!!!
venkatesh
November 9th 2009 @ 05:46 PM #
Good Prashanth….Failures are the stepping stones to success…
Now u reached the success..But do not stop. Keep it up….
Thejesh GN
November 9th 2009 @ 05:46 PM #
I can imagine how much your parents will be proud and happy about you.
Cruisemaniac
November 9th 2009 @ 10:38 PM #
Really happy for you and your family dude!!! I’ve been in a very similar situation! Life works in amazing ways
Keep up the gr8 work! And All the very *very* best!
Chao…
Cruisemaniac.
Sireesha
November 10th 2009 @ 02:40 PM #
Ur parents will be most happiest ..
good ..enjoy… and lot to go..more success awaits u..good luck.. 
Karuna
November 11th 2009 @ 12:50 PM #
I can feel how proud your family would be, seeing their son featured in the newspaper. For the unconditional love they give us, they are parents!
vinay
November 16th 2009 @ 07:08 PM #
You have really converted the stones thrown at you to milestones ( as Sachin Tendulkar says) …. You deserve it ….. Congrats ……
Manasa Dhar
November 25th 2009 @ 09:10 AM #
Great, Prashanth..Your mom is so proud of you now..she has every reason to be
All the best for your future..:)
Prashanth
November 25th 2009 @ 09:17 AM #
Sorry for the laaate reply, just wanted to “Reply All”!!
Thank you all for commenting here & make me feel proud of myself
I know I have a long way to go & hope to get all your continued support which boosts my confidence!!
Wish me luck!!!
Vijay Rayapati
February 16th 2010 @ 02:11 PM #
Dude, you have great future ahead man. Wish you all the best!
karthik
February 24th 2010 @ 11:30 AM #
you r solid man…