. Nandlal Master

. Nandlal Master “I have seen young kids working and sacrificing their studies. Young girls were getting married at such an early age; they didn’t come to school at all. So I thought of starting a school for such kids,” recalls Nandlal. Hailing from the weaver community, Nandlal Master has channelized the energies of Rajatalab, a bijou town adjacent to the ancient city of Varanasi. Through an NGO, Lok Samiti established in mid nineties, is focussing on spreading awareness, education, eradication of child marriage and child labour. In a caste ridden society, the task is indeed challenging. But a man blessed with a brawny and robust mind can set a template. Till date he has been able to perform more than 1000 low budget weddings. Significantly he has focussed on inter caste marriages. This has made him a pariah of sorts with the rich and powerful, Hindus and Muslims alike. But Nandlal’s efforts are slowly but surely bearing fruit. This local weaver from Rajatalab has started a learning centre to educate children from villages nearby, which has fired the imagination of stripling youth. His initiative now has over 500 students from less privileged homes. Dowry is a big anathema and financial drain on the poor in particular. The weaver through his resoluteness has been able to break glass ceilings. He has been chastised, criticised and castigated but, that has not prevented him from laying down his peaceful arsenal. “It is so sad to see that farmers sell their lands and houses to arrange funds for their daughter’s wedding. Marriage should be an occasion of bringing two people together and not spending so much money,” he says. He is no prophet, no Guru but just an ordinary man, a stock individual who at the subterranean level in his own indomitable manner has served society.