Suhadra Mukhi: Old but not out

Jamshedpur, July 27: Three months ago, residents of the Harijan slum near Dhatkidih watched in awe as their new classmate at the Adult Literacy Programme session walked into the room.

Today 80-year-old Suhadra Mukhi knows not only the Hindi alphabet but has also won accolades for best handwriting in her class. The Telegraph caught up with the enthusiastic old woman as she wobbled towards the dilapidated building, where classes are held, clutching a tattered notebook and a small pencil. The computer-aided Adult Literacy Programme (ALP) has been launched by the Tribal Cultural Society (TCS) of Tata Steel in the area.

“I am not able to chant mantras of Mangla Devi as they are all written in Oriya script. I am learning Hindi so that I can get the Oriya mantras translated and written down in Hindi with the help of my family or neighbours and then read them out every morning when I pray,” Suhadra mumbled.

Her pencil keeps slipping out of her grasp as she writes. “I have asked the faculty for a new pencil. This one has worn away. It affects my handwriting,” she complains amid chuckles from her classmates. Suhadra lives with her adopted son and his family. “I have never been to school so I can’t say much about the values of education,” she says. Children of the slum tease Suhadra as she heads for her classes every day but she takes it in her stride. “I know people are surprised by my decision to take lessons at this age. But I am determined to translate the Oriya script into Hindi,” she adds.

Rocky Mukhi, assistant general secretary of the Kendriya Mukhi Samaj Uthan Samiti, which has taken responsibility of conducting the sessions, says Suhadra seldom misses class. “Her efforts are a source of encouragement to all of us,” he says. Suhadra’s neighbours, too, appreciate her willingness to learn. “She has set an example for those who pay little heed to the importance of education. It’s true she undertook this endeavour only to be able to read her mantras, but the fact that she has made the effort even at this age is praiseworthy,” said Subhash Mukhi, her neighbour.

TCS officials are also bowled over by Suhadra’s will power. “It is amazing. An old lady walking in to the classroom every afternoon to take lessons is certainly an inspiration to others,” said Sanjukta Nayak, manager, tribal services, Tata Steel.

Nayak said the literacy programme was launched in May. “ALP is basically for daily-wage earners in the 40-plus age group. Each session is for four months. Our target is to educate 9,000 people by March 2005,” she said. The programme will be taken to 119 places of the steel city and its surrounding areas.