US firm comes to the aid of slum boy

PUNE: He was dreaming about a career in computers, but a hand-to-mouth existence in a 10x10 tin shed in the Ghorpade Peth slum meant that 18-year-old Gangadhar Botla had to take a hard look at reality.
This, despite securing a third position in the merit list for the minimum competency-based vocational course (MCVC) in the higher secondary certificate (HSC) examination held in February-March this year and topping the SSC merit list in the night school category two years ago.
But today, Gangadhar is on the verge of fulfilling his dream, thanks to a Good Samaritan, who ensured that he got admission for the bachelor of computer application (BCA) course.
The Times of India dated June 6 (Where there’s a will, there’s a way) published a news report about Gangadhar’s determined struggle amidst poverty to pursue a career in computers. The report also highlighted the difficulties he was facing in pursuing this dream in the face of escalating cost of education.
Touched by Gangadhar’s hard work and his fight against adversities, Nitin Rai, chief executive officer of the US-based First Insight Software Solutions Pvt. Ltd. decided to sponsor Gangadhar’s education.
Speaking to TNN on Tuesday from the US, Rai said he had come across The Times of India report by chance, during his 10-day visit to his company unit at Hinjewadi in Pune. "After reading the story, I felt something should be done to help Gangadhar," he said.
Rai’s business manager, Aashish Mehra, got in touch with Gangadhar to see how the company could help him.
"Our first task was to identify a course that would suit him. Hence, we visited some educational institutions in Pune. Finally, we zeroed in on the BCA (Bachelor in computer application) course offered by the Symbiosis Centre for Information Technology," explained Mehra.
Gangadhar was asked to appear for the entrance exam and Symbiosis deemed university vice-chancellor Lt. Gen. M.A. Tutakne paid his exam fee of Rs 600.
"As soon as he cleared the exam, First Insight decided to pay his fees for the three-year course," Mehra said. The annual fee for the BCA course is Rs 28,000, which is way beyond Gangadhar’s means.
But First Insight did not stop here. "We are aware that Gangadhar has to do a part time job to support his family of six. So we decided to offer him a job in our company, so that he can have a first-hand experience of working in software company," stated Rai.
Mehra added that the company would provide him with transport to enable him to work three days a week for three hours each. "We will pay him the same salary he gets for his present job," he said.
Son of Nandu, a tailor, and Vijaya, a bidi worker, Gangadhar was with a municipal school before joining the Poona night school.
He later joined the Raja Dhanraj Girji high school. He studied in the municipal park near his home from books donated by well-wishers.
"I am at a loss for words to express my feelings right now," said a beaming Gangadhar.