Shomrorphi

Rucha Deshpande, our Media co-ordinator, writes a story about how Sunbird’s first and proudest achievement, Shomrorphi. Read on to know more.

A middle-aged man, about 50 years of age, was seen going up and down the streets of Shirui village in the Autumn of 2010. White hair, tall and fair; this man looked like he belonged to another part of the world.

Timyao saw him from her house and wondered what must he be looking for? Was he distressed? Did he need some help? Without a second thought, she called out to him and invited him over for a cup of tea.

This man was none other than, Col. Christopher Rego. Col. Chris was mighty impressed with the fact that a woman in this very small village of Shirui could converse so fluently in English! He was, like everytime, touched by the warmth of the village folk. Five minutes into the conversation, over a cup of delicious locally grown tea, Col. Chris asked Timyao a little about her family. Timyao was a mother of 4 children and was working very hard to get her children educated. She was working in paddy fields, doing garden work, cooking meals and keeping her family healthy and fed. While she did all this, her husband was out in the woods indulging in hard physical labour to support the family.

Col. Chris asked her the whereabouts of her family, who the bread earner was and how they were managing their everyday. Upon learning that they were barely about managing it, he asked her if there was anything he could do to help. To that she said that it would be most helpful if he could help her give her children good quality education. Education being a topic close to Colonel’s heart, he told her that he will try his level best to help her out in any capacity that he can. While he was about to take her leave, she looked at him one last and urged him not to forget her and her family.
Days, weeks and a few months went by.

Nine months later, Timyao found a letter addressed to her in the post office. The letter was, of course, from Col. Chris! In the letter he asked whether she remembered him and remembered the promise he had given her. She could not believe her eyes as she read on to know that he had written to her with positive news. The letter asked Timyao to open a bank account in her name so that he could help her out. He first sent her Rs. 2000/- to hunt for a good school in her village or villages nearby where her eldest daughter, Shomrorphi, could study.

After some good research, Timyao found the school she wanted Shomrorphi to go to- Holy Spirits High School, Longpi. Col. Chris got in touch with the Father and got Shomrorphi admitted in this school.

Shomrorphi was a very hard working girl. She studied well and made her parents as well as Col. Chris very proud. Col. Chris came to visit Shomrorphi with his family in 2012. The entire family was elated to see Shomrorphi’s progress and decided to also sponsor her two other sisters.
Fast forward to 6 years later. Shomrorphi has done her Bachelor’s in Social Work from Don Bosco College, Maram. It came as no surprise to find that Shomrorphi had topped the university and the state of Manipur! However our brilliant student, Shomrorphi, had plans other than doing her Masters immediately after. As soon as she was done with her Bachelor’s, Shomrorphi joined the Sunbird Team to teach for the primary school in Puichi!

Shomrorphi is Sunbird’s first and proudest achievement and the team strives to create many more students who would come and join Sunbird in it’s endeavor to educate and empower the brilliant children of Manipur. Shomrorphi now is off to pursue her Masters in Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation from Rajeev Gandhi National Institute for Youth Development in Chennai.

Shomrorphi is also Sunbird’s first alumna to intern at Majuli Island and was also selected for the 360 degree leadership collective trip with students from America during which she excelled. No surprises there!

Hats off, Shomrorphi, to your courage, hard work and will to make a difference. The Sunbird Team will forever remember the work you undertook in Puichi and the hearts you touched.