He begged him for money. Man’s refusal changed his life: ‘People saw them as beggars but I…’

While the world saw the young children begging for money and scraps of food as mere beggars, a young teacher only saw them as potential students. So when one of the kids approached him for some money, he refused point blank and stated: “I won’t give you money, but a kalam (pen). Today, Krishnan has six students from marginalised communities. Sharing his story with The Humans Of Bombay, he revealed how he managed to make a difference in the children's lives.

A Market That Sparked a Mission

Every evening, just a short distance from his usual path, a lively food bazaar in Sheikh Sarai bustled with activity. Hawkers called out to customers, diners filled their plates, and amid the constant motion, a few young children wandered between stalls requesting food or water. The sight became a daily occurrence. While adults hurried through their routines, these children navigated survival. The contrast unsettled him deeply.

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Originally hailing from Hanumangarh in Rajasthan, he relocated to Delhi in 2013. Now 38 years old, he serves as a teacher in a government school in South Delhi. Education had always been his vocation. Yet what he witnessed at the marketplace stirred something beyond professional duty — it awakened a sense of moral obligation.

A Pen Instead of Coins

One afternoon, a small boy approached him, explaining that his father was hungry and asking for help. The teacher accompanied him to buy a meal and invited another child to join them. As they sat together, he casually inquired whether they attended school. Their answer was negative. Later, when they requested money, he refused to hand over cash. Instead, he offered to provide writing materials. The boy agreed.

He purchased notebooks and pens and began teaching them right there in the market. Initially, academics were not his priority. The children’s speech was coarse, shaped by the harshness of their surroundings. For nearly a week, he focused solely on improving their behavior, encouraging respectful communication and discouraging abusive language.

Facing Doubt with Determination

The journey was not without obstacles. A stationery shop owner once complained that the children tore up the notebooks. The teacher calmly responded that selling supplies was the shopkeeper’s concern; guiding the children was his own. Even if the materials were destroyed repeatedly, he would persist.

Some onlookers mocked his efforts, claiming that begging was the children’s destiny and success was beyond their reach. He remained unmoved. If even one child could build a better future, he believed his mission would be fulfilled.

He began with two students. Now there are six. There are no desks, no chalkboard, and no ringing bell — only one hour of unwavering faith each day. For him, the true goal was never merely academic instruction, but altering the course of a life.