It is rightly said that when one is passionate and determined to reach his or her goal, no barriers can stop them. More importantly, when one is wise enough to bring into play his or her weakness as a driving force, then, success is no doubt in his or her hat.
Here is an inspiring story of a poverty-stricken student belonging to Kangpokpi district in Manipur, who despite coming from a financially weak background, have set an example that with hard work and dedication, one can achieve his or her dreams and pave their successful careers.
A brief account about Satmunchon Kipgen
Satmunchon Kipgen, a brilliant student of Eklavya Model Residential School in Gamnom Saparmeina overcome all challenges and secured 11th spot in the recently declared HSLC examination, making not only his poor parents, but also villagers, teachers and colleagues proud with lots of inspiring stories for the younger generation.
Introverted but brilliant, Satmunchon Kipgen is the second son of Ngamlal Kipgen and Ngahboi Kipgen of S Jalenmoul village in Kangpokpi fistrict who lived in a pathetic and crumbling mud house along with eight other households in the village.
The young shining star, having also secured letter marks in six subjects including Mathematics, is backed and supported by his family, including a daily wager father, mother and big brother along with his two younger sisters who are in V standard and kindergarten.
He thought it was fake news
Covered with mud from toe to head, he was coming back home from a paddy field where he work along with his elder brother, when media persons came to his house for an interview.
Narrating his first reaction when he was informed of the results, a free trip to South Korea winner in 2019, Satmunchon said that, “I thought it was fake news at first, " he said.
“He always topped in school but now how come he stood in the 11 spot!”, this was the first disappointed reaction of Satmunchon’s illiterate mother before knowing the facts as she spoke to the media persons with a mixed reaction of joy and Bashfulness.
Ngamlal Kipgen, the proud father of Satmunchon while narrating his first reaction over his son’s achievement, said, "I was at the river breaking stone for selling when I was informed of my son success through phone and added with little bit of emotion, I threw away the hammer and ran towards my residence to celebrate”.
“For me hearing the news of my brother success is my happiest moment in life”, a visibly emotional Lengouthang Kipgen, elder brother of Satmunchon said.
HIS DREAM
The lone free trip to South Korea winner in the state through a quiz competition last year, Satmunchon Kipgen wants to become a commercial pilot. However, considering his physical weakness he wanted his parents and teachers advise as according to him they could give him better option.
“The immeasurable struggles to support me on the part of my parents, the hard toiling of my father, the endless prayer of my mother, the sacrifice of my brother, the condition of my house and especially the financially unstable condition of my family are the mantras of my hard work and dedication which account for my success”, asserted Satmunchon Kipgen.
The other factor which is also equally important for my achievement is my teachers and the school principal who always have the positive side on their pupils, their dedication to make us understand well, their easily adaptable ways of teaching, their well-bred guidance and an exceptional thoughtfulness, he added and said that such quality of teaching and dedication of teachers will be hard to find in most of the schools, even in private educational institutions.
He also said, "Being an aspiring student I used have a dream to pursue my higher studies in a renowned college but I considered my school EMRS the best in shaping the future career of a poverty stricken pupil like me and it also has the capability even for a well to do pupils".
ADVICE TO JUNIOR
The HSLCE 2020 Rank 11 holder advice to his junior is, don’t let anything even your poverty put you down, have proper timetable, give cent percent concentration and always keep God first apart from your hard work and dedication, if you really want to be successful.
PARENTS' STRUGGLES
Ngamlal Kipgen, the proud illiterate father of Satmunchon Kipgen said nothing in the world hurt me most than my helplessness to provide education to both of them (his two sons) as I am very much aware that my eldest son is also no less than his younger brother in studies.
“I am really happy and proud to my elder son for his sacrifice for his younger brother and I am also equally happy and proud to my younger son for he never let the sacrifice of his elder brother in vain”, the daily wager father added.
He also said that "till all my muscle and strength pass away I will work and earn to support my younger son and even at times when I am exhausted I know my elder son will stood firm next to me".
MOTHER’S PRAYER
"As a mother I have lots of challenges and hard time for my children but what really hurt me was when we are almost unable to do the admission of my younger son for standard VIII even after his brother sacrificed his schooling. That night, I wept the whole night without a single sleep and kept praying till morning, narrated Ngahboi Kipgen.
She continued, "There was also a time when I could not even afford to pay Rs. 20 to him during a visiting day at the residential school where he actually needed more than thousands for his books but he understood and cheered me up".
The only strength I have is my prayer so I prayed with fasting for a complete 24 hours during his examination with tears and I will always pray till my last drop of tears for my children, Ngahboi said.
BROTHER's SACRIFICE
To let his younger brother continue his studies, Lengouthang Kipgen, elder brother of Satmunchon Kipgen sacrificed his schooling in standard IX and helped his poor parents in the quarry work and cultivation to support his brother and two young sisters.
“I would love to sacrifice not only my career but also even my life for my brother as we [the family] considered him as our only hope”, asserted Lengouthang Kipgen.
S Jalenmoul village chief Tongkholal Kipgen also expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the family of Satmunchon Kipgen in bringing laurels to the village, while congratulating him on his big achievement which according to the chief is the first of its kind in the village after its establishment in 2009, while Addl.SP Kangpokpi Lalminlen Misao, MPS congratulated him with a monetary help.
