Inspiration
IAF doctor shows the way to give back to the nation
Dr Thyelnai Dawn Khaling, an IAF doctor teaches more than 30 underprivileged students after his duty hours. He also has started a not-for-profit organisation in Manipur that provides free pre-medical coaching including food and lodging for poor students.
Serving the nation is an addiction, a high that one can never get enough of. The same is the case with Dr Thyelnai Dawn Khaling, a doctor, a Wing Commander with the Air Force by day and a teacher by night. He considers his day job as his duty towards the nation, something that is true passion, however what he does after his duty hours is equally enticing for him, a call as strong as his day job.
"After coming to Bengaluru, I felt that there was something missing in my life," he said. Some introspection led him to decide that he should do his "duty towards society". At that moment, he decided to pick up the cause of teaching poor kids.
Last year in December, he asked his domestic help to bring her kids over so he could teach them. He strongly feels that, "People should not miss out on education because they can't pay for it.”
For Dr Khaling, what started as an attempt to educate his maid's children in Bengaluru has today transformed into an ecelectic classroom for more than 30 children whose parents have limited means.
He was always passionate about teaching. 3 years ago, he started a not-for-profit organisation in his home state of Manipur, which provided free pre-medical coaching — including food and lodging — for promising poor students.
Dr Khaling’s father held the distinction of being the first matriculate from its Uipo (Khoibu) Naga community. His father's enthusiasm was infectious. "My father understood the power of knowledge, and motivated others from our village to get educated. He taught me how even one person's efforts could bring about a change in society.I am just trying to implement a little that I learnt from my father.
Another childhood situation that remained with him till today was when he faced financial difficulties. So he fully understands how a dearth of money can hamper education.
But it's not just his classes that are making a difference, the way he teaches are also showing a marked result. The students in his humble classroom actually enjoy the learning process. Bhavna Nagesh, one of his students, says: "In school, it is difficult to communicate with teachers and many times we simply don’t understand them. So I would simply memorise everything to pass the tests. But here, I get to learn better as I can ask as many times as I can."
“I was not prepared for 30 pupils, but when I saw their enthusiasm, it inspired me. I am also grateful to my Air Force colleagues who regularly contribute to this project," he said.
"All these students are very bright and I look upon them as my own children. But in the course of my duty, I might get transferred and currently that is my only concern. I have started something and I am not going to abandon them, but I need to find a way to keep them in school," says Dr Khaling.