Jayendra’s Story: Meeting President APJ Kalam

I have been associated with Pratham for ten years. In 2002, I was involved in the Child Labour Project – an issue very close to my heart. As a Team leader for the Rescue Operations under Pratham’s Child Labour Outreach Programme, I had witnessed how children were being commercially exploited in various industries. I had rescued children who had been physically and even sexually abused. But this was an incomplete solution to the vast problem of child labour. Pratham’s reach was limited and somehow, I felt helpless as the efforts of all organizations working on the issue was not enough to tackle the problem. I had a burning feeling inside that something big was needed – something that would act like a catalyst to Pratham’s efforts.

As I discussed my feelings with a fellow employee and a good friend, Mr. Harsh Shetty, a thought emerged that maybe we need to approach the highest decision making authority in India – the Hon’ble President, Dr. Abdul Kalam Azad – to give favorable push to our efforts. At that time, I had no idea how to reach the President or what I would tell him. It took me two weeks to take a final decision to approach the President on my own as nobody in my office would take my idea seriously. I applied for a ten-day leave and set off on my mission alone carrying some photographs, 3 CDs of a Marathi documentary on Child Labour and some data on the child labour situation in Mumbai.

When I reached Delhi on June 22, 2004, I tried to find out how to get to Rashtrapati Bhavan and got an appointment letter typed in English and emailed from my friend Harsh. As I reached, I was feeling a little excited as well as nervous. I went to the security guard and told him that I wanted to meet the Hon’ble President. He laughed at my courage. I tried to show him the pictures of child labour I was carrying and explained the purpose of my visit. The guard advised me to go to Lalu Prasad Yadav because most of the children had been brought from Bihar. I tried to explain that I would rather bring this matter to the notice of the President. Finally, he told me to meet the guard at Gate no. 7. This time, I was taken a little more seriously and the kind man told me to come next afternoon. So, I headed back to office to check my mail. As I reached the office, I was told that Mr. Bharat Patni, a senior executive at Pratham Delhi wanted to meet me. I was to meet him the next day although I did not know of the reason to meet Mr. Patni.

The next day, I obediently reached Gate no. 7 and was told to go to meet a Mr. Yadav. I spoke to him about Pratham, child labour and the condition of this problem in Mumbai. I felt this man would lead me to the President and I explained how crucial this meeting was for my organization. Now this kind man too advised me to meet Mr. Lalu Prasad Yadav. I tried to reason with him that it was possible that many more child labourers in Mumbai would die if I changed my route now. Somehow, I was able to convince him and he promised to get my letter to the President’s table. Then it was lunch time.

I tried to get friendly with the office people and asked them to watch the CD I was carrying as they had lunch. In 15 minutes, they had seen the documentary. They could not understand Marathi but were able to get the message through the visuals. Now, these guys were so moved that they immediately asked for the copy of the letter and guided me to meet Mr. Tangapan, the Secretary to the President of India. They spoke to Mr. Tangapan on my behalf and he agreed to meet me. After an hour or so, instead I met a senior executive who explained that I should come after two days and promised that my letter would be the first letter to reach the President. He gave me Mr. Tangapan’s direct phone line number. I spoke to him and he too said the same.

I headed back to office to meet Mr. Patni. He asked me my objective of this trip. I told him that I planned to meet the President. He did not laugh at my face but tried to explain the procedure to meet the President. Mr. Patni, a wise man, tried to explain that I should not get my hopes up and that it wasn’t so easy as I was assuming. He even asked me to wait outside while he called Pratham Mumbai to inform the people there about what one of their team members was doing here. And then I get a call from my boss Mr. Vikas Sawant in Mumbai. Without asking any questions, I was told that I should, by any means, catch the evening train and meet him in office immediately on reaching Mumbai. I tried to tell him the progress I had made on my mission but in vain. I was told that if I didn’t follow the order, the team in Mumbai would have to take a decision on my employment. I replied that I needed 10 minutes to make my decision. I went out and thought of the effort I had put in for my organization during this unofficial leave period. However, I had used the office name and I felt that I wanted to go along with the organization and not against it. I called Mr. Sawant and said that I won’t be coming to Mumbai and that I would try to meet the President – something I felt that was important for Pratham.

Monday afternoon, I called Mr. Tangapan. He informed me that the letter had been delivered and that I would get my reply by the 30th. I tried to explain my financial condition to him so that he could make things move faster. Still, I was relieved on my progress. I reached my lodge and called Harsh to tell him that the appointment was likely for the 30th or the 1st. I booked my return ticket for July 1. Now, I had only 3 days left. On June 30, I called Mr. Tangapan again. He told me that the President was busy but that a Mumbai trip had been planned where I would be able to meet him. I was very happy. I thanked him and the next day, I left for Mumbai with just this verbal assurance.

When I reached my office in Mumbai, I was suspended for 15 days – suspended not fired because of my good past performance. I stayed at home for a week without telling my family the reason. Meanwhile, some more meetings took place in Pratham Mumbai office where it was decided to call me back. I continued with my work as usual waiting for the call from the President’s office. On July 29, Pratham Mumbai office got a call saying that the President would be landing at Sahara Airport on July 31 and would like to meet Mr. Jayendra Jadhav there. Two more colleagues planned to accompany me. But unfortunately, the President’s plan changed and he did not come to Mumbai. Still, I was happy and hopeful that some day I would get to meet him. Suddenly, everybody in office began praising me. The word spread in other offices of Pratham all over India and I started receiving calls to congratulate me.

Some months passed after that incident. On April 18, a child labourer died. He had been starved to death. I decided to raise this issue with the President. I wrote a letter to him informing him about the issue and reminding him of a meeting that was long due. On April 25, I received a call from his office. Dates were given and I was asked which would be convenient for me. I chose the closest date April 29th. The meeting time was fixed and the names of people who would be accompanying me were conveyed. This time, flight tickets were booked, hotel arrangements were made.

April 29, we were given a warm welcome in the President’s office. Instead of 15 minutes, we were given 42 minutes in which the Hon’ble President understood what we were doing to eradicate child labour. He asked some questions. Ultimately, he promised to come to Mumbai to meet us. He assured us that some action would be taken to solve this problem. He would call for a meeting with the Human Rights Department and do whatever he could.

And thus was the trip.

Eventually, I felt that the decision I took while I was talking to my boss Mr. Vikas Sawant to stay in Delhi was the right decision. And now I know that those who keep on trying and don’t give up DO eventually succeed.