MP achiever’s father refuses offers of help

BHOPAL: Offers of help came pouring in on Sunday for Roshni Bhadouriya, a village girl from Madhya Pradesh’s Bhind district who scored 98.75% to rank eighth in her Class 10 state board exams despite having to cycle 24km to school and back. TOI had carried a report of her gritty success on Saturday.
Throughout the day, there was a flurry of calls from government officials and individuals from all over the country.
But her father, farmer Purushottam Bhadouriya, politely declined all help, saying he would rather take a loan. "I am a farmer. I know how to nurture a plant. I want my children to learn the importance of self-respect in life. Today, if I take help, it won’t be possible for me to teach that lesson to my children. I have no problem accepting government help, but private help I can’t accept," he told TOI.
"All such people are good human beings. I said no to them for my self-respect. I will be in touch with all of them. They are kind souls," said Purushottam.
Roshni, clearly a chip off the old block, said she felt proud of her father’s stand. "Our parents have always taught us not to accept money that we haven’t earned. I am proud that despite the struggles he goes through, my father refuses to take help from anyone," she added.
Purushottam acknowledged that it is tough for him to keep all three children in school (Roshni is his second child), but he is determined that all of them will study as long as they wish.
He said he felt overwhelmed by the calls he received on Sunday. "I am thankful to every individual who has shown their concern for my daughter. They want to help me in her studies. However, I can’t take money from anyone for my daughter. It is against my principles. I will take a loan for her education but accepting money is just not possible for me," said Purushottam.