Celebrating indomitable talent

Education was a distant dream for Barsha Rani Bina.  When she was a fourth-grade student in Rangpur's Taraganj upazila, a woman came to her house and offered Brasha's parents to take her to Saidpur as a domestic worker.

However, the hardship was no match for Barsha's determination to continue education.  “There were times when it rained, and I was the only student who attended classes,” said Barsha.

Barsha achieved GPA-5 in her SSC exams, but poverty threatened to cut her dreams short then and there, until a report about her plight was published in leading Bangla daily Prothom Alo in 2010, which led to her being awarded a scholarship.

Barsha, now 24, is a teacher of a Taragonj model primary government school today, and is pursuing her master's degree in Bangla literature from Begum Rokeya University of Rangpur.

Barsha's is one of many stories of indomitable spirits, who told their stories at a programme titled “Adamya Medhabi” (indomitable talents) organised by Prothom Alo Trust and Brac Bank, at Krishibid Institution Bangladesh in the capital.

In 2007, Prothom Alo had taken the initiative to sponsor higher education of talented but underprivileged students who earned GPA-5 at SSC level.

This year, the they honoured 127 of them -- who continued their studies through various obstacles to achieve distinction in education.

Speaking at the progmme, National Professor Dr Jamilur Reza Chowdhury said, “There are many hidden talents in our country. Collective efforts are needed to bring them out.” These indomitable talents will take the country forward, he added.

Prothom Alo's Editor and Publisher Matiur Rahman said there is a sense of fulfillment to hear the success stories of these talents.

 “We will not just write only [in the newspaper], we should also do something good for the society.”

Kutubuddin Ahmed, chief of Prothom Alo Trust, urged the indomitable talents not to stop dreaming to be a successful person.